Paul and I got back from Florida and it was pure craziness as we tried to get ready for the first day of school.  We also had 3 different start dates this year. 

The main stress for Macey was the locker situation at school, but after practicing for about an hour before the first day, they got it down and were ready to go.  

We did our back to school dinner like always.

I just love how simple it is and that I do pretty much the same thing every year, so there’s no stress involved.  Especially when I get back into town the night before.  


The excitement this year was these amazing pickles I found, they were the highlight of the meal.  :)  

There were WAY less tears than last year, it was mostly all smiles. 

Macey started first since she had 7th grade day at the Jr High. 

The bus ended up being late and they missed the entire first period.  Plus, Macey had some things she needed to fix on her schedule at the office when she got there.  But, she handled it like a champ and got her schedule settled all on her own.  This girl was more than ready to leave elementary school behind and couldn’t wait to be reunited with some old friends from Suncrest.  

I’ve loved listening to all the Jr. High stories, so much more entertaining than elementary school stories.  Bus drama, boys that like them, the stress of remembering all their different locker numbers, and the chaos of the halls that were not represented accurately in movies they’d seen. :)  Macey could not love Jr. High more.  

Crew and Miles started next.

First day of 2nd Grade.
All smiles for this kid until about the 3rd week of school, where he realized that 2nd grade is a lot harder than 1st. :)  He’s killing it though and got an amazing teacher and lots of awesome kids in his class.  

He had to include Fang in his paper doll project. :)  

first day of 4th grade.

I tried and tried, but this kid would not cooperate for a picture.  He is not one to hide his emotions.  His morning was full of lots of yelling and throwing things, but we got out the door and once he saw his friends he ran right to class without me.  

The day went better than these pictures predict though. He got an amazing teacher, with a few friends in his class and came home smiling. 

Although we did have a massive anger explosion that night, where he ripped up all his hard earned money.  This kid.  

We took a picture on the 2nd day of school, it turned out much better. 


I know it’s going to be a good school year, even if it kills me. 

Ruby and I then had our last week to ourselves before she started school.  

We had lots planned. 

Zoo Day with The Miners.

It was hot and busy, but a perfect way to spend one of our last days of freedom.  

Splash Pad with Michelle and Lottie.

Our last breakfast Date at Chickfila.

A few more lazy mornings, just the 2 of us and Fang.

Kindergarten Testing.

I wasn’t exactly sure how’d she do.  We didn’t even start working on letters and writing her name until the week before her test.  Can you tell she’s my 4th kid? :)  I was happily surprised when she didn’t do too bad (I was sitting across the room filling out paper work and spying).  

this was my favorite moment:

Mrs. B. : Count from 1 to 10.

Ruby:  1, 10

Mrs. B. : Say the numbers inbetween 1 and 10.

Ruby: 1, 7, 5, 2, 8..

Mrs. B. : Finish counting for me 1, 2, 3….

Ruby: 4, 5, 6, 7…

I was dying.  Poor kindergarten teachers.  

We had a princess movie party with Reagan. 

And then in the mist of it all she BROKE HER ARM and I didn’t think it was broken, so I didn’t take her in for like 4 days.  

She was running in the backyard, tripped, and her hand went between our tramp hole and the tramp. She only cried for a min, so I didn’t think too much about it.  

That night she was still complaining, so I wrapped an ace bandage around it to make her feel better.  She went right to sleep and I chalked it up to her just being dramatic. 

She made me keep it wrapped during the next few days, but at night I would unwrap it when she was sleeping to see if she could remember what arm she hurt (she’s crazy dramatic, so it’s hard for me to trust her).  She did remember and then when I spied on her sunday getting dressed for church I could see her wince when she was putting her dress on.  So, the day before kindergarten started I took her in just for peace of mind, still not thinking it was broken.   


Broke 2 bones in her wrist.  Good thing about waiting so long is that the swelling was down and she could get her hard cast on right away.

When they were putting her cast on she looked at me and said, “This is the Best day of my entire life”.  She kills me.  



Finally the much anticipated first day of Kindergarten came and it was only made better by the bright pink cast she got to sport.  

Pretty much the cutest, and pinkest, kindergartner around.  

She was a little  nervous since she didn’t know anyone in her class and mad at me that I put her in AM Kindergarten, while Reagan was in PM Kindergarten with the same teacher.  

She had a great first day though, made new friends, and got to have a photo shoot with Reagan before it was her turn to head off for her first day of kindergarten.  


I was very successful in my 2 hours and 45 min of alone time.  

I read a book and organized my pantry.  

Then before I knew it, it was 12:00 and time to go pick her up.  

And we still had about 2 hours together before the big kids started getting home.  


While somedays I wish she was in all day kindergarten, I’m trying to soak her up as much as possible, because I know this is the end for me.  Next year they will ALL be gone ALL day and I will actually have to take up some hobbies or something.