Life is a roller coaster

It’s official. I’m a bad mother. It’s been almost 3 weeks since my kids have started school. Do you think I took a picture of them for their first day of school? Nope. No way. Not me. Do you think I have gushed to anyone about how spectacular they are doing in school thus far? Nope. Nadda. Not me.

So, here goes. :) Elaina has been at this school since Kindergarten. She loves it. She doesn’t know any better. Haha Actually, it is a really good school. It is a public charter school. :) She is now in 2nd grade. She came home with homework the first day of school (the only one to do that I might add). She has 15 spelling words a week to work on. She must play games with these words on the computer and take tests twice a week online. She also must write sentences with each word. She also gets to read 100 minutes per week. More like I get to sit with her and help her read for 100 minutes a week! I’m not complaining. I love spending time with her, but it’s hard to find 100 minutes a week to find a quiet spot to read, without interruptions. We haven’t started math homework yet, but I know it’s coming. YEAH! :(

Emma is doing really well in Middle School. Her school moved into a new building this year and it is really neat. She feels like she is super grown up. She has gotten a bit taller and thinned down a bit, so now she is starting to look the part a little more. :) She still LOVES to read and does it every chance she gets. The homework hasn’t really started too much for her yet, but she is usually pretty good at taking care of it at school. This year she even has study hall once a week to work on homework during school. She is excited about her drama class as well. :)

Josh was leary to start the new school we put Jacob and him into. He is starting to open up a bit and come out of his shell a little better. He is taking German and loving it. He is constantly teaching me new phrases. :) He knows more in the three weeks of German than Jake knows from a full year of Spanish last year! Of course, Jake wasn’t really into it last year and Josh is super excited about German, but hey, it’s encouraging!

Jake is in heaven at the new school. He loves getting out of school at 12:45 Monday, Wednesday and Friday! He thinks that is the neatest thing since sliced bread. I’m not so sure he isn’t right. For now, all the problems he had at the public high school are not affecting him. He has really enjoyed his fresh start and is making the most of it. YEAH for him! He is enjoying his classes and making new friends. I am super happy we went ahead and moved the boys to this High School. :)

I am on the road constantly. :) I wish that were an over-statement, but it’s not. :( I used to love driving around, but now I look forward to staying home a little. It’s been nice that Mother has been with me this last week. She has kept me company while I am dropping off kids then picking them back up a few hours later. :) She is doing much better and determined to go home in September. My selfish side wishes she would just move in and help me year round. Not just for a week or two. :) It’s amazing the things she does, even when she is “slowing down” and not doing as much. Haha

Mike is doing really well, as well. He works quite a bit. I have a new understanding of his dislike of traffic because I am in it each morning right behind him. :) He is enjoying his calling with the young men. I know Jake and Josh enjoy Mike helping with that as well. They tolerate me, but I think they prefer Mike because he doesn’t pry into their lives as much! Haha