Rowdy's first concert!

another post to finish the year, and then some exciting news... soon!

first concerts might be my favorite thing. Drew had her 4K program and was completely adorable!

Drew and her teachers

Drew showing off her gift from her teacher

(no, I'm not pregnant. silly!)

front row parents

I'm certain I've mentioned it before, but we're lucky to have a small private school for the kids to attend in our small community. I love all the activities they're provided, and I think the kids do as well. I sure miss the Christmas concert in the beautifully renovated church, but they do a really nice job in the gym as well, just a packed house! Lucky for us, our good friends saved us a seat right.up.front! we have great friends :)

Lia - sitting, closest to the camera

Nash - ringing the blue bell

Tayt - back row in the plaid, big smiles for the camera

Austyn - front, dead center

Austyn has always loved to sing and it's always a joy listening to her. Excuse the proud mom moment and terrible recording skills, but she really did amazing. Best of the night if you ask me ;)

Austyn - on the left

Lia - middle row with the scarf

the entire group, focusing on Nash, hiding in the middle :)

kudos to the schools music teacher for doing another great job. keep up the good work!

rowdy rocks 4K

Drew has successfully completed four classes (2 weeks) of her 4yo kindergarten program. Her classes are 2 days a week for 2-1/2 hours. I had absolutely *no* doubt she was going to love school. She is the most outgoing of all the children. Loves everyone. Friends with everyone. She's quite the lover, this one :)

every morning I drop her off and she beats me to the door. she has her folder out, backpack hung, and is in the door before I can throw out a quick hi to any other mothers dropping kids off. she gives her teacher her folder, grabs her name off the table, and never looks back. kisses and hugs and goodbyes never happen cause she's gone before I know it! this is probably easier for me :)

day 4 * just as excited as day 1

Duke patiently waits for the kids to get off the bus almost every afternoon.  

makes sure they do actually get off the bus

and then we repeat it all over again the following day :)

ten. seven. five. three. one. all the tears.

unfortunately, I *still* haven't found a way to stop time. I'd even settle for time to ssslllooowww down! but alas, another school year has begun. 

in summers past, I haven't been ready for the kids to go back to school. this year... they were driving me bonkers the last couple   few weeks   month. goodness! I haddd to pack them up and head to our best neighbor evers pool a few times in the last few weeks in hopes of not locking them all in a room together and leaving!

and now as I sit here in the middle of the day. Will napping. girls snacking and watching Sophia. I miss them. it's quiet. too quiet. this is most likely preparation for the day when they're out of the house, but I don't like it one bit.

enough rambling. photos!

first, the 'school age kids.'

from left to right: 

Tayt (7) - 3rd grade

Lia (12) - 7th grade

Austyn (10) - 5th grade

Peyton (15) - 10th grade

Nash (6) - 1st grade

and now I'll cry myself to sleep for a nap instead of anything else that needs to be done around here :(

shockingly, I only took a total of 14 photos. and of course Dave drives by in the butcher truck just a honkin' at the kids. had to laugh at this one :)

get serious kids!

and then we added em all in :)

a couple things about this photo... Will may or may not have just nose dived into the gravel. finished drive way, yay!!! and Peyton may or may not be patting Tayt on the shoulder. nice and gentle. looks can be deceiving people. ;)

this one on the other hand, they are, in fact, being nice.

Drew (Rowdy) starts a 3yo preK program this year, twice a week, and she is *beyond* ready and excited to go. imagine the sheer terror.disappointment.sadness when I told her she was not riding the bus yesterday. or ever actually. glad I caught this photo before I broke the news to her.  :|

and this one just because. come on! none of my kids had curls like this!

we cleaned. we ate lunch. we did laundry. we played outside. we went to the park. we napped. we watched them get off the bus! not a bad first day at all :)

and I'm still sad today that they're all back to school :( wishing all of you and your kiddos a happy first week of school. if you have little ones at home, enjoy it! before you know it, they'll be gone!

for the record, Drew and Meg dressed themselves. a nice break from tutus, pjs, and yesterdays dirty clothes :)

first+last

I'm in denial that July has started. where is the summer going!?! we had a wonderful weekend. we ran so much I barely took my camera out of my bag. probably an indication we were enjoying ourselves :)

playing a little catch up. because I love a good comparison, here are a few photos from the kids first day of school. Nash did not attend a 4k program so he was *beyond* excited to go to kindergarten with the big kids. I wish I could tell you his first few days went as well as his face would suggest. there was screaming. and crying. and it was downright ugly from what I hear. the kids attend a small Catholic school here in town so the teachers and staff know the kids pretty well. he spent a couple days real close to one of the teachers and after that was right at home :)

Nash in front of Tayt.  Austyn.  Lia holding Meg.  Drew.  Peyton holding Will.

just the school kids

Rowdy's hair! Willlll!!!! 

{all the tears}

and now the 'current' photos... the whole crew on the last day of school :)

Meg.  Drew.  Nash in front of Tayt.  Lia.  Austyn.  Peyton holding Will.

well, this just isn't fair.

and then we added in my nephew, Luke, because why not ;)

and of course, a comparison to make me cry myself to sleep :(

threw you off with Peyton's choice of hoodie. his favorite I guess.

grades entering:
Peyton: sophomore
Lia: 7th
Austyn: 5th
Tayt: 3rd
Nash: 1st

andddd Drew is entering a private 4k program here in town. while I didn't send Nash because I didn't think he was ready, Rowdy... she's beyond ready to go. that girl has nnnooo problems leaving me :(

I will never wish these years away. I only wish time would slow down. My once baby is now a sophomore. Signed up for drivers ed this summer. DIS.BE.LEAF! They're sure quite the bunch. And I wouldn't change a thing. My only prayer is we continue to live a long, happy, healthy life together!

okay, that got a little deep... no apologies. they're worth it!

a freshman, a middle-schooler, a kindergartner, and 2 partridges in a...

Sometimes I wish I had a more meaningful reason as to why my blogging has been put on the back burner. Then other times, I look at the loads and loads of photos on my computer and I could care less. These wonderful kids, my amazing husband, my growing business... that's what's really important and I'm okay with not blogging as much or as well as I'd like. Always something to strive for.

Enough rambling... the real reason for this post. School started. I wouldn't say I was the most.excited.ever. but there must be some sort of checklist kids have in their brain to accomplish the week before school starts. It goes like this: argue incessantly. check. use sharpie on all walls, doors, floors, COUCHES. check. remind mom how bored I am every waking second. check. make a complete mess of the house twice, sometimes three, times a day. check. eat everything.in.sight. check twice.

The week before school started I was ready. Ready for them to go back to school. Ready to have a better schedule. Ready to catch up on everything around here. And then I watched them get on the bus and almost immediately missed them...a little...for like an hour  ;)

They were ready. I was ready. It was time. Do I think the summer went unreasonably fast? Yes. Do I want to pack everyone up and go on a long road trip out west today? Yes. Do I want a nap? Yes.... wait...that also has nothing to do with this post...

Because time is a jerk and I need a reminder that I am getting older...very, very slowly... 
a first/last/first day comparison.

September 2013   *   June 2014   *   September 2014

Peyton lucked out and got my genes. He too is aging slowly.  ;)