The end of Summer and the Beginning of School

You know... as much as my kids argued this Summer and fought and left my house in a perpetual state of chaos and disaster, I still wish Summer NEVER had to end.  I just love the freedom of our long, lazy Summer days.  No homework, no extra-curriculars to rush to, no early mornings fighting to get them up, dressed and ready to go.  Summer might be so LOUD and messy, but it's a reprieve from the stress of school life.  So yes- I'm very sad that it's over.  While I can appreciate that my house is a little quieter and I have a few more hours in my day to get things done, I don't love the busy-ness that the school year brings.  I don't like living in my car half the year while being a chauffeur to and from a zillion activities.  I don't like the homework fights, the getting-up-for-school-tears and the utter EXHAUSTION felt every. single. day.  Nope. I don't like that stuff at all.  I guess to appreciate Summer as much as I do, I must battle through the school year, though right?  It's all part of the plan.....

So anyway. Our last 3 weeks of Summer were spent watching a little more TV than the previous 2 months, just as many hours at the pool, some playdates and sleepovers, just as much sleeping in and a few activities here and there. Cheer started, dance started, Shawn had to travel 3 weeks in a row (one of the weeks he was gone I walked into my house and saw water dripping from my family room ceiling! UGH. That was a disaster! A/C probs while your husband is gone and it's 112 degrees outside is too much for me to handle!) but when he had a full Monday at home we took advantage and visited the water park we have here in Tulsa. 

"This is our 4th Summer here and we FINALLY made it to Safari Joe’s. I’ve never taken the kids there ‘cause bringing a baby to a water park just stinks. But Sully is now old enough to do some slides and watching him get pummeled by the waves in the wave pool over and over again (he LOVED it) made me *and him* laugh so hard!😂 Also, I’ve never been to a water park that had Emu’s welcome you in, and reptiles to hold on your way out😆🤣😆 But the kids loved it. (Except Lucy with the 🐍. Nope. She was terrified.) Anyway- I’m glad we got to squeeze in one more fun event before school starts! "

Look how cute he is, showing his muscles!! I could eat him up!

A few days later we had meet the Teacher. These were my sentiments: "Oh, my heart!💗 This is going to be a GREAT year. I feel it🤞🏼Lucy’s new teacher asked her for a big hug right away and made her feel like a million bucks when she got down to her level and asked her a bunch of questions about herself and paid her a few compliments as well😉 AND- her BFF, Camden, is in the same class- thank goodness!👯‍♀️Piper’s teacher (and whole class) is the same from last year so it felt like walking into a big family reunion when we got to her new classroom. Her sweet friends are all there with her and her teacher (who is just THE BEST) welcomed her back with open arms. I am excited for the year ahead! 3 more days!"#meettheteacher#hugsallaround #lastyearatcentral @ Central Elementary School

This is Mrs. Kinnamon. She is SOOOOO super duper nice!

Some of the gang from last year in Piper's class! It was so fun to be back with them and see how much they've all grown this Summer!

This is Mrs. Sumler.  She makes my heart happy because she loves my baby girl and Piper just adores her. I never, EVER worry about Piper at school because of this woman. There is a special place in heaven for people like this. 

As I mentioned, we have been indulging in our last pool days! Even with sunscreen put on every single day, this boy has the most gorgeous skin! Those floatie tan lines though! ;-)

And... a little story worth mentioning....I just think this is so nice! About 2 weeks ago, Sully was playing with another little boys boat here at the pool (I have never met this family). The little boy let him borrow it and Sully wouldn’t put it down for like an hour. The boy had to leave and so when we took the boat away, Sully started crying soooo hard. He didn’t seem to understand why someone was taking “his” boat. I kept telling him the boy had to take his boat home because it belonged to him, and Sully kept saying “but why???” Anyway. They offered to let him borrow it and said I could bring it to their house later when we were done swimming but I said no. It would be ok.

So, like 3 days later they came back to the pool and the little boy ran in holding 2 boats and said “Sully! My mommy and daddy bought you a boat!” They even wrote “Sully’s boat” on the bottom of it. They said they couldn’t find anymore at Walmart (where they bought the original one), but they found the exact same one online somewhere and ordered it for him so that he could have one for himself because they felt so bad that he was sad that he couldn’t keep it.

Isn’t that the nicest thing EVER???

And finally- school began YESTERDAY August 20th, 2019. 

"I need allllll the pictures!📸🙈 I officially have a 1st and 3rd grader! What!? Sad Summer is over, but they were SO excited for today and got off to a great start. Lucy’s teacher brought muffins for everyone and Piper’s teacher is just our favorite so there were no tears this morning❤️. Happy first day of school!" #1stand3rdgrade #BixbySpartans

I bought the girls and I matching heart necklaces.  That way, when they think of me in their hearts at school, they'll know my heart at home is thinking of them too.  I love these babies of mine!

It was too hot for outside recess yesterday🥵 (it’s scorching here right now🔥) so Icees at pick-up was the least I could do for these cuties. They said they had the BEST first days EVER!! I loved hearing them dish allllllll about it!💗💗

 And, as tradition goes... here are the comparisons of me vs. the girls in our respective grades (1993 and 1995).  They are MUCH cuter than I was, hahaha!

After school "screen time" with their new glasses that block out UV rays from screens! Don't they just look adorable?!

And FINALLY.  God was shining down on us last night.  Look at this GORGEOUS sky that was happening right outside my front door.  It was almost sunset and it just looked spectacular!  There was lightning sparking up the cloud inside (not pictured) and I was in awe.  Oklahoma, your skies never cease to amaze me. A perfect end to a perfect day. 

 Today was the 2nd day of school, and just because I'm a nervous Mama, I wanted to walk them to their classes one last time.  Lucy wouldn't let me take a picture of her today.... Grrrr. But Piper did :)

This is Sadie.  She is Sully's age, so next year they will be starting school together.  She's at almost every event I am at with her Mom AND they live around the corner from us so we see them often.  Sully and Sadie are SO adorable but they NEVER will let me take pictures of them together! Today Piper kinda shoved them together so I could snap one and even though Sully isn't flashing me his famous smile, I still think this one is pretty cute.  These are the cutest little siblings EVER!

And now I'll leave you with a few more last-days-of-Summer pictures. 

*For the record- Piper is 49 pounds and 47 inches tall.  Lucy is 46 pounds and 47.5 inches tall. And Sully is 39 pounds and 39 inches!* He was so bummed that he couldn't be in school with his sisters.  He keeps asking "but why?" when I tell him he can't stay.  This is good though! It's getting him prepared for next year when he starts school 5 days a week as a Pre-K'er! This is my LAST year home with him full-time.  It's definitely bitter-sweet!