~School Days!~

It's here again, the first day of school!

It never gets easier, except when I have Ward by my side like I did this year.

I think I have as much anxiety as the girls do about the first day. The hardest part for me is always the drop off. This year with Raychel it was "easier". I dropped her and a friend off, they were so excited and happy to be walking in together.

It helped a little with the empty feeling I get when I leave them behind.

Jolene is a different story.

As soon as we got out of the car she grabbed my hand, as we walked through the parking lot together she talked non-stop about everything. As we walked through the door she held my hand a little tighter. We found her classroom, and her desk, put her stuff away and then she gave me a very tight hug and gave me the look where she isn't sure if she is going to smile or cry. I hugged her really tight and whispered in her ear that she is going to have a great day, that I can't wait to hear all about it and I will be waiting for her to come out after school. She relaxed and told me I could leave now.

I am glad I had Ward's hand to hold as we walked out.

It always surprises me how quiet and empty the house is when they are gone, I can't wait to pick them up and listen to their voices and have them download about their days.

Jolene is in 4th grade, her last year at the elementary school.

Raychel is in the 8th grade, her last year at the middle school.

New Beginnings

I can't believe Summer is over, at least the vacation part. The weather is still very much Summer. The girls were so excited and nervous to return to school. Last night we had back to school night at Jolene's school. It was nice to walk through the halls see familiar faces, visit with friends and ease her nerves.

Jolene will be in 3rd grade this year. When I got her up this morning I had a flash back of taking her to preschool, how little she was, her excitement to go to school like her big sister, her love for learning and her fear of being apart. She has grown so much, she still can't wait to be like her big sister, she still has a love for learning and some days she still has a little fear of being apart. On our way home from back to school night I told her this was going to be a great year, she laughed and said, "That's what you said last year!" Well, it was and this will be too. Raychel is in 7th grade. She has been at the middle school since 5th grade and has done really well. This year she is at the other end of the school with the 8th graders. She said she feels like a new kid because she isn't familiar with this end of the school. The day before school started a friend and her got to help the teachers for most of the day. She had a great time, got to meet several teachers she didn't know, and was able to ease her nerves by being there in a relaxed setting. This morning when we dropped her off I got half a hug and off she ran. As I got back in the van, I was so proud! She is growing up and wants to be grown up! Where has my little Raychel gone? She is a beautiful, smart, confident, happy young women ready to take on the new school year. Jolene and her best friend, Whitney, are in the same class again this year! Jolene thinks the teacher knew they were friends and put them in the same group facing each other! It made her happy to know someone sitting by her. The best thing about her teacher this year is she was her reading teacher last year and they really hit it off! This is the first year Jolene has "allowed" me to take my camera to school. I figured I better behave and not take to many pictures, but to make sure the ones I took were good ones! Jolene at her desk

First Day Of School

The end of summer has come, it's

hard to believe another school year

has started. Both the girls

were really excited to go back and see

their friends. We loaded back packs,

got lunch ready, set out clothes and got to bed

early Sunday so we would be all ready for Monday.

The girls are excited for the new adventures but

very sad that they would be in different schools.

Last year the girls had lunch time together and Raychel

would volunteer to read to Jolene's class.

The are both in for a great year!!