My last day.

Today is the last day that I have with my small kids.
Tomorrow, Tripp goes to Pre-K.
Then, the following day, Emma starts her real kindergarden year.

All week, these kids have been at work with me. Grandma is out of town, David is working.

I listen to them playing. Right now, they are playing a game where Tripp is going to his girlfriend's house and Emma is going to pick him up after she texts him. They have "cellphones" and are taking pictures of each other. Wouldn't it be nice to be so carefree?

Starting tomorrow, they are going to make new friends. They are going to have new adventures. They will have new stories to tell. Their days will not be with each other anymore. I know they were separated last year, but that was by choice. I can't help but feel a little sad at the fact that they are growing up so quickly.

Instead of working, I would like to go home and lay in the floor, and play matchbox cars and barbies and eat happy meals. I think I might cry later. Or now.

8th grade.

Today, I took Eli and I dropped him off for 8th grade.



He had his backpack, and his football bag with all his stuff in it.



He wore plaid shorts and a blue tshirt and black socks and Nike shoes.



I am really enjoying this kid. He is so funny, so witty. I love his personality, I love how he loves people and how affectionate he is. He likes to laugh, to tell jokes, to be lazy - all at the same time.

I asked him if he was a happy teenager. He said yes, except that Emma and Tripp bug him.

I can't wait to see what he does with his life.

School Registration.

Yesterday, I took all the kids and registered them for school. I observed some things:

1. This is Eli's last year at the middle school. We had to go to the end table reserved for 8th graders. Whhhaa! Next year, we will be at the high school.

2. Emma is re-doing kindergarten. She isn't extremely happy about it, but last night, at the parent teacher meeting, she walked around like she owned the place. And she got a great teacher who is super structured. And I knew the majority of parents in the room. Maybe this means Emma won't learn this year that some kids' parents are in jail and they have to live with grandparents?

3. Tripp is going off to Pre-K. As I looked around his nice, fresh classroom, I was thankful for the upgrades in technology. But, as I observed the parents in his room, he will learn more about jail time and drug use. *Tripp was apprehensive going in - he actually cried that morning. But, once we got there and he saw the computers, he was ready to stay.

4. I am apprehensive for ALL of my children. I always get nervous at the beginning of a schoolyear. What if they don't get along with their teacher? What if kids are mean to them? What if they struggle with work? Then, I remember, If I am scared for them, will they be scared? They seem fine.

5. I start a new school on August 29. I am scared for myself. My fees for college have doubled. That is scary in itself. And, I am going to have to hang out with big kids.