Everything is ready

The bags are packed with new school supplies and the lunches are already made...even included is a dessert of a homemade cookie. The first day outfits of new clothes are laid out, and I've done my "homework" by completing all of the paper work we brought home from open house. Everything is ready for the first day tomorrow...everything except me. The kids are excited, but I'm so sad...so sad I could actually cry about it. I don't know why. Maybe it's because I know this is the last year my kids will all be in elementary school...next year we'll have one starting junior high and I almost can't stand the thought of them growing up so fast. Maybe it's because I know that life gets hectic and scheduled again and free time is at a premium. Maybe it's because I don't feel like I really got to accomplish the fun and carefree things I had hoped to do with them. But mostly, I think it's because I'm going to miss them. I mean really miss them. I'd been doing some research on homeschooling HT this year in case he had been placed with a teacher that I knew would make the year miserable. I'd never before understood why a family would want to homeschool, but I had a new appreciation for it. I didn't feel like it was something I really wanted to do, and I know that it's not what is best for them or our family as a whole at this time in our lives, but because part of my mind was set on getting to spend the day that way, I'm really, really going to miss them. I'm glad each of them is excited about the beginning of the new school year.

Today, we spent our last day at home before the routine of school begins by going to the county fair. As part of their art curriculum at school, the teacher has each child make a poster and enters it in the fair poster contest. Our weather has turned quite brisk (after being in the 90's on Friday and Saturday for the first time in September since the 1960's) and it was actually pretty chilly! We got to see the posters though, and everyone had a snack. I'm looking forward to a quiet and peaceful evening.