- LET'S LEARN! -

Wahoooooooooo, it's BACK TO SCHOOL SEASON!  I've always been a momma that loves having everyone home all summer and spending time with her babies, and I did love that [for most of] June and July...

 

...but the first couple weeks of August were consumed with bickering and sassing and attitud-ing between the big girls, and finally one day Juliette and I had the genius idea to retreat to the pantry and make a secret paper chain countdown for their first day of school!  Rawr!

 

In between tearing links off the secret chain ;) :), we found time to go back-to-school shoe shopping...

 

...and supply shopping...  

...and even did all the supply labeling, too!  Sigh!  ...Just when I think they've officially driven me halfway up the wall and one more eye roll or sassy comment may literally commit me to sign them up for full time daycare next summer, I walk up on Scarlett making a set of kindergarten sight word flashcards and writing her name all by herself on her folders and notebooks, and my momma heart just can't take it!  ALL.THE.FEELS.  The days are long, but the years are short... Time is a thief, and moments like these are a real reset in reminding me to [try my VERY BEST to] enjoy all the ages/stages of the time I have these babies under our roof!!!

 

 

 

Then! Thankfully! I got my sappy-mom-self under control just in time for the drumrollllllll...

...Blessing of the Backpacks, school supply drop off, and Meet the Teacher Night!  Scarlett is soooo so excited to be in Mrs. Wilson's class; she can't wait to start kindergarten at "the big school" alongside lots of the same friends from preschool... 

...and Harper is movin' on up in the ranks as a big 3rd grader and looks forward to having Mrs. Litterst as her teacher!

I have to say -- and this seems like as good a time as ever to say it -- I was on the Pre-Cana marriage prep team with Mrs. Litterst severalllll years back; I think Harper was about 2 years old at the time, so it was long before we had decided on sending our kids to Catholic school.  Most of the other marriage prep team couples already had school-aged kiddos, and I remember just putting my feelers out there and asking them why they chose STB school over public school.  Mrs. Litterst spoke up first and said, "We aren't with our kids 24/7 anymore once they go off to school, but the best thing about the STB school staff is that they cherish and love the kids so well, and I know if ANYTHING ever happened to my kids in my absence, the teachers and staff would care for them the exact same way I would.  And that level of trust and confidence, knowing the teachers love my kids and look out for them the same way I do, it means everything." 

...Gosh, I'll never ever forget her saying that ...and it almost makes me teary-eyed typing it and knowing that she is 1000% right and my kids are cherished and loved soooo well at STB!  What a blessing for our family to have baby Bluejays under the fanned out wings of Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Litterst this year!  You both will be very beloved "extensions" of our family this year as we hear stories about school happenings at the dinner table every night! Always know of our support and prayers for you!!! ...Just LMK how you like those eye rolls and sassy comments from my cherub children!!! ;) :)

Ok, back on topic..! It's one. more. sleep. before......

 

...THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! 3rd grade and kindergarten, here they comeeee! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I turned around to ask Brian something after we snapped this pic with the Bluejay, and when I looked back, Harper and Scarlett were already headed inside!  Cheers to a great year for our strong-willed gals! FLY, LITTLE BLUEJAYS!!! <3

As it turns out, Juliette is loving her 1:1 time with Mommy [AND IT'S NO SECRET, I'M LOVING IT TOO!]!  Our days are filled with playing, crafting, snuggling, and doing alllll the age-appropriate things we don't get to do when the big girls are at home!  Back to school.......ahhhhh. I know for this year, August is a win-win-win-WINNING situation for all! 

The school year's theme is "Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace," and we have a goal to implement that in our home as well!  Blessings and love to all school kiddos and families for a great year ahead! LET'S LEARN! :D

- Another summer UP... -

...and another summer DOWN...

...which means, once again, it's time for the always-exciting BACK TO SCHOOL season!!!  After picking out school supplies at Walmart...

...and labeling them very carefully...

...we stuffed the backpacks full and skipped off to Blessing of the Backpacks + Back to School Night!  NEEDLESS TO SAY, we love this school so are so so so excited for our big second grader...

...and our preschooler [who is back for her second year in the Pre-K building and ready to rule the roost!]!

In no time at all, Harper's first day of 2nd grade rolled around...

...[^^ proudly sporting the bow she sewed herself!]...

...complete with lunch with friends after the early dismissal to celebrate the beginning of an awesome year!

A few days later came Scarlett's first day of Pre-K 4...

...followed by Juliette's first day of freedom!!!  ;) :)

I joke, I joke!  TBH, in alllll the time she had mommy all to herself, she spent half of this first day of "freedom" crawling into the girls' bedroom, sitting on their rug, and looking back and forth and all around for just a glimpse of her beloved big sissies!  She misses them so much and has been waving her arms furiously and squealing in delight the minute they get in the car after school every afternoon! 

As we all continue to celebrate fresh starts and settle into the "new normal," I truly am looking so forward to having the big girls back in the classroom environment where they're stimulated and challenged each day, and I'm also so excited for the shiny new time alone with Juliette on Wednesdays and Fridays!  Win, win, winningggg for all! And now...

LET'S LEARN!!!

Cheers to the 2022-2023 school year! May it be fruitful and full of blessings for all! :)

 

- Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho... -

...it's BACK TO SCHOOL we go!  Harper is looking so forward to 1st grade [!!]; and after being out of daycare since March 2020, Scarlett is quite excited to "get back to 'cool" and make some new friends at Pre-K!  

And so!  School supply shopping for all!

 

 

 

And art shirt crafting for all! 

And back to school nights for all!  We enjoyed touring Harper's classroom, helping her unload her supplies into her very own desk [which was her first time for an individual desk since kindergarten used tables], and meeting her teacher.  This classroom looks sooo fun; can I go back to school, too?!

^^ May or may not've teared up when I read this note from Harper's teacher and saw the excitement on her face as she spread the confetti under her pillow [and was so kind to share some of it with Scarlett, too!].  The love that the teachers, faculty, and staff at STB have for the kids is overwhelming to me; I know that during the school days/in my absence, they love and cherish and honor my kids the same way I would.  This means the world, and I am soooo happy to be a part of this Bluejay family! [End sappy mom-monologue; I blame the pregnancy hormones!]

 

A few days later was the long-awaited FIRST DAY.  Harper woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and was ready to reunite with all of her old friends and tackle a brand new year.

 

Go, Harper, go!!! :) 

 

Pre-K classes started up a week later than "the big school" did, but Scarlett marched right into her back to school night and was excited to put all her supplies in the tubs and meet her teacher as well!  

 

 Annnnd a few days later was Scarlett's FIRST DAY! 

 

 

Go, Scarlett, go!!! :) 

 

So proud of these beautiful sisters as they embark on a new school year!  May your little minds be like a sponge; we pray that your eyes and ears and hearts will be open to learning tons!  FLY HIGH, little Bluejays! <3