Back to School- Annalisa in Kindergarten

Five kids in four schools this year. Can't wait for all that paperwork to come rolling in... 

 Trevor was the first one out the door this morning, since seminary didn't start until the following day. Check out that backpack full of school supplies. Looks like he's going on a scout campout or something. Counting calculator and backpacks, the school supplies cost hundreds of dollars. Those supply lists can be killers. I decided August is the 2nd most expensive month of the year. I just keep writing the checks- a uniform cleaning here and photography lab fee there. You know how it goes.

Maren is a senior this year. It's strange how fast that happened. She is very independent and gets herself where she needs to be when she needs to be there with the stuff she's supposed to have.

Can't say the same for Adam unfortunately. On the first day of school he forgot his lunch and left his trombone and baritone in Maren's car. This is not unusual for Adam. By the time he's a senior, he'll probably have it all together. (man, I hope)

Adam going out to the car where Maren waits impatiently. Adam running back into the house for something he forgot. (not the lunch)

Nice that he takes a few seconds for his little brother...

Alec didn't want any help getting ready for school. Gym shorts are what he wants to where as often as he can, including the first day of school. Little Calli watched as her dearly beloveds left one by one.

Annalisa decided only two weeks ago that she wanted to go to school and be a kindergartner. I have been a little worried about her. She is so used to being home with me all day, even for preschool. And now Kindergarten is full day. But one day she just changed her mind and started counting down the days until school started. (thank goodness!)

And such a sweet little kindergartner she is! She skipped and ran to the bus stop.

Goodbye, Alec!

There goes my baby...

I did cry a little right here. I can't believe they are all getting so grown up. 

I said a prayer that the world would be kind to my little girl- and let her go.

Sniff.

Coming around the corner, I saw my nice empty house and cheered up quite a bit. I might have done a little skipping myself. :)

I went in and started to clean up our summer's mess.

For 7 hours- uninterrupted. 

I love school.

A summer of happy things

I haven't done much blogging lately. I haven't taken many pictures lately either. Summer was busier than I expected. And everyone in the family has a fancy camera now. I tend to leave mine at home more often. But it has been a beautiful summer. I was thinking of all the things that have made me happy this summer and the list is pretty long. I thought I would share a few of them. 

In random order ;)

Beautiful teenage nieces that stay for a month make me happy...

A thriving garden...

Endless cucumbers...

A NEW JOB for Geoff! Superintendent of the Missouri School for the Blind.

A new house for us to live in (eventually)...

Exploring the Blind School with dozens of family members...

 Climbing trees...

Getting wet...

Watching plants that move when you touch them...

An amazing mom who always supports and encourages me...

A houseful of boys...

Photographing Eliza...

Mitchell and his crazy faces

This darling daughter...

and her best buddy...

Lots of grilling...

Fun times with cousins...

Mom and Dad home...

An awesome blueberry pie...

Trevor at scout camp...

Adam learning to sail...

Adam with buddies at scout camp...

Annalisa finally learning to swim...

Everyone swimming at Nonny and Grandad's pool...

Hydrangeas...

Hiking with the family...

And outing to Purina Farms and a chicken that was loved by a little girl...

Dogs that dive...

Cardinals that come to our bird feeder...

And many other kinds of little birds...

Chipmunks that steal bird food...

Children that are delighted by all of this...

A lovely girl at the lovely Botanical Gardens...

Sisters that love each other...

A great Daddy/daughter friendship...

Another baby standing on Geoff's hand...

Did I mention cousins?

Feeding the Koi Fish...

Hundreds of varieties of amazing lilies...

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These two...

And delightful stay at the Abbey...

With Andersens and Stewarts...

\

And Kesners...

And Mom and Dad... 

Eating out with the family...

Having the dining hall to ourselves...

Little cuties and the Bed and Breakfast...

Maren and Sophia having a great time at EFY Nauvoo...

And Maren getting a great picture of one of my favorite temples...

Picnic at the site of a major Civil War battle...

Playing at Johnson's Shut ins...

Trevor enjoying the pools and waterfalls...

A nearly completed remodel of Dave and Rebecca's house...

Petunias that keep on going...

Maren and Adam getting to see Niagra Falls...

(although Maren says this photo is of the "little falls" next to Niagra.)

 Selfies of my kids at the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, New York...

What a great summer!!

There are some notable things on the Not So Happy List including 3 major car repairs on three old cars. But we won't dwell on those kinds of things. ;)