Back to school again! First day of 7th, 5th, 3rd and...... KINDERGARTEN!!!!
I was making such a big deal about Dallin starting kindergarten that Aliza had to remind me what a big deal starting 5th grade was. And she was right. Her last year of elementary school has some so quickly. Like really fast!
An extra picture of this kiddo who was starting kindergarten. The most anticipated day for him and myself! I felt such mixed emotions about this day. I know he is ready for kindergarten and I'm so ready to have all my children in school. But it is definitely the end of an era for me. No more kids at home... it threw me into a whole new category of motherhood. I no longer get invited to play dates or the park. I don't get to interact with other moms at preschool pickup/drop off anymore. While it's given me so much more freedom, it has also isolated me somewhat. But somehow I seem to be surviving so far! I most certainly cried a lot after dropping him off. I have never walked my kindergartners into school on the first day. I've always put them on the bus. But gosh darn it, I really wanted to walk him in, so I did. They would only let parents go in as far of the front entrance. I was struggling to hold back my tears until I got back in the car. Dallin, on the other hand had no reservations. He marched down the hall to his classroom like the big boy he is. Carmen was still home when I got back from drop off. As I was telling her all about it, I spotted Dallin's blanket sitting on the chair.... BAHAHAHA! I lost it after that. I cried giant tears and Carmen did nothing to comfort me, just laughed.
Dallin doing some writing homework. I love that he is left handed, like me and Aliza.
And the 5th graders didn't waste any time. I went on this field trip with Aliza to Monticello just a few days after school started. Monticello is such a beautiful place to visit. It had been several years since I had been and even more years since I had taken the house tour. It was all so fascinating and somewhat rushed to get us through everything. But such a fun day to spend with my Aliza.
At the end of the tour, our guide had all the kids tell him one thing they learned on their visit. No one could repeat what another said and it had to be something that wasn't super obvious. After each student took their turn, they each got a nickle - With Monticello on the back. I thought this was pretty neat!
September was also when all our house renovations started.... we started with refinishing the floors. Oh boy, what a job. I had to basically move everything out of the house on the main level. We had to move out too! We spent a week at an Air BnB down the street and another few days at Boars Head and a few days in our basement until we could finally return home. It was fun at first, then it was frustrating, but after 2 weeks of being out of the house, it was worth it in the end. Next is the kitchen and the master bathroom.
And Koda, just because he's so cute. He endured a lot of moving around during our floor project.
