While it's sad for Summer to end, I always love the start of a new school year. It just feel like a fresh start. A time to make new goals and work on better habits. David had his first day grad school and I couldn't let him go without taking a first day of school picture!
We squeezed in some last minute play dates with friends before summer ended. Case is Dallin's sweet friend from preschool, who was home schooled last year. But then came back for 1st grade and we just learned he'll be in the same class as Dallin! We were thrilled to hear this.
In our family, we have the rule that you have to wait until you're 12 to get your ears pierced, but for some reason on a spontaneous whim, I let Aliza get hers done a few months early. The time just felt right to me. She was so excited, and maybe a little nervous! Now poor Charlotte is begging to get hers done too. I at least have to hold out until the year she turns 12.
I have to include a picture of Koda because we all just love him so much.
Dallin has been begging to get a suit, so of course we obliged! This is the kid we had to bribe with a trip to Legoland so he would wear his tie.... well, look at him now. He's just so handsome. But don't you dare tell him, because he hates to get a compliment! It makes him so mad.
Dallin gave a talk in primary and didn't even ask me to help him. Sister Anderson did help a little, but I was so proud of how brave he was. And look how cute he is in that suit!!!!
More last minute summer bucket list items: Timberlakes for milkshakes! And then walking the downtown mall.
After milkshakes, we headed to the back to school night to meet the new teachers. Dallin got Mrs. Jackson, who Charlotte had for a few months when we just moved to Meriwether Lewis. He was thrilled to learn that all his friends were going to be in his class. Poor Mrs. Jackson, I hope she can handle them all!
And Charlotte got the lovely Miss. Smith. She brand new to teaching and seems sweet as can be.
Then the first day of school game. I can't believe Carmen is starting her last year of middle school. And Aliza is joining her this year!
And I thought this was so adorable!! The top picture is Aliza's first day of kindergarten and the bottom is her first day of middle school. She's so lucky to have a big sister to pave the way for her and be a good supporter.
I walked the middle schoolers to the bus stop, but once the neighbor girls showed up, they were less than willing to pose for any pictures. I caught this one real quick before the bus came. And by the way, going to the bus stop is Kola's favorite part of the day! He even knows when it's time and will come find me, just to make sure I don't go without him.
With David being an official UVA student, we decide to support the school some more. We attended this fun men's soccer game on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.
And lastly, to end the month, we cut down this ginormous tree beside our driveway. We had suspected for some time that it was dead and that it needed to come down. But it was such a big beautiful tree, I hated to see it go. But the time came that we knew we needed to take care of it before it fell on the house. I was still not super convinced it needed to go, but once the trunk was down and we could see the extent of the damage inside, I knew we made the right choice. It was full of termite and beehives.
This tree taught me a lesson: No matter how strong someone may look on the outside, you are never quite sure what's going on in the inside. It's important to minister and tend to one another. Even the strongest people can be weak on the inside!
