I loved the summer. Really I did. In May I couldn't wait for the school year to be over. To have the kids home every day actually excited me. It was a welcome break from the busy schedule that a school year offers.
M-F we dropped off Catherine at 7:45 (walked no bus) and then picked her up again at 2:45. And an occasional run back to school for a forgotten lunch. After school was homework time at least 3 days a week.
MWF we took Stephen to pre-school from 9 to 11:30. And once a month had to remember it was our turn to bring in the snacks.
In the fall it was cross-country three times a week. Two nights of practice followed by meets on Sundays. In the Spring it was soccer following the same schedule.
When the weekends come it was always welcome, and always brief, and often busy.
I was ready back in May for the unscheduled life to settle in. I was ready to not be up by a certain time. Not to rush to get dressed and eat breakfast. To get out the door by a certain time. To accomplish certain tasks in a specific order and time.
June came and so did the freedom to sleep in. The freedom to run wild. I embraced the summer vacation and had fun with it. We moved in the first week of vacation and once we settled in our vacation settled in quite nicely.
I took the kids to the weekly movies offered at the rave. I took them to the parks scheduled out by my moms group. We did a few fun races sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Road Runners. The days passed fun filled. I let the kids get up when they were ready and we'd grab the keys and go where we could in the mornings. If they slept in late then that was okay by me. Nothing was set in stone. We didn't "have" to be anywhere.
My only regret for this summer vacation is not taking trips down to my parents house to swim in their pool. With the moving and the unpacking I really couldn't spare a day and half to do that. We did spend a weekend at the beach. And we made it to Ocean City for July 4th.
And now here we are at the end of August and I am ready to go back to the routine of school. In fact, I embrace it much like I embrace the start of summer vacation. At the beginning of August the unscheduled fun stops being fun again. The kids start to bicker more. They get "bored." They have run out of summer games to play, I have run out of tricks to keep them happy. It's time for a change.
Monday that change comes. Catherine and Stephen have already started cross-country practice two nights a week. And on Monday they both start school. We are all very excited about it. School supplies have been bought and packed into the school bags. Uniforms are all bought, cleaned, and ready to be worn. We are all ready to settle into the next routine.
David and Joshua will start pre-school September 10th. They two are excited, but disappointed that Catherine and Stephen get to start up first.
This year is a big year for the kids. It's the first time they will ever ride a school bus. Catherine is going to second grade which means she receives lots of new sacraments this year. Stephen starts Kindergarten, which will be an adventure in itself.
Yes, the countdown is one. 6 days from now I will be posting pictures of my kids getting on the bus for the first day of school.
For now I am thrilled. Talk to me in May and I'll be ready for summer again. Oh how I love for the seasons to change.
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