So It Begins

Summer was extra long this year. I have no idea why, but our school district extended the summer by a week so the girls didn't start up again until Tuesday the 30th of August. In some ways that was great - we got some extra summering in. But also it kind of dragged on forever. That's partly because we had a record-breaking summer, the hottest in history. FUUUUUUUN. Especially when my northern-European DNA is yelling at me that we are supposed to live in cold damp places.

I digress. Summer finally came to an end. It's so nice having older kids - they were fine with their same old backpacks and lunchboxes. They barely needed anything new at all. We did one half-hearted Target run for some extra pencils and notebook dividers but that was about it. And then they were off.

Emma started her 8th grade year, much less stressful and scary than last year. 

 

 

We got ourselves involved with a somewhat massive carpool - six girls! They're all pretty close by, but it's a lot of driving when my turn comes around. The good thing is that I only do pick-up two days a week, and no morning driving at all. It's nice. And the girls are really cute.

Emma is pretty excited to be in the 8th grade, even though she acts grossed out by the thought of getting older. I know she was happy to know her way around and be the experienced older kid. Plus she really did make a lot of friends last year and she was excited to be around them again. She ended up with an English teacher who was one of my mom's students at West High. Always a nice connection to make.

It doesn't seem real at all, but Romney started her senior year. She has gotten herself involved in a lot of things  - she's the president of the Theater Club, she's on the Seminary Council, she has lots of after-school time spent with the madrigals, and she also enrolled in Orchestra class, so she'll have concerts with them as well. I once, a long time ago, heard someone describe themselves as "having their fingers in too many pies." I don't know why it's a good idea to stick your fingers into pies at all, but if pies equals activities, Romney has a lot of pies and her fingers are in all of them. I predict some tears, but also great times as well ahead. (And since I'm writing this in October, I can say that I'm already correct on both counts.)

And Chase...well....his first day of school looked a little different from everyone else's. Good thing he was getting close to heading out on his mission.