Thursday

 Between Me breaking my iphone and getting a new to me one set up, I haven't taken as many pictures this week.
Yesterday we worked on our letters in our name.

 We used name cards and matched up our letters as well.

 Random silly face with the boys...

 Our group and their name hats...

Another random... this cutie pie is ready for her first soccer practice. It's tonight at 5:30, she is only 9 hours early. Oh well. Can't wait to see Kenni and Mia on the same team this year!

Family Pictures (July 2014)

 Thanks to a family friend Brie, we had our family pictures taken. I am in love with out sneak peak. I can't wait to see the rest and get them printed.

 My silly kids... love that we can have fun, laugh, and make faces at each other
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 Dustin and I...

 Gaby... 12 years old (7th grade)

 Kadyn... 9 years old (4th grade)

 Mia... 6 years old (1st grade)

 Kendal... 4 (preschool)

Quentin...14 mo. (daycare)

Another milestone...

 And another milestone... Kendal and J are going to preschool. They will be going in the afternoon to SHES four days a week. She is the 3rd Fluke to attend this program.

 I love this picture...  they were excited to go.

 My sassy miss... She loves having a school to go to.

 I am in love with her outfit and red boots. Since she doesn't go to school until 1, I had time to fix her hair. She was a cutie.

Silly School Selfie!!!

Back to school...

 Yesterday Gaby went to Middle School. She was so calm and cool about which made me even more emotional. She didn't need her momma. I am excited she is loving school, yes, only on day one, but she loves it.

 Today the elementary school started school... I had one very excited Mia ready for 1st grade.

 Kadyn was even ready to embark on her journey to 4th grade...

 My elementary school girls.

 And then there is Qman... it's his first day of....doing nothing but looking cute!

 A busy morning...bus stop kiddos and my daycare kiddos outside to watch the bus come.

 And there they went... the first day in the books!

 My new little buddy, Joe and his brother. I was asking his brother if I could keep him and he quickly said no. After that he came over and gave his brother a big hug. Super cute to see their bond!!!

 Our circle time books...

I love, love, love our summers and love, love, love having my kids home. However it adds a level of trickery to daycare. My kids don't nap, they want to play and just be kids. So, after I wipe my tears the first day of school is nice on the daycare front. I get to hang out with my little peanuts again. Here is my crew!!! So excited to see what our preschool year has in store for us.

Our week thus far...

 Monday we had 2 kiddos start for the 2014-2015 school year... A neighbor brought down new books and puzzles which was awesome because this little cutie pie loves her puzzles.

 Coloring and legos...

 Kenni's prize from a nap time field trip with dad.

 Today, this little guy came back. His momma is a teacher so he stayed home over the summer. We sure did miss him!

 L was trying to scare me with the dinosaur puppet...

 J brought someone back to daycare with him... I have a feeling he will be very protected!!!

 Big Man Q.

 First nap for his first day... so precious.

 Sister playing with the blocks.

 This was my lap this AM. Baby in my arms, and baby in my lap. Qman wasn't so sure at first.

 First day at daycare art for baby J...

 Outside time before it gets too hot...

The secret hideout....

Happy Wednesday.

I.AM.NOT.READY.FOR.THIS.

 Yesterday was enrollment for our kids. Besides dreading the school fees for four children, it always means summer is coming to an end. I hate saying good bye to our no morning routines, wake up whenever you want, stay in PJ's til noon, play in the afternoon, snow cones at night kinda summer days.

Yesterday.This.Happened.

I enrolled Gaby in middle school. She is so excited. Which I thought was making it easier on me as a parent. I told myself I was ready for her to have this new adventure. Make new friends, switch classes, have a locker, have after school activties.

I.AM.NOT.READY.FOR.THIS.

We walked in into the school- the only time I have been there was when Gaby was playing basketball and had a band concert, both times in the gym only. I saw these bigger hallways. Bigger library. Lockers everywhere. Toto, we are not in elementary school anymore.

I.AM.NOT.READY.FOR.THIS.

I took a deep breath and started the process... the bus will not pick up at 8:39am like the elementary one does, it will pick up at 7:03am. She will not have one main teacher but 7 different ones. She will not have the same classes for one year, she will have different classes each quarter.

I.AM.NOT.READY.FOR.THIS.

How is she not going to get lost in the crowd? Will the teachers love her in middle school as they did in elementary?  Will her subjects still come easy to her or will she struggle? Will she be accepted as a girl who isn't girly?

As we made our way through the lunch line, the library, the payment in the office, I held back tears (not because of the cost, well, I felt like shedding a few tears then too) but because my baby girl was uber excited and I needed to be excited too.

 I.AM.NOT.READY.FOR.THIS.

We were all finished and Gaby had her locker info and class schedule in hand.  She wanted to walk around and see where everything was. So we did. I was clueless as to where her "team" hallway was. Working the middle school PTO was a teacher (and parent) from SHES who pointed me in the right direction. After following her advice on where to go, I fought more tears back. Hoping my friend did not notice my eyes watering up, we found her team hallway. Again, these hallways seems so big.

Gaby found her locker. It took both of us a few minutes to get it unlocked and open. The middle school assigns the kids a team. Each team has all of their classes and lockers in the same area/hallway. Gaby will have to travel a little as she goes to band and Spanish.

 I.AM.NOT.READY.FOR.THIS.

Gaby was excited when she finally got her locker opened on her own. She even practiced a few more times. I could tell she is ready for this new journey.  And even though I feel like I am starting over, feeling like I did when I was sending her to Kindergarten, I know she will be fine.

This past year Gaby has grown as a pre-teen, making choices both good and bad, but she is still a good kid. One that is excited for school. Middle School.

Our last station was the spirit wear table. And even though Dustin and I will have to sell a kidney to pay for school, we thought it would be nice to start her out with some Shawnee Heights Middle School shirts. Okay, some are mine too- retail therapy always helps my emotions.

I know her first day of middle school will great. I.AM.NOT.READY.FOR.THIS. But Gaby is. And I will be too (in my new SHMS shirt). I am thankful for a child that isn't scared or worried about moving up. I pray that her experience will be a positive one.

Cheers to Middle School!