Aug 31

Well, Labor Day Weekend is here - the unofficial end of summer, and that means several things have happened in the last couple weeks - school registrations, band camp, school clothes shopping, school supply shopping, a few last dips at the pool, play dates with friends, trips to the beach being planned, oh - and it will be Randy's birthday this weekend!

After a few weeks of intensive daughter-ness, I am trying to turn my attention back into wearing the mother hat more. (Amy Grant has a great song called "Hats", and it is very appropriate this month.) First off, let me say thank you to everyone who was and is a support to our family - even though I was raised to be a strong, independent person, losing mom knocked me down a bit and made me grateful for everyone I do have around me in this life. Each person has offered their support in their own way and I do appreciate it.

Kevin is starting jr. high 7th grade next week, he says he is not scared and is looking forward to it. Good for him! We registered him earlier this week, he knows where the bike rack is and how to get to the gym on his first day. Stupid mom, why did you think you had to point that out to me?? He is well on his way to being super-independent.

Sammy has completed his two weeks of band camp, and was very happy to sleep in this morning. We went to see their fall preview last night, and the first third of the show sounds really good. A couple days ago, though, he was riding his bike to school and got bumped by a car that was turning in an intersection. He was shaken, but the urgent care said he was all OK. He starts school next Thursday, the latest of the four. His registration packet had a website for juniors that is a college planning tool. It is linked to the counselors at the school, and allows them to see when colleges will be on campus, save specific information on their "resume", and has scholarship and grant information. A great tool for this time for him.

Jacob and Matt start school on Wednesday, they actually don't want to go.... they know once they go back to school that the Playstation, Gameboys, PSP's, and videos all go bye-bye and only come out on the weekends. It is an adjustment for them to switch over to homework! Jacob and Kevin finished their reading programs and actually did show some improvement, that was a good investment of time and money this summer.

Painted the kitchen today - it's been too long, and it really needed it. Kevin wanted to paint, I told him I would let him help me and Cindy when we get painting at mom's house. Lord knows, there are plenty of rooms to paint and for him to learn on!!