Last week at home

Another break over. I cannot believe we are waiting on our teacher postcards again. I cannot believe another summer is ending. I cannot believe that in less than a month, my son will be "closer to driving than he is to being born" as he so nicely informed me the other day. I cannot believe we are going to be back to our routine. Most days, Shawn and I will pass each other in the hallway and I feel like we should have nametags on so we know who the other is. Often, we pack everything up in the morning and give each other a high five as we get into our cars and head out for the day, our little sign of victory over the morning rush. Obviously, the kids don't notice the strain. The other night, Shawn and I decided we needed to start some Christmas shopping. We asked his parents to come watch the kids. The kids got very defensive and asked us where we thought we were going without them. I didn't want to mention Christmas, so I just said that daddy and I were going on a "date night". They didn't understand, Drew even went as far as to say, "But I thought your anniversary was in September!" Maybe we need to schedule some couple time in a little more often so the kids aren't so thrown by it. LOL! I cannot believe we have our "first day of school" clothes picked out. This activity took the better part of an evening. It started off smoothly, I picked out three different outfits, called Drew up, asked which he wanted to wear, he quickly scanned the outfits, not bothering to put down his Wii remote, pointed at one and ran back down the stairs with a quick, "Thanks, MOM!" Then it was time to call the girls up. Delaney tried everything on quickly and cared to see what was most comfortable and didn't hurt her belly. She did get very excited at the one outfit that I told her made her look like Junie B. Jones. She decided this was it and skipped happily down the stairs. Dawsyn was, of course, a small nightmare. I think I am getting paid back for every single trip to the mall that I made my mother, who despises shopping, take me on. I had bought an adorable outfit and I was so excited to have Dawsyn try it on. She dutifully put it on, went and looked in the mirror and came back looking absolutely adorable from the neck down. The look on her face, however, left something to be desired. I asked her if she liked it and then recoiled waiting for the answer. I still wasn't prepared when my seven year old put her hands on her hips and said, "Not really, Mom, it's so last season!" Really? Awesome--this is going to be a very interesting school year. I try to be proactive-- we went to a reconciliation service at church on Sunday. I thought it would be a good way to kick off the school year. Drew is the only one old enough to participate, but I told the rest of the kids to sit and pray about the upcoming year and all of the opportunities and exciting events they were going to get to be a part of: Drew's travel soccer team, the girls' new Irish Dancing classes, cheerleading, Dax's soccer, Kindermusik, piano, Church choir, Drew serving at mass, Sunday School, Dawsyn making her first reconciliation and First Communion, both girls trying out for Firefighter Queen, Kindergarten, Second Grade, Third Grade, birthdays, new friends, basically--they have a lot to look forward to and we have a busy year ahead of us. These are the times when I remind myself that I don't "have" to do all of these things, I "get" to and that's good enough for me. I sat in the pew and looked down the row at my children all sitting nicely. I could tell they were thinking about what I said and I had a moment of "maybe this year will go smoothly and be wonderful!" I really should know better by now. Dawsyn was the first to lean in and whisper to me. She said, "mom--I was just thinking that making my first reconciliation will probably be difficult because I am practically perfect and haven't really done anything wrong!" To which Drew replied, "I could say something here, but then I would probably have to stand up and go back to confession again." Delaney then piped in, rather loudly since that child only has one volume--LOUD--and said, "Well I already know I am going to have a terrible year!" and Dax started telling me what all the other kids do at the babysitter's that they shouldn't be doing. I looked to my saving grace, Drake, and he just clapped his hands and smiled a great, big toothless smile, reassuring me that it indeed is all worth it. So, as we prepare for another school year, I remind myself that I don't have to do anything, but I will get to coach cheerleading, drive to practices, wash laundry, help with homework, volunteer in classrooms, teach 6th graders who won't realize that I knew what I was talking about for many years, get up at 4 AM to get my workout in before the kids know, pack lunches, bake treats, plan parties, dry tears, have "those" talks, read books, stay up late worrying, lose sleep over issues the kids are having, try to make the money stretch to cover recital costumes, uniforms, and supplies we need, plus trying to schedule in date nights more than once a year! I am reminded of the Carrie Underwood song, "Jesus take the Wheel". I begin to hear it in my head and start to feel better until the voice is replaced with Daxton's version, "Jesus, take the Wii". Oh well, either way, I guess!