First day of school

It was a bit rough getting up so much earlier than our summer routine, but we were all up early enough that we had some hang time before kids had to leave for their respective schools. Reese took off at 7:15, after letting me take a pic, and the other two were waiting, backpacks on, for 15 minutes before riding off at 8:15.

There was some excitement and some anxiousness; Cameron had decided not to go to the school last week for 'meet your teacher', and then didn't know where exactly to line up in the morning, which was a bit worrying. The most dramatic reaction was from Aubree, who wailed and gnashed her teeth all morning at being left behind and not having her own lunch box. She did pack a backpack and sack lunch though.
The rest of the day was busy; shopping for our back-to-school dinner, making it home from shopping just as Reese made it home from school, other kids home as soon as Bree was down, and the low-downs on the first day, and then trying to make rolls, jello, chocolate cake while cleaning and talking and refereeing and going to soccer, the library, and then finishing the chicken, rice and broccoli, and phew, it was finally dinnertime at 7:40. It was actually the kind of dinner I read and dream about; the kids actually ate and were grateful for dinner, they talked and shared and were happy and everyone had a turn. It was great. i wish every dinner were like that.

Then it was 8:30 and I was trying to finish frosting the cake, and we had to talk to a kid about feedback from a coach the kid got mad at us about, and other kids were mad about doing dinner chores (like we don't do them Every Night!), and we were all exhausted from a long day and went to bed.
I was so wiped out from the drama of yesterday we just hung out all morning. Bree missed her siblings A LOT,  and besides me reading her books and playing with her babies in her pool, Bree was a bit bored.
So she chewed all the gum I bought yesterday to keep her happy shopping.

at least it didn't get all over the inside of my bag this time

Then she 'packed' for our camping trip next week (which may be canceled due to fires)

And emptied a sewing basket. 

All before lunch.
That 45 minutes of quiet between Aubree going down for a nap till Reese got home from school was even better than the chocolate cake I ate.