A new school year approached and for the first time in 7 years we were involved in the mayhem of getting ready for school. It really cut into the end of our summer. But we made the best of it.
Kenzie was beginning middle school this year and wanted to sport a new fashionable look. We hit the stores and found a few good looks..
These were not school approved but they did help with the shopping monotony!
Sarah and Miles moaned the fact that they had a dress code and their school clothes shopping trip wasn't as exciting an experience. But in an afternoon we were successfully completed.
Next up was the grooming.
Sarah had the full treatment with a great hair cut and an eyebrow waxing.
Mackenzie received the home spa treatment as we tried to figure out why her hair seemed so dry and damaged. We experimented with multiple moisturizing treatments and were finally pleased with some simple natural conditioners. We practiced a few do's and she was ready for her debut at the middle school.
Cooper, the boy with the fastest growing hair in the west, was simply due for a major hair cutting. He certainly was the most expressive of the haircuts. His school neither required a dress code nor did it have an official starting date. For that matter, depending on the person it has a different name. For some it is the Noble Academy, others k12, and lately, the 'Bureau of Noble Education' or B.O.N.E. for short.
Caleb headed out in the real world and went job hunting. His barber's took great pains to groom him well for his future position in the work force.
It must have worked. He landed a fun job at the deli counter at Macey's grocery store. Best perk?! He serves the ice cream.
First day of school arrived and they were ready. Dress code, check. Backpacks, check. Looking good, check. Carpool, check. Lunch, check. Off they went.... The house has been quieter... The adjustment has been going well.
Next up was preschool. He even insisted on wearing his new backpack and packing a lunch like the big kids even though we would only be gone an hour. We've been talking about preschool ever since summer began and the speech therapist recommended him for a special preschool in the fall. However on the long awaited day we arrived for our assessment and the little stinker passed with flying colours, so he no longer qualified for the program. It became his first, last and only day at preschool. He wasn't completely aware what had happened. Fortunately we had a backup plan of an online preschool which we are now thoroughly enjoying. I'm a bit relieved not to have any more school driving and coordinating. However I am a bit sad with it since I had picked up a few darling school outfits for him and now since he doesn't leave the house he refuses to wear anything but his favourite lounging suit. He's a fickle one when it comes to his clothes this one!
Change is happening around here. It seems to be going smoothly so far. I have one working, one in high school, one in middle school, two that I teach 4th grade to at home with the help of an online charter program, an at home preschooler and the sweetest toddler pattering about the place.
The kids fixation on the Biggest Loser show this season brought all sorts of comments after that park moment!! Each night they continue to coax Daddy with,
The first truck pulling the trailer of animals and gear left with the boys and they headed for the Faire grounds to unload and set up whilst us damsels... (16th century... getting in character) stopped at the bakery for the day old pastries, ice and drinks for the day ahead. We pulled into the peasants entrance... because of course as lowly farm workers we do qualify as peasants... we took Paige's advice and used the flushable privies before heading to work... but wait Paige let us in on a little secret!!... stop at the braiding tent on the way to the petting zoo for a hairdo that would last us all three days she said! The exquisite braids did more than just last three days... they kept our hair off our necks in the 100- degree weather and high humidity, they kept us looking remarkably tidy looking even though we knew by the end of each day we had a full layer of grime all over us. The braiding had one other perk... and that was that by the time four damsels had their long hair braided and headed to the petting zoo... the grueling work was done!
We weren't in the zoo all day though. We explored about 1/3 of the fairegrounds that day. We attended shows, looked in a few shops, and wandered around quite a bit. We were in the parade after lunch and that was fun... for most of us. Paige carried the smaller tortoise which was awkward to carry but had the desired effect of getting a lot of attention for the petting zoo... until that it it pooped on her... The parade route takes you all the way through and around the fairegrounds so I was glad to have a quick overview of the place... I just wish Duncan hadn't tuckered out half way along the route. I had to give him a piggy back ride to finish the parade and then walk all the way back to the zoo area. (I used short cuts whenever possible)
Cleaning up at the end of the day was almost an event in itself... and seemed to go very quickly... of course I was just a photographer. I was amazed at the way the kids could catch the animals and crate them so adeptly. But it must have been fun because sometimes as we waited for Carlos to arrive with the truck and trailer the kids would dance amongst the animals.
