Figuring it out

This is our second week of school. We are figuring out our new schedule. Some of it is easy, and some of it not so much. Still, I feel like we're doing okay. At this moment I'm sitting in my car waiting for the right time to get out and get my boys. W is asleep and I'm enjoying my quiet moment. This year our schedule isn't allowing me the "me time" I've had in the past, and I'm trying to keep my eyes open for little moments I can claim. So far, this time seems to be one of them. I'm working on figuring it out. I think today might also be the day we figure out what doing homework with three looks like (I'm a little intimidated by this one).

I may need to keep a book in the car and take these little 15 min snippets of each Monday through Friday and read (it's been so long since I've done that). Here's hoping the naps last the year. I'm not ready to give those up quite yet.

Kindergarten and 3rd Grade

We did it. We survived the first day of school (and I don't think a single tear was shed - I give W the credit for that as he did a fabulous job of keeping our focus slightly off of everything going on).

G and J had a great first day. They both came running out of the pickup gate telling me they didn't learn Spanish and they didn't get in trouble. It made me smile to see them so excited for their day (and ready to return today). G told me about playing with play doh, playing on the playground, making a new friend, and wanting to learn Spanish. J told me about watching a small bit of Finding Nemo (in Spanish), playing on the playground, only playing with G, and wanting to learn Spanish. It was so fun to video each of them separately and see what stood out most about the day they shared.

H also had a good day and I think is most excited about all the computer games/learning that he will participate in this year. He was much more low key in his talk of the day, but I think he's happy to be back to school.

Now, it's time for me to focus on getting our schedule figured out at home and how best to make our day work for us.

Kindergarten

Somehow it is time for my twins to enter kindergarten. I am excited for them, as they have been waiting for this day for a year now (this past year was full of anticipation for today - the first day of school). I am, also, terrified and overwhelmed and not ready. How on earth do I leave them at school? How do I walk away and come back almost 4 hours later?

I know I've done it before, but H was different. Yes, he is the first born, and there were moments I thought I might shed a tear, but he was in his element. He was ready. School hasn't been easy - he has some real struggles with certain aspects - but he LOVES people and helping and playing with friends. The twins are different, both from H and from each other, and while with H I felt we were doing the right thing I suddenly find myself compelled to homeschool and not to let them go. I won't (at least not yet). We will wake up (way to soon), have breakfast, get dressed, brush teeth, finish packing lunches and backpacks, take some pictures and be on our way. They will be together in the same classroom, a rock for one another. They will find their niches and cliques and play with new people while keeping tabs on one another. It may take a week or two but I'm sure they will thrive. Still, I had no idea this first day of school thing would get more difficult. I was sure it would be easier with each child. In a few short hours I guess we'll find out if I was right or wrong. At this moment I'm pretty sure my original thinking was wrong and I'm fairly certain I might be that mom sobbing as she watches her children walk through the doors (perhaps I'll be able to make it to the car).

Sewing

I made a quick shirt this weekend and am very excited to see my sister-friend try it on. I used a free pattern (click to go) that I found.

Five weeks ago my sister-friend had her first baby. He's a sweet little boy. She is now discovering how irritating it can be to find clothes that make feeding said baby easier (especially if out and about). I found the above shirt pattern and modified it to make her a shirt that will hopefully help. I took the front pattern piece and printed two. When putting the second one together I left off the pieces that had to be taped on the right (essentially leaving off about 2-3 inches) and rounded the bottom edge. I also cut the back and front to be the same length (the back length). When I sewed it up I layered the two front pieces so they form a type of wrap/tulip front.

I wish I could say this idea was all my own but I was trying to mimic several nursing shirts I saw when looking up nursing shirts on Pinterest. I do love how it turned out.

I don't have any pictures of her wearing it, just the ones below from before I gave it to her, but it does fit and it does work.

Today

Today on Facebook I posted: Today I find that one of me is not enough to do all that I want. 

There are so many people I love and want to help, and a few of those people have been in more need lately. While I don't always get do what I want (story of life, especially when four kiddos are added to that list), this week it seems even more like I should be able to do it all and I can't. My parents are watching my three youngest and I'm spending my days at school with my oldest (this has been in the works for a while and is finally happening). I'm loving my time with him, and watching him learn is great, and having him not be too embarrassed to hug me or blow me kisses in front of his peers is even more awesome, but knowing I'm down to one child makes it seem like I should be even more available to do things (despite the 6 hours spent at school each day - and can I say that is no joke, I need a nap now more than ever!). 

So to my friends whom I love like family but can't seem to get to your house or make you dinner or help in whatever way you need, know you're on my mind and in my heart and I really want to but somehow I cannot make time stretch no matter how hard I try. Maybe next week when I have four children back under my roof I'll find a way to make it work because sometimes I find the normal is actually easier than the not so normal (even if it means more kids). 

*Side note: I'm crazy popular in the 2nd grade. If anyone is looking for a good workout routine try racing a group of 7-8 year olds. I can't promise you'll win but if you spend one recess break trying you will certainly be feeling it the next day (or later that afternoon).