The Longest Night and the Longest Day

We had our longest night in three weeks thanks to Miss Luci sleeping from 9pm all the way until 6:30am. Can I get a "Woot! Woot!" anyone? Now, I am not naive enough to assume this will be a regular thing from here on out. Actually I am every bit that naive, I just didn't want to admit that to everyone on my blog. Here's to another 9 hour stretch tonight! Mr. Night Shift will appreciate it most of all.

The longest night was preceded by the last day of summer. It was our busiest day since Luci has been home. After some back to school shopping with Grandma, we hit the pool. I learned a little secret this year: the last day the public pools are open, they close the books at 2pm. Which means if you go after 2pm, you get in free. Free is my favorite! You also get lifeguards who are only flirting with each other and not remotely watching the children, but you get what you pay for right? Jack opted to stay at his friend Josh's house, so it was just Tate, Emmie and Luci. Lulu had her first experience as a bathing beauty...
In my typical "faking a special moment" style, I said something like "Put your arms around each other!". The politely tortured look on Tate's face absolutely cracks me up...

Goodbye summer.

The longest night was followed by the longest day. The first day of school. The minutes tick by as I watch the clock. I love the excitement of the first day, but the day is long as I wait to see my kids again. This year went faster, though since I had my little Lulu here with me.

Today my big boy started middle school...
He has a locker. He has a class schedule. And he's taking Home Ec! How cool is that? Sadly for the lazy Momma, he has to be at school an hour earlier. This is going to hurt. It was sweet to see how concerned Emmie was for him as he started his big day...

At what point will I grow out of dressing them alike?
I achieved the goal I had for myself which was to not embarrass my son. Now I only need to make it about 200 more days and we'll be good. Those of you who know me, can take bets as to how many more days I'll be able to make it.

As for Em, I know the question you are dying to ask...
And the answer is "No, she does not attend a parochial school." And she is not imitating Britney Spears "Baby One More Time video" either. She just dressed like a school girl the way every other girl in the school did. I'm lovin' that plaid is back! She and Jack still go to school together for which I am thankful...
Clearly, the reflector stripe works on Jack's backpack since it kept blinding me every time I tried to take a picture.

And the newest big brother is off to 1st grade...
Though he was nowhere near nervous, when I asked him to give me a smile as he walked into the school, this is what I got...
Oh, how I'm going to miss these guys!

As for Luci, even though it was the big kid's day, she was not lacking in attention...
She fell asleep in the car seat so we left her in it thinking that she would sleep through the opening ceremony. Do we not know this baby at all? There were people around...of course she wouldn't be sleeping.

It's going to be really different around here during the days. I will appreciate the bonding time Lulu and I will have together, but I do like having all four of my kids together...
Even if I act like a cranky, frazzled Mom sometimes.

I'll miss them a lot and they'll miss me a bit. Of course, there is someone who they are really going to miss this year...