This is NOT what I had in mind

You know what time it is...
And here are my babies ready to go back to school...
Well, maybe they aren't all ready. Do you think Jack looks a little under-dressed for the occasion? That would be because he is staying home today. And maybe tomorrow. And maybe the day after that. Not because I can't emotionally handle sending my kids back to school (though that is just about true). He may have Whooping Cough. We vaccinate our kids so it kind of bites if you have to get the shots and you still the disease. Until we know what he does or doesn't have, he is home. And shirtless...
This news threw me into a funk. It's not about the Whooping Cough. He's on an anti-biotic and he should be fine and back in school on Monday even if he has it. But I love to mark occasions and the idea of him missing the first day of school makes me sad. Plus, when my kids were sick I would always call my Mommy. Having her empathy and prayers always made me feel better. Having Jack sick just makes me miss her all the more.

But we're trying to look on the bright side. He just got a bit of a summer extension. And I get one of my big kids home with me. Granted, I get him home possibly infecting the baby (since he can't keeps his hands off her)...
But home is home. And though I am sad that he's sick, I like his company. This definitely happened to the "right" one of my kids. Jack is a happy-go-lucky guy and will make the best of it. Which for him means video games, movies, donuts, marshmellows and a McDonald's cheeseburger with extra pickles...
To cheer Jack up, Emmie brought him breakfast in bed...
When my kids spontaneously show love to each other, I find it to be one of the greatest highs in life.

After breakfast (and a teeny weeny photo shoot) it was back to school for the oldest two. Tate is in 7th grade...
7th grade. The grade my whole world revolved around Tom Selleck, Noxema & Sea Breeze, and friendship bracelets. Also the grade I had my first boyfriend. Deep breaths Miss, in and out.

The Divine Miss Em was ready to start 4th grade...
Bill got to take Tate while we waved goodbye...
And I got to take Emmie to the annual first day ceremony at the elementary school with our friends...
Lulu was a big hit as usual...

(Betty, who is Ethiopian, has "promised" me that Lulu's hair will look like hers.
That is, if I take care of it right!)

I can't count the number of kids who have asked their parents if they could have a baby like Luci. As it turns out, there are unfortunately about 147 million of them. If anyone can use the sheer power of charm to lower the number of orphans in the world, it's Lulu...

With all 7 of our older kids in school now, my friend LeAnne and I will be having fun with these two little caboose's...
Lulu is going to miss her big kids so much. But it didn't take her long to realize that she will now have unrestricted access to Emmie's barbies...
It was a different kind of summer for us and I wasn't ready for it to end. And the first day of school was not at all what I had in mind. But life is rarely what I expect it to be. Given this reality, it's a good thing I love surprises, right?