Day 2

The first day of school. Always good to see a smile. I think he had that coat on last year when I took the picture. Water bottle in hand. Good to go.

Kyle is smiling big. Phew! First day on the bus. I think Ky, like his big brother, may have had that sweatshirt on last year, too, on day one. I will have to do some investigative work. (I wonder if I can photoshop out clothes.) It's the same backpack but it doesn't look near as big as it did last year so we know he's getting taller but I think he's the same weight.

Coop at a different bus stop where he gets on a different bus that travels a different route to a different school. I don't know if the mom can take it. It's really great to see him smiling. He has a really great smile, doesn't he?



Kyle is off. He sat with his cousin Veronica on the bus. It warms my heart when cousins get along so well.

Speaking of cousins, Connor was at the bus stop at the end of the day with Gramsie and the littlest son. It was wonderful to have a welcome home committee.


One down, many more to go. Coop talked and talked about his day and all the newness. Some things he was really irritated by like the school bell that seems to ring quite a lot during lunch. Some things he loved like everything else. He will have homework every night, a parents' nightmare. Just one more thing to fight about. He made a list for himself of all the tasks he needs to accomplish in the evening. That's a good first step that will last about two days but good for him for trying.

And then there's Kyle. Our anxiety-ridden son. We are working hard on helping him conquer his long list of fears. We no longer take no for an answer but walk alongside him through his fear. I am so incredibly proud of him for doing what comes easily and naturally for most kids. Way to go, son! He didn't say much about his day which is not a bad thing. No news with Kyle is good news. Mrs. G. did say that he raised his hand a lot in class. I'm quite sure he knows it all :-)

Oh, Cameron. He woke up with his crabby pants on this morning. Darn it. We had a cranky start to the day but it got better when we got out of the house to run some errands. We made a snack mix today and as he was helping he dropped some of the candy on the floor. He commented that it was good that we didn't have any dogs otherwise they would get sick from eating all the candy off the floor. Must have been thinking about Roscoe.

So there it is. As this blog continues and the days run together, I'm sure I won't always have so much to say but I will do my best to say something.

Day 2 Life Lesson: It's okay to do it, even if you're afraid.

School Day 1 - Sort Of

Well, I am feeling pretty good about my summer blogging accomplishment. So good, that I am going to attempt to blog for the whole school year. Eeeks! So, here goes...

Last night Kyle struggled through tears, pain, parental pressure and lots of encouragement in order to get one of 4 loose teeth removed. I mean really, the tooth was hanging sideways. The other tooth was already in. It needed to come out. I told him either I would pull it out or he could. Well, he yanked that sucker out and you should have seen the smile on his face. We ran around the house screaming for joy. He went to bed content with his baggy under his pillow.

SO, you can imagine the mild coronary that I had at 6am this morning when I realized I forgot to take care of the tooth fairy business. HOLY CRAP! I believe I exclaimed that out loud with the deer in the headlights look on my face. I flew out of bed, ran to the kitchen, scarfed up Corey's wallet and grabbed a couple bucks. Phew!

As you can see by the picture above, all worked out to Kyle's satisfaction.

Cooper had orientation at his new school. He was a bit overwhelmed by all the walls and the sheer size of the building. His take on it all went something like this, "You know, at Goodview I couldn't ever say that I saw someone in the hall, because there are no walls there. It will be weird here at Jefferson to say that I saw someone in the hall." Oh, Cooper, I love you.

Kyle had a great time getting settled in his 1st grade space. He got to use the smart board and show off his missing tooth to Mrs. Gilliland.

It's a different sort of year. Two schools, two bus stops, two boys on their own. It's change, it's transition, what can I say, it's hard for me. Let's do it...

Day One Life Lesson: It takes a village...

Labor Day

It's tradition on the last day of camping to roast weenies over the fire. Coop was the super roaster except for the time he dropped the hot dogs in the fire and made an ash out of himself. Bu dump bump.

Camping is an interesting social experiment, especially with children. There are certain "rules" that need to be adhered to for a peaceful existence in the woods. So, we have tried to train our three sons that you don't walk on someone's campsite, you don't go into someone else's camper, you don't touch the animals, you don't leave your bikes and 14 other toys at someone else's site and all those other considerations that go along with existing for a short time in a small space with lots of people (not to mention, dogs.)

Well, over the weekend we had a boy from another campsite attach himself to us. His grandparents didn't seem to mind that the boy was constantly on our heels. At all different times during the weekend Riley (age 8) could be seen entangling his dog with Roscoe (after being asked 17 times to keep Dodger away.) On other occasions, Riley asked me if he could come into my camper, buy him DQ, get him some sunscreen, feed him, and on and on. Really? Come on. Another boy in the park asked my father-in-law if he could see the inside of his camper. What the heck? What is wrong with this picture? It's not the kids I can tell you that much. Kids need social training. Clearly, some parents don't think so.

So, our long camping weekend comes to an end. It will linger for a while in the campfire aroma buried in our pores. Even as the boys start school tomorrow, the bug bites and scuffed knees will remind me of the great adventure we call camping and all that we have to look forward to next year.

Hancock Camping Motto: Be courteous, be kind and don't be hard to find.

The Final Countdown Continued

So, there are few things better than relaxing by a campfire all day...

...Or watching a DVD by a campfire

... Or playing Words with Friends on your phone by a campfire.

With the people sitting next to you.

Oh, the ridiculousness of it all. Yes, it's true, we are all playing a game with each other while sitting next to each other. And, yes, my chair would be occupied as well if I wasn't taking the picture. Eventually, all of our devices went dead and we were left to actually converse with each other.

As for the kids watching the DVD, Corey's cousin got that out for her son, Ethan. She wasn't proud of it but sometimes us moms just want to eat in peace.

Later in the day, Kyle, Corey, Ashley, Christian, Jodi, Roscoe, Amy and Ethan and I went up to the park to exercise ourselves with a frisbee and Roscoe with a tennis ball. We threw around the frisbees for a long time before heading back to camp.

Another great day was had by all.

The Final Countdown

The boys love playing with our friend, Judy. She always has cool games and books to share.

Ah, the joy of chalk. Cooper does the drawing and the brothers do the driving.


Cam sharing Ethan's chair with him. Cam would've made a great big brother.

It's Saturday, and we are on Day 3 of camping. The weather is coming along nicely. Warm days and cool nights. The kind of weather where you can have a fire all dang day.

Summer Break Day 61 - The End

Okay, here it is, Day 61. The last day of summer break. If you're doing the math and it's not coming out it's because I didn't count the weekends. So, break's over for the boys but it's just starting for me. I hope.

It's Day 2 in New Ulm at Flandrau State Park. We are having a great time with Corey's family. Lots of laughs and silliness. Sarcasm can be good for the soul.

Golfing is so fun!

Kyle was very concerned when he saw the sign that said, "No 9 tee". He wondered why there wasn't a 9th hole. We laughed about that one for a long time. He was very relieved to know that there was indeed a 9th hole for him to play.

We took Coop and Ky golfing for their very first time. Coop had been begging me to take him. Thankfully, he was okay with the little brother coming along. It was hot and sticky and we walked the whole way. Up hill. After hill. After hill.

Cam got left behind. Sounds sad, doesn't it? He didn't even miss us. He played with Grandma Joyce and her friend Judy and Riley, a boy in the park, and I could go on and on.

The boys have an exaggerated habit of spouting out, "THIS WAS THE WORST DAY EVER." At the end of THIS day it was, "This was the best day ever." Phew...

Day 61, the last day of summer break, Life Lesson: All good things must come to an end.

Summer Break Day 59?

I am losing track of the days. Kyle got to visit his classroom today. It's so great that Steph let us come over. Hopefully, it will minimize Kyle's anxiety. We are looking forward to a super great year for all three sons.

Have you heard of the "dipr"? It's a tool that helps you hold your Oreo so you don't drop it in your milk. Huh? What's the point? You miss out on the whole experience of dunking if you use a tool to help you. You won't get your fingers all milky and slobbery. And then you can't lick your fingers. Actually, that's not a bad idea.

We left this afternoon for new ulm to camp for along weekend. Lots of my in-law's camping friends are here along with extended family. It was a steamy 90 degrees but it is going to be much cooler the rest of the weekend. Should be fun.

Day 59 Life Lesson: Family is forever, whether you like them or not.