6th grader, 4th grader, Toddler at home

I can't believe this is where we are in our lives. We have a 6th grader, a 4th grader and a 3 year old.

I never knew what to expect when I was younger, dreaming of my future family. They were all just unknown silhouettes in my imagination. Yet, here I am, a thirty something wife and mother of three. Holy Moly! Where has the time gone? Wasn't I, myself just in 6th grade? The big shot of the school (because that's when 6th grade was the last of the elementary years), playing kickball for P.E., and learning pre-algebraic equations. I also had a horrible haircut. One I begged my mother to give me.

Ugh. I cannot believe she gave in. Ah well. I'm a better person for having gone through that.

On the first day of school there was excitement all around. The kids were in bed (as put there by themselves, mind you!) by 8 pm the night before. Their clothes were chosen with care down to the last detail. Backpacks loaded and waiting. All was set to go. The morning of, they were too excited to eat and wanted to leave to get to school early enough to see all of their friends.

As is tradition, I insisted we take their pics before loading in the car to drive to Academia. They posed ever so sweetly and then we were off. We pulled up to the elementary first and I asked Corrine if she wanted me to go in with her to her class and she said, "Sure." So then I turned to Hunter and asked him if he, too, wanted me to accompany him to his class, and he goes, "Nah. It's OK. You can just drop me off in front." "Really? Because I'll totally go in with you. I don't mind," I nearly pleaded.  "No. I'm sure. Thanks, though Mom."

*sniff, tear*

So, keeping Corrine in the car with me, I drove over to the middle school to let Hunter out, and I leaned over to lay a smooch on him and get this. He LOOKED AROUND before he would lean in to kiss me back. Gah! It's begun. The shame of kissing your ma in public. It was a happy realization for me. Oh what power I now wield. Ha ha!

Anyway, I snapped a shot of him just as he was turning around to see if I was still there. Love you Little Man.

After dropping Mr. Hunter off, I drove back over to the elementary with Corrine and gosh dang it! Just as we were pulling up so that I could park to go in with her, she goes, "Never mind Mom. I'll just go in when the bell rings and stay out here and play with my friends until then."

Wha? Huh? Wait just one second. "Really?! Are you sure? I mean I would love to come and see where you sit and stuff?"

"No Mom. I just want to go see all my friends. Bye! Love you!" And she was out the door. She did, however, lean up over the seat and give me a kissy before exiting the vehicle. Love that. I did have to roll down the window and yell her name to get her to turn around so I could take her picture.

Then there was this tiny voice from the back seat. "Mom?"

Awww. My little bug, hadn't forgotten that her momma needed her.

"When can you take me to my school?"

It was all I could do to keep the tears from flowing.

She even insisted on wearing her own backpack and carrying her own lunchbox to the big kids' school. It's something she loves to do every morning with them.

But I was able to win her over once we got home. All it took was 24 different colors of nail polish, some princess dollies, and a few cookies to eat while we watched a movie together. For now at least, she's still all mine.