Is that a tie you are wearing?

My sister and her husband moved to Calgary, Canada this summer. She enrolled my nephews in a school that requires uniforms.

This post is about being very careful about what you say. Last year, I sent my sister a photo of my kids on the first day of school. Yes, boys wear ties. My nephews thought this was very funny.

Here are my kids on the first day this year:



Here are the Fabulous Baker Boys:



What is that a tie? And dress shoes? And a cardigan?

All fun aside, they look awesome and I wish them the best of luck at their new school.

And I don't believe Jeffrey skateboarded to school, but who knows?

Dear God, (a back to school prayer)

it is me, JoEllen. Thank you for school. I am officially checking out of parent duties starting tomorrow at 8:15 a.m. and not checking back in until 3:30 p.m.

I love my kids and am thankful for every last bit of them, but my patience for household messes, fighting over a five square foot chair when we have been blessed with a 4,000 square foot house and picking up flip-flops, has run its course.

Thank you for Davis, my firstborn, he will always hold a special place in my heart, but lately his know-it-allness (I know that is not a word) is driving me and everyone else nuts. Please, God, challenge him at school this year so that he realizes on his own that he, in fact, does not know it all.

Thank you for Eden, my middle child (she is 30 seconds older than Clara). Help her to realize that crazy, whiny baby talk will get you know where - especially in first grade. Help her realize that girlie girl crap is just that, crap! And give her the strength to not get caught up in it all.

Thank you for Clara, my baby. She and I have a special bond I can not explain, even though she is more like her dad than she is me. I love this child like you can never imagine. Find a way to catch her attention and provide her with the ability to focus on ... something!

God love them. I do. I just need a break.

Amen.

(Tomorrow - our new school year goals. Yes, I made them, as much as goal-setting is hard for me, I did it.)

Hi Ho, Hi Ho...

Clara, Davis and Eden



Well, we did it. We went back to school today and back to work after a long, fun (some days more fun than others) summer. We were all up at the crack of dawn, me to ride my bike, my kids to get dressed. And we even managed to sneak in a few photos!

I survived, cried a little off and on throughout the day (okay every time I spoke of it), but realized that all was really good. I need to focus on work, both Bennett Schneider and GOOD artisan ice cream, and my kids need some structured time. All in all, a very happy day. On Monday, Clara came home from orientation and said to her dad, "Daddy are you going to miss us? Because after tomorrow we are leaving." If leaving always means they come home at 3:30 p.m., anxious to tell me all about the day and excited about tomorrow. I can get used to leaving!



For perspective ... Davis - Kindergarten 2006