Nix: Party of 5: August 2015

I have always loved school. And I have always loved "back to school". One of my favorite things as a child was back to school shopping with Aunt Cil and Uncle Charles. I hope my three little ones have the same love of school in the coming years.

Natalie was the first to start school (pre-k 3) on Tuesday. Well, I guess technically Luke was, but more on that below. Natalie has been at Ascension since she was 6 months, so the transition was an easy one. Most of her friends from her previous class stayed together, and this year they will all enjoy having Mrs. Blythe (James had Mrs. Warack for pre-k 3, but this will be a better fit for Natalie). I have been looking forward to seeing Natalie in a uniform. She is still so little, and while I was worried the uniform would swallow her, she pulls it off well.

my attempt to get all three in a picture

The morning before school started, Natalie started getting very serious. She wanted her things laid out just so--very un-Natalie. Right before taking this picture, Natalie shut her fingers in her drawer :(

Both she and James were allowed to choose the breakfast for their first days, and both (surprise, surprise) chose donuts. Brad went into work late, so he was able to be there for the first day. I'm not sure Natalie knew what to expect, but, true to form, she didn't even look back after getting out at carpool. I was able to snap this pic as she ran in.

Tuesday morning was so busy that I really didn't have time to be too emotional; however, when I got to work I suddenly felt very lonely. This little peanut has only stayed home with me or gone to school part time, so it suddenly felt lonely without her. Silly, I know, but again, she seems too little to be at this phase of life so quickly. (one of the pre-k 4 teachers, James's old assistant, sent these during the day)

I asked our sitter to bring the kids by my work after school, fully expecting Natalie would be so excited to tell me about her day. Well, she was so busy seeing my office and everyone in it that she didn't so much as slow down to give me a passing hug. What else should I expect from this independent little girl?

On Tuesday night I told Brad that it is very easy to take things for granted: a loving school, sweet friends for our children, teachers that pay attention and want the best for them, etc. We have all of this at SBS and Ascension, and we feel very lucky and thankful.

James started kindergarten on Wednesday, and I swear this kids already has life figured out. He is very confident and self assured, so again, a pretty easy transition. Brad wasn't able to stay home this morning, so we were a bit rushed (no surprise there). Imagine hot, steamy Houston weather, coffee spilling, switching out car seats, running in heels, etc. I asked James to grab the chalkboard for a picture, and when he did, it smeared a bit. What's missing: trips to Target, camping and DONUTS. And his height: . (sidenote: Brad and I asked the kids their favorite things and what they wanted to be when they grew up. James said "daddy"; not "a daddy", but "daddy". I married well).

For some reason Second Baptist doesn't release the classes/teachers until the first morning, so we showed up to school not knowing James's teacher or who would be in his class. To our delight, James is with two of his best friends: Caleb Walker and William Carlson!

Like Natalie, he went right into his classroom, put his back pack on the chair, and sat down and started coloring the sheet laid out. To my delight, he did stop and pose for a picture with Ms. Browne. Not a tear, not a second look back. I'm happy about this, really I am.

One of the things I will miss most with working is picking the kids up from school, particularly James. Luckily, he went to Chick-fil-a with James Thomas the first day. This is a sweet picture that Lindsay (JT's mom) sent when she picked the boys up: Will White, Logan Walker, Caleb Walker, James Thomas Garret, and Owen Collins. Again, I am thankful for sweet friends for my children.

Brad took James to the male equivalent of afternoon tea to celebrate his first day: the arcade (Dave and Busters. Really, at this point we should just have a punch card). Brad texted me saying that James scored 3 100 point rolls on skee ball in a roll, for a total of 400 tickets. I'm not sure what this means, but apparently it is awesome. Boys.

Well, my dear, over-achiever of a cousin Katie requested a Luke chalkboard sign. While he didn't start a new school, he did start going full time this week. We love this funny little boy!! Love him to pieces. He is just the funniest, most laid back little fella. Our house would not be as fun without him. And I could have listed just one thing that Luke loves: FOOD. He will stop whatever he is doing to eat, and it doesn't much matter what type of food. He loves it all.

Reality: here is the dear boy having a meltdown because I won't let him wear both pairs of swim trunks to the pool.

Outtakes: Natalie in carpool (she only gets in the front seat when we pull in the line, otherwise, she is in a proper car seat). Doesn't she seem so little and yet so big.

James was dismissed at 11:30 each day this week (don't even get me started), so Friday he had to come to my office for 30 minutes while waiting on Laura. We made a quick stop at Whole Foods for a cookie, and I loved having this firecracker for a visit.

Here is to a great year of school for all!

Well, summer has officially come to an end at the Nix household. School starts tomorrow!

Natalie and I celebrated her starting "big girl school" with afternoon tea with her best friend Zoe. This all came about when Brad and I told Natalie that she could do whatever she wanted last Saturday while James was out of town. This sassy, sweet girl picked going to the arcade! Dave and Busters. Seriously? I knew I had to take immediate action to remedy this situation, so Amanda Candler and I planned something super girly. Natalie LOVED the idea of having a real life tea party. She was so excited and counted down the days.

Natalie and Zoe loved drinking out of a tea cup and having an actual tea pot.

The allure was good for about thirty minutes of good behavior, but soon after these two friends had resorted to their typical three year old selves. Maybe my expectations were a bit too high. At one point I told Natalie to "get out from under the table, and take your dress out of your mouth. We don't eat food off our dress". Mom might have ordered an extra glass of Prosecco. Silliness aside, this was such a special outing with just us girls.

Natalie wasn't as crazy about the fru fru food as I was, but all in all we had a great time. She will be well prepared for sit down dinners at the DG house. (Natalie quickly changed when we got home--this is more her style)

Today Natalie's school had Open House, where she was able to see her classroom and meet her new teacher. Most of the friends from her old class have moved up together, so it should be an easy adjustment. She was so excited to go that she met me in the drive way before I could even get out of my car. (I was coming from work) I hope she loves school as much as I did.

Natalie doesn't seem old enough to be starting pre-k. Even as I type this, I think I am about to start crying. I don't know if it is the fact that she is the only girl or that I am just more nostalgic with each child, but my heart aches at times thinking of her not being little any more. She is almost a full 7 months older than James was at this point, but I still think of her like this.....

I may be a wreck tomorrow....

We have had an amazing summer: survived (and dominated) swim team; spent a lot of time at the neighborhood pool; had a many of snow cones and ice cream outings; floor seats to Garth Brooks; family trips to Destin, Mississippi, Green Bay, and San Antonio; precious time with family (both immediate and distant) and friends; a birthday for the oldest; and a lot of sleeping in, staying home from school and late night movie watching.