First Day of School 2011-2012

We kicked off our new school year this past Thursday. I wanted to start early (the public schools here start Aug. 4th) so that we could get in a little school before Jake returns, and therefore take some time off to enjoy his homecoming. Plus, the girls actually wanted to start school and kept asking to begin! After thoroughly cleaning, purging, and rearranging the schoolroom we got a start with a half-day on Thursday and a full day on Friday. We'll be finishing 'week 1' this coming Thursday and will take Friday off to treat ourselves to some fun for a good start to our school year. Or at least what I am anticipating to be a good start. So far things are going well.

Bella, my third grader:

Jacob was hiding behind her chair in this photo... you can see his elbow under her arm! Silly boy.

Addie, my first grader, playing with thinking putty between subjects:

My note of encouragement, "I ♥ my girls! Today will be a good day! ♥ - Mommy"

I rearranged our photos and cross to include our new sign that I received from a sweet friend, Amanda. She had posted a photo of this sign and when I asked where I could get one she bought it for us and sent it from Connecticut! The amazing thing is that I've never actually met Amanda, although Jake has. She is the sister of our dear friend, Frankie, who was killed in Afghanistan. When she sent the sign, she wrote about how the first thing she thought of when she saw it was how these are the rules that Frankie lived out. And it is so true. So now when I look at our schoolroom wall, I get to think of Amanda and remember Frankie... and glean just a little more encouragement for my day.

Here's to what I hope is a very good school year!