We had our first day and week of school! We are homeschooling (!!!) this year and it has been quite a journey so far. Tons of up and down, a total roller coaster. Hoping I settle into our new rhythm and find our new normal soon. Some days I can't believe I'm doing this, but I think for our family, this year it's the right choice. There are a lot of things I love about it. Just working out the kinks and the anxiety! 

Maeve obviously loves having her sisters around. I think she would find herself feeling lonely and sad without those two each day! 

Holly is participating in Cross Country at school and she had her first "meet" this week. It was the most adorable thing I've ever seen! Oh my goodness! A whole mess of cute kids in their school jerseys just so excited to be there. Holly was all smiles. At the end of it all I asked her what she liked best and her answer was all of it. She said there wasn't anything she didn't like. Win! Holly got to ride a school bus from her school to the park where they raced. That was her first time on a bus and it was a thrill! It's the little things when you're 6 years old. Holly did a great job. We loved cheering her and the other kids on. She totally had a runner's high afterwards. She has one more meet before the season is over and we're all looking forward to it. Long live childhood!

It was a little tough to send Holly to school this year. We've only been in Spokane for 2 weeks and I feel like we know very little about the school. I was nervous! Holly was nervous! Imagine my relief when I picked her up at the end of the day, asked her how her day was and her response was an enthusiastic, "It was great! I had fun!" Phew! It all went well. She's still our happy Holly. Here's some photos of my big girl on her big day.

Can you see Greta making faces through the door window? Honestly! Greta is turning into such a class clown. She's discovering she likes to make people laugh and does she ever make us laugh! Love these two sisters.

Greta starts preschool tomorrow!

Summer has and hasn't ended. Holly's been in school for one week, but the weather is still summery and warm. I'm full of emotion over the close of this summer season, not only because summer has ended, but it's also the close of a season of life. How I've enjoyed these last 5 years of mothering, of being at home with my children and my children at home with me. If only it had no end... But here we are. Holly has begun her school years and so we now have early mornings, and life revolves around a schedule that a system has set for me rather than my own, likely for the next two decades. How short those 5 years were!

I should be reflecting on the positive. This summer has been beautiful, even if I didn't do as much as I'd hope. We made some splendid memories and had sweet moments. My daughters played endlessly with each other and we went on an amazing vacation.

I'm torn between not wanting this season - summer and my babies being at home with me - to end, and wanting to stay in bed for a week and cry because school is my reality.

I'm so grateful I have these beautiful memories to cherish (if only I could remember more) and photographs to adore.

I love being a mother.

Holly had her first day of kindergarten this morning. I'm not sure what to write about this new phase in life. I'm very sorry it's come so soon. I'm excited for Holly and I don't want to let her go. It's a big mix of everything. Holly took the day on perfectly. Going to kindergarten didn't seem to throw her at all. She just did it. Hopefully the transition will continue to go so smoothly for her. We sure will miss her when the full days of school come around. She's such a wonderful girl!