First Day of School and Goodbye to Summer

I can't believe how quickly this summer has passed. I think the kids were ready and excited to return to school; but I enjoy being with them so much, that I really miss them today. My home is much too quiet. Yesterday, we measured everyone as we do at the beginning of each school year. Emily has grown 3 inches since last August. She is wearing a new backpack and didn't even want me to walk her to the door. I have felt sad the last couple of weeks, knowing that my little companion would go off to school without me. It's a stage of motherhood I don't get to repeat and that makes me cry. I stood in line Saturday evening at a wedding reception and visited with a lady in front of me. Even though I don't know this lady well, when I told her my youngest was beginning school, she immediately knew how I was feeling and the tears welled up in my eyes as she verbalized the tenderness in my heart. I was grateful to know I'm not the only woman who enjoys being a mother and being with her children. I look for the promise of eternal increase in the future.

Thomas grew 3 inches as well since last August. We mark all of these measurements on a wall in our garage. I had to laugh when I saw that my sister had added her height and name to the wall when she was here in June for Karin's wedding. Every time Kelly is with me or in my home or in my car, she leave little traces of herself. I love these little surprises. My favorite thing is when my kids say, "You sound just like Aunt Kelly". Kelly did not grow at all last year.

Doug grew 4 inches in a year and started high school this morning. Scott grew 1/2 inch and wished he had grown more. If only he would eat his vegetables. I know my heart is also tender because Scott will not be here next year. I will miss talking to him. We have a lot fun discussing books, history, music and philosophy. The boys were very helpful in preparing me for the RUSH concert (I'm not a follower of RUSH), they made play lists and printed lyrics for me. They are good boys.

For our end-of-summer party, the kids had friends over and we did a BBQ and built a campfire and roasted marshmallows. Here is Thomas and his friend watching for falling starts (Perseid shower). They are too funny.

I love this view from the back patio, across the fountain to the yard.
What can I say? Except that at 2 am I rolled up in a blanket in the backyard to watch the Perseid shower and couldn't go to sleep until the teenagers were home from tping somewhere. It was much later than 2 am when they finally returned.

Emily with cousin Davis.

This summer I have loved watching the boys and their friends play ping pong on the patio outside my kitchen window. This is Matt's good friend, Tristan and some of his family. We love them.

I loved sleeping in the tent.

Tom loved Cub Scout Day Camp.

Almost everyday I think about Ben & Karin's wedding. It was such a perfect event. I'm just so glad that everything was so peaceful and happy. We love the Myer's family and think the world of Ben. It is so fun to read their weekly blog. So Much Joy.

I was so glad my parents could come to the Temple to be with us. It was a long journey for them, but we will always remember it. My father and father-in-law always have so much to talk about. I loved watching them. I was grateful to receive a father's blessing while we had some time together.

The end of the story:

At the end of the 1st day of school I picked up Emily. She seemed perfectly fine until she spotted me among the other parents - then she burst into sobs and cried and cried her little heart out. She gave me a big hug and said, "I love you". It made me cry but it also made my day.