New Beginnings

Just 2 weeks ago my little man started All-Day Kindergarten (he'll be 6 in a few weeks). It was a moment that I had been waiting for for the last few years. He got the teacher that we really wanted him to have, and he has 2 very good friends in his class that he already knew from Church and his babysitter's. His teacher is amazing and so sweet. She's been teaching for 28 years, and has such a creative classroom. So the first day of school...I walked him inside and we waited in line to go to class, followed by the herd of other parents who also wanted to take pictures of their kiddos. Mr.B was all set, gave me a hug, and waved goodbye. No tears from him. No tears from me. A little surreal. The next day was harder. I felt empty inside, and really missed him. After a few days, I was good, but still that emptiness lingers a little bit. It's the first time in almost 10 years that I'm in a kid-free house all day by myself. No sweet babies to snuggle with. That made me pretty sad. Thank goodness for my sweet baby nephews though :) So I'll admit that I struggled with, now what is my purpose? No kiddos to take care of all day, and I only work part time Friday-Sunday 24 hrs total. These are feeling that I honestly never thought I'd experience, from the sheer fact that it was like my "freedom" when the last one went to school. I think it makes it a little different that I started working last year, and it didn't coincide with him starting school, and so the two things aren't correlated, so I feel differently. 

 In the last 2 weeks, I've more than caught up on my sleep; I've read 3 great books in the last month or so- Wuthering Heights, Radical- by David Platt, Crazy Love- by Francis Chan, and now am reading Tess of the D'Urbervilles (which is an amazing story and video on BBC from a few years ago). I've been reading Psalms, and making it a goal to read my bible more. Something that I admit I don't do enough. I've also been thinking about my future hopes and goals. I already have my Bachelor's of Science from KSU, but I really want to go back to get my RN,BSN within the next 5 years, and work as a nurse. It's something that I wanted to do 15 years ago, but my parents wouldn't let me go to because the Nursing School was were hubs went to college. So that's my goal. To get to that goal, I'm trying to switch jobs at the hospital and work as a Unit Secretary to get more experience and also earn more $ to pay off bills and then save for school. I'm really hoping it will work out. Not that I don't love Med.Records, but it's definitely not my career aspiration. I've also put a lot of energy into getting our house all orderly. Including soaking and scraping the kitchen floors so they can be restored to their former glory. After the kitchen, hubs will have to hold me back from gutting the staircase hallway and attic space :) Now I just need extra $ to fund my renovation projects. I've been able to go out thrifting more often, which is so nice to do by myself- saves me a huge headache. I'm currently addicted to Savers and Salvation Army, and pretty much over Turnstyles, since they have really nothing anymore. So back to the kiddos...

Miss G started 4th Grade, and has a great teacher. She's been teaching for 32 years. She used to teach gifted classes, so she said she really likes to challenge the kids, which is just what Miss G needs. She also has this ginormous reading area with bean bag chairs in the classroom that is amazing. So hard to believe that my baby is just a few years away from middle school. yikes. She'll be doing Jazz level 2 this year, and awana's (Mr.B will be doing awana's as well). Almost one month til the big 1-0 for Miss G. Luckily for her, she has a no school day that day, so we're planning on an awesome day of celebrating with just her and I. Getting the ears pierced, window shopping at Justice and American Girl, lunch and a movie- probably Diary of a Wimpy Kid. She is so incredibly excited. 

So I'm excited to start this new phase of life with 2 school age kids. Even though I don't feel old enough for that to be possible. No more pre-school years. Which Braden admitted that he missed, but also told me last week, " I like Kindergarten more than I like being at home with you." ouch. But then he quickly explained that part of that was due to the fact that he doesn't have to take a nap/rest time at school, and he gets 2 recesses. This morning he told me "Mommy you're so beautiful, and I love you so much.I think you should be a princess!" He still loves me, so I'm good. He's growing up fast. The cliche' is true, so hold them tight and enjoy those crazy moments when you're home with the little ones. It will be past in a blink of the eye.