Despite the wailing and gnashing of teeth over the weekend, all five boys were chipper and happy to start school today(Miss Mary starts preschool in another two weeks).
The requisite first day photos:
The rundown: Ben is a junior in high school preppeing for all the college entrance exams, Stefan is in 9th grade which is still jr. high in our neck of the woods but they remind them every two minutes that these grades “will go on your permanent record!”
Hans, Xander and Gabriel are all in the elementary together. Hans rules the school as a 6th grader, X-man is in 4th and Gabriel, my little Gabriel, started first grade today. Sniff.
Gabe grudgingly allowed me to walk him to school but on arrival threw his backpack on a hook, tossed his lunch into the class bin and ran straight to his mob of friends(heaven help that poor teacher!). I kissed him goodbye and ducked out with Mary in a cloud of tears.
It wasn’t hard for me to take Ben to first grade– it was a new adventure, a new milestone in parenting. But with sweet Gabriel I know all too well that 1st grade leads to 2nd and 3rd and if you blink they are suddenly in high school. Erik and I have agreed that is take F O R E V E R to get a kid to age six and then time suddenly becomes a blur.
Thankfully my big boys are still sweet, but I do miss those days when they were all mine.
He may be ready, but I needed one more week, just one more…
Melinda
Hey, I haven’t talked to you in a while or commented. I think your children are so dang beautiful. How fun to get them all in patchwork. School is always such a bitter sweet time for Mommies. At least you have your Mary for a few more weeks.
Blue
I’m having trouble feeling sorry that you only have one kid left all to yourself. 😉
♥
duchess
What a sweet post. I love looking at the photos of your family.
Makes me want to have more kids…your’s always get along, though? Right?
Cheryl
Your kids are so adorable, Michelle! And how fun to have a photo shoot before school. I should have done this; my photos were hurried –so hurried, that one was taken with a cell phone. How awful is that?
Sigh.
Anyway, thank you for a glimpse of my future. One kid at home? For just a few weeks? What kind of bliss is that!? I guess it should be fair that when we get what we want (i.e. they grow up and give us some time to think during the day), we don’t have what we want (i.e. our children). Yeah, it figures. 🙂
Melissa
I don’t know what it is about that boy, but Gabriel never ceases to melt my heart! His teacher better appreciate that sweet face and boyish muscles. Poor Mary, I hope she doesn’t miss her buddy too badly. 🙁 *sniff*
The whole troop of guys you have there are a powerful dose of gorgeousness. 🙂
Jan Russell
Oh your making me want to cry! Harrison is just days away from 6, and I fear you are right about it all becomming a blur. SOB! I love the pictures of your beautiful bunch, and hope everyone has a great school year!
StubbyDog
Now you have me tearing up here. I hope all the boys have great years!
Darlene
“Erik and I have agreed that is take F O R E V E R to get a kid to age six and then time suddenly becomes a blur.”
I totally agree. (And for me, they’re just so much more fun, and parenting is so much more fun, once they’re that old. I want to freeze time!)