happy 8th birthday, SuperGirl!

Today is SuperGirl’s birthday.  She’s 8, going on 22.  It’s hard to believe my BABY is eight years old.  We celebrated this morning, very early this morning, by going to Shipley Donuts before school.  This tradition was really fun when we didn’t have to go at the crack of dawn.  This year there were no sprinkle donuts for anyone, just sausage kolaches and a few donut holes.  As per tradition, we opened presents at the shop.  SuperGirl said she’d like to open one small gift today and save the “big ones” for her family party later this week.  I guess we probably need to go buy some “big” presents… or find some bigger boxes to wrap the ones we got in!!

SuperGirl has had her eyes on these Skechers Twinkle Toes shoes since we went school shopping.  They weren’t exactly practical or in our price range for school shoes, but I thought they would make a perfect birthday present.  They have glitter, lights, graffiti… all the things an 8-year-old thinks a pair of shoes should have.  She was THRILLED to see that those shoes were in that gift bag.

Of course, we had to change shoes in Shipley’s so she could wear them to school today.  Good thing Mom picked out her clothes this morning so they’d kind of match… with all those colors, they are bound to match just about anything, don’t you think?  I’m hoping she keeps her feet under her desk today… and that she doesn’t bounce down the halls of school, trying to light them up.  We’re new to this public school thing… are these things even “school legal” these days?  I don’t know…

Later today we’ll be taking lunch to SuperGirl at her school.  She is really, REALLY excited about that.  So am I! 

things SuperGirl talked about the first week of {school} and a few other thoughts…

The first day of school she wore leggings and a cute little shirt.  When we picked her up that afternoon she asked if she could wear short pants the following day because it was really hot waiting outside to be picked up at the end of the day.  And then she turned around and asked if she was allowed to bring a sweater to school.  Apparently it is freezing in the cafeteria! 

When putting her to bed Monday night she asked, “Momma, will you walk me in again tomorrow?”  She has had a hard time missing me during the day.  Breaks my ever-loving heart…  Mrs. J has noticed her looking sad and when asked she says, “I just miss my Mom.” 

SuperGirl made two friends this week, Raven and Skyler.  They noticed she was trembling in class (nerves) and asked if she was okay.  I think they’ll look out for her.

Tuesday morning she came out wearing lipstick… so she’d look pretty for school.

That night when putting her to bed she told me, “I really missed you today.  I feel like I’m crying on the inside.” 

By Thursday the class was into their routines and she told me she was going to tutoring the following day.  We knew she would need some extra help getting acclimated to how they do things and writing faster, reading faster/better, and just figuring out the new setting in general.  It was at this time that she told me there was a girl making fun of her for writing and doing everything slow.  I wanted to go wring that little girl’s neck but assured SuperGirl that she would speed up as time went on and to not worry about other people. 

Friday morning I was thrilled to see her smile as she got out of the car.  She spotted a friend and they walked in to the school together.

I cried almost every morning this week.  Summer was with me every morning as I dropped off SuperGirl so I would keep it together until I left the high school.  Both of these girls have made me so proud this week.  They are smart, beautiful, brave, strong girls… I hope they realize that!  It’s just so obvious that they are growing up so fast and time is so fleeting… it’s really been in my face this week.  I’ve been on my knees praying for them… for so many things… emotionally I’m drained.  But I’m also at peace knowing we’ve made the right decision for them and they are right where they need to be.

thoughts on being 40…

 

1. 40 isn’t old.
2. At least it’s not as old as I once thought it was.
3. But having to check the age range box that starts with 40 kind of stinks.
4. So is having to scroll through the 2000’s and down to 1970. 
5. There are only a few gray hairs on my head.
6. That I can see.
7. I’m not wearing readers.
8. Yet.
9. My body still works and is on it’s way to working better since I’m taking better care of it. 
10. I am married to a wonderful, godly man and after spending almost half my life with him we have a great marriage.
11. It’s not perfect, but we are always growing and changing and striving to make it what God wants it to be.
12. I have three beautiful, sweet, smart, daughters who make being a mom a pure joy and blessing.
13. And maybe they are the source of a few of those gray hairs…
14. Much of who I am today I owe to my parents.
15. I have a mom who protected me and nurtured me and taught me how to love… and a dad who has loved me selflessly and sacrificially. 
16. My mother knows I’m really 39… because she knows if she admits I’m 40, then she has to admit she has a kid who is… 4-OH.
17. I married into a loving, supportive family.
18. And I have the title of “favorite daughter-in-law.” 
19. Okay, I’m the ONLY daughter-in-law.  But still.  My title is my title and you can’t take that away from me.
20. Being 40 means that my sister and I are not BOTH still in our 30’s.
21. But today we are closer than ever and I count that as a giant, 40-sized blessing.
22. Friends.  How did I get so lucky? 
23. You know who you are… some of you are near some of you are far.
24. Some I have known more than half my life… and some for a few years. 
25. Many of you are like sisters… we are connected at the heart.  And that is a blessing I don’t take for granted.
26. I’m changing and gaining perspective on many things…
27. Like how to treat my husband and how to love my kids better.
28. And what is really important.
29. I’m not as hard on myself as I used to be.
30. But I still don’t like change.
31. Or conflict.
32. Or pickle relish.
33. Fear is not something I live under any more.  Do I struggle?  Yes.  Does it control me?  No.
34. Living my faith for so long has taught me to trust… so worry is not as big a part of my life as it once was either.
35. I’m still struggling to be content. 
36. But finding joy in the little things, a smile, a hug, a clean sink, lunch with a friend, a good movie, all remind me to be content.
37. My life is good.
38. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
39. Nothing.
40. Except maybe to stay 39.

first day of {high school}

This girl went off to school like she’s done it her whole life.  I guess spending the previous summer practicing with the drill team and hanging out at the school helped her feel much more comfortable about going to school.  I felt much better about sending this one off… she’s a tough cookie, no nonsense, good sense of right and wrong.  And I couldn’t wait to see how she tackled high school. 

first day of {school}

So the big day arrived.  Everyone got up early and excited.  The first thing SuperGirl said to me was, "Mom, my alarm went off and it's still dark outside. Should we wait to get up?"  Cute kid.  She has no idea.  I assured her that waiting was not in the cards for us and getting up before the sun was our new reality.  I think that hurt me way more than it did her!  Hubby made pancakes for breakfast.  And we all loaded up in the car to take SuperGirl to school.  She was all dressed up in her new outfit and carrying her new backpack and lunchbox.  Of course we stopped on the front walk to take a picture!

Once we got to the school she got pretty quiet.  She slowly grabbed my hand, which is a sure indicator that she is unsure and nervous.  We walked a little slower, all the way to the back of the school where her class is located.  Mrs. J met us at the door and I tried my hardest to give my girl a big smile and hug before sending her in.  She made it in and I had to hide.  The tears and the ugly cry were all too close to the surface.  Hubby took the camera and walked in to take her picture at her desk.  Mrs. J assured me she would take care of my sweet baby as I told her I really thought I wouldn’t cry like that!!  Summer and Pickles left the hallway.  I guess I was too embarrassing for them. 

We left the school and drove Summer to the high school.  She walked right in, hardly looking back.  All I knew was, I couldn’t wait to get to the end of the day and get my babes back home!  Hubby came home and we went to pick up SuperGirl… waiting in the car riders line was a new experience but we had a few minutes together which was nice.  When we got home, I made SuperGirl chocolate chip cookies.  She asked if I would do it again tomorrow… I assured her I would bake cookies every afternoon if that’s what she wanted!  It didn’t take long for her to get sleepy so she took a little rest before heading out to play with the neighbor.  Later that afternoon she came in and asked if she could make a card for her teacher. It says, "I love you, Mrs. Jordan." I guess today was a-ok in her book...

meet the TEACHER

Wow.  Tonight was harder than I thought it would be.  And then again, it wasn’t that bad.  I really like SuperGirl’s homeroom teacher.  She’ll have three teachers this year and from what I hear they are all wonderful ladies.  But I am really glad SuperGirl landed in Mrs. J’s class.  I am hoping she will really help SuperGirl along with her transition from schooling at home to public school.  I’m hoping she helps me a little, too.

When we got to the school, I was fine.  (I’d driven by a little earlier and wasn’t fine!)  I think having Hubby there with me helped.  But as soon as I walked in the door, I felt a rush of emotions… then I saw my neighbor who was so surprised to see me… and she hugged me and asked how I was… and I nearly lost it.  I kept thinking that if it was this bad tonight, what would Monday look like? 

SuperGirl met her teacher and picked out a place to sit in the classroom.  She was very, very quiet which is very unusual for her.  She even kept her head down and her little cheeks were red.  It was really cute.  We took her around to meet the other third grade teachers and she was very quiet with them, too.  She didn’t miss a thing, though.  She carried her folder around and took note of where the bathrooms and library were. 

We go to church with several teachers at the school so we stopped in their rooms to say hello and let them know our SuperGirl was there, too.  After making our way through the school, we headed off to the cafeteria to pick up her school shirt, join the PTO, volunteer for stuff, pay for lunches, and order a school hoodie.  I think we’re all set. 

SuperGirl was most excited about the menu calendar she received.  She read it the whole way home, thinking about which days she would buy her lunch instead of bringing it from home.  She is going to have so much fun…  I can’t wait to see where this year takes her!

The real question is, how will I survive Monday?

meet the Rangers night

This high school thing is really getting fun… and school hasn’t even started yet!  Last night was Meet the Rangers Night.  We were all introduced to the drill team, the cheerleaders, and the football teams.  Each and every kid was introduced.  Several coaches commented how many more kids there were this year than the last two years.  Our school is growing and it’s fun to be a part of that. What’s even more fun is seeing my girl and several kids we’ve known since they were born wearing the green and blue, too.  The RangeRettes performed a pom routine, the cheerleaders led a cheer, and the football team looked tough.  It was fun to see how many kids are involved and I can’t wait for the first football game!!!  We have our season tickets and t-shirts… all we need now is our RangeRette parent shirt and stadium seats and we’ll be ready to go! Go Rangers!!!