Back to School!

So, I've not done what I said I was going to do!  All summer and no posts- ugh! And here we are- the night before school starts and I think- what in the world happened to summer?!

Well, it's been fun and exciting, wonderful and horrible, happy and sad, long and exhausting and all too fast all at the same time!  In a nutshell:

3 weeks of ArtSmart Summer camp for me and Aiden (and he officially decided that Explorers is for babies and he refuses to do it again!)

1 week of Scout Camp for both boys and Aaron volunteered most days, I did the last day which was a mess of way too many bonkers kids and I will never do it again!

3 nights in a Naples hotel because our condo got tented- I can't even begin with how annoying that all was!

1 week of Warren Willis Camp for Aiden and Aaron- first sleep away camp for Aiden and he just loved it! And during that week I took off of work and spent time with Bennett- including lots of time with Ma'amy since she had just gotten home from the hospital after a very successful back surgery- Thank God it all went well and she is healing and getting stronger each and every day!

A couple relaxing weeks for the boys- not doing much of anything but being lazy! And yes of course SOMEBODY has too work!

1 week of vacation for us as a family in Orlando- we finally got to take advantage of the Hilton vacation club- and although it wasn't far, it was far enough to relax and just be!  Orlando has a few choices in the club thing, but we went to Las Palmaras and it was so fun- especially for the boys because of the water slide and activity room- and the workers were all so fun so the boys spent lots of time doing fun stuff right at the hotel!  We did do one day at Disney- Aunt Sheri of course helped with that- and it really was wonderful (hot, but...) and since it was Bennett's first time we tried to do as much as he wanted!  Aiden was super happy to do Space Mountain and Splash Mountain and we had to leave Thunder Mountain for the next visit!  Aaron also surprised us with Blue Man Group- funny though since Bennett really wanted no part of the whole thing.  He was very stressed and shed a few tears when he had to put on a poncho for the front row seats and learned that it was to keep us dry- and yes that meant it was possible to get wet!  I'm not sure he laughed at all, but in the end, after it was all over, talked about it as if it was fun!  The coolest part was afterwards when one of the guys came over and actually talked to him, asked if he liked it, and gave him a high five (and Aiden a blue streak on his cheek- I don't think he washed it off for a few days!)

We stopped in Lake Placid for a night and day after Orlando to celebrate Aaron's birthday a few days early- fun time but too short!

And now somehow here we are!  Meet the teacher was today... Although I must say that after getting the postcards with teacher names on Saturday, tossing and turning about whether or not I would call, and then finally sending Dr. Barcellino an email Sunday afternoon- it's been a long weekend (I guess I should also include the fact that Saturday was a fast trip to Miami for Blaire's first birthday party at the zoo, Saturday night birthday dinner for Aaron at Pelican Bend- the best sauteed fish ever!... Sunday brunch on Aaron's actual birthday and the engagement surprise party Sunday night...sheesh!)  Monday Mrs. Alamo called and I explained my stress and Aiden's overwhelming anxiety about his classroom teacher knowing that his bully from last school year would be in the same class again.  She was wonderfully kind about the whole thing and gladly moved Aiden away from his bully and also into the class where his supportive and kind friends are!  We are (now!) thrilled about 4th grade... although just 24 hours ago Aiden was saying he wasn't even going to go to Pelican Marsh!  Oh, the drama... And Bennett has Mrs. Bratcher- same as Aiden in 1st grade- I almost apologized to her today during meet the teacher since Bennett really is so NOT focused, NOT ready, NOT a reader, NOT a good student, but really such a joy!  I have a feeling it's going to be a tough/rough first few weeks of school getting back into the swing of things- I had such good intentions of requiring daily journal/writing and reading practice...and in the end I think maybe that happened enough times I could count on one hand!  I do have to say the first day was HYSTERICAL- something like this:

Aiden: "This isn't a journal because journals are boring but I have to do this because my mean mommy is making me...so this a story instead about a terrible little troll of a boy called Benn-ian" or some nonsense like that that made up names TOO close to our own...
Bennett: "I don't like my Mom.  My mom is mean..."

So here we are!  Aiden is so happy to be in Mrs. Steel's class, and will spend social studies and science times with Mrs. Coar- his original teacher- they are team teachers which is such a great model of teaching to get these kids used to swapping teachers... I really can't believe he's in 4th grade!  Feels like big kid status!  And Bennett is with Mrs. Bratcher- and (once he gets back on track!) I'm sure will have a wonderful year- she's so calm, kind, caring but strong and really motivating- gotta love a veteran teacher!  We also visited all the teachers who have become part of our family- Mrs. Nash, Mrs. Daulquist, Mrs. Forrestal, Mrs. Loerzel- and even brought thank you cards for Mrs. Barcellino and Mrs. Alamo- I'm so grateful they both were willing to help us work it out for the best for Aiden!

Back to school tomorrow! I can't wait!

Oh, and then there's this house situation.... our offer (3rd time!) was finally accepted... and it's still unreal but after the inspection on Friday it will feel more real... Lord willing this all works out!  But that deserves a post on it's own and NOT until it's actually really real- keys in hand real!

So, back to school tomorrow!