And so it begins...

...school is back in session. Pinch me now. Where in the world did our summer go? Obviously we left it in the dust and now it's back to the grind of schoolwork and our crazy busy lives. And so it began this morning....early this morning, might I add (thanks to our longer/earlier school day). We were up at 5am to prepare for the daily festivities and were all out the door before 7am to take Hailey to school across town. Here is our sleepy bunch, who actually look fairly awake here, and even slightly happy! :) I think the non-school-girl looks the happiest :) Aren't they such a beautiful/handsome gang...all decked out in their new attire from both Ninas and Poppis??!! And, no, I didn't plan the blue coordination. They all picked out their own outfits (minus Ash)...very coincidental! :)
My oldest beauty off to 6th grade...her final year of Elem. school. VERY hard to believe.
My 2nd beautiful girl and joyful 2nd grader :)
And my always happy-go-lucky handsome little man and Kindergartner!! :) He was all smiles today!
Me and my school-age kids...I am so proud of all of them! And I love the girls new 31 bags. We've had them for 8 mos waiting to use them! Dylan was VERY proud of his Star Wars lunch box that he picked out (see 1st picture). He is all about Star Wars these days! :)
The big Kindergartner showing off his new Batman backpack from Nina and Poppy Stegs. We had a bit of a dilemma with backpacks for our boy this year. Nina and Poppy Stegs got him this cool one late last school year (which I love from Pottery Barn) and then they also got him a super cool Star Wars one recently. Well, he wanted to use both, but I had to nix that idea and instead he's saving the SW one for next year or until he ruins this one :)
Then it was then off to Hailey's school....I mortified her with lots of pics...she was not happy with me...for those of you with future 6th graders...be warned...they don't like photos of themselves, especially taken at school :) I didn't care though...I snapped away :)
Hailey's new, lovely teacher, Ms. C. sporting the new school logo on her t-shirt :)
At her desk...in a chair...this is a big deal this year as she's sat on a yoga ball in class for the last 2 years...
Dylan in the ever-popular recycled chair (that looks like a hand :)) in Hays' classroom.
I took one last photo of her room and can you see her in the background saying, "Mom, stop...leave" :) I love to torture my 11 year old :)
Then it was off to our healthy breakfast stop.....this has been our annual tradition the last 2 years since Hailey starts school 1 hour before regular elementary schools start. This McD's is on the way. Shelby wasn't happy we stopped. She wanted to get right to school, but didn't fully understand the time issue....Dylan on the otherhand was thrilled. This was breakfast #2 for him! He could eat breakfast all day!
So he ordered himself up a nice choc. milk and a cinnamon roll. He was in heaven. And don't worry...breakfast #1 at home was a healthy one, so that counts for something right? :) I love this smiley boy! :)
Then it was off to school....by the time we got there the kids were half asleep...haha...ok, they were fine, but it was VERY sunny! :)
One last shot of the two other elementary kids before the went into the school....
Walking the halls toward 2nd grade to drop Shelby off...notice Dylan doesn't have his backpack or lunchbox. He couldn't bring either the first day as he didn't know who his teacher would be til Thursday.
Glad to be in 2nd grade with her best friend, Sydne...and actually a few of her best girl friends, which was a nice surprise this year.
And also very thankful to have our fav. 2nd grade teacher, Mr. S....he was also Hailey's 2nd grade teacher so many years ago.
At her new desk :)
Then it was off to wait in line to get Dylan into his classroom. Is this not absurd?? Look at the line waiting to find out what temporary room the Kindergartners were in. We waited in this line for like 30 minutes.
Finally we got to the front. The ladies at the table thought Ash was there for K too. She is about the size of a Kindergartner! And she was ready to go with her lunchbox (a special gift from Poppy Stegs...he gave into her wanting it at the store :))
I remember when this school was built in 2005....Hailey was in the first Kindergarten class here....I was only a few months pregnant with Dylan then. And now look at us....6 years later he is here....proof that time REALLY does fly!
Finally we made it to our "temp" room with our temp teacher, Mrs. B. We won't know til Wed. night if she's our real teacher or not. But for our laid-back guy it really doesn't matter. He was just so happy to go to school.
Showing off his cubby area :)
Doing his first "real school" worksheet :)
A room shot...can you tell where he is? Already working hard....
And then it was mommy and Ash time...just me and my baby girl back at home....first thing we did...was go for a walk on our fav. trail. It was a hot day, but we didn't care. We had a good ol' time :)
She collected lots of her fav. weeds, I mean flowers, for me :) Look at the joy in her face :)

She is such a little beauty and I cherished my first day at home all alone with her....
She talked to Nina G for awhile....always a highlight :)
And then while Mommy was talking to Nina, Ash watched Scooby and fell asleep...such a peaceful dozing ballerina :)
And then before we knew it...it was time to get the kids off the bus (Hailey came home first and, yes, I took a picture, but I'll spare her from posting it :))....b/c the highlight of my day was watching my boy and his face getting off the bus. Is that not a HAPPY boy?! And the funniest part of this is that later on he says to me "Mom, you know how you met me at the bus....could you maybe not do that tomorrow!"....hahaha....I wanted to cry, yet I had to laugh. He's Mr. Independent like his sisters. I guess I should be glad for that. So now I have to wait down the street when he gets off the bus. Wouldn't want to embarrass my little man! :)
A nice pic of me and my boy after school :) I love this guy!
Look at what Ash did while her siblings were at school. She's so talented! :)
Another good idea gone bad...I was going to make our kids and the neighbor kids cute apple cake pops. I had really good intentions, but none of the right ingredients so I improvised (on the phone with Nina, might I add). Never a good idea (to improvise or do it while on the phone). My chocolate didn't liquify and instead I used frosting which didn't solidfy and thus these pops were on the table about 5 minutes after this pic was taken. But, the two sweeties in my fam (Ash and Dylan)...they didn't care...as long as it contains sugar they eat it. They were happy. Next year I'll not get so cheap and buy the right ingredients.
A couple pics after school under our weeping willow. Look at this handsome man!
And our pretty girl showing her new Justice "S" backpack and matching water bottle. Thank you, Nina and Poppy Stegs! :)
My fav. pic of her on the 1st day....
One last pic of the 4 together. I love them all. They have grown up so fast!
My bright-eyed Shelby. All smiles after the first day...
And then I had to post a pic of the "school supply" organization day. Never had 3 in school at once so this was sure a lot of supplies to buy and go through. Can't wait til Ash is in the school mix too!

So, there ya' go...a few newer pics of our gang. More to come as well as some "catch-up" summer pics that I hoped to post earlier in August. Hope back-to-school is going well for everyone else...and if you live in MI or somewhere where it's still summer...just keep to yourselves! :)