Friday, September 21, 2018

Back to School!

It's that time of year again...Back to School!  I always dread the end of August, because I enjoy having the kids at home.  But there's a certain amount of excitement and anticipation to see what the new school year holds for our kiddoes!

This school year we have a senior in college (what????), a junior in high school, and a 5th grader.  Can't believe how fast the kids are growing up.  It is completely true that "The days are long, but the years are short."  No truer words...

Little R is in 5th grade this year.  We moved him to a small private school in the middle of last year, and it has worked out really well for him.  So he's returning this year, and we are praying for a successful year for him.  Much smaller class sizes work SO much better for him!  We are having to make some sacrifices financially, but it's well worth it if our little guy has an environment where he is known, cared for, and feels like he can learn.  We weren't getting that at all in our public school. 

Little R continues to be a little guy.  He is 53" tall, weighs 68 lbs, and wears a size 3 shoe.  He is witty; very sociable but loves his "down time"; and you still never know what he might say in a conversation!  He loves flag football, watching YouTube, and his favorite food is waffles! He brings so much fun to our family!!

If you tell Little R to pose however he wants, this is what you get every.single.time!

Our handsome guy, with his headphones that go EVERYWHERE he goes!  He is a huge Twenty One Pilots fan, thanks to his big sisters!

A is a junior in high school this year.  She is 16 now, has her own car and drives herself wherever she needs to go, and has become a pretty independent young lady.  I never would have dreamed we would make it here, considering her first few years of life she was completely distraught if I was out of her sight.

A has a job, and worked pretty much full time this summer. Her boss loves her, and says "she's very dependable, and so responsible for her age!" 

She is a varsity cheerleader again this year.  This girl has been cheering since she was 6, and she still loves it!

She is also attending cosmetology school at Francis Tuttle this year.  It's a 2-year program, and at the end of it she will test for her cosmetology license.  She hopes to use this skill to make money during her college years.

A is still a worrier, a perfectionist, and a very diligent student.  She loves spending time in her room watching Netflix, thrift shopping with her sister, and going out for smoothies with a friend.  She's very opinionated, and likes to have the last word in an argument.  She's a great big sister to Little R, and I love that she and T are great friends!  She's already planning where she wants to go to college, and what she wants to do with her life.  Unfortunately, her college plans do NOT include staying in Oklahoma close to Mom & Dad. This girl will be successful in whatever she does, I'm sure of it!
This is the pose I got when I told her to pose however she wanted.  Evidently she was "flexing"! : )

Her Francis Tuttle uniform.  Her smock wasn't in yet for the first day of school, but she looks very professional in it!

Cheer uniform for first day of high school.  A loves cheer, and loves being on the team.

T is 20 years old, and is a senior in college this year!! I have ZERO idea how to handle the fact that she will be graduating this year and beginning her real, grown up life.  I have no idea how we have gotten here already.

T is living off campus with her friend Megan this school year.  These girls have been friends and roommates for 2 years, and I'm so glad they found each other.  They are great friends, and T will even be in Megan's wedding next year!

T worked all summer doing social media design for a couple of ministries.  She's done a great job, and has loved the fact that she got to work from home!  She will be interning at our church this school year in the communications & design department.  We are all so excited for this opportunity, and R and I are praying it leads to a job after graduation, so she can stay local!  It's hard enough to see her graduate and be a grown up...definitely don't want her moving across the country to do it!

T is still our quiet, somewhat shy girl.  She's got a great group of friends at school, and it's been awesome to see her have long term friendships.  This isn't something she's had the opportunity to have much in her life because we moved around so much.  She's very involved at church...volunteered in the design dept this summer, attends the young adult ministry, helps with social media for our youth group, and she volunteers at every big event our church has!  I love seeing her live out her own faith, and serve selflessly. She's so talented in so many ways, and I love seeing her talent go to good use.  T is our super responsible rule follower, as she always has been.  She's picky about the people who get her time and energy, so if she chooses to spend time with you, you know you're special! She's a great big sister to Little R, and he thinks she's just the coolest thing ever.
She loves hanging out at home, watching Netflix (especially The Office) and has quite a dry sense of humor.  She's become quite a good cook, and enjoys cooking and baking. This girl is definitely going places and doing things!!
I begged her for a first day of school picture.  Had to remind her several times, but she came through for me.

Showing her personality?  This was the "cool" picture!

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