More firsts...

This past week marked a few more firsts for our family. Carter got to go to school for the first time on Tuesday. He was very excited, despite the fact that he had no idea what was going on. He got to school and all he wanted to do was play in the water fountain. His teacher Ms. Dede said, "Looks like we might have to bust out the baby gate." All I said was..."You were warned!" Day and I have been telling them since before we left for the summer last year that when Carter showed up, they would either kick us out or raise our rates. But thankfully he did fantastic and even took a nap. I was shocked, since he's never slept anywhere but his bed or the pack and play. And the thought of keeping him contained on a rectangle mat for two hours sounded like a nightmare...but he does great for other people I guess. I was very relieved to hear he had a great day, and he's done great ever since. Yesterday they told me that he just keeps trying to go into Conner's class and wave and say "Hi, bubba!" If that's the worst of it, then we're in pretty good shape!

Conner also started school in the big boy three year old class. He went right in, no problem and had a great day. It's so fun to watch him saying hi to his friends from last year, and interacting with others. He's most defiantly growing up.

Sending them to school feels very different than sending Cooper. I think mostly because I know the people that are loving on them, and that they are in a Christian environment that I can trust. I can't say that at all about Cooper's school, but I can say that the same God that takes care of Conner and Carter is taking care of Cooper and guarding his heart and mind, while I'm not there to do so. (That's what I've been specifically asking Him to do lately.)

Here they are, ready for a great day at school!

Tuesday was also a first for me...my first day without ANY children in FIVE YEARS!!! Now, there have been plenty of days that I've had to myself, thanks to my mom, Day or various friends watching them for me, but this is somehow different. I don't have any guilt about inconveniencing my mom, or anyone else, since I'm paying for the younger two to learn, play, and have so much fun, and Cooper is in good hands too. My mom asked it it felt weird, and I said; "No, it feels WONDERFUL!" I spent the day working in our flower beds, getting all the weeds out, putting newspaper down to keep any more weeds from growing and planting some edging plants. I think our yard looks the best it has in a LONG TIME! I've for some reason decided to work really hard at keeping it looking nice and Day has done a great job at keeping the yard looking nice and the shrubs cut back. I even took a picture, since it may never look like this again!

On Thursdays I am leading a small group for a Beth Moore Bible study at our church, but I'll have noon until 2:30 to run errands or whatever else I need to get done. It will be so nice to get in and out of the car...all by myself, walk into the store and not fight anyone about how, where, or if they're going to sit in the cart, look at WHATEVER I want to and never have to visit the toy dept. or the fishies. It's amazing how much more I can get done.

Again, it is bittersweet, because I know it's just one step closer to me having all day, every day to myself, and that is an adjustment I'm not ready to make. I love having my boys at home during the day, to read books, play games, eat at Chick-fil-a, go to the zoo, the mall, the park. I am learning to cherish each moment as though it's the last one.

On that note...I'm going to get off the computer and get on with lovin' on my boys!