close the pool, open the school

I celebrated the first day of school by scrubbing the kitchen floor on my hands and knees for two hours straight. I celebrated the second day of school by throwing away all the summer clothes that were chlorine bleached, treehouse torn and stained beyond recognition with ice cream and posicles. I celebrated the third day of school at the peaceful quiet of the temple. We played so hard this summer that school has come as an actual relief, for everyone, but especially me.

Maxwell has had the most difficult transition. His anxiety peaked the night before school as he screamed, "I'm not going to school and I don't want a blessing!" Fortunately, the familiarity of friends and routines allowed him to function as a first grader.

Cooper was really excited to be going to middle school. I think it was a comfort to him to have his big brother there. He reported that when the 8th graders told him to get out of their seat on the back of the bus, he told them, "Wilson said I didn't have to and he's not afraid of going to the principles office."

Wilson is playing football, and as usual is a much more pleasant child when he is physically exhausted.

Eliza has already presented her teacher with a CTR ring and seems to be adjusting to third grade easily.

Marcos has been too lonely for words. I am going to have to schedule activities for him like I did when I just had Wilson. It is so hard to parent one child.

Tony gave beautiful blessings to all the children before school. He promised Wilson an ability to nourish his talent for problem solving and an increased compassion for others and especially his brother Cooper. Cooper was blessed to be a true friend without being concerned about peer pressure. He was blessed to use his talents of speaking to serve Heavenly father and share the principles of the gospel. Eliza was blessed with proficiency of reading and a desire to study the scriptures as well as an understanding of the difference between scriptures study and secular learning. She was blessed to form close friendships with her brothers. Maxwell was blessed to know that HEavenly Father can help him and that he will be confident of his mind and body. He was told to honor and respect his Mom and to know that she loves him more than anything. He was instructed to be calm in body and spirit and to learn that by thinking and pondering he can feel peace. Marcos was blessed to understand Spanish and English and the feeling so the spirit. He was blessed to know when members of our family need hugs. All the children were blessed to know that their Heavenly Father loves them individually. I was blessed to have a greater understanding of my children, the temple and principles of the gospel. I was promised an increased ability to act in faith and follow the spirit.
I appreciate Tony's ability to tell my children what Heavenly Father would say if he were here.

I think we've had our last warm weather. I swam (3/4 mile, a personal record) on the last day of the pool and will miss that part of summer the most. Today is cool and windy. I'm wearing a sweater and wanting soup. I hope I can learn to enjoy the seasons of my life as much as I enjoy the four seasons of weather.