First Day of School 2019

It was the FIRST day of school here in North Carolina.

Claire: 12th grade

Jane: 11th grade

Oliver: 9th grade

Nicholas: 7th grade

Charlotte: 2nd grade

This morning as I took the token first day of school photos,

I was holding back tears thinking that this was

 Claire's last first day of grade school with her siblings. 

I was holding back tears thinking that this is Jane's 

last year of school with Claire.

I was holding back tears thinking about Oliver

 starting his first year in High School.

I was holding back tears thinking about Nicholas

all alone in middle school without Oliver with him.

And I was holding back tears thinking about Lottie 

just even going to school. (I want her to be 2 or 3 years old forever).

Especially since she's had kind of a rough start with her teacher situation,

her classroom, and her trying to understand why all of her other friends 

are in the other classes together without her. 

BUT...she can do it...I can do it, we can do it together!

I picked up Gigs and Lottie at the bus stop.

Nicholas had a lot to tell me on the ride home,

and Lottie pooped out and fell asleep in the car.

  (I doubt she slept much the night before).

Just as we pulled up to The White House,

my high-schoolers pulled up too.

Perfect timing!

Later that evening around the dinner table with burrito bowls

the kids all gave us a full report on their day.

Hearing what French class was like for Jane and Ollie had 

me laughing out loud.

Feast!

On a rainy wet Saturday evening,

 we had our annual Nielson family 

Back to School Feast complete with crowns, stained glass stars, 

family theme, and a few new surprises too.

It was a beautiful memorable night!

(I will be posting about the night, menu, details, decorations,

theme etc. probably most of this week).

Today the Little Nies start their FIRST DAY of school!

It's a big week of firsts for us.

Tonight as I type this it's late and I am tired.

It's been busy and overwhelming weekend, but

  I love this stage in my life, and am so grateful for 

every single little second.

Back to School 2019

-Early this morning I dropped Oliver off at Freshman orientation.

-Claire, Jane, and Oliver met with the high school counselor

(and Mr. Nielson) to discuss school schedules.

(All three will take a honors horticulture class together).

-Mr. Nielson and I purchase a vehicle for our high-schoolers.

-The repair man comes to fix the washer.

-We hit Lottie's 2nd grade back to school night: 

We learn that there are five 2nd grade classes

 in our elementary school, and not enough teachers, which means  

Lottie doesn't even have a teacher yet (school starts on Monday).

In a stale classroom without any windows,

 (and desks that I am pretty sure are from the 1980's),

 we met with the substitute teacher who will lead the class

until a replacement is hired.

I didn't even take any photos of her on this memorable evening 

because I felt a little disheveled as we tried to make sense of the situation.

I admit I left disappointed, empty, and sad.

It's a far cry of her 1st grade experience last year.

(I think we really took that for granted).

-We stopped at Nicholas's 7th grade back to school night just as 

the evening was wrapping up.  

-Grabbed a dinner at my favorite pizza joint then dropped kids off at home.

-Mr. Nielson and I met the sister missionaries and went to

visit and minister to a new dear friend, and her beautiful family. 

--It was a busy day.  A busy good productive day.--

We are a go for tomorrow's big back to school feast! 

 There is a buzz in the air here in The White House.  

We are all looking forward to it...it kind of feels like Christmas Eve!

Also somewhere in there I made a pot of beans to feed us 

throughout the busy day, Lottie and I cleaned her bird cage,

 Nicholas's hedgehog Fern got a bath, 

we ordered a few back to school clothes, 

and I showered.  Good day.

Happy weekend!

Spiritual Enlightenment: The Master Healer