Back to School!

Okay, so I'll be the first to admit, that it's been a bit slow coming out of that hibernation!!  There is so much I should be posting of our summer and catching up on, but I didn't want to get any more behind than I already am. 

Last week was BTS here in MN.  It's usually after Labor Day in our neck of the woods.  This was a big day for Dawson, as he is now a 6th grader and moved up to the Middle School this year.  I often cannot believe how fast the years go by!  Seriously, how is it that I no longer have kids in the elementary grades anymore ...wasn't it just yesterday that he was starting kindergarten!?!

Khloe poses with Dawson for that traditional "1st Day of School" photo! 

Giving her GeGe a big kiss goodbye.

Dawson and (neighbor) Jake, board the bus for BTS!

Dawson was up bright and early Tuesday morning, packed and ready to go, with plenty of time to spare.  Which is a good thing, as it is tradition to get those "1st Day of School" photos taken like most moms like to do.  This year was different though, as Breanna didn't start back to High School until the following day.  Grades 10-12 start a day later so that the new freshman can have their 1st day of high school to themselves, getting used to their new school without the pressure of upper-classmen around.  So for the remainder of her high school years, she will get to start one day later than Dawson. 

This year was also different for the other, more obvious reason... our Khloe is home!  As most of you know, she came home from China on Memorial Weekend, with just four days of the last school year remaining for Breanna and Dawson before summer break, so she truly does not remember them being in school.  She's had all summer adjusting to her new home with Breanna and Dawson by her side, so I knew it would likely be a little tough on her, and it was. 

  

Mei Mei (little sister) and Jie Jie (big sister)

Breanna (Day 1 of BTS) and Dawson (Day 2 of BTS)

My kiddos pose for the group shot on Breanna's first day BTS!

Khloe listened to all the chatter about school in the days leading up to it, but I knew she did not grasp the changes ahead.  As Dawson prepared to get on the bus that first morning, she was excited to be in the photos with him, but the tears fell when she realized that she was not going to ride on the bus WITH her gege (big brother!)  Have I mentioned how much she loves her big brother and sister??!!  It definitely helped that Breanna was still home that first day... But the 2nd day when they BOTH went on the bus, proved to be even tougher.  Let's just say, there were some BIG crocodile tears!  If I hadn't been so busy wiping them away, I would've surely captured a photo of those, too.  To make matters worse, Martin was gone Tuesday morning before Dawson even woke up to board a plane to AZ for work.  (His first travels since China.)  Too many changes in one week for our little one. Then on Thursday, I came down with the flu and had to rely on Mr. TV to babysit and keep her company until the kids got home ...NOT good, but I had no choice.  Thankfully the weekend brought us all back together, as Martin returned home and the big kids didn't have school.  Just what the doctor ordered!!  

Khloe waits for the bus to bring Breanna and Dawson home.

Playing with the big hydrangeas as she waits.

Excited that her big sister is finally back home again!

This new schedule will surely take some getting used to, but Khloe is already understanding that the kids had to go back to school again this morning, and knows that the bus will bring them back home later.  There IS trust in that.  In the meantime, she will just have to keep busy adjusting to another 'new normal' day/week at home alone with mama!!