Well, summer is drawing to a close and with it my internal instinct to become organized, schedule things and purge our belongings. Which brings a new twist this year as it is the first in five that I won't be formally educating any of our children! :( Their excitement for school is contagious, though, and when I come to realize seasons come and go I am excited for what is on my plate for this season.

I get a second chance at a first child! Which is not exactly the truth of it, but Lanman and I will have one-on-one time all day long, which is kind of a first child thing. I pray I'm a bit more relaxed than I was with Noodle at this age. I'm sure Lanman will have plenty "baby of the family" traits but I am looking forward to the 1:1 time that I didn't have as much with our middle kids.

I know myself pretty well, and know that a lack of structure isn't what is best for me. I am looking to dredge up an old friend- my index card box! Those of you who I attended church with will remember the system a dear friend taught us of organizing your tasks with Daily, Weekly, and Monthly cards. Didn't fit our lifestyle for the past five years real well, but I think a revised system will help me get to all the things I want to make a priority this year. Like finishing the Bible Studies and books I've started but never quite finished, and make exercise a regular part of my routine for the first time in my life. Allowing myself an hour a day to do things like that will feed my "check it off the list" hunger I have! :)

I look forward to settling our things into the basement rooms as soon as they are finished, and look forward to going through the abyss of a garage we are storing everything in for the time being.

I found out about the fall Bible Study at our church yesterday and look forward to taking part in it weekly. Childcare is provided!

I look forward to getting into menus and cooking again. I love trying new things and looking through cookbooks to find recipes for things we have on hand. This hasn't happened for a solid year and a half. I love having family meals and things ready for them when the kids walk in the door. I look forward to making banana bread and cookies and having time to chat with them about their days!

I think it's going to be a quieter fall. More quiet than last year, anyway, which isn't a stretch. :) Not everyday will be orderly and calm, BELIEVE ME- I KNOW, But I'll take it as it comes. I am excited to see what's in store.

Glimpses of our kids

I think this photo is from June- at the local lookout bluff.  They've grown so much since then!Big news for Bella-  She lost her first front tooth!  This was July... and man she's got a hummer of a tooth coming in to replace it.  Poor thing got her Mommy's huge teeth!I could just gobble him up!  Such a sweet little guy!

Whoo Hoo! *Edited to wonder what happened to my paragraphs!??!*

We are back from slack!  We are online at home after a very long hiatus and if anyone even checks our little corner of the world anymore- we will be back to blogging in the days and weeks to come. We are well.  It's been a wonderful summer and I am holding on to every last second I can.  :)  I will miss my kiddos terribly when school starts, but am thankful we live so very close and can be involved.  Noodle has the very most handsome and wonderful teacher this year... Don't tell Jake I said that... Oh, yeah, it is Jake, my dear friends. :)  I am so happy they can share this year together.  I'm pretty sure I'll be his "Copy Lady."  :)  Doodle will start 3rd grade and Bella is thrilled to be starting in 1st grade.  Lanman and I have piles to sort, bike trails to conquer and blogs to upkeep. :)We have loved our time together this summer- swimming often, playing lots of little league, coaching a soccer camp, spending time with cousins galore as they came to visit, trips to camp, meet up with friends, and camping with family.  We've worked and waited (mostly waited) to finish our basement.  It's waterproofed now and Jake's working on putting the walls back up. We're hoping to have a big family room, two bedrooms and a bathroom by... Well, soon. :)  The Lord's been molding me to withstand most anything in the "disorder" department which for those of you who know me well, is quite a stretch. :) A good one, really.  I'll share some quick photos to close off for now before my battery dies.  Ok, Tried and failed.  Blogger doesn't want to show you my babies tonight.  I'll try again tomorrow as soon as we're all going.From home.Cause I can.  :)