School! Already?
Classes started on Monday, and we here at Camp Maranatha have not yet finished our summer season. This is little bit of a crazy week- we have our second largest group of the summer in, but most of our staff is going, or has gone, home. Josh has been working in the kitchen in the mornings...breakfast this week is served at seven, which means that he has to be in the kitchen at 6am...I have to get the kids ready, and myself, and go down to breakfast. In years past we have just done breakfast at home, but this year that seems harder, somehow, or more time-consuming.
We've been having the kids set their clothes out the night before, so that part of the morning is shortened, but really, we're tired and flat out. Josh comes home at 4pm so that I can go work...we haven't had much time off. It is just for the week, though, and then we can settle into the real routine of school and activities, small groups and socializing.
The kids, Bowden especially, were dismayed a few weeks ago when I told them how soon the summer would end. Bowden does not like school, and despite his complaints about boredom this summer, he doesn't see the first grade as a good distraction from the monotony of home-life. Lucy loves school, but she follows suit, generally, with whatever Bowden says, at least, initially.

Once the big day arrived, however, I went to wake the kids up at 6:45am- a whole hour and fifteen minutes sooner than we have been waking up- and Bowden jumped up and immediately began putting on his clothes. He was so excited...he told me that he had trouble going to sleep the night before because he was looking forward to going to school so much. He sped through all the tasks of the morning with joy and excitement, and I was glad- it was a good way to start the year.
Lucy was excited, too, but a little nervous. This year she's attending the preschool at the Idyllwild School, and she didn't know what to expect. She was happy to wear her new dress from Nanny, though, and she was happy enough.
Bowden was in the car twenty minutes early, so we went and played for a while on the playground first. I walked Lucy into her room and met her teacher, Mrs. Sue, and she looked at the new toys and new kids, and settled in without any complaint or fear. I picked her up at eleven in the morning, so she was only in preschool for three hours...she says that she liked her first day, but that, "they didn't really do anything." (Her biggest complaints have been, "I want to eat lunch at school!" and, "I don't like school...because I don't like to miss t.v.")
I took this just after we got home.

Then I had to take one of Jack. It will be good for him to be the big boy at home for a few hours every day, I think.
Bowden came home, and he liked his teacher, and his class. He said many times that he had to stay after lunch...the biggest change for him is that school is three hours longer than it was last year. I don't pick him up until 2:30...craziness. I miss him for all that time. It's a pretty long day, but he has had such a good attitude the past few days...I think he needs to be doing something.

He really likes that he has E.P.D.- which I think is like P.E.- and that that is taught by Ms. Adler, his kindergarten teacher from last year.
I hope that this year can make him love, or at least like, school. If he learns, and likes it more, I think we will have gained ground.
I forgot to take a picture yesterday, so this is the crew this morning, ready to head out the door. Bowden was still excited on day two!

My little poser. I'm glad I have two more at home.

Here is my six-week-old.

I like him, tons.

Some of my littlest chickens latest faces for you...mostly because I got tired of looking at his bald spot at the top of my blog. His Popeye face.

His crazy face.
Pretty pleased with how things are going.

Telling me a good joke.

Just happy to be my baby, I guess.

Oh! Not my baby, only. "Mine baby." So says Jack-son.

He even likes it when Jack hugs him. Jack did not like the two older kids near him most of the time, they were so loud and wild. Miles doesn't seem to mind, and will smile when they show up right in his face.

Jack was about to smother the baby, as lazily as he could.

Straining to get a better look at the wall, which is, like all the walls and ceiling, and much of the floor, wood.

Not happy with being on his tummy, I used my leg to prop him up. He didn't like this either, and I had him happily on his back in my arms just a few moments later. I always forget about tummy time...I should start sooner and more often, but they all hate it so much. Maybe that's why all my chirrens are late crawlers.

It's the strangest bald spot ever. I don't really know why this little patch- and only this little patch- is falling out, but it definitely is. The weirdest thing is that he favors looking to the right so much, and it's on his left side...

The 'hawk is still large and in charge, although I tried to comb it all forward after his bath tonight. ( Look how sweet he is. This baby ate and slept all yesterday, and slept most of the night, and then slept all day today. He's a sleeper. It's pretty nice.)

I had my five-week post-partum doctor's visit today...I left the bigguns' with their father, and took the little Cannonball down with me. We met up with Lisa, and got pedicures, and had a nice semi-adult time.
I put away the too-small newborn clothes and took out the 0-3 month clothes a last week and found this little outfit, nearly new. I put him in it for our trip to the 108 degree weather- we're already having too cool weather for something so light.

They gave me a little gift for suffering my doctor.

Like I'd forget. C'mon.

Tonight, when Jack basically threw himself off of the bed head-first with no regard for his safety and well-being, and of course, injured himself, I picked him up and said what I have been saying more and more often to him. "Why did you do that?!"

After I said that, I said, "Are you okay? Poor baby."

The chickens took turns holding baby Miles, and Lucy sang him a song while Jack held him, and joined in.

Just for you Grandmas and your hungry hearts.

Miles had a bath tonight.

Everyone wanted to be near him, now that he's clean. We're a very fastidious family...

Miles is five weeks old today.

A joy and a chunk, all in one!

The gang's all here.

That's worth about ten thousand words, but that's not saying much.

Not much has happened in a month.

One month ago, Miles was newly born, and we were just getting used to having him.

We all love him. I put him on the floor, and I have to watch that he isn't swarmed by adoring siblings.

At one month, though, Miles is no longer the smallest bean on the block...Rosie and Justin and Selah welcomed my new nephew into the world last night, and I am so excited!

Now that he is four weeks old...

...Miles is a lot like he was a week ago.

He just smiles more.