Boom! October.

I would ask "where has the time gone?" but the truth is, I know exactly where the time has gone - homework, laundry, driving (ooooh..... the driving), signing forms, signing forms a second time because the first copies got lost in the vast distance between the kitchen table and the classroom, writing checks for various school fees (and then for the second and third rounds of fees because really, who needs financial predictability? answer: me.), handling of crises (wardrobe-related and you know, real), making meals, making second meals (ohmigod, the appetites on these growing humans!), attempting to learn how to french braid, giving up on french braiding and calling in grandma reinforcements, driving, and then, buying some key pieces for my not-so-little, not-so-baby's homecoming dress/outfit thingy:

And newsflash... she's not the shortest of her group of friends anymore! It may have just been the heels, but it feels good not to be the runt, I'm sure! I, of course, always wanted to be the runt because of course I did.

Although I complain (yes, I know), this year of 3 different schools, two major school transitions, and the realization that band directors' main goal is to take over every free moment of a student's life (and my student didn't really have any of those to begin with), things are going well, I love my nutcase kids, and when Mr. K and I actually have a chance to say more than 3 words to each other as we tag team kid activities, turns out I like him, too! Yesterday was the middle school cross country championship and R set a personal best (by a lot).  Here he is after running to "the A" from school (6.5 mile round trip) - such a great looking team (he's 2nd from the right)!

 

A is tearing it up in 4th grade.  She still loves reptiles and amphibians, Harry Potter, besting her siblings at anything she can beat them at (so far, so good), and doing odd things like this:

Why? You ask... because she's the only one who can do it.  It's a youngest child thing... you wouldn't understand (or maybe you would). 

'Til next time (my "thank goodness Christmas is over!" post, perhaps?), take care and sleep while you can (trust me)!