The first day of...

FREEDOM!

Ok, it doesn't actually start until Thursday when Molly starts kindergarten officially, but there is a very bright light at the end of this long tunnel.  The freedom is coming

Ok, I also must admit that I broke down before bed with the realization that this week is the end of an era.  I will no longer be the center of any of my children's lives.  These 10 years of being the best and the brightest were fantastic.  My three foot fan club was fun while it lasted.  Really, I enjoyed almost every minute of it (those I didn't are well documented in this blog).  And I really will miss them all.

BUT...

This is a big BUT...Ten years of slavery to the whims of the three foot fan club have worn me down.  I long to sit for longer than thirty seconds (driving to sporting events and practices does not count as sitting).  I long to read books that don't rhyme.  I long to eat food that is something other than room temperature.  I long to eat a cookie before lunch without having to hide in the pantry.  I long to shop at those places that put breakable things on glass shelves at three foot eye level.  Did I mention the sitting down?  Do I dare to dream of a nap?

seriously, just take the picture

Emmie, do you like pictures?

My kids

Seriously Mom...take the picture and get back in the car before someone sees you!

End of school...it was a great day?

The first day of school for the boys really went well (despite the picture). Colin entered 5th grade in Mrs. Tindahl's class and Zach is in the room next door to him in Mrs. Ahlstrand's 3rd grade class.  They are both in the gifted school this year so it should be a year full of homework and projects galore.  Colin was thrilled to see his buddies again.  One good friend choose to attend a different school this fall, so he was bummed about that.  Zach was THRILLED to have several friends in his class from his days at Aspen Academy and last year's multiage classroom at Westwood.  He came home with a FULL play date planned with his group of boys.  

Molly has her assessment tomorrow morning and then starts full day on Thursday.  She will spend 30 minutes with the teacher tomorrow so the teacher knows where each students skills are at before school starts.  We are fortunate that Molly knows a lot already and has a teacher that will continue to help her learn and excel.  She will be attending the charter school the boys started at and hopes to transition to Westwood in either first or second grade.

No first day of school would be complete without coming home to Mom's homemade cookies!  I treated the boys to a new gluten free peanut butter cookie recipe that I got from my friend Jenny.  It didn't turn out as well as hers did, but I am hoping it is just our oven.  

The recipe is:

2 cups peanut butter

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1-2 cups chocolate (I used 1 cup chunks)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix the peanut butter, sugar and eggs together in a large bowl until well blended.  Stir in the chocolate.  Form into balls and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Bake for 12-15 minutes.  Cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes and then move to a cooling rack until completely cool.