After J gave each of the kids a father's blessing last night, we laid out school clothes and tucked the kids in bed by 9:30--a mini miracle considering our summer habits. Sleep didn't come easy for anyone except SoSo (the kid's body needs and loves sleep) and J (who I spared as best I could because his alarm goes off so early on so many mornings).
Ed lay awake for an hour and a half or so thinking about school and waiting to be tired. I heard him get up in the middle of the night, but it was just to use the bathroom. C woke at 4:06 AM with butterflies in her stomach and came to our room at 4:15 for comfort. I tucked her back in bed and let her listen to a book on tape to get back to sleep. I was drifting back into sleep again when I heard a different set of footsteps--unquestionably LiLi's. I opened my eyes to find him and his soft yellow blanket getting ready to make their way into our bed. There's simply not enough room for J, me and the 4-and-a-half-year-old in our bed. So I hopped up, scooped him up and told him I would lay down with him in his bed. To which he replied, "Mom, you're not friendly." After two "lay down with me" sessions, I staggered back to my bed and made it the rest of the night without further visitors.
The bus came at 7:45 and they were ready for it...
Our 5th grader (Ed waited with us at the bus stop and
then rode his bike to school--I hope it's still there after school
as he left home without his bike lock)
Her supplies weighed more than she does
Our 4th grader
Our 1st grader
Tonight, after such a big day, I'm betting sleep will come a little easier for us all.