Back to School

School Supply Shopping 2009

I know I'm a little late on the 'back to school' theme but with the onset of Rosh Hashana two days after the start of school, I didn't have much time to reflect - at least not here.  Now that everyone has all their school supplies, and the rush is over, I can look back on the last week while the emotions are still fresh. One nice thing this year was school supply shopping. Strange, I know.  I think it's because I used the divide and conquer method, which happened more by chance than by any great stroke of genius on my part. Oldest Daughter shopped in Bracebridge on Labour Day weekend and there were zero line ups, hubby took care of Number One Son and I took Youngest Daughter by myself a week after school started.  I think psychologically it was way less painful because I didn't have to see it all on the same bill! However,  I also didn't get any good pictures because Oldest Daughter was mortified by last year's experience (note the pencil case in front of her face in the photo above) and wouldn't let me bring my camera (as if anybody in Bracebridge besides our family knows who she is!).  I was so tired when I went with youngest daughter that I forgot my camera, and of course Hubby doesn't scrapbook so why would he take a camera?  It did make for a fun layout last year using the School House line of October Afternoon paper.  For someone who originally didn't like most of their papers, I seem to use them a lot! 

Documenting the Chaos

Eventually I'll do a layout about this year that will focus on the morning of, which was a rather pleasant one.

Look how happy they are to go back!

I can say without a doubt that this was one of the least stressful first day back to school in a couple of years.  Everyone seems to be settled and even looking forward to some major milestones that will be marked this year.  Oldest Daughter started her final year of high school and Youngest Daughter started her final year of elementary school - honestly, where did the time go!?!  Number One Son is in his second year of high school, so hopefully there won't be too many new things to throw him off.  Oddly enough this was also the first year I didn't take anybody to school. Oldest Daughter is driving her own carpool on Tuesdays, while I dodge the dreadful traffic of this city and slug it out to work on public transit, and the other two went with their carpools.

The Grade 12 badge of honour.

Kind of nice not to be so needed but kind of sad at the same time.  Of course they still need me to make their lunches.  I dread it every day and I'm not one of those people who can do it the night before.  I know exactly what you're thinking - "Why are you still making their lunches?" I DON'T KNOW!!!  I wonder the same thing myself.  Apparently my lunches taste better -"because they're made with so much love" - says Oldest Daughter, who's totally shovelling s.....  I'm just a sucker.  Thus life is back to busy with getting everyone up (yes I still do that too), teenagers fighting over shower time, lunches to be made, everyone rushing to get out the door between 8:00 and 8:15, carpool, after school late pickups, dinners, and homework - and this is only the first two weeks. I'm already exhausted!! 

New Shoes - A back to school must have.

"School bag in hand, she leaves home
 in the early morning..."

The back to school kind of day....

Muskoka Moments

It has become pretty much a tradition that we spend our last weekend of the summer at my sister-in-law and brother-in-law's in Bracebridge,  otherwise known as "Camp Manolakos".  It is a wonderful way to end the summer and spend some quality time with our family.  They live on Lake Muskoka and the setting as well as the company is fabulous.   Aunty Sheryl makes sure we get outside as much as possible and no visit is complete without at least one hike, a paddle to the beach and a swim to the sandbar.  Uncle George makes sure golf is on the agenda for the guys followed by a little lounging in a muskoka chair with a brew or two. Thanks to hubby we eat like kings all weekend not to mention carnivores.  There's usually a bonfire to end a full day of fun complete with guitar, sing-a-longs and even appearances by some local celebrities.  But, as with the rest of the summer things turned out a little different  this year.  After a summer of major heat waves and lovely weather we were hit with the coldest Labour Day weekend I can ever remember. It rained on and off most of the time and the wind was fierce.  We barely sat by the lake (so much for prolonging my tan!), and no one except the dogs made it into the water. We managed to keep our spirits up even though there was no bonfire, canoeing or swimming.  

The start of our hike, crossing a dam.

A little rain doesn't discourage Aunty Sheryl and she took us  on a short hike by one of the falls in town. All three kids came and it was rather pleasant, as evidenced by the picture below.  We took our dog, Sheryl's dog and a neighbour's and they had quite the time. Our little city dog loves to run around with the big country dogs in the forest, but he's not too fond of bathing in the lake before he can go in the house again!

A rare but precious moment!

On the trail.

The next day two of the kids went with the rest of the gang on another hike, but I opted out as it was raining and I'd had enough of that.  Wish I would have gone, because it looks beautiful and just like Sheryl predicted it stopped raining by the time they arrived at the trail.  Oh well, I'll know better next time.

Cuddles in the Kitchen - where else?

It was a weekend of relaxing indoors instead of out, puzzles and fun family games

- well sort of - Apples to Apples and the game of Imagine can really go either way!  

It is always sad to see a good summer end,

but the adventures of school and the colours of fall can be something to look forward to...that is if you want to see the glass as half full.  

Only 10 more months until summer!!!

The end of summer kind of day....