Lesson 392 – and then there were none

Well, we can’t escape it.

This week is “going back to school week” for the entire flock. Griffin left on Tuesday, our other college student Spencer leaves tomorrow and the rest of the kids went back to school today. It’s the first day of public school.

Here is a photo of Addy and Logan happy to start off the new school year. Addy is in 8th grade and Logan is starting as a freshman in high school. Addy got braces this summer and apparently wants everyone to know. Logan is just happy to be back in his very cool under amour a hoodie.

Logan was in a bit of a bad mood earlier this morning. When I asked him why, he said that it was because he had to wake up early.

Advertisement

Lesson 391 – our annual practice-day-before-first-day-of-school party

I know, I know, I’ll be getting back to the chickens tomorrow. It’s just that having a flock also means being in a flock.

And that’s what today’s post is about. Today is our annual “practice-day-before-the-first-day-of-school” party.

Each year, on the day before the first day of school, we set our alarm for 5:45 and at the stroke of 6:00am, Marc and I pound pots and pans with wooden spoons in order to wake up the kids. I usually belt out that song “Ri-ize and shi-ine and give God the glory, glory” not because I’m religious or anything, but because it’s one of only two songs I remember from Girl Scout camp (the other being about having a smile in your pocket which doesn’t have enough “umph” to it IMHO for waking up a bunch of sleepy kids.)

This year, because Marc is still at RIT with Griffin, I had to do all the pot pounding. (and may I recommend it as a great stress reliever?- although I did break the wooden spoon this time, um, did I mention it was a good stress reliever?)

This sure ain't your mama's wooden spoon

Once all the kids got up, they tumbled downstairs where one was assigned to the bacon and one to the pancakes. One child went out to the henhouse for eggs and another scrambled them on the stove while the last child set the table and poured the orange juice.

I drank a cup of coffee (what? there are *some* benefits to having a large flock, you know.)

Friends of ours who have been coming to this party now for several years brought fruit salad and champagne grapes (if you haven’t tried them, you must, they burst like tiny bubbles in your mouth.)

Although cool, the weather was nice enough for us all to sit outside where we talked about the upcoming school year, what to expect, teachers that we’ve liked, and one in particular to avoid at all costs (seriously not kidding here.)  At the end of the party, each child got new pens, a notebook, and some colorful napkins to pack in their lunch bags.

It’s an annual celebration of hope for the upcoming school year but it’s also a communion of closure. Summer has passed, another school year begins in 3, 2, ….

Lesson 390 – One little chick flew the coop today

Anyone who knows me knows that I tend to hold on to things (and yeah, I can hear the sarcastic “Oh really?” all the way from here.)

Many, many years ago, my son Griffin got interested in calligraphy. That year’s Christmas he got a calligraphy set and in the evening when I went to bed I found this note on my pillow.

I kept it. (did you really think there was even a remote chance I would not?)

This morning, after days of packing, writing lists, re-checking the lists, verifying the lists (are you sure you packed it?) my son left to begin his freshman year at RIT. Other than for school trips and a short stay with an Aunt, he has never been away from home.