whatever

spring break going on over here.

we are on spring break from school this week.
we decided to take a little vacation with the kids to get a break from the same old thing.
it was very laid back and deciding IN THE MOMENT what we would do next.
we left on saturday... we had planned to leave friday but couldn't get ourselves gathered by then. 
(typical duerksen family move)
and came back late tuesday night.

i was going to open my shop today but we had so much fun just being together the last four days
that i didn't have any time to work at all.
so i never got into the shop to finish up the details.

isn't that a great problem to have?  
having too much fun with my kids?
i would say so.

i am going to try for Friday at NOON. 

 

Annie's class had a program where they were each dressed as their Famous American they reported on. 

she could practically be Theodore Roosevelt's twin!

the whole class was adorable all dressed in different costumes they came up with.
each one stood in front of all the parents, gave three clues about their character and the parents wrote down our guesses....i did not get them all right.  
 
they wrote these long reports after doing several days of research.




i know Annie was so nervous to stand and speak but she did GREAT!
we were very proud of her.

we were even served fruit punch and cookies by our famous americans.  

-----------------------------------------------

 

mondays.

 

 

 

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                                                        annie - 2nd grade                                                            talby - 5th grade
 

                                                          sean - 6th grade                                                             scott - freshman
 
 


dorks.
i didn't see that the boys were not smiling....
oh well.
memories.

school is in full day swing already and i am enjoying the quiet days.
i can say that because then i love when they come home so much more than when there is no break for months.

lauren's first day was on a day with two-a-day volleyball practices so she left on her first day before 6 AM.
that is why she is not pictured.  :)

 

ok...
now i want you to click over to read about the CRAFT WEEKEND that we had two weeks ago.
it was another amazing time.
God is so good.

 

promoted.

so this is it.
my last morning home alone.
and i am not even home alone...scott is here with me.
but you know what i mean...home without a child who needs me to get their breakfast and stuff.

i love summer.
but that first week or two is always an adjustment for ME.

scott was promoted out of eighth grade last night.
i took a few pictures at the ceremony but they were all blurry.

in my hair's defense....
we'd had 100mph winds all day and it was 100 degrees in that room...and fluorescent lighting.  

TWINS!  :)





i could've started tearing up at any moment.
like when he said "congratulations freshman class of 2013"  or when they gave out awards.
but i held it together.

this school year was excellent for all the kids in the new school but i think especially for scott.
it has been a really great year!
i am grateful for that.
these kids are awesome...such wonderful young men.  they are quite goofy....but wonderful.
i am so happy we get to watch them grow up together.

 

so....i guess i better do SOMETHING with my last 3.5 hours alone.
dishes?  laundry?  mop?  vacuum?

no.

a long hot bath....at the craft house....YES.

 

 

 

grown.

these kids have a lot of nerve growing up so quick.
it's kind of mean.
they just grow and grow....taller and taller....wearing man and woman shoe sizes and think it's fine!
rude.

first grade.                                                                    eighth grade.
 

fifth grade.                                                                    fourth grade.
 

we started at a new school this year.
smaller.
more like what craig and i grew up in.....yeah.....S.M.A.L.L.....so happy about it.
and they were too.
they were nervous but they each fought it.....they were brave......they are BRAVE.
no tears.
and actually not even one "goodbye Mom"  they were just gone....never looking back.

i am proud of them. 

snapped this out my window as i drove home.

it's going to be a great year.
thank you Lord.
amen.

(ps....lauren starts on thursday....she was at volleyball practice when we left this morning)

 

wednesday for me.

last night was annie's kindergarten recogniton.
pretty cute.

they performed "the very hungry caterpillar" and sang "what a wonderful world"


annie has thrived in mrs. claassen's class this year.
has loved going to school every day.
has made art projects, gifts and cards for her everyday all school year.
that is a good sign of love to me.

 

ezra is her best buddy in the class.
at bedtime we were talking and she shared that everybody says "why do you always play with boys?!" 
i told her it was ok to play with WHOever she wants.
she said the girls always say "annie...come play princesses with us!"
and i laughed and said "you should say.....DO I LOOK LIKE I WANT TO PLAY PRINCESS WITH YOU?"
talby said "don't say that annie....you'll get in trouble"
we all laughed.

she likes some girly things like babies and house and littlest pet shops
but boys have more energy and action
and they are louder. 
just like annie. 

she has friends that are girls too.

 


the magnificent chef ANNIE will prepare  KAK for your meal


 
i cannot believe this year is almost over.
it's crazy.
i feel like i am in some weird time warp sucker.
making everything go at super speed.
everyone is growing up and changing so fast.
i want to shout "just stop already!"
for the good moments.
the hard stuff....the tough stuff....it can go away as quick as possible.
move along angry hormones of teenagers....
get going feelings of entitlement and greed or laziness.....
please move faster self centeredness.....
but this good awesome wonderful stuff...like hungry caterpillars & teacher hugs....they can stay forever. 

 

my new grown up life.

at our school they start kindergarten half days for the first 9 weeks.
then they go full day the rest of the year.
i guess it's to ease into it....easier adjustment for everyone.
i love it.

annie has had me walk her to her classroom everyday.
none of my other kids wanted that.
ever.
so of course i did that today too.
i think i would've been sad if she didn't want me there today.


soon she'll go in with her brother and sister but for a while i will still walk her in.
it gives me motivation to get out of my pajamas now before we leave for school.


this picture sums it up.
double hand grasp on mommy.
she said all morning "my stomach hurts" and she wanted lots of extra help getting dressed.
she was so nervous for her day. 

THIS is annie's look that means she is nervous.
i LOVE that i captured it.

and then she was ready for me to go.
thank goodness.
i couldn't have handled any crying....without crying myself.
so glad she was brave.

very strange feeling to be all alone so early in the day.
i am fine with time alone.

it's not that i MISS my kids when they are at school....i don't. 
i know that they are safe and happy and that they will be home again soon.
what i am feeling is that annie is my last baby and now she is a big kid at school.
and i am 35.
so i am old and alone.

just kidding.
i mean....i AM old and alone....but it's not a bad thing.

a new chapter of my grown up life begins.
i can only go to MOPS meetings as a mentor mom from now on.
(i haven't been to MOPS for 6 years but i remember thinking with five kids i could be in MOPS forever) 
i have no excuse for a messy house anymore.
(except for those five kids again)
i have no excuse not to exercise.
i have no excuse for dinner not being ready.
i have no excuse to have a MOUNTAIN of laundry like i do right now.
i have no excuse to not be reading my bible and spending real time with God.

those are my areas to focus on in this new grown up life i have been given starting today.
whether i asked for it or not.

with that....i am out the door for a long run.
i am going to blast my music and cry if i want to.
but i don't think i will. 
i think this grown up life is going to be pretty good. 

ps....i went dancing this weekend.
it was one of the best nights i have had all year.