Back to School

"If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylums would be filled with mothers."
~Edgar W. Howe

Blake and Nick loaded up their brand spankin' new Quicksilver camouflage backpacks, picked out their own outfits and abandoned the vacation flipflops for their straight-from-the box athletic shoes as they ventured into the start of another school year.

Hard to believe, but Blake's in 6th grade now and Nicky's headed to 3rd. The boys were both in good spirits this morning with their backpacks stuffed full of required and "requested" supplies. Blake weighed his pack -- 14.5 pounds. Yikes!

It's supposed to be 107 degrees today. And Blake calls it "horrible timing" that the Olympics just started and he can't stay up late watching them. But the timing, I thought, was just about perfect.

With our trips to California and Minnesota, Blake's soccer camp and the kids' swimming lessons, our summer slipped away as fast as a glass of a tall lemonade in an Arizona back yard. We had a great time on our two trips. And we enjoyed the lazy days at home, sleeping in with no place to be and hanging out in the pool.

But the final week or so told me -- no, not told, but shouted down through me -- that the time was right. With the mixture of boredom, restlessness, and school-is-looming nervous energy ferociously whipping about, I was afraid the boys were going to kill each other. Whether it was fighting over what to watch on T.V. or "you're sitting too close to me," or calling each other mean or banned names, or putting gum on the seat so the other would sit in it (yes, and Nicky was the victim in this one), these two have been up to one form of mayhem or another for days now.

At this point in parenthood I've realized that there's nothing I love more than spending one-on-one time with my kids. It seems they're in their most angelic, pure, talkative form when they're alone with Mom. But it's playing the role of referee for two pairs of kids (especially the older two), that have me grateful school is here again.

Back to the Business of Everyday Life

It's that time of year: when the lazy days of summer, the swimming lessons, the summer camps, the vacation memories still fresh in our minds, are all nudged out of the way by that looming singular day -- for us it's Aug. 11 -- that signals the start of routine, discipline, crazy busy evenings with two boys playing soccer, and everything else that goes with the start of the school year.

Here in Phoenix the kids are back to school when it's still ridiculously hot -- at least 105 for another month or so. They'll be wearing shorts for at least another three months, probably closer to four. It still just seems so early. When I was a kid the first day of school was always right after Labor Day. Still, I think I'm the boys are more than ready.

After a couple of busy weeks, we're having a mellow last week of summer vacation.

From where I last left off, here are the highlights:

• Blake survived his first overnight camp. His soccer camp at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff was a success. When we picked him up, he had a hoarse voice, a sunburned nose and a suitcase full of muddy, musty athletic clothes. And, no, he never called home. Says he lost the calling card. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever ...
• Oh ... and how can I forget? No story involving vehicle travel would be complete unless a carsick child was involved. Again. I know it's getting old. Anyway, the ride up there was about two hours. After we got Blake we stopped for a late breakfast/early lunch. Sitting at the table -- thank goodness it was tucked away in a corner -- Zachy, you guessed it, got sick. I'll spare the details, but it was pretty embarrassing. And is it bad to be glad it didn't happen in the minivan???
• So two days after that, we flew to Minnesota, where we spent a week with Brett's mom and her husband. The kids were angels on the plane ride. Our little adventurer Allie LOVED taking off and landing. When the plane zoomed down the runway for take-off, she let out huge uncontrollable laughs and woo-hoos. It was great fun for her.
  
• One of the first days we went to a local water park. The weather this day was perfect -- about 80 degrees. But it's funny how 80 degrees draws a HUGE Minnesota crowd to an outdoor water attraction. The place was packed. More than I had ever seen at an Arizona or California water park. Most water parks in Arizona aren't even open at Christmas time
  in 80-degree weather.
• Another day we went to the amusement park inside the Mall of America. Zach and Allie loved the log ride -- a big one with a long downward plunge.
• We spent three days "up north" at Brett's mom's lakeside cabin. I've made three trips out to Minnesota now in the years Brett and I have been married. I've always loved spending time at the cabin because it's so calming and peaceful. You can walk outside and not hear a sound. If you're lucky you'll spot a loon or two, as we did. Even better is hearing their haunting cries from across the lake.
• I haven't downloaded the photos yet -- I know, very slow for me, the crazed picture fanatic. But some will be clogging your inbox appearing soon.
• Upon our return I immediately came down with a case of strep throat. I'm finally starting to feel normal. Now I'm just hoping none of the kids get it. And just like that, I'm going to shut up or no one will want to keep reading end for now ...
  

"Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability."
~Sam Keen