And so it begins...

Another school year is upon us.  

Every year in June the summer stretches ahead of us and seems almost endless.  We enjoy lazy days with little structure beyond getting to swim team practice in the mornings and visits with friends or noses in books taking up the afternoons.  Then July hits and the next thing we know, we're buying school supplies and suddenly the end of August is here.

This year we sent off three middle schoolers

and three elementary kids.

On top of that, we have two who had their "last first" day at their respective schools.  How Kylie can be starting her last year of middle school and Daniel is wrapping up elementary this year is beyond me.  More and more I'm understanding just how fleeting this stage of the parenting gig is...

Of course we continued our eight year tradition of walking to school with friends.  Our morning crowd is much smaller now, but it is treasured time with people that have become family over the years.

This school year is sure to throw some curve balls our way, but overall it looks like the kids have teachers that will challenge them to continue to become the best version of themselves.  I'm along for the lunches and the ride.