Fall is in the air

It is so cold in my house this am that I am in sweats! That is a little bit wrong, given it IS still August...at least for the rest of the day!

We are so ready to be back in a routine. E started back this am, much to his chagrin. I think he was still enjoying summer. The kids NEED to go back to school before they do each other in. The middles have taken up arguing as a competitive sport. It seems the first one to give in and cry wins. Mom is ready to give up the referee roll for a while! Time for them to have some space, their own friends, and have their minds expanded for a bit.

Overall, summer was good. Trips to the lake, Duluth, the cities, and more filled many weeks. The kids thrived on biking, football in the front yard and swimming. Sunshine has grown by leaps and bounds and though she started the summer as a baby, she is a full fledged little girl now. Wow. For me it was a really bittersweet summer. Selling the shop was hard, and I still have days where I am so sad that I had to give it up. But these days, more often than not, I am thrilled with the new slower pace of life. I love not waking up worrying and going to bed only to wake up in the middle of the night in a panic. I launched a great shop and hopefully it will continue to flourish.

The fall is going to bring nice routine. J-dog and dad out the door by 7:15 to get the bus to the 6th grade school, the mom mobile loaded and out the door by 7:50 with stops at the elementary school and then on to work at the Y. I am really looking forward to working in the preschool and seeing if it is something I want to pursue further or not. Then mom and sunshine home for lunch and nap then back to pick up the brothers 3 by 2:45. It should be a good routine!

We are quickly approaching Sunshines one year family day. It hardly seems possible that a year ago we were planning the final details of our trip to get her. What a year! She is such an amazing blessing and I can't believe how much she has grown and changed in a year. I am worried about her Ethiopia family. There is a horrible drought right now in the region where some of her birth family lives and famine is spreading quickly. I feel so helpless so far away. We pray that God is holding them safely.

That is all for now...I will be closing out this blog in the next week or so and moving on to one that keeps pace with our whole family! Stay tuned for the switch!