Back To School Blues

Benson's baptism on Saturday was just the best, most special day. I can't wait to tell you all about it. But that will have to wait, because today was the first day of school and I only have just enough juice to report on one thing. And since this was today, it wins. Baptism coming in hot, though, so no worries.

Olivia in 10th grade, Katelyn in 7th grade, and Benson in 3rd grade. And only three babies in the back to school pictures! How did it come to this? Bunch of old coots.

It was not our most successful day first day of school ever. In fact, I think we can confidently call it our least successful. Olivia was the only one to come out relatively unscathed, the younger two were unhappy from start of the day until finish of the day. It was pretty rough.

Took Liv's back to school pic at 5:30 this morning before she left for seminary. I got one slightly blurry full length shot with her rocking orange pants that are her pride and joy and are basically ripped from the pages of teenage Marie, then when I went to try to get a closer one, this is what I got. And she was happy with it and refused to take another. So we went with it. Leaving for school that early in the morning is a crime, so it seems fair.

I bought new school clothes for my younger children but both of them refused to wear them today. For the love of all that is holy, why? I honestly do not understand. Am I meant to understand? I don't know. You don't feel confident so you shun the thing that might help you feel spiffy? I just don't know. Does this mean I can take them back and get a refund, though? 'Cause I'd be cool with that. Honestly. Why do I spend half of my life mystified. I would ask my Mom about this, but she'd probably say she still spends half her life mystified by her children, and that's not the kind of news that I need right now!

I basically arm wrestled Benson into taking any pictures at all, we had an honest to goodness face off about it, but there is no way in heck he was winning this one. When I tried to get him to look at me rather then somewhere off in the distance, this is what I got. Which honestly, really sums up our feelings about this whole back to school thing, anyway.

Katelyn didn't want to take them but knew it was a losing battle, and hers are cute, so she doesn't have to go down this path of crazy pictures.

I've been so worn out yesterday and today, really worn out. The Double B didn't work until noon, so we just huddled and he rubbed my ear and let me take a nap on his shoulder, which is honestly the best thing to do for me in the entire world. I felt a lot better after that. Then he went to work and Liv got home and reported a pretty darn decent day, which was great. Then I went and picked up the other two who both looked like they'd been chewed up and eaten by a monster of death. Absolute misery from both of them. Benson said "It was just so hard to do my work like that! Like I was a grown man and they wanted me to do grown man's work!" Kate doesn't have any of her hard-earned friends in any classes yet and she looked like she had her own personal rain cloud raining over her.

And so the day went. Reading time seemed like an injustice. The world is a terrible place. Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I guess I'll go eat worms. The day ended in tears and speeches about how everything is terrible. The bone deep fatigue was back.

What a day.

And that's okay. There are days like today.

There was one happy note, and it was very very happy for the single lady making her living, Olivia M. She got her first payday, and she was feeling it when we went to the bank to get the cash, as you can see:

Practically swimming in the money, like Scrooge McDuck. 

She was feeling so happy and I'm so happy for her. It's the perfect scenario. She works a few hours a week at a job she enjoys, and makes enough money to feel some independence. And she is definitely my independent woman. I'm excited for her. 
Guys, life is not easy and we all know it. It's sure got it's high points, but I'm sure sometimes you feel like I do right now, which is wondering who has a boat headed to a deserted tropical island and how can I get on it the fastest? I'm tired. I think we're all tired. I think it will just take a few days to adjust and a little extra rest needed and we'll be able to get right back into the swing of things. I'm sure. Here I am, asking God again to please raise up friends for these people and please God, do it with all available speed and haste. Good friends, God, if you please. 

Talk to you tomorrow. 

The baptism was great. It really was such a sweet day.

See you soon.