new backpacks filled with school supplies. Check.
Lunchboxes cleaned and ready. Check.
New shoes and clothes ready. Check.
Meeting new teachers on Tuesday night. Almost check.
Happy dance from Mom. DOUBLE Check.

Ok, I'm gonna admit it-I am really GLAD summer is ending and BOTH...(did you hear that??) both of my wonderful children will be in school all day!! For 7 hours a day I will have freedom. Don't get me wrong, we have had a wonderful summer,lots of family time and I can't believe Hannah will be in 1st grade, but this momma is ready for some breathing space. The constant sibling fighting is starting to drive me nutty and I think we are all ready for a change of scenery.

A WHOLE DAY OF NO CHILDREN?
I can go to the gym more often (and hopefully see the spare tire less). I can concentrate on my business and will have lots more time for client meetings (without having to run home to be there when Hannah is home or figure out where for her to go so I can get work done).

ALSO....
There are many projects around the house that need to get done: I have already made my much-needed cleaning list to start on Thursday, donation piles are started and a messy office closet that needs MUCH organization is waiting.

Both kids plan on taking cold lunch so I am going to save myself some time (since I'm not a morning person AT ALL) and start stock-piling my freezer with baked goods that I can pop in their lunch box. I can see a couple baking days a month to do this and freezer dinners-it really makes life much more easier. BTW: I cooked 7!! casseroles, pasta sauce and pizza dough this Saturday in about 4 hours!! If you have a family, freezer cooking will save your sanity!

I am really looking forward to a new phase of no daycare and some independence during the day, so when my babes get home from school I will be excited to hear about their day and have a good snack waiting.
On a side note..I didn't know parenting would take so much food preparation-especially in the early years when feeding them took much of the day (especially when you exclusively breast feed babies til they are one and make your baby food!) and they ate non-stop.

Of course the cons to all this starting school is earlier mornings, trying to get kids to bed earlier, dealing with homework everyday, schedules, schedules, schedules and..... did I mention getting up early? I bought a big tub of coffee to help with that!