Back to School!

This is it! We've nearly made it! Our two kids are in school. Of course this means two tuitions plus our nanny every month (insert face with X's for eyes), but we'll make it work by selling all of our stuff. Signing Alex up was technically optional, but we found the cutest spot for him and everything fell into place: the schedule (2 mornings a week), the program (play-based), and the location (right over the Natick/Wellesley line). Plus he's ready for a little structure and socialization so we couldn't not send him. His first day was today!

Ashton has already been back in his classroom for a week. As a reminder he is in TK this year with Mrs. Cooney. If he is a genius by the end of the year (doubtful), he could jump straight to first grade, but in all likelihood this is going to be a bridge year to kindergarten. The cut off date was August 31, his birthday was August 3...eh, we held him back. I've been seriously second guessing this decision as I've been watching all his friends and other kids his age hop on the bus to public school, but we weren't ready for it. Luckily he has not seemed to have any issues with not going.

Just for fun, I thought I would now share our family schedule. A sample week, if you will. Keep in mind, this does not include the fun extras like Alex needs to bring a lunch to Miss Tammy's on Wednesdays and Ashton only eats at school on Mondays and Fridays. Speech is every other week, and Jason's day off is maybe Monday, maybe Tuesday, maybe none at all. Naps for both boys vary. Also Ashton commutes with me so we leave at 7:20 am to get to Belmont by 8 am and then I have to trek to Bentley after that...mornings on MWF are long. But more or less, it looks like this.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Jason	9:30 am Alex EI group drop off 10 am – 7 pm work	10:30 am – 7 pm work	8:45 am Alex drop off 9 am – 8 pm work	10:30 am – 9 pm work	8:45 am Alex drop off 9 am – 9 pm work
Kristen	8 am Ashton drop off 8:15 am-3 pm work 3:15 pm Ashton pickup	8-4 work	8:15-4 work 8 am Ashton drop off	8-4 work	8 am Ashton drop off 8:15-3 pm work 3:15 pm Ashton pickup
Ashton	BNS 8-3		BNS 8-12		BNS 8-3
Alex	9:30 am -12 pm | EI Group Class at Criterion in Framingham		8:45 am – 12:45 pm Miss Tammy’s including lunch bunch	11:45 am EI with Amanda	8:45 – 11:45 am Miss Tammy’s 1 pm speech
Jen	12 pm (pick up Alex) – 4 pm	10-5 Both kids	12 pm (pick up Ashton then 12:45 pm pick up Alex) – 5 pm	10-5 Both kids	11:45 am (pick up Alex) – 4 pm

Even with this, there is no such thing as a "normal" schedule. This week for example I also had a dentist appointment, Ashton has another food challenge downtown tomorrow which is a half-day thing, Jason squeezed in some golf, there's an open house for gymnastics on Thursday, etc etc. So you see, it's busy. And we have *just* two kids. Some people have more! Or have a dog! Or have both more kids AND a dog or other pets! Phew. I need a towel and some water.

Anyway I have been ready for a new season and back-to-school (or, in Alex's case, starting school!) is always an exciting time. Should be a great year! Ashton is already talking about Halloween and so far his two costume ideas are "hot water" and "half of a dragon and half of a ghost". ??? I better get going...