Grammy and Grampy arrived today for their week of childcare and shopping.  I always smile when I see the pics that appear on my phone thanks to the magic of our connected iphones.  I wonder why the gnome has such a grouchy face?  And also am curious about how many times she has changed in the last hour - that was definitely not what she was wearing when I left the house...

 Tomorrow marks the beginning of heading back to reality. Gone are the mornings of cartoons, lunch whenever you feel like it, and afternoons in the pool. 

It was a sad sad day in Morningstar. Today we hooked up the hoses and began the drainage process. It'll take a few days, but the pool is officially closed. (Insert crying face)

While we are mourning the loss of summer and lazy days, pretty sure the resident pool boy is jumping for joy. Thanks, Rick for taking such good care of the pool operations. You have nine months to rest.

We will be filling it up again before you know it!!

Time to label everything - including all 52 cards.  Third Grade and Kinder - here we come!!!

The plan was to hit up the great MN get together next week, after the last day of school.  It seemed like a great idea, but when Andy texted this morning and asked if we should go today instead, that seemed like an even better idea.  I was a bit hesitant about the entire experience, thinking that four adults, three kids and one double wide stroller may be more work than fun, but I was wrong-o!  It was so much fun, and thank goodness for the double wide, because when the girls were not riding, the giant stuffed dog had a seat.

What better way to celebrate the last day of summer Kidstop, then with a with a bucket of chicken legs for our friends?!

Winner winner chicken dinner!!

Happy birthday, Tbone!

Thankful for the giant snoring lumberjack and the solid blue bea(uty)...

Kylee came over for a glass of wine and guitar lessons (not for her, but while Bennett had his lesson). She brought me a gift, knowing I had been stressed out a bit this week, with new teacher workshops. (Which doesn't really sound that stressful, does it?) Such a good friend, she brought me some lavender so I could catch some more sleep and this lovely desk decor.

A haircut and new shoes are the best start to a school year. Ms. Prose did the cut portion today.

Ready to rock Room 75. 

Aside note: remember when you used  to get so mad when I copied you, sister??

Prior to school shopping yesterday, we went out to breakfast with the Ray family, and Andy and Tom and Little Brother Ray devised a brilliant plan to have a keg party.  Hmmm...  I thought it was a joke, until Andy called up our friends at Beaver Island Brewing - and the rest is a story for a different blog... 

Let's just say, it was quite the challenge, but we were victorious, and this morning I was so thankful for my chef husband and coca cola classic.

The plan was to go school shopping. Bennett was super stoked, and grabbed the lists and pencils. Harper was not opposed to the trip, but I wouldn't say she was super excited, either.

Divide and conquer was the strategy. The Scorpios went crazy, sprint walking through the aisles, throwing stuff in the cart, periodically hollering, "Hey, girls!? How's it going?? You done yet??"

Harper and I took it a bit slower, but I knew exactly how to increase her excitement.  "Hey, Harps.  How about we pick out your backpack first?"

And, she found the exact perfect one.

And from there on, it was much more exciting to pick the "exact perfect" everything else - and check each off the list.

Always, the backpacks are the favorite item to select. And like everything else in our world, the 2015-2016 backpacks speak directly to the personalities of the Prose children, and made me smile (and yes, maybe one tear slid down my cheek as I inhaled in love and exhaled gratitude). 

Third grade and kindergarten, here we come.