OMG. Summer's Almost Over.

SUMMER sum·mer ¹ n.

1. The usually warmest season of the year, occurring between spring and autumn and constituting June, July, and August in the Northern Hemisphere

2. The time when Heather has too many people buzzing around her like fruit flies to get any work done.

My head is spinning. (Not literally, of course. Har. Har.) I thought there were four weeks left of summer vacation, but I looked at a calendar yesterday and it turns out the kids go back to school in just two and one half weeks!

Wowee! So, I am feeling what... relief that my afternoons will be my own once again? Panic that I have barely even mentally planned for back to school shopping? Confusion over where exactly the summer went? Anxiety over the realization that the older you get, the more time seems to pass in the blink of an eye and one moment you're taking your daughter to preschool with another toddler in tow and another baby in your belly and a blink or two later you're preparing now 5th, 3rd and 1st graders for school?

Yes. All of the above.

I am taking the former preschooler back to school shopping today. I used to put big, crazy bows in her hair that matched her outfit. Lately, she's declared herself a tomboy. She will not wear a dress or a skirt, only graphic t-shirts and bermuda shorts. No glittery shoes; only Converse or Vans skate shoes are permissable. Hair accessories? Fuggidaboudit.

She is my only daughter and I like GIRL THINGS. I am still stifiling the urge to buy her Barbies (which she never liked). *sigh*

I will take the fellas on their BTS shopping trips seperately this weekend. The first will be easy peasy. He's not concerned with a sense of style. He likes what he likes and doesn't give it any thought beyond that.  Hey, that shirt is funny or has a cartoon character that I like on it or is a color I enjoy. Buy it. Done. He is still wearing Super Mario pajamas that are snug highwaters because he "still likes them". Honestly, I admire his complete comfort in himself. WTG.

The second boy... the 1st grader. Well, he has a Justin Bieber complex. His style is much more (self) defined. I am still scarred by the memories of getting him dressed for school last year because most days ended up with at least one of us in tears because most of his skinny jeans were not skinny enough. He will not wear those that you bought four pairs of, Mom, only these two particular pairs. The ones that are usually dirty. And he loves himself a hoodie, too. He's probably planning a first day of school outfit that involves (skinny) jeans and a hoodie. It will probably be about 108 degrees and he will fight with me about it -loudly- because he will, of course, be perfectly comfortable -he swears- and I don't know anything. End scene.

So, uh... wish me luck!

xoxo,