The End of an Era

Today is a day that has been full of all the emotions. Today was the twins' last day of second grade. Today was our last day as a Catalayah family as we have officially made the decision that Brooke and Brecklyn will be homeschooled next year along with Brianna and Brenson. Today is the end of a season . . . of an era, if you will. 

Brecklyn and Brooke . . . the last day of second grade!

Brooke Ellie

Look how much her face has matured!

Brecklyn Sarah

Looking so much more grown up!

Yesterday, we went to Rise & Shine with the girls knowing it would be our last day attending Rise & Shine as a Catalayah family, and I can't even put into words the flood of emotions I felt. I remember so clearly going to Rise & Shine when Brianna was in Kindergarten (in 2015!) and feeling very emotional. Today - 7 1/2 years later - going into Rise & Shine was just as emotional for me. Catalayah has been a major part of our family during this season . . . so many relationships built, milestones reached, hours volunteered, and obstacles overcome. 

Brecklyn at Rise & Shine

Brooke at Rise & Shine

In so many ways, our family has grown up at Catalayah. While I'm excited, confident, and hopeful for the next season of life that Catalayah will not be part of, the feelings are very bittersweet today. 

The last day going through the morning drop-off line

Watching my babies walk into the building for the last time

I'm a different mom than I was 7.5 years ago, and I'm ready to embrace what that means for me and my children. However, in order to fully embrace it, I have to let go of what is comfortable for now. I have to walk away from a part of life that has been meaningful, impactful, and wonderful. I am confident that homeschooling all four children is going to be amazing and what is best for everyone, but that doesn't mean letting go of what was is easy. I am ready, but also a little sad. Somehow at the same time, though, today feels like a weight has been lifted. 

Brecklyn and Brooke have both done wonderful in second grade, but I feel that has more to do with who they are than with where they were. They each had 28 students in their class, so for two girls who are academically high and well behaved, being in such large classes meant they were essentially invisible. Brecklyn had an excellent teacher who we really loved - and she did her very best to meet Brecklyn's needs - but her hands were just too full. Brooke had a teacher that was good for her in many ways, but she also had a class full of rowdy boys who needed most of the teacher's time and attention. 

I'm so proud of the girls and how they handled the challenges of the year, but we are all very excited for them to be home with us next year. For a while, I really thought they would go back to Catalayah for third grade, but I feel so much peace knowing I get to teach them, pour into them, and really meet their needs academically starting earlier than we had initially planned. 

Both girls let their good character shine this year when there was a lot of chaos going on around them. I love the little awards Brecklyn received from her teacher because they really are so fitting for her!

She received the 'Ray of Sunshine' award for "shining your bright light in our classroom each and every day".

This one says, "for having a gentle and quiet spirit that is empathetic and compassionate to others". I hope to continue to foster these good traits in my girl!

Brecklyn's teacher has been sharing with me her plans to leave the classroom after this year and most likely homeschool her own kids. That tells me just about all I need to know about the challenges they faced at school. And Catalayah is one of the good ones!

Brooke's teacher did not do any sort of classroom awards (which was disappointing to me), but Brooke received several 'Character Counts' throughout the year. My smiley girl was always lending a helping hand to others!

Brecklyn also had a few 'Character Counts':

While my girls (and all of us) have many good memories from our time at Catalayah, it's time to close this book. Today, it feels little more bitter than sweet, but I know we are all ready for this change. I am truly so excited to have all my babies home for school, and I can't wait to get into a new routine. 

We all appreciate Catalayah for what it has given to us, and we all sincerely hope that we brought something valuable to the table, too. More than anything, we hope we let our lights shine for Jesus every day!

The Final Farewell

As a parent, I often hear that kids grow up too fast and that babies don't keep. While I know this is true, it's sometimes difficult to see it when you're in the trenches of daily baby raising and parenting. It seems like I've had babies and toddlers for a long time because, well, I have had babies and toddlers for nearly a decade. And although it's a season that can be tough and try all my patience and exhaust me more than I can put into words, it's also one that I've cherished and clung to and wished in some ways would never end. 

But, just as it is with so many good and beautiful things, it does end. The baby and toddler chapter in my book has *sadly* closed. The final pages were flipped - the final farewell said - when we moved the twins out of their toddler beds and into twin bunk beds about a week ago. It was the last piece of their toddlerhood that I had held on to tightly for too long. 

I know the reason it was so hard for me was because they shouldn't be my last babies. There should be two more coming up after them, and that fact makes every transitions a little harder for me than it would be otherwise. I know I can't hold them back because my heart is aching, but I do give myself a little extra grieving room in these situations. It's not just about Brooke and Brecklyn growing up (that's hard by itself), but it's about the ache I feel from the pain of loss and of dreams that will never be, as well.

With all that said, Brooke and Brecklyn were more than ready for the transition into twin beds. They were beyond excited when we told them they were getting new beds for their birthday, and because of their anticipation we ended up setting the beds up a few days before their actual birthday. 

I ordered the bunk bed online, so the day the bed frames arrived in the mail we set them up in the twins' bedroom. However, we hadn't picked up their mattresses yet, so we moved their toddler beds into our bedroom until we got everything set up and ready to go in their room. They were so pleased to be our room guests for a few nights! 

Brecklyn, Brooke

After just a few days, we got everything in their bedroom all set up and arranged. Along with a new bed frame and mattresses, they also had to have new sheets and comforters. We rearranged some of their wall decor, and I bought them a new rug. It all turned out so cute!

One of my favorite things is their little doll bunk bed beside their big bunk bed :-).

On the night of January 30th, Brooke and Brecklyn slept in their new beds for the first time. Of course, Brooke wanted the top bunk, which was a good thing because Brecklyn didn't even want to venture up there at all!

My big girl Brooke ready for her first night in her new bed.

My big girl Brecklyn ready for her first night in her new bed.

Their little toddler beds were still in great shape, so I wanted to pass them along to someone who could put them to good use. I posted on my FB page about it and soon had two people asking for them. It definitely helped ease the sting of everything to pass them along to someone we knew would appreciate and use them. 

Brooke's bed frame and mattress went to a family from our school that has a little guy who is about 2 1/2. His big sister and Bren are in the same grade. Brooke was thrilled that his mom sent us a photo of him using the bed!

We gave Brecklyn's bed to our school librarian for her granddaughter that spends the night at her house some. Brecklyn was equally thrilled that she sent me a photo of her granddaughter using the bed!

While moving the twins into big beds has felt like leaving the final piece of the baby/toddler days behind, I am so grateful for the excitement, joy, and ease of the transition. I don't think Brooke and Brecklyn could be happier about their new beds, and we are all excited for what the future holds for our family!

The First Day of School for Four!

If you read my post I put up the other night, you know I was feeling super emotional about the first day of school. I wanted to be strong for my kids (who were all excited and ready), but I just didn't know if I had it in me. I thought there was a distinct possibility that I might fall apart and be mess, so I wasn't really looking forward to it. 

I'm happy to report that the day was great . . . for everyone! It always helps me to get some of my feelings out, and because I wrestled with all the feels the night before school started, I was good to go on the actual first day of school! 

And I wasn't the only one . . . the kids were so wound up that we were all ready almost 30 minutes before time to leave. Bren was already up and dressed when I went in his room to wake him for the day!

Having everyone ready early meant that I could take pics and not be rushed at all. YES!

Brianna on her first day of fourth grade

Brenson on his first day of second grade

Brooke Ellie on her first day of Pre-K

Brecklyn Sarah on her first day of Pre-K

My sweet twinbies were SO excited for their very first day of school!

I didn't intentionally coordinate their clothing, but I certainly don't mind that it worked out that way, ha! 

Brianna, Brooke, Brecklyn, and Brenson

I adore this photo! Can you tell that they were excited to tackle their day?!?

Daddy with the crew 💙

Momma with the crew 💓

Chris always takes the morning of the first day of school off work so we can join the kids at Rise and Shine, then walk them to their classrooms. We accompanied the kids into the gym for Rise and Shine, and they all immediately went to sit with their classes.

Brenson

While several of the pre-k and kindergarten kids were on the struggle bus (there were lots and lots of tears), Brooke and Brecklyn were dancing and participating like they'd been doing it for years. Oh wait . . . that's because they have!

Brecklyn is the only one I thought might have a little trouble, but she was all smiles!

When Rise and Shine ended, Chris walked with Brianna to class while I went with Brooke and Brecklyn. I was waiting for their class in the hallway when they came out of the gym, and I was not at all surprised to see that Brooke was leading the class and holding her teacher's hand. Of course, Brecklyn wasn't far behind her sister.

I'm sad this pic is blurry because Brooke was giving me the cutest little thumbs up!

I followed the twins into their classroom, helped them get situated, then said good-bye. They were ready to get their day started!

After saying good-bye to the twins, I went down to Bren's classroom to say a quick good-bye to him. As you can see from him face in the photo below, he thought me coming to check on him was completely unnecessary!

Even with all my kids in the same building, I wasn't able to make it down to see Bri. Thankfully, she's a big kid and said she was perfectly fine with me not walking her to her classroom. Chris did walk her, though, and snapped this pic before he left. Sweet girl!

Once we made sure all the kiddos were where they needed to be, we met up in the hallway and left to go on a coffee date. I teared up just a little when we walked out of the building, but I was proud of myself for {mostly} holding it together!

Haha . . . I'm not sure what these faces are!

It felt so strange to both of us to be out on a breakfast coffee date with no children! I can't even think of the last time that has happened. It was great to be able to talk without interruption and just really focus on each other. We hope to see more of this in our future!

Because our district does half day pre-k, the twins are only in school a little less than three hours. I figured that time would drag by on the first day, and I was right. I was so ready to pick them up and hear about their day, and they were super excited to tell me everything! They both had a wonderful first day of school!

Brecklyn (upset because she thought the sun was in her eyes)

Brooke (also struggling with the "sun")

Later in the day, Bren's teacher posted a few photos on the class FB page. I love when teachers do this! 

Part of Bren's class at Rise and Shine

Bren and some of his classmates having silent reading time

The twins' teacher, Mrs. C, also posted a few photos.

Brecklyn

Brooke

I think one of these wasn't quite as excited as the other, haha! 

I probably say this every year, but I'm so grateful that school is a positive experience for my kids. My heart went out to all the parents and children who were upset, crying, and scared about going to school. I know that is hard on everyone! Our drop offs are so easy, and I hope I appreciate that as much as I should. 

It's going to be a great year!