It’s hard to believe it’s that time again, time to put the kids on the bus and have my days free from playing Cruise Director and breaking up fights. I’ve been ready for the new school year for weeks now, I thrive on routine and I never seemed to find one this summer.

Last summer was rough on all of us; me stuck on the couch for most of it, the kids stuck in the house and Bill trying to take care of it all while running his fledgling company.

In comparison, this summer kicked ass!

We spent a lot of time down in Maryland soaking in the sun and fun on the Chesapeake. The boys swam in the ocean for the first time. We got a dog. This summer ROCKED!

But the school year is here and the boys are now walking into school as first and fourth graders. Um, how am I old enough to have a first and fourth grader?

They said they weren’t excited but I could tell by the looks on their faces (and the early wakeup) that they are ready to roll.

Even though I’m excited for the school year to begin I miss them. I’m sitting here wondering what they’re doing and if they’re OK? Have they reunited with their friends? Will Cameron look after his little brother?

I will be at the bus stop (with Cooper) anxiously awaiting the stories from the day.

Have you sent your little people back to school yet?

I’m beginning to feel like every school year is a new milestone for us. The end of every school is the end of another era.

Today marks the end of Kindergarten for Logan and Third grade for Cameron and if I’m being honest it makes me a little sad. The babies are long gone and the big kids are here. The school bus riding, full day going, no nap taking big boys.

Just yesterday I was talking with a friend about just how fast the time goes. When Cameron was a baby and people would say things like, “enjoy it now because the time goes by so quickly.” I thought they were crazy. Nine years later I’m sitting here at the end of yet another school year wondering where the hell the time has gone?

If the years continue to go this fast they boys will be going off to college in the blink of an eye. Last summer sucked with me being hurt and basically stuck on the couch all summer so I think the boys earned a great summer. Since my years with these little creatures are numbered, I hope to give them an awesome summer this year.

Last school morning for a while.

They have four weeks of camp to look forward to, many trips to Maryland, and day trips galore coming their way. My hope is that when they start first and fourth grade in a few short months that they’ll have some great stories to tell their friends.

Those tears I’m sure to shed as they step off the bus for the final time this school year aren’t just because many of my summer days will be spent breaking up fights, they’re also because the time is just going by way too fast. We had a great year and I’m going to miss the teachers as well as the structure.

Have your kids started their summer yet?