This week, in which Jack starts kindergarten, Amélie starts 4th grade, and my coffee consumption increases by astronomical proportions.

My Jack Jack started kindergarten.

He's such a big boy.

My Amélie Grace started 4th grade. 



They are growing up so fast....



As I wrote on my Facebook page, "Somehow my heart managed both to shatter in itty bitty pieces of sadness and to burst with love and pride."

I am back to waking up at 5:00 (or, more honestly, hitting snooze until 5:15). 

I workout.

Make coffee.

Say the morning’s liturgy.

Drink coffee.

Spend some time alone journaling or reading or blogging or just sitting on my front porch (drinking coffee) and watching and listening to the world wake up. 

Wake children up.

Get ready for school.

Walk to school.

Walk home.

Start school with Amélie. 

Continue coffee comsumption.

Try to fit in as many subjects as possible while Jack is in kindergarten. 

This year, by the way, Amélie and I are studying
Bible
Poetry (This week’s poem was Emily Dickinson’s “She Sweeps with Many-Colored Brooms”)
Grammar (using Michael Clay Thompson’s curriculum)
Shakespeare (in a week or two we will start reading A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
Science (Astronomy)
Math (Life of Fred)
Nature Study
World History (Medieval) American History (Civil War)
Geography
Picture Study (Medieval and Civil War art)
Music Study (Medieval sacred and folk music, Civil War songs)

Did I miss something?  We don’t do all of these subjects every day, but still…

My voice gets tired.
My spirit lags.
My brain aches.

I am spent. 

More coffee consumption.

I am exhausted.

More coffee consumption.

I feel like I could sleep for weeks.

More coffee consumption.

I will get used to this new schedule.  I always end up learning how to cope.  But until then, if you need me, you will probably find me sitting on my porch with sleepy eyes, most likely with a book of medieval British history in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.