It’s the start of a new school year and both Sophie and Thomas have started at new schools this week. Thomas started junior school on Thursday and Sophie started secondary school today. Thomas enjoyed his first day and Sophie enjoyed getting to have one more day off and had a lovely play date with three new friends that she made on transition day. It’s lovely that she already has a group of friends and she was quite excited going off to school on the bus this morning – a new experience for her as she’s always walked to school before.
We made the most of the last few days of the summer holidays and managed to finish off the activities on our summer activities list.
We also had a lovely visit to see my mum and my twin sister and meet my newest great-niece. Sophie and Thomas loved having cuddles with their new cousin.
With the children back at school, I’ve taken on a new challenge to swim 5km in September in aid of Child Bereavement UK. I’m hoping to do a couple of swim sessions each week to try and reach my target by the end of the month.
The start of a new school year is always an emotional time for us. There’s always the acute awareness that Jessica would be starting a new school year too and leading the way for her siblings but September is also Jessica’s birthday month. Tomorrow is her 14th birthday – the eighth birthday we have marked without her. We will mark it as we always do – with a birthday picnic at her forever bed.
What I’ve been grateful for this week:
- Day 241 – I am grateful that Sophie had fun doing some crafts at the Flair Academy of Dance summer camp. Love the T-shirt she designed!
- Day 242 – I am grateful for getting to meet my newest great-niece.
- Day 243 – I am grateful that Sophie and Thomas enjoyed some time at the fair with Daddy while I was at rehearsal.
- Day 244 – I am grateful for a few games of swing ball in between the showers.
- Day 245 – I am grateful for libraries.
- Day 246 – I am grateful for a lovely day out at Kew Gardens to finish off the summer holidays.
- Day 247 – I am grateful that Thomas enjoyed his first day at junior school.
Other things that have made me smile this week:
- Having a photoshoot in a sunflower field for Calendar Girls.
- Making lemonade with Sophie.
- Taking photos of Sophie in various dance poses to try and finish the summer photo challenge from her dance school.
Joining in with Raisie Bay for Word of the Week.
I hope the kids are settling into their new schools and have a great school year. What a big milestone for Sophie going off on the bus.
Good job on doing all of the summer activities!
Aww! Congratulations about your new great-niece and good luck with the swimming.
Sending love and hugs and thinking of you today. I hope you have a nice picnic. x
It sounds like back to school has gone well. I hope Sophie is settling into high school.
What a lovely photo of you and your tiny great-niece, she’s adorable.
Good luck with your swim challenge.
A photo shoot in a sunflower field sounds like lots of fun!
Thinking of you this weekend and wishing Jessica a happy 14th birthday x
Brand new changes for almost everyone! I hope the school year goes well and that both children make themselves and their family proud. It’s good that Sophie has made friends already and I hope they can maintain the friendships and be there for each other. All the best with the swimming feat too.
Good luck with the swimming and I hope that Thomas and Sophie have a good year at school. I’ve been reading your posts about Jessica’s birthday. Time passes so quickly, but we’ll always remember the lovely Jessica. The chocolate cake looked lovely.
Ah man – new babies bring so much joy! Congrats! Good luck for the new school year 🙂