Can you say paid in full?

Today was school registration for the kids at the Ruchus household. Actually it started two days ago but I've been SO swamped at work that I just hadn't gotten around to it. I had planned to take the darlings tonight to register, but one had volleyball, one had a party, and the other had to work...(more on that later). So, I took time off of work today...three and a half hours to be exact...to get the darlings registered for school. I had decided to turn over a new leaf this year and pay all of the god awful registration fees up front. I nearly threw up on my way back to work, after reviewing what I had spent...but I got through it. Here's a brief synopsis...

2 activity passes $70
3 year books $105
1 parking permit $100
3 gym shirts $30
1 middle school spirit shirt $10
1 middle school hoodie $27
1 picture package $30
2 high school registrations $290
1 middle school registration$135

Would you like me to do the math for you? Drum roll please..... $797 school registration fees 1 hoodie, 1 tshirt. $800 I kid you not. That doesn't include sports fees that are now $150 per sport. Did I mention we haven't bought any school clothes, pack packs or supplies yet? I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure that back to school has surpassed Christmas as the biggest spending day for me. Ugh.....I'm still trying to get over the shock of it all. I took a lot of deep breaths on my way back to work. It all just seems a bit unreasonable to me.

On a lighter note...work has been CRAZY this week. Oh wait, that's not a lighter note...how about my big girl started her new J-O-B today. That's exciting no? I'm not sure how she'll be able to work much with her crazy schedule, but I'm encouraging her to begin saving for college which is two short years away. (Lord Help me)

I'm gonna share their classes and then...perhaps finish cooking dinner since it is 8:00--- perhaps then some laundry, then perhaps some sleep :)

The big girl is taking...

Honors accelerated English
Computer Art Illustrator
PE/Choraleers
Accelerated US History
Honors Chemistry
Honors Precalculus...what that means is that with a master's degree I can officially help her with 1 class. She has surpassed my level of knowledge...and she's a junior!

The Boy is taking...

directed study
physical science
algebra
keyboarding/computer concepts
contemporary world studies
English
PE

The precious one is taking

band
Choir
Language Arts
Algebra
Science
PE/Health
Social Studies

I think I can still help her with homework ;)

We spent an amazing weekend in Michigan...so amazing it's going to require a whole nother post,,,with lots of photos....

adios for now!

The Carefree Dog Days of Summer have been replaced

My precious one started junior high today. Junior. High. I am not sure if the youngest child should really be allowed to grow up. I think it's just too hard on the mama :) She is a little worried this year since she is starting in the fine arts program and 'ALL' (as she puts it) her friends are not. I am hoping that she'll come home and say, "Mom you'll never guess who's in my class!" and the proverbial "I love it!" instead of the dreaded, "I hate it and I don't know anybody!" She should be walking in the door any moment. Time will tell.

My big girl and my boy don't start until tomorrow. In our district, 7th graders and 9th graders go to school the first day, so they don't have to deal with the overcrowding until the second day. Hence, the older two had one more day of summer...Yesterday they went to the park...what does one do at the park? Talk on the phone of course! Pure togetherness isn't it?!? These girls crack me up cuz they are two peas in a pod. They've been bff's since first grade...9 years later, they are a little bit different, but so much alike. I love that my kids have fabulous friends that we have known forever. It sure makes the worry of having a teenager a little bit less.

So tomorrow...the big girl starts 10th grade and the boy 8th grade. Ugh! Steph's getting her hair cut and colored today and her eyebrows arched. The boy...well, we're gonna at least be sure he's had a shower and has clean clothes on...ya know? He's got a lot of pressure this year having his little sister at the same school with him. She has already noted many rules he has to follow (mostly hygiene related) and is receiving daily briefings on how he should behave when around her and her friends. Poor guy. Wait til he's in high school with his big and little sister there! That oughta be a good time!

So...the dog days are quickly passing...

*sigh