the G sides

We normally don’t make a big deal about the first day of school…but this was a new school, our 3rd school this year, new friends, new teachers. It was also the first time this year that our schedule is somewhat normal. Summer was great fun. Then the bus dropped the kids home from school today.

“I have HOMEWORK!!” one kid cried through her tears.

“Our bus driver wouldn’t listen to what we were telling her what to do!”

And the third just kept talking so fast, I couldn’t really make anything distinct out. Amy and I looked at each other. Summer officially ended at 4.07 pm, Monday, August 17th.

The kids started in a brand new school today – brand new to them, brand new to the city, brand new staff. I walked up there today. It’s pretty awesome. High ceilings, bright colors, lots of windows, very modern feel, big hallways. It will be a great place for the kids to go to school but at the moment, we had 3 very tired kids, 2 of which were having a hard time with reality. The third one was just creating her own to anyone who would listen to her.

“Welcome to school, honey. That’s what they do to help you get smart – give homework.”

“So explain to me why a grown woman should listen to a busload of kids under the age of 11 on the first day of school?”

“And you — I want you to breath. Stop talking for 30 seconds, and breath.”

Logic was not going to fix this. Qdoba might. So off we ran to Qdoba where one of the most hilarious exchanges in Camber history happened. To really get the feel of this, you need to imagine her talking as fast as she can with the most extreme level of confidence.

Cam: “My favorite football player of all time is Michael Jordan.”

Amy: “Wait…what sport does Michael Jordan play?”

Cam, without hesitating: “Hockey.”

Cooper about spits his coke, chicken burrito and lunch out at the window he is laughing so hard. Camber looks at us like – “What? Didn’t you know that?” And continues talking about butterflies or her new teacher or the smell of the color purple.

I had a long day as well. 7 am meeting, had a list of things to get done that didn’t but what I did get done was good. It was my good friend Stephen’s birthday. I was going to take him to lunch, I asked him what he wanted.

“A burger….or Indian food.”

Wow…that’s quite a pair. It was his birthday so there was no way I was going to make the decision. Besides that – choosing where to eat with the friends is more difficult than choosing a college.

Stephen picked the Indian place.

“I guess we’re not eating cow today.” He laughed hard.

We showed up and guess what was on the buffet? Beef. Obviously they weren’t orthodox Indians.

All of that to say that today was good in spite of what I didn’t get done.

God reminded me of this as we sat upstairs playing Skip-bo with the fam. I was tired, about fell asleep when Cayden came out with lime green wristbands on, her gold high heel shoes, one white baseball glove one, ear muffs, and sunglasses and started singing the “I’m going to Barf” song.

The hip action and jazz hands and facial expressions were too much. I wish we’d filmed it. One night, we’ll have to ambush video her as she gives us one of her concerts.

So the day of reality is over. Kids are in bed. I know this scene was played out all over our city, this country this week. Families getting into the groove again, early bedtimes, and afternoons filled with tears, homework, and laughter. And you know what? I wouldn’t trade it. I wouldn’t trade a thing of it.