There have been a few monumental "firsts" this week:

1. Ethan's first day of school ever. First time on the bus. And not a bit scared or hesitant to board and be on his way...he was the first one in line.

2. All the kids had their first day of school on Monday. I'm trying not to think about how long it will be until they are all mine again. A countdown of nearly 300 days would be completely demoralizing. I'm just taking things one day at a time.

3. Monday morning was the first day I have woken up in nearly three years and not been the Young Women's president. I was released on Sunday. Monday was also the first day since the bishop told me about the change that I didn't have a crying jag about it. On Monday I told David, "I do feel lighter. And I like it." He just grinned from ear to ear.

4. Now it's only the first week, so don't get too excited about this one, but I have made a hot breakfast for the kids three days in a row...a first for me. This is my big goal for the year. When I was pregnant with Ethan, I could hardly function at all, and so Caleb would pour cold cereal and milk for everyone. The kids got quite self-sufficient at getting their own breakfasts and somehow I've just never been good about making it since. But for the past couple of years I've really felt like I've been missing an opportunity to talk to my kids, and nurture them, and send them out the door feeling "mothered." We'll see how it goes.

5. We made it to the first chapter of 3rd Nephi in the Book of Mormon on Tuesday morning. Our summer scripture reading was nothing short of pathetic, and it feels so good to get our reading going again consistently. RIM keeps pointing out the perks of returning to "real life." After scriptures this morning she smugly whispered to CIM, "See...going back to school is a good thing."

6. Ethan came home this morning and put his hand on his heart and said the first line of the pledge of allegiance. I had to put my hand on my own heart to keep it from shattering. My life is passing like a dream.