Start of the 25-26 School Year

How about a good old-fashioned family update to start the school year off?  We only have four kids living at home this school year, which is wild to me as I only birthed them all a few years ago.

John-Paul, 22 years old, 1st Year Med Student at Duquesne

JP started school back in July and in his own words "I would be totally burnt out from studying already if I didn't love what I was studying".  He spends 12 hours a day on campus, taking 4 hours of classes in the morning, then a lab after lunch, then study time, a gym workout, and back to his apartment to shower-eat-study-sleep.  Luckily he has four aunts and uncles who have gone through med school and he knew he would be studying like this for the first two years.  He has all A's so far and is really just killing it!  The only thing missing is a social life when he has rare free time.  He has joined a few groups on campus to start meeting people, and he made a visit to see his brothers and friends on campus at Franciscan once everybody moved back in. JP does not like the city life, but gets around just fine, especially since he mostly carpools with his roommate.  He meal preps on the weekend and has been going to Mass at a church near his neighborhood.  So far, so great!

Andrew, 20 years old, Sophomore/Junior at Franciscan University 

Andrew should be a Junior, credit wise, but due to switching his major and going to Austria and ahem, not passing one class (he needed an 80 and got a 77), he is now a Sophomore Nursing Major.  He is starting to take some business classes to get a minor so he can get his MBA one day.  His class loads are light and he is volunteering as the Men's Soccer Team Manager this season, hoping to take over next year for the paid manager who is a senior.  He loves being with his friends on the team, travelling and getting free meals, especially since he now lives in an on-campus apartment and has to cook for himself.  It's the first time he has his own bedroom, in a four-bedroom apartment with his buddies.  Andrew has an awesome group of friends, who visited us during the summer, or asked to meet up with us/we ran into during our weekend on campus.  Like seriously, the nicest guys and girls, a big switch from the friends he had in high school.  I checked on his location yesterday and he was golfing, so it's pretty safe to say he is living his best life.

Eamon, 18 years old, Freshman at Franciscan University 

That blurry sweaty photo is what Eamon sent me for a first day of college photo.  I asked him to retake it and got the nicer one by the sign.  Why was he so sweaty?  Because he had just gone for a run, played basketball, and volleyball as a sports lover does once they have awesome facilities and tons of guys with which to play.  I have to keep reminding Eamon that he is at college to study :)  He is a Biology major, thinking of a career in Physical Therapy.  The kid is so smart, he could study anything and succeed...if only he had a clear vision of his future.  Eamon lucked out by only having one roommate in a triple room, but that roommate is a Sophomore "dorm-rotter" so we shall see how that pans out.  Eamon decided not to play soccer at Franciscan, but will definitely be playing every intramural sport offered.

Maggie, 17 years old, Senior in High School

First day Kindergarten vs. First day Senior Year

How did my little girl become a senior?  This year is going to be hard on good old mom and dad, as we start the series of goodbyes leading up to college.  Ugh I can't think about it.  Maggie is a Volleyball Captain, playing her fourth year of Varsity and hoping to play in college (D3 nothing crazy) and our remaining manager at The Cottage until we close at the end of September, which means she will be working a lot.  Maggie's social life needs it's own calendar and between school, work, sports, and friends, she is always on the go.  Maggie is very mature (unlike most high school boys) and decided to wait until college to date, which we love and support.  She has already signed up for another mission trip in February, volunteers once a week at the hospital, has secured a winter/spring job once volleyball ends, and just always takes care of business.  She's our favorite daughter :)

Alexander, 14 years old, Freshman in High School

Xander is in high school - whaaaaat?!  He's such a young freshman but he's ready!  Xander is running Cross Country this fall (in the maroon shirt in the photo) and loves it.  He "trained" for us all summer at The Ice Cream Cottage, and officially started working when he turned 14 at the end of July, at which time he was already a pro.  He is very proud that he's "the only one of my friends who has a job" and likes making - and spending - money.  So far, he hasn't gotten any special treatment or recognition in his classes, despite being Martin #5 to go to the same high school, which he appreciates.  He enjoys finally being able to make his own lunches (roast beef sandwiches for the win) because we make our kids get the free "gross" lunches from preschool - 8th grade.  Hey, if it's free, it's for me (them).  I'll be so curious to see how Xander does with his school work, as he is a clone of JP and has never had to study so far.  JP had an awakening in high school, and I think it's coming for Xander as well.

Declan, 11 years old, 6th Grade

I realized I didn't take individual school photos of the little two which tracks because they are always together!  Fighting but together ;)  Declan is in middle school and has to wear a tie on special occasion days, which is so precious.  I mean they don't even know how to tie it yet.  Middle School means Declan has four teachers and has to switch classes, and you bet your bottom dollar that his stomach hurt on the first day of school.  But he made it!  And now he feels much more confident, being back with his friends and having a locker.  Declan will be playing soccer once again, which thankfully doesn't start until September.  He now sleeps in his own room, as we moved Xander and Brendan over to the big boys room which was deserted.  Declan's misophonia lends itself to being the only one in a room and he loves it.  After a few weeks of summer camps that he didn't thoroughly enjoy, he is happy to be aged out of them by next summer.  He is also currently trying to "eat more protein" to gain weight "and muscles" after learning that his little brother weighs 2 pounds more than him.  The nerve!

Brendan, 9 years old, 4th Grade

His future's looking bright!

Brendan is a young 4th Grader but this kid is ready to take on the world.  He has a teacher that never had any of his older siblings, which can be rare when your #7 out of 7 and go to the same schools.  Both these boys were very happy when the uniform policy changed from black dress shoes to black sneakers (as were all the parents).  Now he can play at recess much easier!  Brendan is so thrilled to be back with his bestie and has a few new kids in the class too.  We're trying to convince him to join the lower-level swim team this year which does not include swim meets, but he is adamant that swim meets are the best part.  Um yeah, tons of snacks and friends and games all day would be really fun for a kid, the parents not so much.  I think his stubborn Irish personality might win this battle, but we keep saying we need to see the schedule when it comes out before we decide.  Classic parenting procrastination move.

Phil, Year 23 High School Theology Teacher 

Phil never catches a summer break like most teachers, so going back to school kind of sneaks up on him.  The ice cream shop is open for five more weekends, so he'll be working 7 days a week until October.  And then his Director of Religious Ed work starts.  Poor guy!  But he's a champ and his senior students are lucky to have him (including Maggie this year).  He can argue/explain any theology question they have but does it in such a kind and gentle way that some of them actually listen :)  

Colleen, age unknown

I decided this school year to wake up and have ten minutes of prayer time before I start my day.  The first morning I sat on the porch and used the Hallow app to listen to the daily mass readings and a talk by Fr. Dave Pivonka.  I felt very proud of myself and then while dropping the boys off at school, heard Brendan whine that he forgot to put his summer work in his back pack.  I had to call Phil to drop it off for him.  The second morning, I thought that I could kill two birds with one stone and walk the dog a mile while I listened to the app.  Well, my flipflop decided to break and I had to walk barefoot the rest of the way home.  What's the lesson here?  The devil doesn't want me to start my day with prayer?  Well joke's on you devil because I'm going to keep persevering!  Anyways, I am starting my 5th year at my District Accountant job which is pretty incredible considering I've wanted to quit since Day One.  I'm also teaching Financial Accounting and Managerial Accounting online at Franciscan which started this week.  I have 54 students and I'm praying they are all easy-going!  

I hope you all have a great start to the school year and that everything goes:

(It took me awhile too)