Back to School {slightly delayed}

          A few weeks ago, I had a somewhat surreal experience as I pushed the stroller into a place I never imagined myself being.  An Aeropostale store.  In the mall.  With my 7th grade son and his best friend.  Oh my goodness.  Was this really happening?  And did that adolescent looking store clerk just call me Ma'am?  Yup.  It's official, folks.  I am mom.  The mom that when I was in Junior High would be driving the van, waiting in the dressing room, holding endless hangers of clothing over her arms, and pulling out her wallet with tired hesitancy once I finally made my choices...until the next store.  That is  now me. But you know? I'm okay with it.  In fact, it is somewhat of a relief:). No more worrying about impressing the guy behind the counter and wondering if that look he gave meant he was just being polite to the awkward tall girl in the room or actually interested.  No more stressing over every article of clothing, worrying it might not be enough en vogue to pass the popular girl eye-over test.  Those stressful days are long over, thank heavens.  I realize that I often cast my maturing years as a negative thing, as though becoming like my mother is an unwelcome reality.  The truth is, I want to become like her! Every time I experience the strangeness of realizing that I'm not very young anymore, there is always comfort in knowing that at least it means that I might just be closer to achieving that goal.  And when to my children I do become that permanent, purse carrying fixture, ever in the back ground of their daily activities, then I think that might mean I'm doing something right.

Anyway, I discovered with this trip to the mall with my man child that he has become quite concerned over his wardrobe.  No more long sleeve/short sleeve combo shirts with cheesy phrases like, "I'm Allergic to Homework" or "Varsity Stud" printed on the front.  No, now we're into preppy-boy polos, and half rolled up sleeves on plaid shirts tucked into dark washed jeans, and please-no-more-cross trainer-type shoes. Okie. Doke!

Here's what he chose for his first day of Junior High:

And here is another one I just had to include.  Please, oh please, my son.  I pray every day that you will stay this sweet and innocent:

The other boys?

So much easier.  Joseph is still perfectly happy with mom picking out clothes, and since Talmage tends to set the precedent for all things "allowed" for his younger brothers, I just continued with the polo/plaid shirt theme for the other two:)  Kind of a girly mother's dream, actually.  

Ashton was another story all together.  I had to convince him to wear a new outfit for his first day of school.  I finally coerced this out of him...

So besides pouring on the toddler love at home, preparing for the Primary Program, heading up the reflections program at the elementary school, and attempting room mom responsibilities, what will I be doing with all my "extra" time while the older boys are in school all day?

Oh, how about just growing another human being?  That kind of sounds fun;)