OK, I know that was so last year. But it is my favorite title for a back-to-school post.

Yes, they’re off, but I didn’t even get pictures as son #2 left because it was at 6:15 this morning and it was still dark. This year I have children at three different schools (add husband at school number four and we’re throwing a lot of love (read $$$) around the Provo School District. Toss in early morning seminary (Hence the 6:15 a.m. departure. Think about it–decent people aren’t even out of bed at that hour), and my morning routine spans almost three hours:

5:45 a.m. — make sure son #2 is up
6:15 a.m. — send him out the door
6:15:01 a.m. — make sure son #1 is up
6:30 a.m. — make sure only daughter is up

I interrupt this post to admit I’ve been a bad mommy today. I forgot my annual ritual of writing a special note to each child wishing him or her well on a new school year and tucking it away in his or her backpacks. Between missing that and the annual photo op I am designated “loser mom of the day” and I hereby declare tomorrow as the “official” first day of school. Oh well. At least I remembered lunch money this year!

7:15 a.m. — send off son #1 (and the second heavily insured vehicle)

at whatever point there is again enough hot water for at least a tepid shower — I get to start getting me ready.

7:45 a.m. — send off darling daughter to her first of two years at the local jr. high.

Whenever he wants — make sure son #3 is up. Today he made it up before 7 a.m. I will guarantee you there will be days to come in which I will be dragging him out of bed just before 8 and he will go to school half asleep.

8: 20 a.m. — send off littlest son to elementary school.

8:20 and 2.7 seconds a.m. — close the front door and–depending on how the morning has gone–either let out a primal scream or slide down the back of the door and collapse limply into an exhausted puddle.

And then I get to go to work!