We’ve started to settle into our new routines for the school year.  And by new, I mean “old, but better.”  We try to get started early.  My wife wakes up for work at 6:00AM and then I get up a little before 7:00PM while my wife gets the girls out of bed.  I try to have two plates of cut and cleverly arranged microwaveable pancakes on the table by the time the girls are out of bed, otherwise they both end up asleep on the couch, which delays the process by something between ten seconds and ten minutes, depending on whether to not they are able to fall back into a deep sleep.  The girls’ mom says goodbye to them and then leaves for work.  Then, after breakfast the girls get bathroomed and dressed and they either watch TV or play together.  At about 8:45AM I send the girls out to the porch to get their shoes on and then we walk to school.  We usually get there with about five minutes to spare before the bell rings.  Then, at 9:00AM the doors open and the girls are let in. 

Last year, the girls were sick by the end of the first week of school and stayed sick for the entire school year. This year, it took until the end of the second week for the girls to get sick.