Tyler Graduation

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her.

She had to wait to start school a week after all the other children.
She was not happy about that.

I still cannot believe that my youngest is in school.  It seems just last year I held her in my arms as a baby.  And now I spend a few hours each weekday with no kids in the home.  A weird feeling.

 

But I have also come to realize a few things in this "new" phase of life that I am in.

• Going to Costco and other stores takes a lot less time and energy when I don't have any kids with me.  But it is also a lot less interesting and more lonely.
• I spend more time at the elementary school now than I ever have before.  At least two, sometimes three days a week volunteering with the reading program in my two youngest kid's classes.
• I have crossed off a lot of the "to-do" items on my list that I have been meaning to get around to, some items have been waiting for years.
• The house is really, really quiet with everyone gone but me.  Sometimes too quiet.

Right now the three youngest are actually off-track, which is nice because it breaks up those long, long school weeks where we are so busy doing school work and extra activities-sports, scouts, dance, etc., that we sometimes don't get the chance to just play.  And for now we can do just that.  

First Day of School

The first day of school, and generally the first week,
is always so exciting.
And then pretty much all the days after that are well,
routine and mundane.

But after a summer of no set schedules and lots of play,
it is also a welcome change.

 

No one knows if this will be a great school year or if they will encounter problems along the way but one thing is for sure, before school starts each child receives a special blessing from Dad and that can make all the difference in the world.  I know because I remember.  So thankful for the Priesthood and those who hold it in my home!

School Is In..

for everybody, except the preschooler who starts next week.

Our Morning Schedule now begins at 6am when the oldest arises (and sometimes I am there to greet him) and goes through 8am when the youngest two boys step onto the school bus.

He is now a Sevie at the Middle School.

 Roaming the halls looking for his classes,

opening lockers,

 

 and sporting eyewear for the first time!

 

 He did NOT want me to take his picture,

and he most certainly didn't want me to follow him to the bus stop, so I captured some photos from afar.

 He is a Sophomore starting High School.

 

Wait did I just say HIGH SCHOOL.   As in the last stop before he leaves the nest and moves on to bigger and better things.

As in serving a mission and attending college.

As in my little family as I know it will probably never live under the same roof again after that.

Wow...I am getting way to ahead of myself, but time still isn't on my side and it isn't slowing down.  If anything it seems to be speeding up!

There is ONE more person who started school this week too, but he is on the teaching side of things.  I didn't get his picture but you can call him...

Professor Dean

School 2012

It is BACK to SCHOOL for these two boys.

They aren't thrilled about it but they aren't upset about it either so I guess that is good.  We still have a few summer adventures left so they will just have to miss a few school days.

  I don't think they will mind.

Project Completed

We both survived his "BIG Project" for the sixth grade History Fair.

The Black Plague was his subject and his complete project included:

A ten page written report, plus graphs and picture gallery, vocab words and definitions, position statement, opinion poll, time line, political cartoon, author's observations and bibliography all neatly put together in a three ring binder and that was just the written part of the project- you know the one we were racing to finish.  There was also a written speech with the speech report done in class, and then setup and presentation on History Fair Day which included the project display board with a decorated table complete with 5 items (2 handmade) and the student dressed in a costume.

I am so glad that project over with!!

  

Next big thing for this young man, Middle School...Yikes.

I also can't forget to mention he earned his Purple Belt in Karate.  It was one of those crazy busy soccer Saturdays way back in May, but his dad did watch him kick and chop his way to passing off all that was required.  Awesome!

The Joys of Year Round

This morning we were literally-

finishing typing,

printing papers,

numbering them,

shoving them into THE binder,

putting it into the backpack,

running out the door,

chasing after the school bus.

Big project due today on The Black Plague,

well at least the written part of it.

Presentation part happens next week.

End of school come more quickly, please.

NO.....wait.

If you end then three weeks later the new school years starts and summer as I would like to know it will be over.

OFF TRACK

The boys (except the oldest) have been off track now for a week-
and we have another two weeks to go.

So here are a few things we do when we don't have to get up and go to school.

First of all we sleep in. This is the best part.
We have long, slow mornings. It is a nice break from the norm.

J and P get to practice their typing skills on the computer. Here J is trying to not look at his hands while typing. It is good for them to have this practice time at home since they don't get a lot of keyboarding time at school.


There is a lot of rough housing going on-
which sometimes turns into a pose for the camera session.


Some of the kids try out their spinjitzu moves.


We play board games.



And thanks to this nice, mild winter weather we are having-
we have spent a few afternoon hours outside practicing our kicks and showing off our lightsaber skills.



There is also much reading going on (especially the day we visit the library), as well as playing with friends and having friends over. I really enjoy these long full days that I have with my children. Some days I don't see it that way, but I am always grateful for it in the end.

It is Time for...

Back to School

New Adventures

in schooling -

kindergarten & riding the bus.

Is he really old enough?

New classes - Seminary

I am soooo excited for this young man

to be able to attend Seminary classes everyday.

Joy School

I haven't had the opportunity for seven + years,
but am lucky enough to do this with her.

And a DIY Project

The Last Few Weeks

The last few weeks of school = craziness.

I feel like I spend as much time at school as the kids do.

For our second oldest young man
events included-

Attending his DARE graduation,

The 5th Grade Patriotic Program,

an oral presentation of President Carter-
the President he researched and reported on,

and while we were there guess who showed up to give a speech,
yep, President Bush.

His last day of school
lead right into a scout camp
where he was delighted to have caught 4 fish.

Besides the spelling bee attended on behalf of our 3rd Grader,
I spent time playing a parents vs kids kickball game
and watching a movie his class wrote, produced and acted in.

It was called "The Five Little Nerds"
and I am proud to say he was one of the little nerds-
I never knew he had the acting bug.

He also tried out and was chosen to play
on a competitive premier team for Forza.
His/our soccer schedule just got super crazy!!


Our youngest two
had a Preschool Family Party
to celebrate the time they spent with friends
and the BEST preschool teacher in the World.
Miss C.

And between all the school events-


Our oldest performed well in his piano recital,

we had extended family pictures taken-
I love this one of Grandma and Grandpa
with all their Grandkids.

Oh, and we found seven baby skunks just across the street
and spent a good few hours tracking them.

Never saw the mom or dad skunk
and didn't get too close to get sprayed
but they sure were cute.

Now it is time for summer!