Back to School Surprise!

The Saturday before school started, we had a big "cabin breakfast" to celebrate the end of summer and kick-off the new school year.  We had pancakes with whipped cream and syrup, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, hash browns, cantaloupe and watermelon.  A completely decadent breakfast - and called "cabin breakfast" because the only time we ever eat it, is when we're at the cabin. However, this was an important morning and worthy of an indulgent meal.

This is as fancy as it gets at our house - especially on a Saturday morning.

And just because no one is dressed in this picture, don't assume this was an early morning thing. 

We sat down to breakfast and reviewed all the highlights of the summer (things I have yet to blog about.)  We talked about all the tennis lessons, swimming lessons, dance classes, theater camp, our trip to Lake Powell, to the beach house and to San Diego. We talked about hours spent at the swim club and sleepovers at the cabin, and camp-outs up the canyon.  We had a great time reviewing and reminiscing about the Fabulous Summer of 2012.

We talked about the upcoming school year - what the kids were excited for and what they were nervous about.  We talked about goals for the school year and things we can do to be more kind at home and at school.  It was a great breakfast with lots of good conversation and at the end of it, I told the kids I had a surprise for them.  

I gave each of the kids a ball a crepe paper and told them that they had to unroll it to find the surprise inside.  They had a great time unwrapping yards and yards of crepe paper trying to find what was hidden inside.  When they finally got them all unrolled, inside they found this: a little doll with a very special message attached.

Over the past several months, Abby has told us dozens of times that we really need another baby in our family.  One afternoon during the summer, I found Abby sitting in front of the computer watching videos of Lucy learning to walk.  Abby looked at me with big tears in her eyes and said, "We just can't be done with babies in our family."

I'm not saying that's why we decided to have another baby, but on that Saturday morning before school started, when Abby found the baby and the message wrapped inside the crepe paper ball, she came running over to me, threw her arms around me and we both bawled.  It will always be one of my sweetest memories.   As the other kids figured out what was going on, they all came over and hugged me and got a little emotional.  It was an amazing feeling to have all those arms wrapped around my neck and to know that there would be one more joining our family.  It made me so excited to welcome this baby into our home and made all the nausea and exhaustion and yuckiness seem worth it.

It was such a fun morning.  I was so excited to let the kids in on the secret I'd been keeping for nearly eight weeks.  I was so happy I could finally explain to them why I'd been such a blob for the past few weeks.  But mostly, I loved seeing their reactions and their joy and excitement at the idea of welcoming another baby into our family.  What a perfect way to end an amazing summer.

Return to Blogging

I have sat down to update this blog so many times over the past few months, but somehow found it too overwhelming to tackle.  We had such a great summer and did so many fun things together as a family and at some point I will have to document them all - or at least a few.  But for now, let me start with something simple - something to ease myself back into blogging.

The First Day of School 2012!!

I have been anticipating this school year ever since Abby was in Kindergarten.  It's true.  Way back then, we had just moved into this neighborhood and I was pregnant with Peter.  I remember thinking as I sent little Abby off to Kindergarten, that when she was in sixth grade, this little baby inside me would just be Abby's age and would be starting Kindergarten himself.  

Foolishly, at the time, that seemed like a lifetime away.  But, here I am what feels like five minutes later, with Abby in 6th grade, Isaac in 4th grade, Henry in 2nd, and that little baby, Peter, is in Kindergarten.  Crazy.

The first day of school arrived with its unique blend of nervousness and excitement.  The kids had carefully picked out their outfits and had loaded their backpacks and they were ready to start a new year.  

Technically, Peter wouldn't start school for another week, but here are 

my four babies who all attend the same school. I love it!

Here's my darling sixth grade girl.  

Ready for 4th grade!

How is this little peanut already a 2nd grader!?

The kids were able to meet up with their friends at the neighborhood breakfast which always seems to calm the nerves.  I love seeing these cute kids reunited and ready to face the year together.

Isaac and our neighbor.  These boys logged a lot of hours together this summer - legos, swimming, basketball camp.  Isaac loves having a friend next door!

Abby and her cute friends.  

I refuse to acknowledge that these girls will be in Junior High next year.

Walking to school hand-in-hand.

Henry and his 5th grade buddy Jake, make their way to school.

These three had a great first day of school.  They all came home happy about their teachers, excited about the kids in their classes, and totally enthusiastic about doing homework.  (Well, at least for the first day.)

Peter and Lucy didn't start school for another week and man alive, was that a long week.  Everyday they would ask how much longer until they got to start school and everyday, they were unhappy with my answer.  Those two younger kids were ready to get in on the action.

Oh, I love these two kids!

Peter spent the morning of his first day feeling a little nervous.  He wasn't very hungry and had so many questions about how the day would go. "What kind of things will my teacher have me do?" he asked.  "How will I know where I'm supposed to go?"  "Who am I going to sit by?"  I assured him that he would be fine;  his teacher is so nice and there are so many great kids in his class.  I promised he would have a great day.  By the time we were ready to go, Peter was excited and ready to get to school.  

Look at the enthusiasm on those faces!

After school, Peter walked home with Abby, Isaac, and Henry and when he got here, he burst through the door with a huge smile on his face and ran straight for me to give me a huge hug.  "Today was awesome!  Kindergarten is GREAT!" he said with more enthusiasm than I know how to type.

Lucy had a great first day of preschool - although when I went to pick her up the only thing I could think was that she is way too small and has way too little hair to be in preschool.  

I am excited for this year for my kids.  They all seem so happy with their teachers and they have great friends in their classes.  They are all involved in activities they seem to love and enthusiastic about.  And as for me, now that Peter is in kindergarten and Lucy is in preschool, for the first time since the day Abby was born, I have two afternoons a week all to myself.

At least until March....

Beginning of the End

Summer vacation was so slow in coming this year.  The weather in Utah turned summer-like sometime in April and for nearly six weeks, it felt like it was time to be done with school.

The whole routine became torturous:

Those last few weeks of school, the afternoons were so warm and gorgeous, the only thing my kids wanted to do was play outside in the sunshine.  Which meant that homework was postponed until after dinner.  Except i was always late getting dinner ready and then the evenings were so lovely, all we wanted to do was hang out in our backyard until it started to get dark.  Except it wasn't getting dark until nearly 9:00.  Which meant homework wasn't getting started until it was past bedtime.  Which meant my kids were getting to bed much later than they should.  Which meant they were soooo tired in the morning. Which meant we were always running late for school and we had usually skipped practicing.  Which meant we had to do it in the afternoon - except, did I mention how gorgeous those springtime afternoons were?

Anyway, you can see that I had lost all control of our schedule and for weeks, the kids and I were all dying to be done with school.

When school finally ended on June 1st, I couldn't have been happier.  I was so excited to have my kids to myself for the summer and was so excited about all the activities and lack-of-activities we had planned for the next three months.   Those were my thoughts as I walked to the kids' school for the closing flag ceremony.  But then halfway between home and the school, I had the sinking realization that another school year had come and gone.  I thought about the past year and it felt like only weeks before, I had been at the school for the opening flag ceremony.  And wasn't the Halloween parade just a few days ago?  And the Christmas program?  And the school play?  How had this year flown by so quickly?

I thought about Abby, who when we first moved into this neighborhood from Minnesota, was just starting Kindergarten and somehow, that same little girl will be in sixth grade next year.  How did that happen?

Abby's first day of Kindergarten - which was yesterday.  Ouch.

I thought about Isaac, whom I still think of as that little first grade boy who, on the first day of school, clung so tightly to my hand until the last possible second and then gave me the tightest squeeze that his little body could manage.  How is it possible that he's now a couple of inches taller than Abby and is going into fourth grade next year?

Isaac's first day of Kindergarten - also yesterday.

I thought about Henry, who on the first day of school this year, was a little shy and timid about being in school all day and about learning Spanish.  Now he's my boy who sings Spanish songs non-stop and stays up late into the night reading Magic Treehouse books.  When did he make that shift?

Henry's first day of Kindergarten - wasn't it yesterday?

I thought about the fact that when school starts again in the fall, I will have my four older children all at the same school and that they'll all be able to walk home together in the afternoon.  How sweet will that be?  But, behind the sweetness I fee as I anticipate the coming year, is the gnawing feeling I have, that once Abby hits Junior High, life will be on fast-forward.

So, as I walked to school on June 1st, ready to celebrate summer and free time and late nights and all the things I love about this time of year, there was a part of me that longed to turn back the clock and just slow it all down.  

I felt a little emotional as the flag was lowered for the final time this year and my kids and I said good-bye to their teachers for the last time.

But then, before I got too carried away by emotion, we went boating and I forgot all about feeling nostalgic and all I could think was, "HOORAY!  IT'S SUMMER!!  BRING IT ON!

Performances

Last week our family was inundated with performances.  In fact, Lucy was the only one not involved in the performing arts.

Peter had his preschool performance on Tuesday.  For months, he had been singing his songs as he went through the house, and when the day came, he was so excited for us to see him perform.  When I woke him up in the morning and told him we needed to get ready for Kindermusik, he said he wasn't sure if we had time for Kindermusik because we had his performance that night  - at 8:00.  I assured him we could do both.

Peter was proud and a little reserved as he made his grand entrance.

 It was a little hard to hear most of the kids sing, because one girl sang, yelled at the top of her lungs. 

 I tried to think it was cute.

I loved it when the kids sang, "Proud to be an American."

Peter's performance came at the end of crazy day with all the kids needing to be different places at once.  I loved ending my day watching my cute boy perform and it made me more than a little sad to think that this was his last preschool performance.  I am NOT ready for Peter to start kindergarten in the fall.  But, as he often reminds me, "at least you get Lucy for like six more years, or something."

Anyway, on Thursday and Friday of the same week, Abby and Isaac performed in their school's production of "Beauty and the Beast."  This was a play that they had been working on, two mornings a week before school, ever since October.  It was nothing short of fabulous.  

Isaac played the part of a villager.  He was adorable up on stage singing praises to Gaston, doing push-ups as part of a dance number, grabbing a plunger to use for a weapon as the villagers went after the beast, and fighting with the silverware and plates in the final scene at the castle.  

My own little villager - the most darling one on the stage.

Abby had a roll as a "Silly Girl;" you know those girls who flirt with and fawn over Gaston.  She was absolutely adorable in her roll, and while I have never known her to fawn over any boy (yet), she was very convincing up on stage.  

Abby conspiring with another Silly Girl.

Giving her dreamiest expression - far left.

Although Henry didn't get to be up on stage, (it was only for 3rd - 6th graders) all the kids in the school were taught a dance routine to "Be Our Guest." Then, in the middle of the performance all the students who were spread throughout the audience, did a sort of flash mob dance and performed along with the kids on stage.  Henry loved being part of it, if only from the audience and it was great to see so many students in the audience participating.  Henry's class also helped make masks for the wolves in the forest to wear.  He was so proud of his contribution.

As I mentioned, Lucy was the only one not involved in a performance last week - but that doesn't mean she didn't try.  All throughout the play on Thursday and Friday, Lucy stood in the aisles and danced along with the musical numbers.  Then, as the play progressed, she would walk up the aisle toward the stage.  At first it was just a couple of feet and then she would come back to our seats, but by the end of the play, she gathered her courage and went right up to the stage.

Lucy makes her way to the stage and tries to get Abby's attention.

Finally gets noticed by Abby.

Makes a run for it back to the seats.

I'm sure Lucy is already counting down the days until she can be up on stage.  She is already a little performer.

Anyway, the play was awesome and I loved every minute of it.  At the end of the night, the teacher who directed it and spent thousands of hours putting it all together (without extra pay), stood on the stage and talked about the importance of the arts in the lives of children.  I got really emotional as I was filled with gratitude for the experiences my kids have with the arts.  I am so grateful my kids go to a public school that emphasizes the arts in so many ways and I am grateful for teachers who work hard to make a difference in the lives of their students.  I know that the opportunities my kids are having, will last with them always.

I loved this past week seeing all my kids involved in various performances.  I loved the work that went into preparing for their performances and I loved the excitement and satisfaction they all felt when they were done.  Congratulations to all of you cuties

The Campaign Trail

The Republican primary wasn't the only campaign we followed closely this winter.

In fact, we were much more interested and involved in a campaign that hit close to home.

Starting in February, Abby ran for 5th grade president and it was a heated battle.  Early on, there were quite a few kids who were interested in running for president, but after the primary election, there were only seven candidates left - Abby and six boys.

Abby chose an accomplished running mate.  They worked hard to come up with a strong campaign slogan and then made posters to hang in the halls of school.   They made mustache badges to pass out at recess, asking kids to vote for them.  Abby had to prepare a speech outlining her plan if she were to be elected president and took part in a debate with the other candidates, addressing the tough issues facing 5th graders today.

It was well-run campaign and a great experience for Abby, but in the end, it was one of the boys who was elected 5th grade president.  I was worried that Abby would be upset, but as always, she took it all in stride.

"If I hadn't been running, " she said, "that's who I would have voted for too.  He'll make a great president."

Oh well.  She'll get it next time.  (Or, if she takes after her mom, she probably won't.  And yet, she'll still be just fine.)  Either way, I sure love that girl!

Peter's First Day of Preschool

Peter started preschool last week - just two and half weeks after everyone else started.

It was a long time for this boy to wait.  Sure, we did our best to fill up his days with worthwhile activities - like bike rides, trips to the grocery store, the library, trips to Costco and even an occasional  trip to Target.  Somehow, despite our best efforts, it just wasn't enough.  Peter needed more.

A few days before school started, he came to me and said,  "Mom, I really think I'm ready to be in school."

Yes, it was time and it was a happy day when school finally started.

It was all smiles when I dropped him off at the school and he marched into his classroom confident and happy to be there.   And he was still smiling when I picked him up after school.  He was even smiling while his teacher told me that he had broken out into hives on the playground.  What?  

Peter is unfazed by hives or anything else.  School has started and he is happy to be there.

While I miss having my little buddy to run errands with, I am so glad he gets to go to school and learn from great teachers and make friends with so many cute kids.  

I love this boy.   I love it when we're driving to school and he looks out his window and says, "Look at those beautiful mountains.  We are so lucky to live here!" I love driving home from school with him when he tells me about his day - who was nice, what he learned, and what songs they sang.  I love his observations of the world and his constant questions.  There is nothing better than a four year old boy and let me tell you, I am loving mine. 

Back to School 2011

We have survived the first two days of school and I am already counting down the days until summer vacation - only 178 days to go!

The first day of school was a big success.  All three kids were up and dressed early, the Converse laced up and ready to go.  Breakfast was eaten wearing backpacks and there was a definite excitement in the air.

Uncle Peter's "friend", Sarah, had graciously offered to come over and do Abby's hair for the first day of school.  Abby was thrilled to have her own personal hairdresser help her get ready for school - and I was thrilled to not have to try some fancy hair-do while making lunches and feeding four other kids breakfast.  Thank you, Sarah!!

When the kids were already, we took the mandatory photos and then went over to the neighborhood breakfast.

The neighborhood breakfast is such a fun tradition.  It's always great to see the kids greet their friends and it gives them a boost of confidence as they head off to the great unknown.  I just don't know how Abby and her friends have gone from this:

to this......

In what feels like the blink of an eye?

I still remember on the first day of first grade, Abby was so nervous she wouldn't eat any food at the neighborhood breakfast, and then chewed on her backpack straps all the way to school.  This year, she and her friends just strolled casually over to school without a care in the world.  

Isaac was excited for school to start and was excited to see his friends at the neighborhood party.  I can't believe he's starting third grade this year.  As Andrew looked at these pictures of Isaac he said, "He doesn't look like a little boy anymore."

Waaaahhhhh.  Andrew should know better than to say mean things like that to me on the first day of school.  Doesn't he know, Isaac will always be my little boy?

Henry has been so excited to start first grade.  I tried to convince him that another year of Kindergarten was a great idea, but Henry wouldn't hear of it.  So, despite my protests, on Monday morning, Henry strolled confidently and happily to first grade.  (There was a little meltdown because he didn't get a Sunny-D at the breakfast, but he recovered quickly.)

Okay, so maybe he doesn't look totally confident in that picture, but he actually did great.

So, the back-to-school transition has been pretty easy this year - at least for the kids at school.  Those of us at home are less than thrilled.  I spent the day on Monday feeling melancholy.  I wasn't ready for school to start.  I wasn't ready to say good-bye to summer or to my babies and I'm not ready to acknowledge that my kids are growing up much faster than I am comfortable with. 

Peter hasn't been very happy with school starting either.  On the first day of school, he asked at 11:00, how much longer until Henry got home.  And on the second day of school, he asked, "Can't you just go to the school and tell Abby, Isaac and Henry that they HAVE to come home now?" 

Lucy hasn't faired much better.  I think she's a little bored having all the big kids gone too.  On the second day of school, while I was ten feet from her cleaning the kitchen, Lucy found a pair of scissors and very quietly shredded the dress she was wearing.  Isn't that a cry for help from a girl who doesn't know what to do with herself?

Contemplating what she has done.

Anyway,  I'm glad the kids are doing so well.  I'm glad that at least they are adjusting to school and to the new routine.  I'm just still trying to get my bearings as I wonder where the time has gone and what happened to sleeping in until 9:00.

The Summer of....

It's hard to believe but here we are one day away from school starting.  Usually, right about now, I start getting excited for school to start.  I look forward to the structure and the routine that necessarily invade our home with the advent of school and fall.  The pencil boxes, and markers and crayons have all been bought and are organized carefully in the backpacks.  Usually, we are all ready to go.

This year, I feel like I am being dragged, kicking and screaming right towards the first day of school.  This summer has been way too short and too relaxing and I am not willing to let go of it yet.  I'm not ready to surrender my children to their teachers and their friends and their homework.

This summer has been perfect.  It has been the summer of....

Swimming: We joined the neighborhood pool this summer and it has been heavenly.  All the kids except Lucy took swimming lessons and stroke development lessons and they have all turned into little fish.  Even Lucy, has spent most of the summer wearing floaties, but with her face under-water, kicking and blowing bubbles like a seasoned swimmer.   We have loved evening swims as a family, and the kids have loved night swims with friends.  Swimming has been a huge part of our summer this year, and I am not ready to let it go.

Avatar: The Last Airbender:  This was the summer that my kids discovered this animated TV show. On afternoons when it was too hot to play outside they would watch an episode or two of the cartoon series and they fell in love with the characters on this show.  Aang, Katara, Sokka, Zuko, and Toph have become familiar names in our house as my kids have spent hours discussing them and the plot developments of the show.

Reading:  At the beginning of the summer, Abby, Isaac and Henry set goals for how much reading they wanted to do this summer.  Abby wanted to read over 5000 pages.  Isaac - over 1000.  And Henry wanted to read 50 books this summer.  Here we are the day before school starts and they have all reached their goals.  There have been many nights when lights were on until almost midnight as Abby and Isaac read away.  Reading was always one of my favorite parts of summer and I am thrilled that my kids share that love.

Lemonade stands and Bake Sales:  Abby has raked in the cash this summer as she and her friends have had lemonade stands and bake sales here in the neighborhood.

This picture actually has nothing to do with bake sales.  It's just Abby and her cute friend.

(Abby borrowed my glasses so she and her friend could look like "sisters".)

Youth Conference and Girls' Camp: Between the two, I spent almost ten days away from my family with the youth from our ward and had more fun than a wife/mother should really be allowed to have without her family.

Cooking and Crafts: Abby took two cooking classes and a sewing class this summer and discovered she has a real knack for cake decorating.  One of the summer's saddest moments occurred was when she was bringing home her perfectly decorated cake, anxious to show the family, and the car she was riding in stopped suddenly.  Her beautiful cake ended up all over the back of the passenger side seat and Abby came home broken-hearted.  (The cake may not have looked too good, but it tasted amazing and was devoured within minutes of getting it home.)  When she wasn't busy cooking or baking (or reading) she could be found working on crafts: headbands, rings, bracelets, etc.  This girl definitely has the crafty gene.

Legos: Isaac especially has logged some serious hours constructing a Lego city.  He loves, loves, loves Legos and is very creative with them.  Although I often find myself cursing legos, especially when I step on one with bare feet, it is fun to see the creations my kids come up with.  So much down time in the summer = lots of amazing lego projects.

Parades: Abby, Isaac and Henry got to be in the Salt Lake Children's Parade on July 16th.  The theme of the parade was "Press Forward Pioneers" and my kids had to dress up like the Roaring 20s.  They were less than thrilled to get up so early but ended up having a great time.  Isaac was especially excited when he realized that he had a close-up on television.

Isaac was much happier when he came home a few hours later and realized he'd been on TV.

Father and kids: Andrew took the four oldest kids (and several neighborhood kids) on the ward campout. They had a great time eating fried chicken and burned marshmallows, sitting around the campfire, sleeping in a tent and hiking to Donut Falls.  They all came home with the knowledge that their dad is pretty much the coolest dad around.  

(Lucy and I used our evening alone as an opportunity to go to dinner with Oma, Laura, Peter, Sarah and Emily and I found myself wondering how many more years until ALL the kids could go on Fathers and kids.)

This was the summer of California, of cabin trips, of lazy evenings in the backyard, of watching sunsets from our front porch, of evening swims, of last day of summer water fights, and of lying on our backs watching the clouds.  

It was the summer of popsicles, lemonade, barbecues with friends and family, trips to Ice, Ice Baby, sleeping-in, and staying up late.  It's been the summer of skinned knees, rosy cheeks, fat lips, and buzzed heads.

It has all gone by too fast, and I am NOT okay with school starting tomorrow.  Luckily, we went school shopping last week, so all my kids are ready to start the new school year.

(There's nothing like a new pair of shoes to put a spring in your step -- and this year all the kids wanted Chuck Taylors in different colors.)

Bring on the new school year!