"Shadow Your 7th Grader"

I've been so excited for this day to come. Each day Emma leaves for school I can't help but wonder what her life at Jr. High is like. Because I've been so involved at the elementary school her whole life, it's weird not to ever set foot in her "new" school. I think she was excited too but told me she was a little worried that I would be telling her to pay attention and stuff all day. It was probably good that she mentioned that so I was able to bite my tongue about half the times I wanted to tell her to pay attention/participate. :)

Anyway, I'm pretty sure I was the only nerd-mom there with her camera, but I tried to be pretty nonchalant when I took pictures. I just hate wishing I had taken a picture and then you can't go back and do it. So now I have a little run-through of the life of my 7th grader.

We got there just as the bell was ringing. The feelings that only school can bring to you started to wash over me. The good ones and the ones that make your heart beat faster.

 

I made her stop to take a picture :) Hurry mom!

1st period she has with her cousin Jane so I got to see my sister :)

Mom seriously! I'm gonna get a tardy!
(I felt quite empowered to be free from the restrictions school puts on kids).
Oh Emma it's OK. They're not going to do anything on parent day.

1st period- Math

2nd period- Chorus (her fave)
Warm-up for singing- BBBBBB.

3rd period- PE (and part ways with Jane and Amy)
Self-Defense lesson.

4th period- Social Studies (her least favorite)
Writing facts from other kids' Civil War reports.

5th period- H. Science
Making sturdy structures in groups with straws and marshmallows

6th and 7th- H. Language Arts (other favorite)
Debate on whether or not FB brings out the "mean side" of people.

I had to leave a little early to pick up the other kids from school. Everyone had half day. Half day was a perfect day for them to have parents come. We got a sneak peak without experiencing the boredom the kids have to go through- haha.

Sometimes the kids will tell me how lucky I am that I get to stay home and not go to school. I say "Hey I did my time." But I have to agree. It's wonderful being able to make your own choices and become the person you want to be once school's over. And I mean high school- the last mandatory schooling. Once you're in college or whatever it may be- you know you want to be there. Free agency: it's a beautiful thing. I tell the kids that, that's what they're earning right now- the right to became who they want to be later.

This is a great school year so far for everyone :) Love my big girl!

*note- she's been so sweet lately writing little notes for Dana and I saying "I love you. You're the BEST mom (or dad) in the world!" She's strategically placing them around the house. One she wrote for Dana on a running magazine in the the bathroom :)

*a funny thing she said- "You know what I really want for Christmas but I know you'll say no.... "
(I'm thinking- okay she probably wants she own ipod...we could probably do that and surprise her)
".....A horse."! (She just started horse lessons and the lady boards people's horses.)
"ya- sorry Em that's never going to happen." :)

Autumn Nostalgia

As a freshman at BYU I became completely smitten with the mountains changing colors. I'd never experienced anything like it. Each day I'd look up at the mountains and take notice of which trees and bushes were turning orange or red or yellow. I loved the way everything looked more and more beautiful every day. I loved every autumn that I lived there in Provo and if there's anything in Utah I miss, that's it. (Ya, I can't think of anything else).

This morning, on my way back from walking the kids to school and enjoying the lovely morning (the desert's starting to cool off in the mornings and evenings), I remembered that I once drew a picture of the "Y" mountain sitting outside on the grass in front of Deseret Towers. I went and looked through my old scrapbook and sure enough, there it was. I wish it had a date, but I think it's probably early-ish fall- like now. Obviously I'm no artist, but this picture makes me want to pick my kids up from school, get on the freeway, grab Dana at work, and drive straight to Utah and up through Provo Canyon.

Next to it was a letter from my dad. In case I haven't mentioned, I really miss him.

I have an update post coming soon which I'll get to as soon as I can find more time in this busy week.

All Things Sadie: Spotlight #4

I looked back and it's been a week and a half shy of a full year since I started spotlighting our 4 kids. Haha- better late than never!

I've had Sadie's spotlight on my mind for the last month or so and I've been gathering info and pics. My alternative title for this post is "It's okay to be girly." That's because Sadie sometimes gets grief for being a "girly-girl". When Emma was born I expected her to like dolls and glitter and princesses. I soon realized this wasn't going to happen when her favorite toys were plastic animals, when she'd play "house" she was the pet, and I watched "Lion King" a thousand+ times. Now I really appreciate it. (It seems to me, that this stuff also seems to be packaged with a little more girl-drama and emotions too). Well with Sadie, I get to enjoy the little girl-girly stuff. For example, she asks to put on my make-up everyday as I fix her hair. She knows she can use the lip gloss and the blush brush. She asks for a squirt of perfume everyday now too. She even asks ME to curl her hair (instead of me coercing her).
But her very favorite thing is to paint nails.

However, she's gotten into the polish one too many times without asking so, MUCH to her dismay, I had to put them up out of reach.

Most of the time the kids are all playing some type of game where they are dragons or doggies, but Holly and Sadie have played dollies together a few times lately and it's so cute.

I've never had a child bling out their homework before...

When I find funny little things like this around, I know who it's from.

She's liking Kindergarten so far. I am getting the impression that the teacher has to get on her about talking sometimes, but she's still manages to get her hand stamped at the end of the day, so hopefully not too much. (Now there's one thing she and Emma do have in common :)

 She wrote her ABC's all by herself during Sacrament yesterday- with a few corrections. But I loved that she started it and was trying to do it on her own!

We love our sweet Sadie!

Yellow Belt A-Go-Go

Wow it's definitely time to dust off the old blog and post! Time is just slipping away from me lately. But life is good and we are feeling extra joyful that the weather is cooling off a little and fall is just around the corner. It's a BEAUTIFUL thing.

One exciting bit of news at our house is that Eli earned his yellow belt last Saturday. We're starting to feel not quite so lost with this karate thing and he is loving it so far. The "A-Go-Go" part of my title is a little tribute to my dad since he was into karate at one point too. I think he earned his brown belt. My sister doesn't think he went that far. Further clarification is required from our mother.

We were a little nervous ("we" because I was nervous for Eli since I knew how much it meant to him to pass) about belt testing since it was a new thing, but they made it really fun for the kids, and it turned out to be a non-stressful event.

Ready to get started...

Warming up...

Doing his "kata"- which is showing the moves they've learned to earn the next rank.

He amazed me on this part because he just flew through all the moves.

Then he got to relax and watch everyone else.

Congratulations!

Woo-Hoo!

Eli with Sensei Hatcher

Afterward, Eli was so excited he could barely contain himself. The second we walked out he wanted that yellow belt on. :) Then we went to "In-N-Out" for a reward (and we were starving). While there, Eli said "I like when it's just me, and you, and dad." It was so great to spend a little time with just our boy. It reminded us of the importance of one-on-one time with the kids. We haven't been as good lately as we once were.

It was a great day and he is, as of now, determined to become a black belt eventually. I told him as long as he's willing to work hard and have a good attitude, we'll be willing to pay for it. (As long as we can afford it- not a cheap sport!) Right now he's dying to save up $11.50 for one of the ninja stars they have in the lobby there. So proud of my boy!