A Few More Firsts . . .

Jonas started school on Tuesday, Aug. 28th:

Jonas is in the Jazz band and has to be at school at 7:15 every morning except Wednesday.  He doesn't mind and has enjoyed school so far these past couple of days!

The girls started today!  We went to back to school night last night and got to meet their teachers, check out their classrooms, etc.  The girls were excited to go today!

 2nd grade with Mrs. Lopez (Miles and Jonas both had her for 4th grade!)

5th grade for Emmy with Mrs. Methany - a fairly new teacher at Northside (her 2nd year).  I think the teacher and class are going to be great for Emmy this year!

This week has been overly insane:  Emmy's birthday, Jonas starting school, a fun outing on Tuesday morning with the girls (so Miles could have some peace as he began his homeschooling that day), me working Tuesday and Wednesday nights, gymnastics, mountain bike club, scouts, mowing lawns, back to school night, and the girls' first day of school.  It's been crazy.  Now we're off (once we pack and the kids finish up school, gymnastics, and mountain biking . . .) to Utah!

Emmy's 11th Birthday

The kids lucked out in the fact that school started super late for us this year.  So everybody was off on Emmy's birthday (although Miles did have seminary in the morning and then an art class later that afternoon).  Unfortunately, Ben wasn't off and actually had a long day - not coming home until closer to 7:30.  We missed him, but managed to have a fun day for Emmy.

 She's looking sooooo old!  :)

 Her siblings all chipped in to get her a watch - she loves it!

 Emmy's big/main/real gift from us (mom and dad) was a new bike.  She wanted one.  It's awesome.  So we rode our bikes from our home to this park that has a bike pump and little trails.  It was great!

 On our way home . . . Lucy's a little left-out with being the only one in our family without a Trek bike.  :)  Someday . . .

 Emmy's chosen movie was Anne of Green Gables.  I checked it out from the library.  Unfortunately, it was a cruddy disc and didn't work well.  So they started "Return to Me," one of my favorites that I had shown Emmy the trailer to a while back.  They could only watch about half of it before Miles headed out to school.  The rest of us enjoyed playing a new card game Emmy got:  "Cover you A$$ets."  The kids love it.

 Funny thing . . . a group of my friends decided to all go in on renting the outdoor pool (just like on Lucy's birthday!).  So we joined in and went to the pool from 5-7.  Emmy is sporting her new adorable shirt that Jonas bought for her.

 The pool was great - the weather was warm and sunny, but just a bit breezy.  It was a fun evening!

 We came back home and finished up the movie (Ben finally came home while we were finishing it up).  We breaked for cake!  It's not quite Pinterest-worthy (how do they make their cakes stand up so straight?!), but Emmy loved it.  A sprinkle cake with . . .

polka-dots inside!  Fun, fun.

 Happy birthday to you, Emmy!

Dear Emmy,

Happy 11th birthday beautiful!  The past year has been quite a year . . . a year of your first gymnastics competition, a year of drama, a year of school, a year of hiking and backpacking and skiing, a year of more - then less - crushes, a year of baking, etc.!

You competed in one Level 3 gym meet and then went on to the State Meet.  You did very well and it was a total delight (although I admit I could not watch you on the beam!) to see you out there doing so well.  You did get very, very nervous - but I think most gymnasts do!  Your maternal grandparents got to watch your first competition and your paternal grandparents got to see your State one.  How special and fun!  You will now be competing in Level 4 . . . but you are still struggling with one skill:  the dreaded kip.  You had it for two days, then lost it again.  You'll get it back again, I know.  Just keep working hard at it and you'll get it!  You went on your second BYU Gymnastics Camp and just loved it!  Girls, gymnastics, and popsicle breaks - what could be more fun than that?!

You dealt with A LOT of drama this past year at school.  You and a certain girl just don't mesh very well.  She has many, many issues and you have a couple yourself.  :)  While I think you were most often not the instigator of a lot of the drama that went on, I'm also wasn't blind and saw that sometimes you were and that other times you maybe didn't start it, but you fueled it along!  You just flock to the higher-maintenance friends at school, even though I encourage you to find some other friends!  They aren't bad girls, just full-of-drama girls!  But I also see that they are lively, active, and fun girls - which is what you are, too.  So I get why you like them.  But I hope this year we (YOU) see less in the drama-department at school.

I've already mentioned the drama bit of school, but you really did have a great year anyways.  Mr. Scott was your teacher and even though it was frustrating to have a lot of behavior-issue kids in your class and thus you lost a lot of classroom privileges, you somehow still enjoyed Mr. Scott very much and liked going to school!  You had to endure 3rd/4th grade classes this year . . . which wasn't ideal at all.  But thankfully this year it will just be you and the rest of the 5th graders - you are excited about that.

Dad and I like to get out of doors and make you kids suffer a bit.  :)  We took you on our first 14er as a family.  You did stellar and was the first to summit in our family.  You are usually a great hiker (unless you have a UTI and we don't know yet . . .)!  You kind-of hate and kind-of like hiking.  We also did a big backpacking trip - 25+ miles.  You did amazing.  We got some ski trips in, too, and that you love.  You are a good skier with really good form.  You'll probably go beyond my skill level this year!

You liked making a list of all your crushes - once I think it got close to 30?!  But recently you have narrowed down that list to four young men (although you think a lot of other boys are "cute").  They are pretty good boys you've chosen and so hopefully you'll continue to make wise choices in regards to boys . . . Oh, that reminds me!  You had a boyfriend or something (whatever that means in 4th grade) this past year.  I can't even remember his name.  You didn't really "like" him.  I guess he broke up with you after you told him you had a crush on Reggie.  Ha.

You got a baking kit for Christmas this year - you were sent three recipes each month (for three months, that's all we can afford!), with little cooking tools, too.  You cooked up some delicious food.  Two of the favorites were the homemade ramen noodle soup with tofu and chocolate lava cake.  I've never had lava cake before, but now we've had it quite a few times.  It's delicious!  You really love baking sweet treats . . . no surprise there!

Speaking of food: in some ways you are picky, in other ways, not at all!  You don't like most of the dinners I make which makes you seem picky.  Yet, on the other hand, you'll eat canned fish, tilapia, sardines, most every kind of vegetable, kalua pork, chicken pastrami casserole, porcupine meatballs, fish eyeballs (so gross!), and more.  You're a one-of-a-kind eater.

In fact, you are a one-of-a-kind girl and I love being a part of your life.

love,
mom

Lucy's baptism

Ben and I just keep getting older and older . . . evidence:  our youngest child just got baptized!  Lucy and her friend Tahlia (from our ward) got baptized on Thursday, August 23rd.  She (and the rest of us) were lucky to have all the grandparents make it out!  It was really a sweet baptism for two super sweet girls.

Here is her program:

Just slightly slanted.  :)

Here are some pictures:

 Such a beauty!  We got her dress from Aunt Debbie.  I know at least one of Debbie's girls wore it - as well as Emmy.

 My baby - growing in to a lovely young gal.

 Daddy and daughter.

 Lucy and all her grandparents!

 Tahlia and Lucy.  Lucy is one day older and one foot shorter.  :)  (Where are Lucy's feet?!)

The family!

I had asked my parents to bring some Krispy Kreme donuts for a special treat afterwards.  My kids hadn't ever had them, but had talked about them.  So we surprised them with 2 dozen donuts.  They all loved them - as evidenced by all 2 dozen of them getting eaten.  :)

We sure love Lucy and are glad she is baptized and now an official member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It will bless her life forever!

Miles' Firsts 2018-2019

So Miles is the first one of the kids to start the new school year.  He began with starting seminary on Thursday, August 23rd.  Ben and I both rode our bikes with him - Ben part way until he turned off to head towards work, and me all the way.  In fact, I was going on a ride for my exercise and so I dropped him off, rode my bike, and then picked him up on my way home.  :)  Miles seemed to like it and mentioned how he knows almost all of the kids (21 of them) in his class.

Seminary goes from 6:45-7:45.  He has to leave here on his bike by 6:25.  So he gets up a little before 6.  So, while not as early as some, it's definitely early for him.

 Heading out in the morning . . . a rainy morning at that!

 Miles is also doing a couple of classes at the high school.  He's doing most of his classes through BYU's Independent Study high school, but I wanted him to do a little bit at the public school as well.  Today was the first official day of classes.  The high school has "red" and "white" days.  On "red" days Miles has a class called Project Unify.  The class pairs up/teams up special ed. students with mainstream kids (for lack of better term!) and they work on things together - like making muffins and selling them, going on field trips, etc.  I hope it's a great class!  On white days, he has an art class.

Both classes go from 2:05-3:40 (except for Wednesdays - short days).  He went on Thursday just to get his photo taken and school ID.  He had an interesting observation:  does the high school have a dress code?  He mentioned how many of the girls had very short shirts on (his middle school principal was very good and actually did enforce the dress code).  He then commented/wondered why girls can get away with that, yet he can't wear a hat in school.  (He had on some farmer-like straw hat and was asked almost immediately upon entering the school to take it off.  Which he and I knew would happen - no biggie.  But I wonder how many girls were asked to change their shirts.  I would guess none.  Anyways . . . )

We'll see how his first day goes! (It went well - he's on the "baking muffin committee"  :) )

And let's just add a random shot of Miles at Lucy's baptism, taken by his brother Jonas:

July . . . since August is now almost over!

Lucy's Birthday

We had Lucy's birthday party a day before, so her birthday was a little more laid-back.  But just a little.  :)

 The big EIGHT!  So crazy that my baby is 8.

 She wanted a "Papa Smurf stuffie" and so she was super happy to see him on the table as she came downstairs!

A group of Montrose moms and kids was going on an itty-bitty hike and so we decided to join them.  We hiked by the Morrow Point Dam and it was cool and fun with everyone!

 Lucy got an LOL game from her friend the day before and the kids played it a few times on her birthday.

 Ben finally got home and so Lucy got to open her gifts.  This big LOL ball (has a doll and accessories inside) was given to her from Jonas and Emmy and then Jonas also bought her the awesome Hogwarts shirt!  Miles gave her . . . nothing.

 Our friend Heather (neighbor) organized a group of families to rent the outdoor pool that evening from 5:30-7:30.  Heather picked the 16th and so that made for a fun activity on Lucy's birthday! Lucy is sporting her new goggles ($1.99 at Ross), new watch, and cute outfit (says "Gymnast" on it) from Grandma.

 It was actually a little cool, cloudy, and windy and so the kids didn't play too much in the pool!

 But we did grill some hot-dogs and ate Pringles - what a fun birthday dinner, haha.

 But the pool-people were awesome and aware of the cool weather and so they made the indoor field-house AND bubbles available for us to use.  Which was pretty awesome considering the rental for field and bubbles would have been more than twice what we paid for the pool.  The kids had a fun time bumping, flipping, and rolling in the bubbles!

 Then we came home and watched one of the new Smurf movies.  Ben has a Papa Smurf from his childhood . . .

 Yeah, yeah, this was not my most elaborate nor pretty cake.  But the birthday party had me spent and we decided to make the inside of the cake the cool part . . .

 Make a wish!

The cool inside!  Lucy LOVED her cake.  Which was sweet because it wasn't too spectacular.  But it did look awesome inside and tasted scrumptious.

Another fun birthday for a fun gal!

Lucy's Smurfday party

Lucy came up with having a Smurf party all on her own.  So we talked and figured out how to do a Smurfday party . . . keeping a few things secret from Lucy so she could enjoy some surprises, too.

 We decided to do 8 stations - each after a Smurf character.

 Yes, I made all the posters.  Ben made me.  He wouldn't let me just print out the smurfs.  :)  But it was kind of fun!

 Once all the invites came (7 of them), we let them watch an episode of Smurfs. We figured many of them didn't know much about the Smurfs.

 Here's the group:  Tahlia (from church), Holly (Emmy's friend and Lila's sister, from church), Alex (from church), Emmy, Genevieve (neighbor and classmate), Lex (Csilla's daughter), Lila (from church), Lucy, and Dory (former neighbor and classmate who now lives in Ridgway).

 The gang headed out to Lion's Park for a Smurf-hunt.  Jonas, Miles, and Aiden (Alex's brother) had gone a few minutes earlier and hid smurf figurines.

 They found them all!

We got home and had "Greedy's cafe" station:  dinner!  Pizza, veggies, and juice boxes.  While they ate, they got to watch another Smurf episode.

 Next up with Handy's workshop!

They made mushroom houses for their smurfs.  :)

 Next station:  Smurfette's Salon and Hefty's Parlor.

 Our boys and Aiden did tattoos for the kids.  They ended up doing a lot of face-paintings as well.  :)

 Alex was the reason we added Hefty's parlor to the station as we didn't think he would be too keen on getting his nails painted at Smurfette's Salon.  (Haha, as the kids were watching their first Smurf episode, as soon as Smurfette came on the screen Alex declared, "I HATE Smurfette."  Such a boy.)

 Ben and I had fun painting nails - red with white polka dots (like a mushroom) and blue with white tips (like a smurf).

Ben is pretty fantastic!

Next we went to Brainy's classroom. The kids all got some smart-looking glasses.  :)

 They had to complete a smurf word-search and then answer general trivia questions.

 Now to one of the messier stations:  Papa Smurf's lab.

 We attempted to make slime, but it only sort of worked.  Whatever, the kids loved playing with the shaving cream!

 Now on to Jokey's presents . . .

 Jokey always gives exploding gifts and so each kid got a "popper" that exploded confetti.

 It was awesome!

 I loved the confetti!

 Okay, one last time!

 Next we went to Clumsy's 3-legged race.  But since we had 9 kids, we did a 4-legged race with 3 kids.

 It didn't take too long for this group to fall down and start crawling to the finish line!

 This group decided to just start out crawling.  Haha.  They beat group number 1 by three seconds.

 This group did pretty awesome - they crushed the other groups' times.  :)

 Finally . . . the last station:  Baker Smurf's bakery.

Each kid got to decorate their own 3-layer rice-krispie cake.  Emmy and Holly made matching cakes.  :)

 Lucy's lovely cake.

Last of all, present time.  Lucy loved opening presents and her friends were all excited to have her open their gifts.

It was a fun and unique party!