School Begins

Before school started we picked up final prizes for Jet who was participating in "1000 Books Before Kindergarten." We'd finished 1000 books a while back (that kid likes books like the rest of the family). We just hadn't gotten around to recording them and picking up the last of the prizes. So we did.

He got a bag, certificate, sticker, and book from Orem Library and he picked a flashlight from the treasure box at Provo Library.

 

We went to Back to School Nights for Jr. Jr. and Lucky and Jet, and Kindergarten assessment for Jet.

I saw Jr. Jr.'s schedule and this is the conversation that came from it.

Mom: You're taking Earth and Space Science? How cool is that?

Jr. Jr.: It's out of this world.

-Later-

Jr. Jr.: Earth and Space Science. You can tell you're in the right classroom because it's always vacuumed.

He also had clever things to say after school started.

Jr. Jr.: When I get a homework assignment, I spend the first few days in de-Nile.

Mom: Is that a geography joke?

Jr. Jr.: Yes, because I'm doing geography right now.

Jr. Jr.: What river is labeled 8?

Mom: It's in South America.

Jr. Jr.: The river labeled 8 is where all your packages come from. 

 

What do you do when you have a child who loves school so much they are anxious for the first day of school to start?

Give them a task. Sharpen pencils. That will help when it's time for homework.

 

How does a child who does not like school combat the frustration of it? 

He takes juggling balls with him wherever he goes at school and at home. He impressed quite a few people who didn't know he could juggle, which he couldn't last school year. 

 

I got first day of school pictures for the kids (we had four different first days of school this year), except for Jr. I got first day at his apartment pictures. I had a little Nemo toy that I used to tell everyone, "First day of school. First day of school," that morning.

 

While the middle boys were at their first day of school (less kids in the house), I did something useful. I put together some freezer meals, using recipes that used ingredients we had at home so I didn't have to go shopping for anything. I put directions on the bags so I don't have to look up the recipes when it's time to make them. Go, me! Woohoo.

 

After one of the first days of school, we went to the annual Utah County Birders potluck. So nice to be around other birders. We've been so busy, we haven't been out birding much. Sigh. And the monthly meetings, I usually join online instead of in person. Also sigh.

I must say, though, my kids are awesome. They helped clean up after the potluck, even though they had school the next day. 

 

The first Saturday after school started, I did something for myself. I went to "my spot" by the lake to watch the "sunrise"- which actually means I watched the other direction from where the sun rose. I watched the light come across the lake from the mountains on the other side until it reached me then the sun was to my back when it came up over the mountains. That's how I usually like to watch the sunrise.

After Jr.'s first day of school, we picked him up and went to another BBQ/cookout. 

Jeremy: Do you want to go to this cookout? You don't have to figure out dinner.

I was in favor of that. Jeremy previously made a balloon arch for this cookout so we were able to get some pictures.

 

Another day, before Jet and Nichole started school, they went with me on a drive up Kyhv Peak Road. Nice drive and view.

 

I highly recommend this.

We keep a pocket sized copy of The Book of Mormon in our vehicle.

Now that school has started, that means more sitting around waiting to pick up kids. I get busy some mornings and don't get a chance to read my Book of Mormon. So even though I often have a physical novel in my bag, an audiobook on my phone, I realized I could get something even better out of my wait by reading what is always available to me.

School Lovers Love School

A few days before school started, a couple people from the junior high came by to drop stuff off for Jr. Jr. and let him know they were excited about having him back for the school year.

Then we had back to school nights/meet the teachers. Teachers asking Jr. Jr. how he feels about school starting. Mixed feelings. Teachers asking Lucky how he feels about school starting. He would rather be at school than at home. Sigh. 

Speaking of back to school nights... the high school and junior high had overlapping schedules for that night so Jr. Jr. had to come with us to the high school to meet Jr.'s teachers. And it just so happened there was a big rainstorm. Like big. We luckily didn't get flooded and missed the flooding that was on State Street. We did get soaked just going from the high school front entrance to the van and we did get to see rainbows on the road as we were driving. We were able to drop Jr. off then head to the junior high and luckily it had stopped raining because we had farther to walk to the school from the van. It poured down again while we were in the school.

Jeremy unfortunately had an outdoor show in the rain. Sigh.

When we got home, this was the view from one direction and from another. So different.

 

At the elementary school back to school night, the students were given a punch card to make sure they took care of certain things (find out where your class lines up, make sure your student info is up to date, visit your teacher) then got a prize for completing it. One of the punches was to take a back to school selfie so Lucky took my phone and got his selfie.

 

The boys didn't have rain on the first day of school. I did get pictures before school. Yippee!

 

When I dropped Jr. Jr. off at the bus, he and I had this conversation-

Me: You good for the day?

Jr. Jr.: Just a sec.

(Comes to my door and gives me a hug)

Jr. Jr.: Now I'm good for the day.

Me: Awww.

Besides the snuggles I got from Jet while the boys were at school, I also baked bread because nobody had bread to make sandwiches. Sigh. See how organized and put together I am?

When Nichole started classes a few weeks later, she remembered to send me a first day of school picture. Yay! That's my girl.

So You Want to Know More About August, Huh?

August 10 was Lazy Day. I tried to be lazy. In the middle of the night, however, Jeremy and I had to deal with something. Jet wanted his mommy first thing in the morning. Lucky had an appointment. I could only be so lazy.

It was also National S'mores Day so we had ice cream with crushed graham crackers, bits of marshmallow, and chocolate syrup.

 

August 14 was National Creamsicle Day. We pulled out some Orange Cream ice cream from the freezer to celebrate.

August 15 was National Relaxation Day. Ha! It was busy busy busy that day because it was the first day of school. I did get snuggles with Jet, though, saying, "Happy Relaxation Day."

And Then Things Got Crazy

After Jeremy and I had such a nice relaxing anniversary celebration, our family then had a crazy busy week.

August 13 was Alfred Hitchcock's Birthday. It was also my nephew's birthday, my brother's anniversary, and a good friend's anniversary. Hence the bow earrings.

There were back to school nights and first days of schools.

When taking Jr. Jr. to back to school night, it was fun to see Nichole's ceiling tile was still up right outside the library.

Lucky's teacher has a Harry Potter themed room this year so he got to run through the "wall" at Platform 9 3/4 to get into his classroom to meet his teacher.

I asked what the boys wanted for first day of school breakfast. "Apple Pancakes" from The Fablehaven Cookbook. Are we surprised? No.

Jr. Jr. had two first days of school pictures because he had two first days. 7th grade day and everyone's first day.

We also went to a Utah County Birders potluck that week. The kids had fun running around and one of the birder's little boy joined in the fun.

We celebrated National Fajita Day on August 18.

We had a neighborhood end of Summer party for our ward that week as well. It rained pretty hard and was windy while we were there.

Crazy busy. I tell you.