Kindergarten

There were so many days when the girls were babies and I was in the blur of raising twins and two other young children that I would often tell myself "Won't it be great when the girls start kindergarten?" I knew by the time they started kindergarten I would have two other kids in school full time.   I would get stuff done, I wouldn't have little hands hanging onto my thighs, I would be able to use the bathroom by myself.  I wouldn't hear "Mooommmmmmm" every 5 seconds.  I would have more than 5 seconds of personal time.   My days were scheduled around naptimes, diaper changes, feedings, etc. My life was so busy in a totally different way than it is now.

TIME MOVES ON....

 I haven't used a stroller in a very long time. I don't schedule my days around naptimes anymore.  I would be lost if I had to pack a diaper bag.   My girls now buckle themselves in and out of the car and can do so many things on their own.   The "blur" is gone.

I always thought I would be skipping through fields, arms waving in the air at my new freedom for a few hours each day.
 
  Instead,  all I want to do is figure out a way to turn back the clock. 

 But I can't.

  Time went by so fast.  But at the same time some days seemed sooo long.  .


  And suddenly I have 4 medium size kids instead of 4 little kids. Weird.

 It is now just me and Lucky every morning from 8:20 to 10:55.

But alas, I am rambling. This post is not supposed to be about me.....

I would like to introduce the new kindergartners in our house.

 

 

Afton

Kindergarten at Altara Elementary

8/26/13

Color-yellow and pink

Food-bananas

Movie or TV show - Backyardigans

Things to do- watch TV

Grow Up- A mom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lilly

Kindergarten at Altara Elementary

8/26/13

Color- dark blue, green, dark pink, light pink, light blue

Food- everything except candy (likes smarties)

Movie or TV show -Garfield and Bernstein Bears

Things to do- go swimming and waterslides

Grow Up: a veterinarian

 

First Day of School

After a much too short summer, school started yesterday.  I now have a 6th grader, 4th grader and as of next week 2 kindergartners. Yesterday felt much too quiet with the two older kids at school.  Next week my mornings will be really weird when it is just me and Lucky.

Ethan-: Our new 6th grader.  Ethan gets to ride a bus everyday.  I can't say enough how excited I am about that.  We take him to his old elementary school (Alta View) where a bus picks him up and takes him to Midvale Middle School. 

Ethan

6^th grader at Midvale Middle School

8/19/13

Color-green

Food- good food

Movie or TV show- Return of the Jedi

Things to do- Legos

Grow Up- I don’t know

Lizzie:  She is a 4th grader at Altara Elementary.  Seriously, when did she get old enough to be a 4th grader?

 

Lizzie

4^th grade at Altara Elementary

8/19/13

Color-purple

Food-corn the the cob, mashed potatoes, chocolate

Movie or TV show- Phineas and Ferb, Garfield

Things to do- swim, read

Grow Up- I don’t know

Red Carpet and Jim's debut as the Kittyhawk:
Lizzie's school did something new this year for the first day and rolled out a red carpet for all the students to walk on while heading into the school.  Each side of the red carpet was lined with parents cheering them on (and bubbles).  Jim even dressed up like the Kittyhawk to greet and high five students :)  Fox 13 news was there and interviewed both me and Lizzie.  We made the 5:00 segment.  Yes, we now have 15 seconds of fame.

Kittyhawk (or Jim)
walking the halls of Altara getting ready to go outside to greet students.

The kids and parents LOVE the Kittyhawk
 when he makes appearances. It is like a celebrity is nearby.
 People get excited, nervous, in awe, etc.  It is so fun to see.

Kittyhawk aka Jim and our
new principal Mrs. Magann on the first day of school.
  I work with her A LOT. She is amazing!!!

Lilly - Kittyhawk in training :)

 First Day Treats- These are what were waiting for Ethan and Lizzie when they came home from their first day of school. 

Both kids seemed to have a good first day of school which I am very grateful for.

 We are now officially off to another school year....

Back to School Party

Last night we had our annual  Back to School Party.  It was a nice night with family.  It  was also the caboose to one of the busiest weeks I have had in a very long time (PTA stuff).  Always nice to see the cousins play together and to find out more about each child through their "spotlight."  Crazy that we also now have kids starting middle school.

 

Lots of cousins playing in the sandbox

The 4/5 year olds capturing Lizzie.

Hula Hoop lessons

I thought it was amazing how many managed to squeeze
into the sandbox and still play together well


 

Both Ethan and Andrew will enter
 the land of Middle School tomorrow. 



This cute trio can now officially be called Kindergartners.

The line-up of cousins in birth order. 
Age range 11 years old to 1 year old.

Sandy Balloon Fest

August 10, 2013

Every year Sandy does a Hot Air Balloon Fest.  Balloons go up in the air Friday and Saturday mornings.  They are go up at a park very close to our house.  It is amazing to see so many hot air balloons up in the air so close to our house.  Some years they have even been right above our house and we could wave and yell hi to the people in the baskets.  They have landed across the street from us and other places nearby.  It is really cool.

 Then on the last night they do a Balloon Glow.  Unfortunately, this has not had so much success.  The weather has to be absolutely perfect.  Sadly,  their track record is probably 1 every 3 years of getting all the balloons up and lit.  Last night we were able to see 2 balloons get filled up before it got too windy.  The kids still thought it was cool and it was a nice night out with our family.

Jim and Afton

Obviously Afton did not want
her picture taken for this one :)

Lilly- ALWAYS  the poser and up
 for her picture to be taken.

Me and Lizzie

 

 

Perfect!!!!

Big Mountain 2013

We just got back from a 2 night stay with my parents at the Big Mountain Campground near Nephi.  It was nice to get away one last time before school starts.  Here is a little sampling of our stay.

 

 

Swinging - And I mean lots of swinging.  Lizzie, Afton and Lilly love swinging!!!!!  Afton and Lilly still need a little help with pushing so we all got a good arm workout pushing them.

 

 

Reading:  Ethan is reading the Kingdom Keepers series right now and is really into it.  He read anywhere he could.

 

Performances:  Afton and Lilly found a little stage and loved it.  The best part was watching Lilly direct, enjoy the spot light and of course do her Hawaiin dance.

 

Golfing:  Friday morning all of the boys went golfing.  I hear Ethan even got to drive the golf cart.  Also proof that Brett came :)

 

Swimming:  Despite a few rainstorms we were still able to get some swimming in. 

 

Eating:  Here is Lizzie asking for her 89th or so pancake.  I like my dad's expression.... "Really?  another one?"

 

 

 

 

Time Together:

Grandparents with their grandkids

 

 The groups minus Brett- he was taking the picture:)

Smore Night

August 3, 2013

 

Jim's family decided to have an impromptu S'more Night up in the canyon.  It is always nice to go up into the canyon and extra nice to spend time together.

 

 

When I first saw this picture I thought....it's perfect.
  You see that look of total contentment on Jim's face? 
 He loves spending time with his family. 
 I think this picture captures that perfectly. 
 It was a self-portrait he took with his family in the background.

Action shot :)
 



Me in step 2 of my "how to make smores" series....
 break your graham cracker in half.




Poor Grandpa..... no one made him a smore AND
by the looks of the picture no one got him a chair either :)



My cute nephew really enjoying his S'more

Scout Camp

Ethan was able to go on 11 year old scout camp this year.  August 1st -3rd he was off learning fun skills with friends.  Jim went too which helped this nervous mom :)  Plus as an extra bonus of Jim being there, pictures were taken :)

Camp Tracy

Ethan learning some skills of archery

Got a little rock climbing in.

Getting stuff ready for the shooting range

Nice to have good friends to make
sure you have a picture with bunny ears.

The group of boys from our ward/neighborhood. 
What  a good group of kids!