First Day of School

Today is the first day of school. Garhett is in 5th grade and the top dog at school, he is so excited! He was ready after the 6 week summer break to get back to school. Garhett has great teacher, Mrs. Morse, she teaches the kids responsibility with money, actions, and choices. It's going to be a great year for Garhett.

Garhett in Mrs. Morse's Class

Waiting for the bus

Trent was a little excited but more apprehensive of what the year is going to bring. Trent is not our social kid, he would rather just do his own thing.  The funny thing with that is everyone wants to be Trent’s friend. Everyone wants Trent around and to play with him. I find it interesting that Trent will agree to play and then 10 – 15 minutes into it, the kids are all playing together and Trent has migrated somewhere off to play on his own. Then some time later, the kids are back playing with Trent. It is quite comical.

Trent has Mrs. McClanahan this year, she is a seasoned teacher.  Trent is going to be a great 2nd grader! He is looking forward to teaching his little sister the rules of school.

Trent in Mrs. Clanahan's Class

Now for the Girl! 

Paige is starting kindergarten this year. She has been counting the days since preschool ended in May. Now that night before school starts, Paige asks the questions, "Mom, how many days until school?"  I said, "Paige school starts tomorrow". She answered hesitantly, "Oh". During the night, Paige kept coming into my room, "Mom, I don't feel good, my tummy hurts. Mom, I had a headache". Paige's nerves finally caught up to her months of excitement. I finally got her to settle down around 3am. 

As the morning arrived, everyone was excited to start school. The tradition is everyone takes the bus to school and mom drives and meets everyone at school. So I can take supplies and take pictures of them arriving at school and checking into their classrooms. The boys are pros. Since it's Paige's first time with school and the bus, here are a few more pictures of Paige.

A side note on Paige. Paige is so over mom's opinion on clothes and what to where. So here is Paige's first day of school outfit - put together by Paige herself.

First Day of School Outfit

Before heading to the bus and to school, Paige lost her 4 tooth. So Paige is starting kindergarten missing her front teeth and bottom teeth. Poor Trent, but that's another post.

Look another tooth gone on the first day of school!

Paige arriving at school

Paige and the bus driver Fred

Paige and Aubrey

Paige and her BFF Aubrey

Paige in Mrs. Longpre's Class

Everyone had a great first day of school. To wind up the kids' first school day, I greeted them with warm chocolate chip walnut cookies. We sat around the table, ate cookies, and talked about their first day of school. What a great day!!!!

Wrapping it up….

This has been a busy week with school ending and getting ready for the holiday festivities.

We started the week off with Emmett’s 2 week after surgery check up. His 5 cuts and feeding tube are all healing very well. Emmett’s weight is another story. He lost 2 pounds since his surgery date (for you and I would be just fine and welcomed), but for Emmett who is barely on the weight chart as it is, the doctor was very concerned. She gave us a week for Emmett to gain some or all of the weight back or she wants us to start feeding Emmett through his tube, which is currently only used to burp or throw up. On that same note, he can only eat liquid and soft foods. The doctor said no eating regular table foods for 8 weeks. The poor kid just got used to eating table foods and now they are all taken away from him. I have broken the doctor rules though. I have slowly started adding foods into his diet, like pancakes, French toast, etc. (just in very tiny smaller than bite size pieces. Other than the eating issues, Emmett has bounced back from surgery rather well. He is back to running around, back to sliding on his tummy (I know OUCH) down the stairs. All in all we are on our way to a full recovery!

Next on our weeks’ agenda was the Preschool Christmas Program for Paige. Last year Paige made her own debut by wearing fuchsia pink pants and shirt to her program. This year since we are almost 5 we are feeling a little more mature and in the Christmas season, so she decided to wear her red Christmas dress with her black click clocks. I must say she looked grown up, not like a 4 year old in preschool. Paige did awesome with singing all the songs and doing the signs with each song. Great job Paige!!!

The very next day we are at the school at 8am for Trent’s award assembly. Trent won the citizenship award for outstanding citizenship in the first grade. This award includes things like helping others in class, picking up, being a good person. Now I am not disputing this fact (well maybe a little), Trent is the most obstinate kid at home. Oh he helps out, but it isn’t until we have had a screaming match and a tantrum. It is nice to hear that he doesn’t do that for his school or Primary teachers, only his parents! Great job Trent, so proud of you!!!!

Here is Trent with his certificate and with the principal Mr. Johnstone.

On Friday, we had the ward Christmas party. It was good. I don’t think a very good turn out, but whatever. We didn’t stay to see Santa cause all the kids were running around and it was so chaotic. So we took our family and went to the mall to see Santa. No lines. The kids were able to get right in to see Santa, sit on his lap, tell him the thing that they want (but won’t be getting because they just added it to the list), and take their picture. We ended the fun filled evening with ice cream cones. Yea!!!

To wrap up our week, Paige performed as a gingerbread in her dance studios performance of the Nutcracker.

I couldn't get the video of her performance to load. Here is Paige in her costume.

What an exhausting week we have had. School is now out for 2 weeks for Paige and the boys. So hopefully we can stay home and relax a little bit.

Primary Program

This year the theme for the Primary Program was Eternal Family. There was quite a few unusuals this year. Usually I sit in the audience with Scott & my parents and watch the kids say their speaking parts and sing. This year, I was on the stage with the CTR 5's, I am a teacher now. Usually only Garhett has a speaking part during the program due to having over 200 kids in the Primary. This year, Garhett, Trent and Paige all had speaking parts. Garhett, Trent and Paige all stood tall at the mircrophone and said their parts with conviction. No shyness in our household. :O)
Garhett sang in an all boys chorus. He did such a great job. Garhett really enjoys singing.

Great job kids, Dad and I are so proud of you.

Fall Sports

It's that time of year again.

Trent is playing soccer. He is playing with the same kids for the past 3 seasons. They are really starting to groove. This year we have graduated to actually being able to play the positions on the field including goalie. Exciting times!!!!







































Garhett has decided to play baseball again. Garhett took the Spring off cause of the not so good experience he had last fall. But this fall he's back in the swing of baseball and seems to be really enjoying it!!! I am happy with the coaches and the boys on his team. Should be a great season of fundamental ball. They didn't have their uniforms for the first game, but here is Garhett in action. Garhett plays catcher, third base, and is hoping to start pitching.

First day of school

Six weeks have come and gone. We have enjoyed our summer break and are excited to get back to the routine of school!!!

Garhett is in 4th grade this year. His teacher is Mr. Mosley.

Trent is in 1st grade this year. His teacher is Miss Phelps. Trent is at school all day, yippee!!!

School's out - Let Summer begin!!

School ended today June 26th and will resume again August 12th, but until then let summer begin!!!!

We started the morning out in Garhett's class for his award ceremony and a little kick ball. Garhett's teacher had a clever presentation for each student to show her appreciation. Mrs. Hallowell stood at the front of the class holding a certificate and would describe a boy or girl student, the class would try and guess and then she would present that student with the certificate and a candy bar describing their quality. For example: Teacher: "This boy likes music. He likes music so much that he is always drumming on his desk, playing air guitar and asking me "what song is this" as he hums a few bars. Class: "It's Joey". Teacher: "Yes, it's Joey and I would like to give him a symphony candy bar". Clever huh?

Mrs. Hallowell described Garhett as a hardworking and creative student. She rewarded him with a payday candy bar.

Garhett with Mrs. Hallowell








Garhett with his friend Josh








Garhett with his friends Jonah, Tim, Nathanel, and Josh





After Garhett's class fun, we went to Trent's kindergarten ceremony. I wish I could say graduation, but it wasn't. This was Trent's teacher's first year of teaching and I don't think she understood the importance of a graduation to kindergartners and especially their parents. Her ceremony consisted of passing out a cellophane bag with a certificate in it and having each kindergartner say before receiving their bag, "I'm a First Grader". That didn't go over very well.
L-A-M-E!!!!!

Trent with Mrs. Anderson










Trent receiving his certificate









Between Garhett's class ending and waiting for Trent's class to begin, the kids had some time to play on the playground. Paige was so excited to be at the big kids' school. Trent was excited to finally be able to cross the "yellow line". Emmett was just happy to be out of the stroller.

































LET SUMMER BEGIN!!!!

We finished our end of school celebration with lunch at McDonald's and a swim in the pool!

Happy Birthday Trent!!!

It was 6 years ago today that I went in for my weekly check with Dr. Jones. I wasn't feeling you move very much, so they did an ultrasound and to our dismay, you were low on amniotic fluid. Dr. Jones said, "Have some lunch, get your things, and report to the hospital in a couple of hours. You are going to have a baby today.

And so it was, you would be born 3 weeks early. At 8:16 pm you were born into this world weighing in at a mere 5lb 15oz. We were so happy you joined our family. Garhett was so excited to finally be a big brother! Trent you have brought us such joy and still do. Happy Birthday son, we love you!!
















Trent decided to have his birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. Most parents cringe at the thought, but I love it! So we packed up the kids and off to Chuck E Cheese for some dinner and fun! Trent received a lot of fun gifts. Thanks to everyone for the fun!