August Wrap Up

Justin climbed on the roof to check the gutters and James, is ever trusty sidekick when it comes to home projects, climbed out the window onto the roof with him. I did not like it.

I was about to lose it the entire time he was out there but James said it was the best day of his life.

One of the few glaring projects left was the flight of stairs to the master bedroom. I wanted to complete this ages ago but waited until workers were done going up and down the flight of stairs with tools and dust and whatnot.

The unfinishedness stuck out in an otherwise finished house.

Well, Friday was the day! 

I am so tired of stapling. I still need to finish the last step in the family room then I can check this project off my list.

Another project was this coat rack in the laundry room. This room connects with the garage and so it's where the kids come in and out. Three days of school with them having no where to hang their backpacks pushed this project to the top of the list. We bought the wood at the hardware store and I put a layer of clear coat on top and then Justin nailed it up and then I marked where each of the hooks went and he installed those too.

The plan is to add some wallpaper and a she storage bench but to have the hooks is a big relief.

Justin also put the same wood and hooks in the coat closet with Erica's assistance.

The rod is so high and impossible for anyone under 5 1/2 feet to reach so adding hooks on both sides of the closet has made some useful space for the kiddos. Right now it holds my library bag but I'm sure once the weather turns the hooks will be covered in jackets.

James is patiently waiting for preschool to start after Labor Day. He is doing so well with James school. He can read 5 sight words and knows the sounds of 5 letters.

After we got home from the store one day, I took a minute to get out of the car. James hopped right out and then I saw this.

He's very proud of himself.

I was craving smores in a bad way so Justin kindly borrowed a portable firepit. Now I just want a firepit even more! Maybe for my birthday.

On Sunday my niece Jaana came over to visit. She was home from DC for a few weeks and came down to see her Utah County family. She came to church with us and that evening my parents and sister and her family came over for dinner and a backyard football game.

Here's my dad doing the tip off. We play by our own rules back here.

When it came time for her to drive back to her parents in Logan, we had to figure out when we would see her again. (Thanksgiving?) She loves DC but we both wish it wasn't so far away.

James drew this cute picture on the whiteboard so I took a picture before I had to erase it.

Tomorrow is September! So begins my favorite time of year.

Back to School 2021

 It's the most wonderful time of the year! The kids were actually pretty excited to go back to school. I think they were extra bored with less friends around the new house so the prospect of school was more inticing than years past

I like to take these pictures outside but it was pouring! First up, Sarah. She started 7th grade at Maple Grove Middle School. New house, new school. It's a brand spanking new school since they brought back the middle schools this year. She would have gone to this school even if we hadn't moved which means all her Rees friends are there too. This makes the transition to secondary school and moving all the easier. She has to wake up at 7 am every morning which I was worried about because last year she was my latest riser. But so far so good the past 5 mornings. She catches the bus 45 minutes before school starts but gets home just 15 minutes after school lets out.

She is taking orchestra and is learning the violin. She also has dance and PE this semester which means she has to change twice a day. Due to a system error they still haven't gotten their lockers so she has to carry her backpack around with her everywhere, including lunch.

Henry is in 5th grade this year. I can't believe this is his last year in elementary school. He has Mr. Groneman. Fun fact: Mr. Groneman's wife teaches at Rees and was Henry's second grade teacher. He's practically part of the family, says Mr. G. 

His new friend from church, Beck, is also in his class so he is having a great time. I think he'll really like having a male teacher.

Erica is in second grade. Her teacher is Mr. Curtis. She was nervous about having a "boy teacher" but she heard so many good things about him from my sister who works at the school and her son that had him. During the open house I heard parents walk past his door saying things like "Oh I love Mr. Curtis."

Second grade is also the grade I started when I moved to Mapleton 30 years ago so it's bringing back all the feels. Fun fact: she's in the exact same classroom I was in for second grade.

The countertops are the same.

She didn't know anyone in her class since the only other girl in her church class is a grade younger. Mr. Curtis said there were 7 kids new to the school this year in her class so she needn't worry about being "the new kid." She said she sits with Nora and Delane during lunch, whoever they are. 

I can't tell you how nervous I was all day long that first day. Are they lost? Do they have someone to sit by? Are they sad? I wish I was a fly on the wall just so I knew they'd be okay.

I usually make a good breakfast for them the first day but they are always too nervous to really eat. So James and I made biscuit cinnamon rolls for them when they got home instead.

Speaking of James. He's my buddy. I found out on Thursday that he got a spot at the MMHS preschool where Sarah went. I was so happy. Since I didn't know where we were going to go I never signed him up anywhere until May but it was just on waiting lists. I didn't feel right about a couple of home preschools near us so I resigned myself to home preschool and story time at the library to suffice. I was so happy he got a spot! I think he got bumped up the waiting list because Mrs. Crandall loved Sarah so much and that she and Nadine are like second cousins or something. But maybe everyone else found other preschools and we didn't.

He starts after Labor Day and only goes twice a week so we are going to continue homeschool the other three days. I saved all of Erica's "Look I Can Read" worksheets from kindergarten so that I can teach him to read. He'll be 5 in November. He can totally learn to read before kindergarten. I also got him a couple of workbooks from Amazon for other subjects. I've also found some fun science videos on Youtube so he knows all about the water cycle now.

Good News All Around (and a trip to Lagoon)

Look who got his braces off?!  For now anyways. Phase 1 is complete. 

Here's the before from 2 years ago. I had never seen most of his adult teeth as the orthodontist put a bracket on as soon as they grew in enough to fit one.

He will most likely need to get get braces on again after all his grown-up teeth come in but he is loving the brace free life for now.

I love these trees at the Payson temple. I want one but I can't figure out what kind it is.

Bathroom is done! Well 90% done. Still waiting on some curtain rings and rugs and I have to finish some painting but it is up and functional. It makes me so happy.

More selfies from Erica.

I took Sarah for her checkup at Primary Children's with the pediatric orthopedist. They took another x-ray to monitor her scoliosis.

The picture on the left is now--the x-ray on the left is from January. Her spine has gone from 11 degrees off to just 3 degrees off. This is great news! She hasn't had a brace, it's just improving on it's own as she grows. The curve on the upper part hasn't changed but the doctor is optimistic that good things will continue.

James fell asleep during Book of Mormon that night. He and Erica got these foxes at the giftshop at Bryce. He calls it a wolf and named it Looper. 

After 3 years we made our return to Lagoon for Justin's work party. This was James's first time going since last time he was only 1 and I didn't want to take him. He loved it. We hit up Bombora first to give him a real taste of what was in store then after Erica was slightly traumatized by a spinning dragon ride we calmed things down with the teacups.

I will be sad when I don't have kids small enough for the baby boats.

The littles and I hung out in Kiddieland while Justin took the biggles on Colossus and the Spider.

Then Justin took the little while Sarah and I rode Air Race or whatever it's called. Then James and Sarah got in line for Paratrooper while Justin and the middles rode the bumper cars. Note to self: Paratrooper is the biggest waste of time. Justin and Sarah rode Cannibal while I took the rest of the kids back to kiddieland and Justin and Sarah joined us there.

My favorite thing to do was to wave and call out to Sarah and Henry like they were toddlers as they rode the kiddie rides.

"I'm not a baby, Mom," Henry would roll his eyes and say. Oh really??

Odysea was one of James's favorites.

Music Express was one of Henry's.

Overall it was the hottest and busiest trip to Lagoon ever. There were so many rides we didn't make it on (JetStar 2, swings, tidal wave, Wicked, Bat) but Justin and I did get away to ride Cannibal together so it was still a good time. Except I may have violated Erica's trust by taking her on the Spider. And no, we didn't know anything about the guy that died from falling from the sky ride while we were there.

Last night my nephew Kyle got his mission call to Nashville! I am so excited for him. But stop growing up, everyone!

School starts tomorrow!!!!!!!! Who's excited? This mom.