Back to school 2014

We moved into our new home weeks before school started. We had to decide which school our girls would attend and get them registered. Mia is was going into 2nd grade and got Mrs. Labare and Samantha starting Kindergarten has Mrs. Tipton in the afternoon class. Mia is doing the pm latergator schedule as well, so they will get out of the school at the same time, 3:30pm. That's a tad late, but we've just decided to enjoy it this year and see how it goes! 

Every year, the week before school starts we have a special Family Home Evening and Matt gives the girls priesthood blessings. We talk about concerns they may have about the coming year and all the things they are looking forward to. This being a new school, the biggest concern was having friends and knowing where to go and what to do. This is one of our favorite nights of the year.

Samantha 5 1/2 years old - First day of Kindergarten 

It is wonderful to see her so excited for school. (posting this in Feb 2015) I can say now this has been a challenging year for Sam. She struggles to go to school everyday. I like her teacher a lot as a person but really wish she was more affectionate and kind. She is very strict and although Sam does well with structure, she has a lot of anxiety about school and being away from home and her teacher hasn't been very helpful with this. We have lots of tears before school, but she tends to do well once she is there for about 10 minutes. I'm very proud of the progress she's made this year. Nothing makes your closer to your kids than helping them through their struggles and praying for their every tiny need. I feel like I understand her better now than I ever have. I think she will actually do better in all day school next year and also going first thing in the morning. Fingers crossed. 

Amelia Jane - 7 1/2 - First day of 2nd grade

Mia made friends quickly, despite her nerves, and even though she does not have the best teacher, she has made the best of this year. She is always in the middle of the drama between friends at school, we talk about it all the time. But she's certainly learned a lot! 

Cousin Outing - Thanksgiving Point Children's museum - August 2014

Playing with the Dastrups while they are staying with Grandma for a week for Summer vacation. Will came along also. Our kids favorite parts of the museum are the discovery park and the Water Works area. This works at times they can get wet, but not in the winter or when we are headed to school. There are several parts of this museum that really bother my kids; it is always busy and several of the areas are far too small for more than two or three kids to enjoy at one time. It makes it very claustrophobic and especially makes my Samantha a bit crazy. They had a lot of fun with their cousins on this day though.

Mary didn't appreciate the torture water.

But these two, would have stayed all day. 

Music of the Summer 2014

I have to remind myself that we did more this last summer than work on the house and look for houses and sell a house.. there were a few things in between. Mia did a great summer camp program through Pleasant Grove's Center Stage Preforming Arts. It was two weeks, everyday for three hours. Her good friend, Molly's mom is in charge of it and it just amazing. Mia adores her and she picked her up everyday for the camp. It was a great experience and they did a cute play called The Box. She loved it. And her named got picked to keep the original Box that they all signed. Ironically we were moving, and could use all the boxes we could get. 

Mia and Lori

Sam did the Center Stage's performance group that I've heard a lot about. (Different place than Mia's.) This was a little more labor intensive than I wanted or planned on after they finally learned their challenging songs, they preformed them four times throughout the summer. It got a little old getting her ready and taking her to busy summer places over holidays to preform, I mostly happy when it was over. But she really enjoyed it, and mostly really loves wearing lipstick and mascara! :)

They did a short show at the home where Great Grandma Sandgren lives, so Art and Carol came to make sure Grandma was there. She couldn't hear most of it, but still liked it. And we walked her to her room so the girls see where she lives. 

Park City - Day 2

A day of fun on the boat and on the beach (well.. on the rocks. Next year we'll all be purchasing Keens before the family reunion.) Our girls love the water and all love being on the boat. 

The Alsops rented a kayak also, which looks like lots of fun but paddling on a boat is something I will never be able to do with my bum sternum.

The next day, we shopped at the outlets, celebrated Andrew's birthday and just relaxed. Matt and I left the night before everyone else because we needed the full Saturday to work on the house.