back to school...

We survived yet another first day of school!!!  I always DREAD this day.  I try so hard to be calm so that the boys don't sense my anxiety, but as soon as the first bell rings and they head in to their classrooms, I instantly get watery eyes.  It did help that this year they were both super excited to start school.  Not sure why, I like summer vacation much better.  Maybe it's the fact that they are going to a school this year called BACON Elementary.  :)  

(Bob Bacon who the school is named after is a Senator here in Colorado) 

When we were first looking at moving to this area we thought it would be so funny to have the kids go to this school.  Anyone who knows Dan knows why this is so ironic.  Anyway...turns out that this school was recommended by everyone in the area as having the best program for kids with Aspergers. So our quest was to find a good rental in the school district and we did!  So far the school has been amazing.  It has great resource/therapy/aid help, is very organized, all the teachers are very friendly, it is state-of-the-art being so new, the principle already knows our names, I signed on to help in the PTA and as a classroom helper in both the boys classes, and they have a HUGE playground which is the most important thing according to KJ. KJ has a male teacher which he was thrilled about!  This is his teacher's first year of teaching which can either be good or bad.  We think it will be good, he's very excited and enthusiastic about teaching and has lots and lots of good ideas for fun learning!  When we met his teacher we learned that he has wanted to be a third grade teacher for the past 14 years, when he himself was a third grader, which makes him about 22-23 years old, which makes me feel very, very old.  KJ got 'student-of-the-day' on the first day of school so he got to sit in the special 'black' chair!  We met some great kids while waiting in the class line and by the time school started KJ said he had already made 3 new friends.  When I picked him up from school he said this is the COOLEST school he's ever been to and that this year will be his favorite year EVER.  He gets to be on the 2nd floor with the 'older' classes, so he thinks he's pretty cool.  Let's hope it stays that way.  

As for Jack, he is the one that had me most nervous.  Dan keeps telling me that he will do just fine, but I worry about all the little things.  I worry that he wont eat enough at lunch (which is bad because of his metabolic disorder), I worry the nurse wont give him his meds on time, I worry he may feel left out at recess, I worry people wont be as patient with him as they should be, I worry he wont know how to tell the teacher if he is behind or struggling with something, I worry he wont be able to put the straw in his juice box or open his string cheese, with Jack I worry about all the little things that are so normal for typical kids.  He is my baby.  He's needed me a little bit more that my other 2 children and he has required much, much more attention, so having him gone all day instead of just a few hours at a time is a very big adjustment for me.  He's been my focus for the past 5 years.  He definitely holds a special place in my heart and it's only 1:40 in the afternoon and I'm already missing him dearly.  But I also know that this Independence is just what he needs.  He needs to learn to be social, he needs to learn to share, he needs to learn all kinds of things on his own...without me guiding him.  I know he will have a great year.  He was most excited that he sits by a girl named Lucy which is his newest cousins name.  He is also excited that he gets to eat lunch at school out of a Mario Kart lunch box.  It's the little things that make Jack happy and I will definitely miss that during the day.  I have a couple more weeks of Olivia all to myself before she starts Pre-K, 3 half-days a week.  I am definitely going to have to start a new hobby next year when all three kids are in school all day.  But for now, I will work 2 days a week at the school and play catch-up on my one free half-day of the week!  I'm sure there will be many more school day posts....stay tuned!

The traditional first day of school picture!

I had to get a picture in front of the school sign,
it's too cool of a name not to!

Testing out the playground before school!

Third graders lining up for the first bell.  His new teacher
is in the blue shirt.

His new friends!  YAY!

Jack is just too cool for school!
Love this little guy!

Excited to be a Bacon Bulldog!

This will probably be Jack's favorite subject...recess!

Having popsicles after I picked them up!  They survived their
first day!

summer va-cay

We just got home from our 2 week summer vacation to Idaho and I am SO tired.  It was just me and the kids and we drove and drove and then drove some more.  We went to Boise for a week, Riggins for a long weekend, and then up to Coeur d'Alene for 6 days and then drove all the way back home to Colorado!  I get tired just thinking about it! In fact, I really don't have the motivation to do this post, but with school starting soon I know I need to get it done ASAP.  So get ready for a whole lot of pictures and not a whole lot of words.  I'm too tired to think of what to say.  But pictures are worth a thousand words right?!?

It's always great to get together with the Boise family for a good old fashioned Sunday dinner!  I seriously think I have the best family in the world.  I am so lucky!

We had a day at the lake where we swam, tubed, and water skied.  I hadn't slalom skied in probably 10+ years, so I was happy that I got up this year!  I wont wait as long before I get out there again.

We had a mini-family-baby-shower for Coley while we were there.  It was just family and it was so much fun.  We can't wait to meet little Russell in less than 2 months!

While I was in Coeur d'Alene I had the chance to meet up with some of my oldest and best friends from way back when!  We spent one afternoon playing at my friend Lexs' house and it was so much fun to see my friends children.  It's weird that we are all growing up and have families of our own!  I also got to see my HATS girls (Hana-Alexis-Tiff-Shawna).  We try to get together whenever we can, the four of us have remained close since high school and I love those ladies.  We took an evening hike around Tubbs Hill and then walked around downtown.  I love old friends that you can get together with after long times apart and it feels as if we were hanging out like old times.

We spent one day in Coeur d'Alene being tourists.  We went to the Fort Sherman park, went to the 'beach', walked around downtown and went to a super fun toy store to let the kids pick a souvenir.  We tried going to Hudson's for a famous Hamburger but the line was out the door so we went to Paul Bunyan's for a burger and a shake.   I love this part of Idaho, it is so beautiful and I forget just how beautiful it is until I go back 'home' to visit.

 We also spent a day at SILVERWOOD!!!!  This was the kids highlight of the trip up to Nana Smidt's!  They were in complete heaven.  I loved having Pops there with me to ride all the big roller coasters!!!  It was a great day!

Nana was so cute to get down and play with the kids.  Her and Olivia spent a lot of time creating chalk masterpieces!

I thought this was so sweet.  After all these years of marriage, they still like to hold hands in the park.  I hope Dan and I will be like them someday!  I love them to death.

I also got to meet my newest cousin, Maggie.  She's a doll and a super easy, content, sweet baby!

And now begins the whole reason for our trip to Idaho....RIGGINS!!!!!!  This is the one tradition that my kids will hold me to.  This is their 'all-time' favorite place to be.  And we had to make the trip up this year because my little brother will be leaving on a mission for church and will be gone for 2 years.  His last family vacation choice was camping at Riggins.  What we love is that we can camp on white sand beaches, there are porta-potty's, we can swim, we can kayak, we cook great camp food, we can fish, we roast marshmallows and starbursts, and the list goes on and on.  It was a great way to spend time with family and especially Jess before he leave for Brazil.

Kayaking...

White sand...

The dogs had just as much fun as we did!  

We always love Jack's tan line!!  

This was the sunset we saw each night from our campsite.  

It really is one of God's greatest creations!  

Thanks to everyone who made the trip so much fun and so memorable!

 Goodbye Idaho....until next time.