Back to school...

I realize this post should have been written a couple of months ago.  But, it is what it is.  I'm trying to play a little 'catch-up' today.  The kids have gone back to school and we are back in our school routine.  Routine definitely has it's perks, but I am already anxious for next summer break! I just love having the kids at home. We are only two months in to school and I am already tired of making their cold lunches.  I wish they would just eat hot lunch sometimes, but, after a couple of lunch dates at the school, I don't blame them.  Hot lunch just doesn't look appetizing...at all.  My kids do like food, but they like good food.  They take after their mama.  Okay, getting back on topic...

The first day of school was a rough one for me.  I walked home for the first time in 11 years without a little one holding my hand. The whole walk home after dropping them off, I just bawled and bawled like a little baby.  It was to the point of embarrassing.  Dan just hugged me and I think he was a little shocked, he didn't have many words.  He did his best to try and console me, I wasn't even prepared to have the reaction I did.  I was so sad that all my little birdies had flown the nest this year. I don't know why it just hit me like a brick when the bell rang that morning.  The other moms were almost celebrating to finally be able to have some quiet time.  Being a full-time mom is what I do best. It's all I know.  It is hard to swallow that they are all growing up.  But they are growing up to be beautiful and kind people and that's all I could really ask for.  I wonder sometimes how I was blessed with such good kids.  They really do have hearts of gold.  Most of the time.  :) 

After school we had a nice Fro-Yo date so I could catch up on all the juicy

details of their first day of school.  It was smiles all around.  

What a relief that is to a mother. 

I realize that this post will be very 'un-interesting' to most of you, but I just wanted to quickly write a few thoughts about each of my kids so that I can remember how we felt years down the road when I'm sure I will forget some of the small details.

 Ahhh...the famous school pictures.  

The classic grey background, the cheesy smiles...I love them every year.  Even when I don't get the 'best' smiles.  I don't think I'd ever do re-takes.  Even on days like picture day this year, when it was pouring rain and Olivia's beautiful curls went totally flat from raindrops. I love their toothless smiles, their crooked teeth that look much too big for their adolescent faces, their choice of clothing, and their school glasses. I especially love Jack's glasses, because no matter what I do, they are always a little crooked.

KJ is the big man on campus this year.  A big 5th grader.  I remember my 5th grade so well, and he is making memories he will forever remember as well.  He has a fun class this year.  He has an older lady as his teacher this year, but she has a LOT of personality, a lot of spunk, and expects a lot from her kids.  She is my kind of teacher.  She will have these kids ready for middle school for sure.  In fact, she already has a plan for KJ taking honors classes next year once he is in Middle School.  She sees enough potential for him to be in a pre-algebra class and by the time he's in high school, he can be taking credit classes for college.  Sounds good to me.  The less required classes to have to take in undergrad, the better.  I know this is way far off in the distance, but she has a whole plan for him, and has the connections to help us navigate his education.  She has been a high school and a middle school teacher in years past. She is so invested in her students and I love that she takes such an interest in the areas they excel in. KJ loves that he is at the same school again this year.  Poor kid has bounced around so many times in Elementary school that it has been nice for him to be back with his buddies, have some familiarity again this year.  We have already had our parent/teacher conferences and she just had the nicest things to say about him.  In fact, she made the students give the conference.  KJ had to go thru his work, show me his test scores, tell me the areas he needs to work on, etc.  She says she does this because the students need to show an interest in their own education.  Their future depends on it.  I love that she is making him step up and get out of his 'comfort zone'.  

KJ wants to be a software engineer/design computers for Apple (or his own computer company) when he grows up.  

He actually has some really great ideas spinning around in his head. 

 This week I was able to go with all the fifth grade classes in Boise and Meridian to the Red Ribbon Rally at the Capitol building.  It was fantastic!  I love going on as many field trips as I can.  I love the rowdy bus rides, watching how the kids interact with each other and learning right along with the students.  

Jack is a big 2nd grader this year.  I am very excited about this year because Jack is receiving more services this year than ever before.  We fought hard to get him the most we possibly could.  He has an aid with him a lot of the day to help him stay focused and get his work done.  He sees speech and OT.  He is also in a social friends group where he learns to socialize with 'typical' kids.  He is learning how to ask appropriate questions, how to take an interest in playing new things with new friends.  He has a very strict teacher this year.  I don't get a warm and fuzzy feeling from her at all.  She doesn't put up with anything.  This is both good and bad for Jack.  He needs structure and order in the classroom.  He needs someone to get him to follow directions.  But he also needs a good squeeze every now and then.  I think his aide helps with that part.  I think it will be a good year for him.  He's above grade level for reading.  He is lacking in Math.  He has a couple of friends in his class from last year and he likes that familiarity.  It takes him a while to find new friends.  But once he does, they are friends for life.  Jack is the most loyal friend you could ever have.  I am so proud of him.  I love to help work in his classroom and see the way he interacts with his peers. I also really love to go and have lunch dates with him.  Mostly to make sure he's eating his lunch, but also to see how he interacts with his peers when they aren't in the classroom.  He still loves for me to come and visit him at school.  I will be sad when the day comes when he doesn't light up when he sees me walk in the classroom.  

For now, I will take advantage of it! 

Jack wants to be a teacher when he grows up!  A big step up from last year where he wanted to work at both Toys r us and McDonalds! 

Olivia was very ready to be in school ALL day.  The first week of school she came home so tired and said the days were very long, but she is used to the long days now.  She loves that she gets to have more recesses and eat lunch at school.  She has the same teacher Jack had last year, which I was very excited about.  We love, love, love, her!!!  It is so nice to be friends with your child's teacher.  She will text me throughout the day and give me updates, or ask if I can come in, or tell me Olivia needs her coat, or that she forgot apples for an apple project, etc.  I love to help out.  Olivia is Mrs. Chatty in school.  She definitely gets that from me.  My poor mom had to deal with that from my teachers my whole life, even in high school.  Ha!  She loves school.  She loves to learn and she tries really hard.  Learning doesn't come as easy to her as it does to KJ.  Where KJ can hear something once and it just 'clicks', she really has to work hard at things. But at least she has the desire to learn.  She has no lack of friends.  She and her friends have a jump-rope club.  They literally jump rope all recess, every recess.  They are adorable to watch.  I think I went thru the same phase.  And hey, it doesn't hurt that it is good exercise either.  :)  Liv is my little butterfly.  She is everywhere, she is beautiful, and people are drawn to her.  I know her education is off to a great start.  

Olivia had a field trip as well that I was able to attend.  Animals and agriculture, right up her alley.  She wants to be a veterinarian and a cowgirl when she grows up. 

I have mentioned this before, but it amazes me how different each of my kids are.  How is that possible when they all have the same parents?  I have a quiet one, a chatty one, a child at the top of the class, and a child who lags behind, a messy one and an organized one, a child who loves praise and one who gets embarrassed by it, one who loves hugs, one who avoids them!  I have to admit that I love it. It keeps life exciting. I do love that they are all mine. I love that they are good kids, and that their hearts are all in the right place.  

Here's to a good 2013-14 school year!!!

It's Great to be 8...

What can I say about the little boy who makes my heart melt...daily?  Jackie boy turned 8 and according to him, it really is so GREAT to be EIGHT!!  This little man stretches me, causes me heartache, stress and frustration.  But with the bitter comes the sweet and it is OH SO SWEET!  Out of everyone in my life, he also brings me THE MOST laughter, the most joy, the most compassion and so much pride.  This kid just has a gift.  Just last night, he was crying with frustration that he couldn't catch the football every time it was passed to him.  Not even one minute later, I see him laughing with pure joy while he is playing with Doug.  He has a way of expressing his emotions so simply and so pure and raw.  He doesn't put on a filter.  Jack is my buddy, my biggest fan, and no one will ever give me the opportunity to fulfill my role as a mother more that he does.  He still, everyday, runs up to me after school and gives me the biggest and best hug his little body can muster and yells, "MOMMY!!!!" Then he wraps his arms and legs around my leg and hangs on me, like a monkey.  He's my little monkey boy.  Oh how I love those sweet moments.  

Eight is a BIG birthday in our family.  He will have the opportunity to be baptized!  He wants to wait until his Uncle Jesse is home from his mission, so his baptism will be November 23rd.  (invites coming soon) He is very excited!  

For his big day, he decided that the thing he wanted to do most was to go camping.  So, camping it was.  We found a tiny, rustic, primitive cabin to stay in for the long Labor Day weekend.  It was a fantastic weekend, almost magical.  No electronics, no phones, no TV or video games. We were completely 'un-plugged' from the world and just enjoyed being with each other.  We played card games, took hikes, played on the 4-wheeler, played in the lake, the kids dug in the dirt and in the sand, we jumped off rock cliffs in to the river, enjoyed some hot springs, had simple meals, s'mores and a birthday celebration!  We counted our weekend as a complete success, even if we did have a couple bats find their way in to our cabin one night.  (That was a hilarious sight watching my family squeal and try to get them to fly out the door with broomsticks) 

Olivia made a dinner for the squirrels and chipmunks that were running around our campsite.  

The berries were gone a couple hours later.  :) 

 Lake Alturas was still so beautiful even with all the smoke from the wild fires. 

Out of all the camping places in Idaho, how crazy is it that we picked the camp site only a mile or so away from where my Nana and Pops were camping?!  This was not planned!  I say it was fate.  Anyway, it was fun to have them be able to come for Jack's little birthday celebration!

He wanted a minion birthday cake, and this was the best I could do for camping. 

 He still thought it was perfect. It doesn't take much to impress him. 

We had a family birthday dinner when we got back, at none other than Red Robin.  His favorite place. 

Oh how I love this sweet boy.  

I hope he has a great year being eight.  

XOXO

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

I have two favorite months of the year...July and December.  Hands-down.  This July did not disappoint and December will have to be pretty amazing if it wants to stay in the running.  And just in case you were wondering, there are just about 4 months til Christmas...I can't believe it!  We have really enjoyed our summer and are sad to see that we only have ONE week until it is over and we have to deal with the dreaded first day of school.  My blogging record hasn't been too great this past year, so I will try and remember some of our July/August highlights.  At this point, I feel like my blog has become just an event archive, something we can eventually look back on and remember some of the fun things we were able to do.  I remember the days when I would blog once or twice a week.  Those days are long gone.  I used to think that once my kids were older, I'd have more time to get these kinds of things done.  Well...that has been far from true.  Their messes just get bigger, their demands require more time, there is no more nap time, bed time is later, the weekly sports and activities multiply, and the play dates are much more often and time consuming. I have been babysitting my friend's kids a couple times a week, and I will start substitute teaching in a few weeks, so I have a feeling my updates will continue to be few and far between.

I'm thinking of adopting a 'Month in Review' type plan that would go over the highlights of each month.  That might help me to keep on track a little better.  We shall see! 

 Dinner is just about an hour or so away from being done, let's see how much I can cram in!  When I think back at our July and August, the moments that stick out the most to me are all water related!  You could usually find us by the river, in some sort of pool, at the lake, or at Roaring Springs (a local water park we had season passes to this year).  I have water bugs for children.  We are all happiest when we are in the sunshine and water!

July always starts off with a Bang, thanks to my birthday!  I am thirty-two!  Yowsers!  Happy to be one year older and hopefully wiser!  I am really enjoying my thirties so far!  Ask me again when I am 39!  

We combined my birthday dinner and party with the fourth of july festivities!  It was a really great day! I was spoiled rotten and thoroughly enjoyed my day!

And...speaking of birthdays...my Nana Raine turned 71 and as per the norm, we went water skiing! Can you believe she still slalom skis?  Man...I hope I still have those skills when I grow up! 

We had sweet Evelyn's baby blessing.  It was such a special day for such a special little girl.  She sure has captured all of our hearts and we just love her to pieces!  

Here is one of our MANY trips to the river.  This is in the top 5 favorite places for my kids to waste away a summer day.  This is our dog, Doug's, number 1.  :) 

The public pool is another favorite.  It is small and there is nothing fancy about it, but my kids just love the high dive.  There is pure joy on their faces every time they jump!  I am glad I don't have wimps for kids.  They aren't scared of much and are just about up for trying anything.  

*Except for bees, Jack just can't handle bees.  We are working on that one!* 

We (sadly) only took the kayaks out once this year.  I am itching to get it in some white water soon!  It's been two summers since we've taken them to Riggins for our annual kayaking and camping adventures.  Somehow our summer filled up so quickly.  Plus Jesse, my brother, will be back next summer, and he will make it happen for sure.  :)  I love this picture of my boys.  Brothers. 

 Dan's dental office had a float in the Eagle Fun Days Parade.  It was a fun day!  The kids loved being hosed down by the firefighters.  Olivia rode along with Dan, helped pass out toothbrushes, and had a great time!  She has perfected her princess wave.  

Another day at the lake...we ALL got the chance to ski this day.  Jack and Olivia were total rock stars for their first time up on skis.  They were so proud of themselves.  One day, I'd like a boat of my own. But for now, we will take advantage of all our family's boats.  

Eleven....Eleven...straight from heaven.  This perfectly describes my sweet KJ.  He can no longer hold up how many fingers he is.  That simple fact is just so strangely sad to me!  We didn't have an 'official' party for him this year, he chose to go up to CDA instead of a party.  We did take him to the rodeo and had family over for his birthday dinner and presents.  He got lots of fun stuff, and some money for the dirt bike he is saving for. Thanks everyone! He still has some kid left in him and I hope that he always will.  He would kill me for saying this, but he still sleeps with the Curious George he got as a newborn.  And...every now and then, I still get to read him his favorite bedtime story. He may pretend that he's all 'grown up', but I love that he still needs me every now and then.  :)
This kid made me the happiest and luckiest lady on earth when he was born 11 years ago.  I couldn't get enough of him as a newborn and would find myself just staring at him ALL day and even during the night.  I would carefully pick him up when he would be sound asleep, just so I could smell him. I was so in love.  A new and deep love that I hadn't ever felt before.  I finally felt like my life was complete.  It sounds weird, but I have a feeling most moms can totally relate.  Then as a toddler, he was very independent, very young.  I couldn't help feed him.  I couldn't get him dressed.  He would even attempt to change his own diapers.  There are so many times I'd find that he had crawled out of his crib (did I mention he was a little monkey?), got a new diaper and wipes and although he thought he was helping me, it usually caused a mess ten fold.  But he was always sure to put the dirty diaper away in the diaper genie. Ha! I couldn't buckle his car seat for him.  These were all things he wanted to master on his own, even though it took 12 times as long as it would have taken me.  Which was always frustrating when we were running late anywhere!  He taught himself to read when he was 3.  He would get out his alphabet blocks and make words all on his own.  He has always been a good sleeper!  He would still sleep 12-14 hours if I let him.  He used to make me laugh because his eyebrows were connected to his hairline and I wondered what he would grow up to look like!  He had the softest peach fuzz and the squishiest cheeks!  He just gets more and more handsome the older he gets.  He will most likely be getting contacts and braces this year.  He is getting big, but he'll always be my baby.  He and I have a special bond, I hope that we can continue that forever.  He is quick to know when I need an "I love you, mom".  He is very aware of the needs of those around him.  He loves to swim, bike, skateboard, and run and play Minecraft. He is passionate about his interests.  He will read and study and learn everything about what he is interested in at the moment.  He is ONE SMART COOKIE!  I swear he is smarter than I am. Not kidding. He knows more about random things than I ever will.  He is a book lover and a computer lover.  I find him reading much past his bedtime, and I wake up to hear the keyboard very early some mornings.  He wants to be a computer/software developer when he grows up.  I know he will be a success at whatever he decides to do! He is not the 'perfect' child, but he's pretty dang close.  I am glad he was born to me first...he made me want more kids ASAP!

This kid has completely captured my heart and I hope he always knows how much I adore him.  

*stats from his 11 year old doctor's visit*

Weight... 79 pounds ... 49%

Height... 57 1/2" ... 65%

BMI... 16.9 ... 45%

Shoe size... mens 7-8.  Last year he was a woman's 7 1/2 .  

This kid is growing like a weed.

 Ahhh...Coeur d'Alene...my favorite part about our July.  

Of course, the annual trip to Silverwood!  My kids all rode the roller coasters this year! They are all finally tall enough to ride on the big, exciting stuff!!  It was fun to get to ride with them on everything.  Usually I am waiting at the exit with Jack or Olivia because they aren't quite tall enough.  These are the very few moments when I enjoy them getting bigger.  We had a great day.  We stayed til closing. Completely worn out!

And, of course, you cannot visit CDA and not make a trip to Hudsons for a famous hamburger. It doesn't get much better.  Yummm-O!

My old friend from High School was married in Seattle so I made a day trip over there with Shawna and we got to witness Kelli's beautiful wedding and reception!  Beautiful day, beautiful venue, most beautiful bride!  I love that I have a handful of girlfriends I have been able to keep close to after all these years.  CONGRATS KELLI O! 

Brianna is leaving on her mission to Brazil next month, so we had a sad goodbye.  She's one of my favorite people on earth.  Love her to death...Brazil is lucky to have her! GOOD LUCK BRAWNA!

Liv was able to have one of her dreams come true!  She went horseback riding!!!  She's been begging me all year to be able to do this!  CDA is the perfect place to go because my Aunt Sherene has a few horses and some breathtaking land to ride them on.  She was in heaven and loved every second of it!  I think she will be a cowgirl one day.  

Visiting my Nana and Pops is always a treat and we will be back again next summer for sure!!  Thanks for making it so special.  We always get the VIP treatment when we visit.

 One of my friends has a connection to a sweet pool that we crashed!
Fun for the kids, fun for the moms! Did I mention that I've made fabulous friends here!?!

We did the dirty dash!!!  Remember all those times you wanted to swim thru mud puddles as a kid.  Well, we got our chance!!  We did the 5 miles with the grown ups and then I did a one mile Piglet Plunge with the kids.  Great, dirty, squishy fun time!  I would do it again in a heart beat! There was mud in places mud doesn't belong.  A hot shower never felt so good!

My super awesome kids also did a kids triathlon this summer.  They have the racing bug and want to sign up for another one real soon.  KJ came in first for the whole thing.  He was pretty proud of himself.  He was in the older/longer distance race.  Jack and Liv were in the shorter distance race.  They were total studs and I was so proud of them!  We will sign up for another one in September or October.  Maybe this is their 'thing'.  I love that they love to be active.

And....the timer is done for dinner!!!  Phew...I was able to cram in more than I thought I would.  Thanks for putting up with my marathon posts and avalanche of pictures!

Time to go enjoy our last week of summer!