Back To School!

The kids are back to school today.  Somehow a kitty or two made it into the pictures this year.

Emma is a 4th grader this year, and she is wearing her new glasses.  I forgot to blog them, she is just so excited for herself!

Justin 1st grade.

Ashley 6th grade….. YIKES!

Claire was pouting in the back of this picture because she didn’t get to be in any.  So of course I obliged.

Justin was not as excited as he was for Kindergarten.  Emma has been scaring him to death about his teacher so he was SUPER nervous that she would be mean.  He was all set to ride the bus but at the last minute just couldn’t do it and needed his Mommy to drive him in to school.  I was sad last year because he RAN off and left me and never looked back, I was scared this year because I was afraid he wouldn’t ever want to go to school again and first grade is a little early to start not liking school!  We checked out his class and got him settled in and he had a great day.

His first words when he got home was, “Heidi is AWESOME.”  (His teacher goes by her first name)  He cant wait for the second day of school it is going to be so fun!  FEWWW!! 

These Kids

This trio have been going and going this summer. 

Ryan got all of the bikes resurrected and they have put hundreds of miles on them.  They go on a few rides everyday.  They always pack a back pack with water and winter gloves so they can look for treasures along the way.  They have work gloves, they just prefer their snow gloves I guess.   They slept out in the tent every night but one last week.  I made them finally take down the tent, we had moved it, but it was time to be off my grass. 

Justin wears his socks, shoes, and jacket out every day.  I cant get him to like his flip flops this year.  I hope he changes soon.  He loves his socks and wore a hole in one pair so far. He just couldn’t figure out where the circle worn out of the sock went.  He just felt funny and looked down and the hole was there.  He couldn’t see where he had lost it!  He has a major tan line on his legs from his socks. 

Ash has read lots of books already, mostly simultaneously.   She wants to go to the library twice a week to trade in for another.  She is really doing well in swimming lessons.  I may finally have a kid I trust in the water.  almost.  I love the water, but it is too scary now that I’m a mommy.

Emma went to see the eye Dr/ Bishop.  He informed us what we pretty much already knew.  Emms has the Telford eye genetics and needs to get glasses.  She is just tickled pink!  We are not in a hurry to get them, I don’t want to have to replace them before school starts.  She is just dying and wants to go shopping every day to get her glasses.  Her eyes aren't bad, (yet) but she definitely needs them by school time.

In Limbo

I feel like I am just in limbo lately.  I am struggling with all of my kids being in school, well all of my big kids.  I cant believe how much help they really were.  I keep wondering who is going to take out the garbage when it cant wait until after school!  ME, I guess!  I haven’t really ever had this hard of a time, I think we are definitely moving into a new phase of life, once again! 

The kids are all loving school.  Justin came home yesterday and told me he can read now.  He read me a little story from his teacher and was quite proud of himself (he had it all memorized).  I do love to see the light come on when the kids learn to read it is great. 

Emma came home and asked me what “flirting” means.  REALLY?  in third grade.  Her teacher was the fifth grade teacher and I think she uses language more appropriate for older kids.  Neither one of the girls knew what it meant and I am OK with that!

Ashley LOVES her teacher, she had her in first grade also.  They learned about flags the first week of school and they get to take down and put up the flag at school.  She is excited because she already knows how to do that.  She also brought home math homework that I struggled with!  I had to go back and read the chapter in order to help her finish it.

Last night everyone had homework and it was hard to help everyone at the same time.  I will be glad when Ryan is home in the evening to help do the hard math!

Fall Soccer

Ashley has BEGGED to play soccer every year since she played in Kindergarten, I always say next year we will play.  Well this time she made me follow through!  She just loves soccer she plays, usually by herself during recess and tries to score as many goals as she can before the bell rings.  Funny girl!  At the last minute I panicked that she would be the only girl and so I made Emma play too, which she was happy to do.  The first practice was all girls in Ashley's age group, it was perfect!  I was so relieved.  Emma's was all boys though, except one other girl which she was BFF’s with 3o seconds into practice, Emma is our socializer!

Ash is in the front of the line here:

 

Here she is doing a drill

Here she is trying to keep her shaggy hair out of her face, how she plays most of the time!

 

I neglected to take any of Emma and she let me know it!  I will next time.  Justin and Claire kept themselves entertained playing soccer themselves.

 

I was being the goalie here, I am glad it was a soft ball!

They had their first game Wednesday night.  It was just 3 against three for Ashley's age group until a couple of little boys came and they let them play, they weren't registered so hopefully they wont come next time???  The girls didn't get to have much time ever seeing the ball after they came,  BUT Ashley did score a goal!!!  She was so excited, I sorta missed it, I was so ticked!  I saw it go in but didn't realize she was the one who kicked it until I saw that HUGE smile on her face, then she gave me the thumbs up! It was awesome!  I am so glad to see her be successful at something she really loves!  Yeah Ash!

Emma's group just ran all over after the ball, it was like a herd of elephants chasing that ball down, she said she kicked it once, she didn't mind though, she liked being goalie cause she could just sit down and rest.  Crazy Emma!

At the Church

Yesterday after our picnic and nap we ran to the church to finish up a couple of things while Ashley was at Girls Activity Days. Notice who my only helper was, and did you see Emma rolling down the hall in the background, crazy girl!
And he is just ALWAYS up to no good, you can tell by that grin!