our little "arteest"

Last week I pulled out a white board for C and his friends to use for their Foosball tournament.

T quickly claimed it as his own and it has turned into his newest favorite pastime.

does anyone have an ice pack?

Who lets there child play on a skateboarding ramp, in the rain, wearing cleats?

Obviously I do but in my defense I didn't "let" him....I didn't even know where he was!

Yeah, because that sounds better!

Poor J was the only ice pack recipient of the entire cross county meet.

And as I focused on keeping the swelling down, cause it was on the verge of splitting and then we would have been getting stitches, T went to explore the skateboarding ramp in question and was brought to me crying, soaked and with a bump on his noggin.

I felt like a champ and I am pretty sure that is what the other parents were thinking as they watched me herd my crying kiddos to the car.

Just keeping it real in case anyone needed to feel good about their parenting skills today :)

Cross County Preview Meet

C and K have both joined their school's cross country team which I think is pretty darn great!  

Talk about a sport you can enjoy for life!

Today was their Regional Preview Meet with all of the participating schools that they will compete against over the upcoming weeks.  The weather was wet so they pushed through all the groups as fast as they could which I was glad of so that I could be there to watch both of them run.

C competed against 6th and 7th grade boys running a 1.4 mile track.

I don't know where he came in overall (but will update this when I do) but he was the second boy from his school to cross the finish line - beat only by a 7th grader.

Good job C!

K does not have the same competitive nature as her brother but she has FUN doing what she does...and it doesn't hurt when you can coordinate your outfit and make your hair cute to boot :)

I am so glad that she has given cross country a try.

In the end they had 8th grade boys and girls run together (a 1.8 mile run) because of the rain so it was hard to get a feel where she came in overall but she did good and she feels like she definitely learned something about pacing herself for the next race.

I'm proud of you K!

the miles can't divide them

Last week T paid a visit to his (older) girlfriend that he hasn't seen since our move.  

She hasn't forgotten him...she has called a couple of times and even sent T a package in the mail.

When we stopped by to say "hi" she decided it was time for a date so ice-cream at McDonald's it was!

our other Soccer Guy...

J is also playing soccer this fall....in fact he has the same coach that T has because the coach happens to have two sons the same ages as J and T so it works out great.

Here are a few photos of J's fancy footwork.  

While his team hasn't won a game yet, J has scored a goal in every game that they have played so he is definitely doing his part!

 

 

 

The day before this game, J informed his school teacher that he wanted her to come to his game.  She told him that she wouldn't be able to come the next day but would find a day that worked for her calendar to which he replied, "so your coming right?"

I guess he was convincing because she did come and I think that is pretty great!

two brothers...too cute

I am SO happy right now.

School has started, and despite our best efforts to find something (employment) for me once the kids got in school, it hasn't happened and I am kind of (REALLY) loving it!

Reason #187 happened today....

I walked to pick up the boys from school (reason #4) and got to watch as they ran toward each other from different directions and just hugged!

Then J proceeded to give T a piggy back ride home :)

How lucky for me that I was there to watch their expression of brotherly love!

our newest Soccer Guy!

T has never chosen to play soccer in the past but in an attempt to get him involved in the new area (and because a friend of his invited him) we signed him up for fall soccer without really asking him.

He has happily gone to practices and this past week he had his first game....first game of the season and first game ever!

Turns out he is a hustler!

Big time!

Who knew?

He scored 3 of his team's 5 goals.

Turns out that all of that backyard play with older brothers has taught him a thing or two....

2014-2015

After a terrific summer we began to wake up to cooler (even crisp) mornings this week....just in time to pack up the backpacks and send the kids out the door to school.

With our move, everyone was attending a new school so I expected some nervous energy but I think we had way more enthusiasm than nerves.

T is taking the opportunity to attend full-day kindergarten at his new school.  A decision I agonized over way too long and in the end I went with my gut.  I am SO excited for him to get this extra year to grow and mature and develop into the fantastic student that I know he can be!

J is off to 2nd grade and was Mr. Cool about the whole thing.  This kid lives for school...he loves to think and ask questions and learn.  I love that!

I am excited to live close enough to the school to walk with the boys each morning and afternoon.  Ask me how that is working in three months and the rains have settled in :)

These two get the early start of the day - a full 1 1/2 hours earlier than their middle school siblings.  That is going to take some getting used to, but they were ready to go!

We already LOVE their principal and feel so good about their individual teachers.  

Just one more reason (of hundreds) that we are happy with our move!

C got to lounge about after the boys left until it was time for him to head off to 6th grade....middle school has arrived for this guy!  It is hard to believe and yet he totally looks like a middle schooler!  When did that happen?

SO glad for a friend that stops by each morning for a walk to school...

K is a big 8th grader, which meant she didn't start school until the day after all of her brothers (except she did have a new student orientation that first day).  K is just ready to go conquer this new school.  She had an error on her schedule and when I offered to go into the office she was like, "I've got this mom!" and got it she did.  She was told by the office they would "look into" the class she wanted, so she simply went directly to the teacher, smiled her smile and just like that it was done.  

This girl is going places!

 

With the varied start days to school (and soccer schedules and scouts and YW) we have not had our annual First Day of School night out.  But it will happen!

We did hold a successful FHE before school began and had a taco bar, with all the parts labeled as one of President Hinckley's "Be's"...followed by a lesson on how each one is a choice and that making those choices will make us "Be" successful.

I also saw this cute printable on pinterest and had to include that in the evening as well.  Bless my J, on his first day of class he reviewed the list and checked off those things that he had done :)

Here is to a great 2014-2015 School Year.

(and in case you haven't done the math, mom is childless this year!  And I am not working!

Bon Bon's here I come!)

We are adopting!!!

a road....

(sorry mom)

That is right, there is now a one-mile(ish) stretch of road that is litter and debris free thanks to the efforts of the "Rich Dougall, Northwest Wealth Advisor" team....namely his family :)

I love that my kids think nothing of being handed a trash bag and getting after other people's trash.