2012 School year begins

It's the most wonder day of the year! :)

School started today and it was a wierd day full of mixed emotions.  I was anxious how everything was going to work out but excited to get back into a routine.  I just wish this routine didn't have to start so early in the morning.  Brianna gets herself up at 4:30 to get ready for school.  She is out of the door at 5:30 to get to seminary by 6.  This morning I really missed Bryn Jackson, the girl who took Brianna every day last year and then had the nerve to graduate and move up to BYU this year.  :(  On the days I work I take her to work, all the other days, Mike gets that privilege.  She started her sophmore year.

This was Chelsea's  last first day of public school.  I can't believe my baby is a SENIOR!!!  She starts seminary at 7 and is really excited about her teacher (Sister Hadley).  Chelsea and her friend Jen will help her out in the mornings.  Chelsea also gets the pleasure of taking Mason to school in the morning for his early bird class, so they are both out the door by 6:15.  Chelsea is also working hard doing some extra on-line classes so she can get the honors degree.  I'm impressed with the extra work she is doing to get this done. 

Mason started 8th grade at Bob Miller MS.  He's the oldest in the school this year, so I told him to be sure to be nice to all those little 6th graders.  His school starts at 7:30 this year and he had signed up for an early bird class so he could be in both advanced band and be a teacher's aide.  When we found out about the early time change we decided to pull him out of the early bird program.  We were surprised to see he was still in the class when we picked up his schedule.  With Chelsea's help we are able to make it work out. 

Cord started Kindergarten!  AHHH!  I've been excited for him but wasn't totally ready for it to actually happen.  He's been super excited for the last couple weeks to go back to school.  He gets to pack a lunch and eat at school as well.  He doesn't start school until 9 so we have a big gap from when the other kids leave until Cord even has to wake up.  I'm not sure what to do for that hour but I hope to make it productive.  Cord's school has a uniform so he doesn't get to wear a lot of fun clothes.  I guess we'll have to wait for free dress day. 

All the kids lined up outside and waved good-bye to the mom's and dads.  I almost cried but held it together.  I should have gotten a gold star for being so brave!  Then I had to figure out what I was going to do with the rest of my time (ALONE).  I have to leave to go pick up Brianna at 1:30 so I have about 5 hours of time.  I do miss hanging out with Cord, but it's nice to have some time to get things done as well.  It makes it easier that he really likes going to school. 

When the kids got home we took our "sign pictures". 

The next thing to do was to make our after school snack.  Cord helped me make the easy bake cookies.  It was a great first day.  Now we just have to work out all the details of the elementary school car pool.  That traffic is CRAZY!!  I've been blessed to have had the bus for the last 2 years to take Cord to school and now I get the privilege of spending hours in the car moving just inches along with everyone else. 

Pine Valley Picnic

Before school starts, we decided to have one last adventure so we headed to St. George for the weekend.  Saturday afternoon we headed up to Pine Valley to escape the heat and have a picnic.  Once we found a good stop to set up, it started to sprinkle.  I was concerned as the rain sprinkled us while we were eating and standing under trees, but then it stopped and we were able to explore while enjoying being outside.  It was a great afternoon. 

The kids discovered a small stream close to our picnic.  They spent time throwing sticks/ rocks in it and then building a bridge across.  Cord found one "bridge" and as he started crossing said, "I have feeling that it's not safe".  So we waited until we could find a "safe" place to cross. 

We also found a couple of structures that had been made with sticks that were pretty cool. 

I have spent a lot of time up in Pine valley as a child, and one thing I felt was like a rite of passage was going through the tunnel.  Mason was really excited to walk through this tunnel.  Cord wanted to as well but he was wearing his new school shoes and I didn't want them to get wet.  Maybe once he's a little older. 

We had a great time walking along the river trying to find a good way for the little boys to cross.  It was like our own high adventure.  We loved being up in Pine Valley and being together with family. 

Dentistry

I'm so grateful for dental insurance!!!  2 weeks ago it was the double wisdom-ectomy.  Yesterday the whole family was in to the dentist to get cleanings.  After Cord's cleaning, Dr. Hadley was inspecting his teeth.  While poking around he asked, "Does this hurt?".  Cord replied, "No, it's like your being hugged by a cat."  It was hard to contain the laughter.  It was so out of the blue, and as far as I know he's never been hugged by a cat. 

Today, Mason and Brianna got braces.  Mason was a little anxious but let me take some before and after pics.  Brianna on the other hand was not so excited about today.  She had a tougher time healing from the wisdom teeth and just barely started eating real food.  That was going to change today.  This is also her second time with braces because she didn't wear her retainer and her teeth moved.  She wasn't willling to let me take pics this morning. 

Here's Mason before.  He should be in braces about 18 months. 

She couldn't do much to stop me from taking pics when she was in the chair.  I am truly evil. 

We were able to put clear brackets on the top so it's not as noticable.

Happy smiles afterward from Mason.  He said it wasn't as bad as he expected.  Lets see how he feels over the next couple of days.