The 4th day of 4th grade

Here is Tara waiting for school to start in the cafeteria with me, where I meet and wait with the preschoolers. That 4th day of school we were super tired. She seems to really be thriving and taking on more responsibility that 4th grade demands. She's trying to look grumpy but, really is the first one up and dressed each morning and the most excited each day. Yeah Tara!

A sunny day

We all were up early...I think we are back on schedule...today. So, we had time to take a photo of the kids dressed nicely for church. Unfortunately we couldn't all be in the photo at the same time. Jacob is caught in the last photo saying " sugar bugger"....that's our new smile word instead of "cheese". We all have the sniffles this morning so, we left church after sacrament meeting since Emily sneezed a doozy right at the closing song. We love our friends at church and didn't want to spread all the germs to them. I know I personally washed my hands at least 20 times each day...but, with little ones germs spread easily. It's been so long since any of us have been sick.

We had a good week, super busy with full days and full evenings. Gene is happy now that we all equally can look forward to Fridays and the weekends.

I am officially hired at the school to be a teaching assistant part time. That will leave me time to still volunteer in the library and in the kids classes and shop on my own during the week days. It really is turning out to be a blessing of an opportunity. One I wasn't planning on...but, has turned out nicely.

We hope all of you have a great week.

The first week of school

Lessons we learned this week:

1. If you are working with preschoolers you need very good shoes. (Can you say "2 new Dr. Scholls shoe purchases this weekend"?)
2. It is not just the packing of the lunchbox that matters....it's the putting it in the backpack that counts. (Emily on Thursday)
3. There really is still housework to do on the weekends even if no one is in the house all week.
4. Filling out a job application on line is so much easier than on paper.
5. It does pay to help in the PTA first and get buddy buddy with the principal. Especially when she needs to fill a part time T/A position.
6. It is not just the completion of the homework that matters....it's the turning it in that counts. (Tara on Weds. Thurs. AND Friday)
7. Mulch and mud get in your shoes no matter how closed-toe they are if you spend enough time chasing special needs 4 year olds on the playground twice a day.
8. Mulch and mud get in your shoes if you are a happy 6 year old making new friends on the playground.
9. Scrambled eggs with fried hot dogs is ok for dinner. (especially when that's the only thing in your refridgerator and you are too tired to shop.)
10. There is no such thing as a complete supply list given out before the first day of school.
11. It is always best to kick the trash can and check thouroughly for black widow spiders before you pick it up on trash day.
12. Peach cans really can explode and leave black sludge after 10 years in food storage.

Playtime is over

We partied sufficiently this past week with playdates and video games and movies and more playing. It's a good thing because our summer is officially over.

We bought a few new school clothes, turned in our school supplies Thursday night at the school openhouse. We met our new teachers and everyone seems really happy and excited about the new year.

Tara's class has a whopping 27 students in the class. (Last year she had 21).
Emily gets to choose where she sits the first day and is very happy about that fact.
Jacob is one of 6 boys in his class....with 14 girls!!!!
Jacob was pleased to see a huge box of legos in the play area. He asked to get a haircut today so he would look his best for the first day of school.

Now the big surprise....I was told they wouldn't need substitutes for the first 3 weeks of school or so....I was looking forward to a few days of quiet (Play back that video of a Dad skipping through Staples buying new school supplies while "it's the most wonderful time of the year" plays in the background). I was nervous about how eerily quiet it would be.
No more worries. I was called last night to sub for a TA....until they hire a new one....starting the first day of school for at least a week! So, it looks like I will be done with vacation on Monday too.

The Chuckster

We couldn't believe it....Chucky was there today.

Tara won 40 tickets on the new game Deal or No Deal. (That was the most you could win with one coin deposited.) She was jumping higher than I've ever seen her jump. That's

a very fun game.

Getting all the fun in before school starts

I've been putting off the trips to the "fun" places until the end of summer.

So, this week we went bowling and to Chuck e Cheese.

The kids wore their grandpa Borden's old bowling shirts. I thought it would help their game. I think it helped with the fun but the score ,even all three added together, was just 211.

Jacob bowled his first strike ever! His favorite bowling pose was to tip-toe really quickly and make the silly noise just like Fred Flintstone. This time no one slipped or dropped the ball. Yes, this is truly an improvement.

An Emily funny

I was reading back in a journal I had written about Emily about a year ago. I had totally forgotten this...and don't think I shared it at the time with anyone....so, here's a good laugh past due.

"This morning while driving to school, Emily asked, "Mom, what does 'bloke' mean?"
I explained it was the british equivalent of a 'jerk'...why?
She replied, "It's on the sign."
I read it myself....,"Oh, that's block...Do Not Block Intersection."
She says quietly, "Oh, that's too bad there's a man in England making bad choices."

Note to self.....check to make sure you know what your child is asking before you answer.

You know you have been blogging too long when.....

you get your girls some matching shirts and the first thing they say is
" Mom, go get your camera and take a picture of us and put it on your blog."