A New Year...

...yay!  We were all ready for school to start again.  I am ready for structure, it will be crazy busy structure but it will be consistently crazy!  I am also determined to get back on this blog kick.  I slacked BIG time the past few months...sorry posterity.  So back at it we went.

Jacey started 6th grade (yikes!) she is excited to be the oldest in the school, to eat lunch at 11:20 (instead of last like last year) and to get back into gymnastics.  She had the last two weeks off and really missed it.  She will practice Tuesdays and Thursdays for 2 hours getting her home at 9:00-for those that know my kids that is LATE!  But I guess it is time to extend her bedtime.  

Dax started 4th grade and is super excited for all the field trips he will get to go one.  He however was not excited to be the only one with homework today.  HELLO 4th grade!  I hope we survive the homework increase (although his back to school blessing said he would so I just need to have faith!) he is also super excited to head back to gymnastics and is also going to play soccer this Fall (as long as his homework gets done).  He will practice gymnastics Wednesdays for an hour and also has scouts on Mondays.  

Skye started 1st grade and is so excited to be going allllll day long!  I have to say Colt and I sure missed her! She loves her teacher, and said everything was so fun today.  She has gymnastics on Tuesdays for an hour and can't wait to get going again.  We had a little trouble right after school but nothing a snack on hand shouldn't fix.  Poor girl was starved and she ate all her lunch.  Dang blood sugar (sorry to pass that on to ya babe!) she is going to have so much fun.  Her bestie (Charity) is in her class! 

Colt started mommy school today.  As soon as the kids were on the bus he ran back in the house and announced "mom it is just you and me now! Let's go to the swimming pool!" Sorry bud it is closed "oh...let's go to the park!" And then a minute later "mom we go to the Library?"  

We did have a good day.  Started with a bike ride to our friends house for our "mourning" party

Then home for some "school" playtime

Then mommy cleaned while he ate.  This had become our "don't want to put it away? Put it here" shelf and it finally got the attention it has been begging for all summer! 

Then we played trains and successfully scattered toys throughout the entire house.  So as a bribe to help clean up we went to the library.  

Today's project (besides everything else) was turning the fridge into a chore chart white board!  Easiest project ever:

Supplies needed: markers

Project instructions: write on your fridge

Done, Easiest project ever!

I am sure this list will change daily for the first week, until we figure out what works and what doesn't. 

Fun filled day for sure!  I got to go back to my weights class, haven't been able to go all summer long, it was good to be back but no doubt I will feel it tomorrow!  I am ready for bed...night!

School This and That...

Oh how we love school, especially when we are nearing the end of another school year. Last term and 2 months from now it will be summer vacation...but not to loose focus...a couple randoms for today. Skye wanted to take a treat for her birthday (which is tomorrow, but there is no school.  I asked her what she wanted and together this is what we came up with...nutella, strawberries, and pretzel rods.  It was a hit as far as she was concerned.  And as far as I was concerned too seeing how I didn't have to bake anything!

she was the queen for the day too!

so do you remember a few months (or maybe it was only weeks) Jacey had a mishap at school involving coats not hung up and balls under the coats?  She fell and got a nice little bruise on her hip.  I told her she should be more careful and she came back with a "No, I will write a persuasive letter to the principle"  Well she did and the principle pulled her out of class to tell her that there would be a new ball box by the lunch room effective immediately.  Well here it is!  Good job sis!

Tonight also brought PTC.  In short I have totally awesome kids!
Skye's teacher said she has a very calming presence, she is often paired up with rowdier kids, or kids that need just a little boost because she can calm and lift them.  She said that Skye really doesn't need her anymore, she is where she needs to be for first grade.  A few weeks a go she wrote me a note that said "i dont want to do my chrs or my homwrk.  I will brush borg.  love skye i love you" I thought that was odd, but loved her inventive/phonetic writing so I saved it.  I was telling Miss Porter about it and she chuckled and said that it was her fault.  They were talking about (I can't remember now) in class and she suggested that if there was ever something they didn't want to do but were afraid to talk about it, maybe they could write about it...hence the I don't want to do my chores, but I will brush Borg instead note.  Skye made her day today when she came in and said "Miss Porter, even though I will be in first grade next year I will still bring you my pictures and books!"

Dax's teach had to start off by saying how much she loved Jacey.  Every Friday Jacey and her friend Jayden go to her room and clean it completely.  They miss the grade school bus and just run to the high school to catch it.  Then she said how much she loves to ask Dax questions because she knows she will never get just the cut and dry answers.  There will always be lots of thought, imagination, and creativity put into his answers, and that they are ALWAYS spot on right!  It really is so true about him.  When we have FHE he never gives the "Sunday School answers" they are always thought out and right on.  He has excelled this term, his focus has improved, and he even passed off a math facts sheet.  AR was not met, but we knew that, and our goal (so he can have his privileges back) is to get them all by the week after Spring Break.  We are reading a GOOD one together and for the first time EVER he looks forward to reading...I got a lovely groan when I got paged out tonight on a call and had to stop reading.

Jacey's teacher thinks Jacey is just the sweetest thing and appreciates her sooooo much.  Jacey has a hard class, all of her teachers have said so from the time she was in kindergarten, yet she very rarely gets drawn into the drama or the distractions.  She said she is good at everything she sets her mind to.  Her teacher LOVES to read her writing assignments, because IR testing will soon be essays they have been doing lots of it.  She is consistently improving and her thoughts are so well organized and expressed.  She had straight A's.  On a non-school note she has been invited to join the Silver Team in gymnastics this summer and she is soooo excited, yet quite nervous as this will mean competitions next winter.  I have no doubt she will give it her all and will be just fine!

Colt...well he is looking forward to the day he gets to go to school, I on the other hand am torn and will enjoy these next 2 years (and a summer)!

And then since Greg and I are also in school here is our update:
Greg has 3 more tests and his final project, goal is to be done by June (he said that with a little hesitation, but I am holding him to it)
My transition has been a little intense lately since I had to unexpectedly renew my NREMT license a year earlier than I thought-dang my "go-get-it-ness" (that is Greg's term) if I had procrastinated 4 months I could have had until NEXT March to get it all done...but alas I am just short 3 hours and they are covered in my ICS-100 course I am finishing up (hopefully tomorrow) then I just need to pass off my skills to Medical Control (aka the ER doctor) and I should be transitioned from an EMT-Basic to an EMT...wahoo!  I am also slowly working on my Spin Instructor Cert. still teaching as a student and once NREMT is done I will take that test...so my goal is the end of April for all of it!  Then I am going straight to the library and READING a book for myself. 

Gotta love education and all the opportunities we have!

I Think It Is Pretty Obvious...

...that I am out of the habit of blogging everyday.  my #1 excuse/reason is I just don't sit down to the computer near as much as I used to, it makes my head hurt...I find myself using my phone or iPad if I do need the internet.  Some might think it would be easier to blog with so many resources but it isn't!  I don't like the way the aps blog.  I can't order my pictures or add captions. 
So here you have our last week in review...

This is what happens when mom closes her eyes for a few minutes.  When Skye was entering the "Quiet Time" zone I would lay on the couch with her and she would snuggle and hang out with me.  Colt says "I nuggle you mom" and sweetly draws me onto the couch next to him, but at the first chance sneaks off the couch.  For someone so active and noisy all day long he can be eerily quiet as he creates one piece of art after another.  So I have to fight the naps until he closes his eyes first.  He will still nap 2-3 days a week. 

gotta love the artwork on the fridge...doesn't quite understand the concept yet

Tuesdays I get a few hours for myself...I fill it with Group Power and usually grocery shopping. LOVE IT!

these little buddy boys are the cutest friends ever!  The best part of the day is listening to them wake up, it goes something like this C:Dax wake up, Dax wake up, DAX let's go out a front room D: Okay Colt C: Dax, you take my blankets? D: Yes! C: We play iPad? D: Yeah!  And then there is more cute little conversations and they play so cute together!

For mutual on Wednesday the Stake put on a Youth Dance.  I had some girls that wanted a ride so I went and hung out.  Oh my ENTERTAINING!  I so do not miss those awkward moments of the first few moments of a slow song. I literally had to cover my mouth so I could chuckle a few times. 

Wednesday night I also got my class Valentines put together.  This is the BEST granola I have ever had!  My cousin Mardy gave me the base recipe and I have built on that.  It is clean, healthy, and full of heart-y goodness! 

Thursday, of course brought gymnastics.  I know I say this every week, but I love watching the kids improve.  I am pretty sure Jacey is getting close to advancing levels.  She is getting stronger, faster, and more graceful every week!

Skye is also making great leaps.  Her cartwheels are improving and she is the first in her class to volunteer to try something new.

Dax's favorite part is the end of class when they play tag.  I am happy he is happy and having fun.  He is willing to always try his best and I have seen him come out of his shell a little more every week.  He is getting really close to doing a back flip without the roller to spot him, and he has mastered the dive roll. 

The one downfall to gymnastics is that it is in the same parking lot as our favorite restaurant.  It is so tempting.  Earlier this year we sat down with the kids and told them we would only go out to eat for special occasions.  V-Day qualified! Colt says "We go to Taco Burrito, (then pulls out the sweet look and adds an exaggerated) please?!"

This week also marked my official "Get back to work" week.  I have limited myself.  The only NEW clients I will be taking this year will be newborns.  I just can't say no to those snuggles.  I have also opened my schedule up to families and kids, but only if we have worked together in the past.  That will hopefully keep me just busy enough.    

So there you have it, our week in review. 
I do have to add a few cute things Colt says:
"Ummm, no!"  He can't just say No!  He has to add the Ummmm before it every time
"ha-hu-ke" (the kids have taught him to call his rear end his bahookee) he cracks himself, and everyone else, up every time he says it.  
"I wuv you too, Mom!"  He never just says I love you, he is good to always add the persons name.  Melts my heart!

"Count wit me.  Monday, Tuesday, Monday...Tuesday!"
"Count wit me. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 14, 19"  occasionally he just jumps in somewhere around 7-9.  It is always confusing what kind of "counting" he means.
Oh and everything else he says is just so cute, although he has learned "stupid" I blame Greg because it is mostly inanimate objects like "stupid chair" when he stubs his toe on it.  Or "stupid toy" when it is in his way...so Greg!  He has also learned "shut up" and "poopoo butt".  Oh the joys of older siblings to teach littles such attractive words!  I admit though I have to hide my giggle as I put him in time out for saying them.  I threatened all the kids with time out for using those words, and then added Greg to the list every time he says "stupid" he might be on the chair more than Colt :)

I feel guilty, because I am sure there were more "little moments" I have already forgotten about since I didn't blog everyday.  I will try to be better, but no promises...this next week will be a busy, but exciting one for sure!!

100 Days Smarter...

The kids reached their 100th day of school today...yeeehaw!! We are more than halfway through the year, which boggles my mind. The kids got their report cards a couple of weeks ago, and it shows that they are smarter! They all improved or stayed the same because they couldn't get a higher grade.

Since we are talking about school here is Greg's update...he is still plugging along, and last time I checked he had 2 more classes and his final project. We are still hoping to finish this semester (which ends in June). My schooling is mostly continuing education, but I have so much of it that I might as well get a little blog highlight too right?! This month I have to recert in CPR and national registry of EMTs (1 of 2 EMT certifications I hold-I don't have to have this one, but feel I need to keep current on it for my sake). I am about halfway done with my state mandated transition course (our scope of practice is expanding and that means learning new things and remembering old things) just 3 more modules and then I can pass off my skills to my medical control. I am also just about ready to take my Spin test, I have put it on the back burner a little bit because these other ones have to be done sooner....ahhh education never has to end!

Back At It...

...after 4 weeks off for Skye and 3 weeks off for the others we got to go back to gymnastics.  The kids were more than ready!  I had to laugh, although I shouldn't have, when watching Jacey's class work on the bar.  Remember that video of Jacey jumping the other week?  If not scroll down, it was the class before Christmas break.  There were some girls that didn't try it then, that wanted to this time.  The teacher mentioned maybe they should hold off until they built back up to where they were (you loose a lot of muscle in 3 weeks) they insisted, and so the teacher reluctantly said she would help them.  The first girl went jumped, grabbed the high bar swung forward and fell to her back...thank goodness for padding!  The second girl got up, went to jump, grabbed the bar and fell not quite on her back...the teacher put her foot down and said not again until she knew their strength was back up to where it was.  Sometimes I feel bad for those poor teachers.  Some of the kids treat the gym as if a playground rather than a place to develop skills, they just don't take the teachers seriously enough.  (not that my kids are perfect, but they do make me happy to continue to pay for their lessons)

on a side note...this is Skye's favorite game these days!  She carries the cards around with her all day (practically) begging people to play.  Colt is getting quite good at it too, learning his colors and his numbers.

My Favorite Sacrament Program...

...you know the one where I am not responsible for the reverence of my primary age children.  The one where Colt sits at attention, or rather stands quite literally hanging over the people in front of us.  Good thing Whittles are used to us, and think he is cute.  We were all a little concerned about the power going out again.  It went out around 8:30, came back on around 12 then flickered on and off sporadically after that.  Those kids were blessed and I am sure a few prayers were answered...the program went on without a problem.  Those kids are so stinking cute!  I think that if investigators ever went to a primary program there would be no doubt of His love or the truthfulness of the gospel.  Those kids beam with it!  All our kids had speaking parts and took it on themselves to memorize them.  Dax played the chimes and Skye sang a solo...yes you read that right one of my children stood up in front of the entire congregation and sang her little heart out.  She knocked my socks off, and caused a few watery moments in the eyes-not sure what that is called.  I knew she would, she has been practicing multiple times a day for about 2 months.  I wish I could have filmed the actual performance, but that is frowned on so those of you that missed it will just have to appreciate this after church rendition (still cute as ever, just lacking all the people, accompaniment, and the microphone) 




Ps she uses the phone for her pitch...she is so cute!

The Pool Is Broken In...

...and we all said "ahhh finally!" It wasn't super warm (70s), and pretty breezy but the water was 80* so as long as you were in and all the way it was nice!

Jacey on the NEW diving board!

Jacey's Splash

Skye (and Dax's shoulder and back)

More of Dax (Skye under water)

And Colt was just fine hanging out on the side checking things out.  We did finally get in and he loved it as long as he had a tight hold on me.  By the end of the summer he will be a little fish I am sure!

Some Randoms...

...every once in a while it seems my whole day is full of random things/thoughts/events.  Today was one of those days. 

We started the day with Dax's track/field day.  This year they did field day more the way I remember my field days, playing with my classmates.  Greg has the pictures.  He is such a good dad, he hung out most of the day while I took advantage of having the kids with him and worked. 

Skye and Colt ran hills pretty much all morning.

They didn't measure the running long jump (?!), but Dax did really well - and looked good doing it!

I don't know if Dax has done this before, but he was pretty darn good at it.

Dax jumped 4'3" in the standing long jump!

Volleyball with the biggest basketball Skye has ever seen :)

What a fun day ... good job Dax!

After field day Dax and Skye were invited to go help feed a mini pony that has been rejected by the momma.  (Greg also has those pictures) they loved the experience. Jacey was beyond bummed she missed out.  She asked me to volunteer for her to go help them this summer...we will see.  I am sure they would love her help. 

I had a photo shoot in Burley (finally got the chance to use some fun walls).  I got there a little early so I parked the car, locked it and with keys in hand wandered around for a bit.  Got back in my cat and turned on the cooler (it was hot) sat around until I got a text saying they were there.  I stuck my phone and keys in my camera bag and somewhere between getting out on the busy road, and grabbing my cool orange bucket i locked the car doors and shut them.  Only to see my camera bag sitting on the seat.  I was so flustered I was going to have to reschedule our shoot.  Went to meet the family (with 2 young kids) and barrow their phone and see if we could reschedule...THEN i realized somewhere along the way I had taken my camera out of my bag and it was safely hanging around my neck.  MIRACLE!!  So I called Greg and asked him to come rescue me, went about my photo shoot, and by the time I was done so was Greg and the locksmith.  YAY!  So as far as yesterday's challenge go, yes I did see God's hand in my life today. 

Ended the night at graduation...awe! 3 of my Laurels graduated, it was bittersweet.  I didn't get teary eyed until I realized that they are now RS sisters and not my girls anymore (okay, I am still going to claim they are mine.) Such sweet amazing girls.  I am excited to see where life takes them.  I will miss you Jessica, Hayley and Kelby!!

During graduation I sat next to my friend and EMT teacher, Shirley Hubbard, she is retiring this year and I have to say with all the changes in the school district as well as with Idaho EMS I can't say I blame her.  She mentioned that it wasn't fun anymore and she didn't want to work.  We got to chit chat and she told me I needed to get my Advanced EMT and start teaching.  I told her as soon as my youngest was in school I was there!  I really would love to do it.  Who knows what will happen in the meantime.  There just might not be a teacher around these parts for a few years.  

Adventurous Sneak Peek...

...we snuck off to Twin today and had an absolute blast! Here is a sneak peak of our adventure with the "real" pictures coming tomorrow, after I have had more time to edit them.

We started the adventure at Centennial Park in Twin where I had a quick photo shoot, and the kids played on the toys. Then we drove to the Falls, and enjoyed a picnic in the mist (even this far away you could still feel it). It was rather cool! As Jacey pointed out, both cool as in awesome and chilly.

I told Greg when we started out that I WAS going to climb something today, it has been sooooo long (like 10 years) that I have done some serious cliff climbing. It was a proud moment when my kids wanted to climb with me. We kept it more on the simple (for me not them) side since it was their first time and had fun exploring a favorite past time!

It was so nice to spend the day with the family, and pleasantly surprised by the weather. It was supposed to be rainy all day long, we were blessed with SUNSHINE and surprisingly very little wind.

Check 'em Out...

... A friend of mine makes these darling bows and wanted some product photography for them and Skye was more than willing!







And then Jacey got in on the action...seriously these bows can dress up the simplest hairstyle...aren't they the cutest things ever?! LOVE! Check out www.groupdealz.com on Friday for them.

these are the colors she has for this round. (10 points if you can name the plant they are in)

We Love Clark's...

Colt is too speedy for my dinky phone camera...might have to take my big one over there someday.

...this is how we roll, probably the number one reason these two like to shop there!!