Little Buckaroos

We took the kids to the Rodeo this year. It's been a couple years and it is "Kids night" (which means the kids get in free so you shouldn't complain about paying $10/ticket for adults!...so they think). Payton had football practice at the park right by the rodeo so we loaded the kids up and 'let' Payton change in the van after practice and headed to the rodeo. Who doesn't love the rodeo? Crowds of people. Sitting on cement steps/bleachers. Kids begging for money to buy a burger or snow cone. Jess wanting to sit on your lap even though she will be kicking the person in front of you in the back. Ahhh. The blessed thing they call a Rodeo.

That being said, it was really fun. Jess liked looking at the calfs and sheep. They all begged to do the Mutton Bustin' and were bummed when I informed them they had to have signed up weeks prior to the rodeo. Their favorite part would have been the 'after rodeo' pary. They brought in a Motor Cross group and did jumps and tricks on their dirt bikes. The kids LOVED it! In all my 'Rodeo-ing' years, I've never seen them do that! I'm sure next year there will be four kids ready to hit the rodeo again. Good ol' Dixie Roundup fun!

Jess Gets A Haircut

Little Miss Mullet has been in need of a hair cut for some time not but I just couldn't bring myself to cut her hair. On a Saturday that Kandice was in town I told her it was time. She was good to sit still and I'm afraid now that it's short I won't ever do her hair because it looks fine without much help from me. I guess we'll see how long it takes for her hair to grow. Knowing our luck, it will just grow the mullet part back.

Another School Year

School has begun once again. We've had a great summer and got to do a good variety of things but it's always nice to get back in school and get back to some kind of routine...well, it's a work in progress, the whole routine thing, but it's nice to think we might get back into some kind of routine.

This year Payton is king of the school as a mighty fifth grader. He got the teacher he wanted, Mr. Eardley. He had him last year with the 45th grade (4/5th grade combined class) and loved him so much he wanted him again. I think he really just liked having him again because Mr. Eardley will play football or basket ball with the kids during recess. Just my opinion, though.

Porter is in third grade this year. He's enjoying having Mrs. Sabaitis again. He had her in first grade so we tease him that instead of going on to third he has to go back to first again. So far he talks about liking school but when it comes time to do homework, he's not showing that love to mom.

Julia started Kindergarten this year. She has Mrs. Stewart and on the first day of school she said it was a good day because, "I didn't get into trouble one time, mom!" I guess that would make a good day. Stay out of trouble = enjoy school and your teacher!

Jess (Julia's shadow) gets left behind for the 2 1/2 hours Julia is at school.  She will ask throughout the morning if it's time to go get Julia yet. She is doing pretty well to entertain herself while mom gets a few things done but she is Julia's "bestest buddy" once she gets home. Of course, we're only on day THREE of Julia being in school so lets home we make it the whole year!

One thing I love about this new school year is that Panorama Elementary is doing "The Leader in Me" series that is supposed to teach the kids 7 great habits--if my kids will only learn them! Porter had to learn the song for their first assembly last week. 

Habit 1- Be Proactive

Habit 2- Begin with the End in Mind

Habit 3- Put First Things First

Habit 4- Think Win Win

Habit 5- Seek first to understand, then to be understood

Habit 6- Synergize

Habit 7- Sharpen the Saw

My kids will be so much better off in their future if they can learn and apply these habits now. Let's hope something sticks! It's going to be a great year. I'm just hoping I can keep up to date on a few of the exciting moments that happen through the year!

Disgrace to the Country

Payton came home from school yesterday with stooped shoulders and his face a bit down and gloomy. He said, "Mom. I'm a disgrace to the Country." His eyes were down at the floor when he said it and I could tell he felt pretty bad about himself. After asking why he would say something like that, he said, "I was on flag duty today and I let the flag touch the ground."

I assured him he was NOT a disgrace to the Country, but it was probably a good lesson for him to learn early on. I'm glad he has good scout leaders that have taught him the importance of taking care of the flag and when he knows he hasn't done it exactly right he feels bad about it and doesn't just think it's ok.

I think he'll probably be more careful the next time because he'll remember how he felt. 

I was a little proud of my "Disgrace to the Country" Son.

Halloween 2013

I can't wait until my kids get to the age where they 'make up' what they want to be instead of having to buy costumes. Payton's there and so is Jess, but only because she doesn't have much of an opinion yet. Here's this years results...

Julia, Sarah Curtis and Courtlin Atkinson (school/primary Friends)

We went trick-or-treating with the Topham's, just like last year. It sure makes it fun for Todd and I when our kids can run together and we get to chat with Seth and Mandy.

Julia's in Preschool!

School had started for the boys and the question remained...Do we send Julia to Preschool? Neither one of the boys went to a preschool but I saw what a benefit it would have been for Porter to have gone. I couldn't bring myself to shelling out $75+ every month for her to spend a couple hours a week having a social experience...at least that's what I figured it would be. We had applied to the Preschool the district has close by at Sandstone Elementary but the odds weren't very good that we would be accepted.

One of the ladies in our ward was going to be doing a preschool at an affordable price ($55/month) but got offered a job with the school district doing preschool at another Elementary in town so there went my option.

When I came home from running errands one day there was a message on my machine asking if I would still be interested in the preschool offered at Sandstone. I couldn't believe it! We were in!! I ran up to the school and gave them all the documentation they needed and then had an appointment the next week for Julia's testing. While we were there we found out Courtlin (from Julia's primary class) would be in the same session! Yeah for instant friends in school!

Julia LOVES school and she's learned so much already! The first few weeks were hard because she really wanted to be able to write her name. She has practiced and practiced and after a few months of school she's finally got it!

She walks around singing her ABC's and other fun songs she's learned in class. She's even taught her baby sister the ABC song! We were blessed and fortunate that she's able to go Monday-Thursday for 2 hours every day and I see such improvement with her desire to learn. I hope it lasts through most, if not all, of her schooling years.

Hanging up her back pack and putting on her Lanyard

Julia and Courtlin

Ms. Smith (the conductor) and Julia's Preschool class

A Little Snot

This morning I tried to help Julia get dressed. It was a waste of time. She's in a phase where she wants help getting dressed but doesn't want anything you choose. After 5 different options I'm done helping and threaten to leave. This results in hysterical crying. So, we do the routine all over again ending in the same result. At that point I really do leave and in the process I join her 4 year old game and call her a little snot for acting like that. Jess hears my name calling and joins in my rant about what a spoiled girl Julia is being.

Jess and I go into my bathroom, trying to ignore the streaks and wailing coming from down the hall. I start doing my hair while Jess sits on the potty (which she's doing so well at by the way--as long as she gets a gumball when she's done). While Jess is sitting there she says, "Duya's bein a snot!" I agree and say, "Yes she is. Do you know why she's crying like that?" Jess nods and says, "Because shes got snot up her nose."

Well, I guess she's right by now. After all that crying one tends to build up something in the eyes and nose. Good observation by the two year old.