Happy 6th Birhday, Julia

Julia turns SIX!

Julia started her day with a phone call from Grandpa and Grandma Turek singing her first "Happy Birthday" song. It was a good way for her day to start because she was smiling, instead of the usual look of "Leave me alone. I'm sleeping. And, no. I'm not going to school today" look. Her brother's and sister {and our neighbor, Kase} quickly {and loudly} sang her another Happy Birthday song and she rolled out of bed. Julia got to open a present {which was her new favorite boots!} and she got ready for school. She ate her favorite breakfast of German Pancakes with six candles {two of them started to melt and tipped over before we finished singing happy b-day-again, and she may not have even made a wish but she blew the heck out of the flames.}

She looked so cute in her new birthday outfit. Mom and Jess brought donuts to share with her Kindergarten class as a b-day treat. Her class made a cute book and she got to wear a birthday crown. Mrs. Stewart gave her a "floating balloon" with a pencil tied to the bottom.

After school Julia chose to eat lunch at Arctic Circle enjoying some fries, chicken strips, fruit snacks and an ice cream cone. That night she chose Home made Cafe Rio Burritos and then we quickly cleaned up so we could meet everyone at the bowling alley.

Dixie Bowl isn't what it used to be...at least not the night of her b-day. We waited, many many times, for our balls to come back. The kids would have benefited from the bumper lanes but we opted to stay by each other instead--mistake. The girls had a hard time keeping the ball out of the gutter but they seemed to find ways to keep themselves happy and entertained.

She opened presents {G-ma Julie gave her some 'Frozen' Barbies and a fun light up balloon and Tara/Riley gave her a light up secret diary} and then when it was time to go home the girls showed us a cute dance they had made up together. The end was the best part!

Happy Halloweeners!

I've never been a huge fan of Halloween...just because we have to get all dressed up, buy candy, walk door to door asking for candy...I just don't get it. It's really stupid if you think about it. Trick or treat? Really? But...you know who really loves it? My kids. And for that reason, we do the Halloween thing. It think the pictures will speak for themselves this year.

 

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.