Back to School 2011

R and C heading out the door 

11th grade at SHS and 9th grade at CJH

The little girls posing for the obligatory photo 

(which made them late, btw - that's how we roll these days :-)

5th grade and 2nd grade respectively

Nothing like starting school with a broken arm

. . . "Really mom, we're already late!!!"

Liza and best buddie Gracie

Since they already missed their line going into the class, I might as well take another photo!

Another school year over

Last Wednesday marked the end of another elementary school year for my girls.  The last day of school is always such a tender time as the mixed emotions of elation that summer is finally here and the nostalgic sadness that my little ones are one year older and moving on to the next grade, seem to take over.  As I walked through the elementary school to drop off teacher gifts, say my good-byes, and snap a few pictures it was difficult to hold back the tears.  Seriously, I am such a wimp.

The desire to hold onto childhood isn't nearly as strong with the older kids, where the end of the school year marks an increase in maturity, wisdom, responsibility, and independence. R and C finished their 10th and 8th grades the previous Friday celebrating with friends, staying out much too late, and sleeping in much too long!

Some pics:

Heading out for the last day of school

Liza and Sophie getting in their lines - on the mornings I took the girls to school I loved watching them head to class with their cute hair in ribbons or flowers and backpacks bouncing behind them.

Our beautiful canyon - the drive back home from the school

Sophie's teacher, Mrs. Rust.  Unbelievable 4th grade year - incredible teacher, amazing class . . . it was hard for Sophie to say good-bye.

I adored these kids - it was so fun to help in Sophie's class each week!

Liza with her 1st grade teacher, Mrs. DiPietro

I also adored these munchkins and loved teaching "Meet the Masters" each month.

It was such a breathtaking day that last day of school, I had to get a shot from the playground - beautiful!

Yes, if you look closely - TEARS - all the girls in the neighborhood came off the bus crying . . . 

I'm not sure Liza was crying - haha - I guess to be like all the big girls

End of school PARTY in the neighborhood . . . bikes, scooters galore

Sophie and best friend Carli - smiles replaced the tears!

Liza and buddy Kate

BRING ON SUMMER!

Back to school

Well, school officially began last week and the kids are still in the "school is so much fun" mode which I expect will come to an end by this Friday.  Here are a few pics from that first day of school, along with some quotes from the kids that I couldn't resist posting to remember the week . . .

Ryan trying to hide his excitement as he leaves for High School - 10th grade

"MOM . . . you did NOT!!" . . . those were Ryan's first words when he walked in the door, and ya, we did - that would be decorate his locker with a "welcome to high school" board and notes from the family saying "Go Eagles! . . . We hope you have a great first day . . . we love you, etc..," along with his favorite gum.  The girls and I had his locker combo since he missed registration (he and Chris were in Michigan), so Caroline came up with the idea and we went to town.  The greatest part was that he had a whole crowd of friends with him when he opened the locker.  PERFECT!!  I think he was secretly thrilled to have the attention and all the girls telling him, "your mom is so cool" . . . yes Ryan, I am ;-).

"Did he actually think I would go over and sit by him??"  We got a kick out of this story:  Caroline (8th grade) arrived to her geometry class right after the bell rang and most the kids had found a place to sit and all was quieting down.  One of the SBOs (9th grader who thinks he's God's gift to all Jr. High girls) calls out, "Hey Caroline, wanna come sit by me?"  Caroline didn't hesitate with her nonchalant response, "Um, no, not really," as she sought out another desk.  Apparently the class and teacher thought it was hilarious and everyone laughed, completely embarrassing this kid . . . oh Caroline . . . Chris summarized the event quite nicely with a chuckle and, "ooooh, playing hard to get now are we, and with a ninth grader . . . ouch."

"All the other girls will want to wear their fancy back to school outfits, not me, I want look like an ATHLETE!"  Of course, Sophie our track and soccer star wouldn't want anything less and couldn't wait to sport her new t-shirt, Nikes, and pigtails (I insisted on bows for a touch of femininity) for the first day of 4th grade.  The highlight of her week was beating all the girls AND boys from her class in the quarter-mile run during PE yesterday . . . we have one happy girl!

Loading the bus on the first day . . . go Sophie!

"It was SOOOO boring!"  Yep, that would be the first thing to escape Liza's lips after she stepped off the bus and I enthusiastically asked her how her first day of 1st grade went . . . sigh.  The good news is that school is getting better and she enjoyed the majority of the week.  The better news is that I am really loving my days free from interruptions :-).

And if your pantry looks like mine with a month's supply of Capri Sun (don't laugh, it was on sale - if you bought 8 boxes you saved another $4 - can't pass up that deal), school must be back in session . . . ahhh, making lunches everyday, not my favorite, but I do it because it's all part of being a mom and if I don't my kids would rather starve than eat school lunch, plus if they're eating lunch at school, when will they get their love notes I write on napkins?  Ryan informed me sometime during the 8th grade that he really wouldn't feel all that bad if I refrained from that tradition when it came to his lunches.

Season opener

Ok, just how amazing is this picture taken from last night's opening home football game at Skyline?!!  (credit to photographer and fellow SHS student, Calvin Chour).  Ryan was in his element hanging out with friends and cheering the team from the student section, as you can see from this picture I stole from his facebook page.  He is LOVING high school, especially the social aspect (i.e. weekends = nonstop party).  I'm happy he's having such a great time, I'll be even more ecstatic if he can keep his grades as high as his rung on the social ladder :-).

Since we're on the topic of double rainbows, if you haven't seen this video it will literally make you cry, it's that funny!  Oh, and I suppose I would probably act just like this guy if you combine my love of nature with some weed . . .

Tears, tears, and more tears . . .

Caroline put it this way last night:  "it's not like she's DYING or anything."  No, nobody is on their deathbed, but yesterday and into this morning you would have thought by my irrational behavior someone indeed had died.

Liza started first grade today.  First grade, that means she's gone ALL day . . .

OK, I'm not going to start crying AGAIN . . . seriously, I thought if I could channel my thoughts like I did on my run earlier today, and think about all the wonderful things I can do now that I'm entering this new phase of life, rather than dwell on the unnatural quiet in our home and the fact that after almost 15 1/2 years of always having a little buddy with me for part of the day, I'm now completely at a loss.

Yesterday Ryan, Caroline, and Sophie began school and I had one last day together with Liza.  While I was cleaning up the kitchen after all the kids had left, she exclaimed, "c'mon Mom, play a game with me - you know it's our last day together!"  And so I did, I turned off the computer, left the dishes in the sink, and played.  We played some games, we put together a puzzle, we watched "Wordgirl," we blasted ABBA and danced together in the kitchen, and we went on a bike ride together . . . then, because I new the inevitable was coming, last night I took her to get her new pink school shoes and let her pick out some new clothes to wear on her first day.

While we were dancing in the kitchen, Chris called and asked, "how are you holding up?"  That's all it took for the first breakdown . . . I was a blubbering mess on the phone, then Liza started crying - really Julie, keep it together!  Then while we were leaving on our bikes, my friend stopped by and asked if Liza would like to come swimming.  As I was telling her thanks for the offer, but we were trying to spend every last minute together, the tears started AGAIN . . . ugh, really, am I that unstable when it comes to my children??  What in the world am I going to be like when Ryan leaves for his mission?  This morning I handled myself a little better, trying not to let Liza see me cry and ruin the excitement she was feeling for her big first day.  She was so excited she couldn't even eat breakfast!!

I'm happy for my kids, I do love watching them grow and gain their independence, but watching your baby leave for her first day of school is tough.  It's letting go of that part of motherhood when you always had someone who needed you practically every hour of every day.  It's funny, because I know I've looked forward to this day on several occasions, just couldn't wait it have the house to myself, time to finally do all those projects I've put aside for so many years because my kids took first priority, time to read and study, time to volunteer and serve.

That's where my thoughts took me today, to the anticipation and excitement of this new stage in life where I can truly explore my talents to help others, to dig into the projects that have been put aside, and maybe even bask in the peace and quiet that seems so unnatural after all these years.  And, I'm sure I'll be just fine after a couple of days of mourning.

Or, if it's just too quiet around here, I can follow the advice Liza gave to me yesterday . . .

 "Don't worry Mom, tomorrow you can just go out and buy a dog."

Welcome to High School

Ryan got his schedule yesterday and it looks something like this:

All I can say is that I'm SOOOO glad it isn't me, because just looking at this schedule and remembering the stress of high school, grades, homework, social life, etc., etc. starts my heart racing with anxiety.  Here's hoping Ryan will make it through his sophomore year socially and academically intact :-).

Good-bye school, hello SUMMER

Ahhhh, the final day of the school year.

Desks and lockers emptied, yearbooks signed, hugs goodbye, even tears (notice Sophie - she and her best friend ADORED their teacher and were very, very sad to have to say "good-bye") . . . another year of school has ended with it's usual fanfare of parties, field trips, field days, and excitement.  I think this has to be one of my favorite parts of being a mom - when those last few days seem to bring back memories of the pure freedom associated with the end of school and beginning of summer vacation that I remember so well from my own childhood and adolescence . . . quite nostalgic.

Liza and friend Kate at field day

Sophie helping the girls team during tug-a-war

The local firemen surprised the kids with their trucks

Soph and friends were SOAKED!

After field day, I raced over to the Jr. High to set up for the 9th grade promotion party LUAU.  Thanks to Caroline and Jodelle's daughter Hannah for their help!

Here they come - tired boys after a day at Lagoon . . . let's get this party started!

Ryan and best buddy Sam Peterson  - boys will be boys . . . sigh.

Awesome party - shaved ice, dinner, live band, and yearbook signing!

Our boys didn't mind too much having us there - Jodelle always keeps things lively!

Caroline signing yearbooks this morning w/ friends Maddie and Sophie

Our teacher gifts - a special cookie and movie gift cards.

Liza saying "good-bye" to her kindergarten teachers, Mrs. Pope and Mrs. Oakeson - what a great year!

Sophie and her absolute FAVORITE teacher of all time, Mrs. Menssen.  She will be dearly missed!

Sweet Hunter gave Sophie a hug to help her feel better - she did manage a smile!

Our little pioneer

Sophie can't get enough of the "Little House" books, Laura Ingalls, or the television series that airs every evening at 6pm.  This summer she got hooked when I was looking through Caroline's book shelves for some summer reading Sophie would enjoy.  Well, she devoured the first two books in the series, then Santa surprised her with more books for Christmas and she can't put them down!  I don't think a day goes by that she wistfully mentions her wish to be a pioneer at least once.

Well, today she got her wish.  For one day, she got to be Laura Ingalls and could hardly sleep last night she was so giddy with excitement to put on her cute calico dress and bonnet, along with pantaloons and lace-up boots (thanks to friend Jodelle whose family volunteered a few summers ago at "This is the Place").  Here are some pics from the 3rd grade "wax museum" today . . .

Before school

Still as a statue :-)

Just one glance for a picture - cute!