Back to School 2017: Soren goes to preschool

Soren is in his first and only year of non-home preschool. He is a butterfly at BVPS where his  siblings all attended, but with a new director and teachers. It was a bit strange for me to be so familiar with a place and program that I'd consider myself an old timer, and still be a newbie. Soren was very nervous at the open house and first day, but is adjusting now. I'm not surprised by his lack of enthusiasm over school. As much as he loves being like the big kids, Soren is happy to have a lot of time alone.  He doesn't always love a lot of in-your-face-ness...which is the only way I rolled for years. He's content to stay home and have some quiet creative time. All this kid needs is a pen and scratch paper to be entertained. 

We've been joining the neighborhood gang of 3-4 year old boys out on the island a couple mornings a week for a play date and Soren really enjoys being with peers. I think he will thrive in his new school. The curriculum at BVPS is play based and provides a lot of time to interact and run around with friends. Today, I sent a dozen donuts to share at snack time for his birthday. Donuts are his jam. He came home witha Birthday crown, a chocolate frosted face, and a smile. 

Congrats on your first week of school, Soren! 

Back to School 2017: the first day

Here they are, at zero dark thirty, ready for their first day of school. Reese is in 7th at Washington Jr High. Quincy is also in a new school, 5th grade at Ruth Hale Barker Middle. Corbin is in 3rd at Cooper, and Soren will be a butterfly at Bella Vista Preschool.  Hard to believe it was only a few years ago that my big 3 were all together at the same school, just one mile down the road. I remember taking a deep breath to appreciate the simplicity and convenience and I'm grateful I did. If only this were still our lot! 

But even though they are separated and spaced out to different locations all over, I am quite grateful for dedicated teachers. We feel very fortunate to have access to highly qualified educators. This privilege is not lost on me. 

We take traditions pretty seriously around here. On the first day of school, once the "big kids" are off, the littles and I wallow in our loneliness over Donuts. It's not a bad tradition. 

Here's to a special school year! 

Stringfest 2017

Reese joined a collection of 7th and 8th graders to perform 4 pieces at the annual district Stringfest. This is an informational meeting to introduce new students to the BUSD orchestra program and ask parents to join the booster club and make financial contributions. The Chamber Orchestra performed 4 pieces and I think Reese was inspired by the experience of seeing such phenomenal musicians who are not much older than she is. She isn't sure how committed she is to this instrument, long term, so a taste of what can become of dedication and practice was good motivation to stick with it. And any opportunity to perform is good. 

I love hearing her play.   

Beuler

Now that school is back in session, anyone else feel like they're on the "path to totality-mental breakdown"? Just me?  It's getting close, and I'm pretty sure I've reached 99.9% insanity. So get excited for a show, eclipse watchers! I'm scheduled to lose it any minute now....

Also, I ran over a nail this morning while driving kids to school. First week flat tires are apparently my jam as this is the third time this has happened to me the first week of school. (Ok it's the 2nd week this time, but whatever.) 

(Backup) Utah 2017: 4am Flights, In N Out, and Daybreak Food Trucks

Flying with 5 children provides many opportunities for frustration, but Aaron and I made a pretty great team on the trip and  I dare say even tough it was long (and early), it was an enjoyable experience. 

Reese was disappointed by our odd numbers when she found herself sitting alone in an empty row. We knew the flight was full and she would be next to a stranger. I tried to encourage her and teased about the possibility of a cute boy coming and sitting next to her. This was a potential meet cute! 

She wasn't amused, bug looks and behold, a cute boy DID come sit next to her! We recognized him as the youngest son a member of our stake presidency. Reese turned red as Q made silent jeers, but pulled herself together and enjoyed her good fortune that she had indeed was lucky to be sitting next to Jeffrey, and not a smelly old man who snores or whatever worst case scario she had fantasized.  She was first to volunteer herself to sit alone on the second flight, and was joined by two Wall brothers that time. What luck! She was chuffed and watched some Studio C with them and was destroyed in chess by Jeffrey.  I'm impressed by these kids. I was an extrovert, but severely lacked the confidence to strike up a conversation with a boy, let alone a 15 year old, when I was 12. 

First stop in Utah: In N Out. I have our order down to a science: aaron-1 double double no lettuce or onion, Meg-2 cheeseburgers no onion, Reese-1 cheeseburger spread only, Q-2 cheeseburgers mustard only, Corbin-2 cheeseburgers ketchup only, Soren and Sloane- plain cheeseburgers. Plus we share 2 orders of fries. It was perfecto. 

Nothing follows In N Out better than a haul of fried food, right? Right.  We hit up the Daybreak North shore for food truck extravaganza!  We are everything from chicken on a stick to French toast, fries, some mystery BBQ plate, Hawaiian cream filled donuts, and shave ice. The kids played on the grass and in the sand and water and got super dirty having fun together. Daybreak is beautiful and summer evenings in Utah as glorious. 

Back to School Feast 2017: Be Strong and of a Good Courage

The annual Willy back to school feast. I used dishes decorations I already had, and we are our traditional "snack plates" of assorted crackers and cheeses with salami, pepperoni, and summer sausage. This year I added sparkling apple cider, lil' smokies in BBQ sauce, veggies and ranch dip, pretzels, a fruit plate with grapes, berries, peaches, and cherries. 

Our theme is Be Strong and of a Good Courage and comes from several bible verses (Joshua 1:9, 1 Chronicles 22:13 and 28:20, Deuteronomy 31:6-8). We read the scriptures and called out the similarities. The counsel to Be Strong and of a Good Courage is given to Moses, Joshua, David, and Solomon and the  message is essentially the same the same: be courageous, do the work, God will we with you and not fail you. 

"Be Strong" is quite a charge. I'm not feeling very "strong" in anything but emotions, these days. Do hormones count? Those are going strong around here. How will we take this counsel to simply "be strong"? 

I keep thinking about Ether 12:27

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

Through our faith, our weaknesses will become strong.  Last night, Quincy and I discussed a weakness we are both trying to overcome, and decided to exercise our faith and turn this challenge into a strength. 

"Good Courage" 

We have done a lot of very brave and very difficult things this past year, but the good news is that we survived, but I'm certain there are many more hills and valleys in the year to come. I think our ticket on board the Courage train is gratitude. 

Tauren Wells sings a song called Hills and Valleys that we just love about recognizing God's hand in both joy and despair. We are not alone through any of it. 

We sang the 3rd verse of How Firm a Foundation ("we" meaning the girls and Aaron and I sang. Sloane are pistachios and the boys put pieces of salami over their eyes because we're real humans and that's normal around here!) 

The words come from Isiah 41:10

10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

 

Be Strong and of a Good Courage. I love that one of the verses is followed with "and do it". Just do it.  The very act of obedience to have courage strengthens us. He will help us and cause us to stand.  And with the Lords help, is there any reason to doubt that we can do it? We can do it and we will do it. 

My testimony comes from another  hymn "Gird up your loins. Fresh courage take. Our God will never is forsake. Do this, and how our hearts will swell, "all is well, all is well!"

Cheers to a new school year. 

Fresh courage take, Willies!