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My baby started preschool last week.  He goes to a Methodist preschool just down the road from us.  I love Methodist preschools – they are some of my favorites.  This little school has a certain "magic" about it – it is just precious.  I feel so happy when I go there – movement and music classes, Spanish, Science, and lots of fun learning.  His teachers are Ms Tami and Ms Jennifer – truly nice, sweet and wonderful women.  When I ask Samuel about them he says "they are so, so nice" (the double "so" is important).  He feels so BIG.  He has waited for this day for months and was so ready to have his "turn" at school…to take his lunch and his "packpack".  He is there, in the Dalmation class, every Tues and Thurs from 9-2.  I sure miss him, but I can't fault him for loving it so much…I would too.

 

After a big long nap post-triathlon, we headed over to my Mom's for an evening of yummy food and family time.  Sadly, Caleb still had a guitar lesson and Jacob still had football practice (holidays mean nothing in the extracurricular world, do they?), so we weren't all there the whole time.  But as usual, it's always fun to break out the cameras and the kisses when the babies are around.

 

Labor Day was "T" day around here – triathlon day!

As you know, this was my year to try to stretch myself physically – the half marathon, the MS 150 bike ride, and now a triathlon.  I do better athletically when I am training for something – it gets me moving!  I do NOT know how to swim properly.  People make it look so easy, and I have a backyard in my pool that I swam back and forth in, but 30o meters is a LONG way for someone who doesn't really swim well.  I thought I was going to drowned in that pool…seriously.  I had no idea how fast everyone would be going.  I had no idea the pool would feel like an ocean when you put 300 swimmers in it.  I had no idea how completely ridiculous I would look.  It was rather comical.  Later the boys told me "Mom, we counted how many different strokes you did – we had no idea there were that many!".  And Jacob kindly said "Mom, I really thought you had more potential on the swimming part".  Yeah, me too buddy, me too.  At one point I was holding on to the edge of the pool with 100 m left, and seriously considering giving up and an "official" came over to me and said "Ma'am, are you ok?"  "NO, I'M NOT OK!" was what I wanted to say, but I just smiled and said "Oh, yes, just taking a breather"!  🙂

The bike was my favorite despite the 22 hills and 30 mph winds (no really it was a blast).  And while getting off the bike in transition, I had the worst charley horse of my life in my left calf which made my 3 mile run a bit of a challenge.  My goal was to finish in under 2 hours, I did it in 2:01.54 (figures!).  BUT…I DID IT.  And that is a good feeling.  Despite being last in my age division – that stinks.  Thankfully I was far from last overall…thankfully.    Needless, to say "triathlete" is not going to be on my tombstone.  And for those of you who think that's funny…I dare you to put it on there, I will haunt you from the grave…ha!

Jacob and Caleb also did the kids' triathlon and did great!  Caleb takes after his mother and he said "I wanted to cry the whole time".  Everytime he saw us he gave us a dirty look…makes us giggle.  Poor kid doesn't like pain (who can blame him).  And triathlon-ing is painful let me tell ya.  Jacob was great – he's a natural athlete and despite not training (other than football) he performed well. 

We celebrated at Waffle House afterwards – the same thing we did 2 years ago the last time the kids did it.  We now have the t-shirts to prove "we do hard things"!!

 

 

This boy is cracking me up today…

S: “Mom when I grow up can I be the boss?”

S: “Mom! I’m gushing blood! (it’s a barely visible scratch!)

S: “When I get big I want to be a teacher.”
M: “What do you want to teach about?”
S: “Eyeballs!” (said with a giggle)

 

On Saturday, our Ward Primary (the children's organization) leaders prepared a very special activity for all of the children and their families.  We all met at the temple and were able to go on a guided tour of the temple grounds learning information about the cornerstone, the landscape, the roof, the installation of the angel Moroni statue, etc.  Did you know the roof tiles came from Spain and are expected to last 100+years?  Things like that were very fun to learn.  The children also got to go into the foyer and be taught by a member of the Temple Presidency and his wife and also sang some Primary songs for them.  The presidency member thought for sure it was a stake Primary because of the numbers, but we assured him it was just one ward – we have over 150 children in our Primary.  I loved having the children enjoy the reverence and beauty of the temple.  It reminded me of this story that President Monson once told…

"The late Elder Matthew Cowley, who was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, once recounted the Saturday afternoon experience of a grandfather as hand in hand he took his small granddaughter on a birthday visit—not to the zoo or to the movies but to the temple grounds. With permission of the groundskeeper, the two walked to the large doors of the temple. He suggested that she place her hand on the sturdy wall and then on the massive door. Tenderly he then said to her, “Remember that this day you touched the temple. One day you will go inside.” His gift to the little one was not candy or ice cream but an experience far more significant and everlasting—an appreciation of the house of the Lord. She had touched the temple, and the temple had touched her."

I love this picture I took of my 3 handsome boys outside the temple that day:

 

I also like this one that Jacob took of me and Derek:

 

Jacob loves to take my camera anytime I'll let him – sometimes annoyingly so because he begs and begs and begs until I relent.  But when he captures things like this (see below) I feel so glad I handed it over.  I'll always cherish this picture now…because of the subject and because of the one who captured it.

 

We are SO thrilled about 3rd grade for Caleb – mostly because he has one of our favorite teachers EVER…Melanie Rutter.  Jacob had her for 3rd grade too and we fell in love with her then.  She has amazing classroom management and great teaching ability.  Plus, she loves kids and is able to see through their weaknesses and find their strengths.  Really special…and Caleb already loves her to pieces. 

 

 

Caleb also started guitar this year…with a new guitar and a new school (Frisco School of Music).  We're excited for him to learn a new instrument and have something that is his very own (Derek plays a little guitar and it's nice that they can have this in common – especially since I'm clueless!).

 

My day was a little crazy, but not unusally so.  I thought I would document it because I know that someday I will forget.

6:40 am - up and at 'em, dress for gym

7:00 – make breakfast smoothies, listen to scriptures being read at the breakfast table

7:20 – comb down some unruly hair and take Caleb to school (on bike)

7:45 – chase Jacob around encouraging him (gently) to take ownership of his morning

8:05 – take Jacob and neighbor to school

8:20 - head straight to the gym with a chatty Samuel; bike and run

9:05 – leave gym and run home for a shower, clothes and some make-up (Samuel watches a cartoon and has a snack)

9:52 – head to meet-the-teacher at Samuel's most-adorable Methodist preschool – we make a "Samuel" puppet and get a dalmations pawprint chocolate sucker as a gift (because he's in the Dalmation room)

10:35 – go to music school to sign Caleb up for guitar lessons; watch my wallet shrink before my eyes (but for a good cause)

11:20 – head to CPK for lunch with Dana and Shelley (and Samuel) – a bright spot in my day!

1:35 pm - head home to see if Samuel will nap (he falls asleep in car for 5 minutes but does not resume sleep once home)

2:05 – search for a used acoustic guitar on-line (Caleb needs one by Monday), check email

2:56 – greet Caleb home from school

3:20 – leave to get Jacob and neighbor from school – make phone calls while I wait; coordinate meal calendar for football family that is in crisis (Mom in hospital with pre-term labor, Dad lost his job yesterday)

3:45 – meet Derek at pediatric dentist for all 3 boys to get squeaky clean mouths (Derek has to bring C & S so they're not late while I'm picking up Jacob)

4:50 – run home from dentist to get piano music

4:58 – run through pharmacy window to drop off perscription

5:17 – arrive (late) to piano for Jacob

6:15 – leave piano, pick up perscription and make speedy grilled cheese sandwiches while ordering boys to do homework and take out trash (all in the same breath)

6:44 – run to school for Curriculum Night for 3rd grade (tell boys to remember to bless the food and get the grilled cheeses out of the toaster and not to be too loud since Dad's on a conference call!!!)

7:35 – run home so Derek won't be late for a church appointment – inspect school folders and realize homework is not complete; help boys complete homework PROPERLY

8:22 – bathe a screaming Samuel (who is exhausted because he hasn't napped in 2 days) and has tons of mosquito bites because his brother took him in the creek during football practice the night before

8:44 – talk to Caleb about how his "chick magnet" status is getting in the way of his education and that he needs to focus on school a little more and the girls a little less (true story – this is a problem every year)

9:05 – convince Jacob that the directions to "show your work" on the math homework is just as important as having the right answer and that finding out the due date on his ILA project might be a good idea 🙂

9:22 – warm up left-overs for dinner because I'm starting to feel jittery from lack of food!

9:44 – send email to football parents asking for help with meals for coach's family

10:06 – blog about my day

It's a busy life and I love it.

It's hard to believe that this boy is already in Middle School – 6th grade.  He was SO excited to go and came home thrilled every day that first week.  Slowly that has faded and he is feeling less enthusiastic about the homework and responsibilities.  But I think overall it's a good thing for him.  He moves to a different class  every 45 minutes – has 3 lockers – is playing percussion in the band – takes GT ILA (language arts) and Pre-AP Math – loves his Computer Lit teacher the most – goes to school from 8:35 – 3:35 pm – has PE everyday – has already borrowed books from his teachers (he raids their library collection) – has lots of homework every day.

 

Jacob is also still playing football for the Sooners – this will be his last year in rec football through the city.  He still plays the piano and seems to have a true enjoyment of it now…practicing is not as much of a chore, although sometimes hard to get in with everything he has going on.  He is also advancing well in Boy Scouts – he just received 3 rank advancements and 7 merit badges…a great start!  He's a busy guy these days, but he is enjoying it (mostly).

 
Jacob is playing noseguard this year and is amazing – he's hitting hard and very aggressive out on the field.  His coaches are always lauding him (and us) for his great play and spirited manner.  He's a great teammate – always encouraging the other guys.  He's right in the middle of the line – the one with the glove on. 

 

Over the weekend, Papa C and Mimi came for a visit and for the first time since Graham's arrival we were all together – what fun!  We headed to Jacob's scrimmage where Dad got to see Jacob make a sack (he was so proud).  And then had a bbq at our house (with some swim time).  It's always fun to have little ones and family around.

 

I have read several examples of Back to School dinner's online – very creative, fun and meaningful examples.  Some go all out with grand food and decorations.  But I decided that grand food and decorations don't exactly speak my boys' (all 4 of them) love languages.  Good, simple, homemade food does.  So I made my chicken parmesan and salad and garlic bread, which they loved.  Then I introduced our "theme" for the year which are President Hinckley's 6 B's - suggestions for living for youth.  He said,

"I suppose that most of you are in school. I am pleased that you have that opportunity and that desire. I hope that you are studying diligently and that your great ambition is to get A grades in your various courses. I hope your teachers will be generous toward you and that your studies will yield top grades and an excellent education. I could wish nothing better for you in your schoolwork.

Tonight I am going to let your teachers give you the A’s that I hope you earn. I want to talk about some B’s. You get the A’s; I will give you the B’s.

1. Be grateful.
2. Be smart.
3. Be clean.
4. Be true.
5. Be humble.
6. Be prayerful."

I think these virtues are so meaningful and helpful and each month we are going to study one of the them in depth.  We started this month with "be humble". 

The boys each have an index card that is called "way to bee".  We took each boy one-by-one that night and met with them to discuss goals and routines for the school year.  On the back of the card we wrote their goals.  And on the front we put "bee" stickers each time they make a choice that we believe exhibits one of our "bee" values, or when they meet one of their goals.  They'll be rewarded when they fill up their card with "bees".  The cards hang on the fridge.

It was a fun night, a simple plan and a great way to start the year off on a good foot.  We ended it with homemade root beer float pops (thanks to Dana for the pop molds and a recipe book!).