3rd First Day

Talmage's first day as a Junior.

Last year I had 4 "First Day"s with kindergarteners, so this year is an improvement with only 3 "First Day"s.  James always has the 1st "First Day.

The end of the first day---(hand through the face mask).

 

This is what these two looked like when they told me they were ready for bed.

Since we are waking everyone up at 6:00 for family scripture study before James and the big boys leave, I've got some pretty tired kids come afternoon.  Rex was asking to go to bed at 5:30.  

By 7 o'clock, Hyrum, Rex, and Lyle were sound asleep.

'Twas the Night Before School Starts...

...and all through the house is quiet at 9 o'clock.

(I forgot to take Lyle's picture.  Oops)

The elementary kids met their teachers this evening and dropped off their school supplies.  Rex and Lyle turned in their packets (extensive I might say) that they have been working on all summer to their kindergarten teacher for a prize.  (I think moms should get a "prize" too.)  They finished up the last of the pages today.

They each received a father's blessing for the new school year tonight for family home evening.

Nerves are present but are resting soundly now since we had a dry run and everyone was present at 6am for scripture study before James went to his first day of school.  It's been a long day for all.

I have to include this photo which is what I found when I returned from hiking Badger on Friday. Bryant's mini crossbow misfired, or so he said.  I'm guessing it was quite intentional.

Day #1

Sariah (6th), Hyrum (3rd), Rex and Lyle (1st)

Waiting for the bus.

Lyle was the only one this morning that told me he wasn't going to school.  I didn't respond much and by time the kids were putting on their shoes, so was he.  And, he never looked back.  I'm so grateful!  When he got home he said, "I smiled most of the day."

Bryant's first day at Chiawana.  Talmage dropped him off to save the hour and a half from the time the bus picks up on our road until the start of school---10 minutes away.

After they were all off, I had Talmage practice driving to the temple so he and Bryant can start to go to 5am youth session on Thursdays.  Afterwards, he dropped me off at the high school for freshman orientation day.  Again, just like when I attended with Talmage, I was the only parent in the classes I went to with Bryant.  As we walked down the hall, I let him go far enough ahead that no one knew his mom was with him until we were actually in the class.  A couple times he asked me, "Are you sure you don't have anywhere to be?"  I'd like to think that deep down inside it makes a world of difference to him that he has a mom who would make the effort to be there.

Sariah came home elated and talked and talked about Mrs. Miller.  I'm so relieved and grateful she is excited after she had come to love Mrs. Hoeft so much.

Lyle and Rex are at the far left.

Tonight, Rex and Lyle had their first ever football practice.  They earned half the registration fee themselves and gladly turned it over to play.  They were tearing it up out practicing and LOVING every minute of it!

Summer's Last Hurrah

Our last Day Trip before the first day of school next week was to Moses Lake Water Park.  For years now the extended Taylor family has had a day at the park but this year due to the family reunion, there wasn't one.  So, it was me and these 10 little people (plus Sariah and Kyree later).

Haley's girls, Jen's kids except for Pryor, and my kiddos minus, Talmage and Bryant.

Sariah on the Boogie Board

Hyrum doing the same.

Once Hyrum and Jhett and Sariah went off the high dive, they did it over and over.

"Watch me do the splits Mom!"

 

Lyle wanted a picture of him jumping too.

Lyle and Rex mastered the monkey rings.

Tired and Happy kids.  Hoorah for summer!

Lost Time

Talmage recently told me that one of his goals for the summer was to catch up in his journal.  (I'm not sure if he is as far behind as I am.)  I told him that rather than lose the present by trying to catch up on the past, he'd be better off starting today than nothing.  In an effort to follow my own counsel, here goes: 

(I'm determined to do some catching up, just not sure how to do that yet with the accurate dates.)

Why the dishes sometimes take awhile at our house.  (I was just grateful he didn't put up too much fuss because on this third day of cross country practice he is pretty sore.)

A picture can never do a sunset justice, but this is why we planted a tree off the back porch...and then moved it.  The sunsets are breathtaking and I can't bear to impede the view.

This picture came over email today.  It was taken 10 years ago this summer.  I took care of Grandma today and at 92 she looks and acts much different---tiny and frail, not able to carry on a complete conversation.  However, when she is awake, she is still, always in a hurry, and often says, "I love you," and "You are beautiful."  I tell her the same and remind her to smile.  She usually does.