New Primary Year

It's a new year, and with it comes a new church schedule, new Sunday school curriculum, and new classes for the kids.  We are back on the 9:00 schedule, which Cody and I hate.  We are some of the few people on the planet who DON'T like that time block, but we really like 11:00 and 1:00.  When my alarm went off at 6:30 this morning, it took every bit of strength I could muster to drag myself out of bed.

Last night we had a little family meeting about church changes for the year and what that meant for us.  We got clothes out and ironed, the kids helped pack their church bags, shoes were found, and everything was ready to go.  Today I felt good about things as we walked into the chapel at 8:55, but my heart sank when I looked around and realized something.  Baby blessing Sunday.  Even though we were there early enough to get a good bench, we still sat in the back because the place was loaded with visitors.  Oh well.....  Next Sunday will be better.

Ethan is a big Valiant 8 this year.  His baptism year is behind him, and this is when he really starts preparing to receive the Aaronic Priesthood in three years.  He is in the Pierce's class this year (they were Lauren's teachers last year) and he had a great day.  All of his good buddies are in there with him so that's great.

 

This is a big year for Hailey.  She moved up to Senior Primary.  It's a little premature, but because Junior is bursting at the seams with all the new Sunbeams this year, and Hailey's class was the oldest in that Primary, they split that entire class.  Kids born in 2006 in first grade are in Senior, and kids in kindergarten are in Junior.  So Hailey left half of her friends behind and is now the youngest class in Senior.  But she still has two of her best friends in her class so she's happy.  She gave a talk today and was pretty nervous because it was in the "big kid Primary".  But she did an excellent job.  She helped me write it read the entire thing all by herself.  We were so proud of her!  Her teacher is Sister Layton and she gave her a CTR ring today, with the instructions that she needs to wear it everyday.....but especially Sundays!

This is Lauren's third year in Primary.  She was a little sad that Hailey wouldn't be in there with her this year, because they always walk to Sharing Time together.  She was one of the Reverence Children and stood at the front of the room amidst all the chaos of kids finding their classes and the new Sunbeams being hysterical.  But she kept her arms folded and sang along with the reverence music.  She has some new kids in her class that she doesn't know, but she'll adjust fine as the weeks go on.  Her teacher is Brother Munanui.

And then there's Devin, the big time Sunbeam.  We knew this day would be a hard day for him so we have been talking up Primary for a while, trying to get him okay with it.  Before church he kept saying "I Hate Sunbeams!"  Then during Sacrament Meeting he had to go potty so after I took him, I walked him down to the empty Sharing Time room so he could have a look.  When we walked in and I told him what it was, he said "Not THIS class!!"  And started kicking the chairs around.  Oh boy.  When it was time to go class for real, I took Devin and sat with him for a while.  He first insisted on sitting on my lap, with his hands clenched around mine.  Finally I convinced him to sit on the chair next to me.  At one point he was distracted so I made a run for the door.  A few seconds later he realized I was gone and (as I watched through the door window) he started screaming and ran for the door.  It wouldn't open, so he threw himself on the ground.  I went back in and he said "Don't you leave me again, MOM!!"  We sat back down and his sweet teachers, the Hartwells, gave him some little books to look at.  A few minutes later I told him I was going to get him some candy.  It took some convincing, but he bought it and I left.  No candy.  I kept peeking in on him and he was having a good time.  He stayed in his class the whole time and when we picked him up at the end of church, he had a huge smile on his face and said he had lots of fun!  When I asked him if he wanted to go back next week, he said "Nope." 

And last but definitely not least, Garrett.  He started Nursery in October, but he's had Devin in there with him every week.  He has been apprehensive about Nursery in general, even WITH his buddy in there.  But without Devin today, he didn't want to stay.  I've discovered that if I wait to take him until after circle time, he is okay with it.  I have to wait until there's toys or crayons and paper out to distract him.  I convinced him to sit at the table with the other kids and color.  He kept looking up to see if I was still standing there.  Finally, I sneaked out but kept watching through the window.  When Cody grabbed him at the end of the block, he said he was happy until he saw him and then he realized "Hey!  They lied to me!!"

So in conclusion, there seems to be a lot of lying and deception going on at church.  At least when small children are involved!