Back To School

July 25th.  The kids went back to school after a super short three week break.  It's no secret that I am NOT a fan of year round school, but it's the hand we've been dealt so we deal with it.  What stinks is that yesterday was Pioneer Day (which is treated much like the 4th of July here in Utah) and everyone was out celebrating very late last night.  Kids weren't in bed until 11:00 despite our best efforts to get them well rested.  They laid out their new first day outfits, Cody gave them their traditional Father's blessings, and I was up pretty late getting school supplies sorted and packed and teacher gifts ready.  But this morning went fairly smoothly and everyone was on time for school. 

I am blown away that Lauren, my baby Chudda, is already in kindergarten.  I made the mistake of telling her that she would be in kindergarten when she was five, so ever since her fifth birthday last September she was been VERY anxious to get started.  It's been a long year for her!  She was lucky enough to get Madame Taylor, who was Hailey's kindergarten teacher and she was just wonderful.  Teachers don't come any sweeter than her and she was fantastic for French immersion.  And Lauren has most of her buddies in class too which is an added bonus.  Rora, Addison, Nixon, and Kate are all in her class and Nixon and Addison sit at her table.  Lucky kids!!

Not a lot has changed for Hailey this year.  Mrs. Harwood and Madame Larsen are still her team teachers (Madame Larsen is technically her homeroom teacher) and most of the same kids are still in her class.  We're happy that her teachers are the same because she had a very good experience last year.  But Madame Larsen had a baby a couple of weeks ago and will be out until the end of September, so in the meantime she has a different French Teacher name Monsieur Barlow.  (Hailey has been extremely particular about how she'd wear her hair on the first day of school.  She's getting pretty finicky about what she wears and how she does her hair.  Can't believe that has started already!!)

Ethan is one grade closer to being the king of his school.  Can't believe he is in fourth grade!!  This year he has Miss Coray who we have heard amazing things about.  She has never been married and is 100% devoted to her class, which should be a positive for Ethan.  Last night in the blessing Cody gave him he blessed him that his mind would be able to focus very well this year on not only the things that he is interested in, but especially in areas that he is NOT interested in.  It made me laugh to myself.  He is all about math and science and we're sure he'll end up as an engineer of sorts, but he also needs to be well rounded.  I know he's going to do GREAT this year!  He has all of his best friends in his class and he's really happy about that.

Ethan F, Culter, and Ethan A.  All soccer players together and in the same class!

Getting situated during orientation.

I was able to grab a couple of friends for a picture right after orientation.  Lauren, Addison, and Nixon.

Lauren and Madame Taylor.

After Lauren's orientation we headed home and Dad went back to work.  It's nice that he's been able to be a part of each of the kid's first day of kindergarten.  The three little kids and I went to Costco to stock up on staples, ate pizza and hot dogs, then raced back home in time to get cookies made (first day of school tradition).  When Ethan and Hailey busted through the door in the afternoon, we sat down at the table and drank milk and ate warm fresh from the oven chocolate chip cookies.  I hate that school starts in July this year, but the first day of school is always exciting no matter when it falls.  I love that the kids want to tell me every detail about their day and their new class and teacher.  I hope they never stop wanting to talk to me.  Hopefully as long as I'm feeding them, they will continue to spill their guts!