Schoolisms...

We had curriculum night this week (it was always called "Back to School Night" when I was a kid in UT).  We had a chance to chat with Sarah's teachers and then we went to Libby's teacher's presentation.  I am SUPER happy with their teachers.  Libby's teacher is corny, fun, does lots of singing, has fidget toys in the classroom.  It is going to be a good fit.
Sarah's teachers are both chill and they love Sarah (how could you not, she is a model student like her mommy :).
Ben is loving coming with me to do playground duty and volunteer in the classroom on Friday afternoons.
On Monday I asked Libby's teacher how she was doing.  She told me that Libby had a disagreement with another girl during small group time.  It apparently ended with Libby telling the girl that her dad would bring a gun to school and shoot her.  Ugh.  But the teacher told me with a smile (the kind of smile that says I know the other girl deserved some angst.) and she didn't make a big deal out of it.  Whew.  I told the teacher in Libby's defense that her father is a police officer...so he actually does carry a gun.  And I told Libby that she should NEVER say the word gun at school.
Sarah loves school.  She comes out of class every day with a smile so big it is almost bursting her face.  She is so far ahead of what they are doing, but she just loves being there and soaking up the scholastic energy.  I am so happy for her!
Ben is still adjusting to boring life at home with just mom.  He hopes every day that I have clients so he can watch movies.  He also cheerfully made (almost) all 700 trips to Home Depot with me or dad.

This Week in Pictures...

This week is a blur of trips to Home Depot.  Literally, hundreds.  Between putting shelves in the lockers I bought for Ben's room and putting up the shelf on the opposite wall, I felt like every 10 minutes I was either rushing there myself or sending Derek.  Poor guy.  He did get a new drill and a riveter out of the process.  But still, it felt like drudgery.  I am still hesitant to post the official before and after pictures, even though I moved him back in last night.  I still have a few finishing touches in decor, and some furniture to find/create.  So, stay tuned.  Maybe next week?  But the worst (I think) is behind me.  

I have started taking pictures of the things I need at Home depot.  Makes it easier to remember...because I don't have to.  

I had to text this picture to Derek to make sure he got the right bracket.  

Also had to text him a picture of this bin to make sure he got more of the same.  

Ben's finished motto.  The day after he finished it, when my first client got here he rushed her upstairs to see his "motto".  I don't think he knows what the word means, or what this motto even says, but he is excited about it.  For those who might not know, Dan Gable is a very famous wrestling coach.  The round thing in white is a wrestling mat.

This shelf seriously almost killed me.  I am not done with the stuff on the top or underneath (this is where the missing furniture pieces will go.)  But the shelf is basically level and I got the bleacher-ish look that I was going for.  I am stoked to be finished with this.  And thankful to my YW presidency who advised me to go for it.  

Libby and Ben helping me shop for accessories.  I didn't buy these chairs...

Family Pics from Colorado

A Pro photographer came to the Fehlberg Reunion in CO and took pictures for us.  I LOVE the one of Libby and Sarah.  Probably my favorite picture of the two of them OF ALL TIME.  They are both looking at the camera, which is a miracle in and of itself.  

Cheer Camp Performance

One of the best perks of the cheer camp the girls attend is that they get to cheer at an actual football game.  This year we finally got the early game (there are 4 teams that share the stadium) 5 pm start.  Unfortunately the person who designed the stadium was directionally challenged.  They put the fans facing directly into the sun.  Ugh.  It was pretty miserable with the sun shining right into our eyes.  But the girls did their cheering and then we grabbed some quick (and awful) food at Dairy Queen and went to the first 1/2 of the Shorewood football game in a stadium where the sun is behind us.  Whew.

The girls practiced their cheers all week, and Ben practiced right along with them.  He can yell out each and every cheer they learned.  It was hilarious to listen to them.  Sarah does the cheers from memory.  Libby gets so distracted with everything going on around her, even though she knows the cheers, she ends up a step behind and watching everyone around her to remember what to do.

I forgot their poms (the evening got a little hectic).  But they weren't sad because then they got to use the real cheerleaders' poms.

One of the cheerleaders gave Libby a bow for her hair.  She was pretty proud of the bow.

Ben really loves his sissys.  He prays for them every prayer by name.  He totally loves to hug them.  

First Days of School!

This year Libby started school on Wednesday and Sarah on Thursday.  They like to take 1/2 the Kindergarteners on one day and the rest the next.  Sarah didn't mind.  She was happy to have a day to play alone with their toys.  I let them pick out their first day of school outfits.  They both picked this Cheetah dress because the Meridian Park mascot is the Cheetah.  Sarah, of course, paired it with some Cheetah pants.
I am pretty excited about their teachers so far.  And, Libby has her best pals in her class.  Hooray!

I was surprised by how I felt about things this week.  Since I will only have Ben on my walk to and from school that needs to ride in the stroller, I sold the double jogger.  Honestly, this made me feel more sad and like my kids were all grown up MORE than sending Sarah to Kindergarten.  Strange but true.  I loved that stroller.  And as much as it almost killed me to have my kids so close together, it was a time that challenged me like crazy and made me a better person...I hope.

You may be thinking that Libby spelled Grade without an R.  But, you would be mistaken.  It is there.  Just attached to the G.  I decided to let it go.  She was excited to do it that way.  

Sarah wrote this K all by herself too!  No tears were shed on either side as I left Sarah in line with her class.  We were all smiles and excited!

You may wonder what Ben and I are doing at home together?  We read some stories including Green Eggs & Ham.  So we ate green eggs for lunch.  He wasn't too impressed with the finished product (they didn't look like the ones in the book).  But he did help crack a couple of the eggs.  He also played on my phone, watched TV and made a huge mess of his room.  (Which he begged me all week not to clean up.  We finally picked it up last night...UGH!)

After Sarah's first day and Libby's 2nd.  They all look happy, right?

Ben and I are going to help on the playground on Friday afternoons.  He was pretty excited to wear this vest for about 10 seconds.  

Libby reunited with her bestie at school.  Mia was so cute.  She said, Libby, you have grown!  You used to be up to my neck, and now you are up to my chin!

Labor Day Love

On Labor Day we invited some of our friends from our old ward to come hang out.  The kids were so excited to see their friends again.  It is crazy how moving just a few minutes away puts you into a new ward and basically a new universe.
My favorite was the moment when Beau (4) and Ben (3) saw each other again for the first time since probably New  Year's Eve.  Beau said "BBBBEEEEENNNN!"  in this low excited voice.  Ben looked up at him and said, "Beau, you are so BIG!"  It was adorable.  You could feel the love in the air.
Lathen had a crush on Sarah all year last year during preschool.  He really wanted to swing at the park, but only when he could swing next to her.  So, I guess the love has persisted through the long absence.
It was so fun to see our friends that Sarah cried a lot when they left. I remember feeling that way too around her age, especially after my family moved from Kearns to Centerville when I was 10.

Sarah and Lathen swinging together.

Beau and Ben.  Buddies reunited!

Summer Adventures Cont....

I made a few goals of what I wanted to do with the kids this summer.  Here is a run down of the goals and how I did:
Goal:  Take the kids to the library every week.  Actual visits: at least 6 or 7 (more if you count the library at the Y in Colorado).  Not bad.
Goal:  Do science time every week.  Actual science time:  1.  Or twice if you count that Libby went to a mad scientist birthday party.  Not such a great rate.
Goal:  Take the kids to a park every week.  Actual park play:  Seriously rocked this one.  Did this almost every week.
Goal:  Do preschool time with Ben.  Actual:  Does making them watch YouTube Sesame Street Videos one time count?
Goal:  Do Mommy/Daughter workouts with the girls.  Actual:  Maybe 3 times.  Not so hot.
I am kind of proud of myself that I made goals at all.  And we didn't do too badly.
My new goal for the school year?  Get them to school and in bed at least 3X a week without yelling at anyone.  Doable?

Sarah playing at the Edmonds Park...it has had some major changes.  New playground equipment.  It is awesome! 

Ben in the giant tire!

FHE activity.  Just Dance.  Sarah is seriously really really good at this.  Beats me in every dance except Pound the Alarm.  I own Pound the Alarm.  

Sarah had a croupy cough on Friday morning.  Didn't want to end up in the ER again.  So I took her to the dr. to get a prescription for that steroid.  We had a wait in the dr. office.  We had a dance party with the flashlight app in the waiting room.  Then we had a long wait at the pharmacy in the car, and another dance party.  The meds still weren't ready and I forgot to go back.  So good thing her croup didn't flare up.   

Ben's room project is spilling out into the rest of the house.  The girls got a new dresser because I wanted the one in their room for him.  And I fell in love with his paint color so I am using it in other areas too.  I hope to post a lovely after picture next week.  Ben wanted to help me put together the girls' new dresser.  He was VERY helpful (not).

I wore paint clothes everywhere all week.  Almost.