School Pics and School Year Rundowns

 I think of school pics as a chance to capture the kids in their natural element.  (Unlike family photos that are when I choose all the things and are pretty much mom staged.)  So they choose their own outfits.  And hair.  And makeup.  And so....here they are: 

Ben is in 6th grade which is middle school.
What he loves: Getting up early to snuggle Buddy on the couch.  It's the only time of day that Buddy's a snuggler.  Early release Wednesdays when his buddies invade the house for like 8 hours after school.  His math teacher Mr. Renni.  Seriously.  Having a phone (best perk of middle school for him.) READING--he just finished all the Harry Potters and is now starting on the Fablehaven series.  It's quite expensive for me because he likes to alternate between the book and the audio book--and these are books that take forever to get from the library.  Also--he "reads" at 1.5 speed, so he's plowing through. Other favorite things include: going to football with dad, playing switch (Fortnite, Fall Guys), checking on his fantasy football team (a new hobby), and hanging out with Libby's friends.
What he DOESN'T like: playing trumpet.  How terrible of us to get him a trumpet teacher who comes to school and works with him on Wednesdays during class. (best deal ever--since I don't have to drive him anywhere), cross country (which has been a super unorganized mess for the 6th graders--which has meant only a few practices--so he's thankful for that.)  

Sarah is in 8th grade.  
What she loves: Singing in choir (she is in two SCC choirs this year), "that at the end of the day I get to go home" (direct quote.). Hanging out with friends--she's getting closer with her friend group.  Her school picture (she's into Jurassic Park--NOT Jurassic World.) Going to Starbucks with friends before choir on Tuesdays. 
What she doesn't like: Getting up early for zero period.  When I yell to wake up Libby for seminary and it wakes up Sarah.  (This is when Libby is getting a second or third wake up of the morning.)  

Libby is a 10th grader.  Oh My Goodness.  
What she is loving: DRIVING! She's getting pretty good.  I don't have white knuckles all the time.  Just occasionally.  She finished the coursework for her class (including passing the written test) and now has 2 more drives to go. Spending time with friends. Marketing class (kind of--depending on her group) and getting to work in the student store.  SLEEPING IN (and sadly this is rare).  Dancing at football games with the Drill team. Thrifting with Sarah or other friends.  (Particularly purses.  She has SO many purses.). Also she love Buddy. 
What she is not loving: School work, cleaning her room. Getting up for seminary (although she doesn't mind it once she's there.) Her mom--sometimes.  Ugh, I'm the WORST! 

Okay, seriously this picture.  Ugh.  And then they whitened my teeth so I look like a weirdo.  I had a different shirt underneath for pictures--but forgot to take off my hoodie.  They rushed us and had us go before lunch instead of after like we planned--by then I would have been warmer and anyway--yeah.  This year is pretty fun though.  I am really excited about teaching this group because they are really excited to learn. We have 2 (okay 3) big projects I want them to finish before conferences.  And there isn't enough time in the school day!  I really do love teaching.  I mean I love it.  And this year I get to hone my projects and lessons since I'm teaching the same thing again for the 2nd time in a row (sort of 3rd, since the first year was online).  So I feel like I'm LESS buried.  YW is running fairly smoothly.  So I guess I feel like I'm making it.  And, I started integrating some Yin Yoga into my PT and I am cautiously optimistic that it's helping my hips level out!  Good news! 

September Happenings...

We are now in Oct.  I can hardly believe it.  We are in the groove of school and seminary.  Libby drives me (M-Th) to seminary.  Wednesday I can leave her there, as there is someone who can drive her to school. The rest of the days I stay and she drives us to SW.  I get in my PT and scripture study.  It's actually pretty peaceful.  I take Buddy a couple of times around the park before I leave with Libby--so he gets a little walk in. So far the others have made up for it by taking him for afternoon walks. 

Sarah has zero period PE, so she gets up and gets herself off to the bus before I'm back.  It's so nice that she can do that.  Ben also gets himself up (way too early if you ask me, but he likes lots of time to snuggle Buddy and watch Fortnite videos while he eats breakfast.)

I have gotten to a pretty good place with my autistic student.  She went 7 straight days without a meltdown.  So I started to push her to do more work--then we had a few meltdowns.  But we got back to a pretty good place.  

Libby is almost done with the Driver's Ed class.  She has one more session and then she takes her final test.  I'll be really glad when that part is done.  She missed 2 in the first 2 weeks.  And if you miss 3, you have to pay again (and it is not cheap!).  YIKES!  But thankfully she's gotten into the habit of doing her homework early and making sure she doesn't fall asleep after school.  Now, just about 45 more hours of driving practice.  (She has 4 more drives with the driver's ed people too.). It's a lot of work to get your license these days.  

Here's Sarah in her WEB leader shirt (where everybody belongs).  She gets to help 6th graders--like with an orientation before school started.  And then also with Pride updates.  

The new fence went in this week. Buddy had gotten out a few times as our old fence was rotting and breaking down with his assistance.  And yes, it's a super long fence.  Thank goodness for OT and neighbors who chipped in. 

Libby taught a really fun YW lesson where we made armor of the components of the work of exaltation and salvation that protects us.  Then the leaders threw papers of possible distractions at them. 

Sarah with the sword she made. 

Another Husky victory! Sarah won the card AGAIN! 

Libby performed at a SW loss.  Rough game. But good dancing! 

 

Husky Season is Underway!

It's that time of year again--Husky season! New coach this year--so you never know how it's going to go.  But so far--3 and 0! 

The kids and Derek went to the first two games.  Then I went to yesterday's game against Michigan State (I am a true fair weather fan--but the weather was PERFECT and the time of day was right too).  The Husky fans were unsure how the game would go--but the Huskies were AMAZING.  So many fun things to celebrate.  It was a fun win. 

Ben took his buddy Noah to one game.  (It was way too hot for this mama.)

Ben took Oliver to the night game.  Who wants to watch a football game and get home at midnight? No way! But thankfully the kids and Derek do. 

Norton Reading Challenge 2022

 This year it was the Wild and Wonderful Norton Reading Challenge.  HERE IS OUR LIST.  As usual there were those who didn't read the books.  But for those who did--it was a fun list.  I was surprised at home much being a dog owner helped me love and feel deeply the ones about wolves, Call of the Wild, Wolf Called Wander and Never Cry Wolf.  I didn't love Small Spaces--not really my genre.  But everyone else liked it (especially Ben as it was his suggestion.) The Donut Fix led to the "life-changing" donuts for the Challenge night.  They were good--so good. But the chocolate cream wasn't my fav.  Also, I let some of them rise too long.  The kitchen was a disaster as Libby and Derek finally decided to pull out the pasta maker I got Derek for Christmas as well. So we were well fed last Sunday.  It was quite the day! 

Derek, Geneva and I were on a team together (usually I make the Kahoot--so I don't play.  But this year Clark stepped up to the plate--so I got to play. ) It was a great team effort! 

The Life-Changing Chocolate Cream Donuts recipe.  (I also liked the second book--the Donut King.). Middle Grade books For the WIN! 

Back to School 2022

 It feels so good to be back in school.  Sort of.  I mean, I love routine.  But I do miss my morning walks with Buddy in the daylight and my time in the garden. 

I was really having some mixed feelings about going back--but then we had Meet the Teacher Night and I got to meet some students.  Then I got excited again.  I have a new teaching partner who wants to try all the crazy Norton projects.  So it should be a good year.  I do have a couple of difficult students.  One who spent most of last year having meltdowns in the hall.  We've had a bit of that already--but she's doing better due to some med changes I think.  She and I are building a good relationship.  I also have a student with Tourettes.  That's a new one for me.  He's really bright and has his tics and blurting mostly under control.  But he does like to talk a lot.  Highly Capable students are a fun bunch. They'll keep me on my toes. 

Ben was SUPER nervous/excited about Middle School.  He was very happy after the first day and then he got settled into the routine and said it just feels normal now.  I guess that's good?  He starts the intramural cross country they are doing for 6th graders this week.  It's only on Tues/Thurs, days he can take the activity bus home.  So he can do this without help (aka rides) from me! 

Sarah talked non-stop after her first day.  She was super happy.  She enjoyed the day before school when she got to serve as a WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) leader for 6th grade orientation.  She does say WEB pride (homeroom) is super boring though.  How can this be?  Seems like a missed opportunity.  

I didn't get pictures of the kids getting on the bus, because I was trying to get back to Shorewood with Libby's quarter zip for the 1st day of school assembly. She brought the wrong drill uniform.  In the end I didn't make it.  But she had a black hoodie, so she was able to perform anyway.  Sigh.  

Dropping off Libby on day 1--then rushing back to get pics of the other kids getting on the bus.  See above--haha.  

Libby is already complaining about drill--but also enjoying it.  And Driver's Ed is dominating her life right now.  The driver's ed school we chose has homework before each class.  And it's 3 days a week.  She's been driving us around a bit (can I say--THIS IS SO SCARY!) Thankfully she's already getting better at driving and no cars, pets, or people have been hit as she's taken to the streets.  (Knock on wood.)

 Derek is coaching football on the actual SW football coaching staff this year.  So he's busy busy with practices and games.  He took Libby and Ben on the sidelines with him for various games this week.  So I guess overall...we are off to a good start! 

Ward Campout 2022

 We haven't been able to go to the ward campout for a few years--and after Girls Camp I wasn't sure I'd have energy--since Derek couldn't come.  But I'm glad I went. It was so fun! And a bunch of my friends from other wards were there also camping...so added bonus!

Libby couldn't stay overnight--she had to get back for Drill.  The the YW had a great time leading songs and reproducing the favorite Girls Camp skit (which explained the extinction of the dinosaurs among other things:). 

My Last Weeks of Summer

 So the kids have a week and a half of summer left.  But I go back tomorrow.  I guess I'm ready.  But I do feel like I "summered" this year.  I relaxed a bit, worked in my garden a lot.  I read lots of books.  I organized things.  I completed most of my Summer 6.  (Go to the temple 6 times, have our family do 6 acts of service, play the piano 6 days a week--when not on vacation, try 6 new recipes, have Sarah and Ben swap bedrooms & paint Ben's old room for Sarah).  I also wanted to go on 6 hikes.  But instead I went on one big fat hard hike yesterday.  I'm going to start the school year very sore! 

The Mount Pilchuck Hike is hard.  Rough terrain.  Bouldering (serious) at the top.  And LONGER than we thought. Ugh.  And it was raining the WHOLE TIME.  I was proud of both myself and Ben for making it! 

We also had a youth activity at Richmond Beach this week--it wasn't a swimming activity.  But Sarah and Ben turned it into one.  (Sarah in jeans and a T).  My van was disgusting after I drove them home. 

One of our service activities this week was to sort school supplies that are going to each school for students in need.  It was really fun and it felt good to do good. 

AND--Libby got her permit!  Wow!  She starts drivers ed classes tomorrow.  Crazy! 

We did some school shopping. Ben texted pictures of his shoe options to get his sisters' advice.  Adorable. 

Last Saturday Ben got to go to the Celebrate Shoreline festival and hang out with Grandpa who was working the radio booth.  They all had a good time. 

I guess I'm ready to go back to school...here goes!