Tyler getting his Wolf

Marisa doing the hula

Tyler as Francis Scott Key

Birthday Party, broken glasses and a dead hamster

October 28, 2007 Birthday Party, broken glasses and a dead hamster

I started this email last week, got through 2 paragraphs and never finished. But we have had so much happen so I promised myself that this would be finished first today.
Let’s see…where do I begin?
I started my full time job this last week. I am absolutely LOVING it! I have great kids and I never thought I would ever find myself saying I love to teach math. Who knew? I have already been given hugs, told lunchtime detention with me wouldn’t be bad, and that I actually make math class fun. It has only been two weeks, but I love it. The down side is that I have absolutely no down time. I grade hundreds of papers every night that must be recorded and then put on the computer. I just have an overwhelming amount of stuff I have to do. I wonder if I will get used to it all. However, I did learn one thing…having the same classes every day beats subbing by a long shot! I was so tired Sunday morning that I accidentally put hydrogen peroxide (in a special contact cleaner) in my eye instead of contact solution. I felt like my eye was on fire and it took several minutes before I could pry my eye open and get the contact out. Not pretty!
Bob is still working overtime, and possibly starting on a volleyball team for work. He is doing a great job getting the younger two kids off to school in the morning. He even learned how to put Alayna’s hair in a ponytail! I came home from work the other day to find he had made a homemade stuffed pepper soup. I was so touched by that.
Marisa had her YW in Excellence program last week. It was quite a shindig. The whole gym was decked out like Hawaii and they had a Luau. They did a slideshow with pictures and accomplishments the girls had done throughout the year. The girls even did the hula. Marisa did a great job and I will post a cute picture of her doing it. She had a fantastic display including her candle holder that she designed on paper, cut out the wood, and made herself. It is GORGEOUS and I will post a picture so you can see it. Marisa also got to take a field trip with her gifted and talented team to the UofI library to do research on their topics for National History Day. Marisa has chosen the French Revolution.
Tyler’s class had another play at school. It was about the Star Spangled Banner and Tyler got the lead role as Francis Scott Key. He did an amazing job and I see drama and/or showchoir in his future! We also had pack meeting last week and Tyler earned his Wolf!!!! Thanks to Grandma Hart, he completed it by his birthday and can now move to the Bears. He also had his big Harry Potter birthday. Happy Birthday Tyler!!! He turned 9. He had some friends over to watch “Meet the Robinson’s” and play. My friend made a beautiful cake and I will post pictures. We also watched Transformers that night and that movie ROCKED! Tyler also broke his glasses, so we had to go order new ones and finally got some that fit his face. He is growing way too fast!
Alayna’s class had a field trip to the pumpkin farm and she brought home an adorable pumpkin. She is doing so great in school. They are doing “Jolly Phonics” and I think it is a FANTASTIC program!!! If any of you reading this have kids getting ready to read, check out this program!
On Monday, for FHE, we made pumpkin poop for the kids to give to their classes at school. You take butterfingers and crush them up and stick them in a plastic baggie. Then you attach the poem:

PUMPKIN POOP
I started to carve a pumpkin
With my carving knife and scoop
But the pumpkin got so scared
He took a little poop!
It looked so cute and funny
Just like a candy treat
So I’m sharing it with you now
Because you are so sweet!

*I know this may be gross to some of you, but it was a real hit at school!

This week, a tragedy occurred. Our hamster Furry died. I went in to feed them, and one was stiff and not moving. Tyler was devastated!! He cried most of the morning. When I came home from work, I saw that he had carefully boxed her up, and written sweet sayings around her box. He also illustrated the circle of life on a paper. Then, he wrote a Eulogy. I am including it here because it was way to sweet and way too funny not to share:

FURRY
She was good to us, her mother would be proud of her. She completed all of her deeds. She needs to be left in peace. She has gone to heaven where God and everyone is righteous there. She was righteous too! She did good things for her, her litter, her mother, and Willow especially. Willow accompanied her for two years. When she dies then they together will be happy together.

Kayla and Marisa started the Geography club last week. Kayla really likes it, but I don’t think Marisa has talked in her into the GEO bee yet. Marisa though, is determined to win this year. I see her studying all the time. Kayla is still doing dance team and they have their first performance this week.
Our ward had a Halloween carnival this week. Bob took the kid while I tried to go grocery shopping and find some flat shoes and cooler long sleeve t-shirts. I stand over an overhead and sweat like crazy. Plus my only winter shoes are high heeled leather boots, my feet are blistered from standing all day. I know, whine whine whine! Anyway, the kids had fun at the carnival. Marisa helped at the face painting booth. For Halloween, Tyler was a Ninja, Kayla went as Harry Potter, and Marisa and Kayla went as bacon and an egg. It was hilarious! Again, I will attach pictures.
Ok, I guess that sums up the last two weeks. I tell ya, it does NOT get boring around here- EVER! We would love to hear how everyone else’s Halloween went. Until next week…(or two)

Kris and Family

Darn fast newsletter

October 22, 2007

Well, I start work full-time tomorrow. I am excited, yet overwhelmed. Hopefully, it will be a good, positive experience and I can impress those who might be able to hire me next year.
We had the big Primary Program yesterday. The kids all did a great job. I didn’t enjoy sitting on the front row, but that’s ok.

On Friday, I ran errands with the kids for about 8 hours!! We FINALLY tracked down some Halloween costumes. No easy task around here. I will send pictures during the Halloween party! We also did the grocery shopping, planned meals for the next two weeks, etc. It was a very long day but we got a lot done.

Saturday was a 2 hour practice for the Primary Program, then we mowed and trimmed the lawns, put all the deck stuff away, and prepared our place for winter.

We got our water softener fixed. A small wood chip was stuck and clogged the drain. That is the most expensive wood chip I have ever seen!! Our carpet finally dried after many days and we were able to put Tyler’s room back together again!

Well, sorry this is so dang short. Time is short right now. Until next week….

Weeks flying by (October 16, 2007)

October 16, 2007

What a week! We came home one day to find that our water softener had overflowed and flooded a portion of the bottom floor, including a good portion of Tyler’s room. We paid an arm and a leg to find out a small wood chip had lodged itself in the water hole. That was so stupid! We have fans running trying to dry all the carpet we had to pull up. Argh!

We have also been sharing a nasty cold. Bob and Marisa were sick this weekend, Kayla and I were sick the week before, and Alayna and Tyler the week before that. Except for Bob, we are all better now.

The teacher I am subbing for goes in for a C-section this Friday so I start full time next week and will sub for 8 weeks. I am excited but it will be a lot of work!

We watched a FANTASTIC movie this weekend. I highly recommend “Flyboys”. I even watched it twice.

I am still doing Activity Days. We are trying to split our group since I have 18 girls! Last week we sewed scripture bags for the sunbeams.

Marisa finished up volleyball and now looks forward to some time off until tennis season starts.
Tyler had the funniest dream I have ever heard about a Canadian Goose. I don’t have to write it up now, but if someone reminds me, I will write it up this week.

Kayla started the dance team. She says they teach it really fast, but she is going to keep trying.
Tyler is LOVING the Linn Grove choir!

Its red ribbon week and Tyler and Alayna have been participating in the fun days at their school. Yesterday was crazy hair day. We spiked Tyler’s hair to stand straight up on his head and we stuck Alayna’s up in a big loop so she looked like a who from “whoville”. Today she dressed like a cheerleader and Tyler like a basketball day for Sports Day. Tomorrow is pajama day. Unfortunately my camera batteries were dead and so I don’t have any cute pictures. Sorry. I guess I wont be winning the mom of the year award?

This week I have had 3 Parent-teacher conferences. (WE had Tyler’s a few weeks ago before his teacher went on maternity leave) All great reports!

Okay, that’s another fast 2 week summation. Until next week…

Surprises and Grandparents

October 5, 2007- Hart Update

Harts Come: Grandma and Grandpa Hart came to help us with a crazy work weekend last week. We were able to get all the carpets shampooed, dismantle the ruined canopy, mow the lawns, trim all the bushes and roses, shampoo and scrub out the car, plant new flowers in the front, etc. I am sure I missed some things, but we got so much done and it felt GREAT!!! Thanks Hal and Corey for all the great help!!

Surprise of the week: So, the doorbell rang on Monday night. Bob and I were in the middle of the Prison Break Season Finale. When I went up to open the door, I found my MOM on the doorstep. You should have seen my face. I couldn’t figure out where she had come from. What a FUN surprise!!! (She was able to tag along with a family coming up for a horse auction in Waverly, 40 minutes from here)

It was so great because I had just finished my final that afternoon and was actually free for the first time in months. So, Tuesday, we just hung out and had a relaxing day. I woke up from a nap to the smell of warm, fresh baked cookies. Wow! On Wednesday, she helped me go shopping for work clothes and after MANY hours, I actually found 3 tops. Whoo-hoo, success! We went out to lunch with Bob and came home for a nice relaxing rest of the day.

On Thursday, mom and I watched the movie “Glory” so I could finish my last history paper. I HIGHLY recommend that movie. It was an amazing true story. If you haven’t seen it yet, go rent it! That evening we got to go see Marisa’s last home volleyball game and then all went out to dinner at Pancheros. Then we went to target to try to find Halloween costumes, but had no luck. Then we went to the movies. Mom, Marisa, and I saw “Harry Potter” and Bob took the younger 3 to “Transformers”. We had so much fun, but didn’t make it home until 10:30, so we were all VERY tired this morning.

I am subbing today. There is a student teacher here so I basically get to play on the computer all day! This is how every day should be! J Mom leaves tomorrow for Utah. It is been so fun to have her here. Thanks for coming mom!!

Marisa is finishing volleyball season and loves it. She is getting really good. Chamber orchestra is going great, even though she has to be there by 6:45 AM! School is going well and I think she is really looking forward to the weekend and sleeping in.

Kayla started the Golf Club (6 days after school) and the school dance team. She will also have early morning rehearsals. She is also considering joining the drama team when golf is over. She is also still doing band. I am excited that she is getting involved in many fun things and loving middle school.

Tyler is starting the new Linn Grove choir. He is so excited about it. He also has a birthday coming up.

Alayna loves kindergarten! They even made homemade applesauce recently. She was also in charge of snack day this week and got to bring a book to share.

Until next week…