First week of school, ice age birthday, and 14 jars of salsa!!

August 23, 2009
First week of school, ice age birthday, and 14 jars of salsa!!

Well, we started school this week and are getting back into our school routine and schedule. Seminary started on Thursday too. I like my classes so far this year. I hope I am not saying that prematurely.

Alayna loves 2nd grade and has a great teacher, Mrs. Farber. I attended a parent night for Alayna’s class and got to learn all about what she will learn this year. Then we saw Mrs Farber after at Walmart and we talked to her for 30 minutes. She is so sweet and down to earth. I just KNOW Alayna will have a great year.

When I asked Tyler how his first day went, he yelled “Awesome” and then jumped into his famous starfish pose. I really need to take a picture of that someday! His second day of school he ended up in the wrong class. Hopefully he will write about that funny story in his blog. He starts rehearsals for OPUS tomorrow.

Kayla seems to be enjoying 8th grade. She has a much harder math class though and now much more homework. She is excited to start on the volleyball team tomorrow. Plus, she gets her braces off in the next two weeks! Whoo-hoo!

Marisa has been driving us all over town. I have to admit she is getting very good. I still get nervous when she drives the van though- that car isn’t even a year old! She started seminary and is already working on music for all-state. It’s gonna be a very busy year for us all.

We celebrated Alayna’s 7th birthday with a sweet “Ice Age” party. She had some friends over and she opened presents, they watched a movie, they played outside, and we had cake and ice cream. When we were buying the decorations, I told her she could pick anything she wanted (meaning she could pick something that matched) So, she started hucking items into the cart: green tablecloth, grey square plates, grey napkins, spongebob cups, and blue and white streamers. I stunningly looked at her and said “Um, these don’t exactly go together” and she said “Hey, mom! You told me I could get anything I want cause its my birthday”. Touché! So, we got we she wanted and even I have to admit it turned out pretty adorable with her ice age cake. She said it was her best birthday ever and she loved it all. Whew!

Then, when all the party guests left, we started canning salsa. It took almost 4 hours and we made 14 big jars of homemade salsa (the onions, tomatoes, corn, and jalapeno peppers all grown in our garden) It was a massive family project, but I am pretty sure there was some bonding going on. We still have TONS of tomatoes so we will be canning diced tomatoes next weekend.

Cool poem shared at parent night at school

I dreamed I stood in a studio
and watched two sculptors there.
The clay they used was a young child's mind,
and they fashioned it with care.

One was a teacher; the tools he used
were books and music and art;
One a parent with a guiding hand,
and a gentle, loving heart.

Day after day the teacher toiled,
with touch that was deft and sure,
While the parent labored by his side
and polished and smoothed it oer.

And when at last their task was done,
they stood proud of what they had wrought.
For things they had molded into the child
could neither be sold or bought.

And each agreed he would have failed
if he had worked alone,
For behind the parent stood the school,
and behind the teacher, the home.

New shades for a new driver

Osaka

Days of insanity...here we come!!

August 9, 2009
Days of insanity…here we come!

Top Eight Events of the Week:

1. We finished the Book of Mormon as a family again, so we went to Osaka to celebrate. Man! That food is so great! They cook your food in front of you and have a little show. I took a couple of pictures while we were there.

2. Marisa has taken drivers ed and has been working all week on French. We also found out that she earned an academic letter for school last year because she kept her grade point average so high. She is also receiving special recognition in an awards ceremony in Iowa City for her high ACT score as a Freshman. She is rocking it over here!

3. I took the kids to see “Up” this week and it was the sweetest little movie I have seen in a long time! You have to go see it. So adorable!!

4. We did all the school supply and clothes shopping for the kids this week. It took forever (and we are poorer…haha) but I think we are now all organized and ready to go.

5. We got the kids registered for school and then Marisa, Kayla, Tyler, Alayna, and I helped run the registration for Excelsior for several hours on Thursday.

6. Kayla applied for and was chosen as a member of Myfi. She helps all 6th graders during their orientation to Middle School. She did her 6 hour training for it on Friday and will help with the orientation all day tomorrow. She also starts on the school volleyball team in only two weeks.

7. Our garden is just flourishing! We will have to start canning our salsa, tomatoes, and chile in the next few weeks.

8. Bob and Tyler bought me pink roses “just because”. Man I love it when that happens!!!

Saturdays crop

Isn't this sweet?