August 28, 2014

First  School Days.

Kate is in Mr. Allshie and Mrs. Lloyd's 2nd Grade class.  It is a team teacher which is different.  We went to the Open House the day before school started to find our class room and meet our teachers.  We actually already know Mrs. Lloyd because she has moved from Kindergarten and was Kate's Kindergarten teacher.  Who she loved and whose classroom she went to each day for 1st grade before the bus to give her a hug to.  So she is pretty happy.  We have a large handful of friends from the neighborhood and 1st grade and Kindergarten. So far it seems like things are going well.  Her first day she didn't have much to say but that Mr. Allshie is always telling jokes and that she played with her friend Jackie and picked a desk with her.  She wore this blue dress with aqua tights and a headband that we picked out school shopping.  She wanted to wear jeans and a Hello Kitty shirt but I told her it would be better to wear something nicer- so we save the Kitty shirt for 2nd day.  Kate and I and Sam all went school shopping together one night.  We bought way to much stuff and the kids thought it was cool to pick out all the stuff and to try it on in a dressing room which I have never had them do.   The night before Kate got a school blessing from her Dad.

Kate rode the bus her first day.  With all our friends from the neighborhood.  It was raining.  With everyone out waiting it made for an exciting first day.  We were 2nd to the bus stop, and each kid that arrived comparing new shoes and luncboxes seemed to add to a first day energy.  We are so glad the bus stop is just two houses away.  It makes it really easy as Kate just walks home with the girls who live next door, and I can see her walk the whole way to and from.  

We made Kate cupcakes for her first day home.

Sam started more than a week later to Kindergarten.  He was SO anxious.  He kept asking everyday "when is summer going to be OVER?"  he just wanted to start to bad.  It was even worse when Kate got to go but he still had 8 days of waiting and waiting.  He felt like he waited forever. He went to a Kindergarten assesment test a month of so before school.  He had even been excited for his "Kindergarten Test"  A bit nervous even he breezed through it like a super star with flying colors. A week before school starts they post teachers online and on the door.  We went to see the teacher and had me take a picture of it.    We went to an Open House the morning before.  We found his class and met his teacher Mrs. Broadhead.  She is teaching Kindergarten for her first year, but has been teaching 3rd grade at Heber Valley for several years.  She is a grandma and seems kind.  We found that we know two of the girls in class but nobody else.  He got a name tag he was suppose to wear the next day and found his desk.  He was now less excited.  Maybe he thought it was going to be more fun.  We found his playground too.  That night he got a school blessing from his Dad.

This  morning, both Kate and Sam were both finished getting ready at 7:04am.  I came out to find them dressed and having eaten the doughnuts Dad picked up for the big first day and brushed their teeth and cleaned their room.  Their shoes were one as well, and Sam had his name tag.  Since we still had over and hour before school began I told them to relax a bit.  When it was time to go I loaded all the kids in the car.  To drive Sam to his first day.  Only after taking lots of picture of him of course.  He looked so old and handsome.  He just got a new hair cut we call surfer hair.  And he had his new spiderman shoes he had picked and was excited for.  He ended up having to wear a sweatshirt.  He wanted to wear a super hero sweatshirt.  I told him it didn't match and made him wear his new BYU coat.  He was cool with that.  We walked together into the playground where all the kids were playing until time.  Kate ran off to the big kid playground. Lucky as we entered we found his friend Jackson, and then Kohler and then Grace.  He got to play for ten minutes before the bell rang.  He was one of the last through the door because he was talking to his friend Kohler.  We ran into his friend Julia who is in his class and walked to class together.  I didn't go in the class but said goodbye as he hurried in.  He got to ride the bus home.  The neighbor had ice pops ready for all the kids as they got off.  He was excited to play outside.  He told me facts like they went on a tour of the school and that he played with Colt at recess.  That was about it.  It seemed like a good day.

The kids play after school until 5:30 or 6pm lately outside with all the neighbors.  During summer people are in and out, and there is always somebody to play with but not every body at the same time.  Now that school is in but Rec sports haven't started it is everyone outside after school all night- which is so fun.

I've worried a lot lately if my kids are getting what they need from their school.  or more so if the 8 hours they spend away at school is time well spent, since it seems like lots of lunch and transition time.  But both Kate and Sam are super smart.  And excel and behave.  So I don't doubt they will do well and be amazing.

August 26, 2014

1.  One of Beth's favorite things to do lately is go to the garden with me and eat cherry tomatoes.  I pick some for her and then sit her on the bench to let her eat them.  She goes back for more on her own.  I offered her a strawberry out of the garden today and she only wanted the tomatoes.  We have I think five different kinds of small tomatoes.  In several shapes and even colors.  

2.  Last week Marianne was invited to a little girl party.  Dress up and tea party kind of fun.  Sam was sad he had nobody to play with or a party.  So I told him we would do something similar.  I let him invited several boys over for  a boy party.  I let him go the store and pick out snacks.  Ninja Turtle Popcorn and Capri Suns he picked.  Then he helped me clean the house before they came "i'll do whatever you want me to Mom"  he says sweetly.  He had Rocco, Kohler, and Jackson over, as well as Madden for a short minute.  Sam was so good and so were his friends to let Marianne tag along the entire time.  They jumped and dug and rode their bikes.  They installed pipes under the playhouse and played soccer and follow the leader pirates.  It sounded pretty great.  I didn't interfer to much.

3.  Beth shows off our prize winning pumpkin in the yard.

4.  Beth is a little Kate lately.  Sneaking into rooms to look at book all by herself.  Her favorite one of kate's favorites a  book about Thumper from Bambi

August 26 2014

Marianne  got a lot of Yo Gabba Gabba stuff for her birthday because she loves it so.  The kids have been having games outside and bringing toys out despite me telling them they will loose them.  And so it was true.  Tuesday morning Marianne couldn't find this red monster from her Yo Gabba set.  I was buys getting Kate out the door to school and with Beth and  dishes.  And she got a flashlight and started wondering all around the house saying " Muno"  " Where are you" " I can't find my Muno" so sad and sweet.   Sam started helping as did I searching around the house for Muno.  After some time- Mari had been at it for almost two hours with no luck I decided to use the event to teach them about asking Heavenly Father for help in prayer.  I had faith too that Heavenly Father would help them find it if for no other reason than I had hoped it to be a teaching moment to a sweet three year old girl.  I asked Mari if maybe we should say a prayer.  She jumped up and said " Jesus can find it!"    I realized I didn't need to teach her anything.  He response was so perfect and sweet and pure.  So we knelt in prayer right there in the hallway.  Then I thought we might look in the pile of dolls in her room one more time.  There he was of course.  Muno.  Laying on top of the pile.   And so I helped her kneel again and thank Heavenly Father for helping us.
I send Jake a message saying what a great little teaching moment I had with our incredible kids.
I thought that was the end of this story.

Two days later I got out of the shower to find Sam and Marianne kneeling in Marianne's room while Sam helped her pray to find her tent- another toy I had actually just put away.  They had been looking for it while I was taking a shower and hadn't been able to find it  so they figured instead of hunting around the house for even a minute they should just pray for it.  So I guess my lesson wasn't perfect.  But Sam and Mari's little hearts were.  They were so sweet and cute kneeling there together on their own.   When they told the story to Dad later they didn't think their prayer worked but that mom just knew where the tent was.  I tried to explain that sometimes Heavenly Father answers prayers by sending people to help- but that concept was a bit hard for a three year old and a five year old to grasp I guess.

August 23, 2014

Saturday we dubbed BYU college day.
We loaded the kids up (some dressed in their navy and white on their own) and headed to Provo.
First stop the new BEAN museum.  We went years ago, but it had a huge remodel and was amazing.  Our kids were skipping around gasping in excitment kind of like you hope happens for every outing. Jake and I kept glancing at each other in a "can you believe how perfect this moment it" kind of way.  Nobody was crying or complaining and everyone was excited and happy.
Kate reads the map and tells about what she reads on plaques.
Sam tries to take care of his little sisters and show them things.
Marianne thinks everything is "beautiful" and she say "it's beautiful" in an adorable way.
Bethy points and hyperventalates as she stands right under a giant giraffe.

Some how the Bean museum of dead animals in cases in a better experience than the zoo.
It is closer so no long drive
It is inside- so no heat to worry about.
It is in a building so we don't have to make kids walk, hear them complain about walking, push strollers etc.
It is in a building  and there are only a few families there so the kids get to roam around without being right next to us.
And the animals are withing petting distance and don't bite.
Its all free.
It is a total win.

Next stop the BYU bookstore.  The kids and I find a giant flag to mount on our house for games.  Jake finds himself a new t-shirt.  The kids explore the kid books, mostly the puppets and toys and some books.  Kate finds a book that was mentioned at a school assembly and is super excited.  The kids put on a puppet show for Bethany.  We try not to ruin every display.

Next up the Food Court.  We let the kids pick which ever vendor they want to eat from and then take them to each one.  We end up with mostly Taco Bell and Chik-fil-a.  They like choosing what they want.   And eating at the college.

Fourth stop is the ART museum there.  Also free.  It doesn't hold the kids attention span.  Kate wants to be an artist when she grows up- it seems suiting she should go to an art museum.  There is a costume display with the costumes from all kinds of famous movies like Enchanted and Pirates of Caribbean.  I find it all more interesting than I would have thought.  I catch Sam sitting on a bench pondering a picture of Christ because he is my tender spirit.

Fifth BYU activity for the day. The memorial garden. There is a pond, and some funny sculptures and walkways.  Jake and I wonder why we didn't sneak off during class time at BYU to make out here ever?  The kids run around like crazies thinking the sculptures are made of Lego's.  Everyone is still in a good mood!!!  Kate reminds us we said we were going to do "Several" things at BYU that day.  She says this is only five. We need to do two more.  We remind her the real meaning of several is NOT seven.

Last up- a stop at the BYU creamery.  We let the kids pick any color of ice cream they wish and we eat it outside.  Kate and Sam ask if when they go to college they can walk here and get ice cream.  "Everyday if you want" we reply. Maybe they will go home and dream of going to BYU so they can come to the ice cream place with 80 kinds of ice cream everyday. Kate and Sam ask if they are saving that college money in their accounts for just college and missions, or also for food and ice cream at college.  We tell them all of the above.  They are interested in what you have to buy and how far you have to walk at college.

Some how I didn't get a picture of us in front of the "Y" in the back like I really meant to every time we walked to a new building.

A great day in the place I met my love with all my loves!

August 21 2014

Freeman Family from Cindy Barzee on Vimeo.

We did a lifestyle video a few weeks ago.  I am so in love with how it turned out.  I'm never happy with our family pictures- and maybe that is because I can do family pictures well, or maybe because a family picture can't capture the cute personalities and relationships and emotions like a family video does.  This is the first home movie that has both Jake and I in it and not one of us behind the camera.  

We spend as much of our summer as possible hiking around with all the kids, picnicking in all the special spots we have around town.  So it is a perfect capture of our family!

August 17, 2014

All the kids.  This summer the three oldest have dressed themselves and brushed their own hair most days.  Mostly they look crazy.  They always wear the same shirt they love, or pants with holes.  But it is summer so who cares.  They clean up well for church on Sunday though when I make them.  I love when the girls wear matching clothes too!