First Day of Sixth Grade!

Whether we were ready or not, the first day of sixth grade came.  Thankfully Emma wasn’t too old to have shaped pancakes for breakfast, after all it’s tradition!  This year we had red apples with chocolate chip seeds. 

Emma DID think she was too old for pictures.  Too bad, that’s tradition also!

I did refrain from taking any pictures at the school, I was pretty proud of myself!  Emma was a little nervous on the first day.  We never got the postcard letting us know which teacher she had so she was going to school without knowing which room she was in or who her teacher was.  I knew she would handle it well despite her nerves, and she did.  When we got to school we found out Emma’s homeroom teacher was Mrs. Olsen.  I knew Emma was disappointed because she wanted the other teacher (even though she didn’t know either of them), but she mourned for a few seconds and then took it all in stride.  Isaac and Grace were thrilled to go on the walk to school again and were even more excited to go in the school.  They picked up a few treasures along the way.

When we got home they immediately started playing school and asking me over and over when they would get to ride on a bus.  They asked several times throughout the day where Emma was, but we got right into our own normal schedule and went to storytime at the library. 

I made some edible crayons for Emma and her friends to eat as they walked home from their first day of school.  I met them outside and they all enjoyed the treat as they talked about their day.

Emma came home super excited.  She likes Mrs. Olsen and was happy with her class.  She had all sorts of things to tell me and talked about it all for most of the afternoon.

This year will definitely be different than her other elementary school years.  In an effort to make their 6th grade year as close to being in an actual middle school as possible, they have 5 periods and switch back and forth between the two teachers for each period.  They can’t keep any supplies in their desk.  Instead they keep them in their bags that are in cubbies in the hallway, just like if they had lockers. The other teacher is Mrs. Ward and Emma really likes her and Mrs. Olsen for different reasons.  Both teachers have already offered Emma some extra challenges which makes me happy.  Emma loved one of her first assignments of decorating her composition book with specific pictures about herself.  I loved how it turned out.  She described herself pretty well and we are proud to have her as our daughter…even if we are a little shocked that she is already in 6th grade!!

Back to School Dinner

School started really late this year, September 12th.  Even with the late start date, it still seemed to sneak up on us.  It was hard to believe that we were already having another Back to School Dinner to send Emma off on another school year.

Emma chose the menu again and it was pretty much the same as last year!   She doesn’t get steak very often, so she wisely uses every opportunity she can to have it.  I don’t think Lee will soon live down the steak we ate this year.  He grilled it to perfection, but there was just a LITTLE too much pepper…love you Lee!

It was nice to sit around the table and talk about what was in store this year.  This is definitely her last year in elementary school again and lots of changes will be coming her way as she turns 12 soon.

Some appreciated the pencil favors more than others…

We had a Family Home Evening lesson after our dinner because we would be celebrating Grandpa Mike’s birthday the next night (Monday).  We talked about paying attention, which is very applicable to a certain school age child in our home.  idea and story found here  We discussed how it will help her to pay attention in school as well as in every other part of her life.  Most importantly, we talked about paying attention to the spirit and how that will bless and help us in everything we do.  It was a good discussion and Emma slipped her little reminder into her binder.

After the lesson Lee gave Emma a beautiful back to school blessing.  She was ready for the next day!

First Soccer Game of the Season

Emma’s taking a break from swimming and back on the soccer field.  She’s on a team with most of the same girls she has played with since 3rd grade which makes her happy.  This year they are the Canby Daredevils.  There was a little bit of a coach shortage this year, so the team is being coached by two super nice moms.  Unfortunately they don’t have much experience, so it may be an interesting year.  We’re just glad that somebody is willing to do it and Emma is having fun which is the most important thing.  The first game of the season Emma played forward a lot, but we got to see a little of the defender that we like to watch. 

She’s had several games since that first one, and we have definitely seen The Enforcer come out.  She sure knows how to get in there and get the ball quite often using her hips, and she absolutely knows how to the boot the ball. 

Those last two pictures are my favorite, you can see she just ran that other player down and won the ball.

I love soccer season…that is until it gets rainy and cold.  We will see how it goes with our littlest cheerleaders this year who would much rather play on the playground than cheer…

Summer Randoms

It’s already the end of September and I’m still shocked that the summer is actually over.  I didn’t feel on top of things this summer at all, everything went way too fast.  We didn’t do anything huge or major, but we had a lot of fun and we were extremely busy.  Getting back into the swing of the school year has been shocking, but good.  I definitely like routine and schedule.  But before we leave the summer, here are a few random happenings that I want to record.

QUICK CHANGE  It’s amazing what a little spray paint can do.  Our outdoor lights got a quick change and they look much better!

BOING, BOING, BOING  The trampoline got a lot of use this summer. 

Isaac and Grace love to play Ring Around the Rosies and Duck, Duck, Goose on the tramp…

…and they do a lot of wrestling on it.

PLAYGROUP FUN   We had regular playgroup outings which Isaac and Grace always look forward to.  On this particular day we played water games.

WALKING & BIKING  We went on lots of walks and several bike rides.  Isaac and Grace love to ride in the bike trailer.

FRIENDS  We got to visit with several friends.  My college roommate Tasha and her kids spent the day with us while she was visiting from Utah.  It was so nice to see her and to watch the kids play together.  I could have talked with her for several more days!

PRINCESS PARTY  Grace got to go to a cute little Princess Party, and she couldn’t have been more excited.  At the party she decorated cupcakes, did art projects and listened to princess stories.  It was the subject of her conversations for days afterwards and she still asks if she can go again.  She looked so cute all dressed up.

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT  Emma and I snuck away to our community production of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat for a mommy/daughter date.  We love to go to plays together and this was a fun one.  Lee was still at YW camp, so it was kind of nice to go out with my girl and take a little break.

NATIONAL S’MORES DAY  Did you know that August 10th is National S’mores Day?  We didn’t either…until August 10th.  Who thinks of that stuff?  I wasn’t going to complain, instead I made these s’mores cookies bars.  We LOVED them and made them a couple more times over the summer.  We didn’t need an official day for an excuse to make them!

Service, Soda & Smiles  Our ward held the 4th Annual Service, Soda & Smiles event.  Our friend Heather coordinates many service activities to send to a Vietnamese orphanage and school, as well as items needed for LDS Humanitarian projects.  The kids loved decorating mirrors to send to the orphans.

But I think they had even more fun playing with their friends during the corn feed afterwards and being pulled in a sled by the big kids. 

WATER BOMBS  I made some water bombs out of sponges at the beginning of the summer.  They were a big hit at our house and got a lot of use.  Sponge water bomb fights are much easier than water balloon fights to clean up!

HAIR CLIPS  Emma and her friend Sierra raided my stash of fake flowers and made a bunch of hair clips that they are hoping to sell to friends.  The proceeds will go towards a BYU swimming camp they would like to attend next summer.  Way to be industrious!

PLAY TIME  Of course, our summer was definitely full of play time.  Isaac and Grace are at such a fun, imaginative age.  I especially love it when Emma joins in their fun.

It was a good summer!