Why I love Fall

For me fall includes: pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting, raking leaves as a family and watching the kids jump in them, wearing jeans every day, taking Sunday naps in the sunny spot in my front room (maybe that's more winter-time), hot chocolate, watching the leaves change color every day, my birthday, going to the Barnyard Boo at Thanksgiving Point, picking out pumpkins at a pumpkin patch, hanging out with friends outside while it's still nice outdoors, and all yummy warm baked goods.

Last weekend we attended Bryan's annual work party. There were maybe 40 people in attendance: 5 partners, 6 associates, 3 secretaries and their families. We meet in someone's house with a huge backyard and play games, hire a balloon artist, eat yummy food and mingle. I think everyone had a great time and I loved ending up with yummy leftovers.

Home School Rocks!

Right now our plan is to homeschool Emily 3 mornings a week. I set up a little area in the basement with two kids' desks. Monday and Wednesday is just Em and I and on Thursdays Ashley joins us. Each day Emily goes to Adelaide school for lunch and the afternoon. Although, we've done it for 5 days now and each day is completely different. Yesterday we cancelled home school b/c Em wanted it and today we cancelled Adelaide b/c I wanted to.

Today was the best day by far. Em, Ash and I started with our regular routine: prayer, calendar (telling time, patterns), writing (Ash wrote d and 4 and Emily wrote the date 2 different ways), recess (girls roller skated), math (Aaron went down for a nap and we learned about $.23 and measuring), snack w/ reading (sandwiches, pears and Dr. Doolittle) and then took a lunch/play break. I love being able to see success at every event! Then we went to the library and picked up books on Autumn, Rosh Hashannah and space (all things Emily is interested in). Then onto Marie Callenders restaurant with Bryan, where we learned about manners and what is involved in eating out. We ate our early dinner at 4 in a near empty restaurant and had a great time. Then home for Emily's Adelaide homework, followed by piano lessons for both girls. It was so successful and fulfilling to me- a day to be remembered.

Especially when I went in yesterday to Em's school class to volunteer and she behaved horribly during the hour I was there. I was worried I was messing her up being in home school b/c now she doesn't know how to sit still. Afterwards I asked her about it and she said she was bored b/c she knew everything in there already; which was true.

I am thinking about signing Emily up for swim lessons on Mon and Wed mornings while Aaron and I do a mom & tot class. The only problem is that Ashley would be missing out b/c she'd be in her preschool. Ah the dilemma of too many fun educational things to fit in. The girls are involved with 'Up With Kids'- a dance, singing and acting class where they will be performing "Alice in Wonderland" in the spring. They have been twice and both love it!

Aaron our sailor man.

Triathalon Results

I did my first triathalon Labor Day Monday September 6th at South Davis Rec. Center.

SWIM,

There were 6 lengths of the pool to swim, totaling 150 yards. I've swam laps twice since 2004 so I wasn't prepared for this part. I think I did okay- at least I didn't stop or drown.

(Transition)

I was worried about how it would be to change events, run bare foot from the pool, factor in the cold (50's) while wet, if I would forget something, etc. It all worked out pretty good.

BIKE,

I've owned my bike for 3 weeks or so now and been on a bike 4-5 times this year. Included was 1 pretty decent fall, which did not include stitches but multiple bandages and bruises on elbows and legs. The 2.5 mile ride was pretty good. The hardest part of the race was my breathing. After getting out of the pool I was panting hard and never seemed to catch my breath the whole race. I got passed by 4 people.

& RUN

This was the part I felt the most comfortable doing. I have been running 2-3 miles a couple days a week most of the summer. I passed 3 people. I still had a hard time breathing. At the finish line I thought someone was catching me and hauled in to find that no one was there.

OVERALL

I did it 31:06 minutes. I had anticipated doing it in around 40-45 minutes so I am pleased I did better than that. I ended up placing 1st in my division {Novice, Women, age 16 and older.} Pretty good considering I didn't really train for 2 of the 3 events. I think I will do it again next year with a friend, more swimming practice and keep the same distances. Bryan was awesome to get up early and get the kids all ready to come and cheer me on. I won an engraved hammer for my prize and everyone got a tape measure. You know- for Labor Day. Since we're celebrating... labor?

Ashley & Education

My sweet Ashley is 4, almost 4 1/2 and she is shy. I have a neighbor who likes to tease kids and calls my girls "boys" when he sees them. Emily gets the joke and thinks it's silly. Ashley avoids him, and all other similar embarrassing situations, with her head down and a straight face.

Today Aaron, she and I were on my bed giving Aaron his morning bottle (yes he will be 15 months this week and still takes bottles). She and I sang 2.5 songs to him before he squirmed away. I then held Ashley and sang her 1.5 songs before she informed me that, "That is enough singing mom." I told her to sing to me and she said she couldn't because I wasn't a kid. I told her that I was still a person and that I would love it if she would sing to me. She said she was too scared. I asked her if it was because she would forget the words or I would tease her, etc. She said she thought she might forget the words. (The song I requested was either Twinkle, Twinkle or ABCs song).

I told her of a few times when I have been nervous scared and told her that some people call that feeling butterflies-in-your-stomach because it feels all jumbly in there. She told me that it feels more like dragonflies.... with butterflies.... and sometimes also ladybugs. No wonder she's so shy. I'd feel shy too if I had all those bugs in there acting up.

Here is Emily on her first morning of public school first grade on August 23rd. We thought her teacher was Miss Ryan whom she knew and was happy about. We got to school and discovered she was put in a new teacher's class Mrs. Gleed. She handled it fine and thinks it's funny b/c she is in the same room as she was in Kindergarden.

She likes school okay although did come home complaining for the 3rd time that she had to sit still for so long watching cartoons. Yep you heard it. My first grader is bored watching cartoons at school. Thank you public education. Emily doesn't love getting up early in the mornings, but does love riding her bike to and from school which we have been able to do a lot of thanks to my friend Becky and her jogging stroller (in this picture too). Bryan and I are still going forward with our decision to part time homeschool Emily starting Sept 13th for three mornings a week. We feel it will be good b/c 1) Emily has a hard time staying focused/staying on task. With this challenge she gets ‘lost’ during assignments and can tends to rush to complete assignments resulting in poor work quality. 2) She has a very creative and bright mind and we would like challenge her and enrich her education by studying at home. 3) We would like to take a more active role in her education.

I have loved purchasing education math supplies for the last few weeks. I am excited to try it out. If it fails and she hates we are not opposed to sending her back and if she loves it, I am not opposed to having her stay home most of the time.

I can't say for sure what made us decide this. Factors include: I've always like the idea of homeschooling, Bryan switching from strong objections to strong support for, numerous people telling us their ideas on why homeschooling worked for them, but I guess the most exciting one to me what the day I found out you can part time homeschool. The day I called the district office (with butterflies in my stomach) and they told me it was no big deal to part time enroll and I only had to submit a 1 page form, I was giddy with excitement.

I did some school stuff with my kids this summer and I also try to do something every day after school. I am so comfortable in pulling out books and helping her with language. It takes more effort in math, which is where Emily needs some help, so it will be a good challenge for me to think math and push her learning more that direction for a while.

Anyone for tea?

Our neighbors/friends the Lees invited our girls over for a Tea/Garden Party. They had lunch, colored, made and ate dessert all in their loveliest clothes. I think there were maybe 9 little girls as guests in all with 2 grandmas, Kristi the mom, her sister and a sleeping toddler to make it all a successful event. The girls loved it and are already excited about doing it again next year. The table decorations and every detail were just lovely. Emily called herself 'Madame' and it fit in very nicely with the Fancy Nancy book we had been enjoying that morning.

Family

More Party pics

Party with the Fosters at our house on Sunday evening. They brought some new clothes for the girls and Emily was wearing a beautiful purple ballerina outfit that we didn't want to get dirty from cake so she put on her 'paint shirt' to keep it clean while we ate.

At the friend party the next week we had a combined party with Nathan. I am proud of my Hello Kitty cake masterpiece. The girls helped me decide on colors and shapes as I went along. We had a pirate party and did face painting on the kids. Emily decided on a blue beard and earrings to match. Other kids had eye patches, anchors, cats, mustaches, etc. We played duck duck goose changed to rrr, rrr, matey and when you tagged the person you dumped water on their body.