back to school

Despite my dragging my heels in the sand, the school year has come.  Yesterday was the first official day of school, but Jack's day was only an hour. So today was my first day with my kiddos off and me and Katie (and Zach) hanging around.


Ana is in 2nd grade. I can't believe it. She had a good first and second day and she loves her teacher this year. She doesn't tell me much about school and never really has. It comes out in little snippets. But I did hear her say that school has been really good so far.

And here is our little Kindergartener. Jack is especially excited to have his good friend from Church in his class.  (And we are too.) Jack loved his first full day.  I am excited for all this little guy is going to learn this year, but I will miss him. He's been my little buddy and it is strange not to have him around.

Monday night we had our traditional back to school fashion show along with a special family home evening. My kids really look forward to this FHE. After the fashion show and a lesson,  Dave gave the kids blessings.  Even Katie wanted one too and it was so cute to peek at her sitting so reverently in the chair.  It is such a special thing for our family. We can really feel the Spirit in our home.

And just for good measure, here is the little girl who gets to stay home with me.  I may just spoil her rotten.

 

photo credit: Ana

summer wrap up

Man. Summer flew. It always does. And as it was possibly my last summer in Vermont, I am especially sad to see it go. As wonderful as fall is here, sometimes summer gets overlooked, but man is it wonderful here.  I didn't write about half the things we did. Let me explain.

No; there is too much. Let me sum up.

1.) Weekly trips to the beach.

 Photo Credit: my friend Jill

2.) Ana's birthday party

3.) Camping with the Morey's

4.) A visit from my amazing oldest sister and 3 of her beautiful daughters.

5.) Jack learning to ride a bike

6.) Shelburne Museum

7.) Moss Glen Falls with our great friends. 

Not to mention play groups and the farmer's market and the slip n' slide and bike rides and visits to the farm. I'm probably missing something. And tomorrow we are going to the fair.  Perhaps some of these will be expounded upon sometime.  There was also stuff we didn't do that I wanted to: go to a baseball game, go blueberry picking, and camp in Maine.

School starts tomorrow. I think I am ready....

God be with you til we meet again

This is a very awkward photo I took with my kids and Dad and Grandma Phippen right before we moved to Vermont.

Today was my Grandma Phippen's funeral. She passed away last weekend at the age of 93. She had a hard life, and I am glad that she is finally at peace. I wish I could have been there today, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings peace in knowing that I will see her again.

Things I remember:

*For a lot of years I got birthday card from Grandma with five dollars inside. She couldn't give much, but she did what she could.

*She always wore shoes. Even in the house, which I thought was strange. She also insisted that we wore shoes all the time. I suppose Grandma had days when shoes were a luxury and she never took them for granted.

*Grandma loved sports. When I visited her as a young girl clear up to when she lived at my parent's house, she always had a game on TV.  I like sports, too, so I guess that's something we have in common.


I am glad I stopped to see her in May when we visited. She didn't remember me, though after a while she remembered that my husband was tall and going to medical school.  My sister wrote a touching tribute to Grandma back in July.  Rest in Peace, Grandma.

out the mouths of babes

My kids in a big chair at Shelburne Museum. I {heart} them.

There is something about the way a 2-year-old says things that just can't help but bring a smile.  Lately Katie has been saying all sorts of cute things. Like:

"That's awesome!" (After riding her trike down a slightly inclined drive way.  Also said when she saw that Ana painted Dave's fingernails pink.)

"I'm a princess!" (while she was twirling in her frilly pink skirt and tiara.)

"I'm tickling you, Mama." (I was on my hands and knees mopping the floor and she was climbing on my back with her hands wrapped around my waist.)


Of course, sometimes a 7-year-old can say things that surprise you too.

Ana had her first big bike crash today and when we asked her what happened she answered,  "I was riding with my eyes closed and swerving and snoring like I was asleep." (I guess she was getting tired...)

Also, a few weeks ago I was telling Jack that he can't take things that don't belong to him. I told him that stealing is against the law. Ana chimed in, "Yeah. The cops will take you to Juvie!" .... Uh, what? I laughed right out loud and asked her where she heard about that. (I guess there was a kid her in class whose Dad was a cop.)


Never a dull moment!

mixed emotions

 1.) Even though it means summer is ending, and I was slightly panicky when I saw them on display at our local (crappy) Wal-Mart, I love buying school supplies. Seriously. My kids' school provides all school supplies except a backpack and lunch box and I still buy loads of crayons, glue, markers and notebooks. I mean, come on, crayons are only 50 cents a box. Notebooks are 17 cents. I love stocking my house full of school supplies.

2.) While we were out running errands the other day, Jack and I picked out some school clothes for him. He is so excited for Kindergarten and asks me almost daily how many weeks until it starts. I can't believe he is starting kindergarten! He and I have always been little buddies and it will be so strange to not have him home. I get weepy just thinking about it.

3.) On the other hand, Jack is so ready to go to Kindergarten. He has always been my little "routine" kid and my fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants style doesn't sit well with him. When he knows his expectations and what comes next he thrives! I am so excited for him to grow and learn. 

4.) Summer is wonderful and beautiful here, and I am not ready for it to be over. I feel frantic about it, quite frankly. I had goals and plans and ideas of how I was going to be the worlds best mommy this summer and I feel like time has slipped through my fingers like sand at the beach. I'm not ready for structure. I'm not ready to send the kids back. I'm not ready for cold weather. I want time to screech to a halt.

5.) On the other hand, maybe a routine is just what I need to kick myself into gear and to finally feel like I have a handle on things.When I get up and get going in the morning I get so much accomplished. I am a much better mother when I am productive. When things have order I am calmer and more likely to sit down and play or read or snuggle my kids.



Time marches on, doesn't it. Excuse me while I go have a panic attack.

two

There are two things that I get compliments on *more than anything else.

1.) My Nutella t-shirt.


2.)  Katie.

Everyone tells me she is adorable, so I know my affinity for her is more than just parental bias. People are drawn to her. Even at 2, I think she is more popular than I will ever be. The older kids love her. She has Daddy wrapped around her little finger. I am trying my darnedest not to give in to her every whim. And she is now TWO! I can't imagine our family without her.

(The girls wanted to have a princess party for her. They got all dolled up and fawned over her. It was so fun to have cousins here. )

That isn't to say that it is all roses and bliss. She is, after all, a two year old. There is plenty of dumping out cups and getting into the fridge and drawing all over herself. I think her favorite word is "Mine!"  And, of course, she doesn't sleep. She also talks a blue streak, loves reading books and can even sing the ABCs. She always says "my fav'rite color" when she sees something pink, though that is the only color she knows very consistently. She knew her birthday was "Augus fird" and she proudly declares that she is 2. She loves so play in mud and dirt, but she manages to be very dainty and delicate while she does it.

Before Katie was born I often wondered if she would be like Ana or Jack, because they are so different from each other. She has managed to be right in the middle. Like Ana, she is petite, acrobatic and social. Like Jack she is a bit nervous (of things like animals and jumping on trampoline and new foods), an early talker/walker, and sensitive. Mostly, she is her own little person and we love her.

It will be strange to just have her and me here at home in a few weeks when school starts. We love our little Katie babe.

 And, speak of the devil, I can hear her waking up.

*This might be slightly hyperbolic. But seriously, every time I wear my nutella shirt someone compliments it. I've decided that if I need to boost my confidence, I just need to wear that in public. And also, everyone loves Katie.

laugh : (mini-challenge #5)

Friday was the last of my mini-challenges. Now, granted, this week was a little skewed because - let's face it - I can't be gloomy when in the company of my sisters. On Friday Kelli and I loaded up the kids and headed down to the Ben and Jerry's factory - about a 40 minute drive. The kids were in somewhat close quarters so, of course, there was whining coming from the back seat. I was driving, and Kelli was pulling out every trick in her 18-years-of-motherhood book, but to know avail. At one point it seemed we were going to be successful with the "I'm going to Ben and Jerry's and I am bringing something that begins with the letter A... etc." game, but it ended in hysterics at the letter D. Kelli and I just looked at each other and started laughing. There was nothing else to do. If I was on my own, I probably would have started yelling, but laughing worked out so much better. We were soon at our destination, and good times were had by all.

The same technique worked again on Saturday when I caught a certain child with crumbs down their front while insisting that it was their sibling that got into Katie's birthday cake while it was cooling. With a "Grr..." I went huffing downstairs when Kelli's daughter said, "Our Mom 'Grrs' at us too." And then once again we started to laugh. And then we realized that we get it from our mother and that at least one other sister also "Grrs" at their kids. Even though I was still annoyed about Katie's deformed cake, life moved on, Katie didn't care and I felt much happier having taken a moment to laugh.

Granted, it is a lot easier to laugh with someone. I'll have to try this challenge again when I am on my own. (Perhaps I should have tried it today when I was taking a screaming Jack out of Sacrament Meeting during a prayer. ... )


Overall, I feel much happier this week. I would say my mini-challenges were a success.  I think it was a good way to kick-start a path to a happier mood. Every person has down times and good times, seasons of sorrow and seasons of joy. I don't mean to say that we can't or shouldn't feel down or sad sometimes. Sometimes the best thing is a good cry. It is great to know, however, that I have power within me to get myself out of a rut and to feel better. 

just add music : (mini challenge #4)

Thursday my sis came to town. She brought 3 of her kids and it was a party. I loved having her here. Thursday morning I was trying to get the house straightened up and I started to feel stressed. My to-do list was running through my head. I thought I was managing it pretty well until Dave called and wanted to switch up the day a bit. Suddenly my stress level started rising. Until I remembered my mini-challenge #4 : Turn on some good tunes and sing and dance.  So that's what I did. Pretty soon the stress began to dissipate.  True, the house didn't get nearly as clean as I would have liked, but it is my sister, after all, and she still loves me. Heck, she even helped me clean it up a bit, which I really appreciated. Nothing like uplifting music to clear the cobwebs our our souls.