Back to school, plus a bit of fun!

Casey had to head back to work on the 15th. He was my hero and took Kendal to cross country each morning at 7, then he stayed to work on his classroom and lesson plans before he was stuck in meetings and training's the rest of the day. Casey got put in a new classroom this year so he had to add some things make it look better. He's also had to revamp his lesson plans to fit the newly changed state standards for school. Kendal's school grade is the biggest the school has ever had, but Casey says they had a decent first week and he's looking forward to this year. He likes that Kendal is willing to participate in class. 

I had book club on the 16th at Joy's house. We read Wish you well. It's a historical fiction novel, a bit sad, but a decent read. I went back to work on the 17th. I had meetings the first day, a work day on Thursday, and meetings on Friday. My first week back to work was a busy one. Not really with student's (till Friday), but I had to input all of the students into classes online, set up 1st through 2nd grade kids into the AR system, and print out the whole schools library cards, plus a slew of other odds and ends. I had my last hike around Dirkies on the 18th with Shaylah. Shaylah, Katelyn, often Breah, and I would do the hike around Dirkies twice a week at 6:30 in the morning. It was some good exercise this summer with some good friends. 

Kendal started cross country on the 15th. Her first week of practices were all at 7 in the morning. Kendal wasn't looking forward to tons of running, but she says it's going good so far. She's got a few good friends on the team and that's making her experience even better. Her second week of practice and on are in the afternoon. It's hot for these kids to run in and Kendal is drinking a lot more water to keep hydrated and going during practice. Kendal was so excited to have school start. She was helpful watching Alice and Peter while Casey and I worked the week leading up to school. She stepped up and we're grateful for her help. Kendal's back to school night was the 22nd. I took her after cross country practice and she was all a twitter going around the school. She insisted on staying with her dad while I went home to make dinner. She's enjoying school so far and loves that she get's to have Casey this year for school. This semester for one of her class periods she is an office aid. She says she runs a ton of errands, but likes doing it all. Kendal has been practicing a piano piece for a couple of months and finally got to play it in sacrament meeting today. Casey took her to practice yesterday at the church. She did an amazing job and received many compliments on her wonderful performance. 

 

Peter was the least excited to go back to school. Not that he wasn't looking forward to it, mostly because he didn't want to loose his laid back, friend filled days of summer. He and Alice had back to school night on the 18th. He has Mrs. Heimdal this year. While he grumbled his best friends aren't in his class this year, he had a good first week of school. He's been a great help with Alice and the other little kids at school. He's really helpful and is so kind to others. Peter got to go to Kyler's birthday party last weekend. They had a late night birthday party where the boys played night games and watched a movie in the backyard. Sadly there's no fall soccer this year so Peter is out of a fall sport. He's not making a big deal out of it, but I know having a sport sure helps sometimes with his energy and focus. Peter's happy that the days are still warm and he can go out with friends after school. He still found a few days this past week to go swimming in the Dansie's pool before they "shut it down" for the rest of the year. Peter got to join Casey at the football game on Friday night. Usually he finds some friends to hang out with, but there seemed to be slim picking's that night so mostly he got snacks and hung out with Casey up in the booth (where Casey was helping spot and name players for the announcer).

 

I got a call the week before school that Alice would be placed in half day Kindergarten because that class was so small. I said all along we'd go with whatever so that's what we'll do this school year. Alice got one of my favorite teacher's, Mrs. Huffstetler, so I'm really happy about that. She also has Ava in her class and a few other kids that she knows through church and her preschool. Alice was a ball of energy at back to school night and was literally jumping with joy being there. Alice was all confidence going into her first day of school. She's been ready for so long and was all smiles her first day. I got to take her (and a handful of other scattered kids) into the kindergarten classes their first day. She did great and had a wonderful first week of school. She is the first in the alphabet in her class and has gotten to be line leader most of the week. Thursday she was made queen for the day and got to help out with a few extra things in her class. She doesn't have a ton to say about her school days, but what little she says she says with enthusiasm! 

 

We had a ward party on the 19th at the Harris Pond in Burley. We've been there a few times with Rhett and Aria, but we haven't been in quite a few years. The kids had the best time! They swam, did the zip line over the pond, rode on paddle boards, and canoes. It was just a great finish to our summer holiday and a great night with ward friends. 

 

The Dansie's held their second annual kids triathalon on the 20th. We headed over to Dirkies to do the swimming first. Kendal was in the "big kid" league with the middle school on up age kids, Peter was in the middle group with the 8-12 kids (which ended up being all boys), and Alice was in the 1st grade on down group (which ended up being all girls). Peter did the best in swimming - we could tell he'd had lessons this summer. Kendal was slower, (didn't do swim this summer) but she had to go the longest distance with the older kids. Both the big kids and middle group swam through a little school of fish and most were not happy about it. (we adults had a good laugh at their reactions though. ; ) Alice did not want to get in the water and have seaweed touch her. We made her get in, but she basically clung to life on Breah all the way down her little path. We let the kids goof off in the water a bit after our swim races. Alice was still being a pill about the water so Casey ended up throwing her in a couple of times (life jacket securely on of course) showing her she could really do it on her own - which she did - just unhappily. We made it back to the Dansie's house afterwards and the kids had their bike race next. The middle, and big group of kids had to go on a 5 mile bike ride, while the little's went on one mile around the neighborhood. After that the big kids ran around ballard's way and the little kids ran around their little loop in the neighborhood. Kendal and Peter were in the middle of the pack with the kids they went with. Alice wasn't really having it and was pretty much last in her two events at there. Afterwards we all had a bbq at the Dansie's and the kids played in the pool a bit. 

 

 

Last night the Dansie's had their back to school outdoor movie night. We went as it was getting dark and watched Princess bride with as well as enjoyed (too many) treats. 

Love these three! They'll have a great school year!

Summer days drifting away

 Alice and Peter finished their swim lessons last week. Alice passed off all of her needed skills to pass her preschool swim class. She gained a lot of confidence in the water and improved overall. Peter is already really good at swimming so this year was more adding to his stroke skills, and treading skills. His favorite was the last couple of days that they focused on dives and being in the deep pool. 

We finally talked Alice into riding her bike. She spent a couple of days making Casey go out with her and has been doing very well since on her own. She's had a couple of good falls, but is doing so good!

We headed down to Utah on the 5th. We were going for Andy's surprise 40th birthday on Saturday and decided to add a day down there to add some more fun to the kids' summer. We met Katherine, Andy, and Campbell at City Creek for lunch, then we went over to the family history center with the kids. They liked the interactive things around the center. Their favorite thing was a station that compared your face to others. So those of us connected to our family history accounts had faces of family. We did each other and it also pulled up random people we looked like. After that we all met up with David, Anica, and their boys to go to Hogle Zoo. We haven't been since Pete was two so it was fun to take our kids. It drizzled off and on the whole afternoon, but that didn't deter us much. We couldn't ride the train because of the rain, however the kids did get to go on the Carousel. Alice adored anything that was or looked like a baby animal. She was hoping to see a Cheetah, but decided the baby zebra and turtles were a good second. Kendal enjoyed all of the animals (but talked of the zebra and gorillas the most). Peter liked the bears and bigger animals as well as the small reptile area. When we finished at the zoo we ate dinner at a busy Costa Vida and bid farewell to everyone for the night. We made our way to our hotel and took the kids swimming for a while. Casey grabbed some ice cream at a Freddy's (that shared a parking lot with our hotel) and we ate our treat before going to bed for the night. 

Saturday morning we packed up after breakfast and took the kids back into Salt Lake to the Planetarium / Science center. We went last year, and the kids had just as much fun this year going around and enjoying all of the interactive games and stations. We spent just under 2 hours there then headed down to Centerville to Andy's surprise party. We met at a park and had lunch together with family and Andy's friends. Afterwards we went over to Andy's house to spend the afternoon together. The kids played all around and watched a movie together. We had a delicious dinner and headed to my parents house to spend the night. 

Sunday we went to Sacrament meeting with my parents and Katherine and then headed over to visit with Nana. I'm grateful for the moments we get with her knowing her time has its limits. We spent the rest of the day at my parents the kids played and we went over house details with my dad. (He's been our life savor and is gathering people, info, and all of the things we'll need to build. It's been a lot of work for him so far with more to go, but we are forever grateful for all that he is doing for us.) David, Anica, and the boys came over for desert and we let the kids play a bit before we headed home Sunday evening. 

Kendal had volleyball tryouts Monday through Wednesday this past week. There were 32 girls trying out and they told the girls there would be 10 cut. Kendal put her all in but didn't end up making the cut. The coach praised her overall skills, attitude, and work ethic, but in the end her serves let her down. Kendal anticipated being cut based on the fact that her grade has a lot of talent and she knows her serving limits. She shed a tear or two and handled being cut with a lot of grace. We are proud of her for putting herself out there and trying out for the team. Kendal has decided to join Cross Country. She has a few friends on the team and is looking forward to this new adventure! Kendal helped out on the 4th and the 8th giving new middle school kids tours of the school. She loved doing it and is looking forward to continuing to work on the Sources of Strength (SOS) committee this school year. 

We had a more laid back week. The kids played with friends, and we enjoyed some lazy days before the school and hopefully house consume our time in the coming months. Casey and Kendal got to got with the youth to the Stedman Slides on Tuesday afternoon. Alice, Peter and I had an easy night and had a fun dinner and show. We met with the bank to get things rolling financial wise for the house, only to find out the same day that they still anticipate lots not being available for another 45 days (we were promised July initially). (Apparently it's been Idaho Power that's held things up for weeks.) We feel like were running an uphill race and our hill has turned into a mountain we can't seem to make any progress on. It's discouraging on many levels, but as with many things we hope and we wait. Casey made some sourdough bread this week because we had to have some with my Mom's amazing jam that she sent home with us. I decided to make an apple pie with the sourdough discard. It was so yummy; I've been wanting to make one since pioneer day! Alice got to go spend an afternoon out in Filer on Tuesday for Jemma's birthday party. Apparently the two were best buddies the whole time and loved being together. Alice also got to have a play date with her preschool friends on Wednesday. Clara, Ava, and McCall. She had a great time and had missed her buddies this summer. I took Kendal and Hope to the mall Friday morning to shop. They ogled over the cute things around the mall, and bought birthday presents for Netta and some jewelry and hair clips for school. That night Kendal went to Netta's birthday party to watch a movie and spend time with friends! 

(We were excited to see some sidewalk going down in the subdivision; just didn't know yet that we still have a ways to go to buy it. . . progress is progress I guess. Nevertheless we like to drive by "our dirt" a couple times a week and just hope and see how things are going.)

We decided to end our week with a mini adventure and we took the kids to the Shoshone and Mammoth Caves. First we went to the Shoshone Ice caves.The little shop and museum weren't anything special, but the kids liked finding rocks around from people who had crushed geode rocks. The ice cave was neat. We got a tour from a little high school gal that gave us a history of the caves and it's ice and even sang us Amazing Grace to showcase the acoustics in the cave. We were 150 feet below the surface and there was about 20 feet of solid ice bellow the walkway we were on. Afterwards we went over to see the Mammoth Cave. First we did a tour of their Bird and Wildlife museum. It was a building turned maze packed full of taxidermied animals, birds, and a lot of artifacts, fossils, and historical items. To put it mildly it was creepy being surrounded by a maze of dead / stuffed creatures. Casey was the most interested (especially with fossils, bones, and historical stuff; but it was just so overwhelmingly packed even he didn't enjoy it after a bit. After the "museum" we went down into the cave. The kids weren't as happy with this cave because there were no lights in the cave (just lanterns we got for the tour) and we were on our own to wander around. It was only half a mile in and then another half mile out, but the kids were more anxious in that cave then the other.  We ended our trip with some ice cream in Shoshone. Casey, Kendal, and Peter got "small" ice cream cones (small meaning the ice cream was as tall as Alice's head). Alice and I got junior cones that were taller than any ice cream you'll find anywhere. 

(Over 90 degrees and she insisted on wearing her cold things around before we went into the ice cave.)

(Only picture at Mammoth. I was avoiding eye contact with all of the stuffed birds and animals and too distracted to care about pictures.) 

This week were back to work (Casey tomorrow, me Wednesday) Kendal starts Cross Country tomorrow, and the kids have back to school night on Thursday! Our Summer days are drifting away and school is fast approaching.