Question of the Day

Rebekah is taking the SAT's soon (she's already taken the PSAT - the practice one - twice.) When you register for the SAT you can choose an option of having a "question of the day" e-mailed to you. As a parent, you can also have them e-mailed to your inbox.

I decided I would do it, so I would be reminded of them and follow up on Rebekah's preparation. It has been quite the ego booster. I am delighted to announce that I am acing them! I realize, that at my age and education level, I should expect nothing less. However, it also gives a small pie chart in the corner that reports the percentage of correct responses. America, we're in trouble. There are some very basic language questions that a lot of people are getting wrong.

College Board, may I suggest we have high school students sign up for this as freshmen (9th grade) and have 3 + years of practicing these before they actually take it? Maybe even get middle school students to try them out. Not only would we likely see an increase in SAT scores, but we would have a nation of well spoken citizens, and that has to be a good thing.

Laundry Day (again)

To My Darling Husband,

Thank you so much for the break. I really needed it. Marrying you was the best decision I've ever made! Now I feel ready to get over the denial that summer is over & get this house (& family) whipped into shape and into our new routine.

You are the most wonderful Dad. Thanks for taking such good care of the kids, and for taking them to soccer & the zoo. They had so much fun with you.

Maybe I could just make one suggestion. Vanilla ice cream is ALWAYS better than chocolate - because you know only half of it makes it into their mouths!

T.

Hanging by a Thread

My poor blog is seriously neglected.

So many things from summer I want to post. So many things from the past few weeks.

We should probably not even mention my even more neglected meal planning blog!

We got home from our trip 3 weeks ago. Rick went camping with Emily. The car went in for repair - twice. I got it detailed. Then the whole family took it camping. Four of us got coughs & colds. Which was followed by 3 of the kids getting the "throw ups." I've been to the dentist 5 times. School started. Piano started. Swimming started. Bek got the lead in the school play (again - way to go bek!) - so rehearsals have started. Early morning seminary started. I signed Jane up for story time at the library. We started construction on the side of the house. I started a serious exercise program. It's almost midnight & I haven't even seen Rick today (I was still sleeping when he left at 5:45am this morning.) The house is a disaster and the laundry is piled up everywhere.

AAAAAGGGGHHH!

The one thing that has not started is pre-school. Well, they started on Monday, but both just went for an hour. The rest of this week Jane is still in "phase-in" so she just goes an hour a day - which, quite frankly, is more annoying than if she were just home because they start at 12:30, Jane finishes at 1:30 and then Jacob finishes at 3. Pretty much not enought time to go anywhere, but sit in the car and answer e-mails on my phone. Next week they'll be up to regular time & I'll get a "breather" Monday, Wednesday & Friday afternoons.

Maybe then I'll manage to get a little blogging done....... After I figure out what's going on with the pictures!

First day of Pre-School

Jacob and Jane are back at the same pre-school this year. Jacob is old enough to go to kindergarten, but he's a late birthday and I have been really pleased with both of my girls being one of the older one's in their class, so am keeping him out for another year. I think the year will help him mature a little more and give him more time to continue to develop his relationship with Jane. Also, I'm not ready to give him up yet. Once they start school - that's it. They spend most of every day with someone else. I miss my girls while they are at school, and from the perspective of a mother who has a child not too far off from college - it will speed by. I'm so happy to have this extra year to savor a little more time with my boy.

Most pre-schools only offer 5 days a week for a pre-kindergartener, but the one my kiddo's go to gives a 3 day option. (It's one of the reasons I choose it.) Jacob and Jane both went there 2 mornings a week last year and I was pleased with it, so they are back. This year they are going Mon, Wed, Friday and in the afternoon. I wanted to have "Miss Dee" for Jacob's teacher. She is the director of the pre-school and only teaches in the afternoons. Jacob and Jane swim on Monday and Wednesday mornings, so it actually is working out to have 3 busier days for them and 2 with more down time.

Two of Jacob's friends (Jack and Stella) are in his class, so we have a nice car pool set up where I only drive them and pick them up one day a week. Jane and Stella are best friends, but all 3 of them play together a lot, Jacob is planning on marrying Stella!

I thought it was super sweet as we started walking towards school she reached out and took his hand.

Then Jane joined them. I'm so glad these girls have Jacob to help them out at school.

Ready for the new school year!

I knew Jacob would love his class. He is super social & loves to be with other kids. he also loves Miss Dee & she is perfect for him. He also has jack & Stella in his class - so I knew he'd have a blast.

They are in the same class, and Jane is in the younger one. We talked a lot a to Jane before school started, because I knew it would be hard for her to see the two of them go into a different class than she did - but it has been working out pretty well. Jane has "Miss Jackie" as her teacher. She taught Jacob last year & is very nice.

I left her happily playing at the water table and left for 2 hours of kid free productivity!

Third Grade

School started right after we got back from our summer vacation. I can't believe that Emily is in third grade, it really feels like she just started kindergarten!

What a cutie pie. I love Emily's smile (it goes with her attitude.)

 

I took her the first day, so I could line up on the playground with her & meet her teacher and see who was in her class this year. Emily was really happy to see several friends in her class this year.

 

Then she followed her teacher inside.

 

It's always very exciting (and nerve wracking) for them - but it's really just a little bit sad for me. I miss my kids when they are in school. I have a hard time saying goodbye to summer and realizing that it will be a while before I have them all to myself again (thank goodness for mid-year breaks.)

Have a great year Emily!

Urinetown

Ok, I confess.
I am currently unable to keep up with my own life.
The one I created. The children I bore. The activities I signed up for.
Sigh.

So my blog is totally neglected - which I wouldn't care about, except it is a great way to keep a record for my kids and keep in touch with far away friends and family. I hope to regroup, get back to being organized and catch up the blog. Eventually.

Until then, I had to let you know that tonight is opening night for

It's all we've been thinking / talking / singing about over at our place.
If you live near me head over to the High School for some great entertainment
and to see bek in action!

Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Sunday at 2pm.
Tickets available at the door - but they're already 1/2 sold with advance sales, so be early to be sure you get a seat.

You're awesome bek!

Bek's Play

Rebekah has the lead in the school comedy. She loves being in the Players Club, and has worked very hard over the past few months.

Here's a recent promo that was sent around -

Something funny is going on at the High School auditorium as the Players Club prepare to for one of their most popular annual events, the fall comedy. This year, the Players are presenting Carlo's Goldoni's, "The Servant of Two Masters" AND an 8 minute version of Hamlet entitled "Green Eggs and Hamlet." The cast isn't letting any info out, but we do know they have been rehearsing stage combat with swords and juggling meatballs.

The show is Friday, November 21st & Saturday, November 22nd at 7:30 pm. HOWEVER- this year's comedy is being presented in the form of Italian Street theater and will actually be in progress from the moment the doors open at 7pm, with citizens of Venice prepare for the arrival of the Players. Tickets are $6.00 for students and $8.00 for adults. Seating is general admission.

The show is tonight & tomorrow night. If you live around here - don't miss it.

BREAK A LEG BEK!

Cool Moves

Link to bek's blog (on my sidebar) & scroll down to "Coming Soon" to see her learning to sword fight for her upcoming lead roll in the school play. Pretty sweet!

1st Day of Nursery School

Big news at our house. Jacob & Jane started nursery school!

I've never sent any of my kids to school as young as Jane. I have typically done a co-op year first, 2 mornings a week 2 yrs before kindergarten, then 3 mornings a week the year right before kindergarten - and that's what Jacob is doing. Really it's not a break for me (and heaven knows I need a break) without Jane going too and she adores her "boy" and would be so sad if he went without her - so she'll just have an extra year of 3 mornings a week.

The "1st Day Pose."

They are such great buddies, I am so glad they have each other. Their cute little classrooms are right next to each other. Jacob will always be just one year ahead of Jane in school, and I'm so glad that she'll have her big brother to watch out for her.

"Hey guys, lets take a cute picture of you together on your first day of school ..."

"Jake, get your hands off Jane's neck!"

"C'mon guys, stand still a minute."

I abandoned hope of a great "together"picture, and took one of Jane with her backpack. She got this one for her birthday, because it looks like Diego's. There was nothing in it - she just really wanted to take it.

Once they got there, Jane went right to play with babies in her class.

Jacob headed straight for the water table in his, and stayed there almost the entire time.

They had a good day, and enjoyed their time there. They only went for 1/2 an hour (Jane) & 45 minutes (Jacob) on the first day. Over the next 3 weeks they phase in and go a little longer each day. By September 29th, they will be going the whole time - a whopping two hours. Phase in kind of kills me - but what can you do.

Hooray for Pre-School & 2 hours of free time for me twice a week.