meanwhile, at the pitcher house..

I have some pretty awesome intentions.  like, they are unfathomably incredible.

but, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

yup.

I had dreams of the many things I would accomplish when the girls were back in school.

all the time I would have.

all the blogging and recording and picture editing I would catch up on….

not so much.

here is a bit of what has been going on whilst I have been truant:

merrill turned 33.

he didn’t want cake, but “crunchies” (our version of no bake cookies) instead.

(and it was nice to not have a large, delicious cake, sitting around, tempting me to eat it all, for every snack and every meal for the next 3 days…)

the girls started school.

*sniff*

we went to the brigham city temple open house.

we have been reading…  a lot still.

and we went to lake powell…

we rather enjoyed that.

now soccer season is upon us, and two of the three girlies are enjoying it.

currently, I am depressed.

(seriously.)

merrill has left me for two weeks.

left me for alaska.

I love the guy just a bit and miss him terribly.

if he brings me home some halibut, it might not be so bad in the end.

meanwhile, being a single parent has it’s sucky moments.

but mostly, I just miss him.

“babe”raham lincoln.

so lynnie-lou-hoo had a biography study that we worked on for the better part of february.  they cold choose pretty much anyone, and lynn chose abraham lincoln.

I was a little surprised to say the least.

she went with it though, and enjoyed it, for the most part.  there was a bit of drama during the process, she was really worried about her speech.  but she did great.

last night there was a wax museum for all the third graders.  grandmas came, they brought cousins and even great-aunt doreen came.  it was nice to have such a great show of support for lynn.

(and she was so happy when the night was over!)

ashley had to get in on the action too.

the kid cracks me up!

Say it isn’t so…

Summer, over, really?

I don’t like the idea of this.

So I am going to proclaim that it isn’t over, nope, not really.  Not yet.

We still have stuff we want to do.  So much more fun to be had!

So what if they are “in school”.  I will just pretend that it is just a practice run until our summer fun is really over and done.  (Well, more like when the weather doesn’t shout summer at us anymore.)

Sunday night, we slept out on the trampoline, you know, one last “hoo-rah” before bedtime becomes nazi-ish again. 

(And when I say “we”, I really mean just me and the girls.)

We attempted this in July, the night of the 5th (really our 4th what with the real fourth being on Sunday and all..) but a little rainstorm somewhere around 3 in the am cut out night out on the trampoline short.

This time, I was going to have all our bases covered.

- good weather (check)

- mosquito repellant (check)

- plenty of cushiness (check, check, check, check)

- sprinklers off (check)

Or so I thought on that last one.

4:30 am I hear the combined gush of air and water and then one drop, that was all it took, right on my forehead.  I was up faster than I have been in a long time, running back into the house, out to the garage, and turned that water off!!

It was pleasant sleeping after that.

Well, until that period of time, right before dawn, when I would swear to you it gets its coldest.  I wasn’t sleeping too well then.  I wished I’d had my socks on then.  So instead, I curled up in a little ball, snuggled close to Peyton’s warm little body and fleece blanket, and all was better.

Yesterday evening was back to school night.  We knew exactly what we were going to get with Ash’s teacher, and we were ALL very excited about that.  Lynn was a little nervous about her teachers.  There was a last minute switch to her teaching line-up that left my already nervous daughter that much more.  I think some of her fears were put to rest after meeting them.

We came home and had family home evening.  We talked about prayer, that the girls can always go to their Heavenly Father in prayer, whenever they need help.  Even if it is while they are sitting at their desk and need help.  We also talked about the priesthood, how it blesses our lives.  Merrill then gave them each a father’s blessing to start their year off right.

Peyton was so excited, she even got one too.

That is a tradition I cherish.

Then there was last night.

Sleeping (or trying to).

In our own beds.

At a nazi-ish time.

I don’t know who slept worse..  me or them. 

Third grader..  times-tables and cursive?  Really?!  Good heavens, I had to buy her a flash drive as part of her school supplies.

And then there’s the first grader.

I will miss her terribly come 11:30.  She will have lunch, at school.

It is a happy time of life.  It really is all good…

But it sucks that summer is over.

Another milestone for the middle child.

Our little Ashley graduated from kindergarten.

It’s quite bittersweet.

She is learning so much, so fast.  It is fun to see, but sad that the innocence of life is slowly fading away.

She will be gone all day next year.  I’m not sure who will miss her more, me or Peyton.

She is just plain growing up.

That kinda sucks.

But isn’t she cute?

Even with her dress on backwards, she was a doll.

Day 10.

Okay..  so it technically isn’t day 10 anymore, but I haven’t fallen asleep yet, so it is still day 10 to me!

I have had a very full, busy, yet fulfilling day.  I have many things for which to be grateful.

- Ashley participated in her class today!!!

- Mom came and not only watched Peyton so I could go to school with Ash, she also folded the rather large pile of laundry on my bed, dumped there while frantically searching for clean socks for Ash to wear this morning.  Laundry that has been there since Monday.

(The room re-dos have taken over our household and my time.)

- I was able to accomplish a lot in the way of the room redos.  Thanks goes to my friends who came over, helped me assemble furniture, and even move a few things.  Thanks girls!! <3

- It was also parent teacher conferences.  I am thankful for the wonderful teachers we have been blessed with this year.  I am thankful for the love they show to my girls when they are away from home.  I am thankful for all that they teach them.  I am thankful to have a school so close to our home, for the neighborhood in which we live.

- I am thankful for my sweet, smart, courageous, and perfectionist daughters!  (They got something from me!)

- I am thankful that I got to talk to Merrill tonight.  I didn’t know if my emotion at parent teacher conferences was entirely pride and happiness over what the girls’ teachers were saying, or if it was a bit of homesick for Merrill-ness.  I miss him.  I am thankful that I got to hear his voice.

Again, another day goes by, and I have been blessed even more!

A goodbye.

We said our goodbyes as we walked around Merrill’s Junior High  one last time before they tear it down.

I have heard many stories from his days here, but more came tumbling out this day, and even though there was the women's broadcast, I didn’t want to leave…

We laughed as he tried to remember about where his old lockers were…  some were missing.  I think they can be found in my neighbor’s garage. ;)

We laughed even more as he showed us where all the “hot girls” lockered.  He told us about how if he timed his walk to certain classes just right, his path would cross with some of theirs.

He told us a story about a book that got placed here, but somehow went missing and never got back on the shelf, and he got to pay for it.

He stopped us in this hallway, right outside of his English class to tell us of how he narrowly escaped being “anchored” on his last day of ninth grade, and how his older friend helped track down the guys who chased him and then. well, we’ll just say that they “scared” them. ;)

Visited the old choir room..

We found some souvenirs.

Clint and Britney came and joined us.  We got to hear the story of when they met in seventh grade, even snapped a picture of them in that room.

It made me homesick.  Homesick for those times of life.  Homesick because I wished that I were able to be one of those girls who got to cross his path and flirt with him.  Homesick for just a slow dance at a stomp there with him..

It was a fun time, he said it had made his week.

In all the things we saw, rooms we stopped in, I think the most special was the room where his Grandpa had taught next to Mr. Goody’s room. 

It was fun hearing his stories, seeing the smile on his face as he reminisced, and giving all of this to our girls.

Another first.

It seriously doesn’t feel that long ago that she was placed in my arms…

And now she is in Kindergarten!?!

Ashley, you are awesome!!  Your little personality will knock the socks off of those you will meet.  Just remember to let it shine!

Don’t be shy, don’t hold back.  Make LOTS of new friends.  Grasp onto everything you learn and love it.

Most importantly, have fun…

Stay with Lynn when you walk to school.

Ask her for help when you need it.

 

She loves you and is excited for your new adventure too.

It’s going to be a great year!

I am going to miss having you at home and so will Peyton. 

(But we are happy it is only a small part of our day that we will miss you.)

Love you sweet girl.

First day (gulp).

Even though she has been excited for second grade (!!!), I wasn’t quite ready to let go of summer. 

Unless she was teasing one of her younger sisters, then I was a little excited.

So to you Lynnie-Lou-Hoo…

I don’t know which was cuter: you singing in the shower last night at the top of your lungs, “I’m gonna be a seeconnnndd graaaaderrrr tomorrrrrrowwwwww!!” or the sweet hug you and dad shared after your back to school father’s blessing.

Or this:

Or this:

(You were very specific as to how you wanted your backpack personalized..)

Or your excitement at seeing old friends.

I am going to miss seeing this grin all day..  will have to settle for the few I get before 8 am, and the far too many I get while you are silly doing your homework.

 

Or did I love it a little TOO much when you were VERY done with my mammarazzi ways taking pictures?

 

I know you will be a great friend to all you meet this year.  I know you will have a great time, and hope you enjoy all the notes I slip into your lunch (and hope they don’t embarrass you too much).

I hope you grasp all that you are taught, and I hope you find excitement in everything you learn.

(Between you and me, I hope you do far better at math than I was ever able to!)

Know that every day when you leave, I will be there, waiting for you.

Love you Lynnie-Lou-Hoo, my seeconnnndd graaaaderrrr!

(Breathe..)

It seems as if summer has blown by (not that it is over by any means) and has gone too fast.

I regret that the next two weeks of life as I know it, are far fuller than I want them to be.  Far too full.

The summer I had dreamed of had more resting and relaxing type stuff in it.  It had more days in the sun and sprinklers, me behind the camera a good portion of it, at least one camping trip? and more time spent as a family.

Don’t get me wrong, it has been good and all..  we HAVE spent time together as a family doing lots of fun stuff, I just thought there would be more “down time”, more “at home” time.

Now the school year lurks right around the corner.

Homework.

Having to wake up before 8 am.

Making lunches way before lunchtime…

I love my life, but I also love having my kiddos at home.  With me.

I wouldn’t mind being like a pioneer or other early settler, having the kids go to school only during the winter months when there is little to do around the homestead..  leave them free for when the sun is out and it’s warm..

I like that idea until I hear my name said in that tattle-tell whiney voice, another offense taken at something one sister or another has done…

Then I am perfectly happy with school coming.

Last day.

We had such a great year this school year.

It helps when you have the most awesome first grade teacher on the planet!

We are all having a little heartache over the end of the year with her.  Lynn keeps telling me that when she thinks about it, she starts to cry.

So do I.

We do have some goals for our summer vacation.

- Have fun.

- Eat lots of otter pops.

- Read 100 books.

- Keep up on learning, in fun ways.

- Potty train.  I desperately want more underwear to launder.

- Visit Lagoon as much as possible.

- Take lots of pictures. (Like that needs to be said.)

I hope we can fit it all in. :)

Kindergarten Checklist

We have kept busy this week with the necessary appointments for Ashley’s Kindergarten paperwork.

Dentist, check.

Doctor, check.

Fun shots, check.

I have been continually praying, literally every step of the way, for guidance to know if what I am doing is the right thing for her.

I know that she WILL NOT have that one teacher.

No way Jose.

As I filled out the round-up sheet, I prayed.  I also received the feeling that I should just be still, that it will all be okay.

And that is what my answer continues to be, every step of the way.

She was awesome at her dentist appointment.  I remember Lynn being a little more freaked out and I was kind of worried hearing Lynn prep Ashley for everything that was going to happen.  But she was fine, she was her silly, relaxed self.  The dentist said her teeth were PERFECT!  To keep up on the fluoride (when I remember) and to continue with our brushing habit (I have turn, then she does), and flossing (oh, how I need to be so much better!)

The kid earned TWO tokens, she was that awesome.

It was also a blessing that we happened to have a credit on our account there.  That meant that yesterday was covered!  One more thing that I budgeted for, but have some extra cash due to that little, heaven sent, credit. :)

Today we went for her well-child check.  She was even sillier there.  Our doctor loves us I am sure.  Imagine how fun our appointment was for him, me + 3 silly girls.  It was fun.

It was even funner for Ashley who got 3 shots, and didn’t cry.  Didn't even tear up!  (Her leg is hurting her tonight..  hopefully that Tylenol and heating pad helped ease her discomfort enough to sleep well.)  She did have Lynn holding one hand while I held the other.  Lynn is such a sweet sister.

Peyton on the other hand, was a different story.  She cried and looked rather betrayed and let that nurse know it when she had to get that one cocktail to get her up to date.  Poor kid.

We were also lucky enough to arrive the exact same time as the Lincare guy who was dressed as the Easter Bunny.

What a fun coincidence!

Lynn and Ash were stoked to be the first to pick a treat from his basket, but Peyton was leery of the fuzzy-suited guy.  She still didn’t  like him much after he took off the mask.  I hope she doesn’t develop a fear of the Easter Bunny like I did of clowns.

My experience was  around two also. :O

Parent Teacher Conference..

Based on all that I heard at the conference I had with Lynn's teachers, she is doing just fine..
With one exception.
Lynn has been bringing something from home, and it is quite the distraction to her in class.
Her lip gloss.
That girl...
The student teacher that is in her class right now explained to me, amid their laughter, that Lynn will put it on for a full three minutes, then pass it to her neighbor.
Sigh....
I knew it was coming, she has been obsessed from a very young age.
Asking Lynn about it, she tells me that she isn't supposed to bring it if she puts it on that much, but she is afraid her lips will "get all dry".
Oh, how she makes me laugh!
Her teacher also informed me that Lynn is a perfectionist...
She has to have her art projects colored just so.  No white showing from the paper.
I wonder where she gets that from...

Halloween PartieS.

That big "S" was no joke. Maybe there really aren't that many, but to me, more than one is plenty.
This week was Ashley's pre-school party, then the family get together last night, Lynn's school party today (which I had the luxury of bringing Ashley.. Peyton was great.. Ashley... well... that's anothe story), then the big day itself tomorrow.
I was thankful that PTA kept me busy this last little while, and that I did not volunteer to be the head room mom again. When on this earth would I have had the time for that too?!
I did drag both kiddos over to the school for the costume parade and class parties that followed. I was wishing as soon as we got out of the car that I had found someone (anyone!!) to have taken Ashley (aka Ms. Tired & Bad Attitude) for the day.. or the week.
My fun was ultimately cut short, and I didn't get as many pictures for the yearbook as I wanted. I guess I will just be begging from the other parents!
Tonight and tomorrow will be more laid back.. we have had a couple of dress rehearsals now... ;)

First day..

Yes, yesterday was the first day back for little Lynnie..

Yes, I am late at getting it all up.. the details and whatnot.

I hope to sometime soon explain why life has been a little behind.

Lynn had a "great" day yesterday. Much the contrast to her first day last year. She went on and on about every detail of the day.

I have learned that the Gingerbread man led them on a hunt all over the school, coincidentally taking them to important places within the school, showing them places which locations they will need to know.

I have learned that the cafeteria's chocolate chip cookies are better than mine.

I have learned that the chocolate milk in the cafeteria is better than mine, and apparently, so is grandma's.

I have been schooled in every rule the first grade has enforced, and have learned what happens when you play paper rock scissor with your neighbor. (Even though it is breaking a rule, you don't get kicked out for breaking that one.)

She is so very happy, grinning from ear to ear, and has enjoyed her second day just as much.

It smells like a great start to a great year!

A new post.

Merrill just notified me that it has been 4 days since I last posted..
I didn't know he enjoyed (?) or paid that much attention.
So here's what's gone on..
The tooth fairy came and paid a good price for that tooth, I hear she/he/it was also trying hard to be quiet.. hence the bill.
She was "Queen for the day" Saturday. That is a tradition my mom started with us as kids when we lost teeth. We got to pick our favorite meal (and usually the one easiest to eat minus a chomper) and our favorite ice cream for dessert. Numbing helps too. Oh, and somebody else had to make our bed for the day..
Lynn thought that this status meant that she got whatever she wanted, when she wanted it.
She was corrected numerous times.

Sunday we went out to see dad who celebrated his 59th birthday.. I have a pic of that, but ol' Joe-Bo is in it, and he has this "rule" about pictures of him on the internet.. I might just have to PhotoShop so I can post it. :)
I have been busy painting. The garage door is now BLACK, and I think Merrill is getting used to the idea (aren't you hon?). The trim where the roof line meets the new fascia needed to be painted black AROUND THE WHOLE HOUSE, so that got done as well. I also started on the mailbox. That spray paint for plastic is AWESOME!!
I also started to touch-up paint inside the house.. patching walls, trim, etc. I did the blodest thing yet, I began painting before ensuring the color was the one that was already there (it was a TOUCH-UP..) not so much. I guess the kitchen will be a new shade of brown.. it really does look better, I have a side-by-side comparison up right now, I know it looks better.
Peyton went to her 18 month check-up today. Our concern was if she had grown in height any. Her doctor said if she hadn't, we would have to take another trip to Primary's. She's below average everywhere (just like her sisters..) but she grew, sure enough. I knew it wasn't my imagination when I had to buy pants. Hers were waiting for a flood. She had to get some shots, and one was out, so we'll be back, along with the rest of the fam when we ALL get flu shots.. so fun! He is somewhat worried about her umbilical hernia, but not enough to do anything now.. if it gets worse, just like everything else. He says it should go away.
She doesn't need to be seen again until her Kindergarten check-up. That was a bunch of great news!!
She crashed and took a long nap, letting me get a ton of stuff done..
Mom took the girls to buy a new pair of shoes for school, and pretty much spoiled them.. that is what grandma's are for, right?
I am so excited about everything I have learned in my last Jessica Sprague class and I can't wait to share it all... I lay awake thinking of what else I can do now.. that is fun, but causes me some problems the next day due to lack of sleep..
More going on, but I will have to update when things are more specific, concrete.
Next big thing is our Family Fun Fair for back to school.
Then school starts?!
I like that idea, but only on certain days.. ;)
Oh.. and I sent my camera back for that one repair.. I have been without it for two whole days and miss it terribly.
Sigh...

Flashback Friday...

I am not trying to rub it in..
Really...
But our last day was today, and we are so happy!!!
Yay!! Summer is HERE!!!!!!
Here's Lynn on her first day. She was so excited, didn't want me to even walk her in!
I was scared.. for everything to come.. this is my baby!!Then there was the school year..
And
what
a
year
it
has
been...
That is why we are so head-over-heels in love with summer this year!
She has learned so much.
She has grown.
She has dealt with all the newness and the hard times well.. And she came through without any scars.. at least none that I can see. Now a therapist on the other hand.... ;)
I loved this pic too.. can you tell how excited we are?
I am so proud of her!!
Now I think I will practice some deep breathing techniques.. the thought of first grade just occurred to me! :0

Kindergarten Graduation...

FINALLY!!!!!!!
Seriously, do you recall my anxiety over having her leave my constant care, to go to pre-school, then my increased anxiety over her going to school??
Then the school year.. some good, some.. well.... not so good.
It's over!!
And I must add, we (I) got the first grade teacher we (I) wanted :)
The family waiting for it all to begin.. Merrill dressed himself all up especially for the occasion ;)
There she is!!
Lynn and her teacher...
Lynn insisted on flowers for her teacher.. I think it has become a tradition.. she did it for pre-school too.
AND she even made her a card.. kinda glad I didn't have to do it.. what would I say? I think Lynn said it best. :D
We even got some pink roses for her.. so proud of you Lynnie-Lou!!!
She did so well in all areas. My favorite was reading her journal, all of the cute pictures in it, and the best, her phonetic spelling.. I honestly cried!! But when don't I? :)
Now we are off for our celebratory lunch, her choice, McDonalds.