Over a month!

It's been over a month since I last wrote. Wow! Sorry to my friends who only keep in touch with me via the blog. Life has been busy and I have forgotten to update my blog! But that doesn't mean I have forgotten about you. Let's see if I can bring you up to speed on a few things.

1. School is going great for everyone. No tears this year from Jimmy, which is monumental. Jacob loves Kindergarten and has asked if he could stay all day. Ha! He is taking off in reading and constantly asking us how to spell words. Anna loves 7th grade. She just loves school, which is a foreign idea to her 5th grade sister Rachel. But Rachel, despite wishing she was at home instead, is kicking bootie in 5th grade.

2. I love my job. It keeps me busy, but it is fun to work with kids grades 3rd-5th and help them become better readers. Groups are always changing and challenges arise, but it is so rewarding to work in education.

3. Marshall is surviving Seminary. Ha! He is having fun, actually, and is much more comfortable now that he has a year of teaching it under his belt. If only he could figure a way to cure dumb teenagers who text during class and take away from the Spirit with their lame comments. Ah, teenagers. He still does prosecution for Springdale and La Verkin and teaches two night law classes at the college. Yeah, I don't know how he finds to breathe either.

4. Rachel is busy in soccer and karate. Everyone else, except for Anna occasionally, has given it up. Rachel has actually signed up to be on the Black Belt Team, which allows her to continue on the path to a black belt, get weapons training, and help during classes. I pity the boy who asks Rachel out on a date when she is a teenager. She will be trained in all sorts of deadly weapons. Bwhahahaha!

5. Cub Scouts keep me busy, but I love my boys.

I think I covered the most important stuff! I will try to be more consistent. Halloween is coming and we are all excited.

Kindergarten!!!!

Today my baby started Kindergarten. I was sure I was going to be a nervous wreck, but I did pretty well. I was sad that I wasn't there to meet him after school as he got off of the bus because I was at work. But Darci, who is as good as me, was there so Jacob was happy.

Jacob has declared that he loves Kindergarten. All of my other kids wanted me to drive them the first day of school. And now that I work at the school, the kids get a ride with me in the morning. Not Jacob. He insisted on riding the bus. He has watched his siblings go on it enough years that he was more than ready for his turn. Jimmy was kind enough to ride with him. I met them at the school and Jacob could have cared less if I was there. He wished me "goodbye" and headed on his way. I even ended up helping in his class for a little, in case the teacher needed assistance with any crying children, and Jacob did fine with me there.

Jacob has been hyper all afternoon and excited to tell everyone about his day. And he is anxious to learn Chinese, as he is in the dual-immersion program. I am so glad he had a great first day. And kind of sad that my baby is school age. That is why I work at the school. At least I can be near my kids!

First Day of School AND Work

Somehow the first day of school came. I am really not sure how it happened, but with our busy summer we were all ready for it. Well, I was at least. The kids all did a great job heading off to school. Anna is starting 7 th grade, Rachel 5th, and Jimmy 3rd. In another week Jacob starts Kindergarten. That is just plain crazy!

Marshall started back at Seminary and said this first day was a lot better than last year's because he knows what to expect now. He is excited for the year. And I started my first day as a paraprofessional. I still am learning what I am supposed to be doing. It is hard because my job doesn't pick up until the teachers have tested all their students to see who needs my help. But I do get to cover classes next week while the teachers test next week.

The best part of the day is that Jimmy DID NOT cry, which is huge. He also told me he likes 3rd grade a lot more than 2nd. That boy is so tender, but gave me such trauma last year with all his tears and wanting to come home. I am hopeful 3rd grade really will be better.

 Anna

Jimmy

 Rachel

I am alive!!!

Really... I am. It has just been a busy summer that I am sure we will not ever be able to top. We have traveled this great nation from coast to coast, the Atlantic to the Pacific. I have a ton of pictures of our adventures, which I will share over a different blogs, once I download them off of my phone. But I just wanted you to know that I am alive. And I may move to West Virginia. Well, Marshall and I decided that green state filled with rolling hills was our favorite and we could move there. However, for now we will stay in the desert and fondly recall what green grass looks like.

Other big news, aside from being alive and having an awesome summer, is that I have a job. I have been hired as a part-time teacher's assistant at the school. I work roughly the same hours Jacob will be in Kindergarten, Monday through Thursday. I am very excited as this was my whole goal in doing lunch room supervision the past two years at school. I wanted to get to know the staff well so that when a job opening came, I could take it. I think it will be great to be working with kids who need specific help with reading and math. Plus I will be out of the house and busy, which I like, instead of sitting at home and feeling sorry for myself that all my babies are grown, which I do not like. The hours will allow me to be at home when my kids are at home. It is a great set-up! It'll be an adventure and I am excited.

Now I must go working on downloading pictures. Talk about a random blog......