Mom's Homework and 1st Day of School updates

Each year it is the same thing and each year it seems to get worse and worse. The first day of school each of my children walk in the door and hand me a HUGE envelope with homework to be completed by me. Trent loved letting me know that the only homework he had last night was making sure I completed mine. UGH!! You would think they could get their act together better and only make us do "one" paper per family and just let all the children sign their name on it. But NO! 4 children, 4 papers exactly the same over and over and over again!! It's not quite as bad for the elementary ones, but the high school ones... now that's another story! Each class wants the parents to read and sign each class syllabus for their class. I actually had to stop last night for a little while because I started getting loopy and misspelling my own name! Then it was time to pull out the checkbook. Two PTA's wanting my money, Athletic fee's, directory fee, SOS fee, (Spartans out Serving) basketball shoe order money, (they require everyone on the team to have the same shoes) Elizabeth's choir fee's, Trent's 5th grade choir fee's, time trackers, etc. etc.... It just keeps going on and on!!

This picture doesn't do justice to how bad it is! A few of the papers are actually stapled pamphlets.

While I was busy working on the paperwork, Elizabeth and Eyn were busy putting together their supplies for each of their classes. They came home with their lists of what supplies they had to have for each individual class. Luckily, I had stocked up on tons of supplies I knew they would end up needing. We get a list before school starts, but each teacher always wants their individual items. We went to the store last night to try and pick up a few things we hadn't gotten and it was crazy in there! We ended up walking out with nothing I planned on getting. I need to go attempt a different store today to pick up a few things. Elizabeth and Eyn both had homework last night and of course Elizabeth was up too late working on it. She came in and asked me for help with some of her English homework and I had never even heard of it before! That's not a good sign!
Just a quick first day of school update:

Amberly: She "had to" ride the bus home from school. She has watched her siblings ride the bus her entire life and couldn't wait to do it. So, we're letting her for now. She came off the bus and declared that she had had the BEST day of her life! She absolutely loved school and had made 2 new friends. She loved absolutely everything about it and loves her teacher! I am so happy for her! I just want that feeling to continue! She came and woke me up this morning wondering ready to get up and get going! Now if only we can keep that feeling for the next 12 years!

Trent's first day: He thought it was great! He really likes his teacher and thinks she will be super. (So do I!) They didn't change classes yesterday so hopefully he'll like all the other teachers today. He will have all 5 of the 5th grade teaches plus PE, Art, and music teachers as well. He absolutely loved riding his bike to school. He got home really fast!

Eyn: He said high school was okay. He didn't like that the bus was so crowded, but that should thin out once all the extra curricular activities get going. He seemed to like his classes okay and was excited for basketball. The doctor has put him at 100% as of yesterday so he can play again. They start today so we'll see how it goes. He has an extremely early lunch and hated that. He said he wasn't hungry. Seminary starts today so that will add another hour before he eats lunch so hopefully he will be hungrier then.

Elizabeth said school was okay. She said being a senior is great. She said the teachers aren't as strict with them and don't treat them like babies and she loves that. She is still trying to figure out if she wants to keep her schedule the same or not so that has been stressful. She just wants to enjoy her year. She loved lunch again because they have a big group of kids from church that all sit together and that's great for them. She's looking forward to Friday night because the seniors in our ward are going to start getting together and having their own parties. It was initiated by one of the parents in our ward and I think it's great!

Great first day all around I must say!

New Glasses for Trent

We were finally able to pick up Trent's new glasses last night. We had ordered them so he would have them for the first day of school, but one of the lens came in wrong so they had to reorder them. So, he spent the first day of school "trying" to make it look like he wasn't struggling to see the board. He was amazed at how clear everything looked when he put them on.

Doesn't he look cute!Trent and Katy have always had a special friendship. She actually doesn't like to be held but she puts up with it better with him than anyone else. She sleeps at the end of his bed the majority of the time.

Back to School Blues

School is finally back in session. I don't know whether to shout for joy or cry my eyes out!! It's definitely going to be an interesting year for our family. Our oldest daughter Elizabeth is a senior this year and our youngest daughter is in Kindergarten. A new beginning for one and the ending for the other. But what's also unique is that Eyn is beginning High School this year as a freshman and Trent is ending elementary school with 5th grade. Definitely a unique year!!

I can't say that everyone was excited to start school again, but I think everyone kind of felt like it was time. I always enjoy aspects of starting a new school year. It's always great to get back into a normal routine, set new goals, and start fresh and new.

Elizabeth all ready for her Senior year! Her schedule shouldn't be that bad this year so "HOPEFULLY" she will get more sleep than she did last year!!
Eyn packed up and heading to the bus. Eyn seems to be excited to "Finally" be in High School. He got a new cell phone this weekend so he's really ready!
Trent and Amberly on their way to school. We have a new elementary school that is only .35 miles from our home so Trent is excited to be able to ride his bike to school. (So am I!!) It will be nice having the school so close to our home and not having to fight any traffic to get there.

I can't believe my baby is in Kindergarten! She is more than ready to go and will do a great job! It's all day kindergarten here so I know she will definitely come home tired.
Trent and Amberly in front of the new school.
Amberly outside of her classroom. She was quiet, but was excited.

Amberly and her new teacher Ms. Lyundahl. (I think that's how you spell it. You pronounce it young doll.) She is incredibly sweet and I think Amberly will just love her!
Amberly and her Daddy. Darin went to work late today so he could see everyone off on their first day of school.

Amberly quickly made a new friend. I'm sure she will love kindergarten!

I've had many people ask me how it feels to have my baby going to school now. I really have a hard time answering that. I'm sad because I loved my time with Amberly when she was home with me. But, I'm happy for her because I know how much fun she is going to have. She has missed having her best friend Katie to play with and with be so happy making some new friends. Amberly loves to learn new things and make new things so I know how great this will be for her. I'm sad because with her gone to school it's like I'm stepping into a new phase of my life that I actually haven't looked forward to. But, I am excited for me too. I hope to be able to do many things that I have wanted to do which I haven't been able to do. I'm also excited because I plan on volunteering more in the schools. I hope to go to the temple more often also. It will be hard to adjust being alone all day, but it will be good. :) Darin and I have also been talking a lot about it being Elizabeth's "Last" year in high school. It seems like there are too many "Lasts" this year. When I think about her leaving to go to college next year that's when I really get chocked up. It's just hard to imagine life without her here all the time. We just keep telling ourselves to enjoy every minute of this year and we hope to make it a great year!

New BBQ Grill!

All summer Darin and I have talked about getting a new BBQ Grill. Our old was well used and ready to be disposed of. Elizabeth and I came home from shopping Saturday with a big box in the back of the van. I was so excited! Darin, Eyn and Trent were great working together to put it together for us. I love it! I forgot to get a picture of them with it finished, I'll add that later. We cooked out on it yesterday and it was great!! We hope to have Grandpa Bruce and Grandma Sharon over next weekend for a good BBQ.
While D, E, and T were busy putting together the grill Elizabeth attempted to sort through the piles of school supplies we have had to buy. I can't believe how much money it costs for supplies!!