Watch Out 7th Grade... Here Comes Jonathan

Jonathan started 7th grade on Monday.  He is taking the standard coursework for a 7th grader, plus band, tennis and skills for living (think politically correct name for home economics). 

He is settling into his morning and afternoon routines.  For right now, he is getting his homework done and practicing his tuba in a timely manner.  He is super excited about skills for living.  He says he is only one of five kids in the class that already knows how to sew.  He thinks the class is going to be mainly about cooking.  I tried to explain to him that there is more to the class than cooking.  All I can say is that I am so glad that the child care unit includes a flour baby and not that demonic electronic baby that Jess had to bring home last year in her child development class.  Please let him never think that child development is a good idea!

He is riding his bike, which makes life easier on mom and dad.  That means that he doesn't just get himself home from school, but he also gets himself to school.  No dealing with the parent circle on a busy morning.  Love that kid.  Every once in a while, he does make life easier.

Fun At Bennihana's

We ventured out on the last Saturday night before public school started to celebrate our friend, Stacey's birthday. She chose Bennihana's as her celebration destination. The kids and adults both enjoyed the festivities.

Handsome man waiting ever so patiently for his food!

Cute girls in their Bennihana hats

The kids learned that it is okay to play with your food at Bennihana (or at least it was okay for he chef to play with our food)

Jess ordered the garden delight and it was a delight! I think she had about 10x more food than the rest of us.

Birthday Girl - Stacey

We had a great time hanging out with the Garstka's and DiSpigno's.  We always enjoy spending time with our friends, and feel so thankful to have them in our lives.

Pushing My Wagon

“When our wagon gets stuck in the mud, God is much more likely to assist the man who gets out to push than the man who merely raises his voice in prayer—no matter how eloquent the oration.” ― Dieter F. Uchtdorf (http://www.lds.org/ensign/2009/11/two-principles-for-any-economy)

It seems like my wagon has been stuck in the mud quite a bit.  I hope God thinks I am sufficiently trying to push my wagon out of the mud!  I am thankful for the trials we've been through and especially thankful for the help that we've had getting our wagon out of the mud. We are blessed (even if it does seem like we are cursed sometimes).
-Donna

End Of Summer Blues...

It is very quiet in my house right now.  The only sounds are my washer and the click of the keyboard.  It is 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and everyone is still in bed.  We had one last hurrah at Main Event last night.  Jess and I left at 11:00 p.m.  The boys (Fred, Jonathan and Abie) were just starting to play billiards when we left.  We were there for an after-hours work event.  Fred wanted to know how many of our employees were still there.  I laughed at him and told him they all left hours ago.  Jess was still up when the boys got home and I could hear Jess and Fred laughing watching some TV show - World's Dumbest Daredevils, I think?  We are a tired bunch this morning!

Jessica started school on Wednesday and seems to be loving it.  Jonathan starts on Monday.  I think everyone has just about everything they need.  We are pretty organized and ready.  It helped to have Jess start in the middle of the week instead of on a Monday.  It also helped to have them starting on two different days.  Seems like less stress this year.  I think Jonathan needs some more shirts from the mall, but he has enough to get started.

Jonathan had band camp week before last and had to get himself to and from school everyday.  I was very impressed with how responsible he has become.  He enjoyed getting back into band.  The first day we weren't sure if he would need his tuba from home, so we dropped him off with it.  We told him to let his band director know that it would have to stay at the school, because he was going to be walking home.  Of course, he didn't.  They switched out his tuba and gave him the one that he would be using for the school year.  He walked almost 3/4 of a mile dragging a large tuba.  I hope we don't have to replace the wheels on the case at the end of the year!  I wonder if they inspect those when you turn them in?

Part of me is so ready to get this school year underway.  We need to get back to a schedule and structure.  The other part of me feels like we didn't do anything fun this summer.  We didn't go to the lake one single time.  We didn't go to any water parks or do any fun adventures.  No vacations.  We did hang out with friends during the summer, but no real adventures!  I really want an adventure and I don't feel like the summer is complete.  Two trips to Main Event does not count as adventure!  I want to kayak or hike or go to the beach or something fun!  But, I think I just need to get over it and move on.  Maybe next year.  This summer is in the books.

I am hoping that we have a great school year.  I hope both the kids enjoy their friends and learn wonderful new things.  I hope the excitement doesn't wear off and Mom doesn't have to help with any school projects!  And, that is my wish for the school year... just sayin'!

All pictures are from our trip to Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas in summer of 2010.

Flashback Friday: First Day of School 2006

First day of school 2006.  Jess was headed off to 5th grade and Jonathan was going into 1st.  This was the last year that my kids were in the same school together. 

 What happened to the girly-girl that was my daughter?  She wouldn't be caught dead in that outfit these days.  I'm not sure which girl is easier to shop for.  In some ways, it is easier to shop for Jess now.  But, in most ways, this little 5th grade Jess that liked all things girly was easier to buy for.

Always the crazy guy!  So little and cute.  Sometimes I wish he was that small again, but I love the young man he has become. One thing is for certain, I really do miss that blond hair and I hate that his hair is getting darker. 



They are so cute that I could just eat them up.  I love Jessica's hair.  She must have curled it or put hot rollers in it that morning.  Normally, she kept it in a pony tail with a hair bow.  Her face looks so small underneath all that hair!

Jessie (this was the last year that she was offically Jessie at school) and her homeroom teacher, Mrs. Murray

Jonathan and his teacher, Mrs. Maulden.  Mrs. Maulden was one of our favorite teachers at Gunstream.  Jonathan had her for 1st grade and Jess had her for 2nd grade.  She also tutored Jess during the summer between 2nd and 3rd grade.  And, both kids had her after school at AlphaBest.  Jonathan's last day of 5th grade we left her a little prize on her desk as a thank you for making such an impact on Jess and Jonathan's lives (and Mom's).  We were happy with most of the teachers at Gunstream, but only two would left us with an experience that I would say was outstanding. Mrs. Maulden and Ms. Towne were awesome.  Asperger/ADHD boys are hard (especially the ones that have no accommodations) - I totally understand and they both did a superb job!

Doggy Yoga

Our sweet little Gracie will be 15 next week.  As with most of us, now that she 'geriatric,' her hips bother her quite a bit.  This pose must be comfortable for her, because we see her stretched out like this on most occasions.  It takes her a few minutes to hoist herself out of her little doggy yoga pose, but it must be worth it.  We love our Gracie and we are so thankful that she received a clean bill of health at the vet.  Her thyroid is low and needs to be rechecked.  Other than  having eyes that get overly crusty, being extremely neurotic and some arthritis in the back hips, she is doing really well. (Oh yeah, and she poops everywhere and doesn't seem to realize that it's happening.)   Not bad for 15!

J-U-N-I-O-R



Today was Jess' first day of school.  She will be returning to The St. Anthony School in Carrollton as a junior.  We dropped off her school supplies, saw her desk and picked up her schedule on Monday.  Her schedule isn't final.  They signed her up for their standard junior level classes, but there were two classes that she had already taken as a freshman at Centennial.  I am not sure what they are going to put her in, since they don't have a very big course selection at her school. 

Right now, she is signed up for English, Math (I'm assuming that is Algebra II since she has had Alg. I and Geometry), World Geography, Health, Technology and Photojournalism.  She is very excited about Photojournalism. 

I made this super yummy Orange Banana smoothie for breakfast.  It was delicious and we all devoured our smoothies - except Jessie.  And, she was the one that I made it for!  I wanted to make something special for her breakfast on the first day of school.  She isn't a big breakfast eater, so I thought this would be something she would for sure like.  Sadly, she said that it was too sweet.  At least the rest of us enjoyed it!  Sometimes I can't win for losing.

 

I only include this picture to show how crazy I am.  I was trying to get a picture of Jess going into the school on her first day.  I couldn't get to my camera fast enough, so it is blurry.  I felt like the paparazzi trying to get a shot without her seeing me. 

 

Getting her to pose for her annual first day of school pictures was like pulling teeth.  I had to calmly explain that I have had a picture every year!  Just because she is a junior doesn't mean she can stop posing for pictures!

 

 

I think she had a great first day and was looking forward to getting started on her photojournalism project with her friend, Sarah.  And then In Young Women's tonight, she learned about interior design, so maybe we will get inspired to do some decorating in her room. 

 

All in all, I think it was a great day for Jess!