The First Day of School!

Yesterday was the first day of school. Jacob is starting 4th grade, Jonah is in 3rd, and Noah will be in Kindergarten.

Noah's first day was a little confusing for us. Not the day itself, but the planning for it. The kindergarteners don't actually get to do school on the first day. It's orientation. I really wish they would do it differently, but after yesterday, it will no longer be of concern to me, anyway. The parents get to go in with the kids, then the principal takes the kids on a school tour while the teacher furiously speeds along with all the rules, policies, and procedures of Kindergarten. In total: 1 Hour. Then, we went home. Okay, we went out to lunch. But, the point is, that it makes it hard for kids who have been waiting their whole lives for this day, and then it's not even a REAL first day. And, it makes it hard for the poor parents. I mean, how are you supposed to plan an outfit for the first day when you're not really even sure when the first day is! So, our solution was that Noah got to choose 2 outfits. And, after this morning, it's all behind us.

Noah's teacher, Mrs. Graham is expecting on September 24th. She will have a long-term sub after she has the baby, and will return after Thanksgiving. Even though it is not the best situation, we are trusting that it will work out well. We got the meet the sub at back to school day. Her name is Mrs. Waiss, and she has a 1st grader at Brownsville, too. We think the kids are really going to love her, too.

Noah asked Mrs. Graham if this would be his desk every day or just today. She said that tomorrow, he would get to choose where he can sit. That was good for Noah, because his biggest fear (we've been talking about for weeks now) is that he won't have any friends or know anyone. He told me he's going to sit by Kohen, his one friend in his class who was from his preschool.

Jonah has Mrs. Stewart, who was Jacob's teacher last year, and also the teacher Jacob had for 1st grade (she moved up during the year between). We love her. Jacob loved her, and Jonah is so excited to have her, too. He is also really pumped about some of the friends who are in his class. He has lots of insight into who he should and should not sit by. He knows who will get him into trouble. He came home saying that only 2 kids had to move their star today (the disciplinary system in his class). He said, "Guess who?" Interesting. It's the 2 boys he says he does not want to sit by. Ironically, he considers both of them good friends. Hmm.

Here's Jonah at his new desk. For ease and order, Mrs. Steward assigns a number to each student in her class, alphabetically. Hereafter, they will many times be known as that number. That way, she can tell evens to do one thing, odds to do another, and it's not always split up boys/girls, or alphabetically. Jonah was curious to know his number because Jacob remembers his from both first and third grades. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present, Number Eleven!

Jacob is so excited about his teacher, Ms. Berry. At school they call her "Scary Ms. Berry." Honestly. Remember those books about the teacher who disappeared and a witch came in her place? Miss Nelson is Missing is what it was called. A favorite book of mine growing up. Anyway, that's who his teacher reminds me of. Jacob came home from school beaming yesterday. It is difficult to explain how rare that is. He told us all about how when you do something bad, Ms. Berry sends you to Siberia, "which is a cold place in Russia where they send adults." He thought that was hysterical. And, that was the beginning of his year.

This is Jacob just after he sat down at his desk. He got to work right away, before I could even snap a picture!

Here is Noah this morning, on his REAL first day of school. He's all decked out in his new clothes, including the RED shoes we got him for his birthday, that he saved for school.

For the record, Noah told me I could take ONE picture. So, here is the progression of how the photography went:

But, he was happy when he got to school. You can't see it in the picture, but he's in line with his classmates, walking in to his class with Mrs. Graham. Look out world, here he comes!!!

Swimin and hangin out!

The pool was one of the main events for the week. there were two pools (North and South) pools that we could go do. the kids were happy if they could just swim all day long.











One day grandma and grandpa sprung for candy and all the grand kids got their sugar high.












There was usually one or two adults hanging out on the edge of the pool watching out for the little ones and eventually, we would get pulled in too.











Dana seemed to be a child magnet in the water. Noah was like a little dolphin in the water with Dana.











Jonah hanging out in the downtown area when we walked around down there one day.












The house slept 22, and so we each had our own master bedroom with bath and flat screen t.v., so we could go and have some hang out time when we felt like it or at night to get the kids calmed down before bed. Our room had a king and a bunk bed which turned out great for us. The kids slept great. they were always so tired at night.








Grandma and Grandpa did banana split night with the kids and it was organized chaos. Sugar, sugar, and more sugar.











The garage had a pool table, ping pong table, flat screen television and housed all the bikes. It was great to have another room in there that the kids could play in.











More pool shots.
















Eli with the goggles on.










Jonah shooting out of the tube. They loved the water slide.















Jacob and I had fun in the water together.












One more launch for the day

Sports, sports, and more sports

The rest of the week was filled with tennis, swimming, kickball games, riding bikes, and everything elese in between that we could shove in during a 20 hour day. There was a lot to do and the kids just had a blast. Here is a picture of my parents on the last day.









Dana playing tennis with his dad













Later that night, Dana's was turned into a doll of sorts while Abby did his hair. I don't think he cared much because he was checking his facebook account and didn't even know what was going on.










The other activity that was shoved in between everything else was the hot tub anytime the kids were home and wanted something to do. It was only at night that the adults could go in without getting splashed.
























Jonah wanted to learn to play tennis, so Rebecca and him went one day and she worked with him. He did say that it was much harder than playing the Wii. We then took back all the other kids and ran all over the court after balls.









Jacob event took a shot at tennis and had a great time. My parents bought all the grandchildren-boys these shirts and the girls a different one. It helped us keep track of them at large events.










At night, each family was in charge of making one meal and then we would all sit wherever we wanted, inside or out, and eat and hang out with whomever we wanted. It was nice to be able to talk with different people we hadn't gotten a chance to connect with. Scott having a heart to heart with Jonah and Noah.

Noah and Nolan, again, the ones to watch because they are always very stealth-like. They are also running around the house asking everyone where the other is. The house we stayed in came with 8-10 mountain bikes and there were trails everywhere. One day, Mike, Scott, my dad, and I went on a long bike ride to one of the falls, which turned out to be beautiful. We definitely fit in out exercise for the week.

Jonah and Eli, sitting on the log near the house. Sunriver seemed like a very safe place for the kids and there really was a lot of different things to do.

Happy Pre-Birthday Grandma-65!!

Since we were all together, we decided to surprise grandma and have a 65th birthday celebration for her on Wednesday night. All the kids were so excited to keep this secret from her. They were blowing up balloons in other rooms and hiding decorations. After dinner, Noah and Eli asked if she and my dad would take her on a walk so they did. In the meantime, the house came alive with little munchkins decorating for their return.





It was fun to see everyone work together.













This picture got thrown in their because it was funny to see Mike wearing the apron with shorts on.











This was one of the bedrooms that had balloon blowing going on while grandma was in the house.












The kids started putting up all the balloons on the stairs once they left.













Good picture of Mike and Stacy at the party once they came home for their surprise.











Grandma getting attacked with surprises once they walked in from their walk.












She was so excited to see the cake and hear how much the kids had worked on things.












I think the kids may have been more excited than grandma












Scott gibing a bear hug to Jacob in the kitchen. Jacob has a lot of aunts and uncles who love him very much.











We finally got the kids settled down and my dad gave her the present of taking her on a cruise in October and she was very surprised. Great picture.

The kids just huddled around as she opened all her gifts. One gift we all gave was a three picture frame with group pictures from events from the last three days. It was great. She loved it.

It was a great way to celebrate early, with all her kids and grand kids around. Our family is definitely the loud family when it comes to these events. It was fun to watch her open all her gifts.

Happy Birthday Mom!!

RnR