Check this out, but keep the tissues handy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHj1yc4YX24

back to school--Thursday, August 13, 2009

School started last Thursday, and it was a successful first day for all. Julia loved the frog's first day of school book that her teacher read to the class. Julia's teacher described the day like this:

• reviewed our “Rules for Jewels” and selected a crown for the year.
  discussed classroom jobs in preparation for choosing one tomorrow.
  began learning our first Bible memory verse. (Ask your favorite kindergartener to sing the Bible verse song for Hebrews 11:3.)
  took a tour of the campus.
  completed a “Circle of Love” activity to be brought home tomorrow.
  listened and participated in the story, Froggy’s First Day of School.
  drew a picture of something they enjoyed during their first day of school.
  completed the prince or princess clip we began during Back to School Day.
  enjoyed a stretch break to music.
  learned “Good Morning” and “Packing Up” procedures.
  learned lunch routine and enjoyed our first kindergarten meal.
  played on the playground

Wyatt reported that he had "two works" on the first day. That was all, and they were not hard. He also reported that several of his friends from last year are in his class, and there are several new friends too.

Starting middle school did not go so well for Savannah. She was ill the first day but went ahead and made it through the day and even managed field hockey. However, as I type this, it is Monday, and Savannah is at home. She has only been to school on the first day and will not be able to play in her team's first field hockey game tonight. She will be fine but needs to get over this bump in the road, so please pray lots of prayers for her. This is a stressful way to start the year, and the stress is not helping her illness.

Zach said school was good. A man of few words, I later learned that he thinks homeroom will be interesting as the girls don't get along. Isn't that just like a boy?

As you can see, it was dark when they started out. None of them start school at an unreasonable time, but getting four kids to buses and different campuses requires early mornings in this household.

Look at all they accomplished in just a half day of school! Julia was picked up by her grandma and Aunt Tessa. They reported that she was chatty and hyper on the way home. She told them about the frog book, doing the monkey bars 12 times on the playground, and that they had corn dog, Cheez-Its, and chocolate milk. She said she loves chocolate milk and will have it every day. Julia also pointed out that Granny has the frog book and about 100 other books in the room where all the grandkids sleep when they go to her house.
When I finally got to hear about Julia's day, she told me about the chocolate milk and the frog book which she liked. She did not mention that Granny has this book. However, she did tell me that she cracked Grandma, Aunt Tessa and herself up when she said "oh, dear." This was Julia's response when they asked her to help carry some pillows, and something about the way she said it had them all laughing.
In case you didn't know, yawning and rubbing your eyes is caused by allergies according to Julia.

friends, divine scheduling, middle school and kindergarten

This is the story of a friendship. During first grade Savannah met Emmalee, and they became fast friends. Classmates with a very tight bond, they journeyed through first and second grade together. Role playing Little House on the Prairie was one of their favorite activities. They had lots and lots of fun. When the teacher letters arrived for third grade, they learned they would be separated. This brought on much dismay and sadness. In fourth grade the moms intervened to have them together again only to have them separated in the fifth grade.

Check out these cuties in the first grade:
Through the times together and the separations, these girls continued to grow as friends. Their friendship is a special one because they both have other close friends who do not necessarily cross circles with both of them, and they are in no way exclusive. While they have a lot in common, they are also very unique. Both are highly motivated and successful students. They are also quiet and introverted, and both love field hockey, and more importantly, they both love their savior very much. However, Emmalee is very organized and loves to organize things while Savannah is a mess. I cannot walk through her room right now.
This week these two girls start middle school as sixth graders. This means a bigger campus with many more students. On Monday we went for the orientation and sat through a lengthy meeting before the students could get what they all wanted; their schedules and locker numbers. Melissa (Emmalee's mom) had been praying that her girl would have a friend in every class. Having done the middle school thing with Zachary, I felt pretty confident that this would be a good year. God had a great surprise in store for all of us. In a random, computer generated schedule, Savannah and Emmalee landed in 6 out of 7 classes together. Savannah is taking band, and Emmalee is not, so they are separated that period...and God went even further and placed their lockers right next door to each other. This was not lost on Melissa and me...this very special blessing on a special friendship. Yes, God is cool, and a copy of Savannah's schedule is now in our memorial box. If you missed my post on the memorial box, check it out by clicking this link: http://lifewiththepages.blogspot.com/2009/04/fingerprints-of-god.html



This is a transition year for both of my girls; Savannah to sixth grade, and Julia to kindergarten. Unfortunately this week has not gone so smoothly. Savannah has felt ill off and on which led to a doctor's appointment today (one day before school starts) in hopes that she will be okay to attend school tomorrow (definitely looks promising).

...and remember this bespectacled girl? Well, she is bespectacled no more. Yes, those glasses that are less than a month old, are now broken after a basketball game with Wyatt that resulted in a ball to the face. Interestingly, she did not notice the missing lens. Does she really need these things? Once again, God is good. Julia was not at all hurt. We did seriously consider doing without the glasses. We can't find the missing lens, and because they were completely covered by insurance the first time, we did not buy the replacement plan. I went today to face the music and get them fixed, but she needs a new pair...and will get them for free. Yes, God is good.

sweet and sassy!!!

SWEET!!
Wyatt and Julia started soccer today and both were very excited about it. Both of them did a great job, and we were especially impressed with Wyatt because he had some pretty good kicks, waited his turn, and did not put his hands on the other players. On our way home, he asked us why we came to China for him. I responded by saying that we thought you wanted brothers and sisters who do not leave and parents who do not leave, and we thought you would like to know Jesus. "Yeah," he said. Wyatt then said he told his China parents he wanted new parents. He then asked, "do you know what kind of mom and dad I want?" "What?" we asked, and he said, "you guys." I'm not sure we will stop smiling today.

SASSY!!
Andy has been out of town all week, and I needed to be in a few places at once last night, so I left Wyatt and Julia with my parents. Upon my return, my mom asked what Julia has been watching on TV. Apparently, Julia was making a birthday list and stated she wanted a couch and chair and trash can for her room. Mom told her she doesn't have room for that stuff. Somehow it was decided that she actually wanted a house with a fountain out front and a pool out back. Mom told Julia that she is too young for a house, so she declared to my mom, "don't you temp me to SNAP, SNAP, SNAP!" which she declared while snapping her fingers back and forth in front of her face and chest. She then told her to "give it up, give it up Girrrlllll!"... stated while making a hand gesture I don't even know how to describe... sort of cupped and moving toward the other person. Savannah revealed that some of this comes from "Scooby Doo" as for the rest, we have no idea.

whirlwind

Wyatt and Julia both finished the summer term at gymnastics this week. Wyatt finished on Tuesday, and Julia finished today. Unfortunately, Wyatt's teacher did not have the kids stand on the podium to get their ribbons, so I didn't get a picture of him. Wyatt really liked gymnastics but wants to move on to swimming. Julia wants to continue, and her bar work, handstands, and cartwheels are really starting to look good. We, however, have decided to take a break for the next 8-10 weeks. It is simply too expensive and waaaay to hard to manage with the other activities fall brings to this household. Don't feel too sorry for these two as they both start soccer on Saturday. They got their shin guards tonight, and Wyatt has told me those shin guards are special to him, and he does not want to lose them - good plan since you are not allowed to play without them.

Today is my birthday, and life is good. The kids tried to do some cleaning while I was at an in-service today learning to teach like a rock star. I came home and raced Savannah to field hockey practice, got in a very short nap then took Julia to gymnastics, made a side trip to the sporting goods store for soccer and field hockey equipment then picked Zach up from football. It is great to have family close by as my mom picked Savannah up from field hockey and dropped Zach off at football. Andy is out of town, and we are all looking forward to his return tomorrow --lots of fun planned for the next few days as we kiss summer goodbye and gear up for the start of school next week.

P.S. -forgot to add this funny story...When we were getting out of the car at gymnastics, I announced, "Let's go kids!" Julia responded with, "I am not a kid. I am your daughter." So, I said, "Let's go children!" Julia followed that up with "I am a WOMAN!" all righty then---it is a laugh a day with her

treehouses and Heaven - okay, clearly, I lied

Obviously, it is not Christmas break yet, but I am blogging about some interesting conversations that occurred here today.

On the way to church;
Julia: I want to know where I go when I die.

Me: Well, if you have asked Jesus into your heart, you go to Heaven.

Julia: Well, what about after that?

Me: If you die right now, you go to Heaven, but one day God will make a new earth and a new Heaven, and you will live there.

Julia: What about after that?

Me: Well, there is no after that. You only die one time. Once the new Heaven and earth are made, you live there forever.

Wyatt: WOOHOO! I want to go there. (he is really concerned about dying)

Julia: Where will our church be in Heaven?

Me: hmm, not sure exactly how that works, but we are the church and will always be in God's presence, so I think the church will be wherever we are

Julia: Where is the church in Heaven now?

Me: I believe it would be at the foot of God's throne.

a young boy's dream
Wyatt really wants a tree house. What kid doesn't? We were in the van this afternoon traveling home from my parents' house when Wyatt stated that he really wants a tree house and that he is going to pray to God for one. He wants God to build the tree house for him. A minute later he says, "I hear God." My response, "what is he saying?" Wyatt says, "He says "yes" . As in , yes, you can have a tree house. Wyatt then goes on to state that he wants God to build it tonight, but maybe he will get to it tomorrow. God can build a tree house, right? At this point I started praying about how to respond to this. So, I explained that God sometimes says "no." Lots of people want something really bad, even for their whole lives, but God says, "no." He gives things that will make us better people, and while He sometimes gives us things just for fun, we have to pray within His will. A tree house may not be His will. Wyatt went on to talk about good manners and saying "please" to God, and then He will say "yes." I explained that God does like good manners, but using them does not guarentee the answer we want. Wyatt still has his heart set on a tree house, but the reality is that I am not sure we have a tree suitable for a tree house, and nobody in this house is handy. Building a safe tree house would certainly require outside help. Then there are the needs. Wyatt and Zachary both need new beds. Shelves for all the kids bedrooms would greatly reduce the ongoing clutter battle, and our dining room furniture really needs to be replaced. A tree house isn't so high on the list here, but as I told Wyatt, nothing is impossible with God.

and so it starts

I returned to work on Wednesday this week, and the school year fog has begun. That is how I feel during the school year - constantly tired, overwhelmed and behind. On Wednesday evening, Andy and I made a trip to the funeral home to say goodbye to a friend from years ago. July has been a rough month as this was the fourth unexpected death of someone too young. We did not know everyone who died, but they were connected to our circles of the past or present in some way. What a reminder that we are not promised tomorrow!
From Wednesday to Friday, we had evening obligations. On Thursday it was the middle school sports meeting that ran rather loooooooooooong. Andy wasn't able to attend, and I needed to be in two places at once, so it was a rough evening and the one where I felt particularly overwhelmed. It looks like I will mostly see Zachary and Savannah on the way to or from a practice or game from now until mid-October. These middles school sports obligations are intense! I will miss my kids!
Last night we took Savannah and the little people to a swim party and potluck dinner for the field hockey team. Note to self - little people do not get to attend this event next year. Wyatt was mean to Julia on the way to the party and in trouble when we got there, so he was pouting. The home was an immaculate and beautifully landscaped place. I went to set up our food. Andy was stuck in the van fixing some problem from work as he was on call, and Julia took the opportunity to stand amongst the landscaped rocks and throw them by the handful into the perfectly cut grass. Where does she ever get this kind of idea?!! I was horrified! I met a few parents, and it was fun to chat with them, but I was constantly distracted by watching Wyatt and Julia in the pool.

Things aren't looking better for next week. We have something on the calendar every night. The house is already behind in cleaning, and since the kids spend their days here, it seems that it is worse every time I walk in the door. We had many rainy and cool days this summer, so our pool time was very limited. We never once made it to the zoo. Julia did not come close to finishing her summer reading, and I never painted the walls that I had hoped to get to this summer. I have, however, rested, and that has been good. So, now I must schedule in an electrician and plumber, get Wyatt to the one appointment that I didn't schedule this summer, possibly replace the breaks on the van, and try and have a life. The good news is that I should have a little bit of an easier schedule on Monday afternoons this year as everyone will ride the bus home, and I won't have to pick anyone up. So, it begins....may post again on Christmas break (lol).