Life Changer

I seriously cannot believe she is old enough to be in KINDERGARTEN!!! Crazy! Aren't I still a new mom, just getting through the newly wed stage?? Well, I guess not. My beautiful, amazing, sweet five year old started kindergarten in August. It starts pretty early in Arizona. The decision to put her in school and the specific school that we did was an agonizing one for us. I debated, prayed, fasted, prayed some more, debated some more, fasted some more for more than six months. It was a really hard decision. This is the first time where I really felt like my sweet girl was leaving my sphere of protection. So not too surprising, that first day I was in tears. So was my little Miriam. She couldn't believe that her sister got to go do a fun thing without her.  Well fortunately for us, she isn't gone too long. Less than 3 hours on a normal day and less than 2 hours on half-day.

How has it worked out? Amazing! Really! She was all smiles and excitement that first day, and it is still the case. Her class has seven students in it, which is awesome. We have really gotten to know her classmates and their parents well. We typically have at least one activity with some them outside of class every week. I love that this has given sweet Eliza (and me!) a chance to interact and become close friends with devout Christians of other faiths. She loves her 'specials:' art, music, PE, and library. It is so fun to hear about all the things she has learned how to draw.

She gets a packet each week from school. Nothing has really been new to her in those packets, but it is all still good practice.

This paper girl was one of her first projects at school. It is supposed to be her. I love the heart mouth. :)

I really love all of the things she is learning. Her teacher is really good about keeping the parents in the loop about the material they are covering in class and all of the activities they do. Obviously a lot of what they are learning about is how to read, which Eliza doesn't need any help with, but it has really given her an opportunity to help other kids with their reading. Her teacher has said again and again how willing Ellie is to help others in her class with school work. She even got an award for caring nature at the first Cheer Assembly of the year.  I also like how she is learning how to be in a classroom: follow class rules and hear from another adult about being respectful.

I have also really appreciated how the burden of her education is not solely on me anymore. I did an at-home preschool, which I loved, but I will freely admit was the hardest part of my day. I could feel the strain on our relationship as I tried to hurry through lessons because we needed to get to the next thing in our day. Don't get me wrong. I love teaching her. In fact I still do. I try to do a daily lesson with her after lunch. Today we talked about magnetism, and the different homes the Native Americans lived in. But I feel like the pressure and stress of it is gone.

I have also really loved the one-on-one time with my little Miriam. She is such a little sweetheart and changing/growing so fast. I love the special time we have just together.

So overall, I have been surprisingly pleased with how Kindergarten has turned out so far. Obviously there are still concerns, but Ellie is just a natural at this.

From my journal:

Ellie said the sweetest thing the other day at FHE. She said that at church "[She] is cold on the outside, but warm on the inside." She was referring to how the Holy Ghost makes her feel. What a sweetheart. Today at church two different people asked me if Ellie would sing a solo in Sacrament Meeting (two completely different occasions). I can't believe she is going to be starting Kindergarten! One week from tomorrow! I only cried about it once this week. I just feel like she is leaving my little protective bubble. Also I am really sad I am not going to be a part of this big step in her life. I just want to be there and watch what she does and protect her from anything that might hurt her or her feelings. I want to see what makes her happy and be there to smile at her. Oh I am going to miss having her just be mine. She is such a delightful girl. I am so lucky to be her mother.

Sometimes I can't quite believe I have been entrusted with these two little girls. I know that I am really probably screwing it up a lot of the time, but at least I care. They deserve the best mother on the planet, and I feel guilty all of the time that I am not the better for them. Thankfully I married a wonderful man that helps fill in the gaps where I am lacking. Also, I pray every single day to be a better wife and mother. I am sure that helps.

Well, my little Eliza has started school. She loves it!! It is so fun to hear about all of the fun things she does there, the songs she learns, and the friends she is making. We went to meet her teacher, Mrs. Taylor, the Friday before school started on Monday. Mrs. Taylor is pregnant and is going to be on maternity leave for a few months. She is really nice though, and Eliza just loves her. She gave Eliza a special starting Kindergarten book with some special magical dust (glitter) to put under her pillow the night before. It was so sweet.

Miriam and I walked with her to find her line the first day of school. Eliza seemed a little nervous, but not too bad. When it came time for her to go in the school, Miriam had a break down. She was so upset that Eliza wasn't coming with us, and we weren't going with her. In a way it was good because I was pretty embarrassed that my 3 year old was shrieking as I was carrying her through the playground back to the car. So because I was embarrassed I wasn't really able to focus on how sad I was that Eliza really was leaving my little bubble of protection. Actually I still get a little choked up when I drop her off. Her backpack looks so huge on her and she looks so tiny compared to the other little kids.

She said something kind of funny the other day about Kindergarten. "Mommy, I thought we would learn something in Kindergarten, not just color. We'll probably learn something in first grade. I bet we'll learn one thing in first grade, two things in second grade, and three things in third grade, but nothing in zero grade." Kindergarten really is so cute though. Last week they did the rainbow and on each day they wore a shirt that was the daily color and brought something of that color to school. She loves it. There are only seven students in her class including her. It has worked out surprisingly well. Miriam and I try to do something special while Eliza is at school, normally puzzles. :) She really does love puzzles. I also normally go to the gym during that time.

Ellie has kind of become Eliza since she started school. I didn't want her to become one of those kids that corrects the teacher and classmates that she really goes by "Ellie" not "Eliza." So since she gets called that at school I have tried to call her that at home too. She actually told me that she prefers Eliza now. Kind of interesting to hear her preferences.

She asked me a couple of funny questions the other day too. "How big is a land?" and "How big are the tacos that they make in Italy?" It was funny. I have started reading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to her. It makes me think of my grandma and how she read that entire series to me. It is such a sweet memory to me.

Miriam girl is just a sweetheart. She told us at dinner the other night, "Sometimes we forget to clean up our toys before bed, but Jesus loves us anyway. All us." Another good one was "We don't want Ellie to break her fingers because then we would have to go to the store and buy fingers."  Something she said the other day really surprised me, "I want some veggies, they're yummy!"

July Vacation to Utah Part 2

We spent some time in Ogden visiting family. We saw the new (being renovated) Ogden temple.

We also visited the treehouse museum.

Such a fun place.

This was the best. This display was describing a culture that believed that you could do one wish a year that would come true. If you look at the other things that people wished for (no more fighting, world peace, etc.) and the things the girls wished for (Barbie, the beautifulest dress). I love kids.

Independence day!

Chillin' with Grandpa at the parade.

Up to Marc and Miriam's new house for a party.

Loved the new hot tub.

Check out this beautiful, amazing yard! All that grass! Unheard of in Arizona!

Eliza with the birthday girl!

We watched fireworks and did sparklers in Grandma and Grandpa's driveway.

Playing at their house again the next day in celebration of Grandpa's 90th birthday.

Check out that cake. Amazing!

Lots of water games and fun!

Eliza is so excited to be visiting cousins again soon! Love them!

From my journal:

The following day we took my Grandparents out to ice cream in celebration of my Grandpa's 90th birthday in June. It was John's first time going to Farr's and it didn't disappoint.  How crowded it was was a disappointment. We couldn't really relax and chat. Needless to say though the girls loved every minute. John and I played hand and foot with my Grandparents that evening. The girls won! :) We were so happy to be able to spend some quality time with them this trip. My grandpa has to do some daily exercises which we tried to help with. It is so hard to see him struggle to do some simple exercises. Also it is sad to see him forget some things. He would tell us the same story in just a couple of minutes of each other. But really he isn't too bad. We keep praying for him though.

The next day we headed up to Marc and Miriam's new house in Deweyville. It is older than their other house, but has a lot more land. Their yard is really pretty, but the house needs some work. Unfortunately this has been pretty overwhelming for Miriam, but they still ended up putting on a great Fourth of July party. There was great food, water games for the kids, and fun conversation. I am jealous of them despite the work needed on their house. They live in a small town, which a lot of land around. They have a beautiful yard and view. And their kitchen has so much storage space! But needless to say I wouldn't trade my husband and kids for the world and any amount of kitchen storage space. :) That evening we had a fun time doing sparklers in my grandparents' driveway and watching the fireworks across the Ogden valley.

The following day was Saturday and there was a big party for my Grandpa (once again for the 90th birthday celebration). My Grandma had the luncheon catered by Maddox. Yummy! The Armstrongs came up, and we had water games. John and I filled up a cooler with water balloons. Grandma orchestrated a huge water slide, which was super fun. Ellie and Jane were two peas in a pod running and sliding on it. The big kids enjoyed it too (like me)! That evening we got out Grandma's projector and looked at some old slides. Particularly it was enjoyable for me to see the slides of my parents, when they were dating and first married. They looked so happy and in love. It was fun but also sad because I don't feel like they have the best relationship now. Slaterville has really changed through the years. I feel really blessed to have grown up how and where I did. My grandparents have had a long full life. I hope I can look back one day and see as full of a life.

The next day we headed home. The drive was fairly uneventful, although Ellie did throw up, and we ran into some rain storms. It sure was hot when we got home. I turned the thermostat to 89 while we were gone. Apparently it was 115 while we were in Utah, and there was a pretty impressive dust storm.

Since we got home I have done a lot of babysitting. One of the sisters that I am friends with and also visit teach moved yesterday, but she broke her foot a couple of weeks ago. Being immobile while moving doesn't really work. They were also really sick, one of her daughters got stung by a scorpion, and another almost broke her neck (literally). So as friends and RS sisters have kind of rallied around her and her family and my role has been to watch all of the kids. For a couple of days I had nine kids nine and under at my house so she and another mom could pack without the distraction of kids. I have also watched her kids a lot just by themselves. I feel like I have really been blessed in my service. I know I have had an added measure of patience, creativity, and compassion. I have been able to think of games and activities for the kids to do. I have also been able to keep up with the girls preschool on the other days too. I feel like a lot of days we have been making progress with that. Probably due to prayers John and I have been saying about that.

July Vacation to Utah Part 1

We visited family in Utah for the week of Independence Day. Highlights include visiting one of the local city's celebrations. There was a carnival, which was enjoyed very much by my little girls. They sure do love their rides.

We also visited a train shop and rode on a little train with Grandma and Grandpa.

I caught up with a friend I have known since third grade. She was visiting from Ohio and I was visiting from Arizona, so it worked out.

My cool parents came with us on the hike.

The hike was long, but it was we found ways to make it fun!

Now.

Then.

We hiked up to Timpanogos cave. We haven't done this since I was expecting Ellie. So there are a few "Now and Then" pictures. The cave itself was awesome! It was so cool that my kids are old enough now to kind of enjoy stuff like this rather than just be dragged along.

Grandma and Grandpa at the heart of Timpanogos.

Pretty thrilled with all of the explanations.

No, they actually enjoyed it a lot.

Utah is so pretty. I was so lucky to be able to spend so much of my life there.

Good resting spot on either trip. Now.

Then.

Oh man, how did our girls grow up this fast. On that first trip, we didn't even know that little miss Eliza was a girl yet.

Now.

Then.

It was such a fun day!

From my journal:

We went Utah over Independence Day this year. We drove up there, and had a great time! The drive really wasn't too bad. John was able to get off early from work on Friday, and we were able to arrive at John's parents' house at midnight (AZ time). When we got there David and Melissa's son Andrew was staying there and was awake to greet us. John's dad was asleep on the couch (sitting up with his hand in a chip bag :) ). We saw 11 deer by the side of the road on the drive up there, which made us pretty nervous and definitely on the edge of our seats. (We decided that we were going to fly at Christmas time so that we could avoid the stress of driving in the snow.)

We hung out at John's parents house the next day, and enjoyed spending time with his parents. We went to the Taylorsville Days celebration. There was a carnival where we were able to put the kids on some rides and eat a hot dog. John's dad really liked the car show. I was surprised at how much Miriam enjoyed the rides. She and Ellie went on a long roller coaster, and she had a very different reaction than last summer in Wisconsin. Miriam really seemed to enjoy the experience. That night we watched movies with John's parents. The following day we had a family dinner, where it was great to see everyone. We especially enjoyed hanging out with Norma and Hema that evening. The next day we went to a train store where they had model trains that we could play with. There was a larger one we took a ride on. We had toy guns that we could try to shoot targets with on our ride. The smaller trains were on tracks that you pay to see go. With those ones the kids were able to control the speed, horn, and lights. It was really fun. After a delicious lunch at Cafe Rio, we headed up to Ogden to see my family.

That evening I went up to Brigham City to hang out with my old friend Marcy. She is the oldest friend. She moved into my ward when we were in the third grade. We stayed friends throughout junior high and high school and ran cross country together. Since then we went to different universities and she has spent the last few years in Indiana while her husband was getting a PhD. They are moving to Ohio where he is going to be teaching economics classes at a university. I haven't seen her for economics classes at a university. I haven't seen her for years, although we have kept in touch. It was really fun to see her in person and hang out for an evening.

The next day we did a hike up Waterfall Canyon up by Weber State University, really close by David and Patti's house. They actually joined us and my parents for the hike. I really enjoyed it. It was kind of strenuous, but the weather was relatively so cool and nice, it was so pleasant.  Ellie and Jane were hiking buddies and the steep trail didn't even phase them. We hung out a David and Patti's house afterwards and had a pleasant evening.

On Wednesday we headed down to Utah County (still felt like home) and hiked up to Timpanogos Cave. We just went with my parents this time, but still had a great time having a picnic, hiking, and touring the cave. The hike was long, but some treats and stories helped get the kids through it. I enjoyed remembering the last time I hiked up there with the Guinns and the Jacobsons. We were all expecting our first child. Crazy how time flies! How did my little worm inside of me turn in to this smart, beautiful, creative five year old?! The cave was awesome! The girls really enjoyed it. What an amazing world that we live in! I was surprised the kids didn't get too nervous at anything. In fact it was great to see their curiosity come alive at the new experience. That evening we met up with Glenn and Andrea at a restaurant. It was nice to see them again.