School starts

Luke's first day of 2nd grade.  August 10, 2015

 Luke - 2nd grade so far:  He is in a new program they started at Rivercrest call STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math)   The application process to get him in the program was like applying to college or something.  He wrote an essay, we wrote an evaluation, we had to get two teacher recommendations and filled out a big questionnaire.  But he got in and it's been a really good year so far.  He loves his teacher Mrs. Eaton and the one day I peeked in on them they were all over the room and had thermometers and were testing different tubs of water.  It seems very hands-on and interesting.   He comes home every day with an E (conduct grade) which is a miracle and we don't have to fight him on his homework anymore!  Hurray!  He just joined a running club that meets every Wednesday morning to run about 2 miles before school.  Here are the Luke things outside his classroom.

"The best part of me... My shin is the body part that helps me in soccer.  My strong shin helps me run.  My shin connects to my ankle that bends my foot. "  (got to give him credit for being original.  Most kids did eyes and hands.  He was definitely the only shin guy)
"I hope to make a lot of friends in Second Grade.  I dream of being a biologist."  -Luke

 Luke has been a good big brother to his newbie kindergarten sister.  He sits with her on the bus and takes good care of her.

Lucy started Kindergarten!!! 
First day of Kindergarten - August 13th, 2015.  

 

She's got this

 It was hard to say goodbye to Lucy.   That first day of Kindergarten is so long.  I was so relieved to see a big smile on her face at the end of the day.

 Lucy had a bit of a rough start with school which really surprised us.   She did great at school - the teacher said her behavior was perfect in every way, but when she got home things were rough.  I think she was just too tired and it's a long day for a 5 year old kid.  She threw tantrums and would punch the wall and me and basically break down over any little thing.  It was hard to see her that way and know that it was because she was exhausted from being so perfect all day.  :)

Rocking in her school shoes (pete the cat) 

Saying goodbye to Lucy on her first "real" day of Kindergarten with her new class and new teacher.  I had hoped so much she'd get a good teacher and it's taken me awhile to realize that my prayers were indeed answered.  I love Mrs. Recarte and feel like she's a perfect fit for Lucy.  She's calm and loving and really knows how to handle a big group of 5 year olds.  I come every week to read and tutor and the kids jump out of their chairs and run and hug me.  And I love that she lets them. :)

This was the grandparent picnic - I was a sub for a grandparent since one set is in Utah and one set is in South Africa. But we still had fun.

 Lucy's best friend from day 1 is Catie Joy.  We hear about her a lot.  
 Book Character Day  -- Lucy dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood.

Lucy has adjusted now and seems to be really thriving at school and things are pretty much back to normal at home.  She is so good to play with Freddy and lead Maryanne in activities that life is not easier with her gone.    She has maintained her perfect conduct at school with the exception of one day - the day that she and 2 of her friends decided to CUT THEIR HAIR!  Luckily it wasn't that much and I couldn't even tell.   The teacher sent home the hair she had cut in a baggy.   Later than night I found this on the back of one of her worksheets:

And Lucy, much like her grandma and grandpa songer, is really into writing lists.  Actually all Songers are list-makers I think.  She's also been drawing up calendars and asking what events are coming up so she can keep it all straight in her head.  She's a good cleaner and organizer.  Here are  few recent lists.

Maryanne starts preschool!

First day of preschool - September 2, 2015

 

We have a preschool co-op group of 6 wonderful moms who put their heart and soul into each preschool lesson.  Kate came up with the curriculum - which I love.  A lot of fun stuff lately...homemade applesauce, Vivaldi, birdseed and feather texture bins, stomping dinosaurs, fairy tale puppets shows etc. etc.  And I love that I'm doing it with all my friends.  

Maryanne also had a rough transition with Lucy going back to school.   She's used to having sister-directed play and without Lucy she doesn't really know what to do with herself.  It's hard for me because all day long she asks me "what can I do now?"  and "can I go to the cousins now?"  When we set up the preschool I was thinking I didn't want too much structure and was thinking one day was plenty but I'm so glad I was outvoted and we have 2 days.  And now I'm wishing we did even more.   Maryanne has become a little bit hard which is strange because she's always been so agreeable.  She's still got her cheerful and lovey disposition but she's hard to reason with and has started to cry a lot when she doesn't get what she wants.  It might be because she's growing so fast.  She is SO big.  She is almost as big as Lucy and wears a bigger shoe size.  She always falls asleep in the late afternoon just where ever she is and sleeps with kids playing all around her.  So - yeah, she might just be exhausted from all the growing.  She seems like a sensitive soul.  She gets scared really easily.  Joey and I have to be careful when we joke around with her because she can really get freaked out.  And don't ever mention a "woof" (wolf) because for some reason she's really latched on to that as the scariest thing there is out there.  My favorite thing about Maryanne is she's always first to say she's sorry.  If I get upset with her for something, she runs to her room crying but will come out and give me a big hug and say she's sorry.   She loves to be held, hugged and loved.  Oh and I can't forget my other favorite thing which is - she plays with my hair and tickles my back whenever I ask her to.  So, I really REALLY love that. :)

 And Freddybones!  (or as Joey has been calling him lately freddy bowens)  I know he looks all grown up and is sitting in a desk but don't worry - no school for him.   This little guy is such a buddy and is endearing as all get out.  The other morning I got him up and brought him to the couch and he just laid his head on my shoulder and snuggled in.  I thought - "ok, I know I'm supposed to be getting the kids ready for school but this is just too lovely"  I mean who doesn't totally melt when a baby snuggles right into you right?  so I decided I wouldn't move until he did.  And we snuggled for like 15 glorious minutes.  It was great.

This picture was taken right after his haircut so about 14 months - but he's now 17 months.   I just remember it was about this time that he just seemed to grow up all of the sudden.   For example, on the way to Utah he couldn't really walk and on the way home in the airports he was walking all over the place.  He has 5 words that he can say now "Mama, dada, baba, ball and osky!"  His 5 favorite things!  It is freaking adorable how excited he gets when he sees Osky.  He loves him so much.  They're going to be best buddies.   He is, by far, my most ball-loving kid.  This kid LOVES to throw and catch and ... fetch balls.  Joey seriously plays fetch with him.  Anyway - he's a lovey.  Can't get enough of this kid. 

So - that's an update on the kids.  It's interesting how things sort of ebb and flow.  I feel like last year I had more trouble with my boys - Freddy as a newborn and Luke as just... well, a little harder to manage.  And this year they are both easy as pie and the girls are a little more challenging.  My easy, perfect girls! What?  But it's just stages and you just have to know things are always changing.   But man oh man I love these 4 hoodlums of mine.  My life is barely manageable and I feel like a total failure as a housekeeper and cook right now - but let me tell you - I enjoy the heck out of being a mom.  I really do.   There is a lot of cuteness and preciousness to enjoy around these parts. 

Terrys Visit

Our crazy and very spontaneous friends, the Terrys, came for an impromptu visit at the end of July.  Aiden turned 8 and her parents gave her the "birthday of surprises".  They threw her a surprise birthday party and surprised her with a bunch of REALLY exciting things - one of which was a family trip up to see Lukey!!!   They told her just before they left - just really casually, "hey, let's go see Lukey today, want to?"

So here she is - our 8 year old Aiden with her best friend Luke.  (Luke bought them best friend necklaces with his own money)

So - we decided to do things we used to do together all the time.  Our first stop was Lifetime Fitness.  I haven't been there since Lezlie moved away 4 years ago!  Now we were back with our latest Hale and Terry models.

Besties and their pool pretzels.  And gorgeous Addie.  I always love seeing Addie and to see what kind of developments she's made.  So now, she's really into colorful dice and transferring them from bin to bin.  She used to be afraid of tall, dark socks but now she has her parents wear them and it makes her really happy.  Oh and the tie!  You know you've gotten Addie's approval if she signs "tie".  Aaron is usually the one wearing the tie but if you are lucky - she'll sign to have you wear it.   She's so outgoing and social.  You always feel a lot of love from that one.

Aiden's birthday wasn't the only reason for their visit.  They also had a very important person for us to meet.  Miss London.  And man, was she a fun little one to meet.

Waterslidin

Let me tell you about the Terrys.  They are the kind of people that never seem to get tired or stressed.    And aren't afraid of crazy.  So, of course, after swimming we take all our kids to Huey's....another good Hale/Terry memory.   

This is our visit 7 years ago (Aiden is about London's age!)

And now

 The kids were sitting behind us.  We had a long wait for our food and while we were waiting we looked behind us and this was happening. 

yes, their first dance.  these guys are so funny.  On the drive to Lifetime Fitness - our van was pretty loud and crazy with all the kids and Aiden leans over to Luke and says "Let's just have one kid.  This is too loud"

The second day we headed to the zoo.  I think first 2 years I lived here I went to the zoo on the Terry membership as a guest.   We had fun times there. 

Here's my first time at the zoo with the Terrys for Aiden's birthday week- and Luke was about 6 months old.

July 2008

July 2015

The Teton Trek fountain

 Sarah B-to-the-radsher - everyone's favorite babysitter

Oh we had so much fun.  Almost too much.  The Terrys like to party and they totally out-fun us every time.  They say they've slowed down but we still can't keep up with them.  Although maybe,  just maybe we wore them out a little. 

So fun to see our travelin, seekers-of-excitement friends.

Utah: other stuff that happened

Dental School Reunion

cody's superpower is knowing when someone is taking a picture

 this is the first time since dental school (7 years) that I've seen Erin and Rachel so it was so good.

 Not as many husbands.  Something about working at their jobs?  Nate is actually just home on his lunch.

And our ever growing garden of kids

Dental Reunion --- extended

Holly in Farmington.  It had been way too long and was so fun to catch up with this dear friend.   I wish we lived closer!  She just happened to be visiting Utah as well.

The Macdonalds!

If anyone knows me - they know I love me some Macdonald kids!  Love em love em.  

dearest of dears

KinderfarmTimes

One night Edith made us amazing peach waffles and then we all went out for a quintuple date of disc golf

mike always tells the best stories

Malmborgs are fun.  4-wheeler rides and gathering eggs.  (and I especially liked one sunny morning where Mike, Vic and I all chatted in their new garden as we walked around picking yummy things and eating them)

The Jamisons!  Twins and snakes!

I love this picture.

 it was so fun to meet nora and charley!!  And feed them and then put them in their bassinet SIDE BY SIDE!

 these two were more excited about meeting Evan's ball python

 

 those girls are lucky.  i'm a little jealous of them because I know these two are going to be singing them "secawet song" and other such hits

Los Burtons!!

These guys built a house in Huntsville!!  We happened to show up on moving day and helped them move in.  It's a beautiful house and it made me more excited about moving to Huntsville someday.

The Burtons have a match for each of our kids.  They actually get closer and closer in age until Freddy and Gideon who are 1 day apart!   While the men were hauling the heavy stuff, I stayed with the kids.  So I got a picture of the Burton/Hale match-ups in age.

 Freddy and Gideon

 

Maryanne and Arta

Everett and Lucy 

Summit and Luke

WWBH night at the Borgs.
This was a cheek achy kind of night.   Lots of funny stories and people.  "timOthy? preesent"

Truman and Luke 

The last day of our trip these boys were Jake and Joey's caddies and drove their golf carts all over - doing donuts in fairways and not listening to instructions.  It sounds like they had the time of their lives.   And these are the only pictures I found on Joey's phone from that day.  So they must have found a frog on their adventure as well.