Kindergarten - The Big Day

 We've spent the last week preparing ourselves and Hyrum for today.  I really didn't think that I would be one of those moms that gets all emotional to send their kids off, but I did.  I think today went really well.  Last night we had a special Family Home Evening and Brett gave Father's Blessings to the boys and I.  It was a great experience.  The boys were more quiet, still, and reverent then I have ever seen simultaneously before.  The spirit of peace and comfort was very present and it allowed a great starting point to the day ahead of us today. 

When the boys woke up Brett and I got to work making a special breakfast, Orange Julius', pancakes, and bacon. 

Having so many kids in such a concentrated area makes putting him on a bus less stressful.  The school only has one bus and the bus only has 2 stops.  One stop is at the bottom of one side of our street and the other stop is at the bottom of the other side of our street; very little chance of getting lost.  

For his first day I followed the bus to the school and got to be there when he went to find his seat and meet his new friends at his table.  He was pretty nervous and was so happy when I surprised him to take him to his class.  Thank you Courtney for watching my little munchkins so I could be there for Hyrum one on one!

I was so excited to see so many kids from our ward (congregation), so Hyrum already has friends that he knows.  

Isn't he such a little stud?!  When we picked him up at the bus stop I kept asking him questions about how it was and what they did.  His response was, "it was kinda exciting weird."  Later I got out of him that his favorite part was recess and riding the bus.  It's going to be a fun year!

School Prep

I know that everyone says this when they get to this point in their lives, but I'll say it again:  I can't believe I'm old enough to have a Kindergartener!  It's been a fun experience preparing Hyrum for starting the 'Big Bell School' with all the big kids.  Brett and I got to go with him for his Kindergarten evaluation and to meet the teacher.  She has the cutest classroom.  We're excited for all the things he will learn and the creativity that will blossom in this environment.  He is definitely ready for this next stage to begin. 

Zoo

We did one final summer hoorah before school started.  The zoo!!!  It ended up being kind of crazy being outnumbered 3 to 1 in a place where everyone wanted to be a wild animal, but overall the trip was fun and the boys made some new furry friends.  These were our favorites:

All three boys were making animal/spitting noises at these guys.  

The Eagles Nest.  They didn't want to leave.

The polar bear was awesome.  He kept swimming right up to the glass and pushing off against it.  

We went back to see these long necked friends twice.

They called this the Rhino slide and spent about 30 minutes climbing on it and sliding down it's back.

The place we spent the most time at was the monkey house. . . I'm not sure in this picture who the real monkeys are though:)

Summer

With summer already almost over I thought I should post some of my beautiful flowers from our garden.  I'm still learning how to work with the soil and get things to look good.  I love my garden but it mostly looks gorgeous individually rather then collectively.  I wish I knew how to better arrange flowers, but for now I will just love them how they are.  Aren't they beautiful?

And I had to put in our delicious raspberries.  We've had a lot, and the boys go out every few days and eat handfuls of them.  They bring their friends over to eat them too.  I had plans of making lots of jam this summer, but the berries get eaten way too fast.  I don't mind, because I love that they can have fresh healthy goodness at their fingertips so easily:).

Bestest Buddies

Next week Hyrum is starting Kindergarten.  I'm kind of scared and excited.  It's a whole new world that our family is entering and the dynamics of our day to day will be forever altered.  The thing I worry about the most is how these two will cope apart from each other.  Sure, they fight and get on each other's nerves, but they love each other A LOT too.  I worry that this separation will alter their friendship and possibly make them forget how much they care and rely on another.  Right now they pretty much do everything together and their personalities really complement each other.  I know that all siblings go through a stage where they don't get along and sometimes hate each other, but I just don't want it to come to soon.  I love it as they are right now and I want to remember them this way.  With all the anxieties that I'm facing I'm also very excited to see Hyrum's progression forward.  I think Noah will gain some more confidence and leadership opportunities with Hyrum gone.  Maybe Noah and Owen will get a little closer in the next couple of years before Noah get's to join Hyrum in elementary school.  I'll be starting Joyschool for Noah just after Labor Day and I'm looking forward to this experience for a second time.  

Splash Pad

It seams like the longer we live here the more I love it.  I love that there are half a dozen parks within walking distance from our house.  I love that there are two splash pads both five minutes away.  We visited one of them this week, while we count down to the end of summer and the start of school.  Yikes! I can't believe how fast this summer has gone by. Owen LOVES the water.  I know I've mentioned that before, but it amazes me how fearless or water he is, which is kind of scary sometimes.  When we got there I set him down on the ground and he booked it strait for the water.    

Hyrum's new love is goggles and he loves wearing them!

A Date with Noah

Brett and I try and make one on one time with each of the boys a priority.  Usually its just a run to the store, but two weekends ago I took Noah to Lehi's Foam Day.  I had never been before and heard about it from a neighbor, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  It was just as advertised:  a LOT of foam!  Noah can actually be pretty shy in unfamiliar surroundings, especially when Hyrum isn't there with him.  It took about 10 minutes for him to unstick from my leg, but once he let go we had some fun getting dirty and foamy:)

We got there 30 minutes after the foam started getting blown.  The foam was still white and pretty.  By the time we left the foam was brown and shoes were getting sucked into the mud.  Kinda gross, but still really cool!

He ran up to the foam blower and didn't realize that it wasn't a good idea until after he got sprayed.  He has the cutest sad face though.  He loved our date and kept saying, "This is a Mommy and Noah date, and it's not for anyone else!"  After the foam, and showering off with the fireman's hoses, we got to go on a few kiddie train rides and play on an outdoor play area.  I love my little snuggle buggle. 

This is not related to this date, but I thought it would be a good place to add:  

When Noah is happy he will be SO affectionate and loving and say, "You are my special snuggle buggle and I love you SO much!"  When he gets mad at me sometimes he reverses the same phrase: "You are NOT my special snuggle buggle and I don't love you FOREVER!"  Yes, it's kind of sad to hear, but I can't help from wanting to laugh at his cute little voice and big lower lip saying those words.  I just love his little mind and how cute he is!

Yesterday Noah picked up his scriptures, pointed to the front, and asked, "What does this say?"
My response, "The Book of Mormon; Another Testament of Jesus Christ"
Noah excitedly exclaimed, "Hey!  I love that guy!"