First Day of 1st Grade!

First Day of 1st Grade!  So exciting!  Tanner was excited and nervous and READY! We had met his teacher and seen his class and desk and everything else the night before which was very helpful.  He requested a Bologna sandwich and watermelon for lunch in his new little lunch pail. We were all packed and ready the night before!

 His backpack and lunch were set by the back door!

 His adorable teacher had given us instructions the night before on what colors the kids should wear each day.  I thought it was a novel idea!  I'm off to try to find a pink and a purple shirt for him because he doesn't have either of those colors. They are also to bring a snack that is in the coordinating color as well. So, the new adorable shirt I had picked out for him to wear the first day will be worn sometime in the middle of September when the color game is over as it did not have a speck of red on it!

 Red is the color of the first day!

 Not as creative as last year-the teacher gift was a Starbucks cup with some Very Berry Hibiscus Refreshers in it.

 We got to school in plenty of time and walked over to where he would meet to line up to go in his classroom. So big!

 Hadley and Carter were excited to be part of the festivities as well!

 Hadley wanted to play and run around with the big kids.....

 while Carter was concerned and a little bit worried.

 Tanner playing before the bell rings!

 I bet that other kid will be in his class!  Note the red shirt!

 

I took no pictures of his class all lined up.  The reason being is that Carter and Hadley also wanted to bring their lunch pails too.  I didn't realize that Hadley had actually packed food in hers, some of which was leaking out of the pail (an entirely smashed tomato) so I stood there holding a leaking lunch pail while also checking that Carter didn't have food in his (just Legos)  and before I knew it Mrs. Monson was out and leading the kids into the classroom.  It was a long day.  7 hours is a long time to be in school and this will be an adjustment for Tanner.  It was an adjustment for me too but I did notice having one less kid.  Even I was able to get a lot more stuff done with just the two little ones.  Crazy-could have just been the stars aligning..... When I picked him up that afternoon, he was exhausted.  He LOVED it but he was totally spent and ended up falling asleep by 7:30 that night.  He was excited to get up, dress in blue, and go after it again today! Next week Hadley and Carter start preschool so I will be totally free on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  I cannot believe it!

First Grade Eve

Today is First Grade Eve. We found out who Tanner's teacher would be as well as got to go inside his classroom, find his cubby, set up his little desk with his supplies and meet his teacher.  What excitement.  In total Prospect fashion, the entrance of the school was packed with hundreds of kids and parents who all (me included) arrived 15 minutes early to meet their teachers.  I LOVE it! I love to feel the energy of everyone, its a very exciting time! Tanner's teacher is Mrs. Monson.  We knew nothing about her and I was very anxious to learn what I could about her today.  I prayed about this during the summer off and on.  I wanted a good fit of a teacher for him and I feel like we got exactly that! As we walked in her classroom (yes we were second in line, would you expect anything less from me?) She greeted every student with a huge smile and a warm hug, and asked them their name.  So sweet.  Former students were coming in to give her hugs as well.  In my mind that is a sign of a great teacher! At this point I was in tears feeling so incredibly blessed by this teacher.

 Tanner at his desk! He is sitting near our neighbors Sienna Baird and Kaitlin Piccola so it was great to have friendly faces and neighbor friends at his desk/table! There are 24 kids in his classroom.

 Tanner and Mrs. Monson.  I am in love with this lady as of today.  She is sweet, kind, loving and has 38 years of teaching experience.  Ummmmm........did I just say 38 years?  Look at how young she looks! Yes, 38 years and still has a HUGE smile on her face! When we got home I was thinking "oh crap, she's awesome but might retire soon, why didn't I start Carter in Kindergarten this year so he could have her next year??? And what about Hadley???" But I need to slow down a bit! I'm very excited because I signed up to work in Tanners classroom on Tuesday or Thursday a few times a month too.  Mrs. Monson has a permanent classroom helper named Grandma Jean (seriously, her name is Grandma Jean) and she was there today.  She is a retired teacher and seemed so adorable and the kids actually call her Grandma Jean! What an amazing environment! I love that this school provides such a nurturing environment for these kids, its incredible and exactly what they need at this young age.

 By Mrs. Monson's Class.  In the hall right in front of his first grade classroom.

 Hilarious-Adorable-Love our PTA! Even after my Starbucks debacle last year I am very excited to be involved in Prospect PTA!



Information about the year ahead and Mrs. Monson! Love all this! Feel so lucky to live in place where my kids can attend such an amazing public school!

The Weekend and Yearly Check Ups!

 

 

Dad and Sue came up for a visit this past weekend and we had a blast as always!  Its so great to be able to see them and visit with them. I find myself thinking of ways to get them and my step sister Stacy and her family to move up here more and more often. We enjoyed some pool time and Chris and Cam's house and dinner out with no kids!  What a treat!

 

 

Us at Gramercy Park, a new favorite of mine! They have such a nice patio, fun waiters, and the best food around!

 

Uncle Chris showing the kids how to re-string a 12 string guitar! 

I hope they are listening because up until Saturday, I had no idea there was even such a thing as a 12 string guitar!  I love these 4 kids so much! Thanks Uncle Chris! The weekend flew by and before I knew it, Dad and Sue were back on a plane headed to SoCal! Can't wait to see them again soon!

 

 

 

 

Yesterday was the first of our two days of yearly check ups.  Its hard to think that the kids are 3, 5, and 7.  It really does seem like yesterday that each of them was born.  However sometimes the days are long and the years are short if that makes any sense? This summer has been fun and also trying.   I think I have heard "mommy" repeated close to 100,000 times, endured massive amounts of talking over one another, had my heart almost pop out of my chest for waaaaay too many injuries. I executed hundreds of loads of laundry and was amazed every time 2 or more were talking to me at the same time, but with different needs. I went through boxes of band aids (because they are only good for a minute or two, right?) and gum-oh the gum...only had to cut it out of the carpet in my car luckily. We cleared aisles at Winco and Albertsons and we never tipped over a single cart. I watched them fight, chase, and instigate each other, but more fun to remember and more important to remember are all the giggles I heard, the fears overcame, their conversations at breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the moments spent getting to do life with them. They are a tough crew at times and I often feel like Moses parting the Red Sea when I need to get from one part of my house to the next. And Lego's hurt when you step on them, but in the end they are sooo good and my life is sooo good because they are mine. God is good to me.

 

 

Carter and Tanner had check ups on Tuesday morning and all went well.  Carter had to get a shot but Tanner did not.  That wasn't cool.  But Carter was super brave and walked out with a new book, big bouncy ball, a pirate eye patch, as well as a sticker so that was helpful! Presents make shots worthwhile! Everyone is healthy and happy.  I'm sure they watch more TV than is allotted, don't floss as much as they should (I mean really? What kid flosses everyday? What adult for that matter?!) and could possibly stand to eat a larger variety of vegetables.  Currently the crowd favorite is carrots. But all in good time I'm sure. Dr. Baker got an earful of information from both brothers and I think he was brought up to date on all that has been going on with us! Probably more than he cared to know! Tanner is 51 3/4 inches tall and weighs in at 56 lbs. Carter is 45 3/4 inches tall and weighs 39 lbs. Hadley's appointment was this morning.  It started out a bit rocky as she fell out of the car as we were getting everyone loaded, long story short she has a good bruise on her cheek, ear, and down her rib cage.  Not exactly a smooth way to start the day but it just reinforced the fact that I love our pediatrician and the nurses and office staff.  Such amazing people.  Dr. Baker is truly the voice of reason and so thorough with the kids as well as me! I know he only has about two more years until he retires so I am going to try to get as much knowledge out of him until then! Even with the fall, Hadley still had to get her Hep A shot but she walked out of there with a new book, bouncy ball, and a sticker too! Kelli the nurse and Dr. Baker were blessed with a wealth of information from Hadley too, right down to how much she loves to eat eggs but only scrambled not hard boiled or over easy.  Whose kid is this?? Hadley is 41 inches tall and weighs 38 lbs.  She is solid! Love this little girl to pieces!  

 These little sheets the nurses fill out are priceless to me! I save them!

 Every year brings plans and changes.  Change is hard only when its not what I planned for.  I have a feeling that this next year will be full of changes and I welcome them with open arms, whatever they may be.

 

 We have gone to the pool bunches and bunches this summer.  Its easy, free fun which is so nice! We have some of the best neighbors I could have ever asked for and they usually come with us! Paige just happens to be our cousin too which makes it even that more special! Paige, Hadley, and Kristen have been the three little musketeers this summer!  Its adorable! Our pool doesn't close until October 15 so we plan on really using it until the bitter end!

 

 Three of these kids are my own and I just love and adore them like crazy.  The other two are family as well and have a special place in my heart!  Its been a joy being able to spend so much time with these guys, see them growing up, and also watching them enjoy my kids too.  They are all such great kids and I know they will grow up to be amazing big people! 

 



Strategy Planning

 I've been working hard at trying to remember to pray and involve God in my strategy planning, or its more like letting him plan my strategy for me!  So I pray.  And the amazing thing; I see and feel the results.  I had been praying for peace.  Peace in a broad general spectrum, I guess.  Peace that would encompass where we are as a family right now.  Peace financially, peace careers wise, peace for issues I feel with others, peace knowing its okay that people I want to be special to me, don't like me, peace that I can see the good in people, not the annoyance, peace with my parenting, just peace in my heart and acceptance for where I am and who I am.  Guess what.  I got peace.  I feel good about where we are. I feel good about everything and I feel like my heart has softened a bit too.  The thing I forgot to ask for was that I actually realized all this.  I realized it, I just didn't really realize how much peace I actually had until it was shaken. 

 

 So I'm kind of out of the loop on pop culture at the moment.  That's ok.  I'm good with that as I have my peace.  However, I still take things on and need strategy planning sessions, AKA my prayer time with the big guy.  So, the other day I heard that the lottery was ballpark $425 million.  I had a little strategy planning session, went over what I would do when I won all that money and felt 1% confident I would win.  Ha!  I spent $6 on 3 Powerball tickets. Yep, this was all in the strategy.  This is what we had been waiting for.  I told Tyler, he thought I was dumb and we moved on.  The thing was, as I continued to pray about it, I heard clear as a bell "Ashley you are not going to win the Powerball but the plans I have for you far exceed your greatest expectations."  I didn't just hear this once either, I heard it continuously.  What???  It was crazy.  While I truly believe this to be true, I also prayed for patience because I know my clock is a lot faster than Gods clock and I would need the patience.  However, just because I am totally and completely human, I checked the Powerball numbers.  I didn't win the big one but I did win $12 so I at least recouped what I spent plus a little more! Trust me, I did not fail to see the symbolism in this nor the humor. This came as no surprise as I had already been told I was not going to win the Powerball.  However, the next morning I had a conversation with Tyler that shook my peace.  I had accepted a lot of things and had peace in them.  I had peace in his career and where he was in all that.  I had my own prayers about his career which were different than the prayers he had.  Oops.  Thankfully its not like voting where we would just cancel each other out if we voted differently.  God hears our prayers.  And, after yesterday morning, I changed my prayers to match his. He is, after all, the one who goes to work.  I was just having a pity party for myself trying to manage the homestead. So my peace had been rocked yesterday. I do have to admit that I spent a really good portion of the day hurt, and upset, and confused, and irritated. Actually, it was all I could do to dry up my tears and put on a happy face when Tyler got home. I was annoyed. However, today is a new day.  I am at peace again.  I'm praying my peace continues because realistically, It's going to be tested again and tested very soon. I'm also continuing to pray for a good strategy.  A really really good strategy. 

Popsicles do make everything better.  Carter is the child that I see so much of myself in.  He has so many qualities good and unfortunate that align with mine. These span anywhere from the foods he loves to eat all the way down to his innate ability to have his feeling hurt so very quickly.  While I think the foods I chose to eat are awesome, I do not like the fact that I am so sensitive. 

 

 I do make a lot of mistakes.  I kid you not.  But I am who God made me. I am so thankful for my mom and dad and sister and friends. I am.

 The kids and I have enjoyed swimming so much this summer.  It has been an incredible blessing to be so close to the pool, it has helped me get through many an idiots hour! I LOVE looking up at the clock and seeing that it is already 5:00!!  Hooray!!

 My latest favorite-Garden Salsa! Fresh tomatoes, Jalapeños, Onions and Garlic.  Combine and enjoy!

 Tanner has been losing teeth like crazy this summer.  As it stands now, I need to cut the corn off the cobb for him to eat it! The Tooth Fairy is having a fantastic time finding all his letters and secret boxes that he leaves his teeth in!

 

Mickey Mouse pancakes make a great start to summer days! 

 

Our latest find!  JumpTime in Downtown Boise!  It ROCKS!!  No one is ever there, the staff is incredibly nice, they have an upstairs loft which allows parents to sit in comfy recliners, massage chairs, or sofas and see the entire trampoline area!  It is crazy amazing!  They also serve some of my favorite foods; nachos, popcorn, soda, cotton candy......ahhhh a little slice of heaven! 

 

Make it a great day; will ya??