Mario says my blog should be about family and not politics. But I just have to say that I love John McCain's new running mate. She is no Mitt Romney but she is a strong woman with strong moral values. I love that he picked a running mate that shares my same conservative values. Way to go McCain!
McCain/Palen 2008
Hopefully we'll see Mitt again in 2012 or 2016!
"Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." Gordon B. Hinckley
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
What now?
My four kids have been in school for about 4 weeks now. They are all doing great. So by now, you would think every closet in my house would be organized, the bathrooms cleaned, all my digital pictures from the last 5 years put onto a portable hard drive, and several scrapbook pages completed. Unfortunately I haven't even touched all those "projects" that I have been putting off for years saying that I would get it all done when my kids go to kindergarten.
I can't even really account for most of my "kid-free" hours. I know several hours have been spent in kindergarten with my boys. Mario tells me to cut the apron strings. But I know that the teachers need lots of help. At first when they went to school, I wanted to be selfish with my free time and not volunteer more than once a week at the school. But as the days went by and I found myself volunteering more and more, I realized that is where I want to be. I want to be at school with my kids. The teachers appreciate the extra hands. So for now, I am content with pushing off all my projects and just spending lots of time with my kids in school doing whatever I can to make kindergarten great! I know that by fourth or fifth grade (maybe even earlier since they are boys) they won't want me to come close to their class. I may embarrass them with all my hugs and kisses in front of their friends.
So if any of you have been wondering what I have been up to since all my kids have gone to school......kindergarten and loving it!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Not as quiet as a mouse anymore!
Today after school, Nathan's kindergarten teacher came to tell me a funny story that happened in her class. Up until the last couple days, Nathan has been very quiet in his class. He rarely said a word unless the teacher called on him. With several rowdy boys in the class, I think she was glad to have one quiet boy.
Nathan's true personality came out today in class. Nathan had to use the bathroom. When he came out of the bathroom, the class was very quiet and sitting on the rug listening to the teacher. Nathan snuck around the corner and made a great big lion's roar as he pretended to pounce at his class.
Nathan's teacher told me she had to control herself from laughing aloud. She said it was so unexpected from such a quiet child like Nathan. I was crying from laughing so hard when she told me this story. It sounds like something he would do at home, but never at school. I guess it is good he is feeling more comfortable at school. But maybe he is a little too comfortable now.
Thank goodness his teacher has a lot of patience. I guess you have to when you teach a bunch of kindergartners.
Nathan's true personality came out today in class. Nathan had to use the bathroom. When he came out of the bathroom, the class was very quiet and sitting on the rug listening to the teacher. Nathan snuck around the corner and made a great big lion's roar as he pretended to pounce at his class.
Nathan's teacher told me she had to control herself from laughing aloud. She said it was so unexpected from such a quiet child like Nathan. I was crying from laughing so hard when she told me this story. It sounds like something he would do at home, but never at school. I guess it is good he is feeling more comfortable at school. But maybe he is a little too comfortable now.
Thank goodness his teacher has a lot of patience. I guess you have to when you teach a bunch of kindergartners.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Mario
That's what happens when I don't sign out of my blog and I go out for the evening. Mario got a hold of my blog.
Crush
I think about him day and night. I don't talk about it much, but I am so lucky to have Mario for a husband. He is simply the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me-a gift from above. Yes, he's helpful, friendly, kind, charming, witty, brave, thoughtful, reverent, courteous, thrifty and well liked throughout the community and ward.
But that's not all. He is so incredibly smart. He can do complex mathematical calculations in his head. He has a superlative command of syntax, not to mention quite an extensive vocabulary. He simply chooses not to employ them. He would never want anyone to feel inadequate.
Which leads me to his next, and perhaps most endearing attribute. He is very humble.
But that's not all. He is so incredibly smart. He can do complex mathematical calculations in his head. He has a superlative command of syntax, not to mention quite an extensive vocabulary. He simply chooses not to employ them. He would never want anyone to feel inadequate.
Which leads me to his next, and perhaps most endearing attribute. He is very humble.
Tucson
We found out today that we will be PCS'ing (military lingo for moving) to Tucson, Arizona next summer. We are all excited about this next chapter in our lives. I am also excited about the warm weather!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
School
Missy commented that I didn't put any details about the first day of school. That was because I put those pictures up before the kids came home from school. So here is a run down of how the first few days have gone.
Eric-loves 6th grade and the teachers. He is a little disappointed that he is still in elementary school and not in middle school, but he was happy to find out that the teachers treat him like he's in middle school. He doesn't have to stand in straight lines and he can talk while doing his classwork (with the understanding that whatever he doesn't finish in class becomes homework.)He has about 35 kids in his class so its way too large but the teachers seem to have pretty good control. I got a call from his teacher on the second day. It brought back memories from preschool when I used to get called everytime he bit or hit someone. Fortunately this was not that kind of call. She called to thank me for getting all the paperwork back to her and said that Eric is well prepared for 6th grade.
Erin-she wanted to be homeschooled when she found out there would be almost 40 students in her class. But she loved the first day and her new teacher. I was relieved to hear that I wouldn't have to homeschool her!!! She has made some new friends and is enjoying her new class. I am excited for her because she needs the social part of school. Plus, I doubt she would like hanging out with me all day while I run errands, clean the house, and volunteer in the kindergarten classes.
Nathan-loves kindergarten with the exception of lunch time. He has been getting sad everyday at lunch. He thinks that it is time to come home. That is probably my fault because I went to the lunch room to help out the first couple days. So the first day when he saw me, he thought it was time to go home. But he does fine as soon as lunch time is over. He likes his teacher and is excited to go to school everyday.
Zachary-loves kindergarten also but won't admit it if you ask him. He gets dressed for school as soon as he wakes up. I think he has a crush on his teacher, Mrs. Shugars. I bought him an adorable giraffe folder and he hated it. I guess it was too babyish for him. But as soon as Mario told him that Mrs. Shugars would like it, he immediately took it and said he couldn't wait to show it to her. Mrs. Shugars does a lot of art and Zachary loves art. All summer he told me that he wanted to be in Mrs. Shugar's class. It probably doesn't hurt that she is a young, tall, pretty, blond teacher.
I talked to both kindergarten teachers and they said the boys are doing great. I guess their young age has been fine. They are well behaved and eager to learn. What a relief! I have been second guessing my decision to send them to kindergarten almost everyday. But now I guess I can relax and know that they are ready!
Eric-loves 6th grade and the teachers. He is a little disappointed that he is still in elementary school and not in middle school, but he was happy to find out that the teachers treat him like he's in middle school. He doesn't have to stand in straight lines and he can talk while doing his classwork (with the understanding that whatever he doesn't finish in class becomes homework.)He has about 35 kids in his class so its way too large but the teachers seem to have pretty good control. I got a call from his teacher on the second day. It brought back memories from preschool when I used to get called everytime he bit or hit someone. Fortunately this was not that kind of call. She called to thank me for getting all the paperwork back to her and said that Eric is well prepared for 6th grade.
Erin-she wanted to be homeschooled when she found out there would be almost 40 students in her class. But she loved the first day and her new teacher. I was relieved to hear that I wouldn't have to homeschool her!!! She has made some new friends and is enjoying her new class. I am excited for her because she needs the social part of school. Plus, I doubt she would like hanging out with me all day while I run errands, clean the house, and volunteer in the kindergarten classes.
Nathan-loves kindergarten with the exception of lunch time. He has been getting sad everyday at lunch. He thinks that it is time to come home. That is probably my fault because I went to the lunch room to help out the first couple days. So the first day when he saw me, he thought it was time to go home. But he does fine as soon as lunch time is over. He likes his teacher and is excited to go to school everyday.
Zachary-loves kindergarten also but won't admit it if you ask him. He gets dressed for school as soon as he wakes up. I think he has a crush on his teacher, Mrs. Shugars. I bought him an adorable giraffe folder and he hated it. I guess it was too babyish for him. But as soon as Mario told him that Mrs. Shugars would like it, he immediately took it and said he couldn't wait to show it to her. Mrs. Shugars does a lot of art and Zachary loves art. All summer he told me that he wanted to be in Mrs. Shugar's class. It probably doesn't hurt that she is a young, tall, pretty, blond teacher.
I talked to both kindergarten teachers and they said the boys are doing great. I guess their young age has been fine. They are well behaved and eager to learn. What a relief! I have been second guessing my decision to send them to kindergarten almost everyday. But now I guess I can relax and know that they are ready!
Monday, August 4, 2008
First Day of School
Zachary has Mrs. Shugars for kindergarten
Nathan has Mrs. Jimenez for kindergarten
Erin has Mrs. LeWarne for 4th grade
Eric has Mrs. Chavez for 6th grade
Friday, August 1, 2008
Camping
We took all four kids and the dog camping last night. I can't remember the last time our entire family went tent camping but I am pretty sure it was when we lived in Hawaii and the twins were infants and we had to lug all their baby gear with us. It already takes a ton of equipment to camp so adding baby gear (for two) to it is really a lot more effort than really it is worth. So that is probably why we haven't been tent camping since. We have stayed in countless cabins though which is more my idea of camping.
At least this time camping, we didn't need baby stuff. But I guess Mario thinks that I am the baby of the family now and that I need to have luxury when I camp. He stuffed Eric's futon mattress into the back of the van along with heavy blankets just for me. Camping in Monterey in July is not the same as camping in the rest of the country in July. It was chilly. So here I had the warmest blankets in the house while I was worried that my kids were going to freeze with their thinner blankets. Fortunately they were all fine.
The camp sight was only a few miles away from the house so Mario and Eric went early and got everything set up for us. When I arrived with the three younger kids, Mario set up a chair for me and told me to sit down and relax and that I didn't need to lift a finger (a statement I think he regretted later.) He did pretty much everything including all the clean up while I relaxed. Later I commented that the lady at the camp sight across from us was doing all the work while her husband was no where to be seen. Mario got a laugh out of that since he was doing all the work at our camp sight.
We finally got the twins to sleep a little after 9 pm. Anyone that knows us can tell you that we put them to bed by 6:30 or 7 pm every night. We work our whole schedule around their bedtime. If not, we pay the price the next day when they are dragging and whining. So it was frustrating to us when they were still not sleeping and it was approaching 9 pm.
Did I mention that this campground was right next to the military's defense language school? So at 5:45 AM, I was awakened by a drill Sergeant screaming. He kept counting to ten. I wanted to scream myself. Finally at 6:30, the entire family was awake and making lots of noise (which wouldn't have been so noticeable if the drill sergeant was still screaming.) So I am sure all the campers were happy to see me load up my two little 4 year olds and take them home this morning. Mario, Eric, and Erin decided to stay one more night. As for me and my little boys, we are home and happy to sleep in our nice, warm beds this evening. (well at least I am.)
At least this time camping, we didn't need baby stuff. But I guess Mario thinks that I am the baby of the family now and that I need to have luxury when I camp. He stuffed Eric's futon mattress into the back of the van along with heavy blankets just for me. Camping in Monterey in July is not the same as camping in the rest of the country in July. It was chilly. So here I had the warmest blankets in the house while I was worried that my kids were going to freeze with their thinner blankets. Fortunately they were all fine.
The camp sight was only a few miles away from the house so Mario and Eric went early and got everything set up for us. When I arrived with the three younger kids, Mario set up a chair for me and told me to sit down and relax and that I didn't need to lift a finger (a statement I think he regretted later.) He did pretty much everything including all the clean up while I relaxed. Later I commented that the lady at the camp sight across from us was doing all the work while her husband was no where to be seen. Mario got a laugh out of that since he was doing all the work at our camp sight.
We finally got the twins to sleep a little after 9 pm. Anyone that knows us can tell you that we put them to bed by 6:30 or 7 pm every night. We work our whole schedule around their bedtime. If not, we pay the price the next day when they are dragging and whining. So it was frustrating to us when they were still not sleeping and it was approaching 9 pm.
Did I mention that this campground was right next to the military's defense language school? So at 5:45 AM, I was awakened by a drill Sergeant screaming. He kept counting to ten. I wanted to scream myself. Finally at 6:30, the entire family was awake and making lots of noise (which wouldn't have been so noticeable if the drill sergeant was still screaming.) So I am sure all the campers were happy to see me load up my two little 4 year olds and take them home this morning. Mario, Eric, and Erin decided to stay one more night. As for me and my little boys, we are home and happy to sleep in our nice, warm beds this evening. (well at least I am.)
Zach and Buzz
Eric and Erin "Ripsticking" or as Mario calls it "Dipsticking" or as Zachary calls it "Ripoffing"
Nathan practicing soccer
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