Back to school

I have 4 kids in 4 different schools this year. It get's pretty crazy getting 3 kids out the door by 8:15 am. We live close enough that both boys walk to school. We are still getting used to how early elementary schools start here.

The school encourage the kids to arrive at least 15 minutes early and meet in the gym/cafeteria before school. They wait in line with the rest of their class for their teachers to pick them up (10 minutes before schools starts) and walk them to their room as a class.

They also have a lot more security features in place than we were used to in Utah. When parents visit the school they have to show photo ID and wear a name badge with their picture printed on it. I really do like our schools here!

Gavan is in 5th grade in Intermediate school. The poor boys has to leave for school by 7:15 and starts at 7:45.

Jack is in 3rd Grade this year. He doesn't have to leave until 7:45 and starts school at 8:15.

Alyssa is in preschool. She goes five days a week from 8:30-noon. She Loves school! All the preschools here are run by churches or daycares and are very expensive.
Sadie had to have her picture taken with her backpack when the other kids did too. She couldn't wait for her real first day of school, which started two weeks later.

This backpack is one Grandma Alice got Gavan when he was about two because LOVED cows.

Here is Sadie on her real first day of school. She goes two days a week from 9-11:30 and I take turn teaching with 5 other moms.

Next year I will have all my kids gone for 1/2 days 5 days a week. I don't know if I am ready to let them go so quickly. I know I will enjoy being able to get things done a little easier, but it will be quite the adjustment.

back 2 school fashion show

We had our first annual back to school fashion show. The kids really had fun with this, some enjoyed it more than others.

Jack loved the attention.

Alyssa has the poses down.


Gavan pretended he thought it was lame but he had fun too.
Sadie was a bit shy at first.

Each kids got to model two outfits of their choice. Sadie opted to model just one.
Jack and Alyssa had the most fun!

The grand finale.
We will definitely be making this a back to school tradition.

Back 2 school celebrations

We did several things this year to help the kids get excited about school starting.

I made a Jumbo back to school cookie.
The cookie is kinda ugly because I don't have frosting skills, but it was sure yummy.

Our ward had a back to school swim party the Friday night before school started. We brought football themed cookies for our treat, because back to school also means football season begins. Go Cougs!

The week before school stared we made back to school cookies for our neighbors.


Stay tuned for our back to school fashion show...

Cosmo

Last week was safety week at the boys school. They always have a walk to school day during safety week and encourage everyone to walk instead of driving/busing. Because of where we live we drive and park at one of the local businesses and walk from there. Every year on walk to school day one of the local mascots show up to greet the kids. This year it was Cosmo! The boys LOVED this especially Gavan.

You can tell Gavan genuninely happy b/c he is actually smiling in the picture.

Back 2 School

Summer is nearing its end and school is just around the corner. With school getting ready to start in less than one week I am frantically trying to get organized. I LOVE being organized. Few things stress me out more than being unorganized. I am a firm believer in planning ahead to make things easier later. Here are some of the things I have been working on.

Homework Holders:


This is where all the homework folders go. Each child has a slot and it is never lost. The girls even have slot for their "homework" which consists of coloring books and paper. I have mine hung in the kitchen because we do our homework at the table.

Homework Boxes:

I love recycling wipie boxes. I use them for EVERYTHING! This one holds all the pencils, sharpener, crayons, scissors and erasers that they need while doing their homework.

I have another wipie box just for the boys flashcards.


This dishpan holds all the larger items like notebook paper, dictionary & thesaurus. All the homework boxes/buckets are kept on the same shelf in the kitchen cabinet. Everyone knows where to go when its time to do homework.


Lunches:
For school lunches I have the kids help me divide large bags of sides into snack size bags. I also use this as a learning lesson. I tell them how much the one bag costs and how many little bags we can make from it. Then tell them how much we saved by not buying the individual prepackaged bags.



Breakfasts:
My kids no longer get to choose their breakfast foods. It takes them too long to decide and then they want one of everything. So to solve this problem every night before bed I write on the whiteboard what will be for breakfast the next morning. This way when they wake up there are no questions. They always have the option of cold cereal if they don't like what I have chosen. I try to mix it up during the week so there is variety. During the weekend they get to choose as long as they can make it themselves, because I have the weekend off. :)

Snacks:
I have snacks separated out in my pantry. I have one box for fruit snacks where I mix a variety of kinds, a box for healthy snacks and one lunches only (things like fruit cups). This has made it easier for my kids to know what I mean when I say go have a healthy snack. If they don't want fruit or veggies they know what other options they have.

Laundry/misc. stuff:

Everyone in the family has their own dishpan bucket with their name on it. I use these to put their laundry in and random things they leave around the house. This has totally helped me to keep the house clean without having to put away everyone else's stuff. While the boys are at school anything they leave out gets put in here for them to put away after school. Then I can stack the buckets and hide them and my house still looks clean. Everybody, even the little girls, knows that they have to empty their buckets a couple times of day. Sadie will even take Gary's bucket to him while he is working and tell him to put it away. I love that girl!

Calendaring:
Fall is a busy time of year for us. For about six weeks during the fall we run around like a chicken with its head cut off. Between Gary coaching Jack's soccer team, Gavan playing football, scouts, piano lessons, church meetings, and everything else it is vital for us to stay organized.

I have a monthly calendar (above the homework holders) and a weekly calendar. This helps me so I can focus on one week at a time and not get overwhelmed with the entire month. The weekly calender contains a place for notes, my menu and daily activities. I have to admit I had fun making this calender. I bought a HUGE frame at Walmart the day after thanksgiving for $6 and have been waiting to put it to use. I finally decided what to use it for and I LOVE it!!

Class party

I am one of the room mom's for Jack's class this year. The best part of the job is I get to go to all the parties. This year for his Christmas party we decorated gingerbread houses.

At the end of the party a special visitor came.

This kids got to ask him questions and there were some good one's. The first question was "where did you park you sleigh?" At Crandle's farm of course.

Jack asked if he could feel him beard. Such a curious kid.

Jack tried to use as much candy as he could on his house. He knew the more his house had on it the more he'd be able eat it all later. Smart kid!

Here is Jack's finished gingerbread house.

I was also able to help out at Gavan's class party but of course I forgot my camera. At his party we made snow globes, stamped cards and played a game. Both parties were tons of fun.