Nose to the Grindstone 2011-2012

It back to school time.
What a glorious summer it's been.
We had so much fun and accomplished much on our 50 Thing to do this Summer list.
I took notes from other Mothers and decided to host our very own "Back to School Dinner".
I gave invitations to all those who would be going back to school (everyone but Grace & I).

I cooked up a chicken pot pie, a much beloved dinner at our house. It feels like home.
I served dinner on my beautiful plates Scotty got me for my birthday.

They haven't been used yet, so that moved the specialness up a notch.
We started with a salad first and then moved on to the main course.
When they were finished with the  main course I took their order for dessert and whipped up milkshakes and ice cream sundaes.  The manners were impeccable, and everyone ate all their dinner.
Surprising what a little formal event with your Mother acting as a very proper waitress will do to kids.

Afterward the kids received a father's blessing for the new school year. The best way to ensure they know they are loved and looked after.

The kids started school at different times. Chloe started Monday, Asher and Aidan Tuesday, and Cole the next Tuesday.

Let's start with the oldest first:

We're proud to present our 7th Grader:
Miss Chloe Browning
Attending: Vista Heights Middle School

She has a locker, 8 classes, and a contagious personality.  She's so excited for this new school year. I can't wait to see what great things she does.  She's already tried out for a part in a  Shakespeare play and filled out paperwork for Student Council.  I love that she's not afraid to put herself out there. To try. To not be afraid of failure. That is an invaluable trait.  Her electives are Drama, Art, and ASL (American Sign Language). This is her first time to ride a bus to school. Oh the joy.

They rule the school now, I present our 6th grader:
Asher Browning
Teacher: Mrs. Cook

Asher was lucky enough to get Chloe's teacher from last year, Mrs.Cook. She's an older woman who travels, runs races, and celebrates kids by letting them stand on their desks and be sung to. She's fantastic and he is excited. There's always a bit of pressure when you follow a sibling, but Asher is a funny, enthusiastic, smart boy who thrives on praise.  I'm pretty sure he's enjoying "ruling the school", but I also love that he walks to school with Aidan. He's pictured below with his great friend  Con-Man. 

Connor and Asher the big 6th graders.

Next in line, our handsome 3rd Grader:

Aidan Browning

Aidan's third grade teacher, Mrs.Durfee looks like a gem.  Aidan has a quirky sense of  humor and he loves to be with his friends. Every day after school he runs in and starts a timer to begin his 30 minutes of reading.  He wastes no time so he can quickly get to a friend's house and enjoy the daylight hours.  He's sure that 6 hours of school is an over-commitment, and I remind him how many years of this he has left and to make the best of it.  Aidan is a sweet, tender-hearted boy with a love for life. I think 3rd grade is going to be good to him.

Aidan and Miles finally in the same class!

And lastly, the boy who has waited long enough,

Mr. Cole Browning our Kindergartener. 

Possibly the most social of all our children. He's waited a long time to get to Kindergarten. He is confident, and happy, and comes home and presents his artwork.  He's only gone for 3 hours, which is good, because the house is quiet and nobody's kissing me!  Cole is tenacious, outgoing, talkative, and a pretty good reader. He'll eat up Kindergarten.

Cole with Grandma Bonnie headed to school.
After school she took him to Zupa's to celebrate.

Waiting in line.

So there we have it. It's definitely a different year for us with Chloe going to a different school and riding a bus.  It's exciting to see the kids grow and learn and develop fantastic qualities, but it's a bit painful too.  

Here's to a fantastic school year!

That's a Wrap.

Kids August 2010

The school year has officially ended.
It always goes out with a bang.
So many programs and parties a Mother is on call constantly.
Video camera and digital camera on the ready.
Scott headed to Boise for his yearly sabbatical, so he's not pictured.

I was so proud, but not surprised when Chloe's teacher, Mrs.Cook, called to privately tell me she had picked Chloe to receive the Hope of America award of in her class. One boy and girl were chosen from each 6th grade class. The Hope of America award is one that recognizes and encourages graduating elementary and middle school students who possess outstanding leadership ability, ethical and moral character, achievement in academic studies, and show promise of future success and service to the community. That sounds about right in my book.  


Chloe's teacher wrote in her yearbook. I am not the only one who sees you as an outstanding representative of the Hope of America. Your classmates value your powerful characteristics of integrity, kindness, personal responsibility, friendship, and leadership.  You are known for creatively going the extra mile, whether making 200 chocolate bites, scenery and props for a Greek play, or turning a simple bookmark into a work of art.  Everyone and everything you touch is better because of you.  Keep your ideals high and success will follow you. --Mrs. Cook.


Behold the power of a teacher. 

The 6th Graders have been preparing for an end of the year dance.  They've learned several different dance styles and were given instructions to dress in their best and wear deodorant:) Then they had a dance card and were assigned to dance with other students.  Parents were NOT ALLOWED. I think this was to help the students feel comfortable. So no pics unfortunately, but here is her dance card.

Her class also performed Shakespeare's a Midsummer Night's Dream.  She was one of the beautiful fairies and worked tirelessly on her skirt.  I am not sure why I have no photos of this.  I know if I have video.
There is an end of school "clap out" for all the 6th grade students leaving the school as well as any faculty leaving.  I went with my camera and cried and clapped and snapped pictures as I watched some much loved teachers walk the hall and some of the best 6th graders I know.  My children are so blessed to have such great friends.

Asher had a busy year. 5th grade is a killer. There's Clear Creek Camp, Science Fair, Hope of America performance, Wax Museum, & Ellis Island. He has loved his teacher and had a year full of fun stuff. Having Mr.D for a teacher has made it a great year. They often talk about sports and Asher definitely looks up to him.

Here he is as Mr. Orville Wright.  He did a report on him and dressed like him for a Wax Museum.  We walked through and the students were all frozen in place.  I was able to go to Clear Creek with him, watch him perform in Hope of America at the Marriott Center, and be his book club Mom, so I've enjoyed spending some one on one time with Asher as he grows into a young man. I find him funny, engaging, and involved.

Second grade has been a bit of a challenge for Aidan.  He is a creative boy who thinks outside the box, and I think he sometimes feels stuffed back in the box.  This makes him anxious and unhappy.  All in all it was a fine year, but I'm hoping next year will be even better. He excelled at art and spelling. He is a very creative story teller.  Mrs. Schmidt helped him improve his hand writing and vocabulary.  This boy has a big tender heart and a love of learning.

Here's Aidan in his God of Nature mask.  It is covered with animals (note the black widows on each cheek).  I joined Aidan for a donut date this year and we read animal facts from a large book together and shared a donut.  This boy is looking forward to a summer full of friends, nature, and sleep.

Here's Aidan giving hugs to his siblings on the last day of school.


Cole is dying to begin Kindergarten next year.  When we registered him he would ask day after day if it was time to get his backpack and head out.  He is so ready  now.  I only hope they are ready for him.  He is a spit fire of a kid with a personality as big as the sky.  He exudes coolness and cries in my lap when his feelings are hurt.
He's been the leader of my 3-ringed circus while the big kids are at school.  "How long until Tylo's out of school," is on his personal speed dial.  He learned to do chores, practice piano, and loved to have an afternoon cuddle up while the babies were napping.












With the school year over Grace is looking forward to running with the big kids, and giving me a run for my money.  We've begun the potty training, and it's been mostly good. However last Sunday while she did perfectly during church (she even stayed the entire time in Nursery without a tear) she came home and wreaked havoc.  She wet on a chair, then hopped in my flour bucket while the children and I were busy making dinner.  Later she emptied dirt from my flower planter onto the front porch and I still can't talk about the glitter incident.  I was sure Cole was to be my loudest child, but alas she has proved me wrong.  Oh I love her, but she requires much correction and patience. She has grown so much this past school year and talks up a storm.

Happy End of the School Year.

Kids May 2011

Back

It was back to school day.

I'm not sure I was ready for this.

They had their clothes, backpacks, shoes, supplies,

but I just wasn't ready for them to be gone for a majority of the day.

It's kind of strange when I think about them gone

having interactions with other kids and adults.

Having conversations, making choices, learning new things and I'm there for none of it. 

However, I fancy myself a pretty good "reader of emotion", and so

I generally know how the day has gone when I talk to them at home.

We did the traditional 1st day of school pictures and walked together.

Chloe- Grade 6

Asher- Grade 5

Aidan- Grade 2

When we got to the school they usually line up with their class, but today there were no lines.
Asher just went right in. No hug, no kiss, no "see you later Mom". Just gone.
Then I couldn't find Aidan and assumed he'd gone in too.  Chloe told me goodbye and the tears just came.  I was too easily dismissed for the next 6 + hours.  Aidan was just putting his bike away and I made sure to get my goodbye hug/kiss from him.
As we started to walk home Cole said, "Mom why are you crying?"
Me: "I'm sad the kids will be gone all day."
Cole: "But Mom, you still have me."
 That boy knows how to cheer my heart.
Happy First Day of School children.

It's Over, thank you.

The school year is over.

It's time for night games, Friday Friends Breakfast, popsicles, swimsuits, fireworks, time with cousins, watermelon on the deck, falling into bed exhausted as a cool breeze blows through the window.

It's been such a fantastic school year for my children.  

When I realize that some of my children spend 6 hours a day outside of 

our home learning it becomes very real how important a teacher is. 

 I love a teacher who takes my child's strengths and makes them grow.

  Who expects the best from my child, but loves them at their worst. 

I feel so lucky to have had such wonderful teachers in my children's lives this year. 

Here they are on the 1st day of school and the last, and a picture with their beloved teacher.

Aidan's teacher is coveted by many.  I wish she could follow him through High School. 

She loves him, laughs with him, and teaches in a way that gets him excited to learn. 

She hugs him and eats at his cheeks. 

He has excelled at reading and spelling.  Just the other day he came to me and said, 

"Mom, why don't you ever use idioms when you speak?"

When I read to him he says things under his breath like, "simile... metaphor". He loves to write little animal facts down on slips of paper throughout the house. 

How long elephants live, what kind of tracks a beaver would leave.  

He loved going to school and spending time with her. He soaked it all in. 

What a fantastic year it's been for him because of her. 

I was so grateful that Chloe had a teacher that understood her.  

Chloe felt at ease at school and became more confident in a lot of areas. 

 I have to credit her teacher with creating an atmosphere that allowed her to grow in those areas. She made some new friends and had an excellent school year.  At the end of the year award ceremony in her class she was awarded....Most Athletic Girl.  

While this came as a shock to me- it shouldn't have.  She loves to play sports- and the boys do not intimidate her.  She can often be found out front shooting hoops with Asher and his friends. We now share the same shoe size Women's 8.5.  She is growing up and turning into a beautiful young lady. 

Asher has a lot of natural ability.  He is a quick learner and sometimes this can lead to laziness. If things come easily, you may not have to work at hard to fill the status quo. 

Asher's teacher reminded him how hard his father has to work at school, 

and Asher should honor that and work just as hard.

 Asher's teacher was exactly what he needed.  

She recognized his abilities.  She pushed him to be better, do better, choose better. 

She encouraged him to make the kind of friends that will lift him up. 

She gave him responsibility and trusted him. 

She didn't bail him out when he didn't finish the task, but instead let him learn from his mistakes and 

loved him anyway.  She was wonderful for him.

Oh my Cole boy.  He went to his first year of preschool.  Cole learned so much this year.

He learned his alphabet, colors, shapes, and began reading.  

He learned that sometimes you have to "think about it", if you're not making a good choice.

Often when I would pick him up he'd say, "I didn't even have to think about it today!"

His teacher was so patient and really loved being there with these little kids. 

She helped him set a good foundation for all the learning years to come.