School's out for Summer!!

My kids had a picnic out front on the last day of school.

Chandler and Addie on their way home from the bus stop. (Last day)

Here's Brinley and I meeting the kids at the bus...we didn't quite make it on the last day.

Addie and Sydnee on the 1st day of 1st grade. August 2008

Here's my crazy growing little ones...on the 1st day of school Aug. 2008

Friday was Chandler and Addie's last day of school! I can't believe I now have a 4th grader and a 2nd grader. This past school year has been different for us all. Addie transistioned from half day kindergarten to all day 1st grade. Chandler was challenged in different areas than he had been in the past.

For Addie this year has been really hard for her not academically but emotionally. She had a very different teacher than what she's been used to. Her teacher this year is an older one, she will be retiring after next school year. She is also very strict and has a very "prickly" type personality. Because of this, Addie would cry and cry that she did not want to school. It confused me at first because she always told me she had a great day and learned a lot, but finally after MONTHS of dealing with her hysterics I came to the conclusion that it must be her teacher. Her teacher was GREAT at challenging her, which she needed, but I also think she expected A LOT from Addie. In return, I think it caused some anxiety on Addie's part that she was going to get yelled at, or in trouble, or whatever. So...I am VERY glad that this year is over. I am also happy to report that her teacher for 2nd grade will be a very nice change. She has the same 2nd grade teacher Chandler had. I am hoping that school will not be as emotional for Addie in the fall....I guess we'll see come mid August when school starts up again. :)

Chandler, I think, had a great year. His teacher was a little different too. My big thing with her was that I don't think she knows how to speak to adults. When I would conference with her I kept feeling like she was talking to me like one of her students. I wasn't sure if it was just me (since I am only as tall as most 3rd graders....) or if it was just her! She was nice enough and Chandler seemed to really like her, but by no means did I think she was fantastic like some of the other teacher's they've had at Pioneer Ridge. Chandler was able to participate in the science fair this year. His class voted his project to the finals, but it did not make the final cut. I would try to explain his project...but unfortunately it was too smart for me! I handed that homework project off on Derek.....I did help with the final touches on gluing things on his project board ( my scrapbooking stuff came in real handy).....but that is about it.

I am glad that summer is finally here. Our pool is finally open. However the high for today is like 62 or something....so it's too cold for me to hang out in swimwear at our pool just yet. (Ideally I'd like to drop 20 lbs but......) So, my job is now to find things to help entertain my crazy children. Today we went to the library and signed up for the summer reading program. Addie is participating in a basketball camp this week for a couple of hours a day. Now, my biggest problem is limiting the amount of computer & video games from Chandler. So....I make him ride his bike around the block 10 times every so often to just make me feel better that he's not wasting away playing Star Wars or racing games! I've also printed off some math drills for them both to do. Technically today is only day 1 of summer vacation....so here's to keeping them happy, healthy, entertained and alive! (just kidding about the last one:)

We did it!

Brinley has been asking me for probably a year now to get her ears pierced. Using that to my advantage I kept telling her once she was potty trained I would take her to get them pierced. Well, I would have to say she has done it! We havent' had an accident in a very long time with the exception of last week when she was with Daddy. :) Even though I told her it would hurt, I don't think she realized it would until she had one side done. Isn't this such a sad little face?

My sister Kayla, who turned 18 this past week, has been too chicken to get her ears pierced. We finally convinced her to take the plunge with Brinley. I kept telling her that if her 3 year old neice is brave enough to do it, she should be too. Nothing like a little peer pressure right?

Chandler's Paragraph

One of the things I love the most about the kids being in school, are the stories that they write. It gives me some insight into what they think about and what is important to them because they aren't always so forthcoming when I ask them! Here is a paragraph Chandler wrote sometime this past school year ( I try to date the things I save, but of course I forgot!) The topic is: describe a Thanksgiving gathering you attended or what this year's gathering will be like.

Here's what he wrote:

This year's Thanksgiving gathering is going to be fun, and maybe it will be a sad gathering. First, we are going to get in the care and drive about 500 miles. then, when we get to my nana & papa's house I'm going to give a hug to everybody. I'll play for a few minutes or about an hour. It is usually around dinner time and we usually have pizza. Then my papa sets up sleeping bags in my nana's quilt room. In the morning I usually get up first. Then I go upstairs and watch TV until a grown up comes upstairs. Then I eat my breakfast. On the day of Thanksgiving at dinner time we go to the kitchen and have Thanksgiving dinner. We always have turkey and mashed potatoes, but my nana is a surprise when it comes to Thanksgiving because I think I've only had Thanksgiving once at her house. The sad part about this Thanksgiving is that my great grandpa might die sometime before Thanksgiving. In conclusion, this is a Thanksgiving I will never forget. ----By: Chandler age 9 3rd grade Mrs Peasley's class

I am assuming he wrote this in November 2008 sometime shortly before we left for Utah to celebrate Thanksgiving and Lily's (Brandon and Shay's baby girl) baby blessing with Derek's family. With Derek working retail for the past 10 years, we've never really traveled over the Thanksgiving holiday because of his job.

He always makes me wonder what is going through his head sometimes. I enjoyed the little insight he gave me here.

Pilgrim Times

Addie makes me laugh. She is a very inquisitive little girl. She is always asking me questions. Usually our conversation ends with," I don't know Addie! Go ask Dad." Last week during dinner is one of our conversations:


Addie: "Mom, what year was I born in...19 what?"
Me: "You were born in 2001."
Addie: "No....what year was I born in 19 what?"
Me: "Addie you weren't born in 19 anything you were born in 2001. Chandler was born in 1999. Brinley and you were born in the 2000's."
Addie: "When were you and dad born?"
Me: "1974."
Addie: "Oh, well when were Grandma and Grandpa born?"
Me: "Grandma was born in 1953 and Grandpa in 1950."
Addie: "When were Nana and Papa born?"
Me: " I think they were born in 1952."
Addie: "Were they born in Pilgrim times?"

You just have to laugh...:)

PS: To the grandparents...sorry for the full disclosure! :)

I hate pink eye

As I rushed around this morning getting Chandler and Addie ready for school this morning I discovered that Brinley has pink eye. Oh, do I absolutely hate this stuff. I honestly would take any number of illnesses over pink eye. (Several years back we got pink eye and it took me about a month to get rid of it. I think everyone had it except Derek ,of course, twice -me included. I just couldn't figure what else I could possibly clorox to rid my house of this unwanted infection. ) So, I just want this on the record......I hate pink eye!

Brinley Singing!

Here's Us!

Here's our little family. Derek and I have been married now for 12 years! My how time does fly! We have 3 children. Derek works for HP and I stay at home with our kiddos. We love to watch movies, play games, go for walks and hang out.
Chandler is 9 and is completing 3rd grade this week. He is involved with cub scouts at church and is currently working on his Bear badge. He loves video games, playing soccer and goofing around. He is a great big brother to his two sisters! I couldn't have asked for a better son than him. He is such a great help to me and loves to tease us all!

Addie is our little wild woman. She says the funniest things. She makes us laugh a lot. She loves to READ, READ, READ anything she can possibly get her hands on. The end of her bed has piles of books on it. She is a smart, stubborn little girl She is 7 years old and is almost finished with the 1st grade! She loves to be the center of attention! She is also very creative and loves to play soccer too. Life just wouldn't be the same without her!

Brinley is our baby! I can't believe she is already 3 years old. She is into tantrums, anything princess or pink, loves to color and try to do everything her older brother and sister can do. She also loves to sing. Her latest songs are the theme song to Wonder Pets, Because of You (by Kelly Clarkson) and I Am A Builder (from Primary). Her latest accomplishments are giving up her binkies and potty training....the later is still in the works. She is constantly into everything and busy, busy, busy! She keeps me running all day long. She is so silly and I love watching her do new things everyday!

I got the bug

I guess from reading my sister-in-laws blogs and many friends and catching up on their daily life I finally got the bug to create a blog of my very own. Now, don't get me wrong, I've been trying to avoid this at all costs, but have finally decided that since I don't scrapbook anymore, or have time to journal that this combines both of those in hopes that I am preserving something for my kids down the road to look at and smile at the silly little things that they do! So here's to blogging....!
PS...I still won't do facebook!!:)