Back to School

I think our school is probably the first school in all the state of Idaho to start back to school, but I'm not complaining!  Not because I don't absolutely love the kids, but because we start back a few weeks early, we get to have a two week Harvest Break in the Fall and we get to continue having our Fridays off.  Score!  (and maybe I'm glad a little because the house stays cleaner with less dishes and laundry and fighting and boredom and...)

Charlotte gets to start the 1st grade this year!!  That means riding the bus to and from school and no car pool.  She has an amazing teacher and they get to sit on yoga balls instead of chairs!  Her teacher came and visited her in the Summer to get to know her students and get them excited for the year.  Charlotte is already reading chapter books and just started piano lessons.  She is so excited to continue learning big things this year.

Ian is starting 4th grade and gets to go to a school in our district that is just for 4th graders.  He gets to have a locker for the first time and his teacher is a lady from our ward, so he already knew her a little.  This guy is starting flag football this Fall and is excited to start this new opportunity. 

Bronson gets to do Mommy Preschool this year, which means I couldn't get together a group for a rotating preschool, so he, Whitlee, and I are doing our own preschool in the preschool corner of our basement.  I was worried that he may be a little bummed by not going anywhere for preschool, but he is honestly quite thrilled to do preschool at home at mom and has really enjoyed the lessons we have had so far.  He loves it.  He also gets to go to a little preschool/story time at our local library, which he also really enjoys. 

Ashlyn is a big 7th grader this year, which means Jr. High!!  She got to choose her own electives this year, which she filled with Orchestra/ violin, which she is very dedicated too, because she even chose Orchestra over that very tempting cooking class which she was dying to sign up for.  But she made those choices all on her own, as mom and dad were good with whichever course she chose.  She is excited to have some friends in her classes and is currently learning that PE doesn't always mean dodgeball and fun games but can also include mile runs and sit ups!  She is a very friendly girl and is excited for this fun year. 

Tanner is also starting 7th grade, Jr. High!  He also chose to fill his schedule with Orchestra/cello EXCEPT for his last semester which he chose to fill with a fly fishing class he has been dying to take ever since he found out there was such a thing.  He has mastered a combination lock for his locker this year and is learning a lot about keyboarding and computers this semester.  He also has some classes with friends and is enjoying immensely the fact that he gave up football this year giving him more time for fishing trips. 

Whitlee is also very proud of the fact that she is in preschool.  She especially loves snack time.  We made twinkie buses the day the kids went back to school for a Back to School preschool theme.

We are also having lots of fun learning about colors, shapes, patterns, weather, and much much more.  I adore teaching the kids preschool and it is great being back on a regular schedule again even if it is a crazy one!