Fred done with Kindergarten!!

We have LOVED our Kindergarten year at Granite Elementary and with Mrs. Genesi!! Fred has learned so much, including learning HOW TO READ! It has been magical to see him so ready and eager to learn. We have had ups and downs this year but on a whole, we have had positive growing experiences as a family and as parents. We have learned to be proactive in our teaching. We realize the importance of play. Collin and I both spent a lot of time volunteering in the classroom.  We will be moving on to another school next year and are very excited. We will always cherish our times at Granite.

Harriet's last day of Preschool, 2018!

College essays for BYU application. I am very excited.

Freddie started school

Frederick, my first born child, my baby, my son, my reason, growing up so fast, started preschool this week. It was such a big moment for our family. He's 4.5+. He turns 5 this month in two weeks. I'm so glad I had him home with me for as long as I did and that we have shared and experienced so much together. He's has been healthily attached to me and I to him. And this is just another step in letting go. I love him so much. We all rallied around him, preparing, and Collin ans I buying supplies, worrying and planning, all so he won't have to. All so he can feel secure and confident and just go and be a child at school. 

Though I have had tears through the preparation, when the time came to walk him to his new classroom, the Meadowlarks, and leave him with his loving teacher, Ms Atara, (with extra shoes, extra outfits, a vegetable he chose (broccoli) for the class soup, some acorns Freddie and I gathered to share with the class, and rain gear just in case), I had no tears. I knew he was ready. (Though I get emotional about it now!😊)

He had been excited all morning and ran into the front door of the school, me trailing behind. He had slept 12 hours the night before and had an awesome breakfast and lunch. He was happy and ready. He sat right down at a table and started rolling out some playdough. I knelt down and said goodbye and he kissed me right on the lips and said, "bye mom." With a thankful swollen heart, I was able to walk away and back to the car where my mom was waiting with Harriet and Ella. Hattie did not have an easy time. She was quite emotional Tuesday and again today. She didn't want Fred to go or wanted to go with him. She wants to go to preschool. I am going to try my hardest to make this a special time for Ella and her and I. We are going shoe shopping today! 

And she has been telling us all about her preschool at her home and that we can all visit it tonight. 

Today when we were walking from the park to his school, Hattie was getting very sad and Fred put his arm around her and said, "I'm so sorry Hattie. I have to go. I'll miss you." 

When I picked Freddie up after his first day, I have never seen him so happy, balanced, well. I'm so happy too. 

So far in this new home it has been a simple life. Things are still chaos inside with boxes everywhere and not knowing where the broom is or finding time to do dishes. When Collin gets back we will work together and find a rhythm. But life feels quiet out here in the trees and mountains. It feels calm and like there is plenty of time to do and be and rest. 

Heavenly Father knows me and loves me. 

School

Freddie's first day on his own of "school!"

Freddie is doing the Let's Play Music program this year. Its disigned for PK aged kids to learn about music in depth. I've heard amazing things about this program and we are so excited. 

It's just once per week, And a great way for us to ease into him going to pre-K next year. 

Parents attend every other week. 

Today before class, Freddie was so nervous. He said his stomach hurt and he was scared to go alone. We talked about it and said a prayer. I was nervous, too, for different reasons. I wanted him to be happy and learn a lot. I was hoping he wouldn't talk out of turn or get in trouble and would make friends. 

Anyway, I dropped him off and he was so excited, he didn't even look back. Hattie cried and I had some joyful tears too. I know it's not a big deal, but he's growing up and this is the start of him leaving me. 

He had a great time I'm so happy and grateful. This is a very good life and Utah. 

snowed in.

Remember how cold I said it was on Friday? Well, Saturday morning we woke up to it starting to snow!

It was so pretty and exciting. It snowed ALL day and we didn't leave the house at all. It was fun for a while but then it got REALLY BORING.

The crappy laptop we have with us wouldn't turn on so we were TRAPPED with no movies or internet or LOST! We played every game we have with us (1 board game and 2 decks of cards), then we got creative. We wrote a play, played MASH, played the SCARIEST GAME OF Hide and Go Seek in the Dark EVER EVER EVER! It was a fun night. Here is me FINALLY getting my book from Amazon.com. I'm two weeks into school already and really needed it, PHEW!A cute dad and little boy were sledding together, aw. We're not creepsters, I swear.

This was the first pizza we ordered. Then we got another one, because this one sucked. Pizza Hut, you saved my life. Deep dish cheese, bacon, chicken, onions, and tomatoes is my new FAVORITE thing EVER.
Pretty snow outside on Sunday morning. We found out church was cancelled though! We were so sad because it was our time to get out and meet and talk to people! SNOWED IN FOR THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW! NOoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
We got super bundled up and walked to the library. It wasn't that cold out and I sweated the whole way. I love life!

And I really love this guy: