Better Late than Never

Eliana got to give a talk in Primary (way back in July...I know, I know). She wanted to record it and put it up on here for everyone to see. Since I finally got my laptop and video camera on speaking terms again I can finally post it. Better late than never, I guess.

As Promised...

A couple of posts ago I ended with a photo of Sandy and a turkey at the fair with a promise to upload the video once I got it to work. Well, it's up and working so here it is =)

Survivor

We have a survivor! Eli made it through her first week of Kindergarten (and so did her mom, haha!) We had such a hard time trying to decide if we were going to put her in school this year or wait a year since her birthday is only 9 days before the cut-off date. Ultimately, we were more concerned with her getting bored next year with school if we waited, and even more bored this year with another year of preschool. We're hoping she proves us right with putting her in now, and we have faith in her that she will do awesome!
She was faced with going to a class where she wouldn't know anyone since we moved away from all her preschool friends. There are four other kids her age in primary that are attending kindergarten this year, one goes to another school, there are 2 in the PM session (both in different classes) and 1 that goes to the AM session with Eli, but is in the other class. (What are the odds that ALL 5 would be in different classes?!) Nevertheless, she was excited to go and make new friends; that's my social butterfly!
We all woke up and got ready for her first day; Sandy even got to go! The school began with sort of an open house for the kindergartners and parents to come in and meet the teacher, see the class room and help their child get settled in. We sat with her for a little while before we could bring ourselves to leave but then that inevitable moment came, we said our "see ya laters" and we left our little girl to attend her first day (I, thankfully, was able to make it out of the building before my tears started). I cannot believe how brave little kids have to be! Here we are, throwing her into a situation no amount of preparation can make you feel ready for, leaving her in a place she's unfamiliar with and with unfamiliar people to top it off. And we expect her to be fine! But she was!! She's done well being away from mom and dad for quite some time now but it still didn't stop me from being concerned she'd get upset at some point like so many of the other kids were in her class. I spent the rest of the morning highly anticipating going to pick her up to hear how she did. When I finally got to it was a happy moment; she enjoyed her first day! I asked her how she did and she about broke my heart when she replied with, "Well, my eyes started to fill up with water but I was brave, Mom!" She wouldn't even allow herself to think she was crying. I borrowed an idea I've heard a few other moms do and made her a little pocket sized heart so when she was nervous or sad all she had to do was check her heart and remember her mom and dad love her. She only had to use it once that day. Here's a couple of pictures of our brave little kindergartner!




I had high hopes the second day would go as well as the first. The hardest part then was how the school starts their day. Maybe this is how it is at most schools now, I dunno, but it's not what I expected for kindergartners I guess. They have all the kids, grades K-5, start out on the playground before school. It was pandemonium that day! Kids were everywhere, some crying, some going nuts with their newly found freedom, and lots of concerned parents (good, I wasn't alone!). I found this to be a bit much mixing them ALL up like that when some were so new and still didn't know how things worked. So, like any over-protective parent would, I opted to stay until the teachers came and took them to class. Apparently there's a bell that rings when it's time to line up with your class, I didn't hear it, and have yet to hear it. But, somehow, some of the kids knew it was time to line up. I watched Eli from a distance; then we "concerned parents" intervened and helped the rest of the kids realize it was time to line up. But then-where do they line up?! Neither of the kindergarten classes seemed to know where to go, but one of the 2 teachers was outside assisting with that so, finally, that was figured out and she was off to her second day of class. The third and fourth day went fairly similar, and by the fourth I was only walking her back to the playground, then leaving. I should have stayed on the fifth day! Friday started as the rest of the days had, I'd left her with a couple of her friends and had just gotten home when my phone rang. The school was trying to get a hold of me because of an accident on the playground; Eli had a monkey bar mishap :'( . Sandy rushed out the door to her rescue but we ended up having her miss the day of school to take her to the dentist! The poor girl knocked some of her top teeth loose! We figured the dentist would just tell us her teeth would fall out anyways and to watch them, but we decided to error on the side of caution, just in case. That's just what he told us though, so she simply ended up with her first absence and a really sore mouth. I was worried this little ordeal would mar the whole school experience and she wouldn't want to go any more but today she proved me wrong. She woke up ready to go, albeit a bit more cautious of the playground. I'm so proud of my little big girl!




P.S. Her teeth are tightening back up-so no toothless smile, yet =)

The Fair, Parade, and a Barrel Train

For the opening day of the Eastern Idaho State Fair there is always a parade. This year Eli's and Livi's Grandpa Lilya entered his barrel train in the parade; our girls were two of the lucky riders (among lots of other cousins). We figured it would be too long of a ride for Livi to ride the whole time, we were afraid she'd get bored, so we kept her with us, sat at the parade half point, and when the train arrived at our location she got to ride with Eli for the rest of the parade. They both had so much fun, in spite of the heat and the crowd.

I just thought this was a cute picture of Livi-it must have been when the fire truck was passing

And here's part of the train, Eli's in the pink shirt

That's Grandpa driving the train

It's hard to tell but Livi is sitting next to Eli in this picture. You can also see the entire train, if only in part.

After the parade was over we headed to the fair. I think we spent most of our time looking at the animals; I know that was both of the girls favorite part. Livi was particularly fond of the pigs and Eli fell in love (again) with the rabbits. At one point we almost ended up with a third child. Livi saw a baby who was just a few months old and fell in love with it. The mother was nice enough to let Livi give the baby a hug but then Livi refused to let go and started insisting it was her baby. She really wanted to take it home! Hopefully that's a good sign for whats to come! We took them through the petting zoo, which was sort of a let down to me since the only animals they had to pet and feed were goats. The girls didn't mind, though, and loved letting them eat out of their hands. Livi really liked them and even tried picking them up to hold them a few times.

By the end of the day we were so hot and tired we opted for some delicious Reed's Dairy Ice Cream, well, except Eli, who has a weakness for cotton candy! We sat in the Dairy Pavilion, my old stomping ground. It ended up being a wise choice saving this for last since it ended up being so messy. Then the girls got to run loose in the show arena for a while before we made one more round through the horses and pigs and headed home. As always, we had a great time at the fair and were glad Grandpa and Grandma got to go with us. They seemed to enjoy themselves as well, though I do feel bad since Livi was such a Grandma's Girl and my mom ended carrying her most of the day. So thanks for your help mom and dad! And I can hardly wait until next year to enjoy the fair, and my ultimate favorite fair food, the Teriyaki Chicken and Ham Fried Rice again--YUMMM-O!!

I saved this picture for last mostly because there's a story that goes with it. Unfortunately, my computer isn't recognizing my video camera at the moment so the story will have to wait until I get that working. I guess that means there's another fair post coming eventually, but, suffice it to say, for now, that Sandy and the turkey in the picture ended up drawing quite the crowd!

Whose Purse?

I bought a new purse last week (my new fetish this year has been purses). Really lovin it, but haven't gotten to use it yet. I didn't even have it out of the packaging yet when Livi decided it was her purse. She's pretty cute with it, carrying it around throughout the day saying, "Got my purse." And when we go anywhere, that's what she grabs, then proceeds to find me another purse to use, brings it to me and says, "This YOUR purse." and usually follows that statement with, "This MY purse, K?" (Like she's giving me an option, lol!). I even went and dug out an older purse I don't use much, it was even PINK, and she declined. So here's Livi with my her purse. (And, yes, she even puts things inside it. Today's item, a pink teddy bear.)

Pity, Party of One?

Hey, you've been warned...

It pretty much sucks having your hubby gone so much. Him not making/receiving any phone calls or emails since he's "in the hills". Being given not so much a date of return but more of a general, "you can expect me home sometime between this date and this date, IF all goes well." And having the girls ask every day when dad's coming home from work and having to answer with, "I don't know." They're tired of the "All Mom, All the Time" routine. So am I. I'm hoping this little peanut is thriving cuz I sure don't feel like I am. This go 'round is kickin my butt. Here's to hoping it gets better in a few weeks when I hit the second tri mark. I hate my neighbors. Seriously, if I want to listen to music I'll turn on my radio. I've got my own kids to hear, I don't wanna hear yours over top of them. Keep them out of my driveway and away from my car. And enough with the smoking and trash. Or, at the very least, keep it in your house, not in your yard which then ends up in my yard. *it's only temporary, it's only temporary* Laying alone in bed at night and hearing all the "bumps in the night" is not conducive to a good nights sleep, let alone my anxiety level. I've thought about all the possible scenarios, escape routes, and plans of attack. Yes, there are some nights I am a little paranoid.

Not to say Sandy has it easy being gone so much, but this is my pity party and I'll cry if I want to.