back to school and more of August

After a full summer, it was time to go back to school.  Toward the beginning of August, I was getting tired and thinking I was ready for school to start.  Then I wasn't completely ready when it did start!  These years just keep flying by and I'm not always sure how I feel about my kids growing up so fast.  Ready or not though...

The kids were mostly ready for school.  Molly was excited for her new school, Stockton was so ready to go back, and I think Brynn would be okay staying home everyday and doing mom plans but she does enjoy school as well.

Molly, 6th grade, Timpanogas Middle School, multiple teachers. I have a hard time keeping track of her classes and her schedule.  She has gold days and black days.  She has some classes that she goes to both days (Math and English) and other classes that she only goes to every other day.  She has homeroom but only goes there once a week and they have stretch period which is kind of like a recess but they can also get help from teachers, go to the library or the school store, do karaoke in the lunchroom, or play intramural sports.  It all seems confusing to me but Molly picked it up great and is really loving school!  She has Math, English, Science, Choir, Intro to Film, Art, Student Leadership, and World Civilizations.  Next semester her schedule with change.  She was happy to find out that she had at least one friend in every class and at lunch.  She doesn't have a lot of homework and everything thing she does have is assigned on the computer.  She has done fine managing her workload and I make sure to check once a week to make sure she is still on track.  It has been a fun change for her!

Brynn is not usually up to see Molly off, but she was on the first day!

Stockton, 4th grade, Daniels Canyon Elementary, Mrs. Hall.  Stockton pretty much loves school.  He wakes up ready to get going almost as soon as I get him up.  In the past, he has really enjoyed math but he is loving Utah History so much this year.  He comes home often with a fun little tidbit of Utah History.  For homework, he has a math worksheet once a week and reading everyday.  He takes care of it on his own and has no problem getting it done. 

Brynn, 2nd grade, Daniels Canyon Elementary, Mrs. Young.  Brynn has a hard time waking up for school but once she's there, she enjoys it.  She never gives me trouble about going but I also think she wouldn't be heartbroken or worried if I kept her home every so often.  She is a good student, her reading is coming along in leaps and bounds, and she really likes playing with her friends at recess.  Her class is still so big for 2nd grade and they aren't planning on splitting it but she does okay and I am happy with her progress.  She has reading and spelling words for homework and occasionally something else to practice as well (like learning the names and values for coins).  She would rather play than do homework and prefers to wait until I can sit down with her but we manage to get everything done that we are supposed to.

Ivy still has two more years at home with me and I am so happy and grateful for that.  Our school district just changed to all-day Kindergarten this year and that makes me depressed.  I still have the option to opt-out and keep her at half day but there was only one parent who did that this year and they really pushed back at her.  It's probably too early to even think about it but I do think about it and feel sad every time I do.  It feels like a whole extra year that is stolen from me.  I love half-day Kindergarten and love those few hours that I get with my Kindergartner.  We'll see what happens.  For now, I am trying hard to enjoy and soak up every single day with my baby.  I paid for a year of ABCMouse and we do that most every day.  I haven't started any mom activities yet but haven't felt that it's been necessary.  Ivy plays so well on her own and when she does want me to play, I can usually put things aside and play with her.  I love, love, love my days with her and that's probably why the thought of all-day Kindergarten is stressing me out.

Ivy put this bead up her nose on the first day of school.

Here is what a typical day in the Goodrich house looks like:

6:00-Molly gets herself up and dressed.

6:30-I get up and help Molly get breakfast and her hair combed, if she wants help.  She listens to Saints on the LDS Library (a tip from my sister, Ali!) while she eats.

6:57-Molly leaves for the bus.  If it's cold or rainy, I will drive her.  Otherwise she will ride her bike.

7:00-7:10-Get Stockton and Brynn up.

7:10-8:05-Pack lunches, help Stockton and Brynn get ready-clothes on, teeth brush, hair combed, breakfast, backpacks packed.  They like to watch Friend videos and listen to Primary music.  Have prayer.  Leave for bus at 8:05.  They ride their bikes and I seldom drive down with them.  They meet their friends there and play while they wait for the bus.

Kennedy Bethers, Easton Anderson, Brynn, Stockton, Corbin Anderson

 8:05-2:50-Ivy and I have the whole day to ourselves.  I prefer to stay home when I can.  We got to story time and run errands on Wednesday.  We do other things as needed but I try to get all my errands done on Wednesday so I can stay home the rest of the week.

2:50-Molly gets home.  She leaves an hour earlier and gets home an hour earlier.  I like our hour together.

3:50-Stockton and Brynn get home.  This is when the crazy begins!

4-5-I teach piano Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday for an hour.  I also teach two lessons a week earlier than 4, for middle school kids.

5-10-Drive kids to sports, lessons, church activities.  Make, eat, clean up dinner.  Help with homework.  Play with friends.  Play with each other.  Take showers and baths. We read scriptures at night when everyone is home.  This is my very favorite time of the day, when we are all back together.  Have prayers, brush teeth, clean rooms, get to bed.  Ideally the kids would get put to bed by 8:30 but that doesn't always happen.  More often it's closer to 9 and even later sometimes.  I know Molly stays up in her room doing her own thing until about 10.

My days at home with Ivy are delightful and my busy evenings are delightful as well.  I feel a lot of gratitude that I am home and am able to be "at the crossroads" of all my family's comings and goings.  At the end of the day when we are all snuggled on the couch reading scriptures is hands down my favorite time of day (that is in no way admitting that it is always going perfect).  I feel very blessed and content.

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There are a few pictures that I forgot to post on August's post.  I got all of these from Justin's phone...

He took the three younger kids out to dinner on the night before school started.  I was with Molly at that soccer game by the airport that got called early due to lightning.

More Lagoon pictures.

Brett and Stockton on the swings

I had a piano recital at the end of August.  I gave each of my students a harder piece that they memorized and I let them pick two of their favorite songs that they had learned over the last year.  Brynn played one song on her violin.  It took less than an hour for the whole thing but I'm glad I did it.  Teaching piano isn't always convenient but having the recital reminded me that I really do like it.  I enjoy the different personalities of all the kids and it's fun getting to know them and to be able to see them improve.

Stockton doesn't like piano but I am still making him do it.  We move pretty slowly through his book.  I told him he had to keep doing it until he started middle school and could start the cello.

Molly doesn't like it either.  She started choir but I still want her to play some sort of instrument.  After the recital, I started her with a different piano teacher.  I'm hoping she'll enjoy it more!

Samantha Steiner, Stockton, Easton Anderson, Kelton Webb, Molly, Brynn, Chloe Mitchell, me, Ethan Pearson.  We were missing Cole Pearson who played his pieces first and then had to leave.  Since my recital, I have started two more students!