I think I'm organized and then. . . . .

I cleaned out Hadley's closet the other day so that we could make room for her new school clothes. I found some things that were hand-me-down's from Seila and too big for Hadley so I put them in a seperate pile for storage. Today I pulled out the storage box and found 6 pair of jeans that will fit Hadley!!! Why do I bother to keep a storage box if I'm not going to bother to use the clothes in it? Why do I forget to check there before we go shopping? Consequently, Hadley ends up with enough clothes for 3 girls! So, I went back to Hadley's closet to pull out the jeans that still have tags on them. There are only 2 pair, that's better than none. I'll take those back to the store.  Anyone need any size 10 girls jeans?


Early in the summer I bought Kale a couple of new things. He usually can wear a pair of shorts for 2 summers so he didn't need much. I bought him a pair of green plaid shorts with a shirt that matched. He wore the shirt one time and then I didn't see it again for weeks and weeks. A couple of different times that we were packing for a trip, I would ask about that green shirt that matched the plaid shorts. No one seemed to know where it was. I always pack in one central location of the house and have the kids bring their clothes to me: 3 pants, 3 shirts, 3 underwear, etc. So, I asked a couple times if someone would please go to Kale's room and look for the shirt. I also looked a couple of times. None of us ever found it. I found it yesterday as I was making room for Kale's school clothes. It was hanging in the closet. Imagine that. Hanging in the closet. It still looks brand new.

This was officially a successful first day of school for everyone in our house.  Kale came home just as happy and excited as when he yelled bye to me this morning.  He made sure to tell me that he got a "B" buck today (the kids earn Buster Bucks with good behavior and then can save up to buy cool pencils and stuff).  He was definitely on a high and was obnoxious over the top a few times so he had a time out while I was trying to get dinner ready.

Hadley came home for lunch so she could take her pill and told me that she gets to sit next to her friend Sariah.  She misses her friend Hannah.  She got to make her science notebook and is very excited to have Mr. Skeen, although he only teaches in his classroom in the mornings.  In the afternoon he tutors math in the other grades and Mrs. Schrom teaches in his class in the afternoon.  She said Mrs. Schrom will be just fine too.

Kai said school was great.  So far he thinks Mrs. Eilers is funny and he already has two pages in his journal for her class (4 pages/wk is the requirement).  Seila warned him about Mrs. Eilers language and he quickly responded with his plan to ask her not to swear during their class time.  Wow!  Can't wait for that phone call. 

Seila is super disappointed in her locker assignment.  It's so small, she said, that she's not even sure how her books will fit in there.  Her binder doesn't fit.  Experiences parents of Royal High schoolers, what are the freshman supposed to do?  Carry their books in their packs all day long?  She's going to go early tomorrow to see what she can figure out.  She's pretty happy so far with all her teachers, except science.  She didn't get the new guy, who is also our new neighbor.  Her teacher is hard of hearing and she and Jackson are the only kids in a class full of naughty and obnoxious kids who don't mind getting in trouble.  Ugh!  What to do.  She already asked for help with her geometry homework (homework on the first day, I LOVE that!) and then realized how easy it was once I showed her.

What did I do?  I can't remember. 

Oh yeah, I blogged first thing.  Then I entertained Ben while Jen took Detton to kindergarten orientation.  Next I made nectarine jam and then Kai came home.  He was psyched and pumped so we got right down to business with the math.  We worked together on the art easel white board and then we raced to simplify products of polynomials.  Hadley came home for lunch, ate, then left.  Kai started working on history and we realized he forgot a bunch that he learned at the end of last year. So, a little review was needed.  The internet was too slow for the review activity on line!!!  I got frustrated and sent in the email to order the fiber upgrade.  Haven't heard back yet and if they don't reply to my request soon, I'll drop them and pick up the other company. 

I dont' remember much of the rest of the day other than I made tomato soup from scratch with tomatoes from the garden and wheat bread for dinner.  I also managed to teach a piano lesson after school and fold one basket of laundry.  Dinner time was full of stories, one after another, and sometimes on top of each other.  I couldn't hardly keep my attention on one kid before another one would start.  Justin headed off to Othello for a mtg and I had a SummerFest mtg here in Royal.  Yes, planning for next year.  I'd love to quit but I just can't bring myself to do that until someone else (must be competant) volunteers.  Any takers?

First Day of School

Kale couldn't decide if he needed me to walk him to school today. All the kids walked together and they tried to convince him that they could drop him off. In the end, he decided he wanted me to go with him. Once we got over there, he almost left me behind. So, he didn't really need me after all. Good. He's growing up. I think it helps that he knows Mr. Buster and trusts him. So, there's no worry about what his teacher will be like. He didn't even give me a kiss and hug which is tradition every day for the past two years (preschool and kindergarten). He at least yelled bye to me. A twinge of sadness to know that my little sweety-boy is growing up and doesn't need me as much anymore. Mostly though, I feel great relief and triumph that we conquered his fear of school. Okay, his fear of the first day of school. I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch.
Hadley was definitely nervous. She couldn't eat breakfast and it took her at least 15 minutes of thinking about swallowing her antibiotic before she actually did it. I made her eat some banana after she got her pill down. I had to write her a note to come home for lunch because she has to take another pill and she's nervous about that. It'll be fun to hear all about her morning when she gets home. She has Mr. Skeen for a teacher. He only teaches in the morning and she'll go to a different classroom for reading so she really probably won't be with him much. She's very excited.

Kai started the morning off with a new shirt on but by the time we left the house, he changed into a t-shirt that he's been wearing all summer. One of his favorites. I'm not sure if that's more cool or more comfortable, maybe both. He also decided yesterday that he's going to try cross-country this year, not football. Justin's not thrilled because he thinks Kai will miss out on some way important skill or something. Football is everything here in Royal. Some say that the kids should play all the team sports now because this is the time in your life when you can. Some say that kids should just play the sport that interests them and have a fun time.

I think Seila is just very excited for high school. She put on her favorite outfit and decided to walk with us instead of ride her bike. I think she thinks it's not cool to ride a bike in high school. She'll be able to get rides from friends when seminary starts on Monday. Seminary? Ahhh! I can't believe it. She's going to love seminary!

Help!

We need to upgrade our internet connection!  We want to watch Netflix through our Wii but our connection is too slow.  We currently have a 512k connection and we need a 1.5M connection.  We've narrowed it down to two options, both are fiber optic.  But, we can't decide if we should just get something to fit our needs now or look to the future and get the higher speed.  You can help us by voting in the poll on the left of this post.  Thanks!!

Turning the tables

I thought this was funny but ,after typing it, I don't think it's all that funny anymore.  Hence, this disclaimer at the beginning:  every detail is included because I couldn't figure out how to summerize but now, I don't think it's all that funny.  I guess you had to be here.

So, after we got home tonight from all of our fun activites for the day (swimming for hours at Uncle Duane's house and an ice cream social for dinner), I was trying to get everyone to get ready for bed but they all wanted more ice cream.  I didn't mind serving more ice cream so I did.  Hadley didn't want any so I told her to get ready for a shower.  She followed me to the garage while I was doing whatever and decided to tell me why she was justified in the things I got mad at her about today (I didn't even get mad, I just corrected her) because she felt like she had been treated unfairly.  I must have been kind of moody today because then she told me that Seila thinks I'm off my rocker today and Kai said it's like I don't want anyone to have any fun.  I only wanted everyone to change their sheets and vacuum their rooms this morning.  They didn't even get it all done and we went swimming for hours and hours anyway.  Then we had pie and ice cream for dinner!!  They are so right.  Boy, they can read me like a book.  Well, Seila can anyway.  I think I am off my rocker!  Today was so unlike me.  So when we got back in the house, I said I just wanted everyone to do their chores and be responsible without me asking so many times (Hadley still wasn't in the shower).  It was time for bed and I wanted everyone to get ready for bed.  Justin said he had an idea.  His idea was that he and I go to bed and the kids tuck us in.  I thought that sounded great so I grabbed his arm and off we went.  We climbed in bed, clothes, shoes, and all, and called for Kale to come tuck us in.  He gave us kisses and hugs and then turned our light off and left.  We could hear him in the kitchen reporting to Seila and Kai (Hadley was finally getting in the shower).  He came back and tried to shut our door.  I begged him to leave it open a little bit because it's too dark in my bedroom and I can't see when the door is shut.  He went back and reported to Seila and Kai.  Then Justin called for a drink.  Kale brought one and asked Justin to please try not to spill.  Justin complained that it was warm and then Kale went back to report to Seila and Kai.  We started whispering and I guess Kale heard us.  He came and stood outside our bedroom door.  I asked him what he was doing.  He said he was waiting for us to be quiet.  So we stopped whispering.  After a few more minutes he came to check on us again.  We closed our eyes and then heard him run away to tell Seila and Kai that we were asleep.  They all went downstairs and I heard Seila tell Kale to get ready for a shower.  We would have stayed in bed but I hadn't put sheets on our bed yet.  In fact the sheets were still in the washer.