Me and My Boys

Caleb is such an awesome kid! He's a great helper, fun to play games with, great at sports, does well in school, and an accomplished pianist. Any time I have a friendly conversation with Caleb's church teacher about a minor struggle with Caleb, she just can't believe it because she thinks he's the perfect kid: always respectful, pays attention, kind to his peers, prepared for class. He can play well with his brothers but tends to fight with Carter after they've been playing for awhile. He still doesn't like to read or do any chores that require him to get his hands dirty (clean bathrooms, weed). His favorite foods are cinnamon rolls, lettuce wraps, ice cream, and popsicles. His least favorite food is any kind of soup. He claims his favorite color is neon pink. He wants to be a baseball player when he grows up. He's a very cautious kid (wants to wear his helmet etc.) and very aware of germs (refuses to share food or utensils with family members and doesn't want anyone near him if that person is sick). We're excited for Caleb to be in the double digits now!

Neither Caleb or Carter was excited to go back to school so it wasn't a great first day likely due to their attitudes. Carter complained that one of his teachers yelled at him for a silly reason (when lining up, he wasn't exactly behind the person in front of him--his shoulder stuck out...according to him) and also complained that he didn't get to go out to recess. After 3 days of no recess because the heat index was above 95 degrees, I finally decided to go to battle to get him recess. (It was the first thing out of his mouth each day when he got home!) I made a complaint about it last year as well and was told that staying inside was for the safety of the children when it is that hot outside. This year, I wrote the principal an email explaining how much my son looked forward to and loved recess. Going from playing all summer long to sitting in classes with little movement, even during PE as they establish rules/routines/procedures is tortuous! My request for a compromise was a modified recess--not the full 30 minutes when the heat index is above 95. It worked and Carter has been happier having the chance to play outside to break up the day.

Caleb was nervous about being in a new school with lockers and new faces. He has enjoyed the later start time, and has done well at getting his piano practicing done before school. The intermediate school is further away, but he still rides his bike to school with friends. He has 3 teachers this year for his core classes and has PE and his elective (choir) daily. So far things seem to be going well. I've been nervous for him!

Bryson was so excited for preschool to start. This is my first time teaching 9am-1pm with students bringing a lunch each time. The extra hour makes me feel less rushed, but it's also exhausting. I'm still just doing two days a week. Bryson loves having his friends come over for school.

In addition to my life already being busy with teaching preschool, teaching 5 piano students, my church calling (Relief Society teacher and Self-reliance specialist), I was asked by a friend to be on the PTO for Caleb's school. I didn't realize quite what I was getting into... Fortunately my position (Volunteer Coordinator) will calm down in stress-level in the next month. Initially my responsibilities of securing a room parent for each class and entering data into spreadsheets (areas where parents are willing to volunteer this year) is taking quite a bit of time.

School is off and running!
(Except for the unexpected cancellation of school on Friday in order to prepare for Hurricane Harvey. So far we're holding up fine, but the worst is yet to come.)

Caleb and Carter both played baseball during the Spring season and both did very well!

Carter improved so much during his season, starting out towards the end of his line-up and finishing towards the front. He made the All-Star team and continued to improve in all areas, but especially in his consistent batting. On the All-Star team, he batted first and had some great plays in the outfield! He is a hard worker and was a great asset to his team.

Caleb was a strong player on his team, batting first and playing 2nd base. He had some great plays and great at-bats. He also made the All-Star team, and his team won their district tournament! At this point though, we were very worn out. We already had survived a season of practices for both boys, which then stretched into our summer further while they played on the All-Star team. Caleb's All-Star experience was more intense than Carter's; he had practices every single day except Sunday!! Occasionally the coach gave a mid-week night off from practice, but we felt like we lived at the baseball field. And it was so hot! Caleb continued to get better, and it was a good experience to play with boys that could all play well, but during the games Caleb did a lot of bench-sitting. This affected his self-esteem and the times he was given an opportunity to play, he didn't always perform well after sitting. So when his All-Star team made it to regionals we were all ready to be done and wanted so badly to bow out, especially since the games were 2 hours away!!! We persevered, but those two weeks in July were so tough on the family! The games were from 7-10pm, but Caleb had to be there at 5:30pm. Matt wasn't able to take off work having just started his own company so friends and babysitters helped out. One of us left at 3:30pm everyday and got home after midnight each time. It was so difficult. If it's up to me, we won't be playing All-Stars again! Caleb's team came in 2nd place at the Regional level. (If they would have won, they would have advanced to state!) Once baseball season was finally over, our summer could officially begin!

Summer here means water. We made a weekly trip to the local water park and almost a weekly neighborhood pool visit as well. Carter and Bryson did 2 weeks of swim lessons, and the rest of the summer was games and playing with friends. Caleb and Carter are both obsessed with a dodgeball game called Poison ball, so he and his friends got together several times over the summer to play. It's essentially a dodgeball game that never ends since you can get back in as soon as the person who got you out gets out.

Caleb was also devoted to finishing the Harry Potter series this summer. He did books 4-7 on audiobook though because reading by himself is right up there with weeding the yard or doing chores. (Doesn't he see how passionate I am about reading?!?) We were two peas in a pod this summer with our ear buds and audiobooks. (I like to listen to audiobooks while I clean the house.)

Matt started his own company with 4 other co-owners in March doing the same thing he has done for the last 17 years--in the oil industry selling overhead cranes. This summer he put in lots of time, leaving the house at 6am most days and coming home around 6:30pm. It's been a tough adjustment to see him less when his hours at his previous job had some flexibility.

I stayed busy prepping for preschool. I beefed up my science curriculum big time and added in some new themes for this next school year.

Summer was so relaxing and laid-back that we were all complaining as the start of school grew closer, especially since it started a week earlier than last year. Our summer felt so short this year due to that and baseball!