Update

Here is a photo of Faith walking out the door one morning last week. I had to capture the super full backpack and clarinet. Sometimes she even has all this plus is carrying her P.E. or cross country bag. She is a busy girl! She has taken 5 min. off her 2 mile time for cross country so far this season. I am really proud of her and the meets have been very fun for her (and myself). She tried out for her jr. high's girls ensemble group and MADE IT! I was a little worried since she is a 6th grader. For tryouts the girls weren't even able to prepare. The teacher just called them in one by one and gave them the material to sing which was "My Country Tis of Thee." She doesn't even know this song but it must have went okay. She is going to be singing "alto" which she isn't thrilled about but must be where they need her. It should be a good experience for her. She lost two teeth last week but has seven more to go before braces can go on. She just had an ortho appt. this morning and that is what he said. She is wearing a "retainer" at night right now to keep the work they have already done in place. Fortunately, she hasn't had too much homework so far. She has made LOTS of new friends and has a social life to be envied.

Sawyer is doing great as well. He really likes his teachers and has been bringing home all A's and B's so far. He is getting ready to start chess again next month and is trying out for student council. This makes me really nervous!!!!!!! He made it last year and loved it. It was a huge boost to his self-esteem. I think they find out next week. I was more nervous last year because both he and Faith tried out and I was worried that one would make it and one wouldn't. Fortunately they both did. Sawyer is getting really into watching football with Kyle and doing the "fantasy football" thing. My little boy is growing up. The only things he really mentions about school are...playing kickball at recess, soccer in gym and his new friend "Ben." He is also now very opinionated about his clothes (this is a first). He only wants to wear "sporty" clothing...you know the mesh shorts and t-shirts.

Eden is enjoying 1st grade but finding it isn't as easy as kindergarten was. She is still struggling with reading a bit but wants to be a perfect reader very badly. I even see her practicing her reading books when walking home from the bus. She wants to do everything perfectly and she is very mad at herself when she doesn't. She had a math test last week and it was all wrinkled up in her folder when she came home. She cried for a good 15 min. because she scored a 22/26 on it. She also wads up her spelling pre-tests if they aren't perfect. At least she cares...right? I just enrolled her in a "hip-hop" dance class. She had her first class last night and it was SO CUTE!! They danced to "The Jonas Brothers" and I think she thought she was in heaven.

Beckett is doing very well in pre-school!! This morning was the first morning that he didn't cry at all! I think he is finally realizing he can enjoy himself if I'm not there! I am spending my Tues. mornings grocery shopping and my Thurs. mornings are spent volunteering in Eden's class at school :) I have to mention as well that now that fall is coming I am back into reading!! I just finished "The Hunger Games" trilogy in less than a week. It was SO GOOD!! I haven't enjoyed any book/s this much since I read the "Twilight" books...and that is saying a lot!

Mr. Cuteness heads off to Pre-school

I have had some things on my mind these last couple of days...my nieces and nephews are starting at a new school today, my brothers dog passed away, Sawyer chose an almost 300 page book for his monthly (yes, I said monthly) book report when he could have chosen a book with 100 pages, Faith is doing a band fundraiser...the list goes on and on. I have also been worried about Beckett starting pre-school. Of course, I would have never dreamed of putting my first born in pre-school at 2 1/2 and would have looked down upon mothers that did. I also wouldn't have done it with my 2nd born. I am old and tired now though so #4 gets to go!! He will be going two mornings a week for 2 hours. I knew the adjustment would be hard for him. He has been in nursery at church for a year now and still cries and we usually sit in there with him or they come and get us. He actually made it all the way through this last Sunday...not without some tears but made it nonetheless. I had a little hope. His first day was only for an hour and he didn't do so well. He was very happy while I was in there with him (for the first 1/2 hour) but then I made my escape. When I came back to get him, he was laying face down on the floor crying his eyes out. He didn't even participate in snack time. Thurs. will be for the full two hours...hopefully he will adjust quickly. There are 6 boys and 4 girls in his class. All the girls were perfect angels and three of the six boys were crying...

So, I haven't blogged about Bex for awhile since we have been so busy with back-to-school stuff with the older three kids. During the summer he finally decided that talking was a good idea. He has hardly had a quiet moment since. He tries to say everything and everyday he gets a little easier to understand. He still loves Blue's Clues and Yo Gabba Gabba but now likes Wiggles and super whiny Calliou. He loves to play outside. He enjoys racing with whoever and playing with any kind of ball. He has many, many "handy dandy notebooks". He sits with one during any show he watches and writes down "clues." He loves any notebook with a spiral binding that he can slide his writing utensil in. Coloring is his favorite activity. He knows all his colors and can draw a circle. His pre-school teacher asked him if he could sing his ABC's and I realized that we have never sung him the ABC's...we only sing songs off the radio or from Rockband (what kind of parents are we???). He rides around in his cozy coupe car fairly often but really doesn't play with other toys very much. Every so often he will play with pretend food and with our train table. He loves being entertained by his siblings and they dote on him as much as ever. He and Eden play the most. I have had strangers mention to me, on more than one occasion, how loving his siblings are to him. He has done more damage to our home, furniture, walls, etc...than our other three kids put together. However, he is so cute, affectionate and funny that all is forgiven :) We were running late on his first day of pre-school this morning so his picture was taken in the laundry room on the way out the door (poor 4th child). Here are some other cute photos of my little guy.