Parker at Preschool

Parker gets to go to preschool now 3 days a week for 2 1/2 hours. It's a nice break for me and so far he Loves it! He walked into school at Ms. Dawn's the first day like he had been there every day of his life! I'm so proud of him learning to be a big boy... although he will have A LOT of growing up to do over the next year if he is really going to go to Kindergarten next year. He is leaps and bounds away from where Abby was a year ago (if that makes sense)... but he's a boy, and that's why they start in kindergarten instead of 1st grade. So I'm not worried about it. I'm just excited to see him grow and develop new skills and abilities!

Abby starts Kindergarten

Abby started Kindergarten last week at Boulder Creek Elementary. This has been the much anticipated event of her life! I got to go with her for parent orientation the first day, which lasted only until 10am. The night before of course she was so excited that she didn't actually sleep until about 9:45pm, despite being in bed at 7:30. So then I was sitting in "class" with her while the teacher read up The Kissing Hand and what does she do? She laid her head down on my lap... which she continued to do 3 times! School was only 90 minutes long that day, however would she last?
Her first week went well, she got to ride the bus home on Day 2, which was just as exciting as actually getting to go to school finally. She LOVED the bus! On Day 3 she got to ride the bus home again, but it was a different experience... The bus drive took a different route than the day before, putting her at our stop 10 minutes earlier. So of course I wasn't out there, but my neighbor Heather was. The unwritten rule (because I can't find it anywhere but through word of mouth) is that kindergartners are absolutely not allowed off the bus without an adult there to get them. So Heather called me, I RAN my little heart out there to the bus stop (Parker got to babysit Mia)--thanks to the driver for waiting--and Abby ran of the bus to me and burst into hysterical tears.

Of course it was 110 degrees and I got to carry my 50 pound child all the way home. I felt SO bad, mostly because it was only her 2nd time on the bus and the driver kept telling her that she couldn't get off. I explained to Abby that the driver wanted her to be safe and that she would have just taken her back to school and mommy would have gotten her there, but that wasn't enough. "No more bus." is all she said that whole way home through her sobbing tears. I drove her home the next 2 days (Thursday and Friday) and we started anew this week. So far so good.
I was able to talk to "Victor" at the department of transportation who tracked down a waiver I could sign, letting her off the bus even if I am not out there. So problem solved! I still love meeting her at the bus and taking her scooter so that she can ride it home, but now I won't panic if I think I'm a minute too late!
I thought Abby would be the tallest in her class by a long shot. She is taller than some 2nd graders at her school. The good news is that there are a few boys just as tall as she is. Thankfully she doesn't mind being so tall.

Mrs. Webb is her teacher for Kindergarten. She has taught for 19 years, is a mom of 2, and was a clown before becoming a teacher... so my impression of her is that she knows how to rule the roost but doesn't forget to have fun at the same time. I was really happy the first day when she said her door is always open. She wants the parents to feel like she can stop in at any time of the day to come play at school. So this week I did just that.
On Tuesday Abby said she didn't want to go to school and why does she have to go every day. Then that night she planned with me that she would go 2 more days that week and then take Friday off. Ha! seriously. We're on day 6 of kindergarten and she's already planning on playing hookie?! So of course I had a nice talk with her and made her go on Wednesday. And while Parker was at preschool, I went and surprised her at lunch with a burrito to make sure she was feeling better about being there. She was so excited when she saw me sitting at her table and gave me the biggest hug! Then I was the talk of the table. All of the girls wanted to sit by us, and meet me, and was I a teacher, and what was my name, etc. etc.. We ended the day with swimming at a friends house to remind Abby that she could still have fun on school days!

Abby wanted to match with me for her first day of school... how sweet!

Summer Fun

For the first time in a long time we were able to get away as an entire family for a much needed vacation (on my part since Jill is always going somewhere)

For 2 weeks we took off to the midwest for various adventures. With a quick flight to Chicago we took a long drive north to Wisconsin to the cabin for some fun on the lake. We were lucky enough to trick my mom and dad into a 7 hour car ride with Abby and Parker so we only had Mia with us. It made the drive a lot easier.

At the Cabin we were able to spend time with Uncle Jay, Uncle Jack & Aunt Mel and their son Lit'l Jack. It's always good to see family. We played on the water and just hung out. It's so peaceful up there. The kids loved the water. Abby and Parker were both brave enough to ride the tube alone even with me driving. Abby also tried water skiing 1 time but that was a disaster filled with tears (Jill drove that time). All and all a peaceful time up north. The only issue we had was a bear decided to come visit the area and made some mess of the garbage. I guess in Wisconsin having a bear in the area comes with the territory, we're just not used to that being from the desert.


Mia just liked wearing the life jacket suit under her clothes. It was tough to get her to take it off.

Grandpa with his lit'l grand kids

peaceful...

After our fun up north we headed to Nauvoo to spend some time with the Wilsons. Although it was super hot and super muggy (90 degrees plus humidity is a lot worse that 110 degrees in the desert) we had a really fun time. While there we went to the Nauvoo pagent, a frontier fair, and some of the sites.

Best friends have to match, right?

Puppet shows keep anyone entertained


Mia loved the horses on a farm nearby

I guess Parker did not like this house as much based on his expression

Family pictures are just so hard sometimes...

After the Nauvoo adventure it was back to Chicago for fun. Grandma Suz has been wanting to do a girl day for Abby so all the girls took a day and went downtown to the American Girl doll store and got Abby a new friend. They made an adventure of it by going on the train and buses to get there. Jill did say that Abby was really friendly with all the strangers on the bus and the train. I guess she just likes making friends. I wasn't too sad that I didn't get to go to the doll store, oh well.

All and all it was a really fun time to get a way. Unfortunately by leaving it meant we were going to have to come back to reality at some point. Now with a few weeks of summer left we have a lot to get done before Abby, Parker and Daddy go back to school. I'm sure we'll manage just fine.