Gavin First/Last Day

Here is Gavin's first and last day of this school year picture.

Gavin Fun Through 1st Grade

Gavin did a lot of fun things in his 1st Grade Year, and luckily, his teachers took pictures and posted them on the website, so I could get them.

First day of School

Rhyming Day

Halloween

Santa after the Polar Express

Zoo Field Trip

Mom's day Program

Photo Booth Mom's day Program

With Dad on Penguin Day

Mother's Day Program

The Day after Mother's Day, Gavin's school had a Mother's Day program for the 1st graders and their moms. They sang songs and gave us necklaces with their pictures on them. They had a program documenting their first grade year. It was super cute and fun. After the program we had lunch together. I can't believe my kid is going to second grade. Time goes by so fast!

Greyson's December Field Trip

On December 17th, Greyson had his December Field Trip to see Santa at South Towne Mall. It was a lot of fun and Greyson had a fun time. He froze when it was time to talk to Santa, but mustered up enough to say he wanted a Helicopter.  We ate lunch at the Mall then rushed down to Gavin's school for his December Christmas Sing in. It was a fun day with my boys!

Crazy Hair Day

Last week at Gavin's school, it was Red Ribbon Week, and on Wednesday, they did Crazy Hair Day. So naturally he had to have Mike color his hair to honor the day!

Greyson's First Day of Second Year Preschool

Or Pre-K, whatever you want to call it. On August 25th, Greyson started his 2nd year of Preschool.  He is learning so much and I think is enjoying his time this year so much more than last year. He had his first field trip this week which I will blog about later and talks about the letters he is learning and songs they sing. He is so excited to go to school next year and wishes he could go now, but all in due time buddy! He goes to school Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:15 to 11:45, and his teacher is Teacher Jenny again.

Gavin's First Day of First Grade

On August 19th, Gavin started his first day of first Grade, Dual Immersion. And the fun thing about that, is that Mike gets to take him to school and I get to pick him up and take him home. It has been a lot of fun doing that with him. He has already learned so much in Spanish and is loving his school and all the new friends he is making.

First day of First Grade

Our time together!

End of School 2015

Gavin's last day of Kindergarten was May 29th, so they had a little program and he got to get all his stuff and go home. He has had Mrs. Becar (Mrs. Ashley) for the last 3 years through Preschool and Kindergarten, so this is kind of a big thing, him going to 1st Grade, at a new school, with a new teacher, to learn a new language too! Here is his last day of school picture and other fun pictures!  He had a cute talking part in his program and sang some fun songs about all the things they learned this year. He is so excited though to be in 1st Grade and to learn Spanish! Now, if I could get him to read this summer.

Teacher Gift

Last Day!

Walking into his program

The end of the era for Gavin and his Teacher!

And Greyson's last day of preschool was May 13th before we went to California, and since I was in such a frenzy before vacation, I never got a picture of him. But he loved preschool this year and is excited to go back to Teacher Jenny next year!

For Gavin

When we were moving all our stuff downstairs, I started throwing stuff away that Gavin made at school and brought home and wanted to keep.  I told him I would take a picture of it and blog about it so when I print off the blog book for 2015 he will be able to see what he made.  So here is what I have so far.

School Update

Lets have a School update for Gavin and I, shall we?

Yesterday I got a letter in the mail from Fortis College telling me that I wasn't chosen for their April 2015 Dental Hygiene program.  I had a minute of poor me, but then I remembered that I wouldn't be able to go even if I did get in and I have other plans for school now.  There must be something better out there waiting for me.

Also yesterday, Gavin got a letter in the mail from Orchard Elementary in Orem accepting him into their Dual Immersion Spanish Program for next year.  On his birthday, we received an email from BlackRidge Elementary in Eagle Mountain accepting him into their Chinese Dual Immersion Program for next year.  We got a phone call on the 3rd of March from Harvest Elementary in Saratoga Springs stating that he wasn't selected into their Spanish Dual Immersion for next year.  But he got into two programs.  We had a decision to make.  Gavin has been very vocal since January about Spanish, so it was really a no brainer for him to do Spanish.  So we have committed to the Orchard Elementary Spanish Dual Immersion Program for next year.  Luckily it is right down the street from my work, so I have signed him up for the 9:15-3:30 school day.  Now I need to figure out what to do with him from 7-9 AM in Orem... and Early out Mondays...

Test

For a couple years now, since I have decided to go back to school, I have been wanting and planning to go to a Dental Hygiene program.  That is what I have been working toward since returning to school.  I was sick of my job and boss and wanted to have a degree and career.  Last May I found a Dental Hygiene program in Murray, Utah that will start me in the program with the classes that I have and will help me to get the other prereqs needed for the program.  I contacted the school last May and we have been working ever since to get this started.  In December I went in and took the Wonderlic test.  You have to score a 16 on that text and I scored a 26!  Then in January I went to the HESI study group and studied my little heart out to prepare for the HESI.  I took it on the 9th of January...AND I PASSED!  Holy crap.  You have to get a 75% on that and I got an 84.5%.  I have since talked to Financial Aid, and now I am not so sure this will happen, but if it is meant to be, it will all work out.

Family Update

Lets end todays posts with a Family Update, because it has been a while, shall we?

Garett: He is 10 months old now and giving me a run for my money.  He is my earliest to crawl and all that fun stuff.  He still eats 6 formula bottles a day, and about 18 ounces a day.  He also eats his fruits and vegetables very well everyday.  He will eat pancakes and french toast, bread, pasta, rice and other fun stuff like that.  He sleeps in his pack-n-play in our room every night from about 8 to 5:30.  He is in size 3 diapers and size 12 month clothes.  He is my fastest growing baby too.  Both other boys would still be in 6-9 month clothes at this point.  He loves to bounce and play and eat really is what he does right now.  He does nap twice a day and is really good about that.

Greyson: I am telling you, this kid will be the death of me.  He loves nursery now that I am in there with him.  That will change in 6 weeks when he goes to primary.  He loves cereal and pop tarts and granola bars and string cheese, but that is all he will really eat.  He loves this new show that we found on Netflix called Oscars Oasis.  He won't take naps anymore and loves going to preschool.  He is in size 7 shoes and size 3T clothes.  He is fully potty trained during the day (I think I didn't blog about that) but we still put pull ups on him at night. Some mornings he wakes up dry and others he doesn't.  We are still giving him Miralax every couple days or so just to make sure things are moving.  He likes to read books with Gavin and I at night and is learning so much.

Gavin: Gavin loves Kindergarten.  He has a lot of friends and is learning so many new things and can read, it is awesome!  He is my Christmas child and really should have been born at Christmas.  My first pregnancy we were due on Christmas Day but had a miscarriage, so maybe he really is my Christmas baby, just 3 months later.  He loves Christmas movies, music, decorations, Santa. He is in Size 5T clothes and size Child Small and 4/6 Child. He is pretty much potty trained day and night.  He loves to read books for the most part and love to color and draw pictures and tell stories from the pictures he draws.  Gavin loves to play the Wii and would play it all day every day if we would let him.  He also loves to do homework and asks me everyday if we can do his homework for the day.

Michael: Is interested in going to school, but can't decide if he wants to do Nursing or Airplane Mechanic.  He was just released as the Bear Scout Leader so he is in between callings right now.  He is still working at K&S in Lehi and about half of the time, likes it.  We are working on saving some money so that we can finish the basement so that in a couple months we can move things around and have a place for all the boys.

Me:  I have 2 more weeks left of school and then break for the Christmas Break.  I am trying to decide (if Mike decides not to go back right away) if I want to quit my job and go to school full time in April (if I get into the Dental Hygiene) program or if I want to continue to work (slowly) toward getting my pre reqs.  I am still in the Nursery and love it!  Other than that, working full time, going to school, taking care of 3 boys and a husband and running a household. You know.  I think that is the update from us.

Dear Boys

I had to write a paper for my Psychology class and this is the one I chose.  So I decided I better post it to the blog for future:

9.2 Dear Betty or Bob: A Letter to Your Future Child(ren).  Remember that your letter should be embedded in a paper format with introduction, conclusion, reflective writing.

I already have children and a blog so really I think I write to them often on my blog, but it is not really anything specific just a recap of the things we have done as a family and it is something that I print off yearly and keep it in book form for future generations or even just for my kids and maybe their wives and kids to see one day.  It also helps me remember how my kids were as babies, what they liked and didn’t like, and fun things we have done before.

But to write them a letter about why I chose to have them and how they changed my life would be different.  Dear Gavin, Greyson and future baby boy due in January.  Really first off I am glad to be your mom.  And I am sorry for all the bad parenting decisions I have already made with you or will make in the future.  You are only 4, 2 and not even here yet and so we have a long way to go with each other.  Also, I wish you would be nicer to each other.  I know that this is something that every parent wants for their kids and maybe eventually you will get there, but right now, the fighting is killing me.  We are all we have forever (besides Grandmas and Grandpas and Aunts and Uncles and that family), and also your future family, but we need to be good and nice to each other.  We have to spend eternity with each other so let’s start making the most of it now!

You all have changed my life in so many ways.  With you I feel like my heart is walking around with you outside my body and I hope and pray for you every day that you get the best that you need and deserve out of life every day.  I know I work full-time and am not always there for you, but you are making it and learning things every day, so really you aren’t struggling too much.  Before I had you we used to say that our kids would be perfect and never do anything wrong, (story of every parent’s life) but having you changed that ideal so much and I have grown more patient because of each of you and your unique lives and personalities you have brought to our family.  I wouldn’t change anything about any of you for anything.  I love you all the way you are and for what you are and who you will become.

I hope one day you grow up, and find someone to be with to share a family with.  I haven’t really thought much at all about becoming a grandparent because I am still carrying your baby brother, but I hope one day you get to experience parenthood and all the joys and heartbreaks that come with it, because there is no way to describe it other and living it and feeling it.  I hope that being a grandparent it a little bit sweeter than being a parent.  We need to be rewarded in some way for raising you 3 little guys.

I hope you boys know how much I love you and how much me working outside the home, and going to school is really for you boys.  I need to help with our family income and would like to better myself through school for you boys.  I am sacrificing now so we will be better off later.  I cherish the times we spend together and love the things we do together.  I love everything you tell me about your day and all the kisses, snuggles and loves.  I love you boys and hope you know I am always proud of you!  Love, Mom.

Reflective: This was an emotional paper.  While I have written letters to my boys before, I guess I tried to let it all out here.  I am planning on posting this to my blog so we can have it in the future for them and they can read it in the future.  Parenthood changes everything about everything.  You aren’t alone anymore and for some people that is what they always wanted.  Others don’t want that and that is their decision but I wouldn’t trade my decision for anything.  I can’t imagine my life without my kids.  I can’t wait to see them when I get home from work every day and we plan to do fun things together on the weekends so we can spend time together and we try to cherish our time we have together.  I look forward to the future and what it will be for us.