Fall Firsts!

My baby started Kindergarten today! Ray took him this morning and when the teacher told the kids to turn around and wave good-bye to their parents, he was lost in the sea of overexcited parents so Ray didn't get to see him before he went inside. I picked him up afterwards and he was so excited because he got a Hostess cupcake with a small cutout taped on top that said "My first day of Kindergarten was a piece of cake." He was so excited and had a great day...he even remembered what they did that day which is more than I get after church on Sundays. To top off the big day, we picked up McDonald's for lunch as a special "First Day of School" lunch. Ray gave Kaden his first back-to-school blessing which his dad gave him each year before school started. He gave him a great blessing and I know that Kaden is going to have a great first year! His teacher's name is Mrs. McGarry and she's a Utah State University alumni (Go Aggies!) and this is her second year teaching at Altara. Kaden has a green folder that he brings home every night and his homework every night is to go through it with us and tell us what he did that day, and complete whatever she sends home. He is also encouraged to read for 15 minutes every night which we've been doing since he was 1 year old so that should be pretty easy to accomplish. He has 40 words that he has to memorize and recall at sight during the year and pass off to the teacher...basic reading words like and, for, I, said, his, her, etc. And each week they learn new letters and he has to bring words from magazines, newspapers, etc. that start with that letter. So, we'll be busy this year. I thought Kindergarten was just playing every day but he's really going to learn and his teacher said he'll be bringing home books to read during the year.

Kaden is going to Altara Elementary over on the east side of I-15 in Sandy...the school is one of the best and just happens to be about 4 blocks from our daycare providers house so she is kind enough to pick up him and one of the other daycare boys from school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. School starts at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 11:00 a.m. on Mondays through Thursdays and ends at 10:15 a.m. on Fridays. Kyli forgive me for saying this, but I still don't understand why teachers need an early day every Friday and so many planning or "recess" days throughout the year, there's at least one each month! Don't teachers have all summer to plan? Sorry, Ky...you know how I feel, and no offense to any other teachers out there that read this.

Kaden in his new school clothes and shoes on his first day of Kindergarten

Of course, little brother Jackson had to share in the excitement of the day

What would the first day of Kindergarten be without something to do with Star Wars?

Ray took this at the school in front of the Kindergarten classrooms. I think 2022 will be here before we know it.

Kaden in front of his new school

Also, the Fall soccer season has started. Kaden is now in the U6 group and plays on a much bigger field with 4 against 4 rather than 3 against 3. He had his first game last Saturday and scored 3 goals! Way to go, Kaden! He is a lot better this fall than he was in the Spring, must be all that practicing we've been doing in the family room.

The summer is almost over but we're going to end the summer with a trip to the new splash park that opened this summer in Draper, Cowabunga Bay. Since the summer was a little bit on the boring side for the boys due to Evan's arrival, it's time to start doing some fun things again. Now that Evan is going to daycare, his daytime sleep is getting better and better and he's getting on a good schedule. His nighttime sleep has been really good for a long time and just gets better...he's now going to bed around 6:30 and wakes up for a feeding anytime between 4 and 6 a.m. and then goes back down until 7:30 or 8:00 a.m....I love that he's such a good night sleeper like Jackson was because no matter how stressful the day might be, I know that I can have a few moments of "me" time before bed when all the kids are asleep...life is once again getting back to the way I'm used to and function best with. Life is great and each day is a blessing!