Starting School 2011

         This fall with the move back to Oklahoma I was already familiar with the school that my kids would be attending and how the sign up worked.  On a short trip out here I registered them for school.  The ladies in the office complimented me that I was very organized and that my registering the kids was the easiest that they had every done.  They also made it really easy for me that they had me fill out the main form minus the kids info and then copied it three times.  Then all I had to do was fill in the kids info.  Done in about five minutes.  Probably the easiest I had to do.  Back in Colorado my kids would get out of school the end of May and then would start school the first week of August.  Now that we are back in Oklahoma school starts the third week of August.  So I had two more weeks to entertain kids in triple digit heat.  YUCK!!

         Finally after unpacking somethings and getting school supplies my kids were ready for school.  Here they are on the first day of school.

        I'll start with the oldest.  Abby is off to sixth grade.  Here the sixth grade is your last year in elementary school.  She has three different teachers.  So, it is similar to middle school put much smaller and no lockers or electives.  We will see what comes her way this year.

       One thing we found out really quick was the shorts she was wearing were too short for school.  They are great for soccer though.  One thing that they get to do again is wear what they want to school.  The last couple of years they had polo's to wear and they could wear what ever pants or shorts they wanted.  Not sure this is a good thing this year.  One more thing to argue about in the morning while getting ready for school.  We will make the best of it.

        Now look at that little stud.  Brayden will start 4th grade this year.  Not sure what to think.  Last year was a rough year for Brayden.  This year I felt a little on edge.  Changing back to school were he didn't seem to adjust well when he started.  This year he has three different teachers also but not as many hands on things to do.  He should do well.  One thing we found out right off the bat was that he didn't know his times tables.  Flash cards every night and we are finally getting them now.  Good luck Brayden.

    Tori.  What do have to say about Tori.  This was the girl that started school and if it was canceled because of snow she would cry because she wanted to be at school.  She loves school.  She is starting 2nd grade this year.  School and Tori go well together.  She is the only one out of my four that has made the transition well.  Last year she struggled with learning how to read and now I can't get her to stop.  She is a reading machine.  Way to go Tori!!

     Noelle starts her school experience for the first time this year.  Welcome to Kindergarten little Elle!  She was really excited to finally get to go to school with the rest of her siblings.  For the last three years she has kissed her sisters and brother off to school with me.  She had the entire day to play with me and by herself with no bothering her.  It didn't take long for the morning talk of I don't want to go to school.  I need a break.  She is loving it.  She is a little behind her classmates but we will see what happens.  Now that we have got into a routine she is doing really well.  She has already learned how to write her name.  Way to go Noelle!

    With kids in school I have two and a half hours to myself in the morning.  I spend most of it at the gym.  Now that I have my YMCA to go to I have more options and classes to attend.  Started walking again and will hopefully get back up to running.  Right now I walk a total of about 9 miles for the week.  Looking forward to a great school and hopefully losing about 15 to 20 pounds by the end of the school years.  Here's to a new school year and working toward more things.  Graduating classes of 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024.

Two birthdays and an Anniversary

           Many years ago when I was dreaming about what my family would be like I never thought this would happen.  We celebrated Matt's 34th birthday, on the 5th of August, by going to see "Rise of the Plant of the Apes" with his brother and wife.  The movie was really good and a must see again.  Not much of a Plant of the Apes fan as a child but this definetly peeked my interest to watch all the movies.  Matt doesn't like the fact that he is getting older so birthdays aren't made a big deal for him.  He still looks good for a man in his 30's.



Picture was taken in Oct of 2006

         Next we celebrated 12 years of wedded bliss.  When we got engaged and were deciding on the date the choices were the 6th of Aug or the 13th of Aug.  That year the 13 was on a Friday.  I don't really believe in the superstition but it just didn't sound nice being married on Friday the 13th.  I made a promise to Matt when we decided on the 6th that we would always celebrate his birthday and our anniversary sperat. Since we had just moved back to Oklahoma we still had a lot of things to do and we just had a quit evening at home with the kids.   Looking forward to an eternity with this wonderful man who is my best friend.

     Last of all 5 years ago we added the caboose of our family.  I was induced on the 7th of August.  She wasn't due until the 14th of August but that was the first day of school for my two oldest.   My Mom and sister were able to come out and help that week but the next week my sister started school.  So we decided to have her on the 7th of August.  This year is a big year for her.  She has started Kindergarten and finally going to school.  She is so excited.  They grow up so fast.  Happy Birthday to my sweet Noelle.

  We celebrated with family.  She was way excited for her chocalte cake with pink frosting.  She was talking about her birthday almost two weeks before it was here.  Happy Birthday little Elle.  Looking forward to the many adventures to come.

Our Next Adventure

 We have began another chapter in my adventures as a military wife.  Every three to four years we get the opportunity to move to another place of the militaries chosing.  This time the military thought it would be nice to send us somewhere we have already been.  Back to Oklahoma we go.  Don't get me wrong we love Oklahoma and we had a good tour there.  This was just a time that I want my kids to experience didn't things in life and have different opportunities.  Anyway have to move on.  The Lord knows why we need to be here.  Not sure that I agree but need to look at the positives that it will bring to my family and my children.  This move I didn't want to do it myself.  Did that already and wasn't going to repeat it. Finally we had a move date with TMO (transportation office).  It was then time to get ready for the packers.  Packing went fine.  They showed up at 10:30 on Wednesday and were done by 4 that afternoon.  It was suppose to take two days and it only took one.  Spent the next day cleaning the house and getting ready for the truck.  The truck showed up on Friday and only had a fourth left on the truck for our things.  WHAT!!!  Yes, the people on the truck before us had way more stuff then they were suppose too.  So, they split my things up.  I had to think of what I needed and what I didn't.  We focused on the bedrooms and the kitchen.  Another truck came and picked up the left over things.  Alright so everything was on the trucks.  It was time to get the rest of our things gathered and finish cleaning the house.  Thanks to some help from the ward I was done.  Saturday we loaded up the uhaul trailer and put the canoe on the trailblazer.  We spent the rest of the day with family and enjoying our last day in Colorado.  Sunday after Sacrement meeting I returned to the house and picked up the zoo (2 cats, 2 fish and a guinea pig).  It was time to say goodbye to a great ward full of wonderful friends.  The kids and I piled in the car and it was time to head off to Oklahoma.  It was a long drive (10 hours) and we got in around one in the morning.  I had to unload a few things and get kids to bed.  It was so humid outside that I ended up having to shower at 2 in morning before going to bed.  Monday morning dawn and I was up at 6:30 to meet the truck.  Need less to say.  Everything got here.  It took two weeks but it all showed up.  Now Matt is working on getting back on flight status and the kids and I are getting into a new routine.  What will Oklahoma bring to us this time?