School Days!

I really haven't blogged for 3 weeks? Yikes!

I can't remember anything from that long ago, so I will just pick up with what's current, and that is... FIRST GRADE!!

Kaeleb started 1st grade last Thursday. I love my little Guy. He was very nervous the night before. Going to bed he was a motormouth of "What-ifs". "Mom, what if I get lost? What if I cry? Do you think I will cry? Do you think I will be embarrassed if I cry? Do you think anyone else will cry? Do you think I won't be embarrassed if someone else cries too? What if I can't find the bathroom? What if I can't find the lunchroom?"

Thursday morning I dropped him off and I could tell he was scared, but he didn't cry! He gulped and said a shaky, "Bye Mom!" I left wondering what the heck is wrong with America that we leave our tiny little, terrified, innocent six-year-old children with a school full of strangers for 7 and 1/2 hours a day, and I was ready to start home schooling right then and there.

It didn't help at all when I picked him up after school and he said "My teacher is really stern and I am so tired. School is too long." Or, when the next day he said, "My teacher isn't just stern, she is MEAN. And nobody wants to play with me at recess." I was so sad! I prayed about it a lot over the weekend and had such a good feeling that it would be ok, and that it was just his first day jitters.

I was right. He has bounced out of school every day this week, happy and excited. He has said for two days in a row, "Everything was good today! Not even was tiny thing was bad about school today!" I went and volunteered on Tuesday, so I got to see his teacher in action and she is not mean, but she is very strict and structured and doesn't like it when they don't listen well. That is fine with me and now that he is used to her style, he likes her. Kaeleb is making friends and loving the kids in his class. They are all really cute.

Kwint is also doing really great with his work. He has literally pounded the pavement marketing this month and is getting busier every day. His partner in Park City, Max, said that summer is always slow in PC and we would see things pick up in September. We were still nervous, but we reminded ourselves that the Lord sent us here and would back us up and He really has. I guess PC people go on vacation all summer and then come back needing therapy for spending 3 months with their families. (Just kidding) We are very grateful that God opened this door for us. Kwint is very happy with his work, happier than I have ever seen him.

So, when I left SG after serving in the nursery and as the ward choir director, I was looking forward to a little R&R, and spiritual enlightenment in Gospel Doctrine and Relief Society. While we were in Layton, however, I spent most Sundays in Nursery trying to help Bren with his separation anxiety. Once we got here we thought we'd really get him trained up to go on his own, which he is finally doing, albeit reluctantly. It's a miracle! Well.... after church on Sunday I was extended a calling.... in the Nursery. I can't believe it! I had this moment of thinking "Are you kidding me? No rest for the weary? Really? Nursery?" But I am actually really excited about it. There are going to be 67 kids nursery age soon, so they split it into 3 nurseries and they will have them rotate between 3 classes. I am going to be in charge of music time. I learned a few tricks from the music lady in Layton and from a music class I took Brennan to this week, and I am already so excited about it that I want to invite my neighbors to bring their toddlers to my house once a week for a little Toddler music class. I am going to bring a variety of instruments and little pictures on popsicle sticks (kids love those) and also get them dancing.

Kwint is still calling-less, but hoping soon to have a job. He has been Mr. Service Man around the neighborhood to make up for it. He sees people out working in the yard or moving furniture and rushes out to help as often as he can.

We are hoping to have pictures of our red fireplace wall next week. It is not red yet. I am still building the courage, but I plan to paint on Saturday. Then I have a couple hallways to paint tan, the master bedroom brown and the boys' room blue. Guest room and office are still undecided.