First day of kindergarten

Eli was SO READY to start school!

In the car on the way I asked him "Are you nervous buddy?  Or just excited?"

His answer: "I don't know what nervous means, but I am really excited!"

Me: "Nervous is when you feel a little scared, because you don't know exactly what something will be like."

Him: "Ya, I don't feel that at all.  Just excited!"

His cute teacher is Miss Riggs

At meet the teacher he filled out this darling All About Me paper

 Luckily, he had recovered from his on-the-way-to-meet-the-teacher injury a few days before:

And a story from two weeks into the school year:

We were all talking at the dinner table when Eli announced "I need to share a word with all of you." That got everyone's attention. "Today at school on the playground I saw something like a really rough crowd.  I looked in the middle of everyone, and somebody pushed a girl on the ground.  So I went and helped her up."  He was feeling pretty confident that he was choosing the right.  We were all very proud!

Eli is off to a great start in Kindergarten!

Long boarding without pads

A couple weeks ago I got a call from Caleb, who was in Utah with a friend's family.  His voice sounded shaky and he was talking fast.

"Hi Mom.  I need you to call Grandpa.  I wrecked on my long board and I broke my tooth.  I can't find it anywhere, and I think I have two broken wrists and I'm really bloody and can you call Grandpa and see what I should do?  Also I think I might be in shock a little."

I know Caleb well enough to know that this kind of a call is ALWAYS a possibility, so I wasn't actually surprised.  I was, however, a little concerned.  I told him to get to an adult ASAP to get cleaned up and checked out, and I would talk to Grandpa.

These are the pictures I got:

He flew home the next day, and I spent the next couple of days getting him all patched up.  Sure enough- two broken wrists.  He got a full cast on the right one, but they let him off with just a brace for the left, since it wasn't as severe.  Grandpa worked his magic on that front tooth, and it looks good as new.  

Unfortunately, there is no way Caleb can continue working as an AC technician (helper) for the summer.  He can't even open the peanut butter without help!  It's put quite a damper on his plans for the next few weeks.  Maybe next time his mom texts "Don't forget to wear your pads!" he might listen!  Probably not.

Warm fuzzies

Nothing makes my heart happier than seeing that my children love each other.

Recently Simon asked me "Mom, have you ever had the feeling that one of your siblings is actually your best friend?"

I answered that my sisters were actually my very best friends.

"Ya, I sorta feel that way about Josh."

Josh is such a good big brother.  When he's home he plays with Simon a lot- video games, board games, trampoline and ping-pong are some of their favorites.  When Josh is gone, Simon asks repeatedly when he'll be home.

The other day I heard him explaining to one of his friends in the car, "I'm pretty much a mini Josh."

Savannah is another one that puts significant effort into building relationships with her siblings.  She will play with them and tuck the little boys into bed at night- they love to have her tell stories.

Eli often begs for people to ride bikes with him.  Savannah couldn't resist his pleadings.

These are some lucky little boys to have such great older brothers and sisters!

Perspective

Today I am learning again that perspective is everything.

This morning in my prayers I thought about the day ahead of me.  I went through the usual tasks, and asked Father in Heaven to consecrate those things- to make them holy.  I asked for help to see the beauty in the normally mundane.

When I woke the boys up, I had one who was off to a rocky start.  He hated breakfast, he hated sharing a room, he hated noises and lights and smells and... you get the idea.  Normally that behavior is nothing but irritating to me.  Especially at 6:45 am!  But this morning I took the time to explain that in families we all have flaws, and we all need to be patient with each other.  I was reminded what a privilege it is to live in a family, and what a solemn responsibility I have to lovingly teach this boy.

As I folded laundry, it felt like a meaningful service.  I was happy to help pack lunches, to comb down unruly hair, and to smooth over minor disagreements.

I was especially happy to listen to Eli singing his heart out from the bathroom!  Something about gopher guts and tigers.

I am so grateful for the reminder that there is nothing in the world more important than teaching children.  God's "work and glory" is to bring to pass the eternal life of His children.  I am trying to be like Him.  My work and my glory is to love and teach my children- and to lead them to the Lord.

Motherhood is a holy work.

Busy day

A couple of days ago Eli climbed in my bed early in the morning.  He was being pretty still, but I could tell the wheels in his head were turning.  Pretty soon he let out a sigh.

"I have lots to do today."

Oh yeah?  What do you have planned? I wondered

"I have to build dis sing (this thing) with my legos," which he went on to describe in detail.

He also described a "sing" to tape on his leg that would hold his sword.

Before long he decided to get up and get working.

I love how his mind is always working!