Flash Back

So my sister posted her wedding photos and they are all just beautiful. I wanted to post a few of them here. Lots of love to you Jen and Paul!!

Welcome to the family, Paul!

Yes, I know the flowers are pretty, but don't touch them :)

Jessi's inner monologue - That would really add to my dress up collection .

Kristian being Kristian.

Me, trying really hard not to cry (It didn't work)

I love this picture and I love my sister!! I am so happy for you Jen! (Man, now I'm crying again)

It's Getting Better :)

Okay, so I overreacted after the first day of homework. I have been known to do that one or two times in the past :) Day 2 was better, there was still a bit of frustrated tones that might be close to yelling. But they were super short and then I would remind myself to take a deep breath. We are now on day 3 and today there was no raising of the voice. Not even any frustrated tones. Although I should mention that I didn't make Jessi work on anything. Ya, that is probably cheating.

I am happy to say that even though we took the day off, Jessi and I are making progress. It's super slow, but it is progress. And now that she actually has to be learning this stuff I am much more motivated to not give up all together like we did this summer :)

I am also happy to say that Spencer did most of his homework on his own today only needing a few prompts to stay on task. He read me 2 stories and his reading continues to improve.

I am working on continued patience and on learning to improve my ability to teach my children. I know that the parents roll in helping to educate their children is huge, I just wish it came with a manual :)

Homework, It's no better than when I was the Kid!

This week is the start of a full week of school. Which meant, homework began again. Spencer has Spelling, Vocab, Reading, and Math. Jessi didn't have any but I figured I could try once again and see if we could get her writing her name.

All I have to say is that trying to help 2 with their homework is twice as frustrating as trying to help one. I have never had much patience for this and day one pushed me to my limit.

I gave up with Jessi after an hour and we only went over the J and e in Jessica. I gave up because she is still writing them backwards, upside down, and horizontal and I had yelled a few to many times. I thought only DaVinci knew how to write backwards and upside down but apparently Jessi could give him a run for his money.

It took Spencer an hour and a half to get through his homework. It probably would have been an hour but every time I turned my attention to help Jessi he pretty much turned his attention to us as well, meaning he wasn't getting his work done. And so ya, I yelled some more.

I had set a goal last week to try to be more patient with the kids and their learning curve. I know they are trying and that what seems simple is often harder to understand. I think I can say that I wasn't too successful on my goal today. Here is to tomorrow.

First Day!!

That's right!! It's the first day of school and this year I am sending off 2 little ones. (Although I guess you can't really classify Spencer as little anymore, but he is in his mom's eyes). For the first time in about 3 months, I woke the kids up this morning, we all got ready, stopped for a quick photo shoot and then headed for the bus stop.

Now those of you who know me, know I rarely run late and hate it if I am late. So this morning you can imagine how paniced I became when we walked around the corner to find the bus was already there. (It was early). I got all nervous, flagged down the bus driver and got the kids on. In all of the frantic chaos and my conversations with the bus driver to make sure they were on the right bus (2 more came around the corner before we even walked away 5 feet) I didn't even get to say goodbye to the kids. Luckily, they didn't seem to mind as they hopped right on.

School has started now and I haven't got a call so I assume they are okay. In fact, they are probably doing better than me. I am so excited for them but just like it has been for the last 2 years, there is a part of me that worries, that hopes they are happy, that they will fit in, that the other kids will be nice. You know, Mom worries. Luckily, I can remind myself that just like the last 2 years, those will go away within a day or 2 when I see how much they love it. (I hope :)

Nauvoo Trip

Last Thursday we took a trip to Nauvoo. We left ourselves a few days to see the sights which turned out to be a very wise decision as the heat tended to take it out of the kids and they didn't last all day. We all had a great time. We learned a lot, played a lot, and felt the spirit a lot.

We asked everyone their favorite part of the trip and these were the results.

Spencer - "I liked playing with the crutches at pioneer past times." Spencer hobbled around for an hour on those little crutches.

Side Note . . . Spencer was very touched during the Jospeh Smith film and at the Carthage jail. He is so very close to the spirit and really blows Jacob and I away with his knowledge of the gospel and amazing tender spirit. I think he is much more ready to be baptized then I ever was.

Jessica - "I liked dressing up like a pioneer and being the mom of the house." And man oh man was she ever. Any kids that came around was instantly roped into her family, given and job, and told that they were loved. It was pretty cute.

Kristian - "I like the big oxen and their bums and I like my new horse Nauvoo." Kristian got a kick out of the oxen ride and of course the first thing he noticed was their bums under their tails. Kids :) He was also given a little wood horse widdled by one of the senior missionaries there. He named it "wood horse" and I told him that wasn't much of a name (great mom, huh) so he settled on Nauvoo, since that is where he got him from.

Jacob and I were each able to do a temple session and that was our favorite part. The temple always has such an amazing spirit and it was really a comfort to each of us. The Nauvoo Temple has such historical significance to the early beginnings of the church and being able to ponder on that while sitting in the rooms of the temple brought a very special spirit. I was so glad we were able to visit the Lord's house.

So those were our favorite parts. And to finish it off . . . . Here are some of my favorite pictures.