Back to School

This summer flew by in a blink, I swear summer was shorter this year, and we didn't even go on a long road trip to help pass the time. At the beginning of the summer I set the kids up with routines. In past years we have tried strict schedules, but it only added to my stress. This year they all knew what they had to do to earn privlidges and they could do it when ever they wanted. Granted some waited until 10 am to get breakfast because they wouldn't get out of their PJ's but for the most part everyone followed the rules. Beside the normal stuff they had 4 tasks to complete everyday: practice the piano, read for a half hour (or out loud to me), do one worksheet, and 30 minutes of computer learning time. As a reward they could play with friends, go swimming, or earn TV/XBOX/Computer time. I never really heard my kids tell me they were bored. If they weren't having fun, it wasn't my fault.

Samantha is excited to be in 5th grade. After years of waiting she finally was placed in the same class room as one of her best friends. The girls sit at the same table and implemented a system of passing notes so they won't get into trouble for talking. Samantha has a wonderful set of teachers. She is a busy girl these days. She is excelling at the piano and played a solo in sacrament meeting at the beginning of the summer.

As a fifth grader she is finally old enough to be in the school orchestra, so she is excited to join and play the violin. She has always loved dance so this year I put her back in ballet and she auditioned for the Nutcracker. It sounds like a lot but she has even more planned she wants to join the school choir again and try out for a school-problem-olving-math team. I am not sure her schedule will allow for so many extracurricular activities.

Jacob has the same teacher that Samantha had in 3rd grade. I was so excited to have him placed in her class, because she has a great way of teaching. I hope that Jacob will pick up on her love for learning. He has really started to find the joy in reading and has started the Harry Potter series.

He has been taking piano for the last year and has a talent, but hates to practice. He prides himself on his sight reading skills and sometimes passes off songs that he only played once or twice. He has been in Scouts since he turned eight. Luckily I am his Den Leader so I have been able to spend that time with him and his friends. Jacob made the observation that he is lucky because he is never late, one of the perks when your mom has the key to the building.

Jacob is as tall as Samantha. Walking into the school Joshua's teacher thought I had two sets of twins, and in the 3rd grade hall one of his own teachers assumed she had one of the twins in her class. I guess the twins are tall for their age too. Jacob brought home a picture that he drew of our family it was interesting to note that he actually drew himself just a little bit taller than Samantha.

Joshua and Matthew are entering the world of first grade. Last year they had classes right next to each other and saw each other frequently. This year they are lucky if they can find each other at recess and that is it. Joshua has a teacher that I don't know very well, but she has a great reputation. Of course she has red hair so she has to be great. Joshua likes school and is coming along with his reading. It has been fun to assign him to read Alex bedtime stories. He started piano lessons this summer and is getting better at practicing longer than 3 minutes. He likes to play the song "Hot Cross Buns" but not "Old McDonald."

This last month Joshua realized that if he does his jobs everyday he gets paid at the end of the week (we have had this system for years). This kid has money burning in his pocket. He was really sad yesterday when the ice-cream truck speed past our house yesterday without slowing down. Scott finally took him to the neighborhood donut shop this morning. We will have to work on his saving skills.

I don't know how we are so lucky, but I can honestly say we have never had a bad teacher. Matthews's teacher isn't going to disappoint. She is super organized with her behavior system and positive reinforcement. Matthew has enjoyed his first week of school. He is a little more fluent in reading than Joshua and made the comment the other day that he thought he was smarter. I guess it is time check out the twin books again and see how I can encourage them but not compare them. I told Matthew that since he likes reading better, he has had more practice that Josh. He agreed with me and accepted my response, but I don't know what I will say the next time. He also is taking piano lessons and was a champ the first week of school getting up early and being the first to practice.

This kid doesn't know what the word procrastination means. When he has something to do, he just does it. It is such a wonderful habit to have that I often try to reward him and encourage him to keep it up. He got special treats the first couple of days because he was the only one to put his backpack away. My mistake was randomly rewarding two days in a row because on the third day he wanted to know what his treat was.

ALEX

As I was passing out new clothes the night before, Alex wondered where his new clothes were... so I went to his closet and pulled down one of his new birthday outfit that he had forgotten about. I am glad he didn't feel left out. He he is sporting his new shirt.

Although Alex doesn't start school until the last week of October it doesn't seem right to leave him out. He has been missing the kids during the day and has resorted back to me as his primary source of entertainment. We have put lots of puzzles together, played Candy Land, and I have turned the TV on a little more than I did this summer.

He likes to be on the go, and was really disappointed one day when we returned home from our errands. He is going through a very emotional phase right now. It is his way or the high way. If he doesn't get his way, he will run away pouting and go hide. Thankfully he has a short term memory because when he does come back he acts as if nothing is wrong. He is no fun to shop with anymore because he sees things he wants now or has started putting things in the cart.

Today Alex decided to take a nap on one of the boy's beds. It was time for him to get up so I didn't hesitate to send the boys in there to get dressed for somewhere they had to be. Alex heard us leaving and panicked thinking he had been left home alone. He tried to chase us down but I didn't see him while I was backing up. He screamed and cried, Scott tried to call to him from the bathroom to let him know he was there with him but he was too upset and loud to hear. His crying turning into a coughing fit and then he threw up he was so upset. This poor boy really doesn't like to be left behind