Back to School

The new school year has officially started!  Kylie is in pre-school, Natalie is in 4th grade in the G.A.T.E. program, Stephen started his first semester at Woodland, and I am officially in my sophomore year at Delta. The girls are both taking dance and my Relay year as Event Chair has started.  We have hit the floor running let me tell you! I have classes in Stockton on Tuesdays and Thursdays so Kylie goes to a pre-school at a friend's home, taught by a licensed teacher.  She loves it and is learning to sit still and trace letters while saying the sounds. Thankfully, I only have one class on campus.  My other two are online. Natalie really likes her school and has made friends fast.  She is very excited about the subjects and higher level of learning.

Dance has been interesting.  Kylie's class doesn't require me to be right next to her like her gymnastic classes did so she doesn't really do anything but watch the other kids.  It's funny and embarrassing all at the same time.  She sure is cute though!

Yes, she is the one huddled on the floor.

Relay is trucking right along.  I have the unique charge of moving Tracy's Relay from the site they have been at since the conception about 12 years ago.  The challenges this brings is a great learning experience for me.  My committee consists of roughly 35 people.  There are many key positions that still haven't been filled but I'm determined to not feel overwhelmed. 

Since this summer, I have been called to be the Primary Chorister at church.  I love relearning the songs and finding fun ways to get the kids to sing.  We have done two performances this summer and our big one in October is quickly approaching.  I'm really looking forward to putting something special together for the Christmas performance too.  I love music and teaching kids (as long as they aren't my own).  This Sunday, tomorrow, I'm playing the piano for a solo vocalist piece during church.  I really enjoy the pressure that performing puts on me to really learn a piece and share the passion and love the music brings to my heart. 

I have to say that with all these things going on, I find myself VERY distracted.  Karl is so thoughtful and typically picks out new books for me on gift giving occasions.  For my birthday he gave me two books.  Well, I finally opened them and found myself hooked.  When I get my hands on a book, I just can't seem to put it down!  This last week I read the last of the two books, only to find that it is the first of a four book series.  Well, this wouldn't be so bad except the book was over 700 hundred pages!  It was one of the most interesting books I've read in a long time. Sadly, Kylie and my homework felt the affects of my obsession and I've told Karl that he has to give me books no more than 300 hundred pages so I can read them in a day or two instead.

Flower Girls

Natalie was invited to be a flower girl at a wedding reception at the church last weekend.  About 6 girls her age were put in charge of greeting the guests, passing out favors, and having them sign in.  The girls were so cute running around, taking their jobs so seriously and joyously.  The reception was so pretty!

Kylie LOVED wearing a beautiful dress just like Natalie.  When the bride walked in the room she pointed and said, "Look! It's a princess!" Then she was swept away with the emotion of the evening and kept giving Karl sweet looks and kisses.  When the dancing started, she pulled Karl onto the floor and proceeded to dance for the next hour until we dragged her home and to bed.  Natalie and her friends danced too though they were hard pressed to find dance partners.  I did my best to invite the young men but only one or two would dance and then they would only do so with one girl!  They took it well, dancing with adults or each other but it was interesting to see what dances will be like in the future for them.  Karl had fun dancing with the girls and everyone loved seeing Kylie twirling and twirling around the floor.

Natalie's Journey

At the end of last school year, I got a crazy idea.  I wanted to instill in Natalie that she had a future, one that was more than just of places that she didn't really understand, but one that she was familiar with so that she would, hopefully, feel confident and comfortable with it.  I wanted her to get to know what some of her options were and how to make choices now that would influence her chances of getting to those places. 

We started out by going to the middle school she will most likely attend. We told about the size and amount of kids at the school, as well as the new opportunities and challenges she will face there.

Then, I took her to a high school that is put of a charter school. Last month we had toured a typical high school, so she was able to see the difference in size and we talked about the pros and cons of going to each one. We also discussed how the choices she made in middle school will affect the options she will have in high school. She said she thought going to a small high school might be best but that she is definitely interested in taking up tennis as a school sport if she can.

Next, we took a road trip, and picked up my dad, in San Jose. We went to San Jose State to see how it compared to the high school. We noted the distance from home as well as the size and age of the people. She commented that the people at college were adults. The amount of buildings was a bit overwhelming and it felt like it's own city. We stopped at a nearby pizza pallor for lunch.

Finally, we went back to my dad's work, and he showed us his trucking company and the different kind of jobs and described the kind of skill sets needed for them. She and I talked about how the jobs that required college degrees were in pleasant environments. It was definitely a lot to take in. The main message she got was that college was where people learned how to do something professionally so they could live comfortably.

On the way home, we wanted to stop at the temple in Oakland, but it was too late in the day. We decided to go to the temple on a separate day but talked about why and when people go to that temple. She said going on a mission sounded great! What was super cute was when Kylie heard we were headed to the temple and she got so excited. Her favorite song right now is "I Love to See the Temple". We are going to have to go there soon!

Both girls fell asleep on the way home. I was exhausted too. I hope to take Natalie back to those places are at least, to see places where her future could take her so that she knows where she is going and doesn't just hear the words - college, mission, temple, or even high school - and ever wonder what they mean or to be scared of what they are. I love sharing things with Natalie so that she can be prepared and grow into a strong woman.

Happy Birthday to Karl!

Karl tried to have a simple, laid back birthday, but I just couldn't help myself.  He asked for a real Mexican meal with homemade salsa, guacamole and tacos.  I went all out and cooked ALL day!  I made shredded chicken tacos, rice from starch, an amazing amount of guacamole, homemade salsa and pico de gallo, and refried beans and corn tortias.  For dessert he requested a "wedding" cake.  So I make a two layer cake with strawberries in the middle and butter cream frosting on the outside.  He was blown away.  It all turned out really good, except the rice, I didn't care for the recipe too much.  The girls made him cards and he got to open his presents. Later, he requested my professional massage techniques for his feet, hands, and face.  He is so fun to spoil!

Stephen Moving Out

Stephen made it happen!  He packed up his things and moved to Davis to start college next week.  We miss him already!  Even though he was hardly here, now we have an empty room to fill and have to learn to except that he is on his own.  We are so proud of him!

Summer photos

Here are some silly photos of the girls playing around the house.

Natalie made this hat and they both like wearing it.

Isn't she cute?!

Kylie is painting a coffin that laughs when you open it.  Creepy, but she says it is a monkey!

Happy Birthday to Me!

I got the crazy idea this year to throw myself the kind of party I keep dreaming about.  One with just my closest girl friends, playing my favorite games, where I get to choose the food and decorate to my heart's content.  Karl was amazingly supportive with my crazy ideas.  Sadly, most of my friends weren't able to make it but I still had fun, especially setting up and cleaning up - my favorite parts!

You can see that I covered the ceiling with about 500 balloons.
This was the night after the party so some started falling.
We also moved out most of the furniture from the two rooms to fit the tables.

Jennie, Chrissy, Leah, and I playing Sequence.

Deana helping to get everything ready.

The girls hiding and playing in the balloons the morning after the party.

Kylie LOVED it!