Tuesday, August 30, 2011

School School School

It's seems like forever since my last post, but like most everyones our Summer flew by, and I just haven't been able to catch a breath until kids were back in school yesterday. I will have to do my Summer posts backwards starting from this one, and then back through our Summer adventures.
Avery started third grade yesterday. I can't believe that she is in third grade already. All day long while she was at school I was reminiscing about her past school experiences. Basically being that she has not ever really enjoyed going to school. It has been something that she has struggled with in the past because of anxiety, but not this year. She has come home the past two days saying that school is AWESOME! Wow, we have come a long way. Lets hope I didn't jinks myself. Did I ever mention that my parents had a hard time getting me to go to school? Boy does my mom have some embarrassing stories she could tell you about me.

As for Abbie, she started 5th grade yesterday. She has always enjoyed school and is more of our social kid. Friends are starting to become more and more important to her as she is getting older. Luckily we love the friends she is choosing. I was a little nervous about her only because they do departmentalization for fifth graders which means she has five classes, plus specialty teachers. With sixth grade being middle school here they are preparing them for switching classes. I knew she would be fine, but maybe it was more that I don't want her to grow up so fast. She came home yesterday with a good attitude about it and even mentioned that she thought the day went a lot faster when she is rotating from class to class. Overall I think our girls are feeling more and more comfortable with their school, and I can tell it's going to be a great year.

Our school time changed this year to an earlier schedule which I think we are going to love. They have to be at the school at 7:45ish, but I have them home by 2:30. It's an early morning, but I feel like we have more time after school to have some down/play time. Last year they weren't getting home until 4:00 which didn't leave much time to play. By the time we did homework it was time to make dinner and get ready for bed. I have been impressed that both our girls have been up and ready well in advance of having to leave for school. Let's hope that keeps up for the whole school year.

This is how excited they were about school. It's been so nice to have everyone so happy. Aliza starts school next week and she is very disappointed she can't be there all day, so that shouldn't be a problem to get her to go to school. She is asking me everyday when it will be her turn to go to school. They are growing up way too fast.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Timpanogos Half Marathon

I needed to post my great accomplishment this Summer. Below is a picture of my good friends Wendy and Janae from my ward who talked me into running this half-marathon with them. I never thought I would be one to do it, but it was a blast. We prepared for months for this day, even getting up at 4 a.m. some mornings to beat the Vegas heat. Through all of it I got to know these ladies really well, and I really looked forward to our morning work outs together.

This is us at 3:30 in the morning ready to catch the bus up American Fork Canyon. It was pitch black all up the canyon, and the sun just started to come up as we started the race. It was so beautiful all the way down the mountain, and the sound of the creek running alongside the road made it even more wonderful. I loved that all three of us stuck together the entire way. We started together and finished together which really helped me keep going. Crossing that finish line was such an accomplishment for me, and I'm so grateful that I was able to do it.