Back to School 2020/2021

I didn’t do a good job of taking the first day of school pictures, we didn’t really have an official first day of to start- but I would say it was after  Labor Day we “started” school... and since then we’ve been doing more and more each day and the kids are pretty good about getting all of their work completed. Some days are better than others, but I’m okay with what we do and the ability and freedom of our time and how we do things together- lots and lots of learning time together.

So here is my attempt at taking pictures of the kids at the start of the school year late Sept/Oct 2020

#FirstDayofSchoolPictures

Handsome Connor 5th grade

Beautiful Brielle 3rd grade

Can do it Cannon Kindergarten 

Muscle man Cael 11th grade

GQ Lookin’ Brecon 7th

 

Drivers license for real?

After waiting for 2 hours at the DMV Cael turned in his paperwork and is now a provisional driver for the next six months.  He can drive solo or with his siblings... this is going to be so great to have another driver to take the kiddos to practice and games— hooray!!

* Except on the first night that Cael took all the boys to soccer practice he forgot his wallet back here at the house with his ID to get back on post, so we still had to go drop that off at the gate! He is still learning and still finding a way to “ruin” my peaceful evenings... jk.

Part of the story begins when Cael took his drivers test and failed the first time after he almost hit a pedestrian in the DMV parking lot. It was at the end of the test and the parking lot really can get congested and people pop out of their cars... so bad luck for Cael. I had really gotten after him in the morning for dressing nicely and combing his hair for his test... which he ignored... so it seemed to me he deserved the little slice of humble pie when he did fail  😂

But seriously how did my baby boy get so big and like a man?!? He’s smart, funny, and tries to do the right thing. Cael really is a fun sport and playful— we have a great time together with him.

Cael Sweet 16 Happy!

What can I say about this kid? He’s fun to be around, always the life of the party, and find ways to bring lots of people together and have fun! 

Cael has a job this summer working landscaping maintenance and upkeep on some apartments in town. He is also helping friends mow lawns as a side business— which is really nice that he is working and busy. So after a full day of work- plus some tennis with friends- we picked him up to have a little party in the backyard with our friend the Aiton’s and the Bangerter’s. 

We had mandarin orange Cake and vanilla ice cream, and long spanking machine, and a reverse piñata (Cael swung the piñata while the kids stood around in a circle into hit it) Thankfully no one was hurt and the candy flew out when it broke on its own.

First day of school 2019

It’s always a little tricky moving and making sure everyone is ready for their first day of school. This year felt a little more difficult moving out of the hotel and into the Hulls house (a missionary couple that has their house available for people who need it while they are away)— driving the kids to school and then picking them up at the end of the day. We did this for about a week before we would move into our empty house on the base, where we will have a bus to complete that task for the elementary kids.

Cael- 10th grade at Lathrop High School

Brecon- 6th grade at Ladd Elementary

Connor- 4th grade

Brielle- 2nd grade

End of school 2019

Brecons 5th Grade graduation- A fun program put on by the teachers and staff for the graduates-- even though Brecon will be back in elementary school when we move to Alaska! They had a few speakers, a hula group performance, and Brecon (with a few other students) played their ukulele for the school song. When they finished the song, Brecon had the biggest smile on his face, looked at our neighbor Sam Wiggins and then put his arm around him in a cool side hug "way to go- bro" way!
At the end of the program, the entire 5th grade danced to "Best Day of my Life" with motions, jumping and clapping! They looked like they were having fun, and it was so fun to watch them all. I thought Brecon looked the best- but I'm his mom so of course I would think that! I know that Brecon's teacher Mrs. Doster was a big influence for learning for him. I'm glad that I was able to reach out and help chaperone field trips for her class-- even if I was late sometimes-- oops! They were a pretty great group of kids!

WHAT A GOOD LOOKIN' KID-WAY TO GO BRECON!

Brielle's 1st grade teacher Ms. Kinsey pose for the end of school picture. The class party refreshments were heavy on sugar and carbs-- which is okay once and a while. I'm happy to say that Brielle did NOT finish her plate... I mean... that is just too much! Brielle thought her teacher was nice (and she was not married) which was something she would always tell me "Ms. Kinsey is not married." When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, Brielle would say "I want to be a teacher like Ms. Kinsey. I don't want to be married and I want a dog."

Connor and his teacher Mrs. Distefano. A kind and loving lady who had class projects for the English, Science, and social studies. Connor had to research an influential person, memorize the story and recite it back for a living history museum. He chose Walt Disney and it was interesting to learn more about this innovator and his creative imagination. "If you can dream it, then you can do it" --Walt Disney

CAEL FINISHED HIS FRESHMAN YEAR AT LEILEHUA

What a busy year for this kid. Out the door at 6:05 for early morning seminary, school all day, and then an extracurricular sport for every season, usually getting home around 7:30 at night. Cross Country, soccer, and then Judo. It was sometimes a crazy schedule trying to get him everywhere he needed to be, but we also were glad that he was involved with his school and still had a 4.0 GPA. Way to go CAEL!

LAIE TEMPLE TRIP
What a good looking group of youth doing the good work at the temple. I'm always glad to send them off to this activity, and Brother Asato makes sure that everyone gets a full tummy when they are all finished. Loco Moco or hot cakes... he is a good man to provide the food for these hungry teenagers on an early Saturday morning.

CUB SCOUTS RAINGUTTER REGATTA- Connor
Even though we had weeks to prepare a boat for the cub scout race- with everything going on and getting ready to move, this task had become last on the totem pole. About 30 minutes before we are supposed to leave for this activity, I yell "YOUR BOAT!" and we got to work on it right away. A quick spray paint job and hot glue gun for the sail really did the trick for our quick put together job- and surprisingly Connor won each of his races to get the 1st place ribbon. What a funny night!

Bro and Sis Rigby (and Leia) are stalwart cub leaders. They were always there to help their boys and I know that Connor sure loved having a cute baby in class ("she's so cute, mom")

Birthday boy Cael

Family Pictures November 2015