Back to School

I can't believe our summer is over! It flew by so fast. I really love when my kids are home. It's louder and messier and harder sometimes, but it really makes me happy when my boys are with each other.

Bennett started Kindergarten this week and Westin started Second Grade. They were both really excited to go. I kept asking Bennett about starting school during the days/weeks leading up to it. I think he could tell he was supposed to have some iffy feelings about it or something because one time he said, "I am a little nervous to start Kindergarten I think." And I when I asked him what he was nervous about, he said, "What if... a hippo gets out of the zoo, and gets in my classroom?" So I told him he probably doesn't need to be nervous about that :) But, just, get under a desk I guess. (He wanted an answer.)

He has the same teacher Westin had. He was so brave his first day, and he didn't even seem overly tired after his school days like I thought he would. He seems to be having fun and I am just so proud of that cute boy.

Westin was beaming after his first day. He loved it, and said his teacher is so funny, and he loved having recess with the whole second grade because he played with some friends from last year who aren't in his class this year. He loves school so much. He listens to everything we say and soaks up ALL the things. Like today, we had a couple over from our previous ward before our boundaries changed. They're older and super sweet. They were telling us a story that was a little bit above the boys' heads and something I'd prefer to not explain to them yet (just a funny story from a trip they took to Las Vegas this summer), and I told Westin and Bennett to go play with the football since they were done eating. Westin leaned over to me and said, "I am not going to go play. I am going to listen to this." I was laughing inside so much. It was this moment of him knowing I wanted him to not listen and to just go play, and him knowing that he absolutely was going to stay right there and listen to what the adults were talking about. He's getting to be so big.

We had a dumb situation with some kids from a neighboring neighborhood who taught Westin a swear word this week. I was so proud of how he handled it. He came right in and said, those kids told me a word I've never heard before. What's ****? I just explained to him how it's worse than even the bad words we tell him he's not allowed to say, like stupid and jerk, and that if he said it at school he'd get in big trouble. That's more than enough for him. Then I marched outside and saw the kids still playing on our street and went into full mom mode on them. They will definitely not be swearing in front of my kids again, I feel pretty confident about that... Mom mode comes on fast and strong. It's hard to share kids with the world -- that's how I felt sending Bennett to Kindergarten and teaching Westin about dumb words and choices this week. I wish I could just keep them with me in a bubble together but at the same time I know that's not what they're here for, and helping them navigate this world is an important job.

Camden was a little bummed when his brothers weren't at home with us their first day of school. After 10 minutes he asked me if it was time to go pick them up. But then after about 20 minutes of playing with him with full attention and just following his lead, which is a long time to follow a three-year-old's lead and about my max..., he was having so much fun and I could tell he saw the benefits of more mom attention pretty fast. He has such a cute and funny imagination and such a goofy, happy personality. 

Asher is still an angel. Two little teeth! Sits up so well but doesn't crawl or scoot. He rolls around if he's in his sleep sack but doesn't really roll if he's not. He LOVES his brothers. We went on a date night with the Dimonds and the Rushes on Saturday, and I put Asher down at 6:30 before we left and he slept until 5 minutes after we got home at 10:30, then I fed him and he slept until 6:30. I love that schedule so much. That one feed a night is my favorite time right now. Oh that sweet boy, I don't know how I'm going to be able to let him turn 1.

Michael had a quiet call week which always feels so lucky! He got a new backpacking tent and set it up in our living room this week and the boys thought that was the best thing. He took Westin and Bennett to play baseball today at the park and they just loved that. Westin is so into sports right now. We haven't found a sport that Bennett is very into yet, and maybe there isn't one and that's ok, but we're trying to figure out what he loves in life besides dinosaurs, and his mom, and chocolate chip cookies :) But honestly, those three things keep him super happy right now.

My favorite things right now are writing assignments for my job that still feels really new and happy, planning my next book with Kindal, doing crosswords at night with Michael that my dad collects from Cedar City newspapers and my mom mails to us (usually while eating a treat), walking while Camden cruises on his balance bike, catching up with friends, and checking a workout off my list each day because it just always feels so hard to get that done right now. Postpartum life after number four has not been like postpartum life after one, two, and three, but I'll just keep on keepin' on.

That was a lot. This week just seemed like a lot. August marks time passing and it kind of broke my heart to see all my friend's posts this week of first days of school and kids one year older. I just feel like I am feeling more and more all the time how true it is when people stop to tell me that this all goes by fast. The beginning really did crawl. But I see it now. These boys are growing faster all the time, and I'm not wishing any stages away.

My biggest baby and littlest baby. They have a sweet bond.

Didn't even mean to match them all but they thought it was pretty cool

Our little morning devotional before the FIRST DAY of SCHOOL!
Such an exciting time. First days of school were so much fun and so exciting for me growing up,
I had so much fun seeing them look forward to going back.

This cute kid!

How is this possible.

Our school walk crew!
Give me four boys over a pregnant body any day.
We're going to do just fine this year.

He's off... my heart.

This kid. I don't know how to share him with the world but I don't have a choice.

We have a comedian that lives near us, Dude Dad, and this is how he picked his kids up from school the first day. The kids thought it was so hilarious.

I was so excited to pick them up and hear their stories after their first day!

Westin totally loved Second Grade day 1.

Camden is so speedy on his bike. Our walks are so much better this year.
Me: not pregnant.
Camden: on wheels.
We move so much faster.

We got to keep Bennett with us Wednesday because Kindergarten had a staggered start -- half the class started Tuesday and the other half on Wednesday, so they could all get a feel for things, and then they were all together on Thursday.

He eats nothing.
No food, no bottles. Just mom. But he's chunky and happy and eventually he'll like food. Right?

Creative, sweet Bennett.

Asher has started deconstructing things and it buys some time here and there to get things done.

Best news ever.
Reese's footballs.
Which are really just Reeses's eggs, called Reese's footballs.
And Reese's eggs are the yummiest shape. So now I get a fall fix!

Just these two at home now during our days!

I can't believe I'm nearing the end of nursing four boys.
Though Asher not into food or bottles, so, not quite the end.
But it's coming.

I love slow mornings.

Westin in his second grade scene!

The baby scene at a birthday party this weekend

The boys loved this sandbox area