First day of school

I took some pictures of the boys for Craig. Craig is working in Kansas for a bit. 

Boaz is starting in fifth grade. This is his last year in elementary school. He is getting so big. 

He loves this shirt. A good find at Walmart. 

The bright socks make him happy, and they almost match. 

Josh posed in protest. 

Not a happy face. But making a statement wearing his Flash shirt. 

I caught a smile. 

Laughing as I continued to snap pictures. 

Josh is a Freshman in High School. That freaks me out a bit. I remember high school. It was fun, but I remember lots of kids going off the deep end.  But Josh is enrolled in seminary. He has great young men's leaders. We read scriptures every morning (almost). I am refocusing on Family Home Evening. Summer always messes with my routine. And he is a good boy. He has good friends. And I talk and listen. He talks and sometimes listens. 

We'll make it through high school. 

I give myself this pep talk often. 

Last Week of School

I worked at Boaz's school for the last week of school. That meant I got to take Boaz to school every day that last week. I was in the room just across the room from Boaz's class. 

Two of the four days were pure party days. Wednesday we went to water park. I had to run heard on 17 fifth graders. I was a bit nervous making sure I had all students present and accounted for. I watched Boaz go around and around the lazy river.  I got in for one turn around.  I didn't get the camera out. I don't know why I do that. 

The next day the fifth graders took the whole school through a track day. The school was raising money for cancer survivors. One of the students, and a member of our ward family is a second grader who is fighting cancer. He was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of melanoma. He is in good shape right now. His six month check up was good. We are all praying for him for his next check up. I was out in the morning and then gave up my place to the other teachers. I hung out with the other fifth grade teacher. We finished outside with the students as they ran the victory lap and Popsicles. The students raised over $170.00 just by bringing in change. 

The last day was filled with a huge assembly. Boaz received an award for being a junior librarian. Usually the fifth graders get the recognition, but because we are moving and won't be back next year, they gave him the certificate as a fourth grader. 

Our school librarian got super sick back in February. Nobody knew what was wrong. She saw every doctor they could think of in South East Idaho and finally about six weeks ago went to Salt Lake City to the University of Utah Hospital. She was diagnosed with a very rare migraine that caused nuerological issues. She is having to learn to walk again. She came the last day of school. She was usung a walker. She kept her sun glasses on, I don't know if she has a light sensitivity. She was very active and heath conscious. It is crazy the health issues that our little community has had this year. 

Boaz is happy to be done with his fourth grade year. I am happy to be done also. 

I am also grateful for my healthy boys. 

I missed any pictures of Josh on the last day. 

Grandparents day

Dawn went to school with Boaz. A happy day.

He just brought the picture home.

Checking out BYUI and Bear World

I have never been to Ricks College or the newer version of ByUI.

Thea has been thinking about it, and so we headed north to look at the campus. Thea's cousin, Jake, works there so we met up with him and got a personal tour.

Jake works with purchasing the equipment for the media department. We got a cool view of the behind the scenes ai the I Center.

Such a fun day. I miss school.

Craig is a bit jealous that he wasn't able to go.

On the way home, we stopped at Bear World. Just a few pics of the many bears.

A black bear sitting by the road eating some bread.

I was a bit worried about the bears that were active. I've heard that they can rip the door handles off cars. He didn't get close enough, but I was watching him.

This guy was siting at the gate to say good-bye.

Catching the bus

I walk Boaz to the bus every morning. His school is five miles away. We are on the southern border of the boundary. Just a block or two the further souh, and into a different stake - or across the railroad tracks and in the other half of our ward, we would be in the boundaries of the closest school. The school where I used to work and now substitute at.

We rarely miss the bus. I don't want to drive out there in the morning.

Josh's school is just down the road. Last year he had his trombone or tuba every day. His dad got in the habit of taking him to school on his way to work.

Josh has really enjoyed that privilege.

Now Craig is in North Dakota. Sometimes I have to be at work before Josh's school is even open. And let's face it, I am always in a rush on those mornings. The extra fifteen minutes to drop Josh off don't really fit in my routine.

He has had to catch the bus a few times. I tell him he has to text me that he's made it.

Monday was the first day back to school after a long weekend. He had brought the tuba home to practice. That was the intent. I don't think he ever did. He is using his safe time at school to practice this year. I had a job where I had to leave early. He was not happy. He had to catch the bus carting the tuba and it is a monster.

I left for work after giving him clear instructions to text me when he got to school.

I got a text five minutes before the bell rang that he had missed the bus. He didn't plan enough time for the tuba and he had lugged the thing the two blocks only to watch the bus drive away with out him.

What could I do?

I couldn't leave my job and take him myself.

The tuba's case is broken and he couldn't really walk the mile with the monster.

I called my good friend and asked her for a huge favor. She said no big deal and Josh made it to school.

I told him that if he missed again, he would have to walk, and to leave the tuba at school and practice there.

Today, I am not working and I took him to school.

I told him he is spoiled.

Smarty pants

Thursday in History, the teacher passed out a study guide for the test on Friday.

Josh read through the guide, felt he was good and pulled out his book.

The teacher, a bit perturbed, called Josh on the wasted time. Josh told the teacher he was ready for the test.

The teacher replied that if Josh missed any questions Josh would owe him a candy bar.

Done! Josh replied full of the cocky confidence of a teenager.

The teacher relented and allowed one missed question.

Josh went back to his book. (I have introduced him to Belgarath, Polgara and Garion - some of my favorite characters and they were on the brink of saving the world.) 

Fast forward to Friday. Josh was grinning from ear to ear as he turned his test in - 100 0/0.

The teacher said, "Dang it, I was really looking forward to that candy bar."

"Can I have a candy bar?" 

"No, that was not part of the bet, I'm a bit surprised it wasn't, but it wasn't."

So Josh is thinking he might have another chance at some candy next test.

I'm thinking it is a good thing he is so cute or he would end up on the poor teacher's black list.

Substituting

So at the end of the school year, last year, we were audited by the state. We received several dings. One of them resulted in my position being cut.

So, this year, I am a substitute. I've been in the class room three times. It's been a slow start, but it is just the beginning of the year. I have also been subbing for lunch duty. That is only two hours a day. It barely makes any sense to do it. But hopefully I will be working in the class room more.

I miss my friends. Friday, I am meeting my friend that I used to work with. I miss talking to her.

I turned in an application for the Charter schools. I said I would be available for middle school. I have no experience with them. I hope they call and it goes well. It is a bit difficult to not know a schedule or have any idea what days I will be working or have any idea about money until the month is over.

Hard to plan.

It feels a bit weird being at my old school and not really belonging.

But I do like seeing the kids again.

geography project

Josh has had to do a project for Geography each trimester. This tri he decided to do a diorama.

The pyramids are not to scale, but he has learned a bit of geometry as well. His Sphinx is over large, but I think it is very cool. We found some cool textured spray paint and wa laa.

I love it. He thinks it is cool, which is way more important.