Gratefully Twitterpated: September Beginnings

Back to School

September brought in a new school year with some big changes. Chad turned 13 (a real official teenager) and started 7th grade at Chase Middle School. He has been so excited for middle school!!! The only nervous one is me - the mom.

Chad's schedule:
1) Literary Strategies (Mrs. Goeller)
2) Advanced English (Mr. Zachary)
3) Geography (Mr. Grimmer)
4) Science (Mr. Moore)
5) Advanced Orchestra (Mrs. Smith)
6) Advanced Math (Ms. McConnell)

So far he has all A's and is enjoying his classes and teachers.

He tried out for Jazz Band and had to attend 2 weeks of early morning practices only to find out he didn't make the cut. It is just as well - as he is plenty busy. He had a great attitude about it and will try out again later in the year.

Chad was psyched for cross country. He has always played football in the fall and we were looking forward to seeing him play tackle again this year. Chad had other plans. He got really into running (like really, really!). He ran all summer with his dad and even tackled a few High School cross-country workouts (beating some freshman).

His middle school cross-country experience has kept him really busy. They practice every day from 3:30-5:15pm and they have two meets a week (every Tuesday and Thursday). So far he has done very well and is loving it and staying tough.

Chad also added Bass lessons to his (and my) agenda. He meets with Stephen Swanson, a member of the Spokane Symphony, for half hour lessons each week. (The lessons are pretty pricey! I'm just so glad I got some new piano students this year. I can now afford both Halle's gymnastics and Chad's bass lessons.) He is still trying to do piano - but sometimes there just isn't enough time to get everything done.

Chad is now a 1st Class Scout. He took a STEM merit badge course this month for Astronomy, Space Exploration, Weather, and Electronics. We are working like crazy to get these all done (along with cooking, physical fitness, and family life) before the next class in November. He really wants to get his Star Scout by December of this year.

Chad ready for his first day of 7th grade.


Sean giving Chad a good luck hug.

Halle is now at the top of the totem pole at Adams being a 6th grader this year. She got the teacher she wanted (Mrs. Shogan, who Chad had last year, and helps out with running at Ferris) and lots of her friends are also in her class. I thought she would have a great start to her year - no nervousness. But Halle was terribly nervous! Not for 6th grade - she is already thinking about Middle School - silly girl. As usual, Halle is doing great and always on top of her homework and all her other activities.

Halle is also doing cross country at Adams (with a little nudge from mom and dad). She is a great runner and fun to watch. She already qualified for the All City Meet in a few weeks. She is also continuing with her love of gymnastics (still on the Springer's Team). She is a fantastic pianist and is still playing the clarinet at school.

Halle has a few more months of Activity Days. I can hardly believe that she will perform in her last primary program this year and move onto Young Women's and girl's camp.

Halle ready for her 6th grade debut. (Front and back view)

Sean is a huge 4th grader this year. It is still so hard for me to believe how old Sean is getting. He will still always be my baby though! Sean's teacher this year is Mrs. Nye (who Halle had in 3rd grade). I thought we had bypassed her - but she moved up to 4th grade this year. We are missing some fantastic teachers from Adams this year. (Mrs. Jacobson, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Weigle.)

Mrs Nye is a great teacher - but also very strict. I've already had two phone calls from her regarding Sean this year. This will be good for Sean though as he really needs to become more focused and learn how to obey all the rules.

Sean is doing another year of flag football. He really seems to like playing the game and knows how to play his positions. His coach is Jesse Starr - who is really awesome. Sean is also doing cross-country at school (and only because mom bribed him with Gatorade). He is doing okay but hasn't really learned how to work hard yet. At his first meet he had a couple of problems - at the start someone stepped on him and made his shoe come off - and at the end of the race he got pushed into another lane. I was proud of him overcoming these difficulties and finishing the race like a champ.

Sean is a Bear in cubs scouts and loves going. His great den leaders are Carson Dippo and Kris Johnson. (Now that I am dealing with Scouts, Cub Scouts seems so easy!!!! )

Sean is also still playing the piano. He gets to go on a field trip to the symphony soon. He is thinking he wants to play the cello next year.

Brothers.


Sean so ready to conquer 4th grade.

Sean and his mustache shirt.

Sean and Halle ready for Adams 2013-2014.

Chris also had some changes this school year. He got a great teaching schedule - teaching geometry and pre-calc - his favorites. He will also be team teaching - something he hasn't done before. Chris was also ecstatic because he was hired on as the Boys Cross-Country Assistant Coach at Ferris this year. Chris hasn't had the opportunity to coach cross-country since we moved here. He sure missed coaching and is really loving being involved this year.

Chris' back to school picture.

I started out the school year with donating 13 inches of hair to Locks of Love. I love having long hair - but it is so thin that the longer it gets the not so good it looks.

I was also just so excited to start out the year without any major injuries (unlike last year when I had a broken ankle to deal with). I'm still very fatigued and having health issues - but I am managing. I need to find a new doctor as my previous doctor moved away.

I am still teaching piano (my 6th year) although with all the crazy schedules going on it has been hard to fit all my students in. I still have one student waiting to start at the end of October. I fill blessed that I have a way to earn the extra money that we need. I love teaching piano. But with that said - I still want to find a day job so that when I am home during the afternoon/early evenings, I can be with my kids and be able to go to all their activities!

My hair - right before I got it cut.

Since I am so far behind on blogging I am going to try to catch up a few years at a time. Here are my back to school pictures from 2011 and 2012 that I never posted.


Sean ready for 2nd Grade - Ms. Kinzer

Halle ready for 4th Grade - Mrs. Weigle

Chad ready for 5th Grade - Mrs. Krantz

My kiddos ready for school 2011-2012!

Sean engaged and happy in his classroom.

Halle happy to be back at school.

Chad giving mom the stare.

In 2012 I had a broken ankle and couldn't get around very good. This was the first year I didn't take the pictures outside or take pictures of them once they got to school. I also didn't walk down to the bus stop with them. It was very strange.

Sean ready for 3rd Grade - Mrs. Smith

Halle ready for 5th Grade - Ms. Olson

The last time they all go to the same school.

Chad so ready for 6th Grade! Mrs. Shogan and Mrs. Duchsene.

Cross-Country

It is cross-country season and I am loving it. Everybody is involved. Chris is helping out with the Ferris boy's team. Chad is running at Chase, Halle and Sean are running at Adams, and I get to be everybody's taxi and cheerleader (which also involves running around and getting pictures).

Chad loves running! He has really been focused and worked hard this season. His coach has been pretty impressed with him. Chad's mile PR from the spring was 6:19. Chad's first cross-country race at Mountain Side Middle School gave him a new PR of 6:01. (Way to go Chad!). He had been hoping that his time was 5:58 or 5:59 because that is what he saw on the big timer as he crossed the finish line - but he should be proud of what he has already accomplished. He took 21st over all (out of at least 160-200 kids) and was the 5th place finisher for Chase.

Chad is all ready for his first cross-country race.

Feeling pretty good! 21st place.

Halle and Sean had their first meet of the season. As usual, it was held at Mullan Road Elementary. And as usual, it started late. It was also a little chaotic as they ran all the races in grade order and ran them fairly close together. The result being that many kids didn't do enough laps or too many because it was hard to tell who needed to do what.

It has been a cold fall - it is like winter decided to come early. Halle and Sean got to deal with cold and wet weather. I'm glad my kids are running and look forward to their next race.

Sean at the starting line.

Sean running the whole time!

A race all the way to the end.


Way to go Sean!

Halle at the starting line.

Halle lapping the boys and taking the lead.

Halle coming in with a strong finish.

Way to go Halle!

Halle playing a game of "concentration" while waiting.

Sean - clueless that mom is watching him.

Sean took 31st place with a time of 9:13. Halle took 5th place with a time of 7:30. So proud of them both for putting in the effort and finishing strong - no matter the obstacle.

Football

Sean is playing flag football again this year. He gets to be an Oklahoma Cowboy (black and orange). He has a terrific coach, Jesse Starr, who really helps the team members learn the game, pushes them and is still so totally positive. It has been a great experience for Sean and keeps him active. So far Sean has grabbed the flags of the ball carrier a couple of times.

Game #1: Cowboys verses Ducks