A Fall Walk

Every fall our family enjoys going into either Big or Little Cottonwood Canyon and enjoying the fall colors. The chldren love to find leaves, turn over rocks, explore, and throw sticks and rocks into the clear stream. I enjoy seeing my family happy, feeling the cool, crisp air, and clearing my mind. I think I'm the happiest when I'm in nature with my family. I'm thankful I live in an area of the country where the beautiful mountains are so close to home.

My husband

is seriously handsome! I feel so grateful that I am married to a wonderful person who loves me and his children and who is easy to look at, too!

So far a successful soccer season. . .

Last soccer season was quite interesting with Will. Visions of him crawling out onto the field, scoping out "contrails" in the sky, throwing grass at the coach's wife all stand out as the epitome of his interest for playing soccer. Contrast that to this year! He is so excited for practice and games. He has scored two goals (one was in the other team's goal, but still, he is making contact with the ball)! He has also shown great sportsmanship. I loved how at the last game he was yelling across the parking lot to the other players, "Good game!" He's such a sweet kid!

Abby is doing great, too. I love hearing her cheer her team on. She's also had four shots on goal, but three have narrowly missed and one was deflected off the other team's coach's leg. I'm proud of her hustle on the field. She's such a fun girl!

School Carnival

Abby and Will's school just had a carnival last Friday, and boy, did they have fun! It was tons of fun to see people we knew and to see our children have fun with their friends. It was, of course, difficult to keep track of Will, but who could blame him? With unlimited rides on the bounce houses, a cake walk, snow cones, hair spraying, games, and much more he was in HEAVEN. The kids came home tired, dirty, and happy. They slept very well that night!

Raytheon-Sarcos Work Party

About a week and a half ago, our family attended a work picnic with Eric. The highlights: watching Will run around with a balloon concoction on his head, Abby getting her hair brushed with a toilet scrubber by the comedian/juggler (after she yelled, "Eeewww!" when he said he would juggle it and a toilet plunger), watching the kids play on the nearby playground, and having our family win three different raffles! One of the awesome wins was when Will picked the dvd "Harry and the Hendersons." Sweetness. Winning the dvd was almost as fun as watching Abby get her hair scrubbed with the unused toilet scrubber. (She did not realize it was unused, though!)

Can anyone relate?

Lock down the school! Will's in kindergarten!

So I've been totally fine with Will going to kindergarten. Maybe it's because I've been so preoccupied with getting Abby adjusted to first grade. Even though I've been fine for him and me, I've worried about his little inquisitive mind and restless energy and how that will all play out at school with a cute, young teacher! Does she have locks on her doors? But after today's experience, I'm all for Will showing his true self. You see after taking some time to calm Will, giving him a lot of reassurance, and getting him settled on the rug in his class I said my good-bye and walked to the attached mud room to watch how he would do for a couple of minutes. I wanted to be sure he was okay. When it was his turn to go to the front, get a name tag, and be greeted by his class, he just crumpled over and started to cry. I then promptly lost it myself and had to leave. I had never seen my friendly, out-going little boy act that way. It was so TOUGH to watch him react that way. I luckily saw Kerri outside the kindergarten area, and she checked on him for me a couple minutes later. He was not crying at that point. Talk about being relieved! And even more relieved when he exclaimed, "I love school!" as I picked him up after his first day. So after seeing my little guy act so forlorn, I'm thankful for his usual friendly and silly demeanor, and I don't worry his teacher will enjoy Will because who doesn't? And yes, no need to worry because she does have locks on her doors!

I'm also excited Will gets to go to school with his cousin Kate! It was fun to go to lunch after school with Kate and some of his friends from the neighborhood! Here's to a great year. . .