The First Day of School

New town, new home, new school…..GEEZ, this has been an exciting, and somewhat nerve wracking year for back-to-school (for momma and for the kids!)  Ok, I confess.   I have been more stressed out about it than they have.  But, school did in fact come, and I have to admit I am glad to be back to a daily routine.

On the first day, we walked up to where we were told the bus stop would be and waited, and waited, and waited.  It turns out we missed it.  It came at 7:30!  I think that is SO early for Elementary school.  Oh well!  So, I drove them, which was better anyway, because I got to take a picture of them in front of their classrooms.

They get to go outside and play on the playground until the tardy bell rings, so as I was driving away I looked over and saw Kenni just standing by herself on the playground, not knowing a soul.  My heart broke for her in that moment and I cried all the way home!  I have to remind myself that this is really a good thing for kids.  I think she will always be more sensitive to that lonely child on the playground now that she knows what it feels like to be “the new kid”.  Still- as a parent, you just want to protect them from that!

But, after school they were all smiles and said they had a great first day- so all is well!

My little Noodle started Kindergarten a week later.  MY LITTLE NOODLE!  Oh, bless his heart!

One of the things I am LOVING about school here is that they have ALL DAY kindergarten.  Noodle is old for Kindergarten (he missed the deadline), so I know he is ready, and so far he is loving it!  I am NOT loving paying 3 lunch moneys, but I’ll get over it.  At least its not 5 yet.  Yikes!

Ok, so we had back-to-school night tonight and I have discovered a few more things I love about school in Price, so I thought I’d share.  They make the kids go to lunch recess BEFORE they eat lunch.  Then when the bell rings, there is a specified period of time where they are required to just sit and eat their lunch.  Isn’t that genius?  I know they used to just hurry as fast as they could to eat so they could run out and play more and some kids (ahem….Sparky!) didn’t ever eat all their food because they would rather play.  So Sparky came home and told me that now he just has to sit there and he can’t leave the lunchroom until the bell rings.  GREAT!  I also LOVE that the alternate choice to the hot meal of the day is a PBJ on wheat, NOT a sugar-filled 5-oz Trix yogurt.  That is NOT lunch.  I’m pretty sure Sparky will be having a PBJ 4 days out of five, but that’s ok.  I’m willing to pay 1.50 for that, but NOT for a tiny can of yogurt!

One last thing I love about school in Price- I finally found Smurfy a preschool.  It was recommended to me by Noodle’s kindergarten teacher as one of the best schools around.  I got him into a 3-day a week program and it is only SIXTY dollars a month!  Yipee!!!  I know, that’s a stupid thing to be excited about, but in Mountain Green, preschool was becoming highway robbery!  The rate this year is $115, and last year I had 2 preschoolers, so I would have been forking over $230 for preschool.  That is ludicrous!!!  So I am pleased as punch with my state-sponsored all day kindergarten and ONE preschooler this year for SIXTY bucks!  YESSSSSSS!

 

Oh- one last picture.

Baby J LOVES to sit on the porch and wave to the kids as they are leaving in the morning.  She also waves to her Daddy on his way to work.  Its really stinking adorable. 

The Oregon Coast ‘11

Well, our long anticipated trip to Seaside, Oregon has come and gone and I must say, it was all we had hoped it would be and more.  Many thanks to Art & Lesli for getting us the amazing beach house and really making it possible for us to have a memorable vacation with all our (Seth’s) siblings and cousins. We had so much fun and took way too many pictures, so be prepared for overload. Here we go!

Welcome to Seaside- an adorable boardwalk-style beach town right on the ocean.  It was so beautiful and there were a ton of cool things to do there- but of course, all we wanted to do was hang out at the beach. I was happy with a book, my lawn chair, and a pair of sunglasses.  The kids didn’t even whine or get tired.  They would play in the sand all day!

This picture of Smurfy cracks me up.  He had a Hitler mustache made of sand for at least three hours and every time we tried to take a picture he scowled just like this, so he looked even more “Heil Hitler-ish”.

We went to the Lewis & Clark National Park and of course the kids had to get their Junior Ranger badges.  (They are a little obsessed with the program……)

We drove to Astoria and crossed the bridge over the Columbia into Washinton State. (a little terrifying….. they were doing construction on the bridge and we got stopped at the high part- at least 100 feet up over the water.  It gave me the heebies.)

Ben & Megan brought a fun project for everyone to do- we made our own tie-dye t-shirts.  How very Oregonian of us.  It was actually really fun.

And HERE are the RESULTS:

That is a perfect Wallace/Unrein family portrait.  It sums us up nicely. :)

 

The boys tried their hand at surfing (they were not good- but they tried really, really hard…..)

I love this picture.  Isn’t the coast so pretty! I had just come back from a run and I must say I really loved going for my morning runs in Oregon.  Partly cause I had some good company- I ran with Meg, Chris, and Seth.  But also because I got to try new things. I went trail running in a forest that was straight out of Twilight, I ran on the beach, twice, and I ran down the boardwalk on the edge of town- all things I could never do at home. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We went into town & rode the carousel, got ice cream cones, and went to the Aquarium.  Seth discovered a Beach Volleyball tournament going on and made us stay and watch for awhile.  He LOVES beach volleyball. (Mostly for the scantily-clad ladies, I’m sure…..)

Flying kites and having a snooze at Cannon beach…..

Yes, its alive.  Ew…..

The kids found ALL SORTS of sealife which they requested to bring home.  We told them NO on the live crabs, starfish, sand dollars, hermit crabs- pretty much everything that was still alive. We did bring home lots of shells, some dried out sand dollars, and a bottle full of genuine Seaside sand.  (Kenni collects sand- among other things.)

(Melissa Q- if you ever read this, Yes, we got the chalk, and Yes, it worked great!  Thank you so much!)

Sparky’s Baptism

  

8 years old and beaming from ear to ear!  This was a fun day for our family. Little Sparky- so grown up!  We went back home to M.G. for the baptism since that is where all of our friends and family are.  Since we were going directly from there to Oregon, I had to pack 10 days worth of clothing and everything I would need for the baptism, including food, paper plates, etc., all of our church clothes…. you get the picture.  It was a LOT.  But, like I said, it turned out great.  We had all of my siblings there & all of Sparky’s cousins- not a single person from my family was absent.  Unfortunately, not a single person from Seth’s family showed besides his parents, but that’s kind of typical for them.  (Except Jer & Chris who had left early for Oregon).  Oh, actually Seth’s step-sister Denise came which was so nice of her.  She and her husband Tim were in town for the trip to Oregon, but they are not LDS or familiar with our culture at all, so I thought it was so kind to brave a ceremony of that type.  I mean, its a long enough event for those of us who are required to attend :)

We went over to the Bowery after and the kids had the best time playing in the dry river bed while the adults relaxed and chatted.  All the grown ups decided that it’s our new favorite place for a family get-together.

Seth forgot his temple clothes so he had to borrow some from Mike Lowder.  It was a little comical watching him squeeze into Mike’s pants, but he did in fact get them on.

Our family portrait.  Yes, I am a little neurotic about “matching” at these types of occasions.  Yes, I get made fun of- but its all worth it.  Look how adorable we are :)  Need I say more?????

My Birthday List!

That’s right- its that time again.  The birthday wish list has arrived! (I know you’ve been waiting on pins and needles…..)

And if you happen to be one of my siblings- Welcome.  I know you don’t read blogs, so this is a big step for you. 

And if you happen to be someone besides one of my siblings and you’re wondering why the heck I am such a “me-monster” as to be publishing a list of all the things I hope to get for my birthday like a 12-year old……well, lets just say its a Harward thing.  We do birthdays big.  Its great fun.

Ok, here we go!

1) A cute camera strap

 

2) Junk-shaped carry bag for camera (sorry folks, no picture here.  But if you need to know what one looks like- just ask Marty.  He has a great one :)  CARRY CASE that is! ha ha!

3) Fallish shirt or cardi

 

4) Big funky necklace

(aren’t these the CUTEST? My friend Nicole makes them. On my side bar, “Leila Bird’s Nest”.  HINT)

5) Running Music (Um……. Lisa????)

6) A Car Wash

This one’s for you Bryce.  That is to say, I literally want you to come over to Mom’s house & wash my car. Mmmmm-kay?????  Like, right now.  Thanks.

7) Running Tights (capri length)

8) Aveda Eye Cream

9) Clinique Redness solutions Foundation. (color #4?)  Is anywhere doing free-gift time for clinique???? I have been looking for ages.  Anyway- I don’t have access to any of this good stuff down here in p-rice.

10) A little bitty curling iron (Like Steph uses for Ava’s hair)

(Oh crap- the photo didn’t work.  Well, I’m sure you can imagine one, right??????)

 

Thanks ya’ll!  Love you long time!

(P.S.- if you are still at a loss- anything scrapbooky, crafty, ideal for wearing, lotion-y, nice-smelling, or delicious to eat will also suffice.  Now hop to it!)