It's been a long time...

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted something. My friend, Kristy, was kind enough to get me going again. Helpful reminders are always nice. ;)

Let's see, since my last post, we have been very busy!!! We have moved, the kids have started school/preschool/daycare, and I have started school as well! The kids started at Woodland Hills, a new elementary school for them. Jaden is in the second grade now and just loves his teacher! She is very nice and has a lot of interest in science - which is right up Jaden's alley. He has made new friends and is really liking his new school (they give two choices for lunch!!!). Austin started kindergarten, he goes in the mornings. He has been waiting for this for two long years, watching his brother go off to school without him has just been too much for him to bare. He is really loving it right now and has made several new friends. His teacher is fairly new to teaching and seems very energetic and excited! They are both just loving school and playing at recess - their playground is huge - and has teeter-totters! That is Austin's favorite!

Kaylee started preschool/daycare this past Monday. The first day was a little difficult for her. They put her into the 18 month old - 3 year old room (she turns 4 at the end of September) and she didn't have much fun. They were supposed to put her in the 4 year old preschool room, but forgot that they were going to do that. She started crying before lunch and would sit up on top of the slide and look out the window and cry quietly. The teachers told me that she was also crying as she ate her lunch - so sad! She finally went down for a nap and was sleeping when I got there to pick her up. Austin went there after kindergarten for a couple of hours and had a great time.

I talked with the daycare about making sure that she was going to go into the preschool class and they assured me that she would. Yesterday was her second time going and she just LOVED it!!! I was so happy to find that out. When I dropped her off, I told her that she was going to be going into the big kid class and needed to be a big girl and have fun and not cry. As I was leaving she gave me a hug and then was looking pretty sad, so I told her to smile and have fun. She smiled, but it sure looked forced!!! Anyway, it sounds like she had a great time. She met two friends (who were actually in kindergarten, but went in the afternoons) and their names were Kayley and Kaylee (I'm not sure of the spelling of the second one!). It sounds like, according to the teacher, that those three were having so much fun together and were chatting it up the whole time! Kaylee describes them as "one has a black face and black hair and the other one has blonde hair and a blonde face like me." I thought that was pretty cute. I sure feel better now knowing that she likes it and wants to go back.

I've started school now as well. It sure gets crazy around our house! I go to Pocatello on Mondays and Wednesdays for one class (music for the elementary teacher) and come back to IF on Mondays to go to a Physics Lab. Tuesdays and Thursdays I have Physics and History, and have another History class on Friday mornings. So far, they are all going well - let's hope they continue to!

Today is also a special day because my sister-in-law, Melissa, is getting baptized. This has been a real long road for both her and her husband, Wes. They have lived in buses and been pretty much homeless for a long time, drinking a lot. They have both quit drinking and smoking and are doing great. Wes has cleaned up and is going to baptize her tonight. I'm so proud of them and grateful they are back in Idaho near us. It is amazing what the gospel can do for people. We have all pitched in and bought her a nice set of scriptures with her name imprinted on them and a tote for her to put them in. I ran around all afternoon getting them. All she has right now is some that she got from the D.I. that has some pages missing and someone else's name on them. I think she will love this gift.

Anyway, I guess that's about it for right now! I wish I could post some pictures of the kids on the first day of school, but I'm actually writing this from my school's computer! I got here a little early and thought that I would update this blog. Hopefully, I'll be able to post them soon!