Back to school and other fall activities

Dave will be very proud of me - I'm combining lots of things into my back to school blog. He's anxious for me to blog our trip to Maui, but my left-sided brain insists on doing things in order. You may recognize this picture from Dallin's post. As usual, the boys were super excited to go back to school. Spencer was really looking forward to this year - being in 8th grade (oldest in the school) and having Tyler there. He likes making the morning announcements every day, he's enjoying all his classes, and he got straight A's his first semester! Tyler absolutely loves being in middle school! He likes his teachers, hanging out with Spencer, and the freedom they have there. He also got straight A's! Dallin is in 4th grade and has an awesome teacher. He was voted vice president of student council again and loves making announcements on the intercom. Brennan is in 1st grade and has adjusted really well to going all day. He likes walking to and from school with Dallin, and I like not having to take him.

 

I can't tell you how excited Levi was to start preschool. He asked about it all summer. He likes it even better than last year, and he never needs to take his D (blanket) or have me walk him to the class. He lets the high school "teachers" do it. He even liked going to a pep rally, which he didn't liked last year because it was "too loud!" He loves to pack his snack, and he's usually the first one ready. He goes three mornings a week.

Which means I get to hang out with Chloe! She is content to play by herself while I get things done around the house (she's pretty low maintenance) or run errands with me. She does throw the occasional tantrum, especially when we leave a store (that girl likes to shop!), but overall she does great. This picture is pretty bad (I took it with my iPad at the bagel shop), but I just love that big smile and those cute pigtails.

On days that Levi stays home, he loves to play with Chloe. And she is actually getting old enough to play with him. He is very gentle with her (which is a big deal, because he is often too rough with his big brothers and even makes them cry). He talks to her all the time, teaching her things, including her in his imaginative play, and making her laugh - it's so cute.

As I mentioned earlier, Spencer and Tyler are both playing hockey down in San Luis Obispo this fall. That's Tyler on the right. They have three games left, and they are both sad to see the season end so soon. But it will be nice to free up Tuesday and Friday nights again.

Tyler is always so good about getting himself ready nice and early. It's a lot of gear to keep track of!

 

All these pictures are of Tyler, since I took so many of Spencer last summer.

 

He has improved a lot this season. He's more aggressive going after the puck and does a great job keeping his position. He likes his team and his coach, who was the goalie for Cal Poly last year.

Every year our town has a Pioneer Day celebration in October. It was started during the Great Depression as a way to lift people's spirits and provide them with a free bean meal. The slogan is "Leave Your Pocketbook at Home." They still hand out free cooked beans after the parade, but we don't stay that long. In fact we only ever go if one of our kids is in the parade.

Spencer's band played, so we all went to cheer him on. Now he is playing my oboe for concert band.

 

We sat in our usual spot in front of the candy shop, and they all took a dollar and bought candy sticks.

 

Chloe loved the horses and dancers, but the cheerleaders were her favorite. She liked their sparkly pompoms! Afterwards we walked past a fancy cheese shop on the way to our car, and the kids got all excited and wanted to go in. Somehow we agreed, and the nice people gave us all tons of samples. So we bought a fancy gouda, and we had that with salami and crackers for lunch.