Back To School!!

Summer seemed to go by way to fast this year.  It is hard for me to believe it is already the first day of school.  Maybe because school started on August 19th this year.  That just seems so early to me. 

 Emily is starting 10th grade this year and is officially in high school.  She got up early and was already to head to the bus when the news announced that there had been a bomb threat at her school and school was canceled for the day.  She was disappointed,  but I have to admit it was nice to have one more day of summer with her. 

Joe is starting the 5th grade this year.  I know that the time is coming when he is going to be too cool to be seen with his mom.  I was hoping this year was not going to be that year.  I took this picture of the boys when we got to school.  I am glad I did because when we got to the back of the school where his class was lined up he suddenly wanted to pretend like I was not there. 
 

 Don't worry though.  I did my best to embarrass him.  I tried to take his picture and when he was having none of that I started talking to the other kids in line.  When I felt that I had embarrassed Joe enough I headed over to where Josh was lined up.

 

Josh is starting 3rd grade this year and is very excited because his friend Jared is in his class.  He was happy to have his picture taken with his buddy. 

 

The boys had a great first day.  The next morning Emily finally got to head off to school.  and she had a great first day to.

 

A week later was  Valerie's first day of Kindergarten.  She has been waiting for this day for years. 

 This is just a handful of friends that started school with her today.  In the picture is Mason, Valerie, Susie, Larkin, and Emily.  A few friends I can think of who are not in the picture are, Kaylee, Topher, Gabe, and Leah.  There are a lot of kids from our neighborhood in Kindergarten.  It is going to be a fun year. 

 Valerie is loves to learn new things and was excited to go the first week of school, but towards the end of the second week she started struggling to get out the door.  I asked her if there was something happening at school that made her not wasn't to go.  She said yes.  When I asked her what she said, "My teacher is talking to much and it is giving me a headache!"  Valerie is very chatty, and I wonder if the problem is not that the teacher is talking too much, but that Valerie is not getting to talk enough.  Either way she still loves to do the work and is always excited when she gets home to teach me the things that she has learned. 

This year is off to a good start and I hope it continues that way.   

Comic Con 2014

 

It is Comic Con time again and these three are ready to go with their Gold Passes. 

They have been planning for months.  Grandma helped Joe by making his costume.  He went as Kiato from Vokaloid. 

 Here he is all ready to go. 

All three of them love going to Comic Con.  Last year Joe was so excited because they made it into the panel with Stan Lee. They made it in again this year. He ended up saying almost the exact same stuff that he said the year before, so I don't know if they will try to see him if he comes again.  A new discovery they made this year was the show Studio C.  They were at Comic Con this year and Joe is obsessed.  Emily was excited to talk to some of the artists that were there.  She found a few new comic books and some markers that she can now dream of owning.  She loves everything about Comic Con.  Ryan says that they stay until the very end,  because they all hate leaving.  I am so glad that they have something that they love to do together.  Maybe next year I will join them for a day.

Seven Brides For Seven Brothers

Tonight Joe and I went to see Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and the Sierra Theatre in Orem.  No one else in the family wanted to go with us,  so we invited our friends and neighbors, Ashley and Makayla Pitcher to go with us. 

 

It was such a fun night and a great play.  I love getting to spend time with Joe, and I am so glad that he likes to go to plays,  because I love the theatre.  I hope he keeps loving it, so I have someone to go with me. 

Salt Lake Adventures

 Grandpa Bolander invited us to come to lunch with him before school started.  We love going to lunch with Grandpa.  The kids always look forward to it.  As part of the tradition we walked down to the Olympic Fountain after lunch, and as usual the kids got a little wet.  Everyone that is except Emily who somehow in the last year has decided she is too old for the fountain.   

After the kids became completely soaked they were ready to go home.  Silly me had not prepared for soaking wet children so I needed them to dry off before letting them get in the van.  Grandpa had to head back to work so I decided that we would go visit the temple grounds for a bit. 

We headed over to the TRAX station and waited for a train. 

It was a really warm day so it did not take the kids long to dry off.  I was glad we took a minute to go over to the temple grounds and walk around though. 

I love these kids and love spending time with them.  I feel like this summer has gone by really fast.  I would love to have a couple of more weeks to play.  This year is going to be a little different with all of my kids in school and Emily in high school.  They really do grow up too fast, but I love watching them do it.    

Pinewood Derby 2014

Today was Joe's final Pinewood Derby as a cub scout and Josh's first.  They had a great time making their cars.  They went wit a transformer theme this year.  They did not win their races,  but they both had fun. 

 

And to top off the event Joe received his Webelos badge and his Religious knot.  We are so proud of all of his hard work! 

Cove Fort

On the way home from Cedar City we stopped at Cove Fort.  I have driven by this many times,  but I don't remember ever stopping before.   

 

It was really interesting to take the tour and learn how people traveled through Utah back then.  One of the kids favorite parts of the tour was getting to climb up to the lookout. 

This was a great stop to get out and stretch our legs.  I think the kids learned a thing or two also.  Like how easy their chores are. 

Comedy Of Errors

Monday night Grandma Bolander treated Grandpa and Emily to a play at the Shakespeare Festival.  Ryan, Joe and I also got to come to the party.   This was Joe's very first time going.  I was really excited to be there. 

 

 

We went to see The Comedy Of Errors. 

 But first we went to the Green Show.

 

 And loaded up on tarts.   

The play was done in a western setting.  They kept all of the language the same, so I was really surprised how well it went.  It was such a fun night.  

Emily and Joe loved it too.