Goodbye Summer, Hello School Year

Our district moved the start of the school year by one week for this year, and maybe every year after. I don't know, I haven't looked that far. All I know is that this year we started the week before Labor Day as opposed to the day after. I think it's great for this year since Labor Day is a week into September and then we can start our Winter Break a week earlier and Summer Break a week earlier. I don't like when everything is so late since most of the country goes back so much earlier than us anyway. It is a strange, however, that we had 4 days of school and now we have 4 days off, with Friday being off for the long weekend. It was almost just a little taste of school before we really start. Especially because we had some crazy hot weather last week and then some crazy thunder storms. The highschool kids were sent home after only a couple of hours on Thursday because some of the cooling systems weren't working (and it felt like 103 that day) and then an elementary school was cancelled on Friday because they lost all power. Cross country practice was all screwed up with the heat and Coach let the guys pile in his car after they were halfway through their run on Wednesday, due to the heat, and then he paid for a couple of them to go to the Summit and use the treadmills on Thursday. Friday was the day of tornado sirens and torrential rain and wind in the afternoon, which also slightly affected xc training. 

The torrential downpour.

A branch that promptly fell.

A chair blew off our porch.

I majorly digressed. School. Austin's a senior and Erik's a freshman, so they're both at the HS doing the same sports and starting seminary together on Tuesday. That will make my life a little easier with them driving everywhere together. In my new free time, instead of taking Erik to soccer, when I return from work, I will be doing my usual errands and then making tons of nutritious food for Austin. He runs about 60 miles a week and needs to eat so many calories! We want him to have good calories, so I make good, hearty dinners most days, am back to making his breakfast burritos in bulk, making everyone's favorite banana muffins, and will make some rice and bean dishes for his after practice snacks. I'll probably start making homemade granola, too, for his yogurt evening snacks. Erik's eating protein pasta and loves those banana muffins and likes yogurt again. He should have time to eat his breakfast sandwiches before/during seminary. He likes a regular breakfast sandwhich, but no melted cheese.

 A new rice and bean recipe.

My senior, looking less-happy than he should for the beginning of his senior year. He is happy for senior year, just doesn't always smile with his teeth.

Freshman year!

Kade's back in his second year at Schoolcraft and taking trig, archeology, and an English class. He's hoping to be a manager at Zumiez soon. Victoria moves into her apartment next week and will start her junior year, or maybe continue on with it, depending on how many credits she has. She's excited to get back into it! 

Ready for Schoolcraft!

All of them have had some fun adventures this very weekend. Victoria was at the Oregon coast with Coles's family and then went camping in northern CA. Austin went to the MI vs Western MI football game yesterday (if you don't know about that outcome, look it up!!) Kade took a quick flight to Orlando for a friend's birthday. He was there for a day. Erik went swimmng with friends, watched the BYU game at another friend's house, and made his fantasy football team with friends. He and Austin have already been to some HS football and soccer games, in between the storms. 

Oregon Coast starfish find.

Camping cuties.

I wasn't with Erik for his activities to document, but I got this one at home!

And here are both Austin and Erik at XC camp a couple weeks ago.

At Hollywood Studios in Orlando.

Some of the party friends.

Before the game.

We've only had 4 days of school and I feel like the action hasn't stopped! I still love my 4.5 hours each day with my preschoolers. It's a great way to spend my mornings! Jason's still commuting farther for his position right now. He's excited especially for the first xc meets this weekend. He gets to take off work to see Austin run at the Spartan invitational on Friday!

11th year at Red Bell!