We are about three weeks into the new school year now and it has been busy. I didn't get a picture of all the kids together since they all head out at different times for school. Here are John and Emma heading to the elementary school bus. Emma is starting 2nd grade and John is starting 4th. This is our 3rd year living in Washington!
Getting on the bus
Matthew and Anna are both in high school this year but Anna was not quite ready for the picture here - so here is Matthew alone - going into 10th.
And a few minutes - later here's Anna starting 9th grade. She was in a rush but still let me take a picture before hustling off to the bus.
And middle school is the latest school to start - so Grant has a full half hour before the last kids leave and he has to leave. He is in 6th grade this year - starting middle school and it's a lot of big changes but seems to be going well so far.
Grant said he didn't want me to go to the bus with him - so we agreed I would only go the first day to make sure it was the right bus and then I wouldn't come anymore.
We got shave ice at a back to school event
Emma has been asking me all the time to teach her to bake things. She says she needs to learn so she can bake cookies for her kids. So we are learning how to bake some different things.
We had one last summer s'more making time. Matthew made a s'more marshmallow with Elvis hair.
We picked a bunch of apples off our tree. Our tree has five apple varieties on it.
I took John and Emma to girl scout bowling one night. It was kind of stressful because there were a lot of activities going on simultaneously, but we made it work.
Here I am watching my first ever tennis match. Matthew is on the high school tennis team this year. He has played tennis off and on over the years and I offered him some money towards his driver's training class if he would try out for the team. He was going to try out last year but we missed the try out deadline. So he tried out and made the team! It's a big time commitment but he's getting lots of good exercise, making some new friends and improving tennis skills. Anna and Matthew also recently started early morning seminary so their days are full!!
Here he is (center) during a doubles match. I am learning so much about tennis rules and scoring.
After a match with his doubles partner.
During a game
Getting ready to serve
We're proud of him - being a part of this tennis team is not easy!
And speaking of not easy - here's Anna after a soccer game. Our high school is large and all the sports are pretty competitive. Anna tried out for soccer, which was a pretty tough week long try out and made it onto one of the teams. They also have a busy schedule - practicing several hours each day and traveling all over the Portland metro area for games. She is doing great - again being a part of this team is A LOT of work. Good job Anna!!
Anna is #13
And I encouraged Grant to participate in either Track or Cross Country which were both starting in the fall. You can do both if you want, which a few kids do. Grant chose just Cross Country. I ran Cross Country (and track and played soccer) all four years of high school. Cross Country was my weakest sport, but I had such a good experience being on the Cross Country team. Anna was excited to try it in 7th grade, but didn't like it. Grant, however, has been having a better time. They have been doing a lot of large invitational type meets (large multi-school races often with fun or interesting courses) so its been "fun" so far. Here are a ton of cross country pics.
Cross Country has such a special place in my heart but watching the kids running these races recently reminds me it is such a hard sport. It's always you vs. you - and to continue going when you just don't think you have anything left is so hard. It's tough - so I'm glad to see Grant smiling during and after his races. The high school kids run 3 mile races but the middle school kids run 1.5 miles so its more age appropriate. Way to go Grant!!
And John is currently taking tennis lessons. I've had him doing swimming which he has been doing well at, but he wanted to take a break from swimming. So we're trying tennis. He and I have practiced together a few times. Tennis is HARD!!! Just to get to the ball and hit it in the right direction with the right amount of OOMPH is really hard. People who are good at tennis just make it look so easy but it requires a lot of athleticism and coordination and it's been kind of tough for John, but I think he's still having fun.
Way to go, John!! Emma is playing soccer but they just had their first game and I haven't taken any pictures yet.
And here I am enjoying my favorite outdoor trail currently. Part of it is closed for a few more weeks.
Scott and I after a run walk. So we're getting back into the swing of a new school year and trying to find a good balance. Each evening is a lot of driving to sports. Matthew is going to be participating in the school play when tennis ends - he's doing the sound board as part of the tech crew and will also be starting driver's training classes. Anna has said she might go out for the basketball team in the winter but may rethink depending on how exhausted she is feeling post-soccer. Anna Emma's soccer season is short but she wants to play basketball in the winter too. So we may stay busy all year.
