August

It’s getting hot in here so take out all the fun...since it is 117 degrees the school figures if they cannot be outside playing, they should be in class.  We started school the first week of August. I was not ready for my kids to leave me.  Greg gave each kid (Azalyn going to preschool) the sweetest blessing.
 SIDENOTE: this is the reason it was worth the wait for a worthy MAN. Back to story: 
Denali: This year is going to be hard but embrace the change. Find Friends outside your classroom. 
Colvin: enjoy school, have faith and be an example 
Azalyn: Find Friends and just have fun
I totally cried the first day of school, Azalyn took a nap, so we were off to a great start. Colvin was not having the easiest time going to school, I was praying that he knew I was doing this for his own good. One day after school he signed" I Love You" it was a total answer to prayer.  I know he knows whatever I do I do it for him. I will set the tone for this year. I have to have a very good attitude. (Fake it till you make it). I even fasted for strength to change my attitude.  Their school is very "Traditional" spelling test, book reports and cursive.  I took pictures on day 2 since day 1 is H$&&. I wrote 4th grade on Denali’s original poster. About day 5 I corrected it with 5th grade. Azalyn lasted about 3 days before mom and alone time was no longer cool. (Her school started a week later) We had to get creative, and I took her on a bike ride first thing in the morning. Still high 80's but under 100. Greg was able to take all the kids to their first day of school. Colvin was so brave with Dad by him. Denali tried to be big, but he loved me there. Azalyn was so excited for school. She could not run fast enough but then realized she would be on her own. Good thing excitement won. She came home wiped out. She would not sleep but just wanted to snuggle. I will not complain. 
One morning it was 80 degrees the kids took jackets to school. It is so funny how fast we have adapted. We were able to dip under 100 because of the Monsoon. I love watching the rain pour down for 10 mins then have bright blue skies. The kids don't even get out of the pool during the downpour. 
The kids and I finished our library tour. We had to wait for the new library to open. We went the week it opened, and they were still unboxing. I will give it a few months then go back.  They had a tree house for their children’s section. 
The ward had a primary activity and they let Azalyn stay with the boys. They all had a great time, but Greg and I were not sure what to do with ourselves with no kids. I was not sure I really liked it. 

Colvin gave one of his first talks in primary. "This week I learned about Job. He was a very righteous man. He though God gave him trails he was still righteous and loved God. He was also super rich and then lost everything but still loved God. After he was faithful god gave him back 2 times what he had before. I can be like job because when my sister is mean to me, I can be nice to her and then she will give me two times the love. It was really hard for me to leave Utah; I have lived there all my life. Because of moving I got a pool, my mom lets me go to the park, I got a green bike, and my dad gets to be with me in activities days. I have been blessed. I am getting baptized in a few weeks I am so excited and blessed that my family get t to come from Idaho which he so far away, and my cousins from New Mexico. I am also blessed because I get to see my cousin Holden be baptized.  The lord loves me.  I know that the lord loves you too.
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ Aman." Then on fast Sunday both boys got up. Yes, I got up after them. They said that they both miss giving their testimonies at home church. 

Then it was time to pack. Packing for a plane is harder than just packing because you only have so much space. You have to really prioritize. (See Graduation blog) We went to Pennsylvania.

When we got home the kids had a state primary activity. We ended up staying since Azalyn was a little overwhelmed. 

I realized that if I cannot do a job on my own, it is not going to be a fast job with Greg helping. We put up a "changing" room for the pool. There were a few hiccups. One being I had to use my sewing machine to make a big enough curtain but in the end it was perfect. 
I was called to nursery and was able to do singing time. I forget how much I love doing that. The main issue is 90% of the kids are 18ms. So, it is like a one man show but still fun. Colvin had a speech evaluation: he had missed 12 of the 21 days of school. However, he was in the 82% of the state testing. 
While we were in New Mexico I was holding a baby. Azalyn was NOT having it, she let me know in no uncertain terms to give that baby back I already had a baby that was her. (See Colvin/ Holden blog)
Sierra and McCarty drove all night home with the kids. McCarty thought she texted Brenden when she got to Sierra’s, but the text did not go through. Brenden was not the happiest man not knowing if they were ok.  I have not been the best mom (little stressed so dragon mom) my poor family. I am just glad they still love me. Time to Clean, breathe and be nice.
Quote that hit home: What you do in your free time is the biggest indicator of who you really are and what you really value.