First Day of School 2016-17

The boys started school yesterday! Uncle Brandon came over Tuesday night to give the boys Priesthood blessings before they began the school year. I was so thankful for that moment. I am so thankful that Uncle Brandon and Aunt Carrie have good relationships with my boys.

Jackson started 11th grade at Layton High School.

Braxton started 9th grade at Fairfield Junior High School.

Kaydon started 8th grade at Fairfield Junior High School.

Colton started 7th grade at Fairfield Junior High School.

This year, I am able to drop the three youngest off in the morning. We load up in the Matchbox and head to school. Braxton and Kaydon get Colton to his classroom, then head to their locker and to their classes. Jackson picks them up in the afternoon, unless he's working. I haven't figured out a plan yet for when he is working.

I was so happy to hear that Braxton and Kaydon ate lunch together yesterday. Colton has a different lunch. But he told me that he was by himself and sweet Lia Katoa (who is in our ward) came up to him and asked if he was lonely. Then, she sat and ate with him. Pretty soon, the other girls in the ward joined them.

Blessed.

Planning

I have started to plan for our annual back-to-school dinner and family motto reveal. I have been prayerfully asking our Father in Heaven what our family of five will need during this upcoming school year. I have decided that our motto will have to do with "Faith." I have started to put a couple of things together, and I am excited to celebrate this upcoming school year with my boys and continue to try to "clothe" them with the strength they will need to get through their year. We will have our dinner and reveal next weekend!

School Registration

Braxton, Kaydon, Colton, and I went to Fairfield Jr. this morning to get them registered. Braxton and Kaydon filled out their schedule wishes. Colton will wait until we can meet with the Special Ed group to get his schedule in place. The boys asked for maps, and will almost assuredly go each morning to walk around and figure out where all of their classes are. They are super organized that way. It helps to decrease the anxiety as well. I was really happy with the counselor and the office staff. Here's to another year of school! No more kiddos in elementary school. Three in junior high school and one in high school. I really can't believe it!

Date Night

Thursday night, rather than going to Sam's for groceries, we went to Kohl's for school shopping. Each boy had his own cart and a calculator. They added up their finds and then took off 55% for our discount. They each had to be at $100. The three oldest went off on their own, while I took Colton. Kaydon had a big notebook with a list of his needs. The other two had a list on their phones. I was a proud mama watching them be frugal, and always folding clothing and putting it right back where they got it from, never leaving anything in the fitting rooms - but always hanging it back up and putting it back where they found it. We came in way under budget. We could not have done this without my guys at work. We are so thankful.

After shopping, we went to Subway to spend our gift cards. Everyone filled their tummies up and left there happy, ready to close our eyes for the night. Now we just need to worry about shoes and backpacks.

So blessed!