First Day

On Tuesday Oliver went off to Kindergarten. I feel like this is such a significant milestone but I’m feeling pretty emotional about it, too. I’m excited for him because I know he will just love it. He wasn’t nervous or concerned at all. And really, that was no surprise because he is so ready. He knows enough of what they will learn this year to feel really confident but not so much that he will be bored. He makes friends so easily. He loves to learn and follow rules (which is sort of what Kindergarten is all about, right?!) He already came home saying that there were some kids that were being naughty by spinning the globe really fast, but he was quick to point out that he wasn’t one of them! Anyway, this kid is going to be a kindergarten all-star. It’s not his adjustment I’m worried about at all. I’m sad for me!!!

I’m sad that this milestone represents his first step away from home and into the world. I have loved being able to be at home with my little boys in these preschool years (OK, except maybe the first few months after Andrew was born! That was really rough and I wasn’t exactly mother-of-the-year so I’m sure my kids weren’t having much fun either.) Someone once told me that “the days are long but the years are short,” and that feel so true right now.  Today, while Oliver was at school, I drove past the park where our playgroup was meeting and almost cried. I saw the little gaggle of moms with strollers and babies in arms and realized that these days are so precious and that they will be over before I know it.

The irony is that I am looking forward to their growing up. I am excited to enter the phase when all three are big enough to do things together. I’m excited to travel with them, to take them places that will ignite their imaginations (FYI…I’m not talking about Disneyland and there are no strollers in this vision of mine). I’m looking forward to going on a family ski trip (when everyone can conceivably learn to ski…maybe in 5 years), I can’t wait to teach them to sail (but they’ll need to learn to swim first), and I yearn for the day when we can all go to a museum and the boys won’t spend the whole time rolling around on the grass outside. I’m not trying to rush through the phase we are in now, but I am ALSO looking forward to what’s-to-come.

The fact that it’s half-day Kindergarten makes it a little easier. It’s not such a big adjustment, it’s just like preschool, but everyday. In fact, we made such a big deal out of the first day of Kindergarten that I almost forgot that we had to wake up and do it all over again this morning!! I had scheduled a repair man to come to the house today just as I would have had to leave with Oliver to ride our bikes over to school. I was able to reschedule, but I realized it’s going to take a while to adjust to this new routine. But here we go!! 

   Meeting his teacher for the first time.  

They start with the basics so the first thing he learned was the sign for “I have to use the bathroom” (It’s crossed fingers like “fingers crossed I don’t pee on the floor!”) 

First day of school, walking with his Dad. They had to bring a ream of paper and some other school supplies for the classroom which is why Ryan is carrying Oliver’s bag. Oliver was beaming when I came to pick him up and we went to get frozen yogurt for a special treat to hear about his first day. As expected he loved it! He announced that he had made a friend, but not only couldn’t remember his name, couldn’t remember what he looked like. Gotta love boys. A friend is someone who also likes Star Wars and wants to talk about poop, they don’t get too hung up on particulars like names or faces. 

Summer Running Club

Last Monday was the last day of "Summer Running Club." Oliver and Elliot both reached their goals: Ollie ran 10 miles and Elliot ran 3 1/4. Oliver was thrilled to get his medal (he wore it every day this week) and Elliot couldn't have cared less!









I am doing my own summer running club, gearing up for the Ragnar. This is the long run we did this morning. It was so beautiful I ALMOST didn't notice the grueling hills.








Last Saturday we ran the ridge trail. Or at least we tried to run it. It was so steep we had to pick our way down pretty carefully. This week we stuck to the jeep trail which was a little easier.

I am loving our early morning runs. I haven't run like this since grad school. It definitely reminds me of Ithaca. I ran every morning with a group of women who became my closest friends. There is something about the conversations that come up on these long runs that really let you get to know each other well. Running and talking, running and talking, you get into a zone and the miles go by without even noticing while talking about childhood, marriage, politics, hopes and dreams. The walls that we build up around ourselves come down and you learn who your friends really are. I love it! I find myself feeling profoundly grateful for my healthy body. It's something I don't ever want to take for granted. I feel especially grateful that after 3 kids I can still coax my body into some kind of athletic shape. I really could hardly walk around the block at the end of this last pregnancy so it feels so good to be active and strong again.

Stah Vors

Friday night was a big night at our house. It was the long awaited screening of Star Wars. Despite the fact that Oliver hadn’t seen this movie until Friday, he has been really into all things Star Wars for a while. He prepped for the movie by taking out every Star Wars “Easy Reader” book he could find at the library. He explained that it was so that he would know all the characters when he watched the movie. He was definitely prepared!

Well, it did not disappoint! Oliver loved it. Elliot was more or less into it. No one got nightmares afterwards. It even became the topic of Oliver’s talk in Primary on Sunday. That also was a big hit. The Primary kids were all really squirmy and distracted during Sharing Time until Oliver got up to give his talk. I was so proud of him! I did notice how distinct his speech impediment is when he was speaking through a microphone. I don’t notice it most of the time but somehow when his voice is amplified, his articulation issues also seem to get exaggerated. So Star Wars definitely comes out as STAH VORS.

Here is his talk. I think it’s hilarious. (I wrote it so maybe I shouldn’t say it’s hilarious.) But it was pretty awesome hearing Oliver deliver it in his cute little voice.

This weekend I got to watch the movie Star Wars for the first time. I really liked it. The hero of this movie is Luke Skywalker. At the beginning of the movie he is just a regular boy but he becomes a Jedi knight because he learns the ways of The Force. He uses the Force to fight evil, or “The Dark Side” and to rescue Princess Leia.

We are not Jedi knights, but we do have something that can guide us and give us power. It’s the Holy Ghost. When we learn to recognize and listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost we can be comforted, protected and strengthened. When we follow the Holy Ghost we choose the right.

Luke Skywalker had to practice using the force before he could become a Jedi knight. We also have to practice following the “still small voice” of the Holy Ghost so that we can become more like Christ.

The villain of Star Wars is Darth Vader. Darth Vader used to be good. He chose to join the Dark Side. You can tell by how angry and mean he is that he is not happy he chose the Dark Side. In the Book of Mormon, Alma teaches that “wickedness never was happiness.” (Alma 41:10). This is certainly true for Darth Vader.

I pray that we will stay true to our Father in Heaven by making good choices and avoiding evil. I pray that we can all learn to rely on the Holy Ghost to strengthen us. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.