Back to School

Landon started school on September 4th. 

He is now in 1st grade and growing too fast. 

I can't believe my baby is in full day school.

He loves it. I love that he loves it. 

(but I still really miss him a lot.)

I wanted to make sure I got pictures of his first day of school and who Landon is at this point in his life.

I made him hold a sign for me and on the sign I listed these things:

He wrote his own name (I want to see how that changes as he grows.)

First day of 1st grade

Teachers name

What he was most looking forward to in school.

The day school started

What he wants to be when he grows up.

And since we are a military family (and sometimes move) I wanted to make sure we had a picture in front of our house.

First day.... 1st grade

Mrs. Dickinson's Class

Sept. 4th 2012

"I am most Excited about being a first grade detective." (this is his teachers way of teaching this year.)

Landon (I love that his d is totally a b)

When I grow up I want to be a JET PILOT. (it has been this since the middle of kindergarten.) 

Don't let his face fool you, he was loving every minute of it. 

He loves to have his picture taken, sometimes, as long as its his idea.

Now of course I needed to get a picture of just him and his super cuteness.

Seriously he is growing TOOOO fast.

Walking into school!!!

Landon and his teacher Mrs. Dickinson. We LOVE her!!!

Every first grader needs a good new Justice League back pack.

So cute! All the poor little first graders were so nervous. My sweet little man hide it well, but he kept checking to make sure I was still there. 

According to, well just about everyone, this is my little twin. 

I think he is absolutely adorable, so I'll take it.

Two of my cuties! I love these guys!! (I think they are twins)

He gave everyone a hug and kiss before the bell rang AND he yelled "I love you mom." Right before he walked through the door.
I am going to enjoy that for as long as I have it.

Sometimes I just want to stop time in its tracks and hold onto them as little ones forever.

Its times like these when I realize that its all just passing by me too quickly.

It makes me want to hug a little longer, kiss a little longer and just sit and play on the floor for longer.

I barely see him now. It makes me sad, but it also makes me happy that he loves it so much and is growing up to be such a good, smart kid.

We have decided that we will read a little bit of a chapter book every night before bed so that we can spend some more time together.

Right now we are reading my childhood favorite: Matilda. 

Next on the list is Charlotte's Web followed by Stuart Little.

I will post our reading list that we came up with for his 1st grade year early next week. 

Summer fun

 We still have 3 weeks left of summer but it seems like summer has gone by so fast. It could be that we have spent most of it packing and moving with the military. We moved from Las Vegas to Utah in July, but we at least managed to get in some fun summer stuff. 

We spent any free time swimming. The boys love swimming and Landon and Braddoc are getting really really good at it.

Aowyn did lots and lots of being cute and eating Noahs leg. 

When my youngest brother got home from his mission, my other brother, Micah, and his wife, Melanie, came to visit. The boys had a blast hanging out with them and swimming with them. 

Tayton had lots of fun hanging out outside the pool and swinging from the swing set railing. He would climb the ladder over and over again but always refused to get in the pool.

 Braddoc had lots of fun going under the water and staying for a while. At the beginning of the summer he would only got under and come back up really fast. By the time we moved he would stay under for about 25-30 seconds and then come back up. He had such a blast and just hung out by the ladder going under the water over and over again.

I had a blast sitting inside with the ladies and drinking root beer floats and watching the Batchelorette. (don't worry the kids were inside eating root beer floats too and watching kids movies. We always ate root beer floats after we swam.)

There was lots of splashing and jumping in and out of the water. The boys showed us lots of tricks and I heard, "mom watch, MOM WATCH!!!" A LOT!

We have also done lots of other fun things like go to chuck e cheese, Disneyland, Boon docks, playing at the park, making fun crafts, and lots more. Next summer we will make a check list of all the things we want to do. I tried it this summer, but with the move it didn't work out so well. 

Kindergarten graduate

Okay, so can I cry for a minute? I mean really full on sob because the time has gone by so fast. When did this little baby, become this almost 6 year old? Somewhere inbetween all that time he became an awesome big brother two 3 younger siblings. Somewhere in there he learned to ride a 2 wheel bike and how to swim. Somewhere in there he learned how to read and write and talk like a little mini adult, make his own sandwiches (and ones for his brothers) and how to cook food in the microwave. He learned about earning money and doing chores and how to save money for the future (he doesnt like it and we are still working on it) I cant believe it! I am in shock as to where the time went. My baby is not a baby anymore. He is a big boy! A smart boy! An Independant boy! A little boy who loves his mommy with all his heart and thinks Im the greatest thing ever.

 He got an award for knowing over 50 sight words, 57 to be exact. He actually knows lots more then that but he is a very nervous, anxious, adhd type test taker. He doesnt focus enough and doesnt trust himself enough when he is testing. It took us a long time to get him to answer his own questions with confidence and not wait till his friends answered (and usually got it wrong). It was really hard putting him in a local Las Vegas school because the school system is so bad here. His teacher got cancer and was gone in the first month and he got a new teacher who had never taught kindergarten before, so needless to say this year was an adventure. Im so glad we are moving and dont have to deal with this school system anymore.

 Landon loved his teacher Ms. C(chrapynski). She didnt really know how to teach kids who actually listened and wanted to learn. She spend most of her time of kids who needed ALOT of help, so the "average or above average" kids kind of got swept to the wayside. Landon had to sit at a table by himself during tests because he was always done before his class. In his mind he was being punished, she didnt handle it very well. She was good but was for sure still learning.

 Our kindergarten graduate!!! So proud of him and his hard work!

 Landons best friends from kindergarten: Charlie Smith, Kendrick and Landon

 Tayton had to jump in on the picture taking fun too. Now we get to move onto full day school next year. I am very ready for summer and for being able to spend time with my handsome man before he leaves me for almost 7 hours a day. GAH!! Im looking forward to it because I know he will LOVE it, but Im not at the same time, Poor Braddoc is going to be so lost without him.