First day of school...

The kids started school this week. Jeremy is a sophmore (yes I feel old), Gage is in 8th grade, Jack is in 2nd grade and Ally started Kindergarten!! Since the school increased it's size this year the middle and high school kids catch the bus at 6:30am and they get home at 4:00pm, the grade school kids catch the bus at 7:30am and they get home at 5:00pm. It's a long day for Ally but she has been having fun and it keeps her busy with lots of friends. It's been nice for me because I have been walking Jack and Ally to the bus stop and then walking a few miles with some friends every morning. It's only the first week and Ally has already gotten a frowny face for not listening on Friday. She has a stubborn streak that I am a little worried about but I am hoping she learns to listen to and obey her teacher quickly. I have worked on it at home forever it seems like. Maybe I should tell her teacher counting down from five works well...hee-hee. Other than that everyone seems happy with their teachers and classes. It's been such a blessing to have all of them go to this great charter school. We are so happy with it!

Goodbye Bruno...we miss you.

Our wonderful Brazilan son went home July 5th. We absolutely loved having Bruno a part of our family for this last school year. He was great with all of the kids. A good friend to Jeremy and Gage and a fun big brother to Jack, Ally and Julia. We will all really miss him. We would love to go to Brazil to visit him, but airfare for a family of 7 is maybe out of our range. We are trying to talk him in to going to college here in the states...maybe BYU. The boys hope he comes here for his mission. We'll see! Even if we don't see him for a while, we still feel like he's part of the family. We heard some girl singing "I believe I can fly" yesterday...his theme song...and Rich and I just looked at eachother and smiled. Bruno we love you and miss you!!!

Who is Glenn Beck??

Since several people have asked me who Glenn Beck is let me explain. He is a guy who has a radio show and does a show for CNN. He's conservative and once was a very worldly guy until he found the gospel and it changed his life. I actually don't listen to his radio show since it's not broadcast on stations here in the LA area, and I rarely watch his CNN show. Funny, I know. I first really heard about him when President Hinkley died in January. My Dad sent me a little tribute Glenn Beck did at the end of his show to President Hinkley, and it made me cry. You can search it up on You Tube if you want to see it. Then my husband got his book for me. I really enjoyed it. He's funny and I usually agree with his point of view and like how he says stuff. While I was reading the book I saw an interview he did for a show on KBYU called Latter Day Profiles where he shared his conversion story. I thought it was pretty cool. Here's a guy who I would have looked at and thought there was no way he's mormon material, forgetting that any thing is possible and only the Lord really knows who we are and who we can be. I have seen several short clips of commentaries he does on his show that I really like. There's one about a woman named Irena Sendler...another one I highly recommend you look on You Tube for. So although he is still a bit edgey, I really like him. He's a genuinely nice guy and I admire his ability to stand up and say something defending what he knows is right. So that's my explanation.

I love Glenn Beck!

We are in Utah for the whole hometown fourth of July they have here. We went to the parade this morning with everyone and the kids really enjoyed it. Tonight Jeremy is going to the Stadium of Fire with my Aunt and Uncle and cousin Katie. Glenn Beck was the Grand Marshall of the parade and he's hosting the Stadium of Fire. I was excited because just before we left I heard he would be at the University Mall this afternoon to do a book signing so I brought my book for him to sign. They really rushed everyone through but the line moved fast and he was very nice and shook my hand and thanked me for coming. I love him...it would just be so cool to know him. He's funny and I love his conversion story...and he's very nice and down to earth. He's very cool and I highly recommend his books! I am currently reading "An Inconvenient Book". He talks about all kinds of current issues and he's very smart but he throws in these comments that are so funny. I just have to laugh and then Rich wonders why I'm giggling...so I told him he needs to read it too. We still have fireworks to come tonight, but I think my day was made already.

Band Concert

The boys had their last band concert on Wednesday. It was fun to see both of them playing with the jazz band. Both had solos, Jeremy on the keyboard and Gage on drums. Gage got an award for outstanding performance. His band director, Mr. D, said that they had gone to several colleges to play and be critiqued and over and over every judge commented on how good Gage, or "the little drummer" as they put it, was. We are very proud of how well he does.

Jeremy has really impressed us too. He has never had piano lessons, he has taught himself everything and his band director didn't even know that until he was several month into school. He's done very well and has learned to read music. Both of them have done an awsome job. Yeah boys!!!

The power of television

I'm sure you have seen the commercials for the new Adam Sandler movie...the Zohan one...well obviously they have rubbed off on Jackson. Lastnight Jack and Ally were on my bed waiting for me to get Julia into her pajamas so that we could read the books they picked out before bed. I was on the floor with Julia when I saw Jack stick his bare foot in Ally's face and said "Smell it...smell it...now take it." Great.

Blood Drive

There was a blood drive at the stake center today. It seemed well attended. It was fun to see our friends there. I am grateful for everyone that helped out.

...Of course the bonus is all you can eat snacks afterwards and being told you can't do any work for a few hours.

Gave my free K-Frog t-shirt to the boys who promptly put it to good use...sad thing is that shirt is my(Richard) size.