School Days!!

The boys started school this week. Kaden, 8th grade, Spencer, 5th grade, and Connor 1st grade. It makes me feel like Amy is getting so old to have all our kids in school full time. I still think she's hot, though. (Not bad for a 35 year old lady;) Love you babe!

I have a hard time thinking that our Kaden, pictured here, several years ago, (2006) is almost in High School. Where are the glasses, pleasure in life, and boyish desire to play baseball?

Replaced by basketball, Ipod ear buds, backpack, and face cleanser of a teenager. Kaden's greatest desire is to finish writing a book he started. He works on his book unencouraged in his spare time. He is also, I hope, about three years from "testing" dad physically. This is why dad works so hard. Yep, it's to try and keep up with Amy and the boys.

Here is our wonderfully responsible teenager on day 1 of 8th grade. Last year we had him take a full year of band, sewing, cooking, etc., so he could have a greater say in what classes he wanted to take this year. I think he's learning the meaning of our family saying, "Do the things you have to do, then you can do the things you want to do." Me and my freakish obsession with philosophy. It's working, though, as he came home from the first day of school saying that all of this years teachers are so much cooler than all of last years teachers. I also think he likes being one of the oldest kids in school. His birthday is quickly approaching, and he'll hit 14. Great. I get him in teacher's quorum. I think he's looking forward to being released from Deacon's quorum president.

Spencer started 5th grade this year.

He's also made a few changes since 2006 when we lived in Price. I think he was just finishing second grade at the time of this picture. He is so full of life and full of fun. He seems to "attract" a certain type of people that most find offensive. I think it's his adventursome spirit that others are attracted to. He did get the one male teacher available to the 5th grade. He's never had a male teacher, so it should be interesting.

Here he is on his first day of 5th grade, knee immobilizer and all. Of course, he had to remove the imobilizer, pull back the bandage, and show off his stitches. This allowed dad to practice his sweet bandaging skills every day. He only has to have this immobilizer on until the 25th. He asked me if it would hurt when they remove the stitches. I hope it hurts less than when they put them in, because that's what I told him. He is quick to point out my occasional unintentional dishonesty, though, if it does hurt. Amy gets to take him in for stitch removal, so I'm sort of off the hook. Yes, Spencer insisted on a school bag with a single strap. He thought it'd be cooler than a backpack with two straps. He starts gymnastics again in September. Connor starts with him this year. After he heard the high school girls go wild over Spencer's quadrupple back flip during the review in June, Connor wanted a little of that action. That's my little thinker. Go where the hotties are.






This was Connor in 2006. Talk about change in a two year period. He's quite the little man now. This is a long way from his "Sandy" days, when our neighbor across the street watched him while we worked. At least until Kaden got home form school and picked him up.


















This is Mr. Attitude on his first day. I think he was a little worried about going all day to school, but seems to be adjusting just fine. His teacher is from Morgan, and is a likeable lady. We'll see the positives and negatives as we go.






One of the cool things about the start of school is the traditional pinewood derby. This year, however, we got a "space derby" kit.



What the He** is a space derby? Dad can build a car, but a rocket ship? Give me a break. We got the kit near the end of July with the very direct instructions to "build this for our derby sometime in August." Great. I love specific details.


So a week or two ago, dad is messing around with some silicone adhesive caulk, repairing some small household necessity, when he gets the idea to "caulk" the space ship thingy together. So I did. Well, last Tuesday evening at 2045 hours, (8:45 p.m.) our phone rang. This is 15 minutes past sleepy time, so I was very happy to groggily fall from the couch, bounce from the floor, shake my head around a few times, and mumble, "hullo" into the receiver. Yes, I was being informed that the space derby was to be held Wednesday, the very next day, at 1830 hours, (6:30 p.m.) This happens to be about the time mom and I get home from work. After a quick debate about supporting our kids and the church, and how wonderful a gift knowledge and timely information is, a basic shape was formed via hand sander. Kaden was left in charge of painting the rocket, which turned out to be a colorful, patriotic, red, white and blue with white dots for stars in the field of blue, and black flames near the back. The picture just does not do the excellent paint job justice. Well, we took first in the races where dad wound the propeller. Spencer actually wound the propeller backwards one time, (the second time) and we flew the rocket backwards into the starting pole. No, we didn't win them all, but we didn't loose them all either, and the boys got to actively participate in a great rocket building experience. The sight of a wooden red, white, and blue hand made rocket ship flying backwards into the starting pole was simply awesome.





Here are the boys pre-rocket ship flying backwards experience. Connor rolled the paper into one of the strongest ninja swords known to man. He has some skills in the martial arts area that should pay off in gymnastics.




To rant a little, it is so helpful for those in charge to actually provide accurate, reliable information to those unfortunate enough to actually have to do the work in a timely manner. This allows the peon insubordinates time to actually help the program succeed, and helps you look good. I've also discovered if you happen to be the unfortunate one in the leadership position, that it helps you look better as a leader. Okay, moving beyond the rant.

Dr. V.'s dental office, newly opened in Coalville, hired a young lady from the one dental office in existence. Of couse, she was getting married this week, which makes my beautiful wife have to assist him, take care of the patients, and do it all. One more week of this, and they should be back to full staff. It is humbling to hear her talk about running from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. or so every day without a break. They are so busy, that this is what has to be done. Job security is a great thing. Amy mentioned that since the first of August, their office has added 68 new patients. Thanks to my talented, hard working, sexyful wife for working so hard.

In my world, I had to re-schedule taking the written promotional exam until October. The reason was because I was asked to teach an ethics and professionalism class to our new cadets. My topics were specifically workplace harassment and cultural diversity. I think it's part of an initiation to new POST employees. Give them the crappiest jobs. Well, I didn't get to work until late, thanks to a Utah driver leaving the North bound I15 lane of travel, tearing up the median cable, and landing in the South bound lanes. Way to go, dorkfish, I appreciate the Utah courtesy, and by the time I got the days fires put out, I just didn't have enough time to prepare a lesson plan. So I re-scheduled, and spent two hours on power point. I think it'll work out, though, because I can prepare better for the written exam in October. I hope to simply make the roster next year, and be an option for promotion. If I actually am hired as a section commander, (Lieutenant), it's as far as I can go without being appointed to Captain, Major, or whatever. Permanent rank will remain Lieutenant. With over 16 Lieutenant spots reachable from where we live, and be a Lieutenant, I think it's worth a shot. Yes, if offered a position in an unreachable position, we move again. 12 moves in 15 years is enough, so it'd be great to stay somewhere. We've been in Morgan for just over two years, now, so the timing is getting right to move on. If only the national economy would cooperate. By the way, the boys had a lively discussion on Obama last night, with Spencer spouting his concerns, and indoctrinating Connor. Thanks, grandma. I will be sure to vote in November, so I feel entitled to complain during the next four years.