Anyway, here are a few of the things our family has been working on in the last month (give or take a couple of weeks):
Nathan has started up his "second job" again now that the school year has started: he's leaving home a little earlier each morning to teach seminary to local Mormon teens. Seminary teaching is a relatively new calling for Nathan; he was formally set apart in February, and only taught for a few months, but he loved it nonetheless. He is excited to be back to work teaching once again (this year's course of study is the Old Testament), and he is interested to see how it will feel to teach for a full school year. He was originally going to teach the junior/senior class, but at the last minute was unexpectedly switched to the sophomore class. He was worried about teaching that group (they are a little rowdier than his previous class), but everyone is slowly warming to each other, and Nathan's confidence in his teaching is growing as well. It probably doesn't hurt that there are a lot of...interesting stories in the Old Testament to pique the interest of the sleepy students!
Besides teaching seminary, Nathan loves to golf as often as possible...he's usually out on the course at least once a weekend. He often goes golfing with his mom...which probably means he has been "dating" his mom more often than me these days! But that's okay, I forgive him. He is still up for a board game night whenever possible, but life has gotten busier these days and many of our gaming buddies have sadly moved away. But we're working on setting up more game nights in the future!
Adrianne (aka Yours Truly) has tried out a bunch of new stuff with the kids being gone all day. I've mentioned most of this in an earlier post, but I've since added a few other things. To sum up: I spend a couple of hours each Monday at my girls' school. Half that time is spent helping Aurora's class during their "art" time. Then I spend a little time helping out Aurora's homeroom teacher fulfill various classroom tasks (sorting out papers & projects, etc.). After that, I head over to the school library, where I help Celeste's class during their library time. It's nice to have a designated "block" of time where I can help out with my daughters' classes. This is the most time I've ever put in at our school, and I am really liking it so far.
My other regular service activity is at another school; I assist the librarian at the nearby Continental School library. It is probably some of the nicest service I have ever done! Two hours, in a large peaceful room, surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of books...it's heavenly. I am calling it my "Zen" time for the week. Plus, the librarian, Geraldine, is pretty cool and I enjoy working with her. I have also found the time for a couple of other service opportunities. For a month, I played piano for a group of senior citizens in a nearby retirement home for their "Singing Hour." I've been asked to come back to do some more substitute work next month, so I may end up being a "permanent substitute" for that position. And last but not least, I occasionally attend an English class for a member of our LDS ward who doesn't speak English. It is a really fun job; the class is taught by our local full-time missionaries and the mood is always supportive and positive. I've been told that some non-member Spanish speakers will soon be joining the class, so I hope to continue attending; it could potentially be a missionary opportunity as well.
I'm plugging away at my new church callings, too. Primary teaching is nice enough, but I have been having a lot of fun planning Activity Day nights for the 10-11 year old girls in our ward...including my own adorable ten-year-old. Pinterest has been my best friend these last few months, helping me plan the activities...but I am proud to say that I came up with the themes of the activities on my own!
One of the activities took place just before our stake's camp-out for 11-year-old girls. I thought it would be fun for all the girls in this age group to have a "camping" night, so I pulled out the family tent, taught the girls some camp songs, and made some apple crisp in tin-foil, just as you would at a campfire!
There was even a little time left to tell "ghost stories"...things got a little intense at that point, but other than that it was a fun evening.
The "secret service" challenge was given to each girl in a manila folder (along with a pen and a "disguise", which was a stick-on fake mustache...thank goodness for the Halloween costume stuff on sale now in stores!). Each girl was directed to perform small, anonymous acts of service for various friends and family members, and keep a record of these acts in order to get a small "reward" at our next Activity Day. Everyone seemed genuinely excited about the project, and I am looking forward to hearing their reports tomorrow night at our next activity! It has sometimes been stressful getting everything ready for the girls, but they are all really great kids and it has been very fun to work with them so far. It has definitely ignited my creative juices, which I hadn't used much in my other recent callings.
I'm very grateful for all these opportunities to serve. It looks like the jobs I applied for aren't going to pan out; that's a little disappointing, but I suspect this wasn't the right time for me to return to work yet. I am still earning a little money teaching piano, and so far that is going great. I know that someday I'll be working outside the home, and until that time I'm glad I have gotten out in the community a little more and found ways to help others I didn't know about before.
Lorelai is actually a little less busy this year than last year...at least so far. As usual, she is taking piano lessons from me. On the school front, she doesn't have as many after-school activities. However, her homework load is growing more challenging, and her activities during school hours are increasing as well, so it is good for her to come home and get a little more rest. She really loves her fifth-grade teacher, Ms. Moore, and she is getting along pretty well with her classmates. This is a nice change from last year, when she often struggled with loneliness and nervousness. Hopefully those things will not be big issues going forward this year!
Lorelai opted out of doing the school play this year, after performing in it for two straight years. There were probably many reasons for this, but mostly she wanted a chance to try out a few other after-school clubs that she hadn't yet had the opportunity to try. This semester, she is doing "Edible Science," which is a cooking/nutrition class that focuses on the science behind food preparation. I think she will definitely enjoy it! She is also planning on being in the crew for the school play (she'll probably help out with props and a little bit with costumes), so in the winter and spring her involvement will increase.
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| While getting her trombone repaired recently, Lorelai spent a little time playing with the music store's theremin. Don't know what a theremin is? Watch Dr. Who and listen to the theme song! They are super cool instruments. |
Perhaps the biggest change for Lorelai has been her move from beginning band (which practiced twice a week after school) to advanced band (which meets during the last hour of school every day). At first, Lorelai was actually afraid to go to advanced band...ironic, considering how she had desperately wanted to be part of it last year! But now that she actually had an invitation, she started to realize the commitment and responsibilities that would be required, and she started to feel overwhelmed. She was near tears, and even asked if it would be okay if she stayed in beginning band for the year! Poor girl. We talked about it for a little while, and I talked to Mr. Mark, the band director, and we succeeded in convincing Lorelai to give advanced band a try for a while.
Over the last few weeks, advanced band has grown on her, and I think she will stick it out for at least the year. She has to practice her trombone a lot more (which she grumbles about, but does nonetheless), but she is starting to enjoy the music advanced band is playing. It is gradual, but I can hear her play improving bit by bit every week. She has come home excited by things that happened in band, and she's gotten really excited about the trips band will be taking later in the year (they have an annual trip to Flagstaff, and a trip to California as well). I am glad she has this opportunity to learn jazz music, ensemble play, and performing for multiple crowds. I think over time she will be great!
Celeste has got a lot on her plate this year! Maybe we are compensating for her relatively light load last year (when "all" she did was Girl Scouts). After two years of jealously watching her sister perform in the school play, it was my middle daughter's turn to try for the spotlight. She eagerly participated in tryouts, and hooray! She was cast as a Munchkin in Great Expectations Academy's upcoming performance of The Wizard Of Oz!
But the play isn't all that's keeping Celeste busy! After a year off, she's started dance classes again with the Sahuarita Dance Center. This year, she is doing a ballet/jazz combo class, which lets the students try out both classical and modern dance styles. Celeste was worried the class was initially too "ballet-heavy," but she has come to really enjoy it and is looking forward to her recital at the end of the year. And to top things off, Celeste has enrolled in an after-school club as well; she's doing "Reader's Theater" with several other kids at school. Whew! All this, and she's turning eight this December.
Aurora, at least so far, is our "non-busy" kid. No after-school clubs for her yet! I wanted her to take it a little easier early in the year, so she could get used to being a full-time student and all the adjustment that entails. Perhaps I needn't have worried, though...Aurora is doing wonderfully well in school so far. She absolutely adores her teacher, Ms. Avelar (and from what I can tell, the feeling is mutual). She is very obedient, kind, and respectful in class (why can't she save some of that behavior for home??), and she is getting very good grades so far. The lack of extra activities means I have more time to help Aurora with her reading (something I sadly neglected with Celeste). We have had time most nights to go over her sight words and read books together; it has been some good "together time" that I have missed having with her now that she's in school.
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| Whew! Everybody's all tuckered out from all the extracurriculars. |
I am so glad my sweet youngest gal is adjusting well to school. I was a little worried at first she would miss being home, since she is sometimes the "clingiest" of my kids. But as it turns out, this little bird was more than ready to leave the nest! She is sociable, helpful, and more enthusiastic about learning every day. I suspect that in the winter-time, we'll try signing Aurora up for some fun after-school activity; soccer is likely, but we might do dance class instead. We'll have to see what she favors! In the meantime, I have loved watching her grow up so much in just a few short months. I can't wait to see the growth we've all experienced when this school year comes to an end.
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