Are You Ready For This ?

Today marked the last day of school for my kiddos for this school year.  This is an occurrence every year, and usually signals all sorts of upcoming events that I'm very excited about: backyard barbecues, Popsicles on the front lawn, trips to the swimming pool, little mini-vacations, and even working in the yard on family projects together.  Karen even has some great plans for a summer schedule to help keep the kids from either extreme (being sooooo bored or just playing video games and watching movies all day).  All in all, it should be a great summer vacation for everyone in the Case household.

But that's not what has me in a reflective mood.  It is what happens after this summer that has me nearly paralyzed with fears of inadequacy, both my own and that of my children.

Here are the BIG changes coming our way in early August:
- Josh Jr (our oldest) will begin High School.  Not only that, but he will also begin attending early morning seminary which starts before 6:00am.  I am NOT a morning person!  I think he will adjust just fine, but time certainly goes faster once they're labeled by school year names: Freshman.
- Ben (2nd oldest) will be in TWO different advanced classes (8th grade math and Honors English) in only his second year of middle school.  He's plenty smart enough, but I'm running out of things I can help him with when it comes to his homework!
- Brooklyn (our oldest girl) will begin Middle School.  She is ready for this, but I am NOT!  She's still my little girl but 6th grade brings with it the start of becoming a woman and I am NOT ready for her not to be my little girl any more!
- Savannah (our middle child) will now be our oldest, and therefore most relied upon, kid at the elementary school.  She's up to the task but watching out for her and her younger sister(s) (especially that crazy Catalina!) will be a challenging change for her.

Myra, who turns 4 this summer

- Myra (our youngest daughter) will begin attending pre-school.  This would be just exciting except that she is still not 100% potty trained, which always fills parents' heads with trepidation about being judged as horrible parents.

As with anything else, I'll try not to worry too much about the changes until they get here, but the gloomy cloud of possible problems seems just a short ways down the horizon.  Wish us luck!


Song Of The Day:
I heard "The End Of Innocence" by Don Henley on the radio today and it just felt fitting for the post I had in mind.  It's probably more related to my oldest son and oldest daughter switching to completely new schools, but it also seems like the innocence of all my kiddos is disappearing so fast.  I'm really not sure I'm ready for this, but I guess I have to be.

Two Things ?

Yesterday evening was Back To School night at the elementary school my middle children attend.  My wife and I were able to visit all of the teachers of our kids together (in previous years we had to split time because we had too many students at the school).  This was very nice, if not a little overwhelming for some of the teachers, who are used to just seeing one of the parents per child.  Two of the teachers had previously taught another one of our kids, so it was fun to update them on the older children's progress in their new school or grade.

My favorite experience was looking at the art outside my second daughter Savannah's classroom.  The children decorated an outline of a body with a variety of things that describe them: favorite word, favorite food, and my favorite - Two Things I Am Good At.

Invariably there were things like singing or playing an instrument, and other activities like sports or video games (one boy filled in every answer on his person as something related to XBox ... I am certain his parents are beaming with pride).

But I could NOT stop laughing when I saw the picture below ...


And ... ?
 

Clearly, the concept of counting to TWO is not in this child's version of "Math."  Or perhaps their second thing is "not completing assignments."


Song Of The Day:
The Plain White T's did a popular song a few years ago that might be of great use to this child.  It is titled simply "1, 2, 3, 4" and hopefully this student recognizes the pattern in those numbers ... eventually.
This song was also chosen as a shout out to my awesome wife whose birthday is today.  Happy Birthday Karen!  I hope you enjoyed our day together.  I know I did!  :)

...

You Gonna Miss Me ?

Tomorrow morning, my wife and 5 youngest kids (boy does that sound weird?!) will embark on a road trip ... without me.  My oldest 2 sons (also sounds weird) have been with their Grandma and Grandpa in Queen Creek, AZ for the past 3 weeks ... and it's time for them to come on home.  Especially since school starts in less than TWO weeks after they will get home (that may be the weirdest sounding thing so far!)

My true "middle child," almost 8-year-old Savannah, asked me this evening
"Are you gonna miss me daddy?" and the other kids (along with my wife) wondered the same thing.
Of course the answer was a swift and resounding
"Yeah!  I'm gonna miss you like crazy!"

But ... here's a little secret ...

For the first few days of temporary bachelor status, life is pretty sweet!  I'm usually so busy doing things I want to get done that I don't start missing anyone.  Oh sure, the evenings right around bedtime can be lonely, but otherwise, I'm in full "Get 'R Done!" mode ... and I like that a LOT !

Here's my starter To Do list (picture added on Tuesday, 7/16) for this week:

I know by Tuesday afternoon I will be missing my family terribly, but until then I have plenty to keep me occupied, don'tcha think ?!  :)


Song Of The Day:
If you like a capella music and haven't seen the movie "Pitch Perfect" then you should be ashamed.  Go rent it right now and then come back to listen to "When I'm Gone" by Anna Kendrick, the main female star from this excellently hilarious movie.  You can listen to the song before if you like, but you can't fully appreciate it's genius and beauty without seeing the movie.

...

That All Just Happened TODAY ?!

I don't normally brag on my awesome kiddos, but just this afternoon I learned the following about four of my seven kids ...

• Ben was first in his grade at school for reading during the quarter.
• AND ... was selected (one of 12 from his elementary school) to attend a space mission practice event.
• AND ... competes in the school district's Battle of the Books tomorrow. 
• Brooklyn was second in her grade at school for reading during the last quarter.
• AND ... is going to audition for the school talent show by singing "The Star Spangled Banner" (which is really a tough song!)
• Savannah moved on to the semifinals of the school talent show (singing "Trouble" by Taylor Swift).
• Catalina got the BIGGEST part in her kindergarten play for school (Blue Shark, with about 7 lines of dialogue ... out of maybe 20 lines for the whole class).

 

Well done my awesome offspring, well done!

Song Of The Day:
Looks like I finally have a reason to use "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers.  This is an oldie but a goodie and contains my favorite it-is-being-held-out-so-long-you-think-the-singer-will-pass-out note in the history of music!

A Lovely Da-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ayyyy!

...

Can We Stay Up Just A Little Longer ?

I normally detest this question.  It puts me in a very awkward position.  If I say yes, then I could be setting my kids up for failure (at least in terms of their sleep patterns and waking up on time, etc.)  If I say no, then I'm the "bad guy" who "never let's us do anything we ask!"

Yesterday evening it was a much easier situation where everyone wins.

My four daughters and their Aunt Jodie
(L-R: Myra, 2; Catalina, 5; Savannah, 7; Brooklyn, 9)

You see ... my oldest daughter Brooklyn asked the question because she had been reading scriptures to her younger sisters and wanted to finish the chapter they were on.
Cue the tears of joy.

Me:  "Yes.  Of course you can.  But after you finish that chapter you really need to go to bed."

My girls: "Thanks dad.  We love you."

Me:  "I love you too."
(long pause in the doorway)
"And I'm happy you like to read your scriptures."

Song Of The Day:
I don't listen to country music all the time, but there are some moments that are best captured with a twang-in-yer-voice kind of song.  "I Loved Her First" by Heartland is one of those songs and it was on my mind last night as I was leaving the Bunk House (that's what we call the huge room all four girls are sleeping in nowadays).  I know the day will come (not for at least a decade, but sooner than I'll ever truly feel ready for it) when I "give away" my daughters to their respective sweethearts.
For now, I'll cherish these special moments as long as I can.

...