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A fun little illustration while Wyatt and I watched tv the other night. (He watched, I doodled).

Gabe, Kennedy, Kira, Allison, and Emma came.

We played a rousing game of pin-the-tail-on-the-unicorn.

We made dirt and worms.

We painted sun catchers.

And ate cake and ice cream.

Happy Birthday Olivia. Number six is a special one.

Because, well, you know.

It’s birthday time for you . . .

Today was baby Sunshine’s big birthday. Olivia was so excited for her big day. She’d been counting down all week. The other day she told me she was a little scared to be six. But this morning she brilliantly observed that it turned out being six wasn’t too bad – it felt pretty much the same as being five.

For breakfast we had pancakes, a special treat from our usual waffle fare, with chocolate chips and whipped cream made into smiley faces. We relaxed and spent the day playing. This afternoon I took O for a special treat at the Sweet Tooth Fairy and then off to choose her own ice cream, something she’s been looking forward to since Calvin’s birthday.

Then home for a dinner of her very own choice – Macaroni and Cheese! Cake and ice cream and gifts and then off to the movies to see Cars 2.

Wyatt takes O and Cal to movies on a fairly regular basis – at least once every couple months. But I have not been to the movies with the kids since before Everett was born.  They were enchanted, and the spell held through the entire movie for Olivia. Calvin and Everett each lost attention at some point though, so I spent part of the movie walking up and down the aisle and chasing kids out by the refreshment stands. It was worth it though for the first vision of my little lovelies sitting on the booster seats when we first arrived, their faces lit up by the glow of the screen, their eyes big as saucers as they watched the beginning of the movie!

After the movies it was home again and off to bed, baby ducks. Of course, as we were driving out of the neighborhood, on our way to the movie, Olivia was talking about her next birthday party – you know, the friend birthday party. Wyatt and I giggled – mostly – about the expectation we have established with our kids: immediate family celebration, extended family celebration, neighborhood celebration, friend celebration, at our house, birthdays last a long time. And Olivia is ready to soak up every ounce of the attention.

The Principal awarding Olivia her pin and certificate at a school assembly.

Dear College of My Choice
Not too far from home
Because if it is, my mom will rent an apartment right next to me
Just so I won’t miss her too much

You have a lot of awards that are given every year at your university. You need students to win those awards. This is where I come in. I will win all your awards. I have been doing it since kingergarten.

That’s right. I earned THE FIRST award ever possible in my academic career – the first award given in the first year of my formal education. And it’s because I am awesome.

And respectful. The award was a school award for a student who exemplifies respect. It came with a school pin and a certificate. Of course, I expect your awards come with scholarships and living stipends.

I am sure your university is a great place, but imagine if you can, how much more fabulous it will be if I am there.

Sincerely, your future rock star student,

Olivia Claire Christensen

PS – check out my ACT and GPA. It will floor you!

Calvin: Mommy, it takes a long time for you tummy to get small. As long as it takes for a new baby to get here.

Me: You’re right. But my tummy is already a little smaller right? (I mean, didn’t he notice?!)

Calvin: Yeah, (then, pointing directly at my chest) but those aren’t smaller!

Conversation between Olivia and an older couple admiring baby Andrew and baby Mason:

Old man: Those are sure cute babies. Where can my wife get one of those?

Olivia, matter-of-factly and nonchalantly: At the tummy store.

Calvin and Alexa after primary:

Calvin: Alexa, we learned about sharing in primary today. It’s important to share.

Alexa: Really? (Alexa’s mom is Cal’s teacher, and she knew that the lesson was on friends, not sharing.)

Calvin: Yeah. So you should share your candy bar with me. It’s good to share.

(All I can say to this story is: Is that Wyatt’s kid or what?!)

Calvin seems to have (FINALLY) moved out of the stage where he needs constant supervision. He seems to know the rules, and doesn’t destroy everything in his path (very often). But just as he’s moved out of that stage, Everett is moving right on in.

Last week I was upstairs feeding the baby, while everyone else was downstairs. When I came out, I heard water on. I went into my bathroom to find the water on, the sink clogged and water spilling over the sides, down the cabinet and onto the floor.

I went downstairs to find Wyatt and found that it was raining in my downstair bathroom (directly below the upstairs one).

Last Saturday night Wyatt and I went downstairs after the kids were “in bed.” When we came upstairs we found a trail of Fruit Loops down the hall, culminating in an entire spilled box in front of my bedroom door.

The next morning I was half asleep, but heard Calvin and Everett get up. Remembering what happened the night before, I got up, and went and tied up the cupboards and fridge, before returning to bed to sleep in.

Later Wyatt got up and got the kids breakfast – cereal and milk. But he forgot to tie up the fridge when he was done.

Later he found Everett, covered head to toe in sour cream, an entire block of cheese in his room, and an entire box of margarine (that I had just bought the night before for Dutch Oven Brownies that we were supposed to have later that day) in various clumps around the house.

Well, lovely Wyatt cleaned the boy and mess up, but he forgot, again to tie up the fridge. Later, just as it was time to get ready for church, I came around the corner to find eJo happily cracking the last of a dozen eggs on my kitchen floor.

Good times.

At sacrament today

Olivia: I bet that man is older than grand-crad.

Me: You think so? Grand-crad is pretty old.

Olivia: Like how old is he? A hundred?

Me: No, but great-grandma Christensen is a hundred and one.

Olivia: A hundred and one! I bet that’s even older than you.

Me: I’m not that old. I’m actually pretty young.

Olivia: How old are you?

Me: Thirty-one.

Olivia, with eyes big: Wow! That’s so old!

7:00 a.m. came bright and early Monday morning. Baby Sunshine got up and ate a healthy breakfast, got dressed in her new school outfit, patiently sat while I braided her hair, checked and rechecked her backpack for the important things, and then, was ready for her first day of Kindergarten.

Olivia rides the bus to school. This has been, perhaps, the most exciting part for her. All summer long she has anticipated the day she would get to climb the steps onto that giant orange beast, and sit, with her friends on the black vinyl bench seat and wave goodbye to her mamma – heading out on her own adventure, on her own.

We joined our street of parents and kids, and walked down to the bus stop, where we visited with other neighbors and children, waiting, so excited, for the bus to come.

I’d like to say (for my own gratification) that when the bus finally came, Olivia was overwhelmed, and clung to her mamma for comfort and reassurance. But she didn’t. She was full of confidence and excitement. She barely even looked back as she climbed those steps.

We waved goodbye, and then raced home to jump into our own minivan to race up to the school to greet her when she climbed off the bus, and was ready to go to class.

We met the other children her age, and took pictures as she waited for her time to go into the classroom. The teachers put name tags on each child. When each kid was duly labeled, they were instructed to wave goodbye to their parents, and off they marched, into the school that will instruct her little brain in all things academic and otherwise for the next seven years of her life.

That afternoon we met her at the bus stop. “How was your first day of Kindergarten?!” I was so excited to hear. But she didn’t actually have much to say about it. I asked what her favorite part was, who her friends were. She seemed to like her teachers and her classmates. But now she wanted to play.

I can understand that.

Not only that, but my buddy, SuperCal will start pre-school. I will miss him so much.

So it has been a busy two weeks trying to get them both ready for their new adventures while taking time to enjoy my little Roo and also their last few days of freedom.

I started a tradition last year of a back to school dinner. It was a lot of fun to do last year, and so I planned another one this year. But, are you surprised, it was even BIGGER this year!

The theme for our 2011-2012 school year is “Seek Learning” from the D&C – because the first step in education is wanting to be educated. I know Olivia and Calvin both have a thirst for knowledge and a pride in their progress, so I think this will be a great focus for our year.

This year’s dinner featured:

Lime Chicken Tacos
Spanish Rice
Summer Salsa
Corn on the Cob
Watermelon
Raspberry Lemonade (real raspberry lemonade)
& Summer Peach Pie a’la mode.

YUM.

Our theme is "Seek Learning"

I decorated the table with all things kids - and I laughed at this vignette.

Our beautiful flowers were provided by my dad.

Our table with Olivia & Cal's back to school gifts - friendship balls. (I made the gift boxes myself!)

Olivia and Cal opening their gifts.

Kids in their back to school crowns.

Something was funny . . .