National Dog Day

 It was appropriate that our last 4H dog Dog Show of Excellence activity for the season be held on National Dog Day. The new year starts September 1st. Any dog that was able to get a blue ribbon at the fair was invited to participate in this second show. Since Einstein only got a blue ribbon in Obedience, that is what he was able to participate in. During the fair Kenzie was allowed to use a tab leash on him during the agility and trick shows. He totally bombed them. He grabbed onto the tag leash and crouched down so that Kenzie would chase him. Needless to say he got disqualified. At the Show of Excellence they let her do an exhibition round in agility for no points. He again grabbed onto the tag leash and was ready to play. Pam (the 4H leader) told Kenzie to just take it off and see what he does. The song Livin on a Prayer by Bon Jovi started blaring on the overhead speakers and once that leash came off he immediately sat down and was ready for the treats Kenzie had for him. She took him perfectly through the course and the whole crowd cheered. We may have just found his theme song. It was SO EXCITING!!! I wish I got it on video. This was just the boost Kenzie needed to prove that the fair performance was just Einstein being a stinker. Thankfully next year she has been in the program long enough that she can do the courses with no leash. She also got a dog pin, leadership zipper pull, and first year dog pin. For being a teen leader this year she got a bag of fun dog accessories and M&Ms. She had been debating about whether or not to continue next year because of so many disappointments and obstacles, but I think she is convinced it was all worth it. 

After the dog show that was from 8 to 6, we headed over to the ward party from 6 to 9 pm. We played 9 square, water volleyball, ate dinner and enjoyed great company. We were totally exhausted by the end of the day. 

Hunter and the Marching Band

 Hunter had decided not to try out for marching band this year because he really wanted to be on the golf team. He made the first round of cuts, but missed out by a couple of strokes for the second round of cuts. He was so disappointed. He had put percussion on his schedule so he would at least get to do it during school and so Thursday afternoon he came home with some exciting news. His band teacher Joel Yoder realized in class that he was really good and asked him to join the marching band even though he hadn't been practicing with them all summer. One of the percussion players is moving in a few weeks and they are in need of a new player. He was thrilled. He told me he would be staying after school on Friday to practice with them and would let me know when I needed to pick him up. I dropped both Hunter and Kenzie off at seminary at 7 am. I got a text later saying practice was from 3 to 5. I then get a text saying he will be playing at the MCHS football game that night starting at 8 pm and that he was going with them to their before performance dinner and I would only need to pick him up at the school at midnight! That was crazy. I decided I must go to the game and watch him play so Addi and I went up to the USU stadium and enjoyed their performance from 8:30 to midnight. What a long day! I am so proud of him. He says he has a lot to catch up on with learning the new songs but he is determined. He didn't want me to take his picture, but I told him I would stand there until he let me. I guess that worked because he smiled so I would leave him alone with his friends. 

Freshman Orientation Day

 Hunter went to school the day before everyone else for Freshman Orientation. The bus comes along and picks up all the kids and they go through a mock schedule of their day. Hunter told me all about how he made friends with kids who weren't hanging out with anyone or looked lonely. He also made sure that a kid no one wanted to sit with on the bus had a seat and let him sit with him. He looks for kids in the lunch room who are lonely and makes sure he sits with them. Its great because Hunter's friends then come to sit with him and then there is a big group of them. He has a big heart and I am so touched to hear he is looking out for others. I just want to shout out how awesome he is. I also coaxed him into letting me take his first day of school picture. How handsome! He luckily wasn't too embarrassed to let me walk with him to the bus stop as I was walking Einstein. 

Kenzie's New Job

 Kenzie has been wanting a job for a while and I wasn't sure what the best option would be. Well, she went and did it herself. Her buddy Brooklyn has been working at Margo's (a soda pop truck shop) and she has been hanging around there while she works. She has been getting to know the owner there and when the owner asked if she was interested in a job, Kenzie told her she asked about working there before and the girls told her she needed to be 16 first. Margo then replied, "Well you are 16 enough." She went in the next day and started training. She is so happy! 

First Day of School

 It was completely weird that just Addi and I left for school today. Hunter and Kenzie start next week. Addi and I are both in 5th grade this year. She gets to be in Mrs. Walsh's class and I get to start my first year teaching 5th grade. Mrs. Walsh is amazing and Addi is so excited to get to be in her class. Addi already knows her because we often do things together as we are good friends. Addi has been so excited to go back to school so she can hang out with her friends again and pass off the Great American things she has been practicing. I think her goal is to be the very first person to get the Great American in fifth grade. I think she can do it too. She can already do everything except label all of the states and capitals and write out the Pledge of Allegiance. I love her excitement for life. It is contagious. 

I am loving my class this year. They are so sweet and eager to learn. I hope to help them keep that enthusiasm and have fun as we learn together. This summer has been full of school work as I work towards getting my teaching license. I was able to take an American History class online and I absolutely loved it. I also took one required pedagogy class and two method classes. I was still able to get a little playing in, but I am sure my family mostly felt neglected this summer. I only have three more pedagogy classes to go and then a few observations and a PPAT project. I'm not sure what all that entails, but I have heard it is intense. I have the best fifth grade team and am so lucky they are willing to help me along in this journey. Its interesting to think back on the journey that has lead me to this point. I can only be grateful for all of those experiences.