Homecoming Week, Football, Grandma Sue and Jesse Visit, New Ward, Avery Plays Viola

 I have quite a bit to write about since the first two weeks of school! 

Homecoming Spirit Week

One of my favorite weeks of the school year is homecoming week. This week it was September 11 - 15, which I thought was a little early, but whatever. We get to spend the whole week dressing like weirdos, and then the week ends by getting out at about 11:00 on Friday and everyone going to the homecoming parade down Main Street, right near the junior high. The student council at each school gets to decide what the dress-up days will be. I think the secretaries just decide at the elementary schools or something. I kind of wish every school in the district would just do the same days because it would be easier for families who have kids at multiple schools, but oh well. They've never done that. So, at the junior high, we had Barbie Day (the Barbie movie was big this summer), Sports Team Day, and Stoplight Day (Wear red if you're taken, green if you're single, and yellow if it's complicated... oh junior high.... lol). The two days that every school had were on Monday it was September 11, so every school did a USA Day, which was cool. Then on Friday ever school did Bobcat Spirit Day (because that's the school mascot district-wide) so I guess just Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday were unique to each school. The high school had one that was Taylor Swift Eras Day (she just did a big tour this summer that sold out everywhere, so everyone is on a Taylor Swift craze...), and they did a Hawaiian Day I think, or something pool-related. They also did a Thunder Ridge day, which is the school we were playing for homecoming. Everyone thought that was really weird. Why did the student council choose for our students to dress in rival colors for a spirit day? That's just dumb. Avery's school had a Hawaiian Day, Dress Like a Teacher Day, and a Western Day. So, here are some pictures of me and Avery dressing up each day. (The boys really didn't at all.... party poopers.) Also, for the actual parade, Avery was the only one to ride it in this year and she rode on the DARE truck float with some other middle school kids. 

Football

The homecoming week ended with the big game on Friday night. The stands at the game were PACKED. I don't think I've ever seen them that full. It was a beautiful night for a game. The weather was great and we played Thunder Ridge, which was an easy win. I don't even remember the final score, but we won by at least 20 points. Caleb even got to play about a quarter as the center! It was a fun game to watch. 

Also, the week earlier, Avery got to perform in the varsity half-time show because she did the little mini-cheer clinic. They teach the girls a dance routine and they perform it at a game. This will probably be Avery's last year of it because she's in 6th grade and once they are in 7th, they can. be on the real cheer team! I doubt Avery will be qualified for that because she's not really into gymnastics and the teams here are super competitive to get on. So, this was her one last hurrah on the field probably!

Here are a few pictures of Caleb at games, Avery performing, and me with some of my former students who are cheerleaders at one game. 

Mom and Jesse Come to Visit / Josh's New Calling

The week after homecoming week, my mom and Jesse made a little visit to Rexburg. They were doing a giant road trip from Wisconsin to Montana, then Idaho, then Utah for Jesse's 50-year mission reunion! They visited Aaron and Amanda's family for a couple days earlier in the week, then they arrived at our house on Thursday night and stayed until Sunday. I took off work on that Friday (Sept 22). On Thursday night, we went to Bobcat stadium across the street from our house and watched Caleb play in the JV game against Preston. We actually had a cold spell come through on Thursday morning, and it was the coldest I've been at a football game! I told my mom that the cold weather must like her because it snowed in mid-April the last time she came! So, we sat there and froze as we watched Caleb. Then on Friday while the kids were at school, I took her and Jesse around Rexburg to see things, and then on Friday night Josh and Jesse went to Caleb's Varsity game in Preston while my mom, Avery, and I went to Idaho Falls and went shopping. We were able to watch the game on my phone using an online link when we got home. It was a weird game because there were so many bad calls that seemed like they were out to get Madison, but we still ended up winning. 

On Thursday night, Josh and I had to go meet with the stake presidency. We had gotten an email on Sunday night informing everyone that they were going to be changing the ward boundaries and this would include forming a new ward in Summerfield as well. So when Josh got the phone call that the stake presidency wanted to meet with him, he was pretty nervous because it probably meant a big calling. Sure enough, they called him to be the 1st counselor in our bishopric. We were losing two members of the bishopric due to the boundary changes, so the current bishop (Bishop Johnson) called Josh and Kyle Matthews to be his new counselors. Josh seems pretty nervous about it, but I know he will do fine. 

On Sunday, we met with our current wards for the last time, and then on Sunday night they had the meeting where they announced all the changes and sustained Josh and the other new people who got new callings in bishoprics. We basically lost about 25 percent of our ward and gained no one. They took about 25 percent of our ward and about 25 percent of this other ward called Willowbrook and made a new ward. Maybe it was more than that, but I'm just estimating. I'm sad to lose everyone we lost. We lost the Evans family, the Souths, the Parsons, and everyone else on that tree-lined street, and then we lost the one road we had from Willowbrook neighborhood, which was Andy Geddes' family and a few others. Gabe was sad about losing Andy. Here is a picture of them together on our last Sunday and a bunch of pictures of my mom and Jesse's visit. They left on Sunday afternoon and headed down to Utah for Jesse's reunion. 

Avery Plays Viola

I just wanted to include a couple of cute pictures of Avery practicing the viola with Ellie. I hired Ellie, who was a student of mine last year, to come over once a week and just tutor Avery in the viola (since I have NOOO idea...). One day, she even brought her little pomeranian puppy for Avery to see! It was so cute! I wouldn't say Avery LOVES the viola and who knows if she will even stick with it, but I like that it's introducing her to some new friends and giving her a new thing to try. 

I am also including here one random picture of Gabe and his friend, Cale. They worked together all summer and then they both just so happened to be at this city council shooting range activity! Gabe was there with me and Josh and Cale came as a guest of Jordan Busby's. Jordan is on city council and I guess Cale is married to Jordan's daughter! Cale is a few years older than Gabe and was basically his mentor this summer when they worked for the city grounds crew together. They had a great time working together. 

Ok, I think that's everything I needed to catch up on from mid-September up until our Hawaii trip! Phew, the next post is going to be a big one!

First Two Weeks of School

Well, we have all officially survived the first two weeks of school! We started on Tuesday, August 21st and had that first four-day week. Then we went the full five days the second week! Now it is Labor Day weekend, so we have off tomorrow (Monday) and then we are back to it again! I feel like I had a rough time getting into the groove of it. I think once I'm there each day, by the second hour it's fine. But then we I have time at home like I do this weekend, it's like, "Aww man... this is so nice and relaxing. I wish I didn't have to work full-time!" I really think I'm going to try to not teach next year, but it's hard because if I work full-time for the school district for five years, then I'm "vested" and that's something good for retirement (I actually have no idea what... but...) So we will see what happens come like, February, and if I feel like I will sign on for another year. At this point though, I'm saying no. 

Avery started sixth grade this year and we are still trying to work out the kinks. I know she is a little behind in math, but after they tested her a few days ago, they said, "She is a LITTLE behind, but not drastically behind." So it's up to us if we want to keep her in the current math class she's in (with a teacher that gives LOTS of homework each night) or move her to the easier math class with only 12 students in it and less homework. That's the way I'm leaning towards, but I think Avery is worried about the social aspect of things and wants to be with the "normal" kids. I think we will meet with her teachers next week and try to decide. I just no that we will not last a whole school year of doing hours of math at the dining table every weeknight from 4:30-7pm and that's what we did last week.

Caleb started at the high school, which is his sophomore year. He kind of goes up and down with his grades. He will be doing great, then he will forget to turn in something big and suddenly drop to a C. It drives me crazy. He just doesn't have the OCD nature about school that Gabe does. He is also busy with football and is playing both JV and Varsity. He usually plays at least half of the JV games, and then suits up for Varsity as kind of a backup center. He doesn't usually play more than five minutes for Varsity though. I think it's just to get him ready for next year. However, only about 5 sophomores are even suiting up for Varsity, so he still considers it pretty cool. 

Gabe started his senior year. I can't believe that honestly. He has a pretty nice schedule this first trimester. He has an online history class for his first hour, which he busted his butt on morning, noon, and night for the past two weeks and is ALREADY DONE WITH! Then for the rest of his day, he is in the environmental science class where they go to school every other day and alternate with going into the woods to do plant studies and things. Somehow this class also gives him an English and a math credit, so basically, he's with his same little group every day from 9:45 - 3:30. I think he kind of misses the social aspect of talking to lots of different people in different classes every day, but it's a super easy day. He said it's going to be kind of hard to go back to a normal school day after Thanksgiving. 

As for me, so far I have been pretty happy with the group of 8th graders that I have. It's honestly my ninth graders from last year who come into my classroom throughout the day that are kind of giving me a headache! I've actually started leaving at lunch every day because they were being so rowdy and messy in my room at lunch! I love that they love me, but I feel like they need to learn boundaries! Sometimes they will even burst into my classroom when I'm teaching! It's a lot to handle. But as for my 8th graders, so far they seem pretty good. 

Josh has been STILL working on the yard. I feel like we got it about 90 percent of the way done by August 11th, but the last 10 percent seems to be taking forever. We really just need to get woodchips at this point. We are debating if we want woodchips in the front AND the back, or if we want rock in the front of the house and woodchips in the back. Woodchips are cheaper, but they fade and blow away and you need to replace them every couple of years. I also went on Amazon and bought these string lights and metal poles for the back patio. I really want Josh to build a pergola, but he told me that wasn't happening this year, so that means it probably won't happen ever....So, yeah! 

Here are some pictures of what we have been up to lately and the first day of school!

Avery Plays Viola, Finally Got Grass, Tyson is home, Caleb at FSY, Family Pictures!

Well, it is officially Sunday night and school starts again on Tuesday. I am honestly really questioning my decision to teach full-time this year, but I am trying to have a good attitude. I think I'm already deciding that I won't teach next year for sure, and the school year hasn't even begun! haha I just really am not looking forward to it, but I have to just make the best of it! So here is what we have been up to for the last little bit of summer 2023!

Avery Plays the Viola

Avery decided that this year she is going to give orchestra a try! I honestly don't know how long it will last or if she will enjoy it, but I'm glad she's willing to try something new! Usually, they start orchestra in 5th grade, but she did art last year. She loves being artistic, but she did NOT love the art teacher. On the other hand, the orchestra teacher, Mrs. Loveland, is basically like a Disney princess and everyone who knows her loves her. Avery is trying this just because she wants to have Mrs. Loveland as a teacher. She decided to play the viola over the violin because less people play it and I think the sound is a little less squeaky! We went to Ferguson's rental shop and got her a viola a couple weeks ago. Then, she participated in an orchestra "camp" every day last week for an hour where Mrs. Loveland taught the basics to every student who is brand new to orchestra this year. This gives them more confidence for the first day of school. They did a little concert and played along to the song "All-Star." It was super cute. 

We Finally Got Grass!

I think I had forgotten just how much it work it was to put in a yard. We did it about 12 years ago for our first Summerfield house, but I don't remember it being such a challenge. I feel like getting this yard in has taken us all summer long. The fence took the whole month of June, the sprinklers took most of July, and then finally on August 11th, we got the sod delivered! We had a bunch of men and boys come help us lay it down on possibly the hottest evening we've had all summer. But the sod was delivered at 3:00 on Friday and by 6:00 it was all done and everyone was heading home! I got a bunch of pizzas and drinks when they were done and hopefully they went home feeling happy about helping! We were just dripping out there! It was 92 degrees. Even I was sweating and I wasn't doing that much! So then over this past week, we've gone and bought trees, and plants, and we just need to get some wood chips still. It's about 95 percent of the way done. So close! Today is rainy and cloudy (but still warm) and I'm glad our poor grass is getting a break from the hot sun.

Tyson Got Home

The first of the Rhodes grandsons, Tyson, got home from his mission to Oregon the first weekend in August. We all went to the Idaho Falls airport and welcomed him home with signs and everything. It's crazy to think that Gabe will be the next one to leave in a year! I am not ok with that. 

Caleb at FSY

Caleb missed Tyson's homecoming at the airport because he was at FSY at BYU-Idaho with his three closest friends, Cole, Benson, and Jameson. He kind of grumbled about going, but I think they had an ok time. I wouldn't say he came home as a spiritual giant like I was hoping, but he did make some new friends. The apartment complex they stayed at was the Loft and it was right across from the Nauvoo House near BYUI campus.  He was gone from July 31 - August 5. He basically had to go that week because it was football "dead" week where they didn't have any practices or anything. We are just getting started with the football season! More to come on that later. Caleb also worked his last day at Rexburg Rapids right before he left for FSY. I think he made a total of $1000 or less this summer because he didn't work THAT much (maybe 15 hours per week for $10 per hour), but it was probably the perfect amount for his first summer job. He still got to hang out with friends a lot and go to football practices. 

Family Pictures

The last big thing on my summer to-do list before school craziness starts was to get our family pictures and Gabe's senior pictures taken. We got my friend, Claire, to come out to the Saint Anthony sand dunes with us one evening in early August and we got them done. We may go out again and take a few more of Gabe, but we got two really good ones that I couldn't decide between for the yearbook. Gabe wanted the one in the blue shirt, so we ultimately went with that one. Here are a bunch of pictures!

That's the update for now! This week is about to get crazy and I am NOT ready for summer to be over!!!