First Day of Kindergarten

Here is Sophie on her very first day of Kindergarten. As a mom, I didn't get too upset dropping off my very first kindergartner at school, but Sabrina was soooo sad when Sophie got out of the car and didn't come back!

We chose to put Sophie in Pomeroy's Montessori program. It is a traditional public school, but also has a separate Montessori program. It attracts families all over the valley. Luckily, it isn't too far for us. I agonized for months what kind of school to send her too, but now that we've been in school for a few weeks I couldn't be happier with our decision to send her there. I'm not going to lie, those first couple of days were really hard on Sophie emotionally but she has embraced her school and loves it.

She looks forward to attending her class every day. Her reading skills have blown me away. Within the first week, I noticed a huge change in her willingness and ability to read. And even tonight while reading scriptures she was tackling longer words that would normally intimidate her. She still reads very slowly but I have seen great progress. I have no idea what her teacher is doing, but it is working!

I asked Sophie what her favorite part of school was, and true to an elementary student, she replied, "Lunch and playing at the park [or playground]."

Here is a little comparison of Montessori vs Traditional schools, if interested.

Faces II.

 Sophie: Age 5

Sabrina: Nearly 2

5 kids

Dave and I don't know how many kids we want. The ideal number is changing year after year. A few weeks ago, however, we tried out five kids: Sophie, Sabrina and their three cousins Stephanie, Kate, and Megan. To say Sophie loved having some girl cousins around everyday would be an understatement. Our days are quite less eventful now that they are gone.

I learned a few things myself about having five kids in one house. Namely, these:
1. We would need to make a lot more money to feed 5 hungry kids on a gluten free diet. One loaf of GF bread=1 meal.
2. I would need to make a lot more food. Bleh.
3. Five kids under one roof is actually much easier than two kids. They entertain each other.
4. Clean ups can happen more quickly when their are more kids to do it.... If they do it.

The first day they arrived, all three of the Hancock girls found something in Sophie's closet that fit them and they went around wearing her clothes. Little Megan especially loved wearing dress after dress of Sophie's. 

Our days were spent in lots of water environments, dancing to some awesome musics, and playing at some fantastic parks. 

We had some definite fun.

Music for you.

I have been meaning to put down some of my music in notated form, and I am finally getting around to it.
Here are a couple I wrote several years ago. Feel free to play around with them if you so desire!

This one is nameless. If you have an idea for a title please let me know!
Please enjoy this high definition, high quality recording!

Here is The Memory Reel, a simple lullaby-esque song:





I have more in the works, so check back for more in the future!

Kids being kids.

I was going to title this post as "Nothing Special," but decided that that wouldn't be very accurate. You see, these people are special to me! Maybe nothing significant was happening at this moment but we were having some fun!

Sabrina really likes to play tee-ball all by herself.

As you can see, she was very pleased with herself when she hit the ball!

And everyone loves a ball of soccer, right!?

 Everyone had to get head shots AKA lie down and get "tied up" by the pirates...

 

And this picture pretty much sums up Dave's life right here:

I know. I love this photo too.

That is all.

Thanks to the Dave.

I bought a new camera.

It's pretty awesome.

I am super stoked.

Conference Weekend

For some reason, Sophie really looks forward to General Conference weekend every 6 months. It probably has something to do with eating popcorn and delicious sweet breads. I remember watching conference in the back of the Stake Center that was really far away and we had to sit on hard metal chairs. It wasn't so fun for a kid, and I defently know I didn't look forward to it. But Conference has become a kind of holiday in the Mormon world.

We have developed a few family traditions for each General Conference weekend. They include: baked goods, delicious breakfasts, healthy and not-so-healthy snack foods, and spending lots of family time outdoors in between sessions. Another tradition that has developed is photographing our family day together. So here is our Conference Day in the Life of the Joslins! Photos by Dave, Lindsey, and Sophie.

Sunday began with Sophie hanging out on our bed and Sabrina getting her diaper changed by her dad.

Then Sophie helped me slice some strawberries.

Gluten Free Banana Bread!

Watching Conf.

Checking our muscles.

Got airplane rides. Or something.

Then Sophie took a selfie in her mirror...

 and had me pose for a few shots.

We did some silly ones outside then Sophie said, "Let's do some nice ones inside." She took the following picture and said, "That one is so beautiful. I want to hang it on my wall!"

Yeah. I look a-mazing..... maybe not so much. :) 

But if she wants a photo of her mom on her wall she can have it!

Later, we went to Discovery Park for a picnic.

  

And we had a great view of the Gilbert Temple.

Getting colorful.

Sophie is 5

 So Sophie is five now.

This is a big deal in our house. To Sophie, the age of five holds a VIP status. When she was four, she would say things like this:

"When I am five, will I be tall like Daddy?"

"Is my babysitter five?" 

On Sophie's birthday, Sophie said to me. "I am five! Why am I not bigger?"

Even her little friends thought five was a special age. Shortly after her birthday, Sophie picked up her friend, Juliet, with her own arms. Juliet said, "Sophie is so strong because she is five!"

Yes, five is a special age.

 For her pictures she wanted to go fishing. So we went to Papago Park and kind of did that. 

There is no string on the fishing bow. We were just pretending.

Sabrina wanted to get in a few photos herself.

As well as these dudes.

Happy Birthday, Sophie.

You love singing along with songs on the radio and dancing with me in the kitchen.

You are slowly learning how to eat and finish your dinner.

You love to hang out with the "big kids" in the neighborhood who ride their scooters and bikes around the lake.

 You watched part of the 6 hour BBC Pride and Prejudice with me and liked it! That was a proud moment for me.

You adore your dad. I hope you two always remain the way you are now.

You are loved in this home.