Conference was Awesome! The kids listened to all of Sunday, which may have been a first for our family. I was also able to get Jessie and Bode to listen to the first session on Saturday. Some of my favorite talks were given by Russell M. Nelson, Richard Maynes, Sister Neill Marriot, Robert D. Hales…..ok I loved them all! Though Sister Marriot is so real and humble. I just love her and think she is a rockstar! So are you ponderizing? I love the concept and will strive to have a scripture a week to ponderize.
Aaron and I met with the AP’s Monday morning like we always do to discuss the temple trips that we have next week, transfers the following week, Elder Corbridge’s mission tour the next and Zone Conferences in the second week in November. We have some busy months coming up and a lot to get prepared for them. The AP’s shared some things that can and will be beneficial to train our missionaries on during our upcoming Zone conferences. The AP’s really are a great resource to their fellow missionaries and us. We are really impressed with their leadership skills and devotion to our Heavenly Father’s work.
Monday afternoon we had parent teacher conferences with Jessie’s teachers, Mrs. Ivory and Mrs. Hiesig. A lot is expected of these third graders. What was once taught in 7th grade science is now taught in third grade. They even commented that they have seen the math standards rise again just in the last year and the concepts they were teaching last year was 4th and 5th grade level are now teaching concepts on a 6th grade level. In Math, they shared with us that they are less concerned that the answer is right but that the student understands the concept. Many of the questions are stated, “show why” and “show how you find”. This is beyond the days of just show your work or maybe I was in a closet for my other three kids. Jessie also has an IAN (Interactive Notebook) for Science, Math, Spelling and Social Studies filled with notes, strategies, labs and vocabulary lists. Don’t get me wrong they are very helpful. However they are a bit overwhelming if you have never been exposed to them prior to. We spend more time on homework than we have ever before. I now know why kids really don’t hang out much after school. Studies have to be a priority. Let’s just say there is a lot of learning going on in our house not just for the kids but for this mom as well.
Bode went back to the doctor on Tuesday to repeat the IMPACT test and motor skills test. He did so much better and is definitely recovering from the concussion. He now will report to the trainer at Clements High school everyday after school for return to play exercises. He should be able to return to practices next Tuesday if all goes well. He is very excited for that. The football A and B teams have been combined due to injuries and grades so they need healthy bodies back on the field. Another thing I checked off my to-do list today was finding a dentist and an orthodontist for the family. Small victory but when you are new to a city and it is so big it is hard to get recommendations that work for your family. The ward is spread out geographically that recommendations of who one person uses may be 20 to 30 minutes away.
I went to the mission office on Wednesday morning to finish up wellness updates with the missionaries while Aaron did interviews. I love spending this time with the missionaries. I get to know them better and they me as well. I hope they like it as much as I do. Afterwards we left to pick up the sisters coming from Nauvoo. The AP’s came as well to take their luggage. I tried to convince them that I could get all four of sister’s luggage in the back of my van. Aaron did not want to risk it. I still would have like to tried but I will concede after seeing all their luggage bringing the AP’s truck was a good idea since it didn’t all fit in their truck and some of it had to be put in Aaron’s car too. It was A LOT! I love picking up the missionaries. It is kind of like Christmas. The anticipation of seeing them and the sweet comments that people tell us as they come past us prior to us seeing the missionaries adds to the excitement. These sweet sisters are excited to be here in Texas! I already adore them. Their enthusiasm is so contagious. LOVE IT! I loved visiting with them about their experience in Nauvoo and their families. These sisters will be a wonderful addition to the Texas Houston South Mission.
Jessie had Activity Days today. She loves to go and spend the time with her friends from church. They decorated a glass jar that had a chalkboard sticker on it. The jar was filled with glass beads to hold chalk or pencils. They were encouraged to write a gospel principle they will be working on each week. Jessie had written prayer. I love that Jessie loves Activity Days. Warms my heart! The boys had YM’s tonight. They played hover ball soccer in the church hallways because the gym was being used. They loved it and afterwards when the gym was available they played basketball. The boys really enjoy YM’s. I am positive it is because it provides them social interaction with people other than their family. Oh we did not know how important our social interactions were until we moved here.
In preparation to have lunch with the sisters in the Angleton District, I went to the shopping had to grab lunch supplies and food for the family since I didn’t go shopping on Monday. I gave the sisters the option of me bringing lunch or meeting at a restaurant to eat. They chose me to bring lunch, which I was happy to do. I made chicken salad sandwiches, fruit, banana bread (I made it on Sunday), and I brought sweet potato chips. The four of us had great conversation during lunch. I know I say this a lot but our sister missionaries are so sweet and such hard workers you can’t help but love them! I wish I could have stayed longer with them but with an hour drive back home and needing to pick up Jessie from school I headed out. I hope these lunches uplift them and help them know how much they are loved.
I had odds and ends of errands to run Friday morning before the kids got out of school early. One of them was finding educational games for Jessie that would reinforce what she is learning in school in a fun way. The sisters serving in our area were looking for a service opportunity for Friday afternoon and I thought playing these games would be a great way to help Jessie and them. Jackpot! Jessie loved playing the games with the sisters. The games were fun and did indeed boost her confidence in the things she is learning at school. YEAH!! Another small victory for mom. ;)
After school Bode met up with some friends for the first time in our neighborhood. Although I think it was only with friends that are girls but hey we will take it. They went to a park they could walk to that is in the neighborhood behind ours. Jessie had Natalie over to swim and then they went to cheer for Robby’s baseball game, Natalie’s brother. She came home saying she, Natalie and Natalie’s sisters need cheer uniforms because the coach said they could be their cheerleaders. So she has requested I get right on it in finding them cheer uniforms. Yeah me! Zac, Lainey and Clare got together again. They went to Chic-fil-la for dinner and then walked around Town Center. We were their rides for the night. In between Aaron and I went to dinner at Desoto’s Kitchen. It is a local Mexican restaurant that is really good. It kind of reminds me of Sonora Grill.
It is Saturday morning and I haven’t exercised yet but need to. The fact that I have written this prior to Monday is yet another small victory for me! I must be in need of small victories this week. ;)