You Are My Sunshine...

School Bound!

Sonnet is officially registered for Kindergarten! She will be attending a faith-based private school in Green Valley called American Heritage Academy. We are so excited!

Getting to this point has been quite the process for me. I’ve been dreading Sonnet’s fifth birthday since she was born. I feel like once a kid turns 5, they’re no longer “little.” They’re big kids who go to school and have a life outside the home. It sounds dramatic, but it’s the beginning of the end. Sure, it’s exciting, and growth and change are natural parts of life, but as a mama who loves to spend my days with my baby girl, I sort of mourned the thought of losing so much time with her and having my influence over her challenged.

I am not a helicopter parent by any means. BUT I am very protective of how we spend our time, who we spend it with, and what type of people we want to be. I realize that I can’t protect her from the “real world” forever. But I also believe that there is no reason to send her into the lion’s den any sooner than I have too.

I want specific things for my child… there are things that I want her to know, to believe in, to exemplify. We have a specific set of values that seems to be very different from what most of the outside world values, so it makes me extremely nervous to send her out into the world without having some control over her environment.

She’s been at home with me for 5 years. I want her to go into the world, but if she is going to spend so much time away from the home learning new things, meeting new people, and growing into the person she is meant to be, I want to make sure that she learning correct principles, associating with good people who have similar standards, and being taught the qualities necessary to become the type of person we want her to be.

I originally planned on homeschooling Sonnet. She is bright and I am smart and organized and we get along well. I figured homeschooling would be a great fit for us. It would allow us to keep our schedule flexible which is something I value, it would give me control over what and how she was being taught, and it would allow me to choose the social activities she participated it. I believe in homeschooling and I think it’s great that it is gaining popularity.

BUT, for some reason, I just never felt right about it. Sonnet is really social and she just laps up information. She loves to be around other people and she loves to learn. Last year, her friends from her playgroup started kindergarten and ever since then, she has been begging to go to school. (In fact, one of her favorite games to play is “school.” She makes her “students” (usually me or granny and pop pop or any of her unsuspecting friends) come in her room and sit down on chairs. Then she uses her big chalkboard to “teach” lessons. She asks questions and makes the students raise their hands. It’s quite entertaining.) Anyways, she expressed such a desire to go to school and I finally realized that I liked the idea of homeschooling for ME, because I was scared of sending her out, not because it was necessarily the best thing for her.

So, once I decided to send her to school, I just had to figure out where to send her. Now, I’m not saying public school is evil, but it simply was not an option for me. There are too many things about it that I don’t feel comfortable with. I attended public school in Clark County and I taught kindergarten here too. I know what it’s like out there and it’s just not what I want for my child. Sure, I could probably just send Sonnet there and she would probably be just fine. But I want so much more than that...

 I want her in a safe, clean, uplifting environment. I want the kids around her to be courteous, smart, and friendly. I want her teacher to be well-qualified. I want her to get attention in the classroom. I want a small student-to-teacher ratio. I want a school where parents are encouraged to be involved in the classroom and in extracurricular activities. I want frequent, clear communication between parents and teachers. And I want Sonnet to enjoy learning. I want her to be taught “the big picture.” I don’t just want her memorizing sight words and facts. I want her to learn to think clearly and critically, to ask questions, to draw conclusions, to be encouraged to explore. I want her to be a good writer and a good public speaker. I want her to study US history and to have an appreciation for our country, our government, and for the people who founded it. I want her to learn about God. I want a place where the word God is used, where prayer is allowed, and where religion is accepted and valued. I want her to have good manners. I want her to be respectful. I want her to have self-confidence. And  I want her to have fun. Those are the things I value… parental involvement, patriotism, religion, and leadership skills… I know, I’m asking a lot. But I’ve never been one to settle. So I started investigating my options…

I love the idea of a charter school. First of all, they’re free. But just because a school is a charter school does not mean it’s superior in any way to a public school. In fact, most charter schools don’t have the organization and funding needed to make it long term. Many of them fold after only a few years. The other problem is that while charter schools are created with the original intent of providing a unique educational experience that cannot be matched by the traditional public schools, they are still accountable for test scores, state mandates, and other traditional requirements that often have the effect of turning the charter school into a similar model and design as the public schools. And of course, I would have to agree with the “charter” or mission of the school or there is no reason to send my kid there. I didn’t find many charter schools in Las Vegas period, let alone one that really fit the bill for the kind of education and environment I was looking for. I wish there were more options and that charter schools had more support because I love the idea in theory, but for me, it just didn’t work out.

So, I started looking at private schools. I studied the curriculum and methodology of several schools and went on a few tours. I looked into Challenger school, Montessori, Coral Academy of Science, Merryhill, and a few others. There are things that I like about each of them, but none of them had what I was really looking for… too expensive, too stuffy, religion not allowed, parental involvement not encouraged,  not that much cooler than public school, etc.

A long time ago, I worked in marketing and I placed some ads for a school that was just getting started called American Heritage Academy. I thought it seemed like a cool place, but since I didn’t have any kids, I didn’t think much about it. But during this exhaustive school search of mine, the name came up again and I started really looking into it. It sounded like it was exactly what I was looking for. I read all I could, talked to someone I know who teaches there, contacted several of the parents who currently have children enrolled there, went on a tour, and met with the headmaster. After all this, we decided that it was exactly what we wanted for Sonnet. It just felt good and it seemed to fit my very long list of qualifications.

The school is Christian-based. It is technically not affiliated with any specific religion, but a lot of the students and staff practice the same religion that we do. At the very least, everyone there has a belief in Jesus Christ. The school holds a weekly “devotional” where prayer is offered and scriptures are read. The King James Bible is used in the classroom when appropriate. Religion is taught as a companion to science and history. For instance, the students will learn about evolution and the big bang theory, but they will also learn about the Creation. I believe that inviting the Spirit of God into the school makes the environment more harmonious and increases the students ability to recognize and retain truth.

Religion is a big part of our life. I’m pretty logical about religion… I am not zealous or very emotional about it… Simply put, I believe that there is a Supreme Being who created the world, who created us, who is interested in our lives, and who has a plan for us. I believe that believing in something makes you a better human being. I believe that prayer-- vocalizing the things you are grateful for, the things you need, the things you are working on-- brings peace and commitment to our lives. I believe that we were all created with love, that we are on this earth for a purpose, and I believe that we are all meant to help her other. I believe in service, I believe in the value of each individual soul, and I believe in family. I believe in right and wrong. Most things really are black and white.  I teach Sonnet those things at home, she hears them at church, and now she will have those beliefs reinforced in school as well. I love that.

Of course, the school is called American Heritage Academy for a reason. One of the main areas of study is US history, the Constitution, and the Founding Fathers. I hate a lot of things about our government, but I have a passionate belief in the original government created at America’s inception. I believe America is a promised land. I believe that the people who came here searching for religious freedom were inspired. I believe that the people who founded this nation were inspired. I cry every time I hear the national anthem. I believe in showing respect for the flag. Patriotism matters to me. I love that Sonnet will learn about these things in the proper context and with the proper consideration.

The school encourages parents to be involved. In fact, parents are required to give 21 volunteer service hours to the school each year. That means helping out in the classroom, driving students on a field trip, running a bake sale, helping with the school play, collecting box tops… whatever. Also, teachers send home a weekly progress report to parents, regular parent-teacher conferences are held, and frequent Parent Organization meetings are scheduled. Plus, they have tons of fun family events going on throughout the year including a back to school BBQ, a Constitution night, a Plymouth thanksgiving celebration, a sock hop, a Christmas party, etc. I love that I have a reason to be at her school, getting to know the staff and the other parents, and of course, keeping my eye on her. J

At this school they are very big on respect and good manners. Students are required to wear preppy little uniforms. They all stand when an adult enters the classroom and greet them with a “good morning” or whatever is appropriate. They are encouraged to shake hands when introduced to someone, to offer help to those around them, and of course, integrity is of the upmost importance. Cursing is not allowed on campus. Of course, kids will be kids, but I love that for the most part, I can feel comfortable that she is in a safe and uplifting environment.

The basis of the curriculum at AHA is the “principal approach” developed by the Foundation for American Christian Education. Basically, it encourages “reflective learning” which means that children internalize information and principles and use them to shape their thinking and behavior. Rather than just doing what you’re told, or acting because of external forces, the children are taught to be self-governing, to enjoy learning just for the sake of improvement, and to choose right because it’s right- no matter the consequences. They focus a lot on the four R’s: researching, reasoning, relating, and recording. I totally support this methodology.

The school itself is about 30 minutes away from our house, which sounds like a lot when there’s a public school two minutes away. But I used to drive 30 minutes to work every day and that wasn’t weird. We drive 30 minutes to Gramma’s house every week. Heck, I’ve been known to drive 30 minutes across town for a piece of cheesecake. J Plus, we have the option of carpooling with some people who live in our area.

Kindergarten only meets 3 days a week, but it is full-day. The upper grades meet 4 days a week. There are about 160 students total in the whole school. Sonnet will only have 15 kids in her kindergarten class. We have already met her teacher and she is wonderful. AHA serves students all the way through high school, so assuming this works out, Sonnet will just continue to go there no matter where we move to in the valley. I imagine she will get very close to the other students and we will create great relationships with the other families who attend there.

Anyways, it is such a relief to finally have made a decision and to have things squared away for the upcoming school year. Sonnet is so excited to go and I am so happy that we found a place that we can feel good about. My hope is that home, church, and school will work in harmony to help Sonnet have the most enjoyable, rewarding, and successful life possible.

Yes, all of that over a 5 year old.

A Birthday!

Sonnet turned 5 on May 18th! For her birthday party, she decided she wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese with her cousins. She has over 30 cousins here in town and I am too cheap to feed ALL of them pizza, so we ended up just taking her and the other three girl cousins that are her age. She loves these girls and she's always begging to play with them... and they had a blast! They all scarfed pizza and sprite and played games for an hour and a half. They accumulated a ton of tickets and then picked out prizes for themselves. Sonnet brought them all crowns to wear so they could match. They were so cute playing with each other and talking to each other... Sonnet was in heaven and it made me so happy to see my girl so happy.

Uncle Hayden was in town with a couple of his old missionary companions and they stopped by to say hi. We love Hay Hay!

Gabi and Sonnet.

Scarlett and Ivy.

After Chuck E Cheese, we piled all the girls in our car and headed out to Grandma Spears' house. She got Sonnet a pink princess cake which was exactly what Sonnet requested. She cheated and blew out the candles before we stopped singing to her. She said that making a wish is her favorite part of a birthday. :) A bunch of her cousins came to Grandma's and we ate cake, opened presents, and played out in the yard until way past dark. It was a super fun day for all of us!

Sonnet really wanted a cat for her birthday, and I almost agreed, but Nate was not really on board and I don't want to clean a litter box. So, she got a little stuffed cat that purrs and moves instead. Hopefully that'll keep her entertained for a while. She also got lots of fun barbies and disney princess stuff-- her favorite! Grandma gave her a hummingbird feeder and Sonnet was so excited to hang it out in our yard today.

When we got home, I was tucking Sonnet into bed and we were talking about the fun day she had. I said, "I just can't believe my baby girl is 5 years old already!" She goes, "Don't worry Mom, I'm not going to leave you and go to college today." I know we still have many more years with her, but time goes so fast.

Sonnet is sweet and good to her core. She's tender and a wee bit emotional. She never wants the people around her to be sad. She laughs easily. She's particular about things, like the brand of chocolate milk we buy and what pillow she sleeps with. She likes to make lists and then cross items off them. She is a great artist and she goes through reams of paper every week creating her masterpieces. She remembers everything. She's a total hoarder...she wants to keep everything she's ever made or been given. Her room is usually a mess. She loves music. She has a freckle on her left side near her collarbone and another one on her butt. She loves to have her nails painted and she's always begging to put on makeup. She prefers dresses over pants any day. She loves ballet. She is a chatterbox. And sometimes she is shy. She asks a million questions a day. She is a picky eater. She is very tall for her age. She is so excited to go to kindergarten this year. She loves to play outside and ride her bike. Stetson is mesmorized by her. She plays very well by herself, but she loves to be around other kids. She can be very bossy. She has a great imagination! She likes to play computer games and watch Curious George. She is left-handed. She has great handwriting. She is learning to read. She adores her daddy and she is terrified of bugs. She likes to get dirty. She stays in the tub until her water gets cold. She is a total animal lover. She wants to help me do everything. She's pretty good at sharing. Her favorite colors are light blue and purple. Her favorite food is vanilla ice cream. She says she wants to be a cowgirl, an artist, and a doctor when she grows up. She is easily distracted. She is hilarious. She will always be our Baby Girl and we love her so much!

Motherhood.

"Motherhood is often a solitary job, performed behind closed doors and within the solid walls of your own home. There is no one to cheer when you finally fold the last load of laundry for the day or get your 16 year old to agree on an appropriate curfew. Because the world devalues the work a mother does, motherhood is seldom given the respect it deserves. Even mothers themselves fall into this trap. Because it seems as though no one is watching or applauding, it is easy to forget how important our callings are. Motherhood is all about selfless devotion, about doing “everyday things” every day."
-Jane Clayson Johnson

"Even on the mornings when you’re so tired you can barely butter your toast, the fact that you are up, willing to face the day and the challenges it holds, says everything about your courage and character. It takes a lot of both to be a mother- and even greater faith to believe that you can make a difference. Your children are watching you. And they see the good you do. Even when it seems like they may not be listening, the truths you teach and represent are planting seeds of strength and faith in their minds and their souls."
-Jane Clayson Johnson

"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother."
-Lin Yutang

"I believe the choice to become a mother is the choice to become one of the greatest spiritual teachers there is. To create an environment that’s stimulating and nurturing, to pass on a sense of responsibility to another human being, to raise a child who understands that he or she is created from good and is capable of anything- I know for sure that few callings are more honorable."
-Oprah Winfrey

"A mother has far greater influence on her children than anyone else has and she must realize that every word she speaks, every act, every response, her attitude, even her appearance and manner of dress, affect the lives of her children and the whole family. It is while the child is in the home that he gains from his mother the attitudes, hopes and beliefs that will determine the kind of life he will live and the contribution he will make to society."
-N. Eldon Tanner

"Satan has declared war on motherhood. He knows that those who rock the cradle have the power to rock his earthly empire. And he knows that without righteous mother loving and leading the next generation, the kingdom of God will fail. What could possibly be more enduring or important in the eyes of our Heavenly Father than nurturing one of his sons or daughters- teaching and cheering that precious soul on? Nothing. No diplomat or CEO or billionaire philanthropist does anything that comes anywhere close in importance to what a mother does. No trophy or status or honor of man begins to compare with motherhood in terms of its eternal impact and glory. Period."
-Sheri L. Dew

"You can’t possibly do this alone, but you do have help. The Master of Heaven and Earth is there to bless you—He who resolutely goes after the lost sheep, sweeps thoroughly to find the lost coin, waits everlastingly for the return of the prodigal son. Yours is the work of salvation, and therefore you will be magnified, compensated, made more than you are and better than you have ever been as you try to make honest effort, however feeble you may sometimes feel that to be."
-Jeffrey R. Holland

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly-cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, and the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled, will disappear all too soon and that you will— to your surprise— miss them profoundly."
-President Thomas S. Monson

"Do the best you can through these years... but whatever you do, cherish the role that is so uniquely yours and for which heaven itself sends angels to watch over you and your little ones."
-Elder Jeffery R. Holland

"You do not lose your identity when you become a mother; you have the opportunity to more closely identify with God."
-Jane Clayson Johnson

My Mom's Day.

Sonnet filled this out in church for me for mother's day. I love her answers. It's always so interesting to me to know what she really thinks and how she perceives me and her life. She will always be the one who first made me a mom and I love my little girlie!

Nate had to work on mother's day so I had my mom and dad over for dinner. Sonnet made me a super cute "book" with pictures of me, a heart, a flower, and my kids' names. I love that she is so into art and I love that she decided to share her talent with me without even being prompted. That's love. :)

I love that I have two kids to celebrate this year. It's a blessing to be a mom and I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be a mom to a girl and a boy. I love my kids, even on the hard days, and I love that I get to be with them almost every minute of every day. There are so many special moments and I wouldn't want to miss any of them. I'm also grateful for my own mom, my mother-in-law, my friends and the other good women in my life who set examples for me to follow and who support me as I navigate the highs and lows of motherhood.

Fish.

Sonnet started swimming without her floaty this week. She's never had swim lessons (she'll probably take some this summer just for fun) and we don't swim a whole lot, but yesterday we were swimming and we took her floaty off and we were practicing and all of a sudden she just got the hang of it and started dog paddling all over the pool. She was pretty excited and it was pretty cute! I like when she has her floaty on (I feel like I don't have to worry about her so much) and she still needs lessons to learn to swim underwater and stuff, but oh my goodness, my Girlie is getting so big!

 And Little Man liked the water too!

Rolls.

He's short, fat, and bald. And he couldn't be any cuter! :)

Blessed.

We had Stetson's blessing today. He wore a cute little white outfit that I found at Babies R Us a few months ago. He was going to wear the knit hat and booties that my brother wore when he was blessed, but they didn't fit him. Stetson is quite the chubby little guy! :) Instead he wore some tiny white (adorable!) Converse and he looked suuuuuper handsome!
I was afraid he was going to be yelling into the microphone during the blessing, but he was quiet and calm. He seemed happy to see all his cousins (I'm pretty sure he has a crush on Jenna) and other than 3 poopy diapers, the day was just beautiful.

Stetson had all his uncles, my uncles, his dad, both his grandpa's, and our awesome Bishop in the circle to give him a blessing. I just love the idea of a bunch of good men holding a brand new baby in their arms and blessing him with the things he needs the most. I think it's such a nice ordinance. I am grateful that Stetson has so many good men to look up to who will be there to teach him, guide him, support him (and take him camping) throughout his life.

Today he was blessed with health and strength, with confidence as he seeks the companionship of the Holy Ghost, with the ability to be an instrument in the hands of God, and to find an eternal partner to have his own family with someday. The first thing Nate said was that we want Stetson to know how much his mother and father love him. Amen to all of that.

After church, we had a luncheon at our house. My dad smoked some BBQ pork and we had baked beans, cornbread, broccoli salad, fruit salad, potato salad, macaroni salad, rolls, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, lemon cake, and soda... and it all got eaten! We had tons of family here (Sonnet loooooved having all her cousins at her house at the same time) and I'm thankful that everyone made the effort to come out.

I am grateful for my family. I have great parents and an amazing brother (who has a cool wife who has a cool family). I'm close to all my cousins and aunts and uncles. I love Nate's family (especially my sisters-in-law since I don't have any sisters of my own). Let's be honest, I'm not a super social person so hosting a party is not my idea of fun, but I believe in family and I think it's important and wonderful to get everyone together whenever we can. It means a lot that everyone turns out to support each other at times like this. I'm glad that we have a network of good family around us and I'm especially thankful for my amazing husband (yesterday was our anniversary- 7 years baby!) and our two (TWO!) little kiddies. :)

Today I just feel very blessed.