Remember

This morning I watched tv specials commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. I cried as they interviewed children who were born after their fathers were killed that day. I cried as people spoke of what they saw and experienced. I too remember exactly where I was. I was a Sophomore in college. I was in my apartment blow drying my hair when the phone rang. It was my mom. She told me to turn on the tv. I sat and watched as the second plane struck. I remember walking on campus and seeing everyone's faces. We were all trying to process what was happening on the other side of the country. I will forever remember that day and how we changed as a county and a people because of it.

Of all the things said today, one stood out to me most. Katie Couric was talking about the memorials. She was speaking of all the trees built around the memorial. They were talking about how fitting it was. To see the trees changing with the seasons will forever be a symbol of life. I love that. Honor those who have died for us by living, really living and doing our best. To end the program they played a Beyonce song, "I Was Here" and I thought it was beautiful. (The link below is the video.)

http://www.celebuzz.com/2011-09-11/beyonces-i-was-here-becomes-inspirational-911-tribute-video/

Book Blogger Wannbe

I am not a book blogger. I admire all those who are, their ability to read so many books so quickly and then to so eloquently put into words their feelings about those books. I appreciate their time and effort because it is through those blogs that I l learn about new books and get an idea of which ones I might want to spend my time reading. People like Kristi at The Story Siren, Nic at Irresistible Reads, Lea at YA Book Queen, and Sarah at GreenBeanTeenQueen are a few of my favorites. I love their blogs and look forward to my morning stop at their sites. Even though I have never met them before, I feel like they are friends. We are just sharing our common interest of love for the written word.

This year has been a tough one for me. But reading has brought me solace when I was in need of comfort. I recently read a statistic that those who read on a regular basis are far less likely than those who do not to battle depression. The reason being that when you are reading a book, the characters feel like friends and people you know. Even on days when I may not have any interaction with people outside my own home I still feel as though I have conversed with a friend.

So far this year I have read 48 books. My goal for the year is 60 but I hope to be able to go beyond that. Among those 48 books I have read a few that have really stuck with me. So although I may not be a book blogger, today I would like to take an idea from Nic at Irresistible Reads, the Mini Review.

Jellicoe Road, Amy and Roger's Epic Detour, and What Happened to Goodbye are all very different types of books, but they all had a common theme. First, I loved them all. They were all about dealing with trials and how friends can help us through those. I really felt as I was reading these books the importance of being willing to open up to others and let them in. People can only comfort us if we let them. Jellicoe Road was heart breaking but I loved the connection of the characters and the way the clung together. Amy and McLean both had to learn to let others in and see them, know them beyond the surface even though that was a hard thing to do. It seems it is always easier to hide. Loved these two books.

The Day Before was amazing. I started off thinking this book was going in a very different direction. Lisa is an amazing author. I love every one of her books. She writes in verse and there is something about that that is so beautiful and truly lends to feeling and emotion. I loved the way Amber and Cade were able to lend strength to each other in their times of need. Both had hard things to face. It really touched me. It reminded me to pay attention to people. Really try to see them. We never know what unseen pain others are dealing with and how we might help. It also reminded me that people are not always as they seem from the outside. We have to look deeper.
When I picked up Sean Griswold's Head, I thought it would be a fluffy read. I mean, just read the title. It was definitely funny but heartfelt too. I cannot stop thinking about this book. I don't know why it stayed with me; I read it back in March. But I love the way that Sean was able to help Payton through her trial. He showed her not to give up and how to deal in a positive way, set a goal and work toward it. I loved that it was about facing hard things in a positive way.

And can I just say that I am absolutely in love with the River of Time series. The heroines are brave and courageous, smart and caring. The writing is clear and descriptive. I could visualize things so clearly and felt as though I were in Italy myself. I love the characters. I love their devotion to each other. I love that they have to make hard decisions but do what is right regardless of what they may wish to do. I love that I can see in Gabriella's mind, hear her thoughts and know where she is coming from. It reminds me of Katniss but in a totally different setting and time. Powerful and beautiful! This series and Hunger Games are tied for my favorite series of all time.

Okay, so probably not the best reviews ever, but I cannot seem to stop thinking about these books. They have been there for me and helped me so much this year, just like Rory and Lorelai did in years past. They have been my friends and helped me search myself and ask myself if I need to do some reevaluating of how I am doing in my life. They have been there for me and allowed me an escape when I needed one. For as the quote goes, "Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are." So true.

School Part 2

Tuesday, September 6 Porter started preschool. He is doing a neighborhood preschool that has a total of six kids. It rotates houses and teachers. He knew he was going to preschool but all that meant to him was he got to carry a Bobby Jack backpack. When it was time to go and I dropped him off he was all smiles. It lasts one hour and when I went back to pick him up he was still smiling. When I asked what he did he told me about horses and blocks. I knew the theme for the day was "All About Me," so I asked his teacher later what they learned about. She laughed and said the blocks and animals were only for the last 5 minutes of class. Oh well. But he did have fun showing me the giant tracing of him. He was so excited about it. "This is Porter!"
Yesterday we did some of his games from his preschool folder and he loved it! I think this is going to be great for him.
Yesterday, September 7, Ainsley started Kindergarten. Oh boy was I nervous for her. All day the day before she kept asking me questions. "What if I forget where my hook for my backpack is?" "What if I forget where my desk is?" "What if I don't get on the right bus?" "What if the other kids stare at me while I look for my hook?" She was a ball of nerves and that didn't help me.

But the morning arrived. We took great care with her outfit and her hair. While I was doing her hair I told her she needed to put her shoes on next. She asked which shoes she should wear. I told her whatever ones she wanted. She said she wanted to wear her new school sneakers but they didn't match because they are blue. "I wish they were gray or yellow." I told her it was okay if her shoes didn't match. "Are you sure?" She was finally convinced it would be okay. When she was ready to go we went outside to take pictures. She was so excited to show off her Justin Bieber backpack.

Finally it was time to go to the bus stop. I asked if she wanted me to walk her there and she said, "It's okay, I will go with Brinnley." So Chant, Porter, and I gave the girls hugs and watched from the corner as she walked across the street and to the corner for the bus stop. She looked so tiny standing there with all the big kids. When the bus rounded the corner I started to cry. She is just so little! Watching the poor thing climb those big steps!
When the bus was out of sight Porter and I went inside and settled in for a few hours of just the two of us. It was weird, but nice. We played games and read books.
Finally it was time to go to the bus stop to pick her up. When the bus pulled up she was all smiles walking down the stairs. The highlight of the day was the piece of cake she got with a note that read "My first day of Kindergarten was a piece of cake." She told me all about the two new friends she made, one of them named Ashlyn. She showed me the handprint she had made with ink on her hand. She talked about seeing the computer room. She described the playground. And then she said, "I can't wait for school tomorrow!" And I breathed a sigh of relief. She's going to be just fine! And so will I.

School

Tuesday, August 30th was Brinnley's first day at school. Grades 2-6 started Monday, but Monday the first graders had appointments to meet their teacher. Kindergarten doesn't start until September 7, because the first week of school is when they do Kindergarten testing. Ainsley had her testing/meet the teacher meeting on Monday as well. So it was a Williams Family event at the school Monday. Chant took Brinnley to meet her teacher because I had to stay with Ainsley. When her teacher, Ms. Harvey, asked Brinnley to write her name on the paper, Brinnley asked if she should write Brinn or Brinnley. Ms. Harvey said to write whatever she wanted to be called. And my girl wrote Brinn. So, I guess it's official now. Brinn- so grown up!

Ainsley did really well on her testing and she was very excited about the candy she got afterword. She seemed a little shy, but I know she was soaking everything in. I am possibly more nervous about this lady going to school than I was with Brinnley. Brinnley is outgoing and confident when Ainsley is a bit more reserved at first. Add that to her 12% frame and I get a little nervous for her. But she will be fine. I however will probably cry.

Monday night we had a special dinner of hot dogs and watermelon and I made cupcakes for dessert. Then our Family Home Evening was introducing our theme for the year. I chose Love One Another. I thought this was perfect. With both of them starting out new, I thought it would be a good reminder to love others and be a friend. We talked about how they could show love and concern for others at school and at home. I am very excited about this theme. All three days since school started we have talked about what Brinnley did to show love or concern for others at school and Ainsley has talked about what she has done at home. It has been good for us and I hope we can continue to do it.
Tuesday morning was the BIG day. I was finishing Brinn's hair when I told her next she needed to put her shoes on. She asked which ones and I told her whatever ones she wanted, knowing she was going to choose her sneakers. Cracks me up! But she loves them and a sandal hasn't touched her foot since.
She's quite good at striking a pose.

Sending Brinnley off to the bus. I was fine all day until about 20 minutes before she should be home. I was nervous she wasn't going to get on the right bus. But of course she made it just fine. And when she got off she came running with a big smile on her face. The first thing she told me was what was for lunch. I am so proud of her for eating! She is going to get lots of exposure to new foods this year if she doesn't want to be hungry. There a few kids in her class that were in her class last year, but not her best buddy Ethan. Even though they aren't in the same class, she still managed to still close to him at lunch and play tag together at recess. And of course they sit next to each other on the bus. We are off to a good start!
So what have we been doing while Brinn is off learning? Lot of train tracks and cars and of course the ocassional babysitting job. These two were pros. They even managed to feed the baby with a Flinn Rider figurine. Baby didn't seem to mind.

Even though Ainsley has had fun playing with Porter, she is anxiously waiting her turn to ride the bus for the first time! Speaking of buses, when we were at the school for her testing, we found out this year they approved a bus to take morning Kindergarteners home. I am so excited! No more loading the kids in the car and driving to the school everyday. It is going to be fabulous!

Bring on the New

Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the rich colors and the way the cooler weather makes me feel alive, awakened from my comatose state caused by the heat. And this year maybe more than ever I crave the change of the seasons. With that change in the weather, I have a hope that I can change too. That I will be able to shake off the wearing down I have felt from the changes in our lives. I hope that like the colors of the leaves I can glow just as bright and be the better, more positive person I want to be. Even though this year I am mourning the loss of the beautiful tree that stood in the front of our home in Missouri, I am excited to see the colors change on the mountains of Utah. I am so ready for fall and all it has to offer!

P.S.
These photos are taken in front of our home in Missouri last fall.

Sadness and Action

Last week I received an e-mail that made me so sad. It was a letter from the President of Borders Books. Borders has been closing down stores for a while, but this e-mail announced that the entire chain would be closing. This makes me so incredibly sad. I will admit that I don't often buy books, mostly I check them out at the library, but the reason for not buying is purely financial. If I had money I would have bookshelves full of glorious books. There is something wonderful about holding a book in my hands, feeling the pages, smelling that book smell, seeing the beautiful cover artwork. I love it when books include hand-written notes from the characters. It makes them that much more personal. When I pick up a book I feel the characters in it's weight, their situations and personalities and stories. They become real to me. Now I don't own an e-reader of any kind and have never really looked in depth at one. I can see the advantage, having a whole library in one little electronic device, being able to take that library anywhere and it not taking up space. I totally get it. But I feel this weight of sadness in my heart at the thought that this chain of bookstores is now closing. Is this what is in store for us? I sure hope not.

When I read books like Matched and Awaken where the characters don't know how to write other than on a computer and they don't even know what a pencil is, where their entire existence happens in front of the computer screen, well it doesn't seem that far off. It has been talked of recently to stop teaching children how to write cursive in school. That too makes me sick. I read on a book review blog recently that the reviewer had a hard time understanding the book because much of it was written in hand-written notes all written in cursive and she couldn't read it. To think that my children might not be able to read my Grandma's journals because they cannot read cursive is a horrible thought. I have vowed to myself that even if they stop teaching it in schools I will make sure my children know how to read and write in cursive. It's too important not to learn. I feel passionately about this.

I see things in this world spinning out of control and sometimes I feel there is nothing I can do to change it, so I sit by resigned and panicked. Like watching the talks about the debt ceiling debate. I feel horror at where our country is headed. Even though I don't have control over the debt ceiling or Border's closing, I can do my part. I can take my children to the library and keep reading books to them and teaching them what I feel is important. I can make a difference even if it is just within the walls of my own home.

Music Man

Last week was Porter's first week going to music class. My friend Emily is doing a summer music class called "Musical Me." We were out of town for the first class, so Porter took a while to understand what was going on when everyone else had already been introduced to the class. But he had a good time. Emily said she would give him an instrument and he would play it a minute then hand it back and fold his arms and watch everyone else. That's his thing lately, he's always got his arms folded. SO funny! The class was all about percussion. When he got home he showed me how they marched and he played his hand clappers. And he wouldn't take off the hat they made in class all day. This morning I told him he is going back to class today and he was so excited. "I go to music class and see all my friends!" I think this will be a great thing for him. Thanks Emily for doing it!

Party Time

The evening of Monday the 18th Jen, Gran, Oma, and Opa came to celebrate Ainsley's birthday. It was a very low key affair after being gone a week and a half. We had dinner then cake and ice cream.
Ainsley's candle actually stayed lit long enough for us to sing happy birthday and for her to blow out the candle.
Opa and Oma gave her a gift card to Wal-Mart. She was so excited to go school clothes/shoes shopping!
Jen gave Ainsley a girls day out. Ainsley has been looking forward to this since Brinnley's birthday back in January. The big day isn't happening until Friday and she cannot wait! She feels like such a big girl now!
The cake came with a few rings and other things and Brinnley was pretty excited she got one.
Gran and Aunt Linda gave her the cutest little bag filled with markers and crayons. She has been creating masterpieces every day since.
Porter is wearing the fairy wings that were in the cake.
For some reason, this birthday has made Ainsley feel so grown-up. I don't know if it's because she is going to school or what, but she keeps saying things like "since I'm five now" and "did you do this when you were five?" So funny! Love you my little lady! Happy birthday!