Have a great school year, Rangers!

We started school just two days after we moved in.  No time to think about things, we just jumped right in.  We are now the Rangers, but the kids keep thinking about other mascots they think sound better with Kemmerer - Kangaroos, Cans (yes we can do it, haha!), Cattle Drivers and more. They are so funny. The night before school, they received Preisthood blessings from Dad.  We are so grateful to have a worthy Father to be able to do that. They received the Lord's confidence and blessings, and the kids remarked that these words weren't just ones he made up, they were straight from God. We made them all home lunch (with the prices of lunch here, I think we will do more home lunch) with notes of course (try to do notes at least once a week). I dropped Emma off at 6:45 for Seminary. She has done online, with one day on the computer over Zoom. So this is new for her. They had breakfast burritos and three great teachers. She really likes it!  I was worried she wouldn't because it is so early and she is not a morning person. Emma is in 10th grade now, and is taking Geometry, English, History, Art, Band, Business computer essentials, and Swimming teaching (the elementary school all takes swimming lessons and she is going to be one of the teachers). She has felt a warm welcome from the other kids.  Callahan is in 7th grade, which is where junior high starts here. He came home the first day a little flustered. He forgot his schedule but went to go get a new one from the office, rocked getting his locker open, and he was overwhelmed by such a big school, and new people. Callahan got started right away with football practice. He has been really digging it so far. He's been tired and sore by the end of the day but can't wait for the next practice. They had a team breakfast and I volunteered to bring hash browns and so it was fun to see him at the end of the week interact with the other kids and open up. Em and Cal both go to Kemmerer Junior Senior High School. They see each other sometimes. Emma came home loving school, and by the second day and throughout the week Cal was in much better spirits. They also had their first combined youth activity and there were about 30 kids, which was a shocker for them. They had a barbeque and played at the pond of someone from the ward and they had a good time.  Lucy and Cov go to Canyton Elementary School.  Lucy is in 5th grade and in Mrs. Skidmore's class. She is a huge Disney fan and has been really nice, Lucy really likes her and has been making some friends throughout the week. Covey is in 3rd grade and in Mrs. Swazey's class. He came home saying school was epic! They think some of the ways things are done are weird but are adjusting. Cov even had his first play date with a friend Kash, who sits by him at school and also happens to be in our ward and the son of the COO Dave works with. He couldn't miss a friends Friday.  Sydnie kept saying how much she missed the kids. As we were at home unpacking, doing workbooks, making crafts, reading, going to the parks or out for walks, grocery shopping, she kept saying things like "take a picture of me doing this and send it to [one of our kids' names]!"  We went to a get together at the park and met a bunch of kids and moms from the area. Sydnie is not shy at all and just jumped right in playing with everyone and I met some great people. She is excited to start her own school, at the Kemmerer Child Development Center.  We usually do our back to school "fight" and "crazy dinner" the night before school starts, but with things being so crazy and getting moved in, we had it on our first night of the first day of school.  We all drew out of a bowl what we would pick at the store - Dave got main dish and got fried chicken, Emma got drinks and picked out some old fashioned sodas, Cal got dessert and picked Creamies, Lucy got side and picked out potato chips, Cov got fruit and picked out fruit leather, and Sydnie got vegetable and picked out broccoli. We decided to do a sticky hand fight (Cal's idea) and it was so funny. We all laughed so hard and didn't want to stop, but we had to go to bed. Sydnie had her first day of school and ended up loving it. She kept calling it Kid's Club but said her teachers said that was okay. She is making friends and doing so well, the teachers tell me how much they love having her there. She enjoys playing outside on the playground best. I am proud of these resilient kiddos!  It is not easy starting a new school year, let alone starting a new school year in a new place. But they rocked it!