Okay, as a blogger, I'm a slacker... SSOOO much has been going on. We've been busy here and there.

The girls are back in school. They were able to get into the schools we wanted them to be in. Karli was accepted to North Star Charter School of International Business and Economics. This is an awesome school that uses The Harbor Method that fits our values and goals. It's an accredited school that is offering the International Baccalaureate program. They are expanding through the 12th grade with a brand new campus next fall. Karli is on the volleyball team and is a star server. (go figure...) Her first games are next Tues & Thurs. She's so excited. They'll be playing another charter school the next city over. Karli is part of the school choir. (She didn't want to learn another instrument, they don't offer guitar until 7th gr. She'll be starting private lessons sometime soon.) She sings with all her heart and is learning to sing in tune and on key. 8)

Calista was able to get into a magnet school, Pioneer School of the Arts. It teaches basic curriculum with an artsy-fartsy flair. Perfect for our little artsy-fartsy one. They incorporate music, drama, art etc... in everything. It was difficult for her at first. The school is on a year-round schedule and she started one week late. She was the only new kid in class. The other students have been together for years. Calista was accepted by others, but she just felt like the odd man out and was kind of stand offish. A couple of weeks into the year, her teacher switched schools and that was a bummer for Calista. There was a sub for a couple of days and then a whole new teacher. Well, Calista totally loves this new teacher. She loved him from the start. She rubbed it in our faces that her teacher is younger than us. (whatever... only by a few years... okay, by SIX years, but who's counting?!) (he's 10 years younger than Carl, HA, ol' fart!) After some persuasion, Calista joined choir, band (she's playing a trombone that's as long as she is tall!) and she's joined a peer's mentoring group and is her class' representative. She's overcome her anxieties and has come out of her shell. This is all great and dandy isn't it?

Well, we got a phone call from Karli's school on Tuesday evening. They're adding another 5th grade class due to the high demand and students on the wait list. Now!? School has already been in session for over a month! They offered a position to Calista. We've already planned on her attending North Star next year. She'd be a shoe-in because of a sibling already attending the school. (Pioneer only goes up to 5th grade) North Star only had one 5th grade, up until now. If Calista doesn't fill a spot now, she might not get in next year. There are only 2 classes per grade and a limited amount of students per class. Great! If she doesn't start now, she'll be on a lottery next year and if she isn't picked then she'll have to go to the BIG public jr. high school. NO WAY!! So we weighed our pros and cons. The major contributing factor was that North Star is WAY ahead of the game on curriculum. They are a top school of the state. Their math program is tops and it's from the same books as NCS, so the girls are already familiar with it. We were worried that if Calista stayed at Pioneer, their curriculum is really review for Calista, that her brain would turn to mush. I've already looked into supplementing her homework with other work, but this would be so much better for her in the long run. She wouldn't have to play catch-up next year if she was accepted at North Star. She really didn't want to change schools. We understand, she's finally found her niche. We talked with her about it and let her know that the whole class/other students would be in the same boat. They've all been at other schools for this past month and wouldn't know anyone on the first day. That eased her a little bit. She won't be able to continue her trombone there during the 5th grade, but band is offered in 6th. (She'll be starting her private lessons sometime soon too...) (it's funny, when she practices, it sounds like a dying elephant is in our house. lol)(practice makes better) We had to give North Star our decision by yesterday. Yea, only 2 days of notice. Calista's class starts Monday. Yep, THIS Monday. She's accepted it and is okay now. It's been a crazy last few days. She's excited to do more school shopping. (at least it's all on clearance) The class supply list is totally different from Pioneer. She needs a few speciality items. She'll be needing her own thumb drive, for one. (Karli was excited about getting that for her supplies this year.) So, today is Calista's last day at Pioneer School of the Arts. We talked to her teacher and he's disappointed about seeing "his favorite student" go. He's a great teacher with wonderful ideas, a lot of hands on. Calista says he's a lot like Mr. Palmquist. We know how big of an act that is to follow. So this teacher must be something wonderful to even measure up. We'll be keeping in touch with him for sure.

Let's see... We finally went camping!! I thought this was going to be our first summer with no camping, but I say nay nay... Last minute, we went camping with our small group during Labor Day Weekend. It was almost as perfect as camping could be. Our group had the whole campgrounds to ourselves. It was secluded in the mountains, just about 100yds from the river. BEAUTIFUL!!! It was on about 5 acres behind a log cabin church. They had a shower and restrooms for us to use in the church building. We went and swam in the river, the dads took the kids fishing (calista caught 2!) the moms went to the hot springs. (awesome!) We sat around the fire, talked stories, played games and enjoyed each other's company. We did this for 4 days. I'd say that's a perfect camping trip.

I'll include some pictures sometime soon. Keep an eye out on the left for the link.

Don't' forget, today is September 19th. What's that you ask? Where have you been!? It's Talk Like a Pirate Day! Even Google has made note. Check out the Google Pirate Search. So, avast ye scurvy dogs, get yer grog 'n drink up me hearties, yo ho!