First Day of School 2022

 There is something magical and nerve wracking  about the first day of school. Everyone woke up eager and nervous. Teeth and hair were brushed, lunches packed, prayers said and off they went.

Matthew, the first grader. He has Miss Stratton this year and has a lot of friends in his class he didn’t have last year. In case you were wondering why he is wearing a coat when the forecast I supposed to be 102 degrees: it’s so when the girls chase him and catch him, he can slip out of their grasp easily. 

What a stud!

William, the third grader! William has Mrs. Robertson. He was very nervous for school since his teacher was new to the school, so out of the three it was the only one he didn’t know! More so, this is his first year since preschool that he didn’t have his best friend, Luke, in his class. (He only vaguely knew one boy in his class this year!) 

William and Baby-mode (knees in his shirt.) All. The. Time.

Johnny. The man. The myth. The Legend. The SIXTH grader! His last year in elementary! 🥺😭. Johnny has Cate’s old teacher, Mr. Finnegan. He is so excited. Also for the first time he is with his best friend Max, among other good friends. He was more excited than I can ever remember going to school the first day.

Goodness I love him. His favorite teacher is the librarian, and every year he makes a stop first thing to tell her hello!

Cate the Great, starting year eight! Her final year of middle school. Her first day was technically next day, but because she is in Leadership, she got to help out with orientation for the seventh graders at Mcloughlin. 

Goodness, if I could just hug a picture!! I love these four!

Per tradition, I promised Johnny we could walk to school. We drove a few blocks away and enjoyed the beautiful crisp morning. As I trailed behind these three, I realized this was the last year I would have all three of my boys at the same school! I felt so grateful the school district is waiting until next year to move sixth grade to the middle school. I love having these three together.

Johnny took off as soon as we got to the school, but William and Matthew wanted me to walk them to their classroom. They each got their teachers a plant and treat for the first day.

Dropping off the little boys ended up being much more dramatic for my mama’s heart than I anticipated. William was in a nervous daze as he entered his classroom. He couldn’t find his chair and I watched his eyes panic as he read all the name tags, not recognizing any names! He sunk into his chair and just looked at his desk, not sure what to do. (Spoiler: everything turned out fine, but it was not an easy visual to walk away from.) Matthew insisted he wasn’t nervous, besides; he’s not a kinder anymore! He marched into his classroom, followed directions and found his cubby. As he clearly didn’t need me, I turned away and then thought—“I’m going to snag a quick picture to send to John.” 

Here is what I found when I turned back toward the classroom:

His head was buried in his hands. I walked back in and asked if he needed a hug. He nodded “yes.”  I asked if he was OK, and he answered with flushed cheeks and watery eyes, “I didn’t know I was going to miss you so much.” And instead of melting into a puddle of tears right then and there I put on my brave mom face and said, “You’re not going to miss me! You are going to have so much fun today and before you know it, I’ll come pick you up and we’ll have cookies after school together! How does that sound?” He smiled shyly and said it sounded good, gave me a hug. 

Then I left.

And held my hormonal pregnancy tears in until made it to my car, and absolutely cried the whole way home. There was something so lonely about walking into an empty home after the often chaotic, messy, and crowded home of Summer. I called John to ask how Cate’s drop off went and he said it was fine, and she talked a lot but he wasn’t paying attention (ha!) and she said some jokes he didn’t laugh at and she responded with “OK, I guess I’m not using that one on my friends.” And I thought about how nice it must be to be John and not neurotic and an emotional mess over basically nothing. 😂

I ate away my feelings then got to work on some organizing projects that have been on my list, and prepping dinner and cookies for after school.

The boys all had the best day. Everyone loves their teachers and it was an afternoon of fielding three conversations simultaneously. It was such a happy feeling. After my worried morning, I was so grateful to see what a great year this is going to be for all of them. 

We filled out all the back to school paper work (ew.) and the kids played with friends until it was time to pick Cate up from Cross Country.

I went to bed that night exhausted, grateful, and happy. Despite the bold declaration that time is indeed passing, I sure love the first day of school with its new school shoes and fresh school supplies. The routine of fall is a familiarity I fell asleep looking forward to.

Cate’s official first day of school!

The boys’ second day of school!

(William’s peace sign, Johnny’s “Hi best friend!” Shirt he had custom made because that is his motto, and Matthew’s that’s-how-I-smile-mom face. Love them.

Cate’s third day of school.

Rise Up and Reach Out

I really love September. I love Back to School time—watching all the kids with their backpacks, new school supplies, excited to meet their teachers. I love the harvest and canning that happens in the fall. I feel similarly in how I nest and physically hunker down for fall and winter, each September I find myself emotionally and spiritually harvesting what is needed to get through the darker months of the year. I find September is often a reflection to me of ways I can come “Back to the Savior.” I start nesting and organizing, I bring out my planner, I make new job charts, menus, Come Follow Me and scripture reading goals. I feel this craving to gather all that’s good and store it in my home.

One of my favorite traditions is our family’s Back to School Celebration every year. I feel like this event productively channels the nerves I feel about sending my kids off to the world. It is my way of giving them an emotional hug and they set out on the next season in their journey. 

We set the table with my wedding china and gold-plated flatware, decorate with fresh flowers, bouquets of sharpened pencils and crayons and scatter apples down the middle. We break up our dinner into a four course meal, making special dishes. I relish my summers with all the kids home, as someone who gets nostalgic in the moment, I love how this tradition pauses time for an evening and celebrates the next thing instead of mourning the passing time. To me, this meal is celebration of gratitude for a wonderful summer and of hope for a wonderful year. 

This year’s menu was as follows:

Course I: Punch and Appetizers

I always make punch for this meal. This year’s had frozen pink lemonade concentrate, sugared strawberries, a third a can of orange juice concentrate. After blending those ingredients together and freezing, we just added tonic water to the punch bowl—it was so yummy and a huge hit! 

Everyone got a plate with a cut of watermelon, pineapple, a couple carrots and cucumbers, then some meat, cheese and a cracker.

Course II: Bread and Salad

For the salad I made a simple poppyseed dressing served over romaine lettuce and chopped strawberries, grapes, cucumbers, cheese (goat for the adults/string cheese for the kids.) Then sprinkled with candied walnuts.

This summer my goal was to learn how to work with sourdough. I am quite proud of myself actually accomplishing this feat since I am a hit-and-miss goal keeper! So naturally: we had fresh sourdough artisan bread and I whipped cinnamon-honey butter. The sweetness of the butter with tang of bread was a heavenly. (Yes, when I think of how heaven must feel I imagine it’s what I experience biting into fresh bread. 😂)

Course III: Ham and Funeral Potatoes

This was a treat because I never make ham and everyone loves it. Also, the dishes could be made ahead and kept warm while we ate. (Not to overlook:  the recipes made a enough food for leftovers to have later in the week! Go me!)

Course IV: Dessert

I wish I would have snagged a picture of the pie I made! I baked a pie crust with cinnamon sugar, then spread a layer of cream cheese whipped with honey and heavy cream, then topped with remaining sugared strawberries from the punch. It was tasty and refreshing.

After our fancy dinner, we headed upstairs to reveal our family theme! I felt touched by how excited the kids were to find out what our focus as a family would be this school year. 

This year the Brassells are going to “Rise up and Reach out!” John and my hope is that we can all rise to who we were born to be as sons and daughters of God; then, reach out and lift others. 

I usually make a lesson teaching the kids what the theme can mean to them.

This year I went about it by comparing them to the sun. We talked about how like the sun, they have the opportunity to rise up each day. We talked about different qualities and habits they could do to “Rise Up.” The list included things like: reading scriptures, daily prayer, eating healthy, working hard, learning, trying again and again, doing Come Follow Me as a family, following the prophet, making and keeping goals, and so on. We compared this idea to the Lion King (big time fans of that movie at our house!), and how just like Simba had to rise up and remember who he was to stand in his birthright, they also are born for something noble. And what good is the sun if it stays hidden away? 

Although it may take effort, and leaving comfort; there are blessings and opportunities as they tune into their divine nature and recognize responsibilities attached to being covenant makers and keepers, and disciples of Christ.

We watched a clip by Elder Uchtorf talking about how like the “ugly duckling” we must hold on to who we truly are, even if it’s different than others around us.

For the second portion, we discussed that just like the sun, we can provide light and warmth to those around us. We talked about different ways to “Reach out” like rays of sunshine. For example, making new friends, choosing kindness, forgiving others, bearing testimony, looking for ways to help, and so on. We watched a video about two boys making cookies for a friend who was struggling, and discussed the many ways the boys reached out and spread light. 

We also talked about how clouds can cover the sun and block its ability to give light and warmth. Some clouds could include: bad choices, unfairness, it’s too hard, self doubt. But just like wind can blow away clouds, God has given them tools to combat clouds that hover. Some productive wind could be: repentance, praying for added love, making small and simple goals, praying for courage. We again compared this idea to Simba and all the “clouds” that surrounded him, making it difficult to rise up and do what he was born to do.

We closed the lesson by watching the music video “Arise.” I really felt the Holy Ghost touching our hearts. There was a feeling of love that I think calmed and softened hearts, and; helped our kids know they weren’t alone during this transition.

John then gave us all Father’s Blessings. It was sacred and strengthening. 

Finally, it was off to the races as everyone was bathed, lunches packed, clothes laid out, leadership introduction speeches practiced, “one more snack” eaten, books read and bedtime prayers said. 

Despite my exhaustion and aching pregnant body, I determinedly marched to the kitchen to clean up before bed. I felt gratitude that everything came together and we were able to enjoy such a beautiful evening as a family. Yes, there may have been a breakdown in my closet at one point (if we’re being transparent), but I was so proud of myself for pushing through and for the help from heaven that sustained me. I feel like this celebration is my way of repairing my kids’ armor as they leave our home for another school year. I’m grateful for this family and life I get to share with John and as years pass, I feel the joy of God’s plan. Seasons come and go, and I feel like I am beginning to see more clearly His plan is one of growth, joy and redemption. What a beautiful journey He has set us on. 

And like that, another school year begins!

First Day of Pre-k for Matthew

 I was so grateful to find a preschool situation for Matthew this year!
With all the kids home, it has been so nice for him to have his own thing. I enjoy our drives to and from school so much. We borrowed a song from Sid the Science Kid and sing it on our way to preschool every day. It goes like this:

I love my mom, My mom is cool, but now, it's time to go to school!

I love you lots, you're my my favorite Matthew, and now, I'm going to miss you!

It makes me happy.

Now, queue all the pictures of Matthew where he basically looks the same unless your his mother and you love the small differences in every single one!

At a stop sign on our drive home. He asked me to take a picture of him being happy that he went to preschool even though he misses Miss Jenna.

First Day of School 2020

Today was a happy day. There was so much preparation, worry, anticipation, and uncertainty of how school would look and feel this year. I feel so grateful everything went so smoothly. I have a lot of hope for the coming weeks of online learning, also a some dread if I'm making sure to acknowledge the expected breakdowns from this afternoon...but I think we have a good handle on what is coming.

Cate: 6th, Johnny: 4th, Matthew: Pre-K, Wills: 1st

I woke up this morning and squeezed in a quick yoga routine before I woke up the kids. We got to our morning meeting in good time and were able to start the day reading scriptures and talking about how crucial it is to recognize the signs of Heavenly Father.

We had breakfast and then quickly the kids headed out the door to walk around the block back to school. Haha! They divided into their separate rooms and logged into their zooms. It was a busy five minutes getting everyone settled, and then it was a peaceful excitement. 

(we had to try a couple different spots for William!)

Caity excited after her zoom

William not excited after the zoom.

I walked down my hall feeling so grateful to have all my kids home. So many years I walk away from student drop off and feel loss realizing I won't see them for hours. There wasn't that separation from them this year, and it was so fun to witness their first day in real time.  I am likely in the honey moon stage of homeschooling. 

It was funny, I worked so hard to get the three oldest settled, I completely forgot I'd have to keep a preschooler busy during this as well! I closed the last bedroom door quietly only to turn around to Matthew looking at me expectantly, "OK, what about me now!?" Luckily, his Aunt Kristen had sent me the curriculum she was doing with Maria, so we were able to dive in to the letter A! Matthew and I read a couple books, then continued helping all the kids while he played with blocks. 

Everything just.went.well. 

William and Caity had longer zoom meetings than Johnny and they got a little burnt out, but stuck it through until the end of the day. One of my highlights was John coming for lunch.

 After school, we invited some friends over for cookies. It was so nice and needed to unwind with other moms while the kids connected with real humans (as opposed to computer screens.) 

Then we got to end the night having cake and ice-cream at the Rice's for Mckay's birthday!  The kids played night games past their bed time.

There will not be school tomorrow, due to wildfires in Medford. I am trying to not to over-react or freak out, but it is nerve-wracking watching neighbors evacuate as we follow the Jackson County recommendations. So far no homes have caught fire, so I am hoping we wake up to good news tomorrow. John is out now helping a friend prep his farm in case the fires come his way. Caity just came in and said, "My thought about the fires, is what Rachel Lynn would say 'Trust in Providence'" Goodness, I love her!

In other news, Happy 13 years to John and me!! We didn't get to do much celebrating today, but we got to do a bunch of living. I am grateful for him and the life we share. Even though John didn't have time to pick up the flowers he planned to, and I didn't get to write out my very favorite thirteen memories of the last thirteen years; it's not lost on me that newlywed John and Mary would be so pleased and excited if they got a glimpse of our what are lives looked like today. There is something satisfying and joyful about living the life you always dreamed with your soulmate.