Pepito

The Preschool Pet that never was: Pepito. After 7 years of teaching preschool, I decided it was time to introduce a new pet. Nothing against Poppy Penguin, but he was looking worn. It was time to breathe new life into the preschool pet. Jenna & I found a cute little puppy at Walgreens. In honor of the "Skippyjon Jones" books (a new Hancock family favorite), we named the puppy "Pepito the Puppy."

Well, Pepito became a big hit at the Hancock House. Jenna couldn't move without Peptito by her side. The boys also found great favor in Pepito. We made up a silly song for Pepito and it stuck in our heads. (To the tune of "It's Raining, It's Pouring": Pepito, Pepito, our little preschool puppy. He goes to school everyday, es muy necessito!)

Pepito became the necessary item for Jenna to go to sleep. And then, I knew we were in trouble!! One night, she cried the most broken-hearted cry, because Pepito was lost. "What would the preschool kids do now!" she cried. Trevor came to the rescue and found Pepito playing on the swings outside. Oh, Pepito!

Pepito became a member of the Hancock family and we had to find a new preschool pet. We found a bear and after many possible names...he ended up as Bobilito the Bear. (Yep, another name from Skippyjon Jones).

I ate it 'til it was naked

Jenna & Jason have found a new LOVE: pluots. They get so excited to eat them. Trevor and Matt are not feeling the pluot-love. While Jenna devoured her pluot at dinner, she exclaimed, "I ate it 'til it was naked." These big brains in these little bodies sure say the darnest things!

Hello Long Lost Blog

I could probably write each day about the craziness of my life. However, that would bore the readers.
Regardless, for posterity sake, I feel I should mention a day in my life: exercising at 6am, getting boys off to school (breakfast & all), getting myself & Jenna ready for the day, setting up preschool, teaching preschool, getting Jas off the school bus, getting lunch, doing homework (reading/writing) with Jason, doing my chores (clean house, laundry, dishes, type school directory, order books/cookie dough/pictures, answer emails, answer phone calls, prep for preschool, prep for RS lesson, exercise, etc.). Then we prepare for the brother invasion where we juggle getting Jason & Jenna settled so I can help Trevor and Matt with homework and piano. Then we get a quick dinner and we're off to soccer (3 boys on 3 different fields at 3 different times in a night). Then, like last night, we left soccer early to head to Scout Pack Meeting. While Chad took the kids home, I was off to a baby shower. Finally, I returned home to find several school forms and school work awating my attention and I was far too tired to attempt it.

It's ok. It's a crazy life, but there are moments that I stop to breathe and enjoy the process. Moments where I pause to thank our Heavenly Father for a scout leader who went the extra mile, where I delight in the process of watching a boy figure out reading, where I take a moment to giggle with my kids...ah, that's what keeps me ticking.

The Ultimate Blog Story

Today I learned what happens when you follow your kindergartener's bus home from the school...they call the cops on you.

If only I had a picture...but you can imagine...my van (with my neighbor Sheri , myself, Jenna, and Sarah inside), a large yellow school bus, and two police cars blocking the cross roads of our corner.

Here's the story: Jason and Brett ride the kindergarten bus home from school. After a week of being 45-50 minutes on the bus, Sheri and I wondered why it was taking so long for them to get home. They were 30+ minutes later than the time reported by the transportation office. So, we decided to follow the bus to see why they were taking so long. I've followed the bus before...especially when I have kinders.

Well, our "following" alarmed the bus driver, who is required to report "suspicious" behavior. By the time we made it to our bus stop (the last one, mind you), he had called the police. We went to greet our children and instead got a talkin' to by the bus driver. And then the police arrived. They were on a priority one call...meaning many cops were about to descend upon our street.

Clearly, the evidence showed that the "suspects" were only concerned moms who never knew it was wrong to follow the bus. Two soccer mom and their toddlers were clearly not the threat the bus driver had suspected. Don't get us wrong, we were grateful that the bus driver was taking every precaution to protect the children of his bus.

The police gave us a smile and then said if we ever wanted to follow the bus again, we needed to let the school or the bus driver know...lesson learned.

Boy, did the secretaries at the elementary school have fun with this story! The police had my license plate number and reported that it was "ME"...man, did they laugh and then knew their was no longer a threat to the children of that school bus. I have a feeling I won't hear the end of this one.

So, the morale of the story...don't follow school buses. However, a bigger question remains...how is 45-50 minutes on the school bus a good thing for kindergarteners? Especially when you only live a 5-10 minute car ride from the school. Jason gets home and he is honorary, tired, hungry, and stir crazy from having been on the bus so long. I understand how the transportation office is trying to conserve buses...but how long is too long to be on a bus??? I guessing that they would tell me if I don't like it to not use the bus.

The other issue of this story...the police officer repeated several times how in "this day and age" you can never be too sure. There are so many people doing so many evil things that bus drivers, police officers, and the general public have to be on "alert" to protect our children. Gone are the days that we can let our children freely play outside all day long. Gone are the days that our children can roam the neighborhoods and walk to the local candy store. Gone are the days when your kids can wander about by themselves. Gone are the days where you can trust ALL of your neighbors to have a watchful eye out for your children. Too much crime, deception, and evil in the world! It makes me grateful for every neighbor you can trust, every simple or large act of kindness, every moment that you can feel safe.

Sheri, A Blessing Straight from Heaven

Heavenly Father must have known that the Hancock's were going to need rescuing, so he sent Sheri the Neighbor. Sheri lives 2 doors down and has lived here for a couple of years. She has a 5-yr old, Brett, and a 3-yr old, Sarah, who are best friends with Jason and Jenna.

I cannot count how many times Sheri has come to my rescue...playing with the kids outside, babysitting trading, making up for forgotten soccer waterbottles, feeding the neighborhood, being a friend, figuring out the school/dance/coupons/bus/you-name-it/etc. schedules, saving a child from a crazy schedule, the list goes on and on...

I was thinking today of how she has made it possible for me to survive and give my kids some quality of life. Heavenly Father really gave me a blessing when Sheri moved onto my street. I'm so grateful!!

Jenna's "Official" Start to Preschool

FINALLY, it was Jenna's turn for preschool! What a great group that we started with. Three girls and two boys...a total of 5 darling 3 year olds. FIVE kids--I've never had that in a preschool group before. It was SO MUCH...fun, amazingly reverent, exciting, educational, (did I mention amazingly reverent?), etc.

Jenna and Angela were "pros" at the preschool thing. Having been honorary members for their older siblings, they knew the routine, the songs, the schedule, and how to sit on a "map." (We have carpet squares for the kids to sit on during circle time. One of our "rules" is to sit on your maT. However, the kids repeat it as maP. (I think it's a reflection of Dora the Explorer).

Life as a Flight Stewardess

I'm not cut out to be a airline stewardness. I wouldn't make it. Besides my low tolerance for time spent in an airplane, I just don't have what it takes.

As I shuffled my 4 children into the car for soccer tonight...I was "helping" everyone find their seats, making sure their bags were stowed in the car properly, made sure everyone had a full water bottle, and handed them their "dinner" (a hot dog...beats crackers & peanuts!). I was very calm and polite until the passengers got demanding. They wouldn't buckle their seatbeats so our "flight" could take off on time. They desired so many things; they were really quite unruly. I was no longer calm, cool, or collected.

Nope, I'm not stewardness material. However, I have new found respect for their profession.

I Looked out the Window and What did I See?

Look what we found in the garden! A week and a half ago, I had checked the garden for zucchini. I was disappointed to find a little one growing. I really was hungering for zucchini, but I opted to wait for it to get a little bigger (the size you find at the store). Well, with the craziness of school/soccer, the garden was neglected. However, with Chad's super sprinkler system, the garden was watered...and (wow!) did we get a zucchini to feed the neighborhood.

First Day of School

The boys on their first day. Jas didn't have shoes on yet and obviously, it was colder than he would prefer! We've got a 5th grader, a 3rd grader, and a Kindergartener...ready for school!!

Someday my bus will come...

Jenna and Sarah (our neighbor) were anxiously awaiting the arrival of their Kindergarten brothers. The bus was a good 45 minutes late...tough new route, I guess.

More from the Coast

A successful trip of collecting shells (or rocks in Jason's case). Oh, the things you can discover at the ocean's shores.

Looking at the Oregon Coast, you just can't help but realize how beautiful God's creations are. The setting of the sun is quite amazing at the coast.

Pictures from the Coast

At the Lighthouse (Cape Meares)

The Great Fire Starter (that would be Julie, not Jason!)

(See story in the following blog)

Sheer Chaos

Notice how my blog title mentions "chaos," well, that was this week for us! Getting back from the coast on Monday and starting school on Tuesday left me a crazy lady. Add in 3 boys in with soccer schedules and things weren't looking so pretty. I'm happy to report that as the week went by I made some organization to our lives/home and I can handle life a little better. I forgot that getting back to the school schedules is sometimes...rough.

Chad, Trevor, and Matt went to the big BYU vs. Washington game on Saturday. They woke at 6am so they would have NO chance of being late. Can't miss the kick off! The game was a good one and well worth the long trip to Seattle. All thoroughly enjoyed the game.

Meanwhile, the "J's" (Julie, Jenna, and Jason) went to a swim party for one of Jason's friends and had a fun day. Jason was also thrilled to play mom in the wii with no brothers interferring.

On Labor Day weekend, we ran away to the Coast. It was Chad's idea and I have to admit...it was a good one. it was great to spend time with the kids. After I adjusted to letting the kids play freely in the ocean (ever the protector...I know), we all enjoyed the sand and the (freezing!!) cold water.

The highlight for the weekend was finding shells and rocks to bring home for our collections. Julie's fav was starting the fire on the beach (when Chad had run to the beach house for "Scout Juice." Us girl scouts don't need no scout juice to start a fire. I think Chad was surprised to see a roaring fire when he returned. He's thinking of turning in Julie's name for "Survivor"...if she can bring a box of matches along.