Back to School Night

On Thursday was Ty's very first Back to school night. To say he was excited is an understatement. He was still a titch nervous meeting his teacher, Mrs. Wahlstrom as evidence by him putting his shirt in his mouth while speaking to her. But he was all smiles exploring his classroom.

Earlier that day we took him to the Opthomologist to check his vision, more specifically his color blindness. His vision is excellent, which is good because the Spence side doesn't have great vision and Matt can't remember when he found out he didn't have good vision and needed glasses. His color blindness is on the mild to moderate scale. It's still too tough to tell specifics, but he was diagnosed and confirmed as Color Blind. I wanted to get that out of the way so I could bring a note to Ty's teacher.

Good thing I told her because she plans on seating the kids at tables grouped by color. I tested Ty while there and the only ones he kept mixing up were Purple and Blue, so I told Mrs. Wahlstrom if he IS in the Purple or Blue group that she should point him in the right direction or just keep the colors at the same table and he'll just memorized that one spot is the purple spot and one spot is the blue spot even though he can't see a difference in the color. Luckily, since we noticed so long ago that he is color blind we've had years to prepare him for other kids teasing him for coloring something differently. He just says, "Oh, you see that brown? Looks green to me, I'm color blind so I see colors different than other people". He doesn't get frazzled by it and knows to ask if he is unsure and wants to get it right.

He's created a paper chain and he breaks off a ring for every day as a count down to when school starts. We got to see all the names of the kids in his class and he is EXTRA excited because for the very first time in his life, there are MORE Boys than Girls in his class,10 Boys and 6 Girls. When we counted that out together he figured it out quickly.

It was quite a nerve wracking adventure in the first place to figure out where Ty would be attending school. We are renting in an elementary school boundary where I really wasn't too thrilled to have him go. The school doesn't rank very well on the Greatschools website and I was getting really worried about it. Thankfully, Matt validated my concerns as well so I wasn't just being an overprotective mama who is sending her baby boy to Kindergarten. He took the kids to play at the park at that elementary school and he said he'd never take them over there again. He was feeling nervous about the area and the others at the playground. We decided we needed to apply for a boundary exception and get Ty going to a school where we most likely would be buying. Harmony scored much better on the Greatschools website showing way higher state test scores and it's actually closer to our home than the other school. I had to wait until just two weeks before school started to find out which school he would go to. I was really worried and even started exploring Home School options if he didn't get the exception. Luckily, he got the exception and that has greatly eased my apprehension about my baby going to school.

I was only able to take one picture, because Matt said it wasn't "cool" to be that mom taking way too many pictures at b=Back to School Night. This is the perfect single picture however. Completely shows his excitement and readiness for school. I'll be taking more his first day of school, I don't care if it's cool or not!

I don't know what I'll do without him at home. He makes breakfast AND lunch for his sisters nearly every day and he is king of peacemaking, hardly every being in the middle of a scuffle. He's my right hand man when picking up the toy room and helping his sisters with anything and everything. Hopefully Maylee steps up and takes his place because he is SO helpful, way too responsible for a 5 year old.

Also, just for fun I'll add these videos, the kids were dying to make a video. They decided to sing a song. Well the first time around i told them it seemed like they sang it slow. So I suggested they try again singing a little faster... So yeah... These are the results.


I am currently trying to soak up every second of all my kids home with me before school and pre-school starts. Oh and not to mention on Ty's third day of Kindergarten I am scheduled to have a baby. So many changes is such a short amount of time!

The Alaska videos

I thought I took quite a few more, turns out I didnt, or I may have on other family members devices. Regardless, here are some fun videos from the cruise to finish up my Alaskan blogging.

Tomorrow is Ty's very first Back to School night, so you know i'll be posting about that!

Don't mind the constant pregnant belly gut laughs. The first night of Karaoke was a hoot because Rina, on the far right there, one of the cruise personnel figured out really quickly she could pick on our family to be willing participants. She picked out a bunch of random songs, this one was originally for Matt to sing then Preston and Colton quickly joined in to help a brother out. By the end of the song there was choreography and everything. Suzanne has better video... because she can keep her laughs quieter and not shake the phone so much. Needless to say it was a good time.


The next day we were at sea, and it was rainy. We went up to play some shuffleboard but it was so wet nothing was working. So of course Matt, Colton and Preston decided to try and play Human Shuffleboard. Suzanne (again) has video of a few people wiping out. I got this one at the very beginning before things started to get out of hand (like they always do)


Later that day, we were exploring the cafe food and Matt and Preston dared each other to eat the weirdest thing they could find for each other. It was funny they both picked the same thing. I have no idea what that stuff was but I was feeling sick from just the smell. Preston put and Indian pickle in Matt's to give it an extra spice... Bleck, just watching the video makes me remember the smell and I feel sick. Gross.

Part 2

We did a ton of dancing (we...not me but pretty much everyone else. I mean I did a little but a 33 week along pregnant lady doesn't really get down anymore without needing serious help back up haha) This was learning "The Wobble". Funny all the sons in law and Maddy were dancing with my mom. I guess Bragg's don't dance much. Our favorite Rina was the instructor. Again don't mind my weird guttural laughs at the beginning. Why do I SOUND like that when I am pregnant.


We did some speed rock climbing. (Again with the WE Mickie? Not ME quite a few OTHERS) I thought I had video of it... I must have used Preston's Phone.

The last night after the hot tubs were closed pool challenges were made. Here is a random Colton jumping video.



Last but not least, when we got home from the cruise the kids were SUPER excited to see not only their Mom and Dad but "Gramma" and "Papa" and Colton and Maddy! Some serious excitement ensued. I am glad they had the energy to play for a few hours, I was pretty wiped out when we got back for a day or two before I really got back into the swing of things.

More Alaska

This is the port in Juneau. I think that is the Celebrity Cruise Ship in the port closer in to town.  

 My Parents... with my Dad's eyes closed...

 We "hiked" to the Mendenhall Glacier. It was about a mile walk in and back.

 The scenery was really pretty!

 Here is the Mendenhall Glacier. It was really really blue, this picture doesn't really do it justice. Well, blue with a bunch of dirt mixed in.

 Here we are!

 Kristin put her hand in the water... WHOA it was COLD! I don't know how anyone would swim or play in that water without a wet suit.

 The family! Except Sharon and Jason, I think they were taking these pictures for us.

 I thought this was a great picture... except for that goob of a guy in the background. ruined.... I cant remember what that waterfall was called right next to the glacier, but Colton Matt Will and HD (maybe Preston too? I don't remember him though) climbed up the side shale rocks there. I think Matt got the highest and closest to the waterfall. All the other wives were freaking out, the waterfall was ROARING and the rocks were slippery. I didnt even have a second thought. Proof that I have been married long enough to a daredevil that it doesn't even phase me when he does stuff like that.

 In Skagway we went on the White Pass Train ride. It followed the route of the old Gold miners. It was a fun ride, I took a few pictures, took a little nap, listened to our tour guide and enjoyed the view. (a kid from Utah who went to UVU and worked up in Alaska during his summers)

 Matt stepped outside onto the platform and took a ton of pictures.

 This was a glacier on the top of one of the mountains. I thought it was pretty cool all foggy like.

While on the train we passed a few other trains going to other direction. Our Tour guide thinks its funny to get people to do silly things while passing the other train (like pretend to row on a boat or act like a bear and growl...) Well we were in the actual cabin where the train tour guide sat that used the overcom through out the train. The rest of the train was rowing, I think it was Preston that decided to swim. It was pretty funny, but it REALLY made the day of the tour guide kid. He said he had the most fun with our family than he had had in the few years he had been coming up for the summer. (Of course, we are a pretty fun group of people...) I didnt get a picture, since Matt had the camera, but anytime another train would pass he would gear up, and growl teeth barred and claws out like a bear at any passing train. The asian population thought it was HILARIOUS and he is most likely all over Chinese Youtube by the amount of pictures and video they were taking of him. 

 The crew on the train (minus Jason who does his best not to be photographed.)

 This was a picture of the glacier that we saw when we went into Tracy Arms Fjord.

 While traveling up the to the Fjord on the ship there were TONS of waterfalls and SUPER tall Mountains.

 This was a random picture from the Scavenger hunt that the family did. They had to "walk" around the ship and get a ton of random items in (i believe) 15 minutes time. I think they got second. I just sat and waited because they didnt want me trying to hobble along behind them slowing them down.

 Lastly here is another whale watching photo, we did a lot of this sort of thing but we saw a ton of cool sights!

Alaska

Here I am, FINALLY posting about Alaska. What? You didn't know? Matt and I went on a cruise with my siblings, their spouses, my parents and my aunt and uncle. We went last month. It was SO MUCH FUN. I love my family, and it is so great when all of us get together. A cruise is the perfect thing to do with such a big group too. People can do what they want, meet up when they want, eat whatever and whenever they want... Perfect. 

So we left from Seattle, we cruised up to Juneau first, then stopped off in Skagway and lastly Victoria B.C. It was 7 days. The weather went from 80 in Seattle, to 53 and rainy in Juneau and Skagway, then come to find out, in Victoria is was in the mid 90's! It was difficult to pack for such an excursion, but I think each of us managed. 

We left the kids in the capable hands of my sweet and innocent 18 year old cousin Bradie from Wyoming. She was SUCH a trooper for taking on three kids 5 and under. I know some days were hard and others weren't as bad for her. We were able to e-mail, text or FaceTime daily with her and the kids, so my separation anxiety wasn't so bad. Before the trip, I had a doc appointment and my blood pressure was up and I was showing signs of Pre Ecclamsia. I think it was all the work I put in to prepping for this vacation. I prepared meals, scheduled play dates, scrubbed the house til it shined and did laundry until there wasn't a dirty sock left. I even coordinated daily outfits for each of the children. My OCD was on overdrive that is for sure. But it was worth it I think. 

This is really going to be a picture dump post. Since I used both matts iPhone and my camera to take pictures I'll have to do multiple posts using both my iPad and laptop. 

So here we have it, the picture dump of fun! 

Ready and waiting to board the ship. 

On the ship, waiting to shove off we spent some time on the deck. Here is the shot of Seattle. 

A little shuffle board to start things off right. 

We are on a huge boat, so it's totally appropriate. 

Hanging on the pool deck basking in the sun. 

The fun part about a cruise is there are TONS of activities on the ship, dancing, trivia, karaoke, games, shows... Every hour from sun up well passed sun down there are things scheduled. We like to fit in a ton of things. This one was the first Flash Mob practice I believe. Rina, one of the assistant cruise directors was such a fun girl to have directing the dance. 

We did a ton of sitting and watching out the windows. We spotted whales, orca, porpoise, a shark, sea otters, sea lions... Even a cute little puffin! 

There was a company from china that booked half the ship for their company trip. It was very interesting to have so many Asians on board. It wasn't bothersome, just different. I think poor Will was confused a time or two for which group he was with. Because they knew there would be a heavy population of Asians on the ship I think they catered the buffet menu towards that a little more than normal. Needless to say, there were quite a few dishes that were interesting looking. I mainly stuck with fresh fruit and desserts haha. I'll post a video on this later. Matt and Preston challenged each other to eating the weirdest thing they could find from the buffet. Suzanne and I were sick just watching them. 

The dinners on board were so nice. We had a special table set aside for our group of 14. We had the same waiter and assistant every night. By the end our waiters knew our preferences pretty well. We chatted quite a bit during meals with them and even shared photos of our families. The thing with cruises, is you can order whatever you want, and as many dishes as you want. By the last day Colton ordered three starters, three main dishes and three desserts. Our little cart that Glenn and Irene had to use to serve us was jam packed every night. So many things to try! I think I liked the prime rib best. 

This was after dinner on one of the dressy nights. Man, Matt is such a babe. I think about being married to him and wonder how I got so lucky :) 

This is what the view looked like from the windows of the boat most of the time, the Alaskan or Canadian coast. It took a bit of looking to see the whales, but once you knew what to look for (blow holes and splashes, tails) then they were spotted very frequently. I didn't get a picture of any whales though since they were too far away. 

In between scavenger hunts, or trivia, or dancing classes there was always a bit of ping pong to be played. 

The rest of the crew waiting for their turn or just watching. 

We went to Juneau and decided to skip paying for the bus ride in to town. We walked the mile. It was fine, but pretty slow going for me... At 33 (or so) weeks pregnant I had to even stop for a potty break half way there. Haha. We walked around Juneau and Suzanne and I ran into some random friends from high school, totally random but fun to see them. We also took a bus tour of the area which dropped us off at the Mendenhall Glacier. (Nice photobomb Preston, plus Colton took this picture and Matt wanted it to look like he was the one taking it) 

The glacier pictures were taken on my camera... So those pictures will be on another post. 

Here is a picture of Skagway. It was a super teeny cool little town. We did quite a bit of shopping there and also rode the Train while there. 

Cool building with a facade made of sticks... I have no idea what it is, it was just cool. 

While on board the ship, every night they have a show of sorts. There was a comedian, a dance show, two singing and dancing shows, a game show type night similar to the newly wed game a vantriliquist... They were entertaining. Not amazing but fun enough. There was even movie night. I was excited to see Divergent again on the boat! Even if it wasn't in HD. 

I can't remember what this game was called... But our family came in second with Colton and Maddy being our reps. It was funny every game we played we were team Maddy. The cruise director and his staff knew our entire family by name after the first day on the boat so it was super fun to play all the games with them hosting. We'd walk in and they would say, "Hello Bragg Family!"

I think he is showing off his medal... Colton and Maddy won so many medals I don't even know what this one was for, but he won it... Proudly. 

Whoops here is another Skagway picture... Funny. 

One of the days we went up the Tracy Arms Fjord and looked at another glacier from the ship. As we went up into the Fjord there were tons of icebergs in the water and whales. We took an entire morning and just sat looking from the breakfast buffet. Really nice to not have to stand in the rain...

I went outside to take this one once it stopped raining.

Pretty sure Matt, Preston, Colton and HD had food on their minds most of the time... 

The whale watching crew. 

I think we were checking out the waterfalls and general beauty of Alaska at this point. 

Matt doesn't take selfies, so these are always fun to include... 

Nearly every night at 11:55 room service was being called to our room. Cookies, cheesecake, pizza, whatever... We just ordered, it was free until midnight. We roomed as couples, so Suzanne, Preston Matt and I were together, my brothers and their spouses roomed together and my parents and wus roomed together with Sharon and Jason's room in between us all. We were the night owls that always stayed up way too late playing random games. Suzanne and I slept together in the bed below and Matt and Preston were troopers to sleep in the top bunks. We booked interior rooms with no windows, which I like because one can sleep as long and as late wanted and never know what time it is. One day we all slept in until about 11 am and it was glorious. I haven't slept in that long since before I had kids! 

Victoria B.C. is a very pretty place. We walked downtown to see the parliament building and roam the streets a little before catching the bus to the gardens. It was supposed to be about 75 degrees that day and like I said earlier, come to find out it was mid 90s... Gorgeous day though! 

Parliament building

A few random shots inside the building.

The dome was pretty impressive. 

We loved going to the gardens. I just wish it was the 75 it was supposed to be so I could have enjoyed it a little bit more. Still it was a very lovely place. I kept wondering how much it would cost to have a wedding there. Matt said " it would cost.... A lot of Canadian money" haha

The sunken gardens portion

Seems like these two were always down for a silly photo. 

We sat for a little while, just enjoying the general splendor, and cooling off a bit in the shade. 

Matt even got to sneak in a mini nap! 

I took this right when we got on the bus to go back to the ship... Then promptly fell asleep. It was so nice to take little cat naps whenever I wanted and not have to worry about kids, 

The last night on the ship we (not me, preggy's aren't supposed to) tried to go hot tubbing. They closed at midnight! So we went swimming instead. 

I think that concludes the iPhone photos... I'll post video of Karaoke and various other things too. Then pull the pictures off my camera and post those too. Disjointed I know, but I have to document now or it'll get lost in the shuffle when baby #4 comes in just 3 short weeks.