Updates

I know, I know. It's been nearly a year since the last time I was on this thing and even longer since the last time I posted anything. Here's an update on how we are doing:
Landon is getting really big. He will be playing tackle football this fall. I am super excited about that. I have been wanting him to play football since he was 5 and now finally. He is going into the 2nd grade this year.

Chase is as wild and crazy as ever. He still has no desire to play any type of sports. Although he did decide that he likes tumbling and gymnastics. He is going into kindergarten again so he can be a little more mature before starting 1st grade. Plus we loved his teachers from last year and are excited that he will be back with them again this year.

Allie is still our sweet, sweet princess. She can still hang with the boys just like she was one of them. She starts preschool this fall at Protestant Preschool. She will be our last one there and it's kind of sad. But here's to new changes and growing up. I still haven't decided if she will be doing any gymnastics or ballet this year. We can start her on it but I think it may be a little early for it.

Kylie is growing into a little lady. She starts 7th grade in the fall!!! I know I cannot believe it as well. She will be in 7th grade. She can play sports this year at school and she is excited about that. She wants to play volleyball, basketball, and softball. So if she makes the teams she will be very busy all year long.

Yard Dreams

My yard dreams are finally coming true. Jay and I finally got rid of the dreeded bush in the front yard. But when we ripped it out we found that it was there for a reason! It was hidding the old well. So now there was a pipe sticking up in the front yard. Jay doesn't want to get rid of it completely because he is scared that during the zombie apocolise we may need water. So we worked around it. We planted a nice flower bed and even got a Japanesse Maple tree. We had one at our last house and it was so beautiful! I always loved walking outside and seeing it stand out in purple. It took some money and a little bit of time but I love the outcome.

 Getting all the bricks layed.

Of course DC has to help

 End of day 1

  The finished project. I am so proud of us!

Cutesy See Thru Drawers

So this isn't my first Pinterest project but I think it is one of my better ones. I started out with the three drawers in A's room. I got three pieces of scrapbook paper with different patterns but around the same colors from Michael's. I cut them down to the about the right size then slid it into the drawer and cut the rest down to the correct size. I spred mod podge over the inside front of the drawer and put my newly cut scrap book paper on top. I smoothed out all the glue with an old credit card so there were no bubbles. And then you seal it with some more glue around the sides.

This was so easy. So far I have done A's drawers, the boys drawers, and some of the ones in my room. It makes them so much cuter and you don't have to look at the mess inside the drawers.

Back to School

The school year is approaching rapidly. It will be here before we know it. Which is great. I am so tired of not being on a schedule. It was nice to begin with but now I cannot get anything done. A hasn't napped all summer long. Last night she layed down at 5pm and got up at 10pm and wanted to lay all night. I haven't been the gym either. The quality of child care that they provide during the summer isn't comparable to the girls who are in there during the school year.
This year K will be starting 6th grade. She is in middle school. It seems like only yesterday when she was walking into the school for kindergarten with her book bag that was bigger than she was. Now she is walking around with a cell phone and always stays held up in her room.
LT will be back in the first grade. He had some trouble last year. We were working to figure out what was going on and couldn't make a decision until the later part of the year. By then he was so far behind that there was no way to get him caught up. He has a severe form of dyslexia and some ADD. Now that we know what is going on we are better prepared for what he needs. He's playing soccer because he loves it and he is really good too. And he cannot wait to start Cub Scouts again. This year he will be a Wolf and able to do alot more.
DC will be my kindergartener. Boy do his teachers have it coming. I hope they are prepared to deal with his full force. I'm sure he will be fine but Jay is a little worried that we will be called to come and get him every week for misbehaving. He is also playing soccer this year. He is excited because he will be on the big kids team. I am excited for him.
A is getting big and mouthy. She talks so well and knows her ABCs already. She can spell her name and count as well. She is going to be so smart. But she is a drama queen. She will hang out with me again this year.
As for me. I am on my last year of my first degree. J is so excited but I don't think he realizes that I still have another two degrees to get before I am completely done. He will learn.

Summertime is Here

Summer time will be here before we know it. The kids have 7 more school days before they are out. I'm nervous. I don't hide it. My kids (especially the boys) fight from sun up to sun down. I am constantly telling them to calm down or quit running through the house or quit fighting. I am always telling DC to use his inside voice. Ha I don't think he has one. It's normally loud and louder and then just jet noise.
LT was just diagnosed with a mild form of ADHD, which I think it is much worse. He is always needing something to do or he gets "bored". That's all I here out of him. "I'm bored" or "I'm hungry". So I am already spending alot of time finding things for them all to do to keep all of them busy but especially him. The others can sit and watch a movie without complants but he cannot sit still and just watch. There will be something to do each day. Something to keep them busy. I have summer day camps and vacation bible schools lined up for them to participate in.  We will be headed to the pool at least a few times a week so they can let it all out too. Naptimes will also be a must! Or at least quiet time.

Wet Oatmeal Kisses

Can make you think about the important things in life...

 

Wet Oatmeal Kisses
by Erma Bombeck

ONE OF THESE DAYS YOU’LL EXPLODE AND SHOUT TO ALL THE KIDS,
“WHY DON’T YOU JUST GROW UP AND ACT YOUR AGE!”
... AND THEY WILL…

OR, “YOU GUYS GET OUTSIDE AND FIND SOMETHING TO DO –
WITHOUT HURTING EACH OTHER. AND DON’T SLAM THE DOOR!”
AND THEY DON’T.

YOU’LL STRAIGHTEN THEIR BEDROOMS
UNTIL IT’S ALL NEAT AND TIDY,
TOYS DISPLAYED ON THE SHELF,
HANGERS IN THE CLOSET, ANIMALS CAGED.
YOU’LL YELL, “NOW I WANT IT TO STAY THIS WAY!”
AND IT WILL…

YOU WILL PREPARE A PERFECT DINNER
WITH A SALAD THAT HASN’T HAD ALL THE OLIVES PICKED OUT
AND A CAKE WITH NO FINGER TRACES IN THE ICING
AND YOU’LL SAY, “NOW THIS IS A MEAL FOR COMPANY.”
AND YOU WILL EAT IT ALONE…

YOU’LL YELL, “I WANT COMPLETE PRIVACY ON THE PHONE.
NO SCREAMING, DO YOU HEAR ME?”
AND NO ONE WILL ANSWER.

NO MORE PLASTIC TABLECLOTHS STAINED
NO MORE DANDELION BOUQUETS.
NO MORE IRON-ON PATCHES.
NO MORE WET, KNOTTED SHOELACES,
MUDDY BOOTS OR RUBBER BANDS FOR PONYTAILS.

IMAGINE…. A LIPSTICK WITH A POINT,
NO BABYSITTERS FOR NEW YEARS EVE,
WASHING CLOTHES ONLY ONCE A WEEK,
NO PTA MEETINGS OR SILLY SCHOOL PLAYS WHERE YOUR CHILD IS A TREE,
NO CAR POOLS, BLARING STEREOS OR FORGOTTEN LUNCH MONEY.

NO MORE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS MADE OF LIBRARY PASTE AND TOOTHPICKS,
NO WET OATMEAL KISSES,
NO MORE TOOTH FAIRY,
NO MORE GIGGLES IN THE DARK,
SCRAPED KNEES TO KISS OR STICKY FINGERS TO CLEAN
ONLY A VOICE ASKING, “WHY DON’T YOU GROW UP?”
AND THE SILENCE ECHOES: “I DID.”

Happy Christmas

Yes I am a slacker. I know that it's the middle of December and I didn't even make it to day 7 of my Thankful things for the month of November. But as I told my mother when she asked what happened....Life happened. Life happened and we had to grab the reins and hold on tight.
It's December, the middle of December and life is still happening. Everyone is getting ready for Christmas. That includes us. We are in high gear with Christmas parties or at least something to do everyday. We even have a Christmas party tomorrow during the day. It's crazy busy around here. The kids just did the churches Christmas play. DC did so much better than I ever hoped he would. I was hoping that he would put on his costume and just stand up there and look cute. He did so much more. He put his costume on with pride and he marched his little King butt right up there on that stage and he sang and he did the motions and everything. I was so proud!

 K had a solo and did great! She never disappoints when it comes to that. She was born to be a star.

 LT was a rapper and had a special part. He was rocking out to the song! He was so cute! It was a huge success. But I'm glad it's over!

So I am almost completely done with my Christmas shopping. I have a few more people then I will be done. We decided last Christmas that this one would not a big present year for the kids. Last year we went, or I went, a little over board on the gifts and after all the presents were opened there were so many that they never even played with. So this year we said 5 was the max and we have stuck to it. I am so proud of us. Five gifts for each child and we are about done with them.
J says that he has something very special for me. Something that he has wanted to get me since our first Christmas. So I am so excited to see what it is. He keeps talking about it and I cannot think of anything that I have wanted for ten years. But he says that it would be some thing that I would ask for. SO I am completely clueless.
School is going great. I get to skip my final exam in my keyboarding class because I have an "A". I am completely done with three classes so far and I only have two final exams to go. And I will be DONE for this semester anyways.