sure sign

(do you think someone went a little crazy with the cones here or is it just me?)

Proof- that school is just around the corner-

two weeks from today to be exact.

This summer with all the strange weather-- has gone especially fast!

typically in the two weeks before school starts I have a near complete melt down... so be warned people- hopefully that won't happen this year?!

wordless wednesday

first day of school 2008

It finally came

the first day of school-

Don't get me wrong... I do like having my kids home & I love summer. This has just been a tough summer for many reasons that I have not blogged about....

really tough. Maybe someday I will talk about that but for now it'll have to wait.

Anyhow, something about the first day of school makes me feel like it's a new beginning. Even though I'm not in school, I feel like one of the kids. I couldn't even sleep last night. It's just that night before school feeling- it's all very exciting.Look at this! Jack & Seth going to school.

SENIORS

tHAT just makes me sick- what in the world?? Seth picked up jack aka: the cheap gas saver, in his new truck. Pretty sweet ride baby.

These two cuties go to the same school again!!!!

And this guy- so big- third grade is not for wimpy babies no sir!

Even though when he saw me after recess when the parents meeting got over he begged me, "don't leave me here mom!"

he has the BEST teacher. I knew he would be fine. When he came home I asked him how it went, "third grade is AWESOME!"

not bad for the first day.

So we all survived...

even max who whined & cried at the door. Even though we leave him home lots he too knew today was different. Poor guy- it was a rough day for a lonely ol' dog.

*has school started at your house?

family fun before school starts

In an attempt to get out & do something fun before school started

- the six of us went bowling & out to dinner Saturday!

Guess What?

It worked. We had a great time :)

Trent loves bowling & I mean loves it.

He's not too shabby at it either...

well that's what we thought until about 1/2 way through the set when he shoved one half heartedly. It went SO SLOW that it actually stopped right before it hit the pins. I thought it was pretty darn funny & down right amazing when you think about it. I don't know why- but I think it's comical when big kids try to throw a fit. It just didn't work- he's too big now. We just walked around him and that was that.

Luckily it lasted all of about 45 seconds. I remember the missionary doing the same thing once in a grocery store. I just stepped over him & he had this look in his eye, like- dang that didn't work.

This is Jack below after throwing

THREE STRIKES IN A ROW

He talked the whole drive over to the bowling alley about what a cruddy bowler he was too- what a guy- he's a big fat liar is what he is!

I of course stink at bowling. I mean if anyone should never go bowling just because they are so bad- it's me. Once I went bowling with a large group of women for a girl's night type outing & bowled a 39. I'm not kidding, it's down right humiliating... & yes you can stop laughing now.

I did a little better this time.

I only threw 6 gutter balls-- what can I say? It's not my thing.

Hailey was having a rough time & at one point Brett suggested he have them put up the bumpers for her- she looks happy- huh?
But then - the bumpers did the trick. She actually wasn't even doing bad!

Imagine my joy & happiness (I'm being completely sarcastic) when the bumpers came up on my next turn- OKAY I ADMIT I STINK BUT THAT WAS REALLY NOT FUNNY.

Trent had the most fun rearranging the bowling balls & handing them out.

I'm so glad these three are such great sports & so fun to be with.Afterwards we went to Cafe Rio & had a great dinner & even better dessert-
the best ever key lime pie!
They make it from scratch there & it's just right- loads of whipped cream & not too tart. *what did you do this weekend?
*do you like to bowl?
*have you ever scored a 39? Or worse????
(that would be sad & hard to do)
*were you wondering if I fell off the planet??

back to school shopping

tonight grandma, hailey, jack & I ran on down to our neighborhood Kohl's to do a little school shopping. I have to tell you- shopping with boys is much easier than girls- no offense girls... but if you can get boys to actually go shopping it's a lot easier. Shirts, tennis shoes, jeans - done.Jack informed me that I have "laughing issues." We found this bargain t-shirt for a mere $1.80. It had a monkey passing gas & the caption-

"I'm bringing stinky back"

on the front. For some reason I just broke down right there & nearly busted a lung laughing- really hard. The picture is a little blurry from shaking for sure. What in the world people? Who makes up this stuff- for real? I don't care if it was $1.80 & an extra 20% off that with the bonus buy... that is just wrong. (do you think a woman designed that- no way!?)I had a great time sitting in the men's dressing room with my camera. There was one seat in there & I took it. I also learned that a woman in the men's dressing room with a camera-

makes other men... a little nervous. Finally I just went into the dressing room stall with jack- he is not worried at all having his mom with him in the dressing room- but my girls would rather die. Boys & girls= different for sure. Jack actually asked hailey & grandma for their advice picking out some shoes. they ultimately didn't have his size in the ones we were looking at. We did find a pair really similar to the ones Max peed in last winter... & they were on sale for $19.97- score. I guess if jack wants to keep these ones he'll be nicer to the dog- or hide them- or something.

* are your kids in school yet?

*did you do any school shopping?

*what do you think about rude captions on t-shirts?

jr. high here she comes!

Can you believe this?

#5 - almost off to jr. high- wow- when did that happen?

My neighbor told me today that the head ache I'm having could be because I'm in my 40's now... "my hormones are probably out of balance due to my aging"- maybe I need estrogen?

gee thanks

progress

We went swimming yesterday at Karrie's pool- this place is heaven.

After sitting in the corner on the stairs for about 2 hours, literally- trent decided he would venture out & look at this... he swam (with a life jacket on) all the way to the deep end!

After that he swam all the way around the pool!!!

Wow! Karrie & I were cheering him on & were amazed when he finally just did it. When trent was a toddler he wasn't scared of water at all. In fact it, he was way too comfortable to the point where I wouldn't take him to the pool because I was sick of pulling him out constantly. He would be looking up at me from down under the water- I would pull him out then he would start screaming- why did you pull me out, I was swimming?! No he was drowning... oh boy. Well, he somehow made a complete turn around & now he usually won't even leave the stairs. He has been in level one swimming lessons twice just this summer alone.

So again- this is good. thanks karrie :)

And- look at this! A sure sign school is just around the corner. Secretly I am a little sad...

don't tell the kids though.

There Is A Lot Going On Around Here

My house now...

My house growning up!

This is such a fun time of year. Football has started for Jack, ballet starts today for Chloe-her 7th year, the fall piano schedule just came out, plus Trent's first "club" scout den meeting is tomorrow. All the school supplies in the stores etc. just put an excitement in the air. Today they are even repainting the school crossing zones on the street-you know when that happens it must be getting close. Something about the start of the school year makes me want to make goals- it's like new year's but much better weather!

This year I purposely signed myself up for many things in anticipation of Brian leaving- and my heart aching. But now that he doesn't leave until November 14 I may be really regretting it. I will definately have to be organized because it is going to get crazy!