Creatures of Habit

Thanksgiving 07 above and Summer 08 below

Summer 2010 above and Summer 2008 below

Is it just me or has Maci changed the most?

Maci's 13th Birthday

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Sleepy

Being birthday season around here, there has been quite a bit going on. Like last night we had 439 boys spend the night for Aaron's birthday. What? You don't believe it was 439? I was awake all night listening to them run and laugh and play games and theorize about how the hover craft works. Trust me. It was 439. Who knew they were going to stay up ALL NIGHT LONG? I certainly didn't. Aaron is a bit of an old man. Early to bed- early to rise kind of guy. I mistakenly thought that would mean easy breezy (quiet) night. Whatthecrapever.

Anyway. The night is over. The 439 extra boys are gone. I have surveyed the damage and actually they are more loud than destructive. I don't see any major issues...unless they hid some broken something... I am a huge bit sleepy and a slight bit grumpy. But hooray for me....next week we do it all again with 439 girls!

Aaron's Birthday

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Aaron...

Seems like we went from this...

to this....

to this....

and this...

in the blink of this...


Congratulations Patriot of Academics! Off to middle school you go!!!

Love and Gracie

Andy remained "single" for awhile as his heart mended after Stacie's wedding but you know the song....you can't keep a good man down. The love bug has bit him again. This new love isn't quite as tall but she is a brunette. She also has quite a sense of style. These are the deep qualities Andy looks for. He picked her out of the kindergarten crowd early on in the year and has remained loyal ever since. Bless her little heart she is smitten as well.

I'm saving this picture...just in case I need it for a wedding slide show someday.

Dear Mrs. Tresher...

Andy brought this note to me this afternoon. "Mom, see what I'm giving Mrs. 'Twesher'," he said. As Kindergarten teachers we ask them to "write what they hear." He did that. It just gets a little complicated when you happen to pronounce all of your "R"s with the "W" sound. Bless his heawt.

Are You Kidding Me?

I don't think this has ever happened to us before- all three kids are currently on antibiotics for strep. Maci came in first with Andy following 6 days later and then Aaron joined the party today. Thank goodness for a doc that writes 3 Rx's at the first appointment. She knew how this was going to go down. Now...anyone know a doc that will write a "just in case Rx" for Brad and me? Otherwise we may be looking for a doc in the crowd at Disney!

Lost Pics of Summer

Somehow I overlooked the pics from our backyard camping experience. I should've posted these weeks ago. Camping in the backyard is quite fun, however it really isn't a summer sport. Maci and I lasted until about 1:30am and then we "camped" in the living room under the cool air conditioner. That still counts though because we didn't go upstairs to our beds- we roughed it on the couch and the recliner. The boys suffered through the heat all night though- except Spicy...he came in with us girls!




This "seven man" tent really only sleeps 1 dad and 1 boy on the ground plus 1 mom, 1 tween, 1 baby boy, and 1 Spicy dog on an aero bed.

One more Smore please.

Yes, it was dark outside...I had no idea my camera flash worked so well!

Even campers need light, water, a cell phone, and a house phone.

Firsts

Andy's first teacher...who happens to be one of my closest friends- hooray!

Maci's first football games

Go Pirates!

I got 16 of the 18 in this shot.

Maci's first day of middle school

Aaron and Andy's First Day of school

First look at my classroom...I'll post more school pics later.

Ok, here's another.

And another...but they don't do the room justice...it is HUGE and fabulous! I'll take more when I get a chance. Of course Mrs. Tresher and I are in the process of getting our learning patio all decked out as well. ;)

Maybe You Had to Be There

Disclaimer: This may be one of those "you had to be there" stories...but I was there and I'm telling you it was funny!

Background info- Andy believes anyone with a beard and mustache is "shifty." He pronounces it as "sifty" and although I don't know where he came up with this, he is quite adament about it.

Setting: In the car on the way home

Aaron: Hey look. There is an old man on a ripstick! He has a beard and mustache even.

Brad: Andy, what does that mean if he has a beard and mustache?

Andy: Ohhh that means he is "sifty." He probably stole it.

Maci: (in her "I am a tween, I know all" voice) Andy! You can't steal a mustache.

All of us: The ripstick Maci! Not the mustache!!!

Bless her heart. :)

Oh....that boy of mine...

On this "Southern Snow Day" the boys and I sat down for a game of Chutes and Ladders. Andy was getting out all the people and hollers, "I call this guy" referring to the little blue eyed blonde boy. Then he picks up the little black boy (pictured on the slide) and says, "Here Aaron. You can be Barack Obama."

Brotherly Love

Randomness

The last day before break is always random. There are random movies on all day, random leftovers in the cafeteria, and random kids wearing pajamas. PJ day is a common thing at our school... There are also random outfits. It is 70 degrees so of course I have on a short sleeve shirt and my red flip flops. Some die hards were still wearing their Christmas sweaters today- they were sweating like pigs but they were wearing them! I just love the randomness of it all.

Speaking of random...Maci just came in begging to play in the park...which means I will have to sit in the car and pretend to be reading while I am actually watching her like a hawk!!! Off we go...

Questions

I feel like I'm taking a test and the questions keep getting harder.

Can I get a new Barbie? Can I pierce my ears? Can I have a snack? Can I stay up late? ... Can I call my friend? Can I ride my bike to the culdesac? Can I watch that movie? Can I play at the neighbors house? Can I have a party? Can I walk to the park? Can I paint my nails something besides CLEAR? Can I wear lip gloss? Can I stay out til the streeet lights come on?

Whats next- asking for the car keys and college tuition?

Anyone have a cheat sheet?

Life in the Zoo

You know how you turn the radio up while you are driving down the highway? Slowly, bit by bit you dial it up, hardly noticing. By the time you reach your destination it is loud- but you stop the car, get out, and don't give it a second thought. Later, when you get back in and turn the key in the ignition, the radio is blaring loud. You whirl it down and ponder how that happened.

My children are the same way. They start out fairly quiet, bit by bit they get louder and louder. I unconsciously adjust by tuning them out, moving rooms, etc. Then like a switch, I suddenly come to and hear them full blast. I flip around to see middle man dragging big sister through the kitchen by her leg with little man bringing up the rear of the parade hooting and hollering himself. When exactly did my cozy home turn into the monkey exhibit at the zoo? More importantly, where is the glass to protect me from the wild?

Festivals & Field Trips

I've had a very pumpkin filled weekend...a field trip to the pumpkin patch with Andy's class, Hallounko that night (I won again!!!), and painting pumpkins at the festival Saturday... It sure feels like fall. Here are some random ramblings from the weekend...

* Andy told me he had a "super duper" time at the pumpkin patch with me. That's the best compliment a mom can get. :)

* I'm so glad I have a husband that will drag me on the stage to dance even when I seem to protest.

*Ashley is such a cool chick she isn't even mad at me for dragging her into this whole festival planning thing....AND she's staying on board to see that the Christmas event is even better! You rock Ashwee!

* Kids love to paint pumpkins. You can go through 300 pumpkins in 3 hours they love it so much. You also go through 300 packages of wipes.

* Some parents are as dumb as their kids. Did that dad honestly think it was ok for his 2 boys to paint NINE pumpkins???? You cheater cheater pumpkin eaters. Go eat your nine pumpkins.

* I learned if you win Bunko 2 months in a row, your score card is audited. Not really but I felt I should offer. I honestly hope I don't win anything next month...for my own safety. Women get vicious over Bunko...like shopping the day after Thanksgiving.

Great weekend. I hate to think about Monday being so close. But we gotta get through the Mondays to get to the Saturdays.

Revelation- Too Late

If I've talked to you in the last 24 hours, skip this post because you have already heard it.

I have hideous heartburn. Daily. 150 mg of Zantac or generic Zantac takes care of it but man when I run out- it is not pretty. Last night was one of those nights. With no other option (besides a midnight run to WalMart that I just refused) I sucked down Tums. Tums are like Taco Bell...seems to go down alright at first but later makes you feel sick as a dog. So today and tonight...sick as a dog. Yuck.

What's the revelation? The non stop morning sickness I had with all 3 babies had to be at least 60% Tums sickness. DUH! Why am I so slow in recognizing these trends? I lived on Tums during pregnancy- thus the constant need to hurl. I personally will never test this theory but still it's good to figure out. Even if it is 10 years too late.

Remember these?

We had a great time tonight. We celebrated Aaron's birthday with the Hummel's. After dinner at 5 Guys we came back here for some Slip and Slide Fun! Remember these things? Children of the 80s may know them as "wet bananas." They used to always be yellow and have that little banana shaped sprinkler on them. I don't think there was even a nice little pool to land in back in the day. You just knew you were done when you got a mouthful of grass. I personally can count on 1 finger how many times I played on a slip and slide growing up. My mother said they were a "broken arm waiting to happen." We certainly didn't own one and I only got to use it at a friends once. No broken bones. Anyway, I wish my camera hadn't died because it was the funniest thing to watch. They all tried their best to slide fast and hard to reach the pool at the end. All but Andy that is. Andy would walk- like an old man- slow as molasses from one end to the other. The couple times he did actually fall and slide he wasn't too fond of it. Must be the Grandmama in him. What a great night.

Oh, and Mother...don't worry...it's the Hummel's slip and slide. We would never own such a contraption...it's an accident waiting to happen!