My cute family...

...going to school. (see post below for pictures) Well, not all of us went to school. Todd, Max and I stayed home. Todd was happy to send the kids because he actually wants them to go to school. To learn stuff. whatever. I was not happy to see them go because I actually want them to be at home with me all day, every day. 18 years is all you get, people! That's NOTHING! It only took Jordyn like 2 years to become a sophomore! Max (5 months) was not happy at all...see his little depressed face! He went upstairs running from bedroom to bedroom looking for the kids. Then he sat at the top of the stairs with his head on the carpet and wouldn't move. Which was sort of what I felt like doing, too. But then, Todd made me get busy...mowing the lawn and cleaning house and other nonsense like that. (Hope he doesn't expect that to become routine--what about my bon-bons!) Then on Tuesday he did take me to lunch (but don't tell Jordyn) then on Wednesday I had lunch with Jordyn at school (don't tell Elli and Cooper) and today I hosted my annual back-to-school brunch for my girlfriends (don't tell Todd). And now, we are in a routine again and another school year is going to be gone tomorrow. Drat. The older you get, the faster time goes, it is true. To the kids, of course, they have just finished day 5 of 170 and the school year can't go by fast enough! Maybe going to school actually slows time! Oh. My. Gosh. I think I've stumbled onto the fountain of youth! All this time I've been glad to be done with school myself, when what I actually need is to keep going! I really liked 2nd grade! I wonder if there is an age limit?!...

pictures at last

Okay, it takes me a while...but eventually I get to it! So, here goes a try at photos of the first day at school!

Success!

For at least the first day of school! Hooray! Elli and Cooper both loooovvve their teachers and Elli says 3rd grade is definitely the grade for her! Hallelujah! And I didn't even send in the cinnamon rolls I made for the teachers...you know....get the year started on a roll! That my dear friends, is why the teachers fight over who gets my children in their classes. I can turn any food into a meaningful gift of appreciation (and I do!), not to mention my annual we love our teacher luncheons, the Friday cokes and the great holiday gifts. You know, I've been a brown-noser since my own school days. I find nothing wrong with it. We get a bad rap. I brown nose a little, the kids get a little favoritism from their teacher, so they are happy. The teacher gets spoiled, so she is happy. I know that my children are being well-cared for, so I'm happy. See? So my nose is a little off-color. I wear it boldly and proudly. I'm happy. They're happy. We're all happy! Happy. Happy. Happy!

WHEEE!!!!!

Or is that Wii? WE got one today...a Wii! We just finished making our Mii's and the little Me's are in the living room playing Wii with their newly created Mii's! Is that too confusing? What is confusing is that it was daddy's idea...and he has always professed to be totally against any form of video game! I myself have never had much interest, but not vehemently opposed or anything. Someone must have convinced him that you can actually get a workout playing the Wii. So, now we have one. Now let me say that apparently, you cannot just walk into your local Target or Wal*Mart and grab one. In fact, they laugh at you in the electronics department when you ask where they keep them. But, take a trip to your local Blockbuster, and TA DA! They have ONE in stock. Who knew? Not me? Mii? We? Wii? WHEE?!

What the heck am I doing up?

I can't sleep...maybe it was the caffeine I had a couple hours before bedtime to get rid of my headache. But man, did I get some serious stuff accomplished! And also, there is a little girl sleeping in my bed. There are two little girls sleeping in her bed. Funny...I thought sleepover meant they all slept over in the same room! Bless 'em. What is that book...the one where they "all rolled over and the little one said I'm crowded..." Know what I'm talking about? That's us tonight. Musical beds. Why do they even all have their own rooms anyway? Coop started in my bed since Elli wouldn't let him sleep with the girls. Then Elli decided 3 was too much of a crowd in her twin size daybed, and came to my room. I decided 3 was too much of a crowd in my queen size sleigh bed, and Cooper got the boot. (He was sound asleep, okay?! He won't even realize til the morning!) And now, Elli has my bed all to herself (Todd is in some hotel somewhere in the country...sleeping in a big bed all to himself!)which was probably her intention all along! She's pretty good at getting what she wants. Hmmm...do you think it's in the blood?

Speaking of getting what you want...that's all I keep thinking about...what I want! My remodel, of course! My mother-in-law said that now that her remodel is done she has found she has nothing to dream about at night. Well, for me maybe I will finally get sleep when (if) it's done, cause it won't be foremost in my mind anymore. I can't just dream about it, I have to get up and draw it on paper. And write notes. And check my email. And play around with graphics and insert them in my blogspot. And post a new blog. Who needs to sleep at 2:30 in the morning when you can do all that instead? Maybe I'll sleep at 6:30 in the morning instead of running. Maybe I'll sleep right through our 7:30 tennis time. Maybe I'll sleep at 8:30 instead of registering Jordyn for her sophomore year of high school. I don't even want to have a sophomore anyway! I am way too young for that and also, that means she thinks she's gettin out of here in 3 years! Well, no I take that back. She doesn't even want to leave. Unless she can take me with her. For four years. In a dorm room or apartment. With roommates. On twin size beds. Like a sleepover...

It's Sunday...

and the kids are asking me to make treats. And that's why I am hiding in the study using the computer! One of these days I am going to take the time to try to upload some more photos on this blog! I love to bake, but I know they are all going to want to make something different. Which means it is going to turn into a fight and someone is going to get mad. For instance, Elli wants chocolate peanut butter bars, but Cooper is allergic to peanut butter. Cooper wants chocolate chip cookies, but Jordyn wants me to bake something good! So, you see my conundrum? Maybe I'll just ask Todd what he wants... (and that will be fruit or veggies) and then they will all yell at him and not me. Then, I will sneak into the kitchen while they are arguing and make myself a milkshake. I think I've got a plan!

and here we go...

okay, trying the blog thing. It might be a fun way to check in on us...you know, kinda like voyerism... and maybe it will just be a good way for me to get stuff off my chest!