Busy Thursday-Aren't they all?

Thursday after dropping the girls off at school I swept and mopped the kitchen that someone spilled cinnamon and sugar on and then it spread (you know how sugar does that on the floor!)  I tried to get it early.  Then a friend of mine brought her daughter over to play while they went to an appointment, so we played with her for a little more than an hour.  I helped build a pretty decent block tower.
Then I cleaned my microwave (that I've been meaning to clean the whole month of August--meaning it needed it in June or July...don't think I'm gross.  It really wasn't that bad, but it did need a good cleaning.)  While I was doing that, another friend called to tell me the time she'd be at the park so we could play.  I had talked with her Wednesday and already forgot that I wrote that on the calendar, so I was glad for the reminder.  I hadn't checked my email all morning until after I cleaned the microwave, so I didn't see the email from one of the new PTA ladies that she'd be at the school and I needed to talk to her and give her some stuff (I really want to get rid of some stuff that I don't need right now!)  The person I needed to see had left already by the time I got there, but I stashed the stuff for her in the closet and headed out to a park to play with my friend and the kids she was babysitting.

It was nice to catch up (and not so nice to learn that she's moving before the end of the year, but I did know they were looking at least.)
Vincent and Abby (along with the other little boy who was there) were running around this basketball hoop pole holding on all at the same time for several minutes. Who knew something like that would be more entertaining than the swings and slides?

We left when Vincent started playing in the mud and didn't listen to my directions to stop.  It was lunchtime anyway.
Went home, had lunch, and put Abby down for a nap.  Then I sat and did some computer stuff for a bit until another friend came over to hang out at my house with her daughter while I ran over to the school to help with a PTA table to explain a little of what PTA does to the new kindergarten parents.  I was there for less than an hour and then chatted with my friend when I got back.  I love chatting with friends.
I napped for a half hour (or a little more) until Abby woke up and the girls got home from school.
Checked folders for homework or more paper to look at, made sure the girls cleared out their lunchboxes, and had a nice little afternoon. I dusted too.  How did my house get so dirty during summer?
Thursday nights are slightly less busy lately, even with Jujitsu going on.  The other three had bathes and got ready for bed.  We read scriptures as a family (everyone but Abby who was ready for bed by then).
I got a phone call from a lady from church about a lady in our ward who is dying of cancer slowly and the help she'll need when the lady who called is gone for awhile helping her sister who was just diagnosed with stage four breast cancer six months after her doctor said they didn't need to do a biopsy for EVERY lump they find in a lady's breast.  Really?!  Even someone like me who is far from sue-happy would sue for that!  Terrible.  Anyway, I told her to take care of what she needs to do and to let our ward take care of the lady here.
Someone else in our ward may need some kids watched all week next week during the day and it just so happens that my calendar during the day next week is completely clear.  Isn't it interesting how things just work out sometimes?  There's a reason I was available.  Someone needed me.  We'll see how all of that goes.  Sure, I really did plan on next week being more laid back than this one, but if someone needs me, I'm willing to help them out.  That's just the way I am.  I'm a 'yes'er.  And I'm okay with that.  Luckily, I have many friends who are that way too. =)
Tonight I weighed myself.  I think I'm in love with my scale.  I haven't been on my normal walking routine for most of the month and I still managed to lose.  So happy.  Counting calories works.  I'll write about it more when I do my end of the month check in for my yearly goals. (Um, just kidding.  I looked at my last update on My Fitness Pal and I guess I forgot that I had already lost those five pounds....Retaining is good, though, right?)

Hanging Around

We met a group of kids and mommies at a park today to talk about the plan for preschool this year.  We are working on our schedule now and it sounds pretty fun.  They all wanted to do a two day a week preschool, so we are doing that.  Vincent is the oldest in our group.

The kids played and played and Vincent climbed up a tree and actually got up pretty high.  He even climbed down safely.

 He wanted me to take his picture.  Lucky for him, my camera is generally pretty close to me.

 We ran a few little errands for an hour after our meeting and ate some lunch before I put Abby down for a nap and made Vincent lay down too.  It didn't take long for him to fall asleep.

He didn't want to sleep in his bed because he keeps imagining that there are "invisible bugs" in there.  He doesn't have any bites and I haven't seen any.  I think he just has an over-active imagination.  He still sleeps there at nighttime.  It's not the blankets because we change those often.
Any suggestions?

I worked on a tentative schedule for preschool while they slept for an hour (and awhile longer).  The girls walked home from school which was great.  They are loving their classes.
I took these ones after school on their first day.

I took a few of a friend's kids for her too and the three younger siblings wanted their picture taken while I was at it.  Vincent was born just a week before the girl in the middle.

Elizabeth walked to our house yesterday with the oldest of my friend so they could hang out for a bit.  They like video games.

I made some great bacon beans and rice for dinner that smelled delicious all day long (and helped to cover up the burned toast smell from breakfast.)

School Starts!

Most moms I know either cry or shout hooray this time of year knowing that their kids are growing up and that they'll miss them.
I, however, just know that my girls will have a great time and will learn so much that I don't cry at all.
This year I'm also not rejoicing.
Not going to lie, they HELP me a lot! I'll have much more entertaining to do in the mornings now with Abby especially.  When the girls are home, they keep her busy and out of trouble (mostly).
Elizabeth still gets breakfast for all the kids.  So helpful!
I had to vacuum all the crushed cereal in the kitchen this morning though after Vincent and Abby stepped all over it when Abby spilled her cereal.  What a mess. But now clean again and no cereal for those two for the rest of the week.  Plain toast will be their breakfast.

Back to business:
Elizabeth is starting fourth grade.  She went to a Peer Helper meeting yesterday and already has a job to do on the first day of school.  She was supposed to be there a little early so she could help show a new student around the school.  I'm not sure if she did or not, but she was excited to be a helper. 

Olivia is starting second grade.  She was excited to show all of her classmates her newly pierced ears today. I guess maybe that's why she wanted a ponytail now that I think about it...

 My three ponytailed girls.

 Aren't they cute?

 Vincent felt like an Olympian this morning.  He told me so.  Maybe he is excited to rule the house?  Or at least he thinks he'll rule the house.

 Elizabeth ran to the school to do her job and I walked Olivia in (with the other kids).  We found her classroom that's UPSTAIRS and her desk and discovered that a friend from church is sitting right next to her!  She's happy about that because we hadn't heard of anyone we know who had the same teacher as her yet.

 Olivia with her teacher, Mrs. Marchell.  I just love seeing the flag at the front of the classroom.  It brings back so many great memories.  The chalkboards have all been replaced with whiteboards, but the flag remains.  I love it!

 We went down to the fourth grade section of the school (also upstairs) and found Elizabeth's class.  She was already there and right in the front (which is why I suspect that she didn't have to do her little job).  Her teacher is Mrs. Batdorf and she rides horses and has pictures of them all over her room.  I think Elizabeth will love being in her class (and will probably BEG to ride horses even more.)

 As we got out of our car to go into the school, my friend Ally called from her front door to come over after I dropped off the girls.  We didn't have any plans, so we went over and chatted for a bit.
Rory and Vincent played ukuleles for us wearing Burger King crowns.  They are so funny.

I got home and started pruning my rose bushes, doing laundry, deep cleaning the bathroom, putting away the vacuum, and uploading pictures before I realized that I forgot to add the jello I made last night to the girl's lunch bags.  They will be upset to find the spoon, but no jello.  I felt bad, but by the time I noticed that, it was already noon and I expect that they ate already and Abby was napping. I guess they'll just have to eat it after school along with some delicious chocolate chip cookies. =)  Maybe then they won't be mad at me. 

Monday (the day before school started), our PTA puts on a luncheon for the staff.  I'm the Vice President of the PTA this year and suggested a taco/burrito bar.  The President is new this year and thought that sounded nice.  We've done potato bars, salads, and other things, so it's nice to have food they can put their own toppings on. 

We fed this many people, including my cousin who now works in the reading room!:

Unfortunately, we ran out of taco meat.  I thought we discussed someone bringing refried beans as well as meat (and talked to the person and they said they forgot-oops!), so I think the meat just didn't stretch far enough.  I wasn't in charge of that since I just had surgery and didn't know how I'd feel. Also, we planned for 40, when with the whole staff, it's more like 75.  I knew the number 75, but didn't know that the new President didn't know... Every topping was scraped clean of their bowls and we had to tell some of the staff (who didn't get there on time) that they could make a quesadilla or something instead (until the cheese ran out...) It was embarrassing to me.  Normally, we have way too much food at the end and have to figure out how to divide it up.  This time the only thing left was taco shells and no one even got more than one taco.  

One of the nice ladies who's a paraeducator and crossing guard at the school came and gave me a big hug afterwards and told me it was great and as she was hugging me asked me who made the snickerdoodles.  I answered that I did and the hug got even bigger and better (I guess.  I'm not really that much of a hugger.)  She told me not to worry about running out and that we do a great job.  So many nice people work at the school and they are so nice to our PTA, even we we sort of fail.

Next time will be better!

Time for me to go and switch the laundry and make some cookies before Abby wakes up!

Three Birthdays Saturday

 This morning started with a party for my cousin's 30th birthday and her husband's college graduation at a park close by.

I took the kids and Andy met the missionaries for his weekly meeting and then went grocery shopping for me again.

They all really like volleyball in their family, so of course they played some of that.

My cousin's oldest daughter watched her parents play.

 My aunt and uncle fawned over another new granddaughter.

 

 My cousin Shannon with her new baby girl who's two months old.

Vincent had to have FOUR blackberry muffins because he's four, you know.  (FYI-He didn't even like them that much...)

 We hurried home after that party to finish setting up for Olivia's party with her friends. She wanted a princess party and asked everyone to dress up.
Balloons were played with while we waited for everyone to arrive.

 We made tiaras with pipe cleaners.

 I made one to show them one way to do it and they all made them their own.

 Andy helped Vincent make a "Prince Charming" crown because that's who the girls decided he was for the party. (Do you like his mismatched crocs?)

 Elizabeth in her tiara and fancy dress (my old dress from when I was 12 or something.)

 A little dancing happened.  Really just this slow song one.  Apparently Vincent likes to bear hug older women.... (In the next picture they were dancing the regular way with one hand held. She must have fixed him up!)

 Some disco music came on with our party CD.

 Olivia blew out her seven candles after her friends sang to her.

I made this (misshapen) cake last night during and after game night.  Olivia wanted a rainbow cake with white frosting and the words in rainbow colors and sprinkles.  I think I did alright, but not my finest cake ever.

How's it look?  Lots of colors and plenty of frosting.  It did taste good at least!

 

Olivia opened many very nice presents with oooohs and awwws galore.

 And we had a quick group picture before everyone left.  They were all almost in position when one parent came to the front door and most of them hurried to see whose parent was here and had to line back up for me.

 We rested a little bit before heading to a friend's party.  She was in Olivia's class at school last year and has an older sister who has been in some of Elizabeth's classes too.
Can you spot our (much more modest) girls?

 Elisabeth (the birthday girl) has a talented dad.  He MADE this pinata!  Can you believe that?

 Olivia had a turn to hit it.  By then the acorn fell off along with the arms and had to be tied on the back.

 By the time it got to Elizabeth, it was missing much more.

 Once the whole thing was done, we tied the acorn and arms back up to hit with a metal bat.  This one didn't fall at all.  I tied the knot.  Thanks, Cub Scouts!  I learned my knots!

 They had a blow up water slide and other water fun.  We didn't stay long because it was time for our dinner.

 I rested a bit in the family room and the girls were playing with some new toys and suddenly the littles were quiet.  I wondered where they were and Elizabeth checked and said they were reading in the living room.  It's always scary when it's quiet and two kids are missing.  I was happy to learn they were just sitting their reading instead of getting into trouble.  I made Elizabeth take a picture so I could remember that.
Obviously, not the greatest picture, but I love it anyway!

 We had Little Caesar's for dinner and everyone was bathed and put to bed.  What a birthday filled day!

Olivia's SEVEN!

Olivia is seven years old today.  We are so glad she joined our family.  She's such a great kid!

Elizabeth and I made some muffins for breakfast and the kids played while I got ready for the day.

We headed to JoAnn's to pick up a few things for Olivia's birthday party Saturday and then to the mall.

I signed up for a bunch of birthday coupons to different places that send free things for birthdays.  Barnes and Noble sends a coupon for a free cookie or cupcake from their little coffee shop.

Olivia picked a sugar shortbread cookie with sprinkles.

 Then we went to the Piercing Pagoda to have her little ears pierced.  She wanted to have it done.  Elizabeth does not have her ears pierced, but I told her she could after she was seven and she didn't want them done.  I told her then that if Olivia did, she would.  Elizabeth still doesn't want earrings, so Olivia's having her ears pierced first.
Grandma Shirley came to help with the other kids at the mall.

Olivia picked out these earrings.  I was surprised they had such big rhinestones, but she liked them (and there were some even bigger too!)

 Olivia didn't cry or shout or say anything when getting her ears pierced.  She just sat in the chair quietly and afterwards said that it hurt a little.  I warned her before that it would hurt some.  She just knew that after a little bit she can wear pretty earrings.  She's very excited about that.  I did put an earring size rule in place.  No longer than a half an inch until she's 13.  I don't like it when girls wear earrings that are too grown up too young.
Olivia wanted some special gloves that her friends had that they got at the mall, so I gave her a little money and she went down to that store with Grandma Shirley to get them and then they met us at Sonic for some birthday lunch.
Here's Olivia with her fingerless gloves with sequins and her earrings and her slushe from Sonic.

 Sonic sends birthday coupons for a free kid wacky pack meal on their birthday as well as half birthday coupons for a $1.99 kid wacky pack meal.  Vincent and Elizabeth both had those coupons, which made our lunch very affordable. =)
Elizabeth had activity days when we got back and Abby napped while Vincent and Olivia played.  When Elizabeth got home, they played some more and I napped.  I think I heal more when I nap.
I didn't wake up until it was time to make some dinner.  Lovely.  The mess wasn't lovely at all, but it's always worth it to nap and feel better.
Dinner was chili.  Olivia's favorite.  Unfortunately, we only had one can left.  I added a can of black beans and a can of corn to help it go a little farther and made some quick corn bread.  It made just enough dinner for our family.
Elizabeth had Jujitsu and an insurance guy came to our house to talk about our plan we have and make sure everything's the same and then it was bedtime.  We'll have cake and ice cream Saturday with her friends.

Morning Splashing

One of my friends came and picked up my kids Wednesday morning and took them to play at her house all morning.  It was a great break for me and let me rest, which was much needed!

I sent the kids with the camera. They went to the splash park that is near my friend's brand new house.

Vincent is VERY strong (apparently.)

He must have been pretending he was surfing or something here.

 Olivia always poses nicely for the camera.

 Elizabeth and Abby don't pose quite as nicely.  My friend's daughter is there between the girls.

 Olivia is getting very good at monkey bars!  Look at those muscles (and ribs!)

 Vincent and his buddy who's a little more than a year older.

The kids had a great time and Abby was ready for her nap.  Best way to return kids, I think.
Andy got home from his trip to the other side of the state before bedtime.  We missed him!