Now that I'm grown, I know a sister is a good thing.

I come from a family of 3. Brother Chris, who is 9 years older than me, and sister Jo (Johanna) who is 6 years older than me. With us spread out like that, I was kinda like an only child. Not only was Jo interested in playing differently because of the age difference, she and I were also complete opposites. She a tomboy to the core, me a prissy girl who wanted to play house. We fought a lot, and I was notorious for being a tattle tale, and also the baby of the family who got away with a lot. However, I always looked up to her! I knew she was the bomb, who could play ball, and the homecoming queen, while I was chubby and a dork. Sooooo, you see, growing up I knew I loved her, but wasn't sure having a sister was all that.

Now I know better. Ever since she had Cody (16 years ago now) we've become close. Sister's are great. They know why you are the way you are. They share the same goofy memories with you, and there's just a strong bond that you can't really explain.

Okay, now that I've spilled my guts and babbled on, I can tell you about her visit. She and the boys came down on Monday and stayed the night.

Pierce was in heaven!!!

As was Hope.
The boys are sooooo good to play with the kids. A 16 year old and a 12 year old might not wanna play little kid games, but they do it anyways. Too sweet.

And they both share their I-pads!Cody got Hope going on Angry Birds!!
They got here on Monday and spent the night, which meant they were here when Pierce went to his first day of school. I was concerned how he might handle leaving when his cousins were at home, but he did well. However, I would see glimpses of his toys and get teary eyed. I'm a sap and wanted him at home.

Boys played more games with Hope while Pierce was in school.
This I HAD to get a picture of. 16 years old people. I teased him that I was going to upload it to Facebook and tag him in it. Oh, and his brother too!! But I think I might be deleted and blocked if I did so! Ha!! I think it's safe here on my blog though, you know with my 10's of readers.
And before you know it, there visit was over :( My sister works some crazy whack hours, so getting here is difficult for her, and I so appreciated her coming.
I love my family!!!

Kids are happy. Momma is happy.

I am happy to report that today went MUCH better. Pierce came home in a happy mood and told me "I had a good day today." I also went to his school to have lunch with him and chatted with his teacher, who said he's doing great. After a lot of tears yesterday, I was beginning to panic, but I really think he was just adjusting to it all.

So, I have begun my weekly lunch dates with my little man. :-) P.S., all teachers should be nominated for sainthood.

And not to be overlooked, we went to Hope's open house tonight. Can you tell that she's excited? She starts school on Tuesday, and that cannot get here soon enough for her!!! :)

1st grade!!!!

Yesterday was my big boy's first day of 1st grade!!! I'm sad that he's gone most of the day, but really praying that he has a great year. He seemed really excited and kind of nervous too. Not sure what to think of a new teacher, and who will be in his class...
I had him laughing before we went in. I kept chanting "first day of 1st grade, first day of 1st grade" in kind of an annoying little chant, but it made him crack up.
In the words of my best friend. Oy. Why on earth do they grow up so fast?
At his new desk!!
And then it was time for me to leave. :(
His first day seemed to go well, but today he came home in a bad mood. I asked him if he had a bad day, and he said yes. He was complaining about the kids having to put their heads on the desk, but I'm just not sure what it was all about. Teacher friends, is it normal for kids to have a hard time adjusting at first? Or maybe it was just a bad day? I guess we'll see what tomorrow brings.

Our weekend.

Our last weekend before school starts has now come and gone. Someone really needs to invent a time machine, I would sooooo buy one.

Friday was kind of a bust, because I basically sat around in the fetal position after my incident with Mr. meanie pants. I know what you're thinking.....she's the one I want on my side in case of a fight, because she's tough. Yep, that's me. Tough.

Anyways, by Saturday I had quit sucking my thumb, and it was time to go watch our big man!!!

Pierce graduated out of Little Dragons after his last testing. Since moving into the Junior program it has been a lot tougher!! One day he said to me, "mom this is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life!" :)

He tested Saturday to become a yellow belt, and he did really great!! So proud of our little man!
Look at the boy he was up against! A lot bigger than he is, but he held his own. We'll find out this week if he's moving up again.
Since Paul had been out of town most of the week he said he was going to go work at the office for a while on Saturday. Kids are never happy when he does this, cause they always want to be with him. So we decided to tag along!!

You know when you are married to a blogger, you are always at risk of being photographed. Am I right bloggers?? Funny, he doesn't even pay attention to me half the time, as you can see.
So while he was hard at work, I thought I'd let you be nosey and see what's in his office. His lovely bride :)
The babes :)
Award and certificates. Proof he actually knows what he's doing.
Brace yourself.....

Oh yes he did.
Soooooo, after I made myself useful taking pictures. I decided I would really help out.
He got annoyed and put me to work. Hmpf.

I had to clean the boards and even write on the board!!!! I kind of had flashback to school.
But I was sure to leave a reminder of myself for the Monday morning meeting. (Please note a new nickname that has been born. Of course he's Rico, because of his 'riconess' but now he's also schmoopie. He really appreciates this one, and the fact that all his firefighter buddies now call his schmoopie.)
Today we went to church of course, but after church it was time for Pierce's open house and find out who his teacher is going to be this year!! I was quite surprised to see his teacher is MUCHO preggo, she's due the first of September. I'm hoping this doesn't cause any problems with the transition, but she said she will be back six weeks after the baby is born.
Tonight our church had a thing that we can meet at our child's school and walk around and pray. Such a great thing to do! And being the committed blogger that I am...

T minus '2 big sleeps' until my boy starts 1st grade. Oh, and more visitors tomorrow!!!

Some people are just plain ol' mean.

I am a people pleaser. I also get my feelings hurt easily. Please note these two things before I tell you a story of what happened to me today.

I was leaving this morning for Jazzercise, of course kids in tow. I was pulling out and not paying full attention as I should, when all of a sudden I hear honking, and then I believe I hear yelling? I stop. I look back. I see man, my neighbor, and he is FLIPPING OUT.

I stop the van, put it in park and roll down my window. In the time my window was down, I hear the F word, and lots of other expletives, all aimed at me. In my not paying attention, I was close to backing into said man and his nice car. I immediately start apologizing all over myself. "I'm so sorry, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry" but he didn't hear, or even want to hear me. Then the last thing I heard him say was, " J**** C***** you would be really sorry if you hit my 50,000 dollar car" and then he peeled off.

I just kind of sat there for a minute of two after he peeled off, stunned. Kids were asking me a million questions about why he acted like that, and what were some of those words. Nice.

I have thought about this all.day.long. I get that he was annoyed with me for not paying attention. I get that he honked. And if he would have said, hey pay attention, I would have understood that. But he's my neighbor! He'll have to see me over and over again, and what if I would have hit his car? Then what? Would he have run me over with his "50,000 dollar car?"

You know if I wasn't such a people pleaser maybe I would have just muttered a few expletives myself and moved on? Instead I cried over this dumb thing! He hurt my feelings, like a little girl!! HA! Of course now Paul is going to deal with him too, lovely!!

I guess I just needed to blog my feelings out. Sending out my feelings to my 10's of readers and letting you know some people are just big fat meanies.

A post for Jami, and my nervous brain.

Jami Leigh texted me last week, "when does Pierce go back to school? I'm thinking we are going to come down for a visit" And with that a plan was born. Jami, Cooper and Cameron were coming for a visit!! She and her kids have never come down for a playdate alone, so we were pretty excited. :)

Let me explain something though about me. Anytime anyone decides to come here for a visit, I go through this whole thing in my brain. "What if they get in an accident" "What if their car breaks down" "What if they have a flat tire" And the what ifs go on and on.....Just ask Tracey. Last time she came down, I couldn't reach her for 30 minutes, her phone kept going to voicemail. Of course my brain went to all those what ifs, and I was wearing myself out!!! Do you understand how back it sucks to be a nervous ninny?? So, while I was very excited to have James come for a visit, I was nervous until she make it back to good ol' Indiana :)

I somehow missed getting a group shot on my camera! Whateves!! I took one on my cell phone, but it was pretty ghetto. So, no group photo :(

These kids and their technological minds!! I tell you what. Pierce showing Coop how to play games on a MAC.

And Hope taking to Jami's I-phone, like a fish to water :)
I gladly took to Cameron duty while Jami left the room for all of .6 seconds, and every single time, he acted like this.
And this.
Look at the tears!! I was getting a complex! I am definitely losing my baby touch ;) Actually, he's just a MAJOR momma's boy :)
They drive 4 hours in one day, and I fix hot dogs and cheetos. I really know how to show people a good time.
Back to more play!!! Kids snuggled ;)
And played games..
Oh look who's content now?? It's cause momma was in the room and he wasn't left with the big bad witch of BG!!
Then Hope started the dress up stuff...and the other kids followed suit. Somehow I missed loading that picture?? I know Jami has it on her blog though :)
Then it was time for James to leave :( I seriously can't explain how much it means to me when anyone comes to visit me, and I was soooo appreciative of you coming down Jami! I know the effort it takes, especially with little ones. And relieved of my nervous ninny worry when you let me know you had made it home safely!! ;)
And not to leave out something else pretty important, daddy made it back home on Thursday night. He has been out of town in Chicago on a business trip, and we were all pretty happy to have him back!!! :)

Filling our days.....

With less than a week until school begins, I've been trying my darnedest to be mother of the year. (since my children are watching a movie, and I'm ignoring them by updating my blog, I'm sure that I won't be getting that coveted award) Alas, in my attempts to end the summer with lots o' fun, we've been busy.

Let's take a look see, shall we??

Yesterday I was invited to a park with these water fountain things.....

Really fun!! Pierce took right to it, and was giving me a thumbs approval! Score one for mommy!!

Success with child #1.
Fail with child #2.

Can't you see the fear and trepidation on her face? She wanted to get in there, but those suckers put out some serious water, and I could NOT coax her in.

Poor baby wanted so badly to join the fun.We would make some progress...
Then she would say "I'm too scared" and settle for just walking in the puddles of water. And considering it was 896045 degrees outside, and we were standing in the blazing sun, I just hoped she would take the plunge.
Finally......success with child #2, and then the fun was on!!!
HA!!

After her long warm up, she sure as heck didn't want to leave!

Luckily Karen invited us to go swimming with them. I didn't take any pictures in that pool because it was wall to wall with children and I was too busy making sure that I didn't lose an offspring.

Pierce and Jax having a snack break. This is Pierce's first real buddy here, makes me happy :-)
Hope and Ansley.
After a full day in the sun, we headed home to crash!! Fun times were had!!

Today we had other plans, but they fell through. Jo and I talked about meeting up somewhere halfway for sushi, but I didn't have the time today :( So, I decided that I would take a leap of faith and try and find this little place that I have been told about. Considering how directionally challenged I am, this is like a roll of the dice.

Found it. Score another one for mommy! Man, I am on a roll!!!
Chaney's serves soup/sandwich's and the like, also homemade ice cream!! Yum!! Kids threw down their food so we could go out and play.
I've seen these slides elsewhere, but I've never been down one, and I acted like I was just there to take pictures of the kids. But it was all a cover.....
Cause I wanted to try it. :-)
Lots of cute, fun things to try out!



And if it wasn't for the heat, we could have stayed much longer, but once the kids looked like this we had to call it a day.
All of these fun decisions to make is starting to wear me out ;) Luckily tomorrow, we have a special visitor coming!! :-)