Back to School

Today was the last day of freedom for the kiddies..LOL... tomorrow it's back to school.  Wow, this summer just went by sooooooo fast.  July definitely took forever but once August hit we had so much to do that it flew right on by.  If I didn't have so many pics of the stuff we did I wouldn't believe it!!

So, after cleaning up some left behind mess from our BBQ yesterday, we got started on getting ready for school.  Backpacks were washed, baths were had, last minute snacks were bought (though, forgot to buy half and half for my coffee...boo), supplies were labeled and packed in those nice clean and yummy smelling backpacks, summer book reports were packed, lunches were made, ice-cream was consumed, teeth brushed, waffle mix made, coffee machine set-up to go...and whew, we're READY!!  Now, I think I forgot fill out some paperwork but I guess that will have to go to school on the 2nd day...hey, at least I got their yearly physicals done and that paperwork back, right???  

going thru supplies and labeling them (see my wine in the middle of the table)

 Franny Girl pulled out all of my chocolates and the molds and the cookie cutters, etc while we packed

 New lunch bags... just needed a pic before they are broken in and/or destroyed:)

 Free ice-cream they earned from the library for reading this summer (finally got it for them)

Also worked on putting together our new 'bin' thingy I bought for all of their crap.  Hoping this helps with the clutter...perhaps???  This is it below...and yes, I put it together by myself:)

Now, just so you all don't think I'm this heartless can't wait to get rid of my kids kind of mom, I must tell you that school is definitely a bittersweet time.  I am ready for them to get out of the house and back into a routine but at the same time I really will miss them!!  I am thankful I still have my 2 littles home with me and so I know that I will have stuff to do...no boring days around here.  But, I will miss having the big ones around...you know, they got me stuff, threw out diapers, watched Franny so I could shower, brought me the phone, changed the laundry, cleaned bathrooms, took out the garbage, etc.  LOL   guess I'm gonna have to start training Max:)

To all the parents out there I wish you the following:

1. A smooth morning (ha ha ha) ... is this an oxymoron???
2. No Rain   (pretty please stop raining long enough for bus stop time)
3. Eager kids who actually get out of bed and dressed and stuff
4. Happy tears... especially those newbies who are letting go for the first time
5. A great Mimosa once the bus leaves
6. Hip and cool First Day Outfits (especially for all those little girls out there who pick out those clothes so painstakingly slow)
7. No phone calls from the principal  (please please please don't call me...)
8. A friend for each kid in their new classroom
9. No scrapes or bumps or mud puddle mishaps while waiting for the bus  (hmmmm, maybe I should bring an extra hip outfit for these kids in case they fall in the puddles???  you should see my road, it could happen)
10. Strength to let go, Hugs, Shoulders to lean on, Hands to hold and a Flask with your favorite liquor inside

OK...have a great morning:)

Good hubby thing:  today we worked as a team in getting stuff done...thanks babe

Thing that makes me happy: Pre-sharpened pencils  (thanks MOM)

Preview of Front Entryway

Here are some pics of what it looks like right now:

 This is what you see when you open the front doow

 Another angle of what you see

And this is the other mess you see when you look to your right upon entering my house.

Now, hopefully I can organize it a little better???  ha ha ha... will post updates after it's done!!

Stings, BBQ and Friends...

Today we had some friends over for a nice 'Back to School/End of Summer BBQ.  Good friends and great food... what a great day to spend the day:)

It was hot and it was humid but we all had a good time (I hope you all did)... We didn't start off very good, you know.  My special DJ decided that it would be a good idea to throw rocks at a Wasp Nest we have burrowed in the ground in front of our house.  And when they came out he went running.  But, he decided that his little brother would be fine standing there as 1 Wasp stung him repeatedly.  Yes, I know, he's a boy and he's 8.  But, doesn't he know better yet??  I know he knows the nest is there and I know he knows not to bother it.  So, why??  Why would he decide to bother the nest and just leave his little brother standing there saying Ouch over and over again???  Does he even understand why this is wrong??  I'm just baffled by this child of mine and he baffles me more and more each day.  We go through days where I think he's just a normal 8 year old and then this happens and I question myself about that again.  I really wish I had some insight into his little brain, you know??

Here are some of the stings (some are from mosquitos)... there are more bites on his back and on his finger.  Poor Max:(

Other then that, I think everything else went well.  Hubby and I didn't even argue that much.  Though, I did kind of lose it on Kyra this morning... the girl just doesn't know how to pick up a room, you know??  Everything she picks up just gets shoved somewhere.  Dress up clothes get shoved behind the dress up bin...not in the bin, shoved right next to it.  And it's not just the dress up clothes.  This is how she 'cleans' her bedroom too... so, how do you get your child to learn how to clean up??  And before you say, help them and show them, I do!!  But it gets frustrating when you are constantly doing it for them or throwing their stuff out b/c they're not doing it or they go so fast they just throw stuff in random spots.  Again, I think my standards are too high??  Or perhaps we just need to take away their toys and leave them with the basics, you know??

On a good note, one of my neighbors came and made an awesome grilled veggie salad with the fresh veggies I had (from someone elses garden of course), we had my favorite homemade black bean salsa, spinach dip, pulled pork, pasta salad, baked beans, chicken and london broil.  Yummy!!  And of course some dessert:)  I tried a new thing- oatmeal chocolate chip sandwich cookies (yes, real butter cream inside)

Didn't take many pics...but here are a few of the kids playing in the ice bucket:)

Good hubby thought- today he did what I asked and though he didn't do it exactly when I wanted it, it got done and I didn't even argue with him...

Happy thing for me- making a new dessert and it coming out really really good