We're off to School!!

Just a look at the boys on their first day of school this year!

This is Hunter's first day of kindergarten! Good luck kiddo!

Starting our walk to school. No buses--everyone walks or rides a bike. All I can say is that even at 7:30 in the morning, it's still too hot outside down here!!

As I look at this photo with my sling bag on...looks like I'm heading off to a day to school too!!

"I'm so glad when daddy comes home..."

Today our Princess is 1 month old! And, I'm already saying to myself, "My goodness, where has the time gone??"Anyway, yesterday was a really hard day for the Little Princess and I. She would not take a nap. And for a 1-month old to not nap...that's a huge deal. She was screaming and crying a lot. No matter what I tried, I could not console her. When I fed her, she'd fall asleep and then wake up screaming ten minutes later. Perhaps I had time to go to the bathroom or make me a quick PB&J sandwich between crying spells (ate it while trying to feed her). Yeah, there was no formal dinner that night. Needless to say, by 7pm I was exhausted! And of course, it was a day that daddy would be working late.

Then, around 8:30 daddy came home...oh blessed day!

He took her from me (kindly traded a bowl of ice cream for her) and she immediately calmed down. Shortly thereafter, as he cradled her in his arms, she promptly fell asleep. A priceless moment for me.

You know, I think about how he is able to do this and I'm just amazed...sometimes jealous that he can take a screaming infant and calm her down so elegantly and simply. No rocking, bouncing, singing, etc. Which is what I had been doing all day long. It's like just being up against him does the trick!

So, a tribute to all those daddy's who just have the magic touch. What would us mom's do without you?

Course, a while later he handed her back to me--yep, you guessed it--she woke up and started crying again. But, she slept beautifully last night!

What the...?

I was picking up around the house and couldn't help but notice my boys' lego creation.

Anyone got any ideas who these three guys are? Stormtrooper meets Skeletor meets ????

And, what's up with the guy hanging--what was his crime? Does anyone else notice the head without a body? The Stormtrooper with a spear...I guess he couldn't find his gun in that pile over there.

Mmmm....gotta love their imaginations!

Mega Art!!

The greatest thing about Jaren working in the construction business (though he's just a paper pusher) is that he can get a hold of old, massive blueprints. He brings these home from time to time. Let me tell ya...they make great canvases for the world's GREATEST art (since there's only printing on one side)! When the boys go at it, I have HUGE art murals everywhere!!

On occasions, when we have LOTS of children over, they have a fun time creating a masterpice together!

Sometimes we get so many blueprint bundles that I have to rid myself of a few of them (sometimes I give them away)...there just isn't the storage for them. Not to mention, the average bundle is more than I can lift. So, if you're ever in need of large white paper, I've got A LOT of it.

"Squirrelly" Dinnertime!

Sorry that I haven't been a major "blogger" these past two weeks. We've been busy and out of town. The boys and I spent a week at The Lake Livingston Lodge and only got back on Saturday. So, we're back home and hopefully I can catch up on my life here at home.

Moving along to my actual post:

I posted some comments a while back about our sunflowers...so this is a continuation of that. I'm just so fascinated with my sunflowers that I have to write about it--thanks for tolerating it! Anyway, my sunflowers are pretty much all done blooming. And, frankly they look rather ugly. When TS Eduard came through the winds knocked a few over and then they REALLY looked ugly. I thought to myself, "It's time to pull them..." But, I wasn't ready to sweat it out and pull them out. And, I'm glad I didn't as "watching" the sunflowers these past few days has been rather exciting. Obviously, sunflowers "go to seed" after they bloom (duh--I had forgotten that fact). And when that happens in come ALL the birds (by the dozens)...and the squirrels.

Yes, the birds are fun to watch as they pick the seeds out--but, I was amused by the squirrels even more. The first time I saw one climb up a stock I just laughed so hard. I admit, I hate squirrels in my backyard because they reak havoc in my garden (though I didn't plant one this year) but I have no problem with them picking the seeds from the sunflowers. Finally, a bird feeder that birds and squirrels alike can enjoy. The best part was when the squirrel actually fell off the stock...(sorry, didn't get that comical picture)Needless to say, I won't be pulling these sunflowers out until the birds--and squirrels--stop coming. It's a great past time to watch them all out my kitchen window as I do dishes! I'm so easily amused, aren't I?! I guess I am a real nature watcher...

DUE TODAY!!

I have to share this realization that we made today:

So, I was getting ready for the day this morning and the alarm on my cellphone goes off. I'm thinking, "Why in the world is my alarm going off?" I don't recall setting it for today. Then, as I'm turning it off I read the "reminder" note: 8/06/2008 BABY DUE!!!
I gave out a chuckle and first thought "Ha, like I need a reminder for that!!"

Shortly after that my 7-yr. old was looking at the calendar--as he often does to see what's going on for the week. And he looked at me and so matter-of-factly said, "Mommy, it says we have a baby due today! How long will that take?" Again, I chuckled. I explained to him what the word 'due' meant. Then, I explained that "the baby" was already here--she came 16 days early. He's still trying to figure how in the world that could happen when the calendar says she is DUE TODAY!

Just because you write an event on a calendar--doesn't mean it'll actually happen.

Ironically enough I was putting all my maternity clothes away this morning as well. Surprisingly I was sad to put all those cute clothes away. I may not have physically liked being pregnant, but I liked my clothes for those 24 weeks that I got to wear them! So long maternity clothes--until we meet again! Then again, it does feel good to be wearing my pre-pregnancy clothes again.