Small Successes (11)

It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that. (From F&F Live)

I know it's the end of the day, but I almost forgot to do mine this week.

1. I had a friend come over to the house on the spur of the moment when my house was NOT picked up or neat. I realize that most people don't keep their house perfectly picked up all the time, especially when they are running out the door early in the morning for a playdate at the museum, but I was still a little horrified. It was a semi-big deal for me to let them come back to the house without getting the opportunity to pick up first.

2. Did a headstand for the first time in yoga class. I was a little hesistant to try it when my instructor suggested it, but I did, and did much better than I thought I would. What a confidence builder!

3. I have gotten in bed before midnight for a week to prepare for Back to School and now that school has started. The alarm clock is still going off way too early for my taste in the morning, but hopefully I'll get in a better routine and get used to it again.

Summer Reading Clubs

For the 4th year in a row, the kids have participated in our local library's Summer Reading Club. The library gives the kids a prize for every 5 books they read, culminating in a trophy after 20 books. That goal was not tough for my little readers, even Laurie was able to get a trophy this year. As I blogged about last year, I keep a spreadsheet of all the books we borrow from the library so I can track what they like and don't like to read. This summer they borrowed/read almost 200 books in 3 months between the 3 of them. They are getting really good at choosing books on their own that they want to read. Even Birdie has her favorites to check out.

Not only did they earn a trophy from the library this summer, they also earned gift cards from the Half Price Books Summer Reading Program. They had lots of fun selecting books to purchase with their gift cards, though Daniel had a difficult time understanding that you don't have to give the books back when they don't come from the library. And that he can't get 10 books at a time from a bookstore, like you do the library.

They had so much fun with reading clubs, they also completed the forms to get extra tokens at Chuck E Cheese's when they'd read everyday for 2 weeks. Hey, whatever gets them to read even more!

The great news is that I have children who love books and love to read and be read to. Brian and I can't imagine where the kids get it. Could it be from the piles of books next to our bed?

Ice Cream & Horses

A couple weeks before school started, Leah and I took all 7 cousins out to the Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham TX and then to the Monastary of St. Clare to see their Miniature Horses. It was a fun filled day for the kids. Leah has written a great blog post about our day trip, so visit her for all the neat details. I'll just add a few pictures below to compliment her posting.

All 7 cousins

A cute sandwich shop on the town square

The 11 Commandments for the Monastary.

Trying to get close to a horse without getting kicked

Best Friends/Cousins

Back to School

It's the Fall!

This year, we had two headed off to Elementary School. Daniel is absolutely thrilled to be a Kindergator at our local elementary school. Monday, he got up early, walked into class and gave us a big huge wave goodbye. Despite the kindergarten teachers recommending the new students bring their lunch for a few weeks, Daniel was just as antsy as Ashley was her first day, to buy his lunch at school. Lucky for him, the first day was one of his favorites, Pizza!

After school, he was so excited, telling me all about his day before we even pulled out of the carpool line. The second day went just as well as the first. Getting up super early without an alarm clock. I think he is going to love going to school this year. His only hesitation is the idea that Laurie and I are doing things and having fun without him while he is at school. I'm sure that will pass soon.

Ashley also woke up early on her own for her 1st and 2nd day of school, which never happens. She is very proud to be in the 2nd grade and have a real desk in her classroom. Her teacher seems very nice, friendly and excited to be back teaching this new group of students. This year, one of her good friends from 1st grade is assigned to the desk next to hers. What luck! Today, she came home telling me all about the new science lab, the rules and what experiments they will be performing. We have no doubt Ashley will thrive in second grade and continue to love learning.

The only tears we had going back to school Monday weren't mine, Brian's, Ashley or Daniel's, they belonged to Birdie. As we were all going out the door to take the big kids to school, Birdie ran into the kitchen and grabbed her school backpack. After we dropped them off, she started telling Daddy and I that she was going to school too. Then, when she noticed we were headed back to the house, the tears began to fall. She sat in her car seat crying, "I want to go to My school!" Well, her preschool doesn't start until next week.

Soon after we got home, the tears stopped as she realized she was having a big playdate. I had invited several Mom friends (and the younger siblings) over for a "Back to School" celebration at our house. Laurie had 4 friends over to play, while the moms sat downstairs talking and eating for hours. After they left, she and I met up with friends at McDonald's for a playing lunch. It was a good day for her and I too.

We are preparing for a busy but exciting and fun year! I have done the unthinkable and have volunteered to be the room mom for not only Laurie's preschool class, but also Daniel's kindergarten class. Wow. Am I crazy? I just wanted to make sure he has a great start to school, and this is a great way to help out. Thankfully, we have a week to adjust to school again before Laurie goes back and our extra-curricular activities get into full swing - Dance, Soccer, CCE (Sunday School), Swim and a Hip Hop class for me. Its going to be a good year.

Meet the Teachers

Wednesday was "Meet the Teacher" day at the Elementary school for Ashley & Daniel.

We were pleased to hear that Daniel had gotten a teacher we knew as an assistant when Ashley was in Kindergarten. When we met her, Daniel just loved beamed and smiled his big smile. At our school, the kids go into the classroom with their kindergarten teacher while the parents go across the hall for our kindergarten orientation. When I came back into the classroom to get him after almost an hour, he told me I wasn't gone long enough and that he wanted to stay. And he had little tears in his eyes. It was so sweet. Course, when he heard me tell another parent later about it, he vehemently denied the tears part. Such a boy.

For 2nd grade, we hadn't heard much about any of the teachers, so we were excited to meet Ashley's teacher. I think Ashley really liked her, but it was hard to tell, because she was acting so shy. Who would have thought my eldest would act shy around adults, but it has happened. While her teacher was talking to her, Ashley couldn't seem to look her teacher in the face. It was strange to watch for me. The rest of the day she kept talking about wanting to start school now and not waiting till next Monday, so I think she liked her teacher.

While at the school, we spent lots of time going around to Ashley's previous teachers saying hi and giving hugs. It is sad to me in a way that my kids don't get the same teachers, but it does give us the chance to experience so many different and wonderful teachers in our school.

They are excited and can't wait for school to start next week. Slowly, I am coming around, getting used to the idea of them being away at school during the day again. As of right now, I'm not quite ready, but I probably will by Monday.

Small Successes (10)

It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that. (From F&F Live)

1. I made an all inclusive to-do list at the end of last week when I started to feel overwhelmed at only one week to go before the kids go back to school. The good part is that it has helped me feel as though I am organized and making progress toward my goals, no matter how small an item. I even made a list of larger projects I want to accomplish once I have a little "free time" while they are in school. So far, I am on top of things and making a good sized dent in my list for this week.

2. Yesterday morning the kids and I spent several hours in their rooms going through their clothes. Yes, I probably shouldn't have waited till 5 days before school starts to see what they need clothing wise to go back to school, but at this point, I'm just happy I got it done. And, I filled up two good sized boxes of clothes and shoes to give to a needy family. It's amazing how much they've outgrown over the summer.

While in Daniel's room, we sorted his clothes into two drawers and two areas of the closet - school clothes and play clothes. We're hoping this will help him get ready in the morning. He sometimes puts together the strangest combinations of shorts and shirts that usually revolve around his favorite red sweatshorts. Needless to say, those shorts did not make it in his school clothes pile.

3. The hardest thing in the world for me and thing I'm most proud of this week, is my getting up early. We are trying to get back on a school schedule, so that means going to bed for me before midnight, which is really tough, and getting up at 6 a.m. I've done pretty well this week (though some mornings were actually 6:30 a.m.) and have actually enjoyed a little quiet time in the mornings before the house wakes up.

"Relaxing" in the Pool

Don't you know, Daddies never get anytime to just hang out and relax by themselves.

But we also know they love every minute of it

Just Birdie

Brian and I had only Birdie at home for 4 whole days. My mom and dad took Ashley & Daniel, along with my sister's girls, to the Ranch for lots of fun. So we had Birdie all to ourselves.

This newly turned 3 year old thinks herself quite the comedian, with lots of mannerism and silliness inherited from her big brother. So many funny "stories", silly faces, strange noises and cute dancing that sometimes we mistake for her just copying what the other two are doing.

She also loves to jump off of everything! Out of cars, off of steps, curbs, rocks, anything. And she's very good at it too.

Despite being a third child, she loves to play by herself when the others aren't around. She will disappear for hours upstairs playing Legos, Ponies, Babies, Dress up, Picnic or getting into one of her siblings rooms. I have to admit that when the other two came home, the playroom and their bedrooms were a little messy because I didn't make her clean up while they were gone.

Little Miss Birdie Boo is also fiercely independant. She will tell you what she wants and that she will do it herself! And don't baby her! Many times a day, she will tell me she's a big girl. If the kids are working at something like workbooks, she needs her own workbook too. There are now no little girls in our house, only big ones!

One of our traditions when we have just one is taking them out to dinner. Birdie opted for the same type of dinner her brother always chooses - Sushi! We ordered her a chicken skewer and bowl of white rice to make sure she ate, but she actually rather'd to eat the sushi rolls. Man, was the waitstaff surprised. The little thing ate at least 6 California Rolls by herself, and still ate the rice and chicken.

For 4 days, Laurie was spoiled a little rotten. She had playdates with her cousin, Alex, lots of one on one time with Mom & Dad, dinner out, eating her favorite meals. Even when she and I spent Wednesday out shopping, she got treated with a Sonic slushie for no reason.

Not once, while they were gone, did she mention Ashley and Daniel. She never asked where they were or when they would be home. And even when they were on their way home, she had no interest. But of course, once they were back, it was like they never left. She's right in the middle of the pack, mixing it up with them. What a threesome!

No one could ever accuse one of our children of lacking in the personality department, and Laurie is no different. She is a total sweetheart at the end of the day, loving to snuggle up with Daddy rather than go to bed.

My Little Pony

Laurie went from loving everything Dora, to loving everything My Little Pony.

Don't you just love her new sheets and pillow?

Happy Birthday Birdie

Our Little Birdie is turning 3 today!!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Hope you have a GREAT DAY!