Happy Labor Day

This signals the end of summer. I wish someone would tell the sun. It's hot, humid, and muggy. My house especially feels like a glass house. I know I'm PMSing., but come one people, bring on the fall cool wind.

Speaking of Labor Day, what a crock. I went with my mom to PB to buy a lovely gift for a fantastic wedding this month. It took two days to wrap the gifts that T,P, and I decided on. It's awesome, but "Come On people" two days to wrap ten boxes. Get with the program. Plus two days to go to UTC for a "quick trip" Luckily there was a bouncie so all was good.

Back tracking, church was really good today. I volunteered to be a part of the nursery program at Legacy. Ty and I are interested in being a part of something big.

Speaking of BIG. That describes the mess we left at our house before church. How in the holy guacamole does the morning paper, syrup, butter, basic C.R.A.P. get thrown around so bad??? It was bad. WE left and didn't look back. So I labored when we returned.

I labored in the kitchen, laundry, toys, etc. etc...and when all was done, I found time to plan for my school week. So I say, lovingly,

Ty, please continue to find time within your week to help me with the simple tasks. It makes you all that more attractive to me.

This is going to be an amazing year. I love you Tyronie Balognie

yours only,

G

I'm beat

Wow....(please as you read this, insert the voice of Eyore from Winnie the Pooh). I'm tired. =)

I say that lovingly, yet dead on accurate. We're wrapping up 10 full days of Kindergarten. To quote Christopher, "I'm so depressed" My obvious answer is, "Why?" Those poor souls have searching for that Gingerbread Man for God knows how long and that sneaky little creature won't rear his ugly head yet.

The whole point of this exercise is to introduce them to Kindergarten, their school, etc... etc.., but Mr. Analytical is wondering, where in the "Hell"he is??? Little does Christopher know that he shows up tomorrow for a cookie contest.

On another note, he's dragged his feet, dilly dallied, rested on his laurels, so much these last two days we've not had time to play on the playground the last two days. Again, "we're beat"

I guess I should reflect, I started school this week too. I also got the worst head cold and cough, so I'm not certain if I contributed to the problem, but potentially, could've made things different. But to sum it up.....

We're all tired, we've had 9 days of looking for gingerbread man, 9 days of not eating breakfast with Avery, 4 days of dealing with new T.K.s, Back to School Night, 7 days of a nasty head cold, 2 days of really unorganized soccer practices, 2 days of swimming (one code brown), 3 days of dad not sleeping where he should be because of "thrashers", and one super special invitation to a wedding rehearsal tonight. So it all turns out well. =)

Love,
G

Luck be a nasty lady

So, we've been busy these past few days. Ty and I have been trying to get our classrooms together. I have brand new carpet in my room, (awesome) However that meant removing everything from my room and starting over again. Oh well...new carpet. We went to Veronica's party, the sick the fever, the worrying, (mostly me) so the fever never went away until late Sunday. So that meant no first day for Christopher.

Needless to say, on Monday, he got to take the day off. Did he have a fever? NO!! Ty and I got to attend Kindergarten Orientation with our imaginary child, C.J., or is it Chris, or is it Christopher. It was bitter sweet in knowing we were making the right choice by having him stay home, yet knowing he'd probably be fine. Oh well. The 24 hour fever rule has a purpose. It's "Pickles and Prune juice" for those of us that want to capture that moment though.

Speaking of C.J., the more times he has to write his name on his papers, I can bet he'll want to be called C.J. Or at the very minimum write C.J. I think I'm okay with him writing C.J. and being called Christopher.

So anyways, we had day two of Kindergarten. Funny, in German, Kindergarten means the garden where the children play. Well, ask him what he did during his day and he'll tell you that he got to play on the playground 3 times in a row.

Long story short, we love his teacher and think she'll be a good fit for C.J. or Chris..or whatever his name is. =)

102...bummer

Well, the last time I wrote, 300 was the number. You'd think that 102 would be a complete excitement. It's not. That's the temperature Christopher came home with today. 102!!

Rewind a couple of hours. Friday, Christopher and Avery were playing outside on our slide. Saturday morning, Christopher complains he can't eat his cereal because his arm hurts. Rewind again. whenever Christopher doesn't want to do something, he either has to go poop or some other distractionary device. This time, I thought it was a new tactic.

Well sure enough this afternoon, he's bonafide genuine. Something is wrong with his arm/collarbone. Yet, he can play Wii, shoot a squirt gun and swim at really fun pool party we went to. So I'm thinking, its' just sore from over-use.

Well long about 5:00 tonight, Mr. Social "passes" out on Veronica's couch. TWICE!! That never happens. So long story short, my baby is sick. When we got home, his temp was 102. So he may be over sore but his over sensitivity comes from having a bug. He starts Kindergarten in a day and a half. So please pray that whatever Christopher has will pass tonight. Sweat it, puke it....get that nasty bug out.

I'm so weirded out by this. In almost 6 years this is only the 3rd time he's had a fever. #1 at Legoland. (we tried to force him to have fun...we didn't know how sick he was) #2 Tia Loula's Halloween party....we just thought he didn't like barbacoa.....(he threw up on us 3 times the way back from the Valley), #3 Today. We tried to remind him of his friends. He was a super trooper until he was like that old lady that had too much to drink at a wedding. He put his feet up and passed out. Poor baby.

On another note, Veronica has the best parties. I just wish we could've stayed longer.

G

"I spy"

We went to the Imperial Valley for my grandmother's, Ercelia, funeral on Monday. Funny, we used to go there all the time, now since Ty and I have been married, almost 7 years, we've only been maybe a dozen. Life changes.

Anyways, as we were driving down, I was mentally reflecting on so many changes. There were never those windmills. No casinos, no border patrol. Always that In-Ko-Pah, weird lookout thing. I can remember thinking if I was in the mob that on the side of the freeway would be a good place to dump a body. My dad would drive like a maniac during that last twisty turn before you left the mountains and entered the desert.

I can remember either Tricia or Stacy counting one time from Alpine, how long it would take to get home. Almost all the time, my mom would ask my dad to stop at 7-11 because we needed or would need milk soon. I used to blink repeatedly on the ride down because I truly thought I was changing the stars' path in the sky. I also remember by Buckman Springs thinking I've seen the African Savannah. By the way, Ty and I are so meant to be. Because on Monday, on his own volition, he said he often thought the same thing. I remember being sooo grateful that Mamaree had Diet Cokes in her outside garage because it was like a special treat and made the ride a little bit sweeter. Weird.....

Well driving down on Monday, I tried to teach Avery again how to play the game "I Spy". Christopher is a pseudo-expert. He'll spy something that really isn't there but he's seen before. Not exactly how the game works.

So I said, "I spy something red" Avery looks all around and shouts out "ied..oke" What???? Well I neglected to say that Ty and I stopped at AM/PM to fill up on gas and get a drink for the way down. Well we both got Diet Coke with red plastic lids on the top. I've never taught Avery Diet Coke, yet she knew Mommy was drinking "ied oke" She was right on and correct.

In my perfect mind, she was supposed to say circle. But the reality is, you can only have so many geometry lessons in one day. Sometimes, it's only about that long ride down and a really good "ied oke".

G

300...

So many thoughts....So many emotions....Namely 300 comes to mind.

Granted, I love the actor, Gerard Butler. He makes the Phantom of the Opera in the movie look hot. However, that's not the point. I felt like the face he made in this picture ALL DAY TODAY!!!!

If I would've had one of those tickers/counters that the people at Sea World have to ensure that no one gets on the Abby's SeaStar ride that isn't supposed to be, I'm sure my number would've far surpassed 300.

300 times, Christopher screamed, whined, complained, or basically "we love him" was flat out annoying"

300 times, I put Avery to bed while my loving husband finished cleaning the mess we made in the kitchen. Good news for the ladies at swimming lessons because it was only 2 times she clocked someone in the face with mermaid swimming baby doll. The second, well let's just say I think she was defending herself.

Granted, our external faces didn't resemble the 300 guy...but our heart, mind, and soul was in that place.

The only other thing I can think to add is how extremely grateful that I am to have over 600 opportunities within one day to guide and mold the lives of the two of the three most important people in my life.

Yes, it's annoying at times. Yes, it's frustrating. Yes, I wanted to give up. But at least Ty and I are blessed to have over 600 opportunities within a day, yes exhausting, but nonetheless, 600 (hyperbole) times to show our children we love them.

I wish I could figure out how to post the video or the song, but I hope I always remember the song: Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman.

Because the clock will strike 12 eventually.

P.S. Aren't they cute????

Squatting Monkeys Tell No lies Part 2

Let me begin with, I love Vacation Bible School. Finally!

Last year was hard. I think I was the only counselor that needed a Valium afterwards. Let me preface with, I was ready to volunteer within our church. Not so much at CABC. It was chaos and I didn't see the benefit of it. Especially when my "baby" cried the entire time. Me, being the mom who insisted on finishing something we started, "with the help of nannie" really and truly didn't help.

The whole time we were preparing for VBS, Christopher was worried about wearing his orange shirt again. It blows my mind how something so irrelevant to others can be SO significant to someone else.

Regardless, it was wonderful today. Christopher and Avery had the same project to bring home and spoke about how much God loved them. Thank you Jesus.

Also, Avery "loves" everyone so much, she wants to get them dressed. Every naked Barbie, monkey, baby, turtle...you name it. she wants to dress it right now. She says "I love the baby....I love the monkey." etc.... So it's again 9:10. She was put down over an hour ago. Here we go.

I love her.

XO Mommy

P.s. She just stormed in and proclaimed that she just found her Princess pants. ...not for her....but her third string duck.


Awesome

New Shoes

Today, we went back to school shopping.

Avery got new pink Geox shoes. With glitter...is there anything else she would have?

Christopher got brown Geox shoes, and VANS!! I feel like I live with Spicoli. Do you have to have a certain attitude to carry off those shoes? We'll see.

Can't believe kindergarten is two turns around the corner. I also love that the person checking us out at Old Navy knew we were doing back to school shopping.

As if going to school two days a week from 8:45-11-45 quantifies as "school" Avery needed new outfits. So does her mommy. Don't tell Tyronie balognie.

Also, I just found out Christopher will have a "relaxation" time built into his day. How nice.

Because I think a combination of learning his letters and numbers that he already knows will be extremely draining. I kind've picture my children as taking a "relaxation" time will be like Ramona Quimby the Pest. I believe it's chapter 8. Ramona enters kindergarten. She throws a fit when she can't be the wake up "fairy"

Beverly Cleary goes down as my all-time favorite author. Because even almost 40 years ago, she knew kids would see the droning noise of "just rest" If you haven't read it, it's worth a quick hour to re-read.

Love,g

P.s. Just realized that Avery and Ramona share the same stylist. Self fulfilling prophecy???

We'll see =)

these are a few of my favorite things..

I've tried to post three times, but each time...it accidentally gets erased. So here's to brevity.

1. Teaching my kids to do fondue: We did it tonight. Christopher poked himself three times with brocoli, but who cares, he ate brocoli.

2. Orbit gum: Any flavor combined with mint is awesome.

3. Dumbo the movie: Some might say we have big ears in our family. I don't know who they might be; however, my bangly earrings thank you much. Ty had a dinner date last night, so I hosted a sleep over in my bed. My lady and my "red head" joined me after a dinner date and bath with a fantastic movie. We didn't finish it yet. However, the sweetness and humor are still timeless. I cried when Mama Jumbo rocked Dumbo and Christopher laughed when Dumbo blew bubbles out his nose.

4. My nose: Speaking of it, I tried to run up our bouncy slide like a 5 year old. I stumbled and fell of the edge right on my beautiful beak. Thankfully, I've done this before and knew how to block it accordingly. So I love my nose.

5. My daughter: For the love of all things pretty. Go to BED! Don't ask for a drink, to dress your doll, don't change your clothes, don't get frustrated your flip flops don't fit when you put them on, don't get mad when you think it's a triangle and your book/cd tells you it's a circle. For the love of all things that are pretty sweet and cute.....please sleep. Also, when you sleep, don't thrash so much that you wake your self up. If you do, please go back to bed. Also, please if you come into my bed, please don't sleep like you're forming an arrow with your legs and arms. Please my pretty little "cindy loo-hoo" look alike. Sleep. My lower back needs it, my sanity needs it.

If anyone reads this tonight, please know.....I need my daughter to sleep all night. Pray for me.


Love, Gina