yIKEs!

Well, it seems the world is shutting down for Ike........at least around here. Our sports photos and games for tomorrow have already been cancelled. Richard's volleyball tournament that he was going to have to work has been cancelled (yea for that!), and we're now just going to hang out at home and watch the storm. We are praying for the safety of our friend, Cathy Groom Smith, her husband, and their three small children as they ride out the storm in Houston. She was there for cancer treatment, and they decided to ride it out. We pray for their safety. We are also praying that we get just enough rain, not too much wind, and no tornadoes tomorrow! Looks like the kiddos will definitely be sleeping in our floor tomorrow night!

A Beary, Berry, Royally Good Birthday!

Alyssa has just finished her week long birthday celebration. We started in Tulsa with a Care Bears birthday hosted by her Aunt B. She had a really good time, and she LOVED being the center of attention! She got an aquarium from Beth and Scott that we need to get set up soon so we can buy some fish for it! We had a great time and enjoyed visiting everyone and seeing Beth's (and Scott's) beautiful house. It inspired Richard so much that he finally consented to painting our dining room! Go Beth!We also got to see Aunt J's new house that she is busy decorating. It is turning out really cute, and we got to enjoy a wine and cheese party with the family there. When we got back to Texas, we continued the celebration at her daycare with cupcakes at lunch. Alyssa picked out Disney Princess cupcakes, and we had a good time celebrating with her friends.

Yesterday, we had her Texas birthday party with my family and our friends. We had a Strawberry Shortcake party with a bounce house, and fun was had by all. I decorated the cake for her party, and it turned out okay. I had trouble with a few colors, but at least you could tell who it was! LOL

The was the year for independence for the birthday girl. She put the candles on her own cake, and she decided to put one in Strawberry Shortcake's nose! She also helped go shopping for her gifts. She said that she wanted to go shopping, and since we don't do that very often, I let her pick out three things for her birthday. We still wrapped them, and she even helped with that! But, she had a great time picking them out, wrapping them, and even opening them. It was funny to watch her be Miss Independent!

Jonathan got a Martian Maker from his Aunt J as a belated birthday present, and he has really enjoyed making the squishy little aliens. In fact, we have a few in the maker right now that should be finished soon!

Tag, Deborah!

A: Attached or Single? Married.
B. Best Friend? Richard – If something good or bad happens, he’s the one I go to first
C: Cake or pie? Pie! Love the filling – not a frosting fan.
D: Day of choice? Fridays – anytime after 3:00!
E: Essential Item? Pen, highlighter, and paper – I am constantly making to-do lists
F: Favorite color? I really like neutrals and rich red for my home, but my new favorite color is pink, so my office is accented in pink……somewhat – it’s still a new fascination
G: Gummy bears or worms? Neither – not a fan of gummys, but I guess the worms would at least be funny for jokes!
H: Hometown? Commerce
I: Favorite indulgence? Scrapbooking supplies, James Avery Jewelry, or a good mojito
J: January or July? January, and the colder, the better – with tons of snow and a day off from work!
K: Kids? Two very active munchkins
L: Life isn't complete without? Cuddling with my kids on the couch
M: Marriage date? August 5, 1995
N: Number of brothers and sisters? One brother and lots of brothers and sisters-in-law
O: Oranges or apples? Apples, Gala
P: Phobias? I consider them to be more “legitimate worries” than phobias!
Q: Quotes? From Judge Judy…..”Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining!”
R: Reasons to Smile? Hugs and kisses from my family
S: Season of choice? Fall – so many wonderful memories, a cool crisp air, and such wonderful colors
T: Tag 4 People: Beth, Jen, Elaine, and Paulette
U: Unknown fact? I cannot ride a bike, though most of my closest friends know this
V: Vegetable? Sweet Potatoes – don’t eat it very often, but it is so yummy! Or red peppers – also very good.
W: Worst habit? Obsessing and worrying about things, or making to-do lists, or being a pack-rat, or……..there’s just so many!
X: X-ray or Ultrasound? Ultrasound – not damaging to the body, and if it’s for a baby, it is SO fun.
Y: Your favorite food? Fresh, warm homemade bread with butter, or anything with roasted red peppers and olive oil, or margherita pizza…….yum!
Z: Zodiac Sign? Don’t even know – don’t follow that stuff

First Day of School!

Well, today was the first day of school. Everything went very well. We got up REALLY early, and we dropped Alyssa off for her first day of daycare/"school." In fact, we were so early, that she was the only one there for a while. But, she went right in like she owned the place, and she made herself at home. She was very excited to be a "schoolgirl" as Jonathan calls her. She likes her teachers, she says, and she had a good day. She even enjoyed her lunch. When I picked her up, you could tell she had played outside, and she looked tired. So, it will be an early bedtime tonight! Yea!

Jonathan had a fabulous first day - much better than last year because he knew more of what to expect, I think. Last year he was upset because they didn't get to play as much as in Pre-K. This year we talked about how First Grade would be less playing than Kindergarten, so he understood going into it. We took his teacher a first day gift, and then Jonathan stayed to sharpen her pencils. He did really well all day, and I was very proud of him. He is truly growing up!
I was proud that when I walked by a few times during the day, he was participating with the class and not wiggling too much. He even sat in large group with everyone rather than in a chair by himself (which he usually did by choice to stay out of trouble). He said he really wants to be the best reader this year, so we're going to work hard to make sure he is the best HE can be, even if he is or is not the best in the class. At lunch today, he enjoyed visiting with his friends - so much that he forgot to eat his sandwich. Oh well, maybe tomorrow he'll remember!

:-)

The Night of Firsts!

Well, tonight was Meet the Teacher Night at school. Jonathan's new first grade teacher, Ms. Draughn, is really great. I think he's going to have a wonderful year. After we got home, we spent some time reading together. He read me two first grade level books. He's really doing well, and I'm so proud of him. We also spent some time practicing his shoe tying skills so he would be even more ready for first grade. He tied his shoes ALL BY HIMSELF FIVE whole times! He was so excited! We had to call Dad, who was still at work, and his grandparents. He was wound up the rest of the night just from the excitement! It was a good "First" themed evening for us.

Tying Up the Loose Ends of Summer

Well, it's that time of year again.....Back to School! Jonathan will be in the first grade. He is going to have a great teacher. I went by her room today, and she was getting everything set up and picture perfect. I'm excited about what he's going to learn this year. We went school clothes shopping on Sunday. It was not a good experience because the kids were tired and cranky, but we got the job done. We outfitted Jonathan with lots of shorts and shirts and two new pairs of tennis shoes - one with laces, which are new for him. So, tonight Jonathan worked with Richard to learn how to tie his shoes. It is still a work in progress, but he's getting it. Up until now he has always worn velcro shoes, so he's never had to learn.

Alyssa is enjoying her last few days with her Nana before she goes to daycare for the very first time. She's excited about going to "school," and she even has her own Littlest Pet Shop backpack. She's very cute when she's wearing it.

Richard came to eat lunch with me today, and I went to eat lunch with him yesterday, so that has been nice. It's fun to have a relaxing lunch before the kids arrive. It almost never happens once they get there.

I spent the rest of the day unpacking furniture and materials for two new classrooms. It's a lot of work, and I'm tired, but it's also fun to unpack all that Pre-K and Kindergarten stuff - it's all so cute, and I can imagine all the wonderful things the kids will learn with it. Now if they'd only send me chairs for the kids to sit in, I'd be in business!

Roller Coaster Week

This week has been interesting - lots of ups and a few downs as well. On Monday, my boss got upset at me because I took half a day off last Friday - which she approved BEFORE I took it off. So, not sure what that was about, but it kind of started the week off on a bad note. Then I had to spend the rest of the day in a meeting with her and our team leaders, so it was hard to concentrate.

We had a great retreat on Tuesday and Wednesday for work (except I lost the Amazing Race to Richard's team by 30 stinkin' seconds, even though we started out 10 minutes behind them!), had a wonderful anniversary date on Tuesday night, saw the new Batman movie, and then had a good time with my faculty on Thursday at our first day of staff development. My presentation was well received, and I had fun presenting, so I consider that a success. Friday was back to paperwork and moving things in the school to get ready, so boring but productive.

Also, this week I have been looking for a daycare for our daughter to attend this fall (Mom is going to be taking care of her mother because she had a stroke, so she can't watch Alyssa). I visited two of the three local ones. They were both good, but today we found the one we like best. So, Monday I will enroll her, and she'll start later this month.

But, because she's starting daycare, we're putting off dance classes until at least the spring. We think that soccer and starting daycare is enough for right now. We'll work dance in later. Jonathan is going to be playing football, and I'm going to start teaching him piano lessons as well (we hope!). So, it will be a busy fall.