first days

Back to early mornings, early bedtimes, and some sort of routine. I'm enjoying it, even if it's only been one day!! I don't sleep much at night (this pregnancy has plagued me with insomnia to the nth degree!!) But getting up early and being out the door by 7:30am feels good. Probably won't so much in winter : )

So everyone made it off to school, without tears (that means me). The older two really seemed to have a good day yesterday.

It brought back my grade school days when Cal came home and had to study memory work (a passage from the Bible or something from Luther's Catechism). His assignment was the first commandment & meaning. I remember in the upper grades of grade school having to memorize ALOT of memory work. At the time I found it to be somewhat of a pain, but now I realize, not only do I remember an awful lot of it, I truly think that is what helped shape the awesome memory I have (okay, not to "toot" my own horn, but in my 20's my memory couldn't be beat. I waitressed at a family owned pizza joint, and I was known around with our customers because I never wrote anything down!) Just don't ask me how to get to my sister's house on the first try...(haha! I had a major brainfart yesterday and I couldn't find it, DUH. I'll blame it on being pregnant). Enuf 'bout me...

Maddie was off to school today. The kids were up bright and early. When I got out of bed at 6:40am, they were all eating breakfast and dressed (they all picked out their own outfits & poured their own cereal!!) Wow, it will be weird starting all over with a newborn...

I maybe would have had tears this morning, if Maddie showed any sort of sadness about leaving me alone for half the day. But she ran into her classroom, made a beeline for the rice/sand table, and didn't say goodbye (I did go say goodbye to her, though). I have to say I'll take that any day as opposed to the complete opposite...a sobbing child clinging to me. I have to say ever since our kids began going to school, we have not had an incident where they were crying or not wanting to go on the first day. Wonder what #4 will be like....!!!

B.O.O.B.

Okay, so seriously, this post is NOT about what you think it would be by the title!!!


Going back to July 31st...we went on our 3rd Adults Only weekend with some peeps Mike went to college with. The first year we went was 2006 (we missed last year because of building the house). Typically there are about 4-7 couples, and we go to this house on a lake about 3 hours north of us. The one gal's parents own the house; it's their getaway "cottage" they call it, even though there are 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and enough space/beds to sleep at least 14! They have a pontoon boat, canoes, paddle boats, and a boat to use for waterskiing/tubing. The weather was pretty stinky this year. Not hot (not cold) but terribly windy, which made it difficult for our one friend to show off his moves (we make him put on a show--he's a member of the Waterbugs Ski Team, and ranked #1 in the nation in jumps and stunts). Anyhow, even he had a hard time manuevering on the choppy waters. BUT the wind and cooler temperatures (and even some rain) did not hinder the annual competition...the bellyflop competition (uh, only the boys are dumb enough to do this!!) When we went to the Dells back in March, this is the group of friends we went with and the guys used the get together in March to establish a list of rules/requirements for their competition. They also named their group "Brotherhood Order Of Bellyfloppers" (hence the B.O.O.B.) They really all are mature adults with jobs and families. But their fun-boyish playfulness comes out when they are together. The women participate by being the judges. In years past, we just vocally gave our opinions on their jumps off the pontoon boat, and videotaped the jumps as well. This year, Shawn (hubby of Peggy, whose parents own the house) made up score cards as well as a detailed outline of what to look for in each jump (3 jumps are performed--biggest splash, freestyle, and the bellyflop. Though next year we are reinstating the flip as well.) Score cards, because in years past we all just voted for Terry (the professional skiier, since he is awesome!!). This time they even brought a small trampoline onto the boat to aid in jumping this year.


So, here's to the "boys" who still know how to have fun...even in their 30's : )

August so far...

Outnumbered...Well, just for the night anyhow. The guys played catch and are now watching a movie and the little gals are overnight at my Grandma's (Cal got to stay there alone last week).

I have been a bad blogger. I really just don't have enough time in the day. Once school starts (the 25th already!!) I know I will be able to keep up, at least until November when the next little gal graces us with her presence!! The kids are okay with the new school and even seem excited for it. We went to registration last Thursday. I just feel like it is more of a family, which makes perfect sense, being affiliated with the church we go to. But it just feels so welcoming and so filled with love. I do still have a tiny bit of guilt for switching them again, and honestly up until a few weeks ago I still felt torn and terrible about it, though we knew we'd send them to the new school. Now I really feel 100% confident that this will be a great thing.

The past couple weeks have really just been every day summer kind of days. Adults only weekend getaway with friends (I will do a fun post on just that!!), swimming, playing, LOTS of arguing between kids now that summer is winding down, shopping (I LOVE shopping for school supplies!), and some parties. This past weekend we had a surprise party for my Dad's 50th, and boy, he was surprised! I thought for sure he knew, but au contraire. Also Mike and I went to the fair Friday night. Dang, I didn't even have a cream puff (I don't even care for the puff, I love the cream though!) but I had a baked potato which I had been thinking about all week. I worked at the store this past Tues and today. I hadn't been working nearly all of July, which was fine. We were pretty swamped with miscellaneous things, so it worked out well that my days, nights, and weekends were free. But it has felt great to be back there. I just love it there. I am feeling reinspired, something I really didn't feel most of summer, mostly because there just wasn't any time (unless I would stay up insanely late which would not have a good end result...trust me!! The lack of sleep is killing me already. I just have major insomnia randomly in the middle of several nights a week.) But with new stuff coming in to the store, and me putting all my scrap stuff in the space we made above the garage, I think I'm ready to finally bust out some tools again, scrappin' tools that is!!

LOADED DIAPER

We have a piano now (though we need to get a bench)!! And a band. The kids have started a band they named, "Loaded Diaper". While they know how to spell it, they are choosing to spell it, "Loded Diper" and they have been drawing signs and logos for the band.

Sadly all my sheet music (Tori Amos, Bette Midler, "Desperado", and many more...) is missing at the moment...thought I had it at my Dad's. We're worried it may have been left behind back when he sold his house. I hope not, I'm still going to keep looking elsewhere just in case it got put in some other box. Oh well, time to update the collection with Norah Jones, Coldplay, Five for Fighting, and the Fray : )

all baby...

couldn't resist the cherries in this 3 pack of sleepers on clearance at Target. 3 for $6.51.

more about names--honestly, two of my favorite names were Aubrey and Ellayna (Ella). Mike is not a fan of either : ( There are others on the table, though between the two of us, there is one we agree on. Still not tellin', though I believe I may have inadverently mentioned it before : ) It's too early in the name game to share for sure though. Never know! I will tell y'all her middle name is Katherine after Mike's Grandma.

These photos aren't the greatest...I took pics of the pics.

baby feet

body shot

My Grandma says she looks like Maddie. How she can tell, I have no idea.