First Day of School...

Well, technically it is...being as it is 1:47 a.m. and I WIDE awake! School starts in 6 hours!!!
John is very excited about his first day tomorrow and I cant wait! I will post pics! I am excited to be going to first grade (haha). This wknd was rough, woke up sick Saturday with major sore throat and ear throbbing....but thought it was allergy related so I popped some allergy meds and headed to Auntie M's. It was like 30 mins into our drive that I literally stopped functioning and fell asleep. Remained in major pain, major fever and sleep zone until about 9 this morning! Went to the emergency clinic to learn I have STREP THROAT!!!!! Man, I think its worse than the FLU- but probably only because it hurts to talk and eat - my two fave things. But, the doc gave me a shot in my a** and penicillin. Around 9pm I regained my strength and ate for the first time since Sat morning- and now here I am WIDE AWAKE at 2am ----- AND SCHOOL STARTS TOMORROW!

Oh joy, this school year is starting off fabulously.

More later, XOXO.

Uncle Dana's BDAY!

And, here are some pics from my sweet Uncle Dana's 55th Bday dinner!

Movies are awesome, books too...

I went from NEVER going to a movie (for people over age 5) to seeing THREE this wknd! YAY! Saw 'Swing Vote' for a date with Josh...was VERY good. Rented Nim's Island AND August Rush and WOW- both so good. And, Im getting into reading again. I LOVE books and reading and I havent done that in way too long. I love the smell of books. Im hoping it gets me off the computer- Im on it way too much. (Blog excluded, I wont give this up).

Let's see, Sydney has her cast. Most of you know that. She climbed up her dresser and jumped off...fractured her wrist....and OF COURSE they give her a entire arm length cast- makes perfect sense to me! Well, she has been caught on her dresser nearly everyday since so I guess the doctor knows what he is doing.

John is all ready to go for Kindergarten and had a great day school shopping with Yia Yia (THANK YOU) . He even organized all his clothes so he could be ready for school. He is going to be going to the school where I teach in Conroe, Armstrong El. I wanted him to go to our neighborhood school but the logistics of coming and going dont work and we cant afford childcare for him. Barely will for Sydney. The positive is that I wont miss his first day (all day!) and all the fun K things like the K program, class parties, field trips, etc.

Josh's job is up in the air, he is a pilot and these are the times. So, if youre reading this- please say a (BIG) lil' prayer for us. We are supposed to know very soon if he gets to keep it or not. Which means also keeping our health benefits!

There was a great quote at the very end "Swing Vote" that just touched me. It went something like.... "How is it that in the richest country in the world....good people, with a good education and good jobs, can barely afford to live here?"

Yes, Im getting all emo again- so I will end with that....

XOXO, us

New Table, New Bunkbeds, New Baby

John has new bunk beds... (for free!)

I have a new breakfast table and 6 chairs... (for free!)

Sydney picked her own baby from the store for first time... (14.99!)

Going to Galveston for the rest of the week.... (PRICELESS!)

XOXO

Bye Bye Aunt Billie...

My sweet Aunt Billie finally went home today. She is now living with the love of her life, Bill, in heaven. I bet he is so excited to see her again.

Love you Aunt Billie. See you on the other side. XO.

Im catching up....

Hello all!
I cant sleep at all tonight (its 2am Thur morn!) - so I figured I should finally update the ole family blog!

Lets see...

John likes guitar lessons thus far, and also has taken liking to Tennis! He did one week of tennis camp two weeks ago, and asked to go back this week! He is growing up so fast. His mouth gets in his way from time to time- but he definitely comes by it honestly. Kindergarten should whip him in to shape! I just hope he doesnt get bored...he's always seemed a lil advanced for his age to me. We shall see soon! Oh, and he has a new bed! A bunk bed no less....so THAT mustve been why no one visits, no extra beds or rooms in our humble abode....WELL COME ON DOWN....there's a lil twin bunk waiting for you!

Sydney is well, our lil demanding, but oh so delightful, diva! :) She says about 3 new words everyday. And, people comment on how well she talks (and how much!) but I never saw it as out of the ordinary...but consider the source. I can NOT believe she will be two in the fall. . She really loves drawing and painting...particularly on my walls, my window sills, herself. I guess we couldnt get through TWO kids without that phase. And, she is quite the dancer. I will have to upload a video of her dancing...we just laugh and laugh and she never stops just shakes it more for us! LOL.

Josh is flying away- trying to fly as much as possible while Im home with the rascals for the summer. With furlows and layoffs looming all around the airline industry, we are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best! Although, we believe at this point its pretty imminent. Boo. Hiss.

As for me... I repainted our front room and I have officially claimed it a breakfast room. Not only did I find John's bunk beds for FREEEEEE, but I have also found a round dining table (with a leaf!) and 6 chairs....FOR FREEEE TOO! Conroe ISD has a nifty lil thing in our email system called "Virtual Yard Sale" and im becoming quite addicted. Especially when I find FREE stuff. And, I think its about time that I proclaim, "YEA BABY! IVE LOST 30LBS AND 14 INCHES THIS PAST YEAR!"....ahhh, and it feels good. Just a lil bit to do on my goal list in that category...but I definitely feel better about myself.

Tabitha came and visited for two weeks in June. I love that girl. She came into my life when she was 3, can you believe she proudly showed me her 15-yr-old's driving permit!?!? I dont like this... she lives in Missouri with her sister. Im hoping we can get her back around the holidays...although buddy passes (FYI>>>) have QUADRUPLED this month. Again....BOO, HISS.

I am teaching first grade next year. Im thankful to have a VERY secure job, but I am having great difficulty getting excited about first grade. I feel a little guilty about it, because I dont want that to transfer to my classroom. But, first grade is the one grade I said I would NEVER teach. HA! Im hoping to get into 3rd, or higher.... hopefully soon. I HAD started my Masters Degree this month-- but was horribly NON impressed with the program I was so I dropped it and I am searching for another- preferably not all online. I think I do better in real classrooms. Kind of ironic since Ive bored you all with this long blog....Ha.

Well, enjoy the latest pics. See how much the kids have grown, and even get a rare Josh picture sighting! haha.

Love you all.
Us.

And now, the positive, fun news...

John starts GUITAR LESSONS next week! He is very excited...and we are excited to see how he takes to it as well. He has been doing tennis this week here in our neighborhood and LOVES it....so that is exciting. Such a good kid, a bright kid. And, not counting his occasional 'moments' he is an incredible big brother and conversationalist. We are so proud.

Sydney is saying new words each day, she is quite the chatterbox...no need to elaborate on where she gets THAT from, huh?! :) She said, "OTAY" (for OK) for the first time today. LOVE IT. She is putting 2 and sometimes 3 word sentences together...that's impressive for her age. And, of course she is the life of the party in our house right now. Neither of my children are couch potatoes, but this one...whoa. She wakes up saying "outside, nakie (blanket), piwOH (pillow), apoo jats (apple jacks), TittyTat (kitty cat), go, momma go...." in this recurring train until her finally hit the ground from my arms....and away she FLIES- she never stops. We cant wait to see her grow up (ok, so maybe we CAN wait forever and dont like seeing her be less of our baby girl at all...but ....).

And, Tabitha is coming to visit for two weeks! We will have her next week. We havent seen her since last summer and we are very excited. Its the longest she has ever stayed with us. And can you believe, she will be SIXTEEN this fall? Whoa. She is 2 years away from being how old I was when I first met her and decided to be in her life....Aaaaaaaaaaaa!

OK- now that should leave all smiles, because my last blog was whiney and sad. :)