Almost Ready For School!

Today and tomorrow are packet pickup for the boy's school. Anthony got the teacher we expected him to get and we got to meet her today and I had the opportunity to chat with her for a little bit. So Anthony has some BIG work ahead of him. Reading...which fortunately we made him keep up with this summer AND now he needs to brush up on Math. He has to get faster as Math Facts and adding and subtracting (especially subtraction) and not using his fingers so much. Hmmmm, 14 days, I think we can push him to do it. :-) We did get the opportunity to see Anthony's teacher from last year and of course he LOVED that. It's so funny because she has 3 kids too (all boys) and the 2 older ones tower over her. I got a huge grin when I heard and saw her scolding the oldest one who was teasing the younger one...as she was looking UP at him. I'm sure when my kids growth really takes off, I'll be doing the same thing.

Anthony has a few of his friends from last year's class in his class this year. But both 1st grade and Kindergarten classrooms had the same morning recess and lunch break so regardless of which classroom they were "officially" in they got to all play with one another. I think the 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms have the same morning recess, I know they have the same lunch break. However, we'll see because I seem to recall K-1 being together, and 5th-6th being together. 2nd-4th grades are a blur to me when I volunteered in the lunchroom last year. I added my name to the list of volunteers for the various committees and things that I could help out on. Also, I got approached about co-chairing the Scholastic Book Fairs this Fall and Spring. So another thing to add to my plate but I'm sure it'll be fun and hey...it'll help knock out those 60 volunteer hours we have to complete. I've already done 10 this summer and during Tony's Friday off we will knock down 5 each time we do morning recess and lunch.

After packet pickup we went grocery shopping. I have food for dinner for the next week. Hahaha, Tony and the kids can eat dinner now. :-) Then I made the boys lunch and started working.

This weekend we have to complete the last of the school supply list shopping and then we are ready to take the items next Sunday to Open House and drop them off. Jackson was a bit nervous going to the school for packet pickup. I think, he thought it was actually SCHOOL. Once he loosened up, I think he was fine and was less of a "clingon" to my leg. But of course being the big brother he is, Anthony had to "razz" Jackson a bit and kept saying "stop being so nervous, this is JUST school." Oh Boy, it's starting!

Here are some pictures to enjoy

They painted Taylor's Face at school and Jackson had to take a picture with the puppy.


Papa and his 3 young "workers" at the store.


We even put Tony to work!


Jackson at soccer camp on Wacky Wednesday

Too Much Fun Editing/Blogging

Can you say "Addicted?" Hahahaha, I'm Hooked. All my mom friends at Meetup Moms of Tucson...I BLAME YOU! I've spent most of this evening adding songs, updating the look and of course adding posts. Now I have to add more pictures and I'll feel more complete.

Busy Morning W/the Kiddos

After yesterday, I think I made up for it with all the activity this morning before I started work.

DD stayed with Nana and Papa last night so this morning the boys come in and lay down with us. We start moving and they go and get changed and do their morning routine. DH and I get ready to leave the house and he suggested that I go swimming after I drop them off at the store with Papa. It was still early enough in the morning that I decided to take them swimming with me. So we get dressed into our gear and head out. We swim (hard) for about 30 minutes and then meet Papa at Chick-Fil-A to get food and do the "kiddo swap." I still had time to hang out with her before she had to be at school so I took her to Gymboree for a Music Class. She LOVED it! Then off to school and then back home to work. Now the boys are at the store and working and playing...hopefully they will also take a nap. Then Nana will take them to Karate and pick up the girl and then bring them all home. Now, to figure out what to cook for dinner...

Posted above is a picture of Middle boy diving into the water and of Older one on the wall during swim lessons this summer.

The kids were bored with me today!

Instead of wasting a ton of gas after taking the little one to school this morning, I brought the boys back home to spend the day with me while I worked. I know, BORING! We had to be back at the house by 9am to let the "bug man" for the quarterly spray and I had to log into work by 11am. So we get home and the boys are famished! So they had a small snack and after the bug man leaves, I heat up leftovers for them to eat. They ate and then played for about a hour and half and then I allowed them to play and watch TV before nap time.

So I log in for work and when it's nap time, I tell them to brush their teeth and go lie down. "But it's not bedtime" I hear from one and "I already brushed this morning" I hear from the other. Hellllooooo, I'm trying desperately to save your teeth so you have them for a LONG time through adulthood. Grrrr. Anyhow, they lie down and 45 minutes later they both come out of the room stating they can't sleep. So more playing, Lego building and TV watching. Then middle boy comes back to my office and says he's soooooooo bored. I take a break from work and I get him started on coloring and doing activity books. I tell the older one that after his show he is to grab 5 books and start reading. Another hour and half later they are finished. Middle boy has cut and glued his masterpieces on a piece of notebook paper...making a book for all of us...AWWWWWWWWWWWWW! Older one has finished all 5 books and is giving me the "soon to be 2nd grade version" book report on them.

Of course I'm still working, DH isn't home and DD isn't coming home tonight because there's no point in Nana driving all the way out here when the boys don't have school or camp tomorrow morning. So I have NO other activities planned for the boys. I decide to have them help me make stove top popcorn and allow them to each pick a movie to watch. Bummer, I can't watch it with them but they are cool with watching it together and eating their snack. 6pm hits...my dinner hour and again they are FAMISHED. So I make them some dinner and they eat dessert, I have to go back to work and they are off to play. DH is home, they are happy because mom is sooooo boring to be home with. Then it's shower time, teeth brushing and bed.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for them...they have to go to the store and hang out with my dad because they both have Karate in the late afternoon. Maybe Papa will put them to work stocking the shelves or walking Maximus and they'll have a better day than they had today.

Finding the best handbag/purse

I love purses and handbags. Now with that stated, why is it I CAN'T find one that suits ALL my current needs. It's summer and hot here so backpack style is out of the question due to perspiration issues. Over the shoulder bags are out of the question because it's cumbersome to try and run after 3 kids with a purse falling off your shoulder. I need a good crossover bag or sling that goes across my body but I find that those are too small to hold ALL the stuff I have to carry. I no longer want to carry a diaper bag because the kids are at an age where I can bring the diaper pad with me and leave it at the bottom of the stroller or leave the bag in the car until I need it. DH knows my fetish with bags and laughs at me everytime we go somewhere and I detour to the accessory aisle. If any of you have a recommendation...please send it MY way!
TIA!

Summer and Fall Activities

Sports, sports and more sports. The kids have completed the following: sports camp, soccer camp, Karate classes, swim lessons, Gymboree classes and events with me and my moms group. They come home exhausted and well exercised not to mention golden brown. We have tried pushing the reading and activity pages a much as possible...we'll see if it was good enough when school starts again in August. Little A will be entering 2nd Grade. J-boy will be in Pre-Kindergarten. T-Mac will start the older 2 year old class...finally getting potty trained! I think they are excited for school but I have to take them shopping for school supplies....I'm excited for that!!! :-)

This Fall our activites will consist of Gymboree classes in morning 2 times a week. Karate 2 afternoons a week. Volunteer recess time, volunteer lunch recess, swimming/working out at the resort, Soccer games once a week and working. Whew...how do we manage all of our different and busy schedules???

Our First Blog Post

Everyone who emails me knows that we have a myspace and facebook account. I thought it would be nice to also have our own family blog. Somewhere that we can post our thoughts, comments and appreciations for everyone who has helped us raise our family...yes, that means me and DH as well; not just the kiddos. I may be closing down the myspace account and focusing my efforts here...I'm not sure how much longer I'll leave the facebook account up as I've gotten in touch with a lot of friends there too. We'll see if I can keep everything going all at once. Hmmmm, 3 cyberballs in the air to update on a normal basis sounds like a lot of work. But you all know that I LOVE multitasking and I'm up for the challenge. But it's also a way for DH to share with friends and easily see pictures of us and know what's percolating in my brain when we aren't able to talk as much because our little tornados are keeping us on our toes. :-)
Love you all and keep coming back to read our updates.