Days 68 and 69

My boys...they are acting like the Cripps and Bloods. Cane and Able. The fighting, it's driving me batty! It's mostly Eli and Caleb, but sometimes Josh gets thrown in the mix as well. I can't figure out where exactly to draw the line. I do not allow blood shed, of course, but I can't seem to stop them from anything else. Jabbing. Punching. Kicking. Not to mention the verbal barrage. And wow, don't even get me started on Josh's hyperactivity level. He has been literally bouncing off the walls every waking moment. He shrieks at insane decibels at random moments. He seems to not think anything through before he goes ahead full speed. I worry about this one...really I do. I think I have a future extreme sportsman on my hands.

Ten more days...ten more days...just ten more days.

Sure thing is though, that even when the kids do start back up at school, I'll still have something to complain about. Packing lunches. Getting up earlier. Homework battles. I have to frequently remind myself that this is life...roll with the punches and carry on will ya Steph?? I really hate that I've become such a complainer.

I'll sign off and spare you any more complaints.

Later!

Days 67 and 68

I just love it when Sam wants to help me around the house. Take today for instance, he helped me by throwing all of the folded laundry back into the dryer when I went to answer the phone. And he helped me by giving the dog some water, only he missed her bowl. And he tried to help me make flatbread pizza for dinner, but almost toppled the entire plate of shredded cheese onto the floor. I'm sure I have other examples of all the wonderful things he's done to help, but I think I'll leave the rest to your imagination. But hey, who doesn't love a 2 year old that will do anything to make his Mama happy?


I feel a little bit gray today. The weather, it affects me. Most of the day it was sunny and bright, but then the clouds rolled in and the sky darkened a bit. I think that's when my mood took a dive as well. Now I feel tired and lazy. Luckily, the kids have all been fed (except Gracie because she's running around with the neighbor girl) and most of the laundry is done, because now I just want to sit and veg. I don't want to do the dishes or give baths. Or put away 3 baskets of clothes. Or match up 50 million pairs of socks. I just want to pour myself a huge margarita glass of iced tea, kick my feet up and close my eyes. Or read a book. A book besides 'How Does A Dinosaur Go to Sleep'.

Yeah. Moving right along.

We just had a lovely dinner of like I said, flatbread pizza...and kiwi slices. Topped it off with chocolate cupcakes and icy cold milk. Having pizza and chocolate means Sam and Gracie will need baths, of course. We have nothing else besides hanging out on the agenda tonight.

Well, that and the dishes.

Days 65 and 66

I used to be good at keeping up with this blog, but honestly, I am in quite a funk right now. Funkiness seems to come and go in cycles, kinda like PMS, but not as often. Guess I'm just caught up in it now.

I know I said I'd post picture of Eli's birthday party, but somebody swiped my card reader and I can't download the pictures onto the computer. I will be searching for it today...I can't stand not knowing where it is!

The first day of school is creeping closer and closer. Just two looooooong weeks from now I'll be breathing a sigh of relief and enjoying less stress and fighting amongst the kids. Granted, I will still have Super-Sam and Tantrum Girl home, but 5-3=2 and 2 are easier to entertain than 5. I *so* wish Gracie could begin school this year, but darn it, she misses the cut-off by a measly 6 weeks. She already knows all of her letters and sounds by sight and she can write them all, and she's even able to sound out words and 'read', but by golly, the school is a stickler on rules I suppose. Her pre-k teacher last year said Gracie is doing what she should be doing as a second semester kindergartner. Hmmmpppph...guess I'll be home schooling her this year because I think she'll be bored to tears to just run and around and do nothing.

Gotta run...I'm being whined at.

Days 63 and 64: There's a Birthday in the House!

In just one year from now, I'll be entering uncharted waters....I'll be the parent of a teenager. Would some one please tell me how it happened that my baby turned 12 years old today? How is it that his feet are bigger than mine and he's only 8 inches shorter than me? It is amazing (and I'll admit a little scary) to me how my 8lb 2 oz little boy is growing into a young man, right before my eyes.

Thankfully, Eli is still oblivious to girls (ewwwww, ick!) and bathing is repulsive to him. He doesn't care to comb his hair or change his clothes...and for now, that's okay, because it means he's still my little boy.

Happy Birthday to you Eli! You are a wonderfully made young man and I love you from the bottom of my heart. No matter how tall you grow, or how big your feet get, you will always be my little one...you are what first made me a mother, and I am so proud of you.

Don't grow up on me too fast, okay?


(Birthday picures to come! Party at my house tomorrow!)

Day 61 & 62

Believe me when I say that I got lost in the basement today. No, I didn't get lost in online shopping or on message boards-- I got lost in a mess. O.M.G. the mess!
Toys, shoes, hats, gloves, playing cards, Nerds candy, popcorn seeds, Legos, Lincoln Logs, books, socks, clothes, vhs movies, couch cushions, blankets, crayons, toothbrushes (toothbrushes?)...I could go on and on! I'm not sure what possesses my children to make such messes, but if ever there were a pill for that, you'd bet I'd have them on it.(and darn straight my hubby too!) Thankfully, most of the stuff is now put in it's proper place. For the next ten minutes anyway.

I did most of my cleaning before Sam went down for his nap...you'd think I'd like to clean while he was sleeping and not underfoot, but I take nap times very seriously. It's the only time of day that I don't have to share my strawberry iced tea and Pirate's Booty. That with a white chocolate chip/cranberry scone, as was the case today.

We tried letting the boys have a fire in the fire pit the other night. It turned out disastrous. No, the house didn't burn down and no body was hurt badly, but bestowing such a thing on rambunctious and somewhat air-headed boys was not the smartest thing to do. For some reason, they thought that hiding pop cans under the wood before starting the fire was super funny...until one (hot!) can rolled out onto the foot of their sister. The rest of the night was ruined. Enough said. And NO more fire pit nights are in their near future.

I do have my limits.

Guess I'd better hop off the computer as Sam is threatening to empty out toy bins and trash bags to un-do what I spent the better part of this day doing. No way, Jose! BUT, before I go, I'll leave you with this----and seriously, what kid doesn't play his Gameboy while sitting on the toilet? (he was sitting in the dark and really startled me when I turned on the light!)

Day 60, Yes SIXTY!

If we're on day 60 of summer vacation, that means the end is near right?? I think Caleb told me yesterday that there was 21 days left. 3 weeks from today I'll be driving like hell shuttling my little angels off to school!

Eli spent the day grounded today. He cussed at me yesterday and really ticked me off. Granted, he s-p-e-l-l-e-d the cuss word, but I took it the same. Some days I think though, that grounding the kid is more punishment for me than for him. But, the day is nearing a close, and tomorrow is a new day, right?

Since hubby had a meeting at work yesterday (that actually turned into a 7.5 hour stint) I wasn't able to go grocery shopping. So, because the cupboards were bare and the kids were resorting to eating the cardboard cereal boxes and the packing popcorn in the garage, I decided to brave the store today. With kids. I'll just say, that just minutes into the store, I very clearly remembered why I hate to go shopping with my children. Need I say more?

I have to run....piles of laundry, dishes and toys are awaiting my undivided attention.

Later!

Days 55,56,57,58 & 59

To all that emailed and left comments to make sure I didn't drop off the face of the earth, rest well...I didn't. Sometimes, life just gets in my way and I get caught up in the day to day hurry scurry and I get behind. Sorry for the worry!

Anyway, it's been a whirlwind of a week...fun times, not so fun times and some seriously crazy times thrown in there as well.

Park Day!

Sam cruising his way up the hill to the park


Eli and Chase behind bars...hopefully not a sign of real bars in their future


Gracie and Sam flying out of the twisty slide (I guess Gracie lost her head!)


Uh, Eli? Let him down nicely please!


My swinging beauty


Nap time!


Help! My crown has fallen!

For those of you that know Gracie's extreme shyness, here's proof that she actually smiles!



Gracie's friend 'Big' Sydney posing in her 3-D glasses


Uh oh, I've been caught!


One of my 'best-est' friends in the world! Teri loosening up after a few bottles glasses of wine


Here's Teri looking not so crazy (yes I know it's black and white, I was messing around with the camera)


Another good friend, Robyn, on our way up to Cripple Creek to the casinos!
(I'll tell you the story on this one later, tune in!)

So, as you can see, it's been a crazy-busy week...between hanging with friends and the three days I worked, it's a wonder I made it at all :)

Gotta run...hubby is making a big Sunday breakfast! (seriously?)