Redeemed!

Sunday school started up again last week and after our first class I was seriously doubting my ability to positively influence that group...ugg teens! Well, today was MUCH better- seems we needed a week to get back in the swing of things so for now I am keeping them :) I forgot to get a shot of the whole class before we dismissed, I chased a few of them down for a picture that I promised to blog. The future of America...aren't they cute?

Go Grasshoppers!

I'm not sure how we ended up as the pink Grasshoppers but none the less we finally had a game today that wasn't rained out. Of course it was a happy 92 degrees and about 98% humidity so the girls were absolutely melting out there! Liv played great (better defender it's turning out due to her size). Who ever thought David and I would have the biggest kid on the team!! They won, 6-4!

Hmmmm, what should the caption for this be:

1. Just pretend you don't hear them...works every time

2. I told you we should have split up

3. Yeah mom, I was just telling him that it was time to turn back!

This is Nolan who is the 3rd child of a couple that we knew WAY back when on our first ship (INGERSOLL) in Hawaii. We lost touch with them until the first soccer practice when I noticed them talking to their 9 yr. old daughter Olivia and I said "oh, you have an Olivia too" and she said "yes, you look really familiar"! Back then neither of us even had kids so it's pretty funny that our Olivia's are the same age! Small world.

Cute shot of Miss Em

Busy Day

Emily had her open house at school today - you wouldn't believe this place. I guess it has been an active church here in the area since 92 and they finally built their own facility...what a budget! David and I have NEVER seen such a place - church or other. I can't even begin to describe the size, amenities etc but Emily is one lucky girl to be going to school here. Lord help us when she has to attend...public school!

This and the photo above are taken in the indoor playground which is complete with gaming stations, a 2 story twisty slide, climbing wall, 2 individual trampolines and whatever this thing is!

This is a shot of half of the outdoor playground, the covered side and below is the unshaded area - perhaps for the naughty kids :)

Oh, after spending an hour at school meeting her teachers and dragging her off the playground we went sailing since David had the day off. Pretty good day out there, I need some lessons though!!

Now it's time to make dinner, do homework and head out to my book club at 8:00! Long day for Mommy.

The Diamond Castle!!!

It's finally here - we have been waiting for what seems like weeks - the new movie "Barbie and the Diamond Castle." It's choc full of all good things, Princesses, puppies, horses, heroines and of course a bad lady and her dragon. Everyone (except the evil folks) sparkles in some way, wears only pinks and purples and in the end a castle made of diamonds appears and all evil is defeated.

Ahhhh life is good. Except for the phone call I got from the school...a courtesy call as they put it...to tell me Olivia bumped her head on a pole and has a quarter sized lump on it. Oh well, better than the broken arm this time last year! I will get the details later.

Other than that school is still getting 2 thumbs up and we are down to one week before Emily goes. I'm sure we will have watched this movie over 3 million times by then!

Mothering

To answer my friend Rebecca's question "how can other Mothers compete with me"...you can't. My skills as a Mom are just too perfect, don't even try. Perhaps I should start an advice column - send me your questions and I will do my best to impart my wisdom to the masses. Like just this morning when dressing my sweet Emily in one of her brand new outfits that only yesterday she tried on in the store and promised to love, honor and wear said "I don't really like this, I don't want to wear it." I took a deep breath, pictured in my mind seeing her for the first time after giving birth and the love I felt for her, and then looked her straight in the eye and said "tough! You wear this or go naked and everyone will laugh at you." Brings a tear to your eye doesn't it? It's all smoke and mirrors my friend, hanging on by my toes just like everyone else. A few glasses of wine helps too. I can't believe John McCain didn't pick me???

Fun without Olivia

Now that big sister is in school all day and little sister hasn't started yet, Mom is busy trying to find fun things to do (other than play baby and tea party...again). The first day we had our neighbors over for a princess dress-up nail and toe painting day, day two was board game day and today we went on a shopping spree for Emily. After unpacking all of Olivia's old clothes I realized they have very different styles at this age. Emily is much more of a girly girl and jeans and sweats are not going to cut it! Any guesses as to her favorite color? She even agreed to buy a few pants but "only if the tops are super girly with sparkles." I am over the clothes fight we have each day so whatever works - sparkly it is!

Update:

"AWESOME!" were her first words off the bus. Made lots of friends, had fun, loved her teacher...I know it's only day one but if you could have seen us this time last year! Hope everyone else's day one was just as good :)

4th Grade

I can't believe Olivia is starting 4th grade today! Those first few years seem to take forever and then once they hit school - zoom!! She was very excited, what a brave kid. I can't wait for her to get home and tell me all about it. Thank God I have a girl so I don't have to hear "good." "nothin."

Like my new countdown ticker? :) I will have to remove that - too depressing since even the stores are putting out Christmas items already but I have to torture my kids with it for a bit!

And She's Off