The Holidays

I do love Thanksgiving and Christmas. Everyone is nice. You get to see family and friends that you don't see very often. AND you get to eat a lot.

The only downside?

These so called school "vacations". Don't get me wrong. I love my kids. And I know that they need breaks from school. But, really, it's not a vacation. At least not for the parents.

My kids get a week off for Thanksgiving. That's 9 days (including bookend weekends) that they are home. 9 days in a row. 9 days of trying to entertain 2 children.

I looked at the calendar today and realized that there are only 3 short weeks until Christmas vacation. Where there will be 16 days that must be filled.

Is it time for my vacation yet?

Why's It Called a Vacation?

There really is nothing vacationy about Thanksgiving vacation. At least not for parents. All it is is an extra five days where we have to try and entertain bored little children. Except for the one day of eating.

Yes, my teacher friends love it and I do not blame them and I'm glad they get a break. It's just sad that their happiness comes at such a price.

Oh, wait. It's THANKSgiving. So, I will be thankful today for:

The above mentioned little children. Because they are healthy and happy and mine!

2nd Six Weeks

Here is a chronicle of MB's second six weeks in school. Ever.

Week 1 - Good Week. Sick on Day 4.

Week 2 - Short Week (Holiday Monday). Day 1 Check for 'Not Showing Effort'. Day 4 - Check for hitting a classmate.

Week 3 - Day 2 Check for climbing and jumping in the classroom. Day 3 check for running and chasing in the classroom. Day 4 Check for hitting a classmate.

Week 4 - Day 1 Check for writing and drawing pictures ON the table.

Week 5 - Day 1 Check for not giving folder to teacher like they do EVERY day. Day 2 check for ignoring directions.

Week 6 - Day 2 Check for playing in the bathroom; Check for hitting a classmate. Day 3 check for being loud in the hall; check for talking during instructions time. Day 4 check for deciding to erase the white board; check for pushing a classmate.

Week 6 ends tomorrow. That's 14 checks. In Kindergarten. Oh, help me.

Haircut!

MB got a haircut last night. With Minimal Crying!!!



Isn't he the handsomist boy ever?? :)

It's Not That Bad

I'm not sure if MB is totally feeling up to par. I mean, he's always rather whiny, but today was quite insane.

Case in point - when asked to put away his clean clothes, he cried like someone had just ran over his puppy with a mac truck.

Really? Over laundry? I shudder to think what he might do if asked to wash his clothes!

Could've Been REALLY Embarassing

So, I was at my uncle's house Thursday/Friday to get his office and paper-y stuff unpacked and organized. (I know - I'm such a fantastic niece.) I was digging around in his garage looking for the 1 million folders we had packed up for him (which I found out later were at his storage unit = helpful), which meant moving a few boxes around.

One particular box was the on top of two other boxes, and I needed to look in the other boxes. Of course, the TOP box was full of books. Really? I'm pretty careful about how I lift things, etc..., because my back doesn't like me most of the time.

So, slide the box over, grab it and then put it down. Bend at the knees. Almost drop box and the a terrible sound and cool air.

Yes. My pants completely ripped.

Thought 1) How does that happen? I'm not too big for them. In fact, I've been working out!

Thought 2) Crap, now I have to spend money and buy new pants. (Doing the Dave Ramsey budget thing puts a cramp in my spontaneous style.)

Thought 3) Thank goodness my uncle was out of town and it was just girls at the house.

Thought 4) Thank goodness my mom was with me so she can go home and get me pants.

Thought 5) She needs to hurry since my adopted cousin who is a guy is stopping by and we're going to lunch - in public.

Now I have to buy new jeans. I loved those jeans. RIP Favorite Blue Jeans.

The Random Kindness of Strangers

So, after a long day of sifting through massive amounts of paperwork from who knows when as I attempted to organize my uncle's new office, I was pretty tired and dusty. I decided that cooking was not going to happen, and that pumpkin pancakes from iHop were calling my name. (If you've never had IHop pumpkin pancakes, you really must.)

So, off we go. We ordered and waited (which wasn't that long but seems long because of two bouncing and hungry children). The people next to us got there food, which is fine since they ordered right after us. Then, the people behind us got there food, which wasn't as fine since they had just ordered. I finally realize that they were getting our food. By the time we all noticed, their kids had started pawing away. So, the waiter took it and had the kitchen remake it.

He finally brings out our food (which came out rather quickly the second time), and I am - of course - thinking a little bit of a discount is in order. :) Turns out, so was the waiter.

"I'm really sorry about the mix up," he says. "I'd give you a discount but..."

Here I think "really? There's a but?"

"...someone already paid for your food."

Wow. I was a little stunned. Ok, a lot stunned.

Pretty awesome! Jesus does cool things sometimes just to remind you He's there. :)

Another one...

When describing the water at bathtime:

"It's like a bunch of warm and hot and one cold, so it's hot."

AAARGH!

Slow morning with whiny children.

Fighting commenced IMMEDIATELY upon reentering house after school.

Much disobedience and whining continued through dinner.

A plate was dropped and shattered ALL OVER the floor during the chore of unloading the dishwasher.causing mommy to have to sweep and vacuum.

After said plate was dropped, two children were sent upstairs to brush teeth and put on jammies.

Thumping and fighting occured during supposed teeth brushing time.

Actual "I am hurt" crying carried through the house not long after.

MB was found holding his stepping stool and sitting on top of the toilet bawling like crazy. MG was hiding. Why? MG decided that she wanted to KICK MB nice and hard in the shoulder. Why? Shrug was the answer.

Needless to say, the day ended VERY early for said children.

Facts of the Day

1) Houses are buildings.

2) Vomit is disgusting.

3) MB is the funnest brother in the world.

4) When you pee, all your water comes out.

5) When you have to go #2, a hug will hurt.

Bathroom Facts

As MB was going potty.

"All my pee in my body, well, all my water in my body, I'm, like, peeing it out. All the water is coming out when I pee."

Halloween

My babies are adorable! Bumblebee and the Pink Fairy. :)