Schools In Session

Isabel and I went today for 8th grade registration. Am I really old enough to have someone in 8th grade? It will be her final year of middle school. It all goes by so fast. I liked it better when 9th grade was in junior high. It just seems like once you get to high school you've got one foot out the door almost. I also now know why Trent has taken her to registration for the past 2 years. We stood in so many long lines that never seemed to end. Isabel thought it was great. She said "this is like a big family reunion" Which I replied "yeah, but one I don't want to be at." Oh well, we survived. School starts on the 25th for her.

The boys started last month on July 29th for them, because they are on a year round schedule. So here is pictures from the first day of school that I finally got put on the computer. Oliver is in 4th grade this year with Ms. Stanton, who is a loud boisterous and a little bit chi chi if you know what I mean. But she works the kids hard and Oliver is really liking the year so far.

Miles is in 2nd grade this year with Mrs. Elnicki who is all about warm fuzzies and making the kids feel good about themselves. It's funny how both the boys seem to have gotten teachers that seem to be well suited to them. The only drawback is that Miles is stuck in the trailers all year. Usually the boys switch classrooms every track off but Miles' teacher volunteered for the trailers if she didn't have to move rooms. On back to school night it just seemed a tight fit in the classroom. Miles' hasn't complained and likes school as much as Miles' can.

And how is Phoebe you ask with everyone gone or about to be gone. I truly thought she would really miss the boys while they were gone, but I really think she doesn't mind being the Queen Bee at home while they are away. She is really happy to see them though when they get home.

With each start of the school year I just think time is flying by and the kids just keep getting bigger and bigger. I remember when they were little on those crazy days that you wanted to pull your hair out wishing that they could just go to school. But now that they leave me for most of the day- My wishes have reversed a little bit, and now I wish for a little bit more time with them at home with me. At least I still have Phoebe at home with me for a little while longer....

I hope this year for each of my kids to be a memorable one with new and exciting things to learn and do. Where new friends are met and many successes come to them.

How Does My Garden Grow

I'm so excited. Our garden is starting to produce. There is something very satisfying about planting something and watching it grow and in the end be able to pick it and eat it. I have so many memories of the garden that I grew up with. I will never be able to do what my parents were able to do. I have memories of playing pioneers and trying to live off the land and we would go pick things in the garden, or playing like we were very poor and having to farm for food. Our playhouse would be under the big cottonwoods in the backyard. Or another memory is just kind of wandering around the yard sampling the many things growing. My parents grew almost everything imaginable. beans, potatoes, tomatoes, peas, carrots, all kinds of squash, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melons, raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, blackberries, grapes, cherries, plums, apricots, and I'm sure I forgot a few. Every night was something from the garden all summer long and I loved it!

We decided to grow tomatoes and cherry tomatoes which are just now coming in. We picked our first two tonight and what a difference than ones from the grocery store. We also planted zucchini, bell peppers, pumpkins, and jalapenos. My kids especially Phoebe love to go check on the progress of the plants and let me know when something is ready to pick.

All the kids have pitched in and helped with weeding the garden which is a never ending task. Now we are waiting to see if the pumpkins will be ready for Halloween. To tell you the truth I can't wait either.

By the way Miles was not being cooperative with picture today.

While They Were Away

Well a few months ago at a school fundraiser there was a silent auction where Trent got some Rockies baseball tickets. The game was last night there were only 4 tickets, so Trent took all the kids (Phoebe gets in for free).

Front row seats!

I've been thinking of this night wondering what I would do with myself for a few hours of pure quiet. Isn't funny though that it never turns out quite the way you plan it in your head? I end up wondering if they are all having a good time. Anyway I went and got some dinner, brought it back perused some unread magazines, watched some Olympics, folded laundry (not at all what I had in mind!) At about 9:oo at the end of the 7th inning stretch I get a phone call from Trent saying that he is on his way to the emergency room with Oliver and that I need to meet him there to pick up the rest of the kids. His eye and suddenly started swelling shut for no reason. The end of the story is that they think Oliver scratched his cornea. Don't ask me how or why the swelling?

Notice his Right Eye.

Anyway they gave him some antibiotics to put in his eye 4 times a day for 4 days to keep away infection. If the swelling hasn't gone away (which it hasn't) by Monday they want me to take him in to his doctor. I will let you know what happens. It turned out not to be a very relaxing evening after all.

A Birthday Bash

On Friday night we held Oliver's birthday party. His birthday was on July 27 but we were waiting for him to get back to school (which started on the 29th) so he could reconnect with friends. Anyway all he wanted for his birthday party was to have a sleepover. In a moment of weakness I said yes. He invited 7 friends. Mind you they are 9 years old. If you don't know what 9 year old boys are like together, hear let me tell you. He didn't care what else we did for the party so he handed over the planning to me. If any of you know me I'm a much better planner with a theme. I found an Indiana Jones themed party on another blog http://j-a-girl.blogspot.com/ and thought that would be seen as maybe a "cool idea" instead of something he would think of as stupid.

The party started at 5:30 (it sounded like a good idea at the time) with dinner being first. I made hot dog mummies(breadstick wrapped hot dogs), bones(fries) and eyeballs (grapes).

We then played some games. First, they had to dig for snakes, bugs and reptiles with their feet in a pool of bubbles. Next, they had to pop balloons with their feet looking for a bottle of potion(candy juice filled wax bottles) And last they broke up in teams to see who could mummify Trent the best in 4 minutes.

It was going great at this point. We then had cake and presents. Before you judge I just have to say that this is my first attempt at decorating a cake, so please be kind. At least Oliver thought it was cool. Miles that morning while I was decorating it, said to Oliver "Isn't mom the best cook ever? "Oliver's reply was :"she just got the idea of the blog. " Somehow diminishing me actually baking and decorating the cake. But by the party he was pretty happy about it.

While Trent and I were cleaning up the boys went down to the basement to entertain themselves for awhile. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they all played together without any conflict.

Making a long story a little shorter. I was tired I had been up since 5:30 that morning working on this party. I just wanted them to all go to bed. We put a movie in and thought we were getting them settled for the night. This was at 11:00. I thought I could just go to sleep and call it good. I went to sleep, the boys were still up so Trent said that he would wait for them to go to sleep. He woke me up at 1:00(in the morning!!) and said that he had tried several times to get them to go to bed and asked if I would go and try to do something. Reluctantly, I got up and went out there. the boys were not only up but chomping on CANDY! I don't think they ever came down from the sugar high. I off and on went out until about 2:30 when I finally heard silence. I don't know how anyone else got any sleep in the house. And then they were up at 7:00 jumping on the trampoline right outside our bedroom window. We got up, fed them breakfast and sent them on their way at 9:30. I don't know if I will ever recover but Oliver said he had a great time. So I guess it was all worth it. I'm worn out just writing about it and to think Miles' birthday is only 4 weeks away. I can't think about it!

Taking The Plunge

Well I've finally done it! I'll see where this takes me. Hopefully it will be a good way to connect to family and friends. It will be fun to document all the things, that I will usually forget - the funny, delightful, crazy, mundane, unanticipated events in my every day life. So here we go!