In The Dog House

. . . And probably not getting out anytime soon! I attempted to mow the lawn today for my husband. You know, to surprise him. So he could relax and spend time with the kids when he gets home. Well, let me tell you. He's definately in for a surprise. I scalped the grass and killed the lawn mower. I don't think he'll ever suggest that I mow the lawn again after today. For the life of me, I simply cannot figure out why it cut so low. I kept checking it and the mower was definately set at the highest setting. But after taking a closer look, I discovered that the little black plastic thing at the back of the mower that keeps things from spitting out at you is stuck under the blade. How in the world did that happen? Is that bad? I'm thinking it can't be good. Uh oh.

The Evidence . . .

Exhibit A: The scalped park strip. I should have stopped there.

(Yes, the sprinkler is my last ditch effort to save the grass.)

Exhibit B: The side yard. I told you I should have quit before it got worse.

Exhibit C: The broken down lawn mower. Stupid thing! (It had nothing to do with the person operating it, of course!)

Exhibit D: The front yard. Actually if you don't look at the edges that I scalped, it's not too bad.

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Update...

After a call into Bret and a not so happy trip home for lunch, Bret got the mower fixed. Somehow I had managed to get the black plastic flap stuck under the blade of the mower. (Never said I was a genius...ha!) Then he asks me if I want him to show me how to use the weed wacker/trimmer thing before he leaves. Um, what do you think?! I think absolutely not. I prefer to keep my limbs. The whole front and back yard are mowed and nothing else got scalped. (I did however run out of gas, which baffled me, resulting in a few swift kicks to the mower before I realized it was probably out of gas.) (Remember? Not a genius?) It's done, I'm dirty and exhausted and never doing it again. Bret's birthday is in a week and a half. I'm thinking that maybe this is his present. A week off of mowing. If he ever decides that he wants a riding mower, I'll never scoff at the idea again. This whole brainy idea of mine was an excuse not to go to Body Pump at the gym today. I think next time I'll just go to the gym.

Boys Will Be Boys

The kids are all in for the night but Bret is still out playing a heated game of H-O-R-S-E with the neighborhood guys. At least someone listened to me when I said it was time to come in. Um, guys? Who was the basketball hoop bought for? Bet my friend didn't know that not only was it going to attrack all the neighborhood kids, but their dads, too.

Bringing It On

Ashley opened up a big 'ol can of butt whoopin' tonight on her dad in a match of Bocce ball.

Ryan and his buddy played outside tonight, too. Sadly, Alex will be heading home on Sunday. Not sure what Ryan and Reece will do without the little guy.

Welcome Back Jack!

I talked to my favorite grandma today and she gave me the go ahead to haul all of my fall stuff out from the basement and decorate until my heart is content. It's funny because every year at this time (I know, long term memory loss!) I seem to call her and ask if it's okay yet. I also ask her the same thing BEFORE Thanksgiving about my Christmas stuff and always hear "not yet" and then do it anyway. She then laughs because I'm hauling it all back downstairs the day after Christmas because I'm sick of looking at it. Maybe this will be the year I listen.

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Welcome back Jack. The year went by fast didn't it? I know, not so fast for you when you're stuck in a rubbermaid tub for a year. (Okay, I'm talking to a scarecrow now. Time to find a hobby or some kids during the day.)

Life Saver

I'm ready. Bring on the babies. (Have I mentioned that I start watching Chloe next month and come January I'll have two infants during the day?) I just got back from my Child & Infant CPR class and am officially certified, so send those kids my way. I have to say that the new techniques are so much easier than the ones I learned a couple of years ago. I actually am pretty confident that I could do it this time around. Hopefully that will never happen, but as I learned 3 years ago this October, anything can happen. As in your 3 year old son coming out from your bedroom choking and not able to breathe becuase he had a ring that your ex-boyfriend had given you (way back in the day) lodged in his throat. Scary. Terrifying. We had called 9-1-1 and I did abdominal thrusts on him until the ring came up. A mother's worst nightmare comes true when she sees her son turning blue and not able to breathe. Thankfully(!), Ryan is still here and the ring got a proper burial in the kitchen trash can when we returned home from the emergency room. He still remembers his ride in the ambulence to this day. Maybe that's what started his love of dressing up like a fireman.

Very Sad...

But did anyone really not see this coming? You say it every time you see him in action, but you never really think anything will ever happen. Guess you can only cheat death so many times. His poor, poor family! What must they be going through?

Budding Artists

Ryan and his little friend took over my kitchen with their art supplies this afternoon, which would be the reason why my house isn't getting cleaned today. That and the CSI marathon on TV right now.

(Do you believe that excuse? LOL)

Creative Genius

Because I have nothing better to do today than playing on the computer. . . like vacuuming, laundry or cleaning bathrooms.

A Day At The Ball Park

Ashley had a good time with her dad and my brother at the Cub's game on Friday.

The Cubs won the game...

However, parking didn't end up being "free" at all.

So long Chicago!

There's more over at Flickr.

Whatever Works For You

Guess where Ryan wanted to sleep tonight? In his sister's bed. I say if it makes him sleep through the night and he doesn't end up crawling in bed with me again, Ashley may have to just find herself a new bed. (Ha!!) Or maybe he just misses her. (Ha Ha!!!)

Ready For Fall

Ryan and I spent this afternoon at Tanner's Orchard. After seeing all the "pretties" in their store, I am very ready for fall. Is it too early to start putting out my fall stuff yet?

Ryan running through the hay maze. (Yes, he had to pee.)

Ryan, the school bus driver.

Ryan, the mini golf player. Yes, his form is all wrong - we've tried our best.

Ryan, the fire truck driver.

Ryan, the rock wall climber.

Ryan, the lama and goat feeder. He was really scared of this one. Shh, don't tell his buddies.

This one was more to his liking.

Ryan, the train conductor.

Sliding through the tunnel of the train.

We had a good time today - even though Bret and Ashley are still up in Chicago at my mom's house. They decided to stay another day. (I think Ashley might have done a little begging and Bret found some fixits around the house to work on).

Head on over to Flickr for more.

First Cub's Game

Ashley is on her way to her first Cubs game today. Shhh, don't tell anyone. We pulled her out of school today for this monumental event.

Look for her sign on TV and you'll find her and Bret behind home plate.

Sure, that's fine. Leave me behind with the mess to clean up. Story of my life. LOL.

Go Cubbies!!!

Because My Daughter Is Smarter Than Me

I'll never hear the end of the fact that Ashley had to set up the game Ryan wanted to play with me because I couldn't figure it out. I guess it is true that your kids end up smarter than you eventually. Did I also mention that Little Miss Big Foot wore my shoes to school today? I've only worn the darn things twice so far and she has now claimed them as her own. Just wait until she gets a pair of shoes I like! I have to admit I have good taste. Goodbye cute little wedge sandal shoes. It was fun while it lasted.

Ear Plugs Anyone?

Would it be wrong to build my daughter a sound proof room off of the garage for practicing the new flute she brought home from school today? I'm sure she'll be great! Right?

Hip Hip Hooray!

Ryan had a great day at school today. There was no crying at all this time and he was happy for a change when he got home this afternoon. I think we might make it through this after all.

Mama Dog Misses Her Pups

Don't worry, Daisy. The kids will be home from school soon enough.

All this poor dog has done is mope around the house since the kids went back to school.

That is until Kate came over and spoiled her...lol

It Can Only Get Better From Here

Right?

After a really rough morning, dropping Ryan off at school this morning to give Ashley a break from his heartbreaking tears upon separation from her, things started looking up this afternoon. After emailing back and forth with his kindergarten teacher and the school counselor for the past two days, I feel like I finally have an idea of what is going on during the school day. Yesterday had been the lowest of lows when the Art teacher pulled Ashley out of lunch because Ryan was crying. It made things even worse because he couldn't handle it when she had to leave, upsetting him even more and then upsetting Ashley who had been handling things pretty well up to that point. We've now decided that Ryan is not Ashley's responsibility and that he needs to adjust on his own. (I know - I think a knife just shot through my heart, too). After taking him to school this morning and seeing him cry and try to cling to me, and then having to walk away while he called for me, I didn't know at that point if I was going to get through this. However, I got an email from his teacher this afternoon saying that he did really well this afternoon. The morning was rough for him, but by lunchtime the crying had stopped, he was playing with friends and participating in class. It makes me feel so much better to hear that.

I've learned over the past few days that this time in our lives is all about letting them go a little bit at a time. When we send them off to school, we loose a little bit of that childhood bond each year. I've seen it with Ashley. She's no longer our little girl anymore. She's a little mini adult now. She's independant and doesn't need us as much as she did in the past. Sad, isn't it? But isn't that what we really want in the end? For them to grow up and be able to take care of themselves? I think that may be why I've had such a hard time adjusting to Ryan going to school all day this year. It's not just the fear I see and feel in him - it's my own as well. My fear of losing him. It's just the natural progression of life though, and we have to accept it and move on, supporting them and being here when they need us.

But for now I'm going to hold on to them for as long as I can. That day will come soon enough when they are on their own and don't need us as much as they do now.

Little Helper

Ryan has been busy outside tonight helping his dad mow the lawn. I'm not sure that Bret would call it help though.

Ashley worked on her homework tonight and then high tailed it out of here to go play with her friends before it gets dark.

Body Attack

Will NEVER slack off for two months at the gym EVER again. Ouch! Now I must go find a hot bath...

Back To School

Tomorrow morning should be interesting. Ryan says he is NOT going to school. He says it's too long. Does anyone have any ideas on how to make him more excited about it? I know there are a lot more people who read this blog than those that post, so pleeeaaase send me some suggestions in the comments. Don't be shy. I'm up for hearing anything.

Scooter Gang

Ashley and all of her friends spent the evening outside on their scooters tonight.

All was going well until Ashley tried this...

...Which resulted in this:

Poor kid!

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Meanwhile my cute little boy...

... Picked these cute (and not so alive) little dandelions for me.

Very sweet, indeed.

Blog Nazi

Dear Blog Nazi (LOL) Mom,

I realize it has been since YESTERDAY since I updated my blog. I understand that is such a long time for you to go without an update. However, I have been busy today doing absolutely NOTHING. It's been raining outside on and off all day and Emily and I took a total of seven kids (our own including) to see the movie Barynard this afternoon. Since I've returned home I've been picking up the house and doing laundry - all the while trying to keep tabs on my kids and the dog, all of whom I've seemed to have misplaced at the moment. (Where the heck did those kids run off to?) I did manage to get the final set of our vacation photos uploaded to Flickr today, so that will hopefully tide you over until my head stops spinning, I find the dog and kids and have a chance to sit down and write. Until then, happy photo looking.

Your Loving Daughter

Family Time

Tonight after dinner we spent the evening playing with the kids outside. It's actually kind of funny how much patience you find you have for them when you havn't seen them all day.

The boy and his dog.

Ashley on her pogo stick.

Ryan trying his hand at the pogo stick with the help of his sister.

Gift For Mom

When Ryan got home from school today, he had a gift for me. When I emptied his backpack and removed his lunch box to inspect if he had actually eaten anything at school today I got a whopper of a surprise. He had eaten half of his star shaped cheese sandwich and the teddy grahams. It then looked as if he had opened the cup of mandarin oranges, eaten some and then proceeded to put the rest of them (cup still filled with the juice) back into the lunchbox and zipped it back up. Nice.

Now, as we just finished packing his lunch for tomorrow, I tried to make him more excited about it. I asked him if he wanted juice or milk and he told me he wanted Sunny D. He got really excited and said, "I know! We can use my Scobby Doo lunchbox with the thermos! We can put the Sunny D in the thermos." I said, "Why not. I'm not the one who has to clean it up after you tomorrow." Very nice. (He He He)

Normalcy

The kids are home. My clean toilet and bathroom floor have been peed on. Shoes and backpacks are scattered everywhere. Crumbs litter my freshly washed kitchen floor. Ryan says, "Today was tooo long! I don't think I'm going to go back tomorrow." The TV is blaring. Ryan's pulling out all of his toys that I cleaned up. Ahhh. I couldn't be happier.

A Mother's Heartache

Are you ready for a sappy post? Half of the school day has gone by and I miss my kids so much. I just got a call from Ryan's teacher and she said he's having a really rough time today. Today is his first full day of school and she said that he had a good morning, but broke down at lunch time. He misses me and I miss him right back. It's been really hard today. I keep looking at the clock and counting down until they walk through the door. I thought I'd enjoy this time by myself over the next two months, but right now I'd give anything to hear my kids whining or fighting about something. I've been home with Ryan for the past six years and him being gone all day is taking it all out of me. Everyone keeps telling me to just wait until they leave for college. I can't even think about that. I'll probably have to be commited when that happens. I've tried to keep myself busy today - cleaning the house from top to bottom - but that phone call undid me. My mom said that I cried everday for two weeks when I started school. Guess he gets it from me. All of this makes me second guess our decision to send him all day, even though I know it is the best thing for him. Two weeks from now after we've all adjusted, I'll probably reread this post and think I'm crazy. But until then, I'll be counting down the days until Chrismas break. And once Christmas break starts I'll probably be counting down the days until they go back. How in the world did the years fly by so fast?!

Paging Dr. Wetherill

I attempted to perform some minor surgery this afternoon to remove a wooden splinter from our deck out of Ryan's friend's finger. His mom was looking pale so I decided to do it myself. However, I've decided not to give up my day job (ha!) after spending a half an hour trying to dig out the splinter and not being able to reach it. The tears and the "ouches" broke my heart and I couldn't bare it anymore. Dr. Wetherill. Kind of has a ring to it, doesn't it? Not in this lifetime, I'm afraid!