School Shopping!!

Kindergarten Supplies

I can't believe it's that time of the year, or even that time in our lives to go school shopping!

C-man asked if Grandma Michelle could come with us in our adventure and it was great having her along. She entertained Miss-O and helped us find the supplies from our "treasure hunt."

I loved school shopping as a child, everything new and shiny. Get to pick out things of your very own. It was a great debate of what type of Trapper-keeper to buy. Which trek shoes would work and twist your mother's arm into getting some extra jelly bracelets!!!!

Grandma Michelle was very generous and bought C-man his lunch pail, thermos, and bottle. The choice was tough, but Spiderman won in the end. Thanks Grandma Michelle!
Which nap towel was C going to pick, again a hard choice between Iron Man and Incredible Hulk. He picked Incredible Hulk! This was the first time naps were mentioned. "What's the towel for Mom, am I going to take a bath at school?" I told him it was for rest time and he'd be laying on it as if it were his bed......he seemed okay about it. I pray that he stays still and quiet during that time. Please note the Clone Wars back-pack was on C most of the shopping trip.
"NIGH-NIGH! Miss-O was convinced that this toilet rug was soft enough that it could be used as a blanket. It was very soft indeed and the same color as her nigh-nigh.....I was almost convinced too!
The Goods!

(Missing: 2 boxes of 8 ct. crayons)

Here's Momma's blue beauty-cuties!

Well, just the first of 13 years of searching for school supplies! Soon enough Miss-O will be in the same boat.

We finished our trip by going out to eat. A thank you to C-man for choosing Panera Bread for lunch, it was very tastey! And a Thank You to Grandma Michelle in coming along to share our fun with us!

An Ordinary Monday

"Monday, Monday..." la laaah, la, la-la...

Our Mondays usually are treated with ice-cream from DQ after dinner on Mondays!!!!!!! that's become a new little summer tradition.

C-man goes out of his comfort zone and gets a blue slushie. Miss-O sticks with her small vaniwa icekeam. Paul did Oreo cookie and I tried the butterfinger...YUM! I like Monday ice-cream treats!

Okay, not SO ordinary today, with the exception of the ice-cream. C-man and I went to a great event at the library today. Dan Wardell was there on his "Reading Road Trip." He told a great story about bugs and the moral of the story was to eat healthy, play, and read books. C-man loves Dan "Ardell." He's been a big fan since I can remember as he has grown up watching PBS.

This was take two of the camera and not sure what was going on with it.....C-man is looking bit ghostly, as well as Dan.
The Food Pyramid and all the healthy choices!
There are no fashion rules in Miss-O's World! We get back home and meet O at the door dressed in two different socks. She was helping Daddy with the laundry and came across our mis-matched sock pile.
Cooling down in this heat!
Running through the sprinkler.

Other tid-bits:

• I have the Indiana Jones Theme Song in my head (all day long!) thanks to my son.....yes, he wants to be Jones for Halloween this year.
• Gas is 3.65? and I have a full tank, go figure!

• Where was I when the Tornado sirens went off last evening? I was helping our 22 patients out in the hallway make sure they were safe....we hung out in the hallway for 30 minutes!
• C-man asleep at 9:15 tonight....need to back track one more hour!

Mission: Prevent Rude Awakenings!

So I had an epiphany last night. I knew that I had to get C-man ready for a school routine and vowed to get his routine started the first of August. Go to bed by 8pm and up at 7:30am. The morning will be easy, he's really a morning person. (not sure where he got this since Paul and I are not) It's the going to bed that will be challenging.

So, as a mother does, I was totally focusing on him and forgot about myself. I forgot that I may be working as an Instructor from the 7a-3p shift, two days in a row. That means getting up at *ack, cough, ugh* 5:30am....maybe with a snooze to 5:45am?

First of all, I am not a morning person....just ask my parents, my younger sister and my bus driver......this chick needs her zzzzz's and a few hours to process upon awakening.

Second of all, I've had this beautiful evolving lush routine with the kids. They both were sleeping all night long by three months and have slept in until at least 8am-8:30am. Only in the last 6 months does C-man wake earlier and help himself to a breakfast bar and watch cartoons, while Miss-O sleeps until 8:30-9am. If I'm really lucky, it's timed out that Paul will get home and get the kids' breakfasts and I get to sleep in a little more.

Thirdly, (thirdly, is that even a word? and to think I may go back to graduate school!) I have a crazy schedule. Work 3-11p, but that doesn't mean that my work stops at 11pm.....I have to finish any loose ends so I could be there until the latest is 1am...(those are bad,bad nights). I've been trying to clock out at the appropriate time of 11:30p.

When I get home, it takes some time to wind down...especially if it was a bad night...it really gets the adrenaline pumping (which I love about my job). So, usually I'll either watch the marathon of Friends, Gray's Anatomy, or Sex in the City. Or I will read a book, or do the rosary. Sometimes when they do not work, the ever popular Benadryl is good help but with drowsy side effects in the am. Usually, I can get to sleep by 2am.

*note to self* do not schedule work before my clinical days (yikes! me on 3.5 hours of sleep is scary)

So, now I am working on awakening earlier....I tried today. 7:11 and out of bed (my alarm set for 7:45!) I did my "essersizes" as Miss-O calls them, a load of laundry, and now I'm Blogging!

Not sure if I want to wake up at 5:45am for fun, but at least I could try some 6:30's.....I know I'll be leaning on my Starbucks Iced Chai Tea Latte those clinical mornings, it may be my crutch to get through the day.

Well, morning people, if you have any ideas I'm up for them...otherwise a few prayers and well-wishes would be fine!

My Mom and Dad are chuckling at me right now, I just know it....When I awake at 7:11, that is sleeping in for them! Mr. & Mrs. 5am! You know, it is kinda cool how they have that time in the morning at the table, sipping their coffee and reviewing their days, conversing about their grand kids, and chuckling about happenings in their life, it's their communication time! No wonder they are married for almost 45 years!

Well, look at the time...it's now 8:32 and Paul and Miss-O are still asleep. C-man started in the cartoon watching and I'm going to steal a shower time! This waking up early may not be so bad.....look what I've accomplished already???




p.s. Thirdly did not show up wrong in my spellcheck! It is a word!

Miss O's Imangination

Time to eat, Horsey

Miss-O feeding the horse chocolate pudding.

She used the horse as a utensil.
Here is a pic where Miss O was changing the turkey's and little girl's diapers.

"I changa dourty diapores."
Miss O loves her baby.
My little girl is growing up! I can't believe how much she looks like a little girl instead of a baby in this picture. She'll be 2 in September, but she really seems like she 2 already....the way she is talking and then playing and using her imagination....it's so fun to watch her play and listen to her talk.......she's our second sponge in the family....soaking up everything in sight, and ear-shot!

Mall Adventures

This morning, we met our friends out at the mall and went to a concert at Pottery Barn Kids, ate at the food court, played at the play center, and ended the day with the infamous Auntie Anne's cinnamon pretzel sticks.......

Good Clean (free) fun! C-man was really into Dino O'Dell, the professional musician and story-teller! http://www.dinoodell.com/ C was all about telling him that he likes mushrooms and cucumbers on his pizza. He also told Dino that his birthday is always on the same day! It was fun seeing him get into it so much. I was afraid that he'd be too old and too cool for it........

We played at the Play-center. This was the first for Miss O and she loved it! She first stayed at the Choo-choo train for the longest time and then she ventured out and hit about all the play structures the center had to offer before it was time to go.

C man knows our routine, play at the mall and at the end of the play session, get cinnamon pretzels....and so we continued the tradition.....C-man begged for the sugar at the bottom of the container........like he needs anymore sugar!! But, whatya do? It did look good and he'll burn it off just by talking!

Play-Center

C-man is probably too tall for the center but it's big enough and he plays nice enough that know one would notice. He jumped and climbed and used up some of his energy.
"A LION!" Miss-O found the lion and first waved at him then, she patted him and then started to climb all over and through him......

DINO O'DELL

C, Miss O, and G-man waiting for the show to begin!
Miss-O playing her lap drums!
Hopping, patting his head, rubbing his tummy song!
Mr. P and Miss N, enjoying the show.
Dino was a pretty cool, laid back musician and kids loved him!

He's from Kansas City, so anyone in the Midwestern area should check out his website and see where his events are.......He also sings with his band (the veloceraptors)....................

Butterflies!

This am, C,O, and I went to the library and checked out the Butterfly lady. She has her own butterfly farm....it's quite amazing how she does it. C learned about the stages of the butterfly; even though it was more reinforcement than learning......He had to give his input when there was conversation about milkweeds. "Yah, milkweeds are poisonous but not to Monarchs and when they eat the milkweed, Monarchs become poisonous to birds."

He was delighted to see a Praying Mantis in our backyard yesterday. He also discovered a shell from where a Cicada molted from. I asked what the process is called and he answered, "Metamorphosis!"

This Friday, we'll be going on a bug hunt behind the Library.

Miss O was not so into the butterflies, but did meet another girl with her same name and they walked hand in hand. I asked her if she has a new friend and she answers, "I holda her hand."

Starting Back to Day 1

Saturday morning, I bent down to pick up the Incredible Hulk hands and SCHLOOOP! PING! My back went out. Major back spasms all day and left side weakness that sent my back into a collapse at one point. I hung out on the floor for about fifteen minutes thinking that supper would still be doable. I would just have C-man get me some meat and bread and I'd make sandwiches on the floor. I did end up in an upright (semi-upright) position and we went to Mc D's just because it was our survival meal that night.

Yesterday, Still spasming and tightness and stiffness......lots of icing and resting.

Today, I took my first walk around the block and my exercises.....I was a month into my exercises and now I have to start from Day one. So, I found a back brace to try out to wear at work tomorrow. I've been so anti-back brace because I feel it is cheating my abdominal muscles and back muscles......but I broke down and decided to only wear the brace for work until my acute stage diminishes..........

So, I thought this epidural shot would help my and decrease the 5 bulging discs, but it just reduces the pain so that I can live with the 5 bulging discs for the rest of my life......I've got 30 more years to work as a nurse! AHHHHH!

Well, going back to day one and starting all over again.......wish me luck and I'll allow myself set-backs.....YUCK!

We've got Style

It's a fairy and spiderman at my doorstep yesterday! C-man was invited to neighbor; Sarah's birthday party (costume/face-painting party) They had a great time! C-man was so excited to go to this party in the afternoon, that when he woke up, he immediately put on his spiderman outfit and we headed off to Target with his lovely outfit.....he made the comment, "Hey, kids really like me in this outfit!" After noticing the kids smiling and saying, "there's spiderman!" I love that he's not afraid of what people are thinking and does his own thing!

This is the before picture when we first came over to Sarah's house. She went to the School of Beauty for an mini-up do......how fun for a 6 year old party....I've got to keep that back in my mind for Miss-O some day!
Speaking of Miss-O! Here is our little sparkly cheerleader. She liked to stand in the sunshine on the floor and watch all the sparkles reflect on the walls....(T-dog loved it too! any type of light dancing around, she's on top of it)
"Give me an O!"
Tuesday, it was Miss O's choice to wear her snow boots....she found them in the closet. She insisted that she wear them and also wore them outside playing.....she finally took them off for her afternoon nap....which I was afraid she would decline the offer and wear them all day long!

The Juggler

C-man and I decided to check out the Juggler at the library this am. He was very talented and tossed and juggled balls, rings, blocks, and knives....he also rode a unicycle. He was somewhat funny but I think he tried too hard.......
ACTUALLY, I think he was drunk.....no, really....he kept dropping the balls, or the pins...thank goodness he did not drop the knives. It took him 4 attempts to even get on the unicycle.....His jokes were more adult-related and the kids took him literally....he did relate to the kids and had them participate in his show......
I don't know I have mixed feelings about him....but C-man thought he was good and that he did cool stuff...and I caught him this evening before I went into work saying that he was going to juggle and asked Daddy if he could juggle too!
I brought my camera thinking there would be a opportune time to take pictures and in case C was called up as a volunteer....but I didn't want to take a picture of the Juggler. Oh well, I don't think the kids caught on at all, maybe it was just me.

After we got back, he had lunch and all of a sudden I hear C say that he was going to go outside to play....Hurrah! I thought, usually I have to encourage him or go outside myself.....well, immediately, I found out the reason why...Miss Sarah was out in her backyard. We invited Sarah over to play on the playground and with moon sand while her Dad did some chores in the backyard. Sarah is the sweetest and smartest little girl and C-man's new girlfriend.....(He just received his first blown kiss last week from Sarah!) I just like that they enjoy playing with each other so well and keep each other entertained that I was able to pay my bills without the Mom Bomb today!

Diggin' for Dinosaurs

We made our way to the Science Center on Monday and checked out the new Dinosaur display. Highlights of the center would be when the kids got to get down and dirty and act like archeologists......digging, sweeping, and dusting for dinosaur bones.
C-man was proud that he found a new bump in the dirt!
One of the favorite exhibit.....
Miss-O loved the bubble vats even though they didn't make the large bubbles in the air, she just loved playing in the tiny bubbles.
Here's the largest meat eating dinosaur a Gigonotsaurus

Eureka! They have found it!

I confess, I am a science nerd...I love it, and am fascinated with it...I remember taking old science text books from school and doing all the science experiments in them. I especially loved the human body and A&P..................Biology in College was awesome doing fun experiments, cutting open cats, eye balls, frogs, etc. Chemistry was fun too. but only lab....I hated everything that was mathematical about it......So, when I found that Nursing was my niche...I couldn't and still can't get enough of anatomy/physiology/diseases, etc.......it's so exciting......So, hopefully I'm providing some scientific insight into the kids.....I know that C-man is very curious and loves bugs, dinosaurs, etc. And miss-o has done her share of using cause and effect theory!

My favorite body part word= Sternocleidomastoid! Isn't that an exciting word? Sure a lot better than a muscle in your neck.......ooooooh, doesn't that give you goose bumps? I've got them....okay I'll won't bore you anymore with my science-nerdiness!

Little Bear Turns ONE!

It's hard to believe that Little Bear is already one...where did that time go? She's got quite the personality! She's got the greatest smile ever....and just looking at her makes you want to smile......so here are some pictures of her special birthday party.

Little Princess and her little cake.
She looks like she's thinking of a good wish!
She was very dainty about testing out the frosting.
Test driving her new wheels.
Miss-O testing out Bear's new swing set outside.
Miss-O really loves to dress up lately, doesn't she look so cute and lady-like in her hat?
Here's Aunt Phil, He also looks cute and lady-like in the same hat.....(oh boy, people will do anything to get on the blog!)
Cousins are great help when it comes to helping with the frosting licking!

What a nice day, good food, and good company!

The First Half of July

Miss-O loves the wading pool; we gathered with some of our "lake" friends, Grandma Roberts, Aunt Angie, & little bear. She was miss independent, walking all over the pool and playing with Gabe, Ray, & Marin.
Here's C posing for the camera...what a ham.....
Riding the rollercoaster at the 4th of July Carnival....C-man took the rest of his money from the garage sale and rode some rides, played some games, and got his beloved cotton candy.
This is our Chipmunk Dunk......it's our way of ridding of the pesty chipmunks that reap hazard by biting wires, starting fires and making holes all over the place......so far, 2 down and I think one more to go........(it's their own faults they are the ones that decide to go up to the pail and eat the seeds and then accidentally dunk themselves....) We tried to reel them in with some peanut butter on a platform but, they were too smart for that....so when we had the pail half full and with sprinklers from 4th of July and seeds on the top.....it was a successful trap......thanks to a co-worker who told us about it......she calls chipmunks "squinties" I think it's a southern thing....up north we call them chipmunks; hence my clever name of our trap!
C-man wanted to hang out on his blow-up spiderman sleeping bag and immediately Tatum thought the bed was for her....so the two of them cuddled the other evening...it was so cute!
Miss-O actually let me put in pony tails in her hair.....she looks so cute!