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."