Evacuation Vacation

Just in case anyone is wondering. We went ahead and ran away to Benbrook. It's close to Fort Worth. The kids are enjoying their vacation. We are probably headed back on Tuesday. We will see!! I'll post pics and more details on our vacation later!!

We survived!!

Well we did it! All of us survived one week of kindergarten... well almost! I want to bust out in a chorus of "I will survivie.." However, we had a little hiccup! The nurse called me today to tell me that Mallori was in her office "sucking her thumb and wailing around it." WOW!

She claimed to have an earache but I was suspecious. Mallori tries to hide what is really wrong behind "symptoms". Tommy ache, headache, ear ache... you get the picture. But I could hear her in the background so for the sake of the nurse (and Mrs. West) I sent Nana to go get her. Tyler actually ended up getting there first so he picked her up.

Turns out one of the little boys was picking on her. He was bossing her around. Apparently she can dish it out but can't take it! They discussed what she needs to do next time and hopefully, I won't get another phone call!

Other than that one little snafu, it seems like this week went well. She got smiley faces for every day this week!

Jace also got a little Mommy time. We went to the football game and since neither of us knew what was going on, we played little games to keep each other amused. We spent an entire quarter playing with a piece of tape... it's called improvising people!!

Now I'm going to kick two kids out of my bed so I can go to sleep. Trying to get a system in place to notify 200+ people of what we are doing when/if Gustav hits is extremely stressful and tiresome!!!

Randomness about today...

Today was a good day.

Mallori was the only kid in class today that did not have to change her ticket from green to orange! That is AMAZING seeing how the morning started off. She didn't like the shirt I picked out for her to wear, she refused to eat breakfast for me, she screamed when I washed her hair.... you get the point. We got to Nana's and I told her to shake this morning off and start over. (We proceeded to shake in the pantry and left it there) Apparently it worked! She also had a new girl in her class and someone threw up... That's about all I got out of her today!

Jace also had a good day. He got to go to McDonald's for lunch and to play on the equipment. He had a hamburger with fries. That's all it takes to make his day! Nana wouldn't take him yesterday because she didn't feel good so he started off today like this...
Jace: "Nana, how are you feeling today?"
Nana: "I'm feeling good Jace...why?"
Jace: "Can we go to McDonald's?"
...you can guess the rest of the conversation. He also got to play with two little girls at church this morning... what more could a boy ask for?

I started a new Bible study today. We are doing a Beth Moore study on the book of Daniel. I've been wanting to do one but they always seem to do them during the day when I can't go, or on Sunday's when my day is already packed full! This time it is on Thursday nights from 6:30 to 8. Also, I was always afraid that I would be the only person my age there. I'm just now emerging from the college age.. where no one can come because they are so busy! However, Carla and I made a deal that we would both go so we wouldn't be alone.... Thanks Carla! So not only do I get to do something I've been wanting to do but I get to do it with my best friend... Can't beat that right??

That leaves Tyler. He got to watch the kids today. Lucky him he got off early so he got them right after school. He said that they were really good for him the whole time. He even cooked them supper (Mallori helped) and gave them baths. Now what did I do to deserve a husband like that? Being the worrisome mother that I am I called to check on them several times just knowing they would be beside themselves with grief and needing Mommy since she wasn't there... right?? WRONG.. they didn't even want to talk to me! They were having too much fun! Tyler rented a new game which always means a good day for him!

All in all, today was great! Hope everyone else's was too!
**Sorry these are always so long. I try to keep them short and it doesn't work!!!

"Little Bit Boring"

That was Mallori's response to "how was your first day." The most fun thing she did was recess. She didn't get to go to computer lab. She went to PE before music. Music was boring. She played blocks in the classroom. This was my first 20 minute conversation with her.... that's all I got!! After some probing, thanks to my interviewing class in college (ha!), I got some more detailed answers.

She had a little mishap at lunch. (I took a video of me "interviewing her" so you could hear it from her but it doesn't seem to be working on here. I don't think the movie format is compatible.) Basically, what happened is this. We told Mallori to put her lunch kit in the wrong spot. We later told her to move it but she didn't hear/didn't pay attention. So, her teacher didn't know she had a lunch and sent her to the cafeteria line. I'm sure at this point, everyone saw Malloir's true colors! She sometimes doesn't know how to handle a plan change! She made it though and we made sure to send her some lunch money today!

She also got lost at one point. From what I can get from her, her name tag fell off at recess. She ended up with another little girl's tag. She realized when she ended up in the wrong class. She must have kept her cool though. She acted like it was no big deal when she told me about it. She said "I told them my teacher was Mrs. West."

She played with Makayla on the playground, built a house out of blocks with Jason, and shook the puppet's hand in music. She didn't get to stand up and say her name in PE because they didn't pass the ball to her, but Coach Sherman did ask her how her brother was. That doesn't sound like a very boring day to me!!She also did good today. From what I can tell, she didn't have any major hiccups! She got to go to computer lab and played with Kenley on the playground. She was very proud to show off her math and science work and her purple school bus that she colored. She actually stayed in the lines!!! Nana said Mallori was excited when she dropped her off. She's been extremely exhausted when she comes home. She even took a 30 minute nap when she got to Nana's because Nana couldn't keep her awake! We'll have to see how that goes and how early she gets to sleep tonight. She is already in bed but it usually takes her a while to go to sleep. She's a little night owl who typically doesn't require sleep!

By the way. For those of you that don't have kids in school. It's expensive! School clothes, school supplies (which we completely lucked out on and didn't have to buy much of either). Now it's the Paw Pack and soccer. She wants to do both, of course, what kid wouldn't?!? The Paw Pack is pretty neat. You pay $10 and they get to run through the football tunnel after the players and cheer. You get a shirt out of the deal too..... I just don't know if Mallori would do it in front of all of the people!

On another note: Jace is extremely jealous right now! He's taken to being mean to get attention. He didn't like Sissy being the center of attention all day for everyone yesterday! Today was better though so maybe there's no lasting damage!!!!!

Tomorrow is a new day... we'll see how it goes!

Kindergarten

Mallori got to meet her kindergarten teacher yesterday!! She was excited until we got to the classroom. Then, all of a sudden, she turned into the Hulk and had a DEATH grip on mine and Tyler's hands. We carefully pulled her into the room. I think things were just a little overwhelming for her for a couple of seconds.. Then she hears "MALLORI!!!" Thank goodness! She knows someone! One of the little girls, Kenley from her pre-school is in her class. Kenley's mom told us they were waiting on us because Kenley was also a little worried. Looks like the kiddos thought that all of the Buna people who went to All Faith's would be in the same class!

Mallori kept shying away from Mrs. West, her teacher and Mrs. West was busy, so I showed Mallori around the room. We looked at her schedule and what she would do every day. Then we looked at all of the cool stuff, computer, pictures, map, reading center.... you get the point. When we made it back around to Mrs. West, she wasn't as busy with other parents so we got to speak to her for a minute. By this time Mallori was excited again about all of the things she would get to do and got to talking. Mrs. West mentioned that it wasn't as bad as Mallori first thought. Of course, typically Mallori, at this she clams up and looks around like "ooppss... I let my guard down and started having fun and not freaking out" I just looked over her head and quietly told Mrs. West that she tends to be a little dramatic. Mrs. West had the look of ohhh I see, and then said that's good... she likes girly girls! Well we shall see!! Mallori will test just about any one's patience. Trust me I love the girl to death but she will!

She went and saw and she's still excited!! This is a good sign! She keeps asking me when school starts even though two seconds before she's telling me that it starts Monday and she has two more days. I hope she stays excited!! She's also been telling everyone who her new teacher is and that she misspelled her name. There's not an e on the end.

Tyler fussed at me for bringing my camera, so I tried not to go TOO crazy with the camera. I will post some pictures from her first day after Monday.

So Big...

I am amazed daily at how big Mallori and Jace are getting! Mallori meets her kindergarten teacher on Friday which is overwhelming in and of itself! However, (since we don't have Mally right now) Jace is the one that has brought it to light today! He wakes up by himself like a big boy. Ok the fire alarm going off at 6am (twice!) helped a little! But instead of being fussy and whiny, he wanted to watch Blue's Clues. Then he got dressed... picked out his own clothes, put on his rain boots and it was off to Nana's. We get to Nana's and it's hugs, sugars and not so much as a glance back in Mommy's direction as she gets in her truck.

When I got home I checked the mail. He had a Diego game for the Wii. My first thoughts: "This should be fun for Jace. I hope Tyler doesn't get frustrated trying to teach him how to play." Tyler didn't have a chance to! Jace caught on right away and we cooked super while he played. I'd look up from cooking and he was doing a new Wii skill just from watching the directions on the TV!! Now why can't he listen to me like that?!?!

I ran his bath water while he got undressed and ready to hop in. He hopped in and I went to clean the kitchen up. I checked on him a few times and the last time found him hugging his knees in an empty bath tub. He'd gotten tired of playing (you mean you wanted me to bath off Mommy?) so we'll call that him "rinsed off" for tonight!

After that he climbed in my lap and "played" the Sims on the computer with me for about 30 minutes. He picked out the clothes "he" would wear and told me what "he" wanted to do. He wanted to actually play but I told him you have to be able to read for that... He's not quite there yet! haha

Then it's off to bed. Read a story, tuck him in, turn his music on to repeat ALL night long, closet light on, teddy bear tucked in also, lights off..... He really is a big boy. He'll go to sleep by himself. He usually gets up a few times a night "to tell Mommy something..." which is usually either "Can you cover me back up." (Well I wouldn't have to if you didn't get up...) or "I love you more" Ok now who can argue with that? Tonight it was "Mommy, you forgot my pill" and "I don't want that blanket" Which one do you want, Jace? The one with the flowers...You mean the girl one? No, that one. He points to the one I'm holding... which is the flowered one...

Now he doesn't look like such a big man though... cuddled up in his race car bed with his teddy bear. He still looks like Mommy's baby boy. He's almost outgrown it though. I've been looking for big boy beds. Can't time just freeze right now????

Memories...

It's amazing how the smallest thing can hurl you back in time. My mom, Jace and I went to see my great-uncle Joe who just celebrated his 84th birthday in the hospital with pneumonia. :( Uncle Joe and Aunt Dot are more like an extra set of grandparents to me. They never had children (and of course grandchildren) so they kind of adopted us or we adopted them whichever you would like to say! Prayers for him would be greatly appreciated... but back to the main part of the story!

We didn't want to show up empty handed so we stopped at the drug store on the corner to pick them up some goodies. As we walked around the shelf looking at the crackers and chips I spotted a package of cookies. But not just any cookies.... Windmill cookies... I don't remember the last time I saw a package of these cookies. My grandmother would always buy them for us. I probably haven't seen one (much less tasted one) since she passed away in 2001. I can remember asking Mama for them when we were smaller. She wouldn't buy them for us. I'm not sure if we didn't have the money to buy them, maybe she didn't like them, but I always liked to think that it was just because they were Mawmaw's cookies.

You have to understand.. my grandmother did not cook. Well she did but trust me you didn't want to eat it! She had perfected microwaving weenies and broccoli with cheese for when I spent the night. You can only eat Fausto's so much before fried chicken doesn't sound good anymore. One night when Carla spent the night with us, which she would do quite often, (My grandmother loved the company and we learned pretty quick that both of our mothers would let us go if we played the "but Mawmaw is lonely" card.) Mawmaw decided to cook pizza rolls. You know the ones you stick in the microwave/oven and bake? They tasted like potpourri!! She also baked cookies one day and died them with food coloring; we had red and green mouths for the rest of the day.

Needless to say she wasn't Suzy homemaker. She had someone come clean her house, couldn't cook, had her hair fixed once a week, worked at the hospital for as long as I can remember. She would never, never, ever go out in public without being fully made up. Ok so I'll go into town without make up if you make me. But I have to be dressed in matching clothes, with my hair fixed. Around here, that's not always a requirement which totally appals me! Her finger nails were always neat and painted. ALWAYS!

She loved to read. I remember spending many nights at her house where both of us were engrossed in a book the entire time and hardly spoke. She loved to spoil us. Anything we mentioned that we might want, we had it. Once I begged Mama for Herbal Essence shampoo. I LOVED the way it smelled. Mama refused to buy it. Here come Mawmaw with the biggest bottle you've ever seen. (Turns out I'm allergic to the stuff. Makes me itch like crazy!)

Back to the cookies... she always had "Windmill cookies" for us. They were delicious. Windmill cookies and Andy's mints... Yes I think about her when I go to Olive Garden. It's amazing to me how many memories flood you with a simple trigger. From a box of cookies you get all of this and more. Things I probably haven't remembered in a LONG time!

Tyler is fussing at me telling me I'm writing a novel. (I interrupted his exciting game of Sims Golf) So I guess I will wrap this up. :) All I want to say is make sure you have some Windmill cookies in your life. If you have little ones, start now. Pick something that will be yours. Something they get to do only with you, or get to eat only with you. Every time they see it, they will think of you! Then they will pass it along. I can't wait to eat these cookies (yes of course I bought some!) with Jace and share the memories of his great grandmother that he will not meet on this side.....

Ok Tyler, here's your computer back......

The Circus is in town!

6 adults, 2 teenagers and 1 kid... something doesn't add up here! We might not have been your typical circus go-ers but we definitely had fun!! From the jugglers to the tigers to the $10 snow cones, we had a blast!! (Having free tickets never hurts either!!) Jace had fun but I think the rest of us enjoyed the show more. It just means more when you know what would happen if the people actually fell, or the tigers got a little carried away. Personally, you'd have a hard time getting me to work with even the weenie dogs! Seeing it as an adult makes you appreciate the strength and patience (not to mention nerves of steel!) that you must have to do some of the things they do. I am kind of sad that we didn't take Mallori. I knew there would be clowns so I figured we'd have another 2 hour scream fest on our hands. However, the one clown that they did have wasn't your typical big red nose, big crazy color hair, face painted clown. He looked pretty normal so I think she would have made it. Maybe next year...... Here's some pictures. The ones of the actual performance didn't turn out good... but you can check out Jace & his snow cone clown!

Here's one of me and Jace before the show. He told me during the show that I couldn't have an elephant for a pet because we already have Jasper (our puppy). I guess he does listen when I explain why we can't have a kitty!

Time for me to go hit the sheets so I'll be ready when Jace comes in saying "The sun's up, Mommy. Mommy... get up... the sun's up..." *sigh* We need black out curtians for his room!

Where to begin....

So I decided to start a blog. Not that my life is interesting, not that anyone will probably read this on a daily basis and track every move I make. (OK I really hope that doesn't happen!) But because I happen to become engrossed in everyone else's and decided it's not that bad of an idea. It will help me to record my daily life and the life of the kids as they grow up. They do such cute things and I want to be able to have a record of them when I'm 80!

I came up with a title (which I am sure will change numerous times) and now have to start my first official blog. One that will hook readers from the get go. How am I doing so far?? I guess I'll start by talking about my family. Most of you who care enough to read this know of all of this information already but to catch any one else up to speed.....

Here's a snapshot of our family right now...

• Me - Mommy, Amy, Housekeeper, Chef, Taxi Driver... well you get the point and my day job is HR Administrative Assistant
• Tyler - Daddy, Tyler, Yard Boy, Wii/X-box 360 player, sports watcher who works for E.L.F.S (Expedited Logistics and Freight Services)
• Mallori - Mally, Mally-Moo, Mal, DRAMA QUEEN! Our five year old little girl who thinks the coolest thing in the world is that her daddy works for ELFS and probably knows Santa. The same little girl who screamed through an entire Elmo Live show, ran into the parking lot when we took her to meet the Easter Bunny and FINALLY took her first picture with Santa minus the look of complete terror at the age of 5. A complete tomboy who loves some aspects of girlhood. She will be the little girl in a dress and high heel shoes playinig baseball with the boys!
• Jace - 100% little man. Refuses to cry when he's hurt, loves to box (aka beat up anyone who tries to play with him), stays in his room and plays with his cars for hours, has bad dreams about monsters (that step on Nana's house and burn their foot on the fire in the fireplace and then help rebuild the house and become his friends), could spend all day with his Pawpaw fixing things....

I guess that is enough for tonight.. I don't want to bore you with all of the deatils right now. For a sneak peak into tomorrow, we are going to the circus!! I haven't been since I was a little girl and barely remember it. (I remember the light up hats that I'm sure my parents spent WAY too much money on.) I think I'm more excited about it than Jace.... we shall see!