Carving Pumpkins

I'm slightly late in posting this...we carved pumpkins late last week

They've wilted a bit...Madison is going as a punk girl...to her that means dressed in a red & black wig, wearing black tights with a black skirt and shirt and a guitar hanging from her back. Kaylee is going as a butterfly...although even yesterday she was changing her mind and said she wanted to be blues clues...no time to find that costume.

So, fall has been busy, so much I haven't blogged in over a month.

Here's pictures of my home improvement project for 2008 - concrete pad in front of the garage. The girls LOVE riding their bikes on the concrete and Kaylee's always wanting the chalk.

Why is it that this entire week the alarm went off at 5:45 and I just thought - oh, please - 5 more minutes...but today, it went off (I didn't set it for Mon-Fri...it was set on daily, duh!) I couldn't get back to sleep...might be this late summer cold I've caught somewhere. Kaylee and I both seem to have it.

No big plans for the weekend other than recovery from the first week back at school. For me, I felt like it was just an extension of last year - I know all of the kids, know what they've done in math, and am just ready to keep moving forward. The kids...not so much...next week I'm slowing down to a more relaxed pace...think I've scared a few of them though, especially 5th graders...third day of school and bringing home homework that is a review of long division...they're all in a panic. I told them a year ago that they should expect to use their multiplication facts on the first few days of school...I couldn't go back on my word! At least I will know who needs help and who remembers what they're doing. They'll think next week's assignments are a piece of cake!

Madison's transition was much easier this year - I was worried after her first day, she was very withdrawn and quiet...well, that only lasted the first day. Kaylee got her first time-out at the sitter's this week. She's very protective of cousin Cliff now that he's there too. She got a little over protective to two other kids her age - didn't want them messin' with her cousin!

First Day of School!! While I've been busy doing things a few days a week for a number of weeks, Madison was all dolled up for her first day of second grade.

I went into her class to introduce myself with my new name and her teacher happened to be taking pictures of them doing something bad...or something that they shouldn't do again...well, Miss Madison wouldn't do anything bad in front of her mom...

For Kaylee it was like any other day. For me - I'm exhausted. Not sure if it's the getting up at 5:45 or if it's just the brain overload from trying to get through the to do list. Guess I'll just live with it - not that I have another choice...hee hee.

First full day of school is tomorrow - wonder if I'll make it???

Wow, I'm not very good at this whole blogging thing...I don't keep up very well. As I sit trying to grab a moment of quiet the girls are "picking up" their room. We'll see how it turns out when I get back to them.

We've started to try to get back into the swing of the regular year, girls getting up by 7am every morning...me at 6:30. This week, the goal by Friday is 6am for me and 6:30 for them. School starts on the 18th for me and the 19th for Madison. You can tell school's coming...the junior high kids had their first practice JFL game last night, it's fun to watch kids you know play sports. The girls enjoy going too. Although for Madison it's the social aspect. Kaylee seems to like the hot dogs from the concession stand.

Kaylee's become quite the "everything must be in it's place" kind of girl...such the opposite of Madison. They've been much the same kid until now. They've (mainly Madison) has also started their sibling issues "she's playing with MY STUFF, Mom make her stop"...should I start putting a nickel in a jar now...might pay for college in the long run.

So, as I try to enjoy my last week of summer vacation (wow, it really flew) It's already filled with events - work school registration Monday, meeting Tuesday - nephew Cliff turns 1 on Thursday - going to a concert on Friday at the State Fair - Cliff's party & baptism this weekend...looks like Wednesday is my only day with NOTHING scheduled...let's see how long that lasts. Maybe we'll go to the pool for one last time.

Well, girls are back with me during the week. Madison got her first taste of mowing the lawn...tried to upload a video, but after 20 minutes it still hadn't loaded correctly, so, you'll have to use your imagination.

We spent the weekend in the water - I had my annual staff boating outing on Friday, then we all went to a water park on Saturday and the Oakland pool on Sunday. I'd say I'm a bit waterlogged, but nicely tan.

Kaylee shocked me tonight - as I was typing this blog, she says mommy, look at me shake my booty (and she turned around and shook her rear at me).....after I picked up my jaw from the floor I laughed...one of those moments, should I be mad, should I laugh. I decided laughter is better.

OK - so it's been quite a while since I've been on...hmm....once those grad school classes started, I had no time for anything else - it was like being in undergrad again - going to bed late and geting up early...you'd think I was taking a full load...but nope, only 2 classes.

One is finally over - at least the sitting in class portion is. I still have a final project due, which shouldn't be too terrible since I've gotten a good chunk of it done. I still have 5 days to finish.

As for the math research class - the project is getting to be a bigger deal than previously thought. I'm think I'm going to have to end up doing the same amount of work for a 2 hour independent study that some are doing for a 4 hour one. The research we're preparing for in the class is to lead into the independent study...hopefully I can get it completed next fall so I can graduate in December!!

So, with all this whining I'm thinking about continuing and getting another certificate or masters...am I nuts?? Probably...

I'm adjusting to my empty nest syndrome - it is certainly different - and to be completly honest, I don't like it one bit!

Drama still follows the life I left behind...makes me glad I'm where I am now. I appreciate my single life more and more each day.

Vacations are over, not sure what's left on my plate after the classes are over...guess I'll figure it all out then. Maybe I'll get my classroom ready early this year....the nice thing, I don't have to decide right now - I can just play it by ear. I love that part of my life right now.