30 reasons that I'm still YOUNG

1. I don't have a cell phone yet

2. My hair is still long, often in a pony tail

3. I regularly hit snooze on my alarm without even waking up

4. I eat cookies for breakfast

5. I love young adult fiction

6. My bed is often unmade

7. Birthdays are still exciting

8. I have a great flip flop tan

9. I still wonder what I'll be when I grow up

10. I beg for candy at the register

11. My pants are frayed at the hem

12. I love going to the pumpkin patch

13. I'm told that I look too young to have 4 kids

14. I love low rise jeans

15. School supplies get me all excited

16. I like the Barbie movies,
especially 12 Dancing Princesses and the Princess and the Pauper

17. Chocolate milk is my favorite lunchtime beverage

18. I can't sleep on Christmas Eve

19. People still call us a "young family"

20. I don't use wrinkle cream

21. I'd rather not wear nylons if I can help it

22. Sometimes I still think "it's not fair!"

23. I'm still taller & run faster than all my kids

24. I still don't know what the heck I'm doing as a parent

25. My high school years aren't "retro" yet

26. I love the beach

27. I'm afraid of the dark

28. I get to hang out with 16-17 year olds at church now

29. I'm definitely not as OLD as Derek... :)

30. I'm still in my TWENTIES... at least for 1o more days.

Dang, that was a hard list to come up with. On the other hand, listing all the reasons I feel OLD.... that would be EASY! But that wouldn't help me deal with my big 3-0 next week, now would it?

HUGE zucchini

Carver had to hold the HUGE zucchini.

aww... kisses for the huge zucchini

Obviously, I've neglected my vegetables this year.
Zucchini bread anyone?

Hurray for PRESCHOOL!

What a beautiful day!!
I won't lie. I love the break that preschool provides.
It helps me be a better mom when I don't have to do it 24/7.
I had a tiny sad feeling when the bus pulled away and
I was standing in the driveway all alone (Grace was napping),
but otherwise -
hip, hip, hurray!
More details on the BIG day on Carver's blog, but here's a peek.

We waited FOREVER for that bus to come...

IT CAME!!

(only 40 minutes late)

Good-bye, sweet boy. I love you. Here's to a great year!

Mom School 2009-2010

I'm on a blogging roll. I just can't help myself.

Today I was thinking about how I need school, too -
goals and deadlines and a balanced diet of education.

Here's what I came up with:

2009-2010 Mom Curriculum

History:
Read Team of Rivals: the Political Genuis of Abraham Lincoln
by Doris Kearns Goodwin

P.E.
exercise 3 times a week

Child Development:
Potty train someone, ANYONE!

Religion:
Really STUDY the scriptures every day. Not just read.

Finance:
Budgeting 101: weekly reports

Creative Writing:
Write a story for the girls

Chemistry:
Challah, artisan breads

this is the general idea - a classic version. It's a Jewish celebration bread.

But here's the Martha Stewart apple challah I'm dying to try (Living, Sept 09, last page).


Science has never been my strong point, so baking will have to do. That counts, right?

Back to School

Despite my resistance, the sunshine of summer is over and the structure of school has begun.

And I can't help but be excited! It helps that Monday's errands were terribly whiny. :)

Ellie in June, July and August: "when is September?"

Ellie for the last 3 weeks: "how many more DAYS?"

This morning: "can we go yet?"


Watching the clock this morning at 8:10, waiting for it to be 8:40
of course, Grace wanted to watch the clock, too.

And then FINALLY....

pictures in her new skirt and the shoes she bought with her own money
(We have a future diva on our hands. She uses her allowance on clothes a LOT!)


Lydia's excited, too, in her own way. She doesn't LOVE school in the same way Ellie does.
But she's ready to go back and see friends. It's an exciting day, no doubt about it.


Best of friends. Lydia promised to help Ellie find her classroom.
They were excited to sit together on the bus this year.


We walked, we visited with neighbors. It must have been considered dawdling.


Because the bus came before we'd made it all the way to the corner!


Just in time! And off they go.

I mopped the floor in celebration.
Finally, I can keep it clean without kids running in and out,
tracking in GRASS and SAND and SHOES aplenty.

Too bad.