We all survived!

I'll share the first day pics tomorrow, but I just wanted to let you all know that we lived through the first day. Ok. Ok. I lived through the first day! (Ang, Mrs. Ernestine came to me this a.m. to let me know that she was supposed to give me a hug/moral support, and I was about to weep as it was...and then I was like all crying on her shoulder...haha, I was a mess.) The kids all seemed to have had awesome days. Sophy was impressed with the rainbow parachute that kindergarten got to play with in PE! She wants one for Christmas. HAHA! I asked Sam to tell me about his day, and he told me, "Mom. Really. It was just so much that I can't even explain it all. My class is the busiest place I've ever been." He did tell me that his teacher "really knew what she was talking about." Pfft. Jack wasn't happy about the fact that "3rd graders are supposed to be quieter than most other kids." On his homework tonight he had to tell something about himself. He said, "After I play outside, you might think I smell like sweat...but don't worry, I don't stink." HAHAHAHHAA. I didn't make him change it. He also included that he had "smooth ears" and "stinky socks." OOHHH, the mind of a 3rd grader. I love it!
We survived! Thanks for remembering me Ang. I needed an Ernestine shoulder this a.m. How did you know? :-)

There is no easy way to say this.....

MY BABY IS GOING TO KINDERGARTEN TOMORROW!

MY OTHER BABY IS GOING TO FIRST GRADE TOMORROW!

MY OTHER-OTHER BABY IS GOING TO THIRD GRADE TOMORROW!

I hope I can live through it. Be still my heart, and sweet Lord please give me courage to send the baby of us all to kindergarten.
Did you hear me?
The BABY!!! ARRGGHH.

I am an OLD woman, I tell you.

Clothes are laid out, supplies are loaded in the car, lunch boxes are sitting ready on the counter to be filled, backpacks are hanging in the mudroom in their cubbies, finger nails and toe nails are painted (not the boys--haha), and 3 little children are as excited as can be about their first day of school (1 quite possibly a tad less excited than the other two...one hint, he has red hair....).

Tropical Storm

This is what a tropical storm (Erin) looks like when it breaks up over the Hill Country of Texas.

Weekend Pics

You may notice a theme from the waterpark, surrounding vehicles, and buildings. Who knew there was such a thing as The Blue Bell Aquatic Center? Yes, that is the Blue Bell factory in the background. THE Blue Bell factory. Yes, Sophy is riding a floating ice cream sandwich. Yes, Jack is attempting to walk on a popsicle. Yes, they serve real BLUE BELL ice cream there. If you know anything about Blue Bell, then you know where we were!

On the road again....

If no one vomits between now and Friday, we're going to go to Austin to visit my brother and his family. The kids have been begging to see their cousins, so my SIL (the one who NEVER updates her blog, ahem...) and I are going to take the kids to a water park. Yes, we seem to be drawn to them like a fly to honey, so what's your point? We're water park junkies, so there. I'm sure we'll find somewhere to shop with our 5 well-behaved children in tow. If you live in the Austin area, you may want to remain in your homes this weekend. If I can remember to take my camera, I'll snap some pics to share.

My brother and DaddyPinkie have something Top Secret manly planned so as to conveniently avoid being in attendance at the water park. I could tell you about it, but then I'd have to kill you...and well, that would be really rude of me to do to you....since mostly I only know of 2 of you who read this....and well, I like both of you. So, where was I? Oh yes, manly things. Due to the nature of my brother's work, I am afraid I can't elaborate on the manliness of their excursion. So why did I mention it? I dunno. Suspense? Allure? Intrigue? Nanny-nanny-boo-boo?

I spent much of the afternoon at Chuck E. Cheese with some of Sam's first grade friends. It was sort of an unexpected get-together, but the kids had a good time. I think we were supposed to meet DaddyPinkie's dad for lunch, but we never heard from him...so, off I went to Chuck E. Cheese. Seeing as how we would have had lunch at a decent restaurant with the Sr.DaddyPinkie, it didn't feel like a fair trade. Mostly because Chuck E. Cheese is a communist-based, money laundering, tyranically ruled, mob funded business front for a human trading and export monopoly. Don't worry. We had the last laugh at Chuck. The costume clad mouse appeared to wave to the kiddos, and Sophy attached herself to his leg and wouldn't let go for what seemed like 15 minutes. Chuck E. had to work for his outrageously priced fun today. Oh yes indeedy.
As a reward for her efforts to speak out against price gouging in the kiddie food industry, I took Sophy to get her hair trimmed at the "salon" today. She has been looking forward to this for a while, so we went and took that off the list. Of course, we had to FLY to make it to gymnastics in time, but we looked good when we got there. That's all that matters in the end.

Hhhhmmm. What else? Well, tomorrow night is Back To School Night for my campus. I'll be wearing black, just so ya know. I'm actually looking forward to seeing my group from last year. Bunch of little weirdos. I just loved 'em all to pieces.

((SHAMELESS PRODUCT ENDORSEMENT))

If you haven't tried the Cinnamon/Brown Sugar Go-Tarts from PopTarts, uhhhm....do it as fast as humanly possible. They are NOTHING like a PopTart. They're soft and bready and taste like a stinking cinnamon roll. I just happen to know that they are also wondermously delicious with a cup of hot tea (Black Negrili with a splash of milk.) Beware. They actually have the power to communicate with you via mind control from your cupboard. Just so ya know. Of course, that only applies to the very weak minded people wh........((no I did NOT go get one...shut up.))

What a girl wants.

All manner of name calling.

My children are ready to go to school. Wait. Correction. I'm ready for school to start. I have never in my life heard such chiding, teasing, whining, and name calling....not to mention how the kids are behaving. HarHar. We're down to a few last funnsies before The Big Day. We have a playdate with some classmates planned, a few swim dates, a trip to the "salon" for Sophy, a trip to the movies, and HOPEFULLY, a tiny road trip for one last spin.

How 'bout a few photos?

Here you see The Red Monster getting ready to torment his siblings in the pool at his GrandPinkie's house. The kid lives to make others miserable. Seriously, he had a plan hatching in his head as I snapped the pic.

In the meantime, Jack and Soph were in the middle of a very heated "Dive Off." Here you see Sophy delivering a "Super Tuck."
Jack answers with a very difficult "Flying Dutchman."

Hope everyone is staying cool! 'Cause dang it, it's hot!

The Wonder Years

Wayne & Kevin Arnold. Winnie Cooper. Pure gold.
That's all I've got to say about that.

Those of you familiar with the insanity world of teaching know just how much fun a workshop is to attend. Guess where I spent my day? Uh-huh. I just so happen to have spent my day at one of those dreadful, mind numbing, I-want-to-stab-myself-in-the-eyeball-with-a-pencil workshops. I know what you're thinking. Aren't they all stab-your-eyeball worthy? Yay, I say to thee. Yay.

There was a bright spot in the otherwise dreary day today. The Lord in Heaven had Mercy on my pathetic soul and saw fit to end the Misery that was being inflicted upon myself.....we got out early. Early meaning that I was home from the ever-painful workshop by 2 o'clock. I must be living right...or something. We went straight to the pool after I made it home and had a lovely time until way past the supper hour. Once we made it home, I somehow morphed into a short-order cook that would've made the gals slinging hash at IHOP envious. What is it about swimming that makes a child so ravenous? Somewhere along the way, Mr. Pinkie made it home from a photo shoot with a Philly Cheesesteak from Chili's in tow. God Bless that guy. I do love him so.

A car trip....and no one tossed their cookies...

We're home again. Did you know we left? Probably not. We traveled to South-ish Louisiana to visit Daddy Pinkie's sister and her family. The kids had a wonderful time and the grown-ups were well fed! Dr. Brother-In-Law, aka Dr. BIL, cooked awesome steaks one night and fried fish the next. Yes, we can die happy now. Daddy Pinkie was on unfamiliar territory with 2 square meals served 2 nights in a row. RARE events indeed for us. Of course, I left the camera at home, so I have no pics of the waterpark we went to or of the kids running wild. Sadness!
And so we have returned home and the Pinkie-in-Law's home is probably very still and quiet.

We're off to the dentist now for cleanings for Jack and Sophy. Sam gets a cleaning next week, if I can remember the appointment! Pffft.