A Whole New World

The kids just finished their second week of school. Justin and Mia really enjoy it and are doing well. Emma is taking her time getting settled. She told me everyday that she was sick and couldn't go to school anymore. I told her she was fine. Then she said she tells her teacher everyday that she is sick and needs to go to the office. Her teacher told her no. Then she says that her teacher tells her to sit in the shade and rest, but that would be boring so she won't do it...and she has finished her running for P.E. in first place for the girls the last two days!! Gee, I wonder why your teacher doesn't believe you're sick. Emma also says that she hates school because she doesn't remember how to do any of the schoolwork. Then she brings home her tests with 100%. Hmm, someone needs a better attitude.

Emma hasn't been playing with the other kids at school. I asked her who seemed nice in class. She said Brittney. Okay, ask her to play. They played one day, then a few days later I told Emma to ask her to play again. Brittney said she had plans, but pinky promised to play the next day. Today, she says she had her fingers crossed during the pinky promise and doesn't want to play with Emma. I say that Brittney doesn't sound like a nice kid. Emma tells me she heard Brittney say that she didn't like Emma. I say I don't like Brittney and why would such a sweet girl like Emma want to play with such a brat. Emma says "Mom, you told me to play with her." Then Emma asks if I want to beat Brittney up. I lied and said NO. (Okay, so I don't really want to beat her up, but I might smile if she fell and skinned her knee or something.) On the plus side, Emma told Nana last night that she loves school. She also made a friend...the wind. They talk and sing together. Is that supposed to make me feel better? It doesn't.

After the first week of school I talked to Mia's teacher and asked how she was doing. She said academically Mia was great, maybe first grade level. The only problem is that she needs to be reminded to keep her hands to herself. It isn't bad, just whenever they line up Mia hugs everyone. Later I was trying to talk to Mia about it. I said "Mia, you can't hug everyone." Mia looks at me innocently and says "why not?"

Day One...

I started school again today. I am going full time now that all three of my children are in school. Part of me wants to scream WooHoo and part of me is sad at all the changes.
I have been up since 6:30 this morning. It is now 10:45pm and I am going to bed with another chapter still needing to be read. Not quite the start I was hoping for, but considering everything I guess it is still good. I am taking five classes plus a lab. Today was Business Law II and Information Systems for Business. I made new friends, organized our group for projects and even worked it out so that I could miss a class on Wednesday so I could be there for the kids' first day of school. Charlie is already stressed out with the extra responsibility, and I am already feeling guilty about ignoring the kids to study. Whose idea was this anyway?!
Part of me is really excited to be back at school (full time) and excited to see how I will do and what I'll learn. Hopefully when the kids start school in two days we will get into a good routine and things will run smoothly for the most part. (Knock on wood.) I go between feeling more focused and determined than when I started college at 18 and feeling that now I have so many more responsibilities to juggle.
I am grateful to have such a wonderful, supportive family. Emma is always remembering to ask Heavenly Father for help for me in her prayers. Charlie is cute and has been laughing at some of my organization. He has been moving out of the office and going through some of the files tonight. He kept laughing at things I had filed for him. In my defense I think that the gas receipt fell into the open file drawer on accident and all the random stuff in his files were because I know how he hates to throw anything away. ;)

Double Digits

Justin turned 10, that's right, 10. Okay, so it was almost a month ago. That boy is such a blessing in our family. I love him. This summer has been so special to me because of my time with Justin. He has been so loving and sweet to me. He wants to talk to me about anything and everything. He does little things for me all the time, and is my little sweetheart. Several times he has come up to me out of the blue and given me a bear hug. Did I mention how much I love this kid?

How Not To Tattle

Emma says "Mom, Mia wasn't closing her eyes during the prayer! I saw her!!"

Photographers

Almost two years ago we got the kids a indestructible kids camera. Every few months they get it out and take random pictures. The viewer on it is not very clear so it was hard to tell how good the pictures were. Charlie finally put them on the computer and some are clear and others, not so much. There are a lot of self portraits, pictures of me and other random stuff. Here are some of my favorites. Sorry about the blurry ones, but Mia's self portraits are just too funny.

Full of...

Emma and Mia love to pretend and they use special voices when they are in character. Today they were pretending that their lady bug and lamb pillow pets were dogs. Emma tells Mia that dogs like to smell each other's bums. Then in her "character voice" says "Mmmm. I smell a goodie."

Sweetness

Me:I love your nose.
Mia:I love your nose.
Me:I love being your mom.
Mia:I love being your son.