It's A Happy Birthday!

My parents each sang to me over the phone, Ted and the kids gave me really nice cards and a fun magazine this morning, and fresh cinnamon rolls with a cup of coffee!
Here is an idea for a little treat for a teacher or friend...the kids took the bags to their teachers this morning to let them know we appreciate them and look forward to this year!

A birthday day gift from my mom-in-law...

a day of no school runs to "do whatever you want to do!" How nice is that!? So...I made an appointment for my first ever pedicure! The pink toes are for Alisa's benefit! And I enjoyed roaming through a couple stores, renewing my driver's license and van tags, and my new BH & G magazine that came today...what more could a girl want?
This pic is for you Mari! The pedicure was my gift from my husband and kids. This was the first time I requested a certain gift for my birthday...and it was so worth it!
Fun gifts for my birthday...from family and secret pal! Thank you all! I am enjoying everything and will continue tomorrow!

Look in your review mirror...

...sometimes they really aren't listening to you!
We were leaving school yesterday and I was asking Teddy a question...no response...so I asked louder...still no response...started to ask again and then looked in the mirror to see if he was responding...at all...uh, no! We keep the headphones in the car for those "just in case moments with Daddy!" What a kid!

My Son...

came home from school, ate lunch, and wanted to play with his buddy. The only rule is that he has to change out of his school clothes! He did...and left them on the familyroom floor. What a kid! New rule...put your clothes away, then play!

A New Box of Crayons Has Been Opened!

A new year...a new classroom...a new set of teachers...new friends...a new routine...
All things that will color our world this year!
We opened the box yesterday and found all kinds of bright, shiny, colorful crayons...just waiting to be used to make our life more colorful! No broken tips yet...but they will come when the crayons hit the floor. No dull crayons yet...but as they get used the color will rub off and blend with other colors to form interesting pictures. The paper will get peeled back, crayons will break in half, and some will get used more than others. I think I just found a new object lesson...a good reminder for myself! The box may get squashed and the crayons have to be dumped into a new container...but they are still useful! They still will add color...even in their worn state! I love a new box of crayons...they smell good, look good, and hold a promise of potential!

I found a new use for my "Happy New Year" stamp...the start of a school year! These were our first day of school treats for our teachers...easier than drawing a smilie face...stamp it!

It's official...school has started!

Breakfast as a family...
Time for Keys for Kids and prayer in preparation for the day. The key for today: Behave like a child of God. I'd say that was a good starting point!
Can we go yet? It was 7:30 and all was ready...Ted's plan is a good plan...it starts with adults up at 6:00a.m.
And we're off!
He did a good job...Mommy was strong till she got in the van! It is a new phase of our life...and I know I will adjust! A cup of coffee and bagel at Panera with my mom-in-law on the patio was very helpful! Thanks for thinking of that, Mom!

Second grade
First grade
Kindergarten
There are lots of boys in Teddy's class!
The "girls" on their way to recess stopped to say "Hi" and see how Teddy's day went!

This is how we take our Sunday afternoon drive!

We passed some very interesting individuals today...as well as many types of water-craft!
Our fearless captain is sick and tired of waving at every passing boat! We will try to rig up a wooden cut-out of a hand on a spring and zip tie (or duct tape...hmmm) it on to the railing. Now that's using your head...instead of your hand!
It was cool out on the water and Grampy is a good warmer-upper! We enjoyed a picnic lunch on our two hour tour.
Relaxed and loving life! Ted and Dad had a fishing expedition this morning (caught 10 fish!), Teddy and Daddy took a cruise around after lowering the dock (just the boys, Mom), and Ted guided us one more time down the river. Have you had your fill yet, honey?

Teddy helped his Dad push the boat out from the dock. Ted says he'll be able to do it by himself next year...he dug his feet in and gave it all he had!

How do you get ready for the first day of school?

"I don't want to go! I will stay home and go to work with Daddy!"
"I make sure my hair is perfectly arranged!"
"I think about all the fun I will have in my auntie's class!"
We invite Mom and Dad to the lake for the weekend and spend lots of time on the boat, eating, laughing, cuddling, and watching the kids...and seeing how much they have grown up and are changing! Then we come home, take showers, eat a snack, and go to bed by the appointed time of 8:00p.m., and everyone falls asleep...except Mommy...who decides to download the weekend pictures to make room for the first day of school pictures and contemplate the fact that 6:00a.m. is going to come awfully early!

Ready or NOT...Here they come!

The supplies are all bought...and some have been delivered to the classrooms.
Their backpacks all packed...and we're ready to go on Monday...but first we have to go to the lake again and breathe in the last scents of summer!

A five year old question

Why is there a berry in our name?

Getting ready for K5 was tough!

Because Teddy has a bad mommy...the worst one in the whole world...our third kid was forgotten when his 18 mo. shots were due...so Tuesday, he got four shots instead of three. I felt horrible! He was so brave and our nurse went so fast that the tears didn't start till poke three! Teddy came away with four Batman bandaids, four stickers, and four pencils for school...and a dilly bar date with his bad mommy! All the supplies are bought, mental preparations are being made, and just one more appointment...the dentist! School starts next Monday...which is five sleeps from now!

Dad chuckled, Ted rolled his eyes, Mom giggled...

at Kari's three strike out meal!
Everything tasted fine and everyone had enough to eat, but it went together with some difficulty!
First strike...the romaine lettuce for the salad was rotten from the inside out...no veggie. What to do? Found a small portion of frozen green beans...does that go with spaghetti?
Second strike...the noodles stuck together. Yes, I had salted and evoo-ed the water!
Third strike...no dessert. What to do? Take the cake crumbs (from the cake for James), put them in a pan, and spread frosting all over. The leftover red frosting looked cheery and the kids were happy...however, no adults partook.
Cinderella doesn't live here and evidently Martha Stewart doesn't either! They both would have planned ahead better, I am sure! Thanks Mom and Dad for coming for dinner anyway! xoxoxo