I Met The Teachers

Last night I had the opportunity to really meet Sweetpea's teacher.

Peanut's open house was awhile ago...back when those tiny little Kindergarten students got to go into their classrooms with their parents while said "parents" were praying that they wouldn't loose it right there because their little babies were heading to school....

Everyone but the Kindergarten classes had the curriculum agenda night...and therefore, I got to meet the teacher and here how the class was set up for this year.

It's a funny sense of nostalgia and "itching" I get whenever I walk into a classroom. Takes me back to those days when I taught..the silly faces of kids, the bonds I made with them all, the "aroma" after recess on a hot day, the awesome stories we read together, the charts, the pencils, the books...didn't miss the parent-teacher conferences so much...but, it's always a fun time to get back into the classroom.

We really prayed this year that God would place Sweetpea in with a teacher that would suit her best. I didn't want to request someone...I wanted to rely on whatever God thought best and I wanted to use whatever opportunity was placed before us as an opportunity to grow her...

Two years ago, I requested a teacher...she was wonderful for the first semester...then she retired...it was H.A.R.D. after that...but I learned that "LIFE" happens, even to little 6 year olds...

And so, this year, we chose to take whatever came our way...and this year, God chose to surpass our expectations...To be honest, we were a little sad at first...she had none of her neighborhood friends in her class, her entire soccer team was in yet another class...how would she handle it???

Now, I'm sure eveyrone raves about their teacher, and rightly so, because if God truly does orchestrate our lives, that's how it should be...and so I'm raving...

Sweetpea's teacher is just such a perfect match for her...you could tell she wasn't the most comfortable in front of a lot of people (unlike Sweetpea's mother), she was sensitive to the fears and shy tendencies of her students. She is ORGANIZED and structured...another bonus for SP, because dear ole mom struggles a bit in that deparatment, but Sweetpea thrives in that environment...

I came home feeling so incredibly blessed and thankful. It was hard to let them go this year...I've been talking about this new "season" of my life and to be honest, it's a little scary. I had a wonderful friend over today who listened to me "dream" a little. I'll probably blog, blah, blah, blah about it in later posts...but for the time being, I'm thankful for the little big ways that He takes care of my worries so that I can focus on other things when the time permits.

I Feel Loved...

Facebook was created for people like me...words people...people people...

I was overwhelmed yesterday with the birthday wishes of so many friends and family...Being that my love language is typically "words of affirmation", I got my quota and then some.

It also seemed quite fitting that I finished up another project on my first day of being 35. Sweetpea's best friend's birthday party is coming up and I had promised that I'd make her a Susan dress by fall time...so here it is!

All in all it was a wonderful day...

Started off by reading this...and I quote:
In the midst of the cleaning out process I discovered that by all appearances, Barbie has opened a nudist colony in the large yellow bin and invited all of her friends. I haven’t seen that many plastic boobs since the last time I watched an episode of Real Housewives of Orange County.

I laughed so hard thinking, oh my, that is Sweetpea's bedroom, except insert Polly Pocket for Barbie...just cracked me up...that quote was courtesy of BigMama...she's my laugh in the morning for sure!

Had a great morning with Little Munchkin at the library...went and got myself a starbucks (which LM sucked halfway down, cuz she's a little stuck on the caffeine like her momma) Went to the store to get me some M n M ice cream sandwiches to celebrate with my girls when they returned home from school.

Italian Stallion came home with a bowl of my favorite broccoli/cheddar soup from Panera...like a little sip of heaven right there!

I did spend the afternoon cleaning, but it felt good...and I would have a ton of pictures, but the frap was gone before i got home, I devoured the soup in a little under 10 minutes and I didn't think you'd all enjoy pictures of dusty tables, disgusting toilets and the ever messy playroom...

My girls bought me some pretty jewelry, I received some monies in the mail for some extra "shopping" later on...I just felt loved, and that's just about as good as it gets right there!!! I live a charmed life!

How Things Have Changed...

I have officially reached my MID-thirties.

It's really not that big of a deal...

Well, I'm sure my parents are in shock over the fact that they have a daughter who is 35...it may make them feel a little, let's say, "mature"...

I'm sure my little sister thinks that 35 is soooooooooo, wayyyyy old...and, when I was 23, yes, 35 was old...

There are those that are a few years older than me, and may feel quite superior to the fact that I"m just a 'youngin'...

And some are just a few years behind me and are just thanking the Lord that they still HAVE those few more years to go...

But, to those that are right around where I'm at right now, it's not that bad...

Yes, things have changed:

When I turned 30, I wore a size 2 pair of capris out to dinner to a nice restaurant with my husband...today, I can't get those darn pants over my hips and we went out to Red Robin where my girls ate my free sundae and everyone enjoyed my red face as they sang/yelled happy birthday to me.

Ten years ago I had only been married a couple months, taught school, drove a silver lumina...today, I have 3 children, sing Miss Pattycake songs all day while cleaning the kitchen and doing laundry and drive a mini-van.

I used to have bangs...'nuf said.

My husband will disagree with this BUT, I HAVE grown one whole inch over the past 2 years...my doctor will attest to it!

I used to think that going out until 11pm was fun and exciting...today, if I can get my kids in bed before 8:30, I am thrilled beyond belief!

Hot cocoa used to be my morning treat...today, COFFEE...NEED COFFEE (well, at least my special little coffee drink mix:)

15 years ago, the idea of anything "domestic" was ridiculous to me...today, I sew dresses for my girls, I can cook stuff with zucchini and it actually tastes good, and I can clean a mean bathroom!!!

I used to drive by myself in the car, anywhere...today, I have 3 car seats and the glove compartment is full of Donut Man, Laurie Berkner, Miss Pattycake and books on CD.

And...
There are Some things that haven't changed:

I still cry at Pride and Prejudice...
I still take pictures like my brain is going to forget every second of my life.
I still wear a size 8.5 shoe.
I still listen to country music (at least when I'm driving alone...)
My closet still consists of: denim, denim, denim, tee-shirts, tee-shirts, denim, tee-shirts, more denim and...more tee-shirts.

I'm planning on splurgin' a little this year...just updating the wardrobe a bit...perhaps I'll treat myself to a Starbucks coffee drink, listen to some country music, while drivin' alone to shop (although, still in my mini-van...and, if truth be told...I like it a lot better than my Lumina anyway)

I gotta say...with the many changes over the years, and without some changes...

I feel like I'm living THE life...

I love my husband, still my best friend in the world...

my girls are incredible, INCREDIBLE blessings...

I couldn't ask for more...

well...,

maybe another 35 years to enjoy it???

Busy Weekend

It's been a crazy couple of days...sorry for the delay.

My parents and sister came in town on Thursday and it's been a whirlwind of checking out classrooms, playing Chinese Checkers, making more pasta sauce, school cafeteria lunches, and some FUN deliveries and projects that I've started up once again...

First of all: this little beauty showed up on my doorstep yesterday...

The girls are ecstatic! They finally have a camera and I'm thinking that Italian Stallion will be happy to have a camera that will actually stay on AUTO setting instead of the crazy manual settings I always have on my SLR. You can't beat a FREE camera sitting on your front porch!

I've got a couple more projects in the making...well, one is complete...I think it's rather cute if I don't say so myself! My nephew is turning 3 and I thought he needed his own "space"...with an older brother and twin younger brothers...he's smack in the middle of some chaos...and he's a cuddler...he NEEDS his quiet, lovey time!!! Auntie to the rescue!!!

Also, (on the project list) is another Susan of Narnia dress for Sweetpea's best friend. I promised and I've got to come through...so if you remember these dresses from awhile ago?

Well, now I'm going to make the green archery dress...we'll see how that turns out.

And lastly, Little Munchkin is continuing to learn her letters. Italian Stallion wondered if the "art work" was going to continue onto our painted walls anymore...I suppose I should use a larger piece of paper OR maybe switch to washable crayons...either way, we're on the letter F right now because A,B,C,D,E,G,M,N,P,and T are all accounted for and F just seemed like a good one to go with...

And since we have this "new" little camera with video capabilities...yes, well, I'll have to figure out how to record her talking about what she's learning...I'm sure you'll get as much enjoyment out of it as does her mother, who is NOT biased or anything:)

That's it friends, that's my life right now...with the exception that I get a 3 day weekend with my girls...

Dog Poop

It's amazing what dog poop can do.

I don't actually mean what the "poo" itself can do...but, what the mentioning of dog poop has the ability to do...

It can take a beautiful picture like this:

And make it even better:

Did you notice that smile just getting "that" much bigger? Yep...dog poop...that's what did it...

Honey, lean up against the garage...don't step in any "DOG POOP"...Tada...happy smile...

Peanut, whatcha doin' over there? Are your toes in "DOG POOP"...hee hee, there's that expression that I love...

Dog Poop can also get you pretty "riled" up and goofy too...but that's okay...cuz, I don't have a clue what inspired that outfit, but it fits your personality just fine!

My days are lookin' a little different here lately...with the older 2 gone on most days...just me and Little Munchkin watchin' the endless marathon of Miss Pattycake videos and drinking "afoo ju" But, on those days that Peanut IS with us, I use nap time as a good excuse to spend some quality time with her...we started up piano lessons again today, went to the zoo in the morning and then I thought I'd get around to taking her 5 year pictures...we're only 3 months late, but that tends to be the trend around our house...

I always let them pick their own outfits...so, today I got a couple shades of purple and some pretty big smiles!

Wacky Wednesday Odds and Ends

Don't groan...it's just a fore-warning...I know it's corny, but, she's young...she'll get it...it'll make her smile...besides, although it is absolutely wonderful to be told that you are loved...it's only a matter of time before you basically can recite word for word what dear 'ole mom has written in her 95th lunch box note of the year...

I have to "switch it up" a little every now and then...and yes, I am well aware that we've only been in school for 5 days...but, let's remember the type of "change-around" personality that I am...my dear friend Sara can vouch for me...

So, here is Sweetpea's lunchbox note from Mommy for today!

hee, hee...Italian Stallion rescued that one from the depths of his elementary school memories...

myself? yes, well I was googling "knock knock jokes for children" at 11pm...it's pathetic, I know...

Anyway...onto other odd and ends:

Check out what McDonald's happy meal toys are for this last week? how did I go so long without realizing this...oh yes, I gave up Mcdonalds after watching the documentary Super Size Me and I couldn't handle the "molding" at the end...yuck!

What you may not know is that you don't have to buy a happy meal in order to get a prize...you can just buy the prize for 96 cents...ChaChing! Stocking gifts already!!!

In other news, If you are looking for a quality made swimsuit...and at a relatively good price...(by the way, I am aware that these "prices" are rather high even still...but, I've had my Lands End quality made swim suit for 10 years...I got my money's worth out of it) You may want to check out this store. My friend down the street purchased one this summer and it is not only so cute, but the entire thing is LINED and super comfortable!!! A lot of their tankinis are on sale right now...just fyi!

I'm ready for Labor Day weekend already...we've got a Fantasy Football Team party on Monday...don't ask me what that actually means...I kinda got sucked in with everyone else in the neighborhood...all I know is that I get to purchase some YUMMY chicken salad and croissants to share and my girlies will be around for a 3 day weekend!!! WooHoo...

Happy Wednesday!

All You Really Need

during a thunderstorm, when the lights go out...

Is a good friend...

Miss Pattycake on the laptop...

and, your blankie.

Yep, that's about it...

Thunder, you can go thump on someone else's house, cuz, I'm a little too into my "show" to worry about you none!