First Softball Game

Madison had her first softball game tonight. She was so excited! Grady and I had to miss it-he was home with a 102 fever. :( But, Todd said she played awesome. She got a hit, and caught a ball for an out. Yay softball!

Pictures to come soon. :)

Raindrops on Roses...

We had an awesome rainbow in our backyard last night. Rainbows are REALLY hard to photograph, but this is what I captured. Todd had them all packing their hiking gear to get to the pot of gold. Crazy kids.

Museum School

This is a big year for Grady. I guess he's graduating from the "toddlerworld," and moved into "kidworld." Along with soccer, we enrolled him in Museum School, which is maybe my favorite preschool activity of all. I stumbled upon it when Madison was three, and it was the perfect fit. We were on a very strict budget, so I hadn't enrolled her in any kind of Mother's Day Out program, and I had anxiety about that (of course, just chalk it up to Mother's Guilt). It was January before a spot opened for her, so we only had to pay half a year's tuition, but she was "dropped off" for "school" once a week for a few hours. It really was a brilliant plan, and satisfied all our needs. The fun science-based curriculum excited all of us, and I think really built a good foundation for school being fun. Tanner and I would play at the Museum or run errands around Fort Worth while she was in class, and when we picked her up, we would have a picnic outside by the dinosaurs and water fountains. I loved Museum School days.

Madison graduated, and Tanner attended during his preschool years; the fun was constant, and never seemed to get old for me or them. Grady's watched me drop off Tanner, Sam, and Isaac, always asking when it would be his turn. Now it is. Today, he told me all about rabbits, and how his teacher even brought a REAL LIVE one to class. I'm so excited for him, even though it means that he's just that much closer to being bigger-for real.

I ran out of fast...

Tonight, Grady went to his third soccer practice. He loves that he's big enough to have his own practice of some sort, and so very much wants to make a GOAL. Todd said he was really frustrated because he can't keep up with the "pack," and of course, in Grady's world that means the pack isn't sharing. We told him to run his fastest, try his hardest and he would get better and maybe make a goal.

In the most pitiful voice, all he said was, "I ran out of fast. I don't know how to get more." I know the feeling. I ran out of fast today too. I guess we'll both get some more vegetables in our dinners, and maybe that will help.

I'll drink to that....

Shelly brought over this bottle of wine last night to share for my Birthday. Being her, she had a card to match the label. That Shelly. :) But, she picked this wine for the story. Apparently, Kate and Cassie were BFFs that went into wine-making together. One liked Merlot, and one liked Cabernet Savignon. They combined their tastes into this wine. It was FABULOUS. A 5 on our scale, and now Shelly and I are wondering if we could pull off the same endeavor! Wine making sounds like an AWESOME job to us!

As if that wasn't enough, Todd commissioned a cake from his mom. A very healthy carrot cake. :) He even made me blow out candles after I got home from my meeting at 9:30 last night. It made me laugh, especially since he also insisted on taking pictures of the whole extravaganza. So now another year until an "all about me day." But then I'll be 35...I'm not sure I'm looking forward to many more of those kinds of days. :)

Birthday Dinner

Me: "Hey guys, go take a shower, we're going out to dinner for my birthday."

Tanner: "Are we going to SONIC???!!!!!"

Me: "Umm, hadn't planned on it. Why, is that my favorite place?"

Tanner: "You sure do like their Diet Cokes."



Guess I better lay off the Sonic Happy Hour for a while. :)

What a difference a classroom makes...

Today was my birthday and Christmas all rolled into one. My school did some "figuring" and found me a classroom to share with another teacher. Up until this point, I've been one of those traveling teachers with everything on a cart. I've tried really hard to be organized, and think I've done an ok job, but for the most part felt like a complete spaz. I spent a large amount of time organizing myself, logging out of computers, and finding supplies to get through whatever lesson I had planned for the day. I felt like a step-child of sorts being a half time "additional" (overflow isn't a happy enough word) teacher. I've hit a few brick walls getting settled, but as of today think I may have busted free.

Oh the wonderfulness of a classroom. I got more done today than all the other days of school rolled into one. Just the ability to keep my programs open on the computer all day saved me hours of inefficiency. I have hope that I can now be the teacher I want to be, the teacher I need to be.

And as if that wasn't enough perfection in one day, Sharyn and Natalie took me to an early bday dinner at Go Go Gumbo tonight. It really doesn't get any better than this.

Gone Fishin'

Todd and Jason took the boys (all FOUR of them!) fishing today for some good Father/Son Labor Day bonding. According to the fish stories I heard on this end, Sam caught the biggest fish. They brought home their hunt (is fishing considered hunting or gathering?), and even cleaned the little guys so we could eat them. We met for a swim and a fish fry to finish out the day, but the boys seemed a little wary of eating their kill. We just got home to settle in before the short week ahead. We really should try to change society over to a permanent 3 day weekend routine. It works out great in our world.

Baby Andrea

While the boys went to the Aggie Game yesterday, Madison and I had a girls day. We started at Magic Pony in town. I'd heard they had way cute Eagle Shirts that I shouldn't pass up. :) From there, we headed to my school so I could TRY to catch up. We didn't stay long though, and spent the rest of the afternoon shopping in Southlake. Madison was a trooper, especially since we made a stop at Justice for some "cool clothes." I may have a little Punky Brewster on my hands. Our final stop of the day was at Sona's house, and to see our lovely baby Andrea. She's so big!!! Madison was enamored with her, wanting to hold and feed her. Watching her, I remembered Todd's neices when Madison was born. They seemed so huge at the time, and here I am with my own huge child. Weird. We had a great visit, just chatting, holding baby, and watching Kevin play an artist game with Madison. Low key, and relaxing. Just what we needed after a busy day

Go Eagles!!

My little Eagles had a blast at the first game. We started the night's festivities at Dairy Queen with 8 of our closest friends, and all of our 12 children. Yes, we took up most of the dining area, but it was awesome. It was one of those Decatur moments I really love. We met up at the game after dinner, and watched all our kids run around like crazy people. Tanner was in awe of the band; Madison flounced around with her friends, and Grady just really wanted a little football. If I could get a hook-up on one of those, I would be most appreciative. Overall, a fun evening-even given the exhausted tears on the way home. I guess we take the good with the bad? :)

The Evil Empire

I'm wearing a Dragon shirt today. I feel like such a traitor.

The Hunter

Tuesday was opening day of Dove Season. Interesting fact? Not usually for this little family; however, this year Todd decided to be a hunter, not a gatherer. You can imagine my surprise when he told me of his plans to go dove hunting in general, let alone the first day of the Season, AND on a SCHOOL NIGHT. But, he covered his bases, and had his mom chip in with me so I could run around to all the Mom activities planned for that night, so I guess I couldn't complain too much.

The images in my head were cracking me up. Todd in camo. Todd crouched down in the "brush." Todd wearing a hat with leaves hanging off of the bill. Todd's accent acquiring more "ain'ts" and "ders" as the night wore on. But, he did manage a few kills. Gag. He even cleaned the little birds, and grilled them last night for dinner. The kids and I looked at warily at the spread, and mostly nibbled on the vegetables and rice. We're just more comfortable knowing our Todd bought the meat instead of killed the meat. It makes a difference in our little world. For now, I think we are safe for another year; I doubt Todd will venture into any other kind of hunting season, since he tears up at Charlotte's Web when both Wilbur's life is in danger, and Charlotte's daughters decide to fly away.

Good thing we don't actually HAVE to hunt and gather...good thing indeed.

Money

Tanner: "Mommy, how do people get more money?"

Me: "They get a job, or change jobs."

Tanner: "So, since you have a job now, do you get more money?"

Me: "That's the plan."

Tanner: "Do you think you have enough monies to get a pool?"

Me: "We'll see. Maybe someday."

Tanner: "Well, if you have any monies leftover, I'd really like a wall at reunion. Except maybe three or four walls too, and a door. That would be nice. Will you think about that?"

Me: "Of course. So, you are asking for walls and a door with any extra money I have? Is that right?"

Tanner: "Well, and a pool. Both of those things would be awesome. Other than that, I'm good."