LAST WEEKEND

Grayson begins kinder on Monday..and he is REALLY nervous. He won't claim to be, but he is. We bought him new sneaks today, and man was that a hassle. Mom and Steven are here still thank goodness for that. Without their help I think I would go mad.
Last night was meet the teacher night. Grayson wouldn't even speak to his wonderful kinder teacher. A tiny bit of an embarassment. CROSS FINGERS that he grows out of this phase.

Target, Sprouts, NTB, and ohhh so much more

I am amazed at how much a "mom" or "parent" gets done in a day. I was up at 4:30 went walking/running, came home, showered and dressed for work, got little ones up..made breakfast, then off to babysitters, off to work. During work I paid bills during my lunch time, emailed inlaws. The work didn't even begin until after...target, fixed a flat, then went to Sprouts. Now..I am off to do some laundry. All the while, my husband....please don't take this the wrong way, but he will come home and complain about his day when all he has to do is eat, and do bath time. I feel like I should be on Oprah. I remember so clearly that husband that left the child in the same diaper for like 36 hours. It was pretty eyeopening for him when he saw what we did in a day.
I salute those single moms I tell ya, like my own mom was, and hey...single dads like my close friend Sam. He is one of the only men I know that got custody of his daughter during a divorce. He has raised her, alone since she was a toddler. He knows about all nighters, parent conferences, homework, and trying to have a sense of self as well. I often talk to him and vent or get some pointers on what to do and how to do things as a parent.
Sorry for my going on and on..but I just am feeling a bit overwhelmed with being a parent, a teacher, friend, and a wife...but the biggest part is not being just mediocre.......but wanting to be the BEST mommy I can be.

First Day Back At Work

Today was the first day back for teachers. I was fortunate to have my mother and stepfather here to keep the kids, however I did bring Sophia to Claudia's so she could have some play time with Roy and the girls. She loves her some CLAUDIA!!!
I felt so bad for the other new moms that had to drop their little ones off for the first time. I remember that feeling...I felt like throwing up when I dropped Grayson off the first time at daycare. I hope it gets better for them.

Last day of summer

To me, today is the last day of summer. It is the last day alone with the kids before we have family come in to help with the adjustment to my returning to work. Grayson begins school this month, kinder and this is it. No more free summers and life of preschool or nannies.....he is growing up.
Sophia will need to adjust to not being with me 24 hours a day, as it has been. I will need to adjust to not having her in my arms or smiling at me whenever I want. Last night she fell asleep in my arms, and I just sat there for a tiny bit of time and smelled her sweet breath and looked at her. The time has gone by fast, and my little ones are growing up.

First night she slept all night since JUNE

Last night was the first night Sophia has slept all night since June. By all night I mean 10-645am. There was no rhyme or reason to it at all. She was a terror to put to sleep...and cried for a "baba" over and over but I stuck to my guns (that and I had no more soy stage 2 left).
Keith ofcourse played his "killing lots of people game" while I dealt with her. Grayson was a perfect little on and went right to sleep. I am so proud of him. He has done really well with no naps and being less cranky every day. They don't nap in kinder anymore so I was concerned with how we would transition. I am sure the first few weeks of school he is gonna be a BEAR for me when he comes to the room. I will need to make sure I have a lot of snacks and goodies on hand.
We are planning on going to a water park today, thanks to our good friends The Wikels. Keith seems to be less interested in going for some reason. Not sure why. I have to also go to my classroom to get some things ready for the school year. Not sure how I will fit it all in today.
Grayson spent his morning outside and flirting with the "girls" behind our house. They were out in their pjs talking over the fence. Grayson enjoys the neighborhood kids so much, too bad there weren't more boys for him to interact with that were close by. He is surrounded by girls. I don't think he minds, but eventually he will. I still have to try and cut the cord a bit and let him "go" and ride his bike and have some feedome, but it is hard.
I am lamenting about not working at the neighborhood school as well. I think he will enjoy Tibbals a lot, it will just be an adjustment for him. Let's hope it is a great first year of school~

Saturday in the park...I think it was the...oh yeah it's not July anymore

I can't believe that work is right around the corner. The summer has been filled with such activity and new experiences for the Dozier family.
We are going to try and end our summer on a high note by going to a water park tomorrow. I will be sure to post pics after.
Keith and I took the kids to Christina's in Murphy and enjoyed a nice lunch together. Sophia eats more veggies than most little girls I know...and Grayson is still inlove with carbohydrates.
I am most fortunate to have a new found friend help me with this blogging business. I can't wait to see how it turns out. I have been very envious of my friends and their cute pages...and newly bound books of their blogs to pass on to the children.
Bottles- Yes...I know she shouldn't still be having them but with her sleep issues that has been my saving grace. She doesn't drink milk, she won't...and I won't provide it for her. Kinda a personal issue. She won't touch soy...so the only thing she has had is Soy formula stage 2. No...sippy cup..just a "baba". We are trying...but it is either that or sleep for me.
Grayson has been requesting a bunkbed. This may be our saving grace for him to sleep the WHOLE night in his own room. Since an infant that child has had the WORST sleep habits. Now, at age 5 he still tells me he wants to "cuddle" and be with me in the morning. He normally sneaks in at about 3am...and under the covers he gets. I can't say no...it is the most precious thing. There is going to be a time..and not far off that he won't have anything to do with giving me a genuine hug. For now...I allow it...and drink it all in.

Summer Fun

This summer has been one trip after another. Some trips were more relaxing than others, and some were about showing the kids things that are special to mommy.

The kids and I went to North Carolina and Virginia right after school got out for me. The weather was perfect here in Texas at that point, I always seem to screw up and get back to Texas during triple digits. But, then...we had our storms here which knocked down the entire fence. Which, ofcourse left Keith to repair.

Our first trip was NC. My mom and stepfather live there. They live on a private and quiet road, close to Chapel Hill. They have gardens and Grayson really enjoyed harvesting different fruits and vegetables while he was there. Grayson was such a big boy, putting on his deet, and sunscreen everytime he went out. He explained to me, "mommy...this is a berry..they are ok to eat...not poison", and showed me how to pick strawberries and lots of squash.
Sophia was totally engaged with the outside. I think I have a "tree hugger" here. She wanted to just RUN as fast as she could down those dirt roads....I am not quite sure where she was going, or what she thought she was going to.
We did our usual Southern Seasons shopping, and dinning at their restaurant. This meal was probably the worst I have ever had there. The Weathervane is usually one of the best places to eat..not this time.
We woke every morning to Grammy making some delicious breakfast, and Steven listening to some jazz. We went to bed each night relaxed and worn out...if we were lucky we even saw the deer come to get their drink of water from the pond before bedtime.
At night when Sophia would get me up, which was often at first. I would sit on the couch in their "big room" and see all the animals. I felt like Snow White. I would see deer, and coon, and ofcourse the cats. It always makes me relax a bit when I am there.