Another week of stickers!

Grayson, you earned two awards today from your teacher, Mrs. Barker. One was for being a great line leader, and the other for being so well behaved in class. She told me you have been very good in class, and that you have not moved your clip for being naughty at all. Daddy and I are so very proud of you!
You are enjoying school a bit more now, and making very good friends. Yesterday, Hayden's mommy brought you and Hayden Taco Bell for lunch. What a nice treat! You gobbled it all up and really enjoyed that time together. What a special thing for her to do for you both. Daddy will have to repay the favor one day when he is off.
Today you and Connor watched some Scooby Doo in my room afterschool. You and he have been really enjoying your new friendship. Mrs. Barker tells me that you "whisper" during rest time to each other and tell secrets. It is really quite sweet.
Sophia, you are obsessed with Garrett and Gracie (Shiloh's babies) that are at Claudia's house. Every single morning you wake up with a beautiful smile, and say "hi mommy!" then I ask if you want to see Garrett and Gracie and you reply "Uhhh Ahhhh" in the cutest of voices then you do that little head nod thing you do that just melts your daddy and I.
Our days may be busy, but we always settle down at story time when daddy reads a book. Last night was Bad Kitty...which always gets you roaring. Sophia, once you really love story time I think you and Grayson will both be snuggled up to Daddy listening to him tell the most amazing stories in the craziest voices ever. I can't wait to start chapter books with you both!

Soccer, no training wheels, and making new friends

Grayson it has been so long since I have written in this I don't even know what I have left out.
We are so proud of you and your accomplishments at school. You are always so well behaved in class, and your teacher says that you are a "good boy". Mommy and Daddy think that you have a lot to offer your friends at school, and hope that you show them that you can make good decisions.
I think that we may have a new Lance Armstrong here...you in one night, got your training wheels off and have not fallen off your bike since. You are riding all over the place. Heck, I think if we let you...you may even try to ride TO school!! Daddy and I both stand by and just grin ear to ear with your accomplishments with athletics. Soccer, which once was something you weren't too interested in has now become something you really enjoy. Your first game is coming up, and we are excited to see how your sportsmanship plays out.
This was a long weekend, which always is nice for us. Sophia, you and mommy snuggled a lot and we went swimming at a friend's pool. You, my dear can SWIM!!! With floaties ofcourse, but girl you were a paddling fool! Grayson, you petrify me with your daring attitude. You jumped off the side of the pool and even let strangers just toss you in!
I want you to both know, that everyday I am at school I approach my students as if it were you infront of me. I want them to become responsible young men and women and have a drive to do their best. I hope that you both have that as well!

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~