Surprised! A Boast and Other Ramblings

I was very pleasantly surprised and not because I'm actually posting but because I received a phone call from the girls teacher. I will preface this with the following:

The ladies, all of us, had a transitional summer filled with eldercare and reinforcing the values of family. Poppy came to live with us just before school went back. We started the school year off by losing their grandfather and then great uncle. This was immediately followed up by moving grandma in! Next week will be their first full week of school this year. Now you're all caught up!

So as I am driving home a strange number comes up in the car. I'm usually leery of said numbers. I answer in a strange voice incase I'm being tracked by the mob. It's the girls teacher calling to gush!

PROUD MOM MOMENT!

She went on about how well they are doing and their excellent behavior. With everything that has been going on in our lives it was this 2 minute phone call that brought tears to my eyes! They are well adjusted kids, respectful, and excelling in school. Despite the recent shake-ups they are rolling with it!

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In other news, we have gained another furry child!

This kiss-a-holic is Ivy. She came to us in July to calm the anxiety of our pup Kenton. Ivy is young, energetic, and full of BARK! She loves to alert us of passing cars, falling leaves, and the neighbor's every movement. She is also a cuddler! Tons of puppy love in our house. 

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Lastly, I'm still here. Alive and well. Maybe I will even start writing again now that life has settled down. 

Today Was A Good Day [Bullets]

Today was a good day because:

- The sun was out for the better part of the day; we haven't seen the sun for a month!

- I got the last pair of size 12 ballet shoes; just in time for the recital, thanks C!

- I managed to get a close parking spot and made it through TWO stores before the skies opened!

- There is no more lax practice, and that practice couldn't be canceled because of the rain!

- We made it to dance for pictures early, prepared, and not looking too shabby!

    [That is to say our make-up didn't look too hooker-ish or like it was applied by a 2 year old!]

- I only spent half the grocery budget on pictures!

- C's tooth DIDN'T fall out so there will be no fairy work tonight! [Good thing, this fairy is dollarless!]

- FIL has had a great run of nurses and the Social Worker was nice and competent!

- I am in bed before 11 and there are no dots tomorrow!

How was your day?

I'm such a June mother. Is it all over yet??

The Dots

This time two, three, or four years ago I would have excitedly been pushing chubby baby arms into spring jackets and ushering them all outside to explore the coming of spring. There would have been walks and hikes, naming the first flowers of spring, and searching for new life. We would have eaten on the deck and had picnics at the playground before going to check on the development of frog eggs. There would have been chalk, bubbles, and swings. We would have gone where the day took us!

Then school happened. 

School sucks the life out of everyone and that makes me sad. So sad. 

With school comes schedules. With school comes activities. With school ends my life.

NO JOKE!

Look at this people! 

All. The. Dots. 

All the dots suck out part of my life, my free time, my time with my kids. Those green dots are all for the ladies. Dance and LAX practices, appointments for the girls and in-laws, a meeting or two, and the once a month PTA meeting that kills me! 

Who's with me?! This is crazy! They are 6!! I know they are young for their cohort but jeeze! Did I mention there is also homework? And a March Madness Reading contest? Oh there is Girl Scouts too! I also work part, part time. 

How do normal people stay afloat?!

I miss the toddler life. 

Progress!

There is a faint light at the end of this tunnel but I'm still crossing my fingers it's not a train. Marcia inspired me to take a crafternoon. I'm going to need another to finish but it's nice to make some progress for myself. Husband can make lunches, the ladies are always so much more pleased with his lunches anyhow! I started with working on a photo book that is now months in the making. Then I moved onto this:

Do you see this?! I have FINALLY finished my title cards for the rest of 2015 PL! It's only the end of February. Oh the shame of it! Some more sorting, and hopefully finding a few more pictures for October and I will actually be able to print, stuff, and close the book!

So hooray for this afternoon and taking a few moments, 118 minutes to be precise, to do something for me! Now off to flip laundry and hustle the Mom Express out to carpool purgatory, dinner, Girl Scouts, and finally back to home. Go do something for yourself today. It will feel wonderful!

A Late Wednesday Night

I wish I could have captured my surprise and the cartoon hearts that were dancing around my head when I found this: 

You see, I've read countless accounts of not just twins but siblings doing this very thing. I actually *expected* this to happen when we transitioned from cribs. I dutifully check on the ladies every night, regularly collecting the bottom bunk dwelling lady back into a more supine position. After finding a mess of tangled blankets in the bottom bunk I surveyed the room, in the dark, and was startled to not find her! I took an impossibly small lap around their tiny room hoping to find a small foot sticking out from beneath the bed or to see her balled up with a book and flashlight in a chair. So I quickly decided I should check on the top-bunk dweller to ensure that they both hadn't been abducted by the boogie man. What would you know! 

How they managed to sleep soundly through the night while laying perpendicular in the top bunk is beyond me. I just happy they are so happy together!

I'm Alive -- By The Numbers

I live!! My last post was November 29th! How depressing, but life has a way of pulling you around. So lets quickly run through some numbers from then till now:

16: Days FIL was in the rehab center
4 + 1: Gifts my ladies received for Christmas
2: Cancelled PTA meetings that made me squeal with JOY!
10: Days solid of NO SCHOOL thanks to snowmaggedon Jonas
30: Inches of snow we shovelled, sledded down, and cursed
2: Dogs who were violently ill during snowmaggedon
600: Dollars were required the week after Christmas for dance
3: Activities the ladies are requesting to start
2: Books I've read since we've last spoke
1: Lunch date I've had with a friend this year
6s: The iPhone I'm yearning for
50: Husband's most recent birthday
1.5: Hours we travelled to see Springsteen
6: Inches of snow were suppose to receive by tomorrow

39: The current temperature, make me nervous we WILL have school tomorrow

972: Hours of sleep I need to catch up on

3: Hours spent at the Daddy-Daughter dance

1: Month until my birthday

2: The number of report cards brought home yesterday, the number of happy amazing kids we have, and the number of crazy dogs currently inhabiting my bed!

Happy Tuesday! Think snowy thoughts, I could use a day to tackle the multitude of holiday crafting the ladies need for school. 😂