Dinner Club

All set for a few (15) people tonight!

School Project

Emma's book bucket.

Darling Darla

Watching a remake of little rascals, we found an amazing likeness
right in our own family room!

Would You Like Fries with That? How About a Coke?

Today we had some errands to take care of and one of those included going right back to the mall we went to yesterday because the department store neglected to take the theft deterrent device off an outfit I bought for Emma. It was, of course, THE outfit she wanted to wear today (NOT tomorrow or next year, I was informed). So we trekked back there as a family and the girls played in the kids area while I went to fix the issue. On the way back I stopped into a popular soap and candle store to buy one scented foamy soap. Just one. Not three. Somehow this was very hard to get across to the staff. See, I only use the fancy soap at one sink in the house, due to the fact that the girls use soap like it is going out of style and I refuse to pay for fancy soap at every sink. So, I stopped in to get the one soap I needed. The floor staff was very solicitous and helpful, pointing out that there was this sale, see, and I could get THREE for the price of TWO. No, thanks, I said. But, she persisted, it's a SALE. Yes, I insisted, but I only want to spend $5. She wandered off and I went to the register. The cashier hardly wanted to ring up such a travesty of commerce and began with the same persuasion to purchase 3 soaps instead of 1. NO, I said, I don't WANT 3 soaps. But they won't go bad, she pushed. Thanks, I'm good with this. You would be getting one free!!! No, I would be paying twice as much for the ONE I want. Sheesh! When she finally got the hint, she felt compelled to show me the "cute little clutch purse" that was on sale FOR ONLY 5 DOLLARS!!!!! I. Just. Want. This. One. Soap. Nothing more. Next time maybe I'll wear one of those sandwich signs and put: The End Is Near. I Only Need One Soap! Or maybe I'll just ordered the darn thing online when there is free shipping.

Outing

Special Mama and Emma time. Mary and Daddy had their own adventure.

For My Dad, who surprised me today

Greetings again, Journiers. I am writing this because I called my parents this afternoon/evening on my way home from work (we dissected Owl Pellets today, Internet - MAD FUN!). AND GOT BLASTED. Apparently, my father has my blog on the equivalent of his home page and he is TIRED of looking at camping pictures of his grand daughters. Really, he said, I expected it to peter off NOT STOP ENTIRELY FOR THREE WEEKS. Well, I deserved that, I guess. What I did not expect is that he wouldn't let it go. Four or five times over. At one point I asked if he had seen the camping pictures and he said YES EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS!!!!! Ok, OK! I'll put another post up. But what to tell you all? School has started - yeah, you knew that. Emma started Kindergarten - old news. Mary is at daycare in a class without Emma - sad but true - also nothing new. There you have it, Journiers, we are on one of those stretches in life that is like driving through Ohio or Nebraska: you make progress but there's nothing much to report.

So there you have it, Dad. Corn fields as far as the eye can see.

More camping

Grandma Linda and Papa cooking hot dogs for dinner.

Camping at Papa's

Grandma Linda watching the girls enjoy the outdoors. This was after
some fishing and the campfire was set.

First Day!!!

Emmy has a pink bow on her head. She is doing well listening on her
first day!

Another Begining

Awwwww, Journiers! I see you've come by to check in with me... well, I'm doing just fine, thanks for asking. Of course, tomorrow is a big day, as you know! There's just about 10 useful minutes left in today before I crawl into bed and begin the rapid descent into tomorrow... Anxious? Well, yes, I must admit I am. There are a lot of things happening, after all, what with Emma going to Kindergarten and me starting up another year teaching all in the same day. Emma, by the way, has her clothes all laid out (even her shoes!), and her backpack all filled with first day things, sitting patiently by her bedroom door so that she can apparently dive right into her outfit and grab her bag in one sweeping movement on her way out the door. Mary is a little sad, wanting to be a part of the excitement somehow, and go with Emma. This will be the first time Emma is not in the classroom with her and she has some trepidation about that, too. We have tried everything we know how to make her Tuesday a special day, but it cannot compare. As for me, Internet, I have my copies made (for all week!), my lesson plans laid, and all things that need to be set up ready for tomorrow - as far as I can tell. See, this is the first year I will not have 3 or even 4 different classes to plan for. Think of that for a minute - my first year of teaching I had 4 different classes every day. That would be (EVERY DAY); 4 separate syllabi, 4 separate sets of notes, 4 separate group activities, 4 separate tests, 4... well, you get the idea. This first trimester of this year I have ONE class. That's it, Journiers, just one, all day long! I can't help but feel I've forgotten to do SOMETHING. Lunch? Did I not pack my lunch? Oh, yes, I've got sandwiches for the next 3 weeks made and frozen, waiting for me to pluck them out of the freezer every morning. Oh, maybe I haven't read the text... no, it's Biology. I've got that down just fine. Um, well, I can't seem to put my finger on it..... my first day outfit? Yeah, that's settled. Gas in the car? Of course Hubby already saw to that. Something to drink at school? Oh, yeah, I took a flat of water bottles in last week and filled my little fridge. I guess that only leaves a good night's sleep, which I am sure will be elusive. Maybe that is what I've forgotten- a little relaxation. It's hard to get that right now, returning back to work after 2 1/2 months, to new faces and names and a daughter in school. It seems, Journiers, that the one thing I need to be well prepared for tomorrow is the one thing I won't have. Now I understand why I feel like I've forgotten something!

Well, I should be off to chase that good night's sleep. Here ends my morning tea in the dining room, admiring the rose garden just outside the window, watching runners and dog walkers and mothers out and about much earlier than me. Here ends the snuggle naps with Emma, the rocking chair love with Mary, the fabulous long phone conversations with Lochmoor Mom, the trips to the Zoo and the pajama days that Emma always asks for. Here ends, my friends, time to think about things like laundry, seasonal decorations, and scrapbooking. Here ends my summer, Internet, and with it begins another 10 months of running and working and driving and teaching and tutoring and correcting and sports games and mothering and cooking and planning and doing everything except relaxing. Hats off to those who do this year round, as I can barely manage September through June. So, here we go again! Let the adventure begin!