1000 miles, 5 days

We’re finished with the first leg of our trip.  We were able to leave the house around 9 this morning & we’re now visiting with Jason’s family. We’ll head to the MN State Fair tomorrow morning & the football game marching band performance is after that.  The kids did pretty well this time.  Minimal screaming from Tova, the boys each slept & Jason was able to finish a book.

Now for the usual travel disclaimer, any burglars be warned that we have a very intimidating college student staying at the house with the Attack Pets.  Rumor is she wrestled a mountain lion last year on her 3 month backpacking trip.  Plus the usual curses have been cast.  You’ve been warned.

K~

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Too Much of a Good Thing

Our before meal prayer has evolved into a kiss fest.  After the prayer Jason & I kiss whoever is sitting next to us, then the kids start giving away “5″ kisses.  This is when you kiss your hand & either high 5 the person or air 5 the person.  This goes on for way too long.  Meanwhile, my lasagna is getting cold!  With bedtime starting at 7:30, & supper starting late last night because of a meet & greet with Gavin’s teacher, this was spoken at the dinner table last night.

We don’t have time for love in this family!

A proud moment for sure.

K~

Bowling for Babies, Day 2

Today was a little better, but mostly because we spent the morning running errands.  As soon as we got home though, the ankle biters attacked.  I CAN’T WAIT for preschool to start.  Three days a week I’ll have 2.5 blessed hours with only one kid clamoring for attention & if all goes as planned, she’ll be sleeping.

I know it’s only Tuesday but I am very excited about our weekend.  We’re pulling Ethan from school on Friday & heading to MN for the long weekend.  The main reason is my nephew’s baptism, but the fun stuff (sorry Becky) will be on Saturday.  It’s been way too long since we’ve been to the Great Minnesota Get Together so we’re spending part of Saturday milling around the fairgrounds.  Jason & I have a few stops planned already.  One including a stop for Pronto Pups & the other is for 1919 Rootbeer floats.  Food on a stick, yummm.

After the fair we’re headed to the Metrodome for tailgating & the Gopher football opener.  I’m more excited than I can say to see our many marching band friends.  It’s been way too long.  Facebook has been wonderful in that regard.  It’d be a lot harder to reconnect without it.

K~

My Morning

If I turn around too fast, I’ll step on a couple of kids.  How’s your day going?

We started out so well.  Ethan was up to eat breakfast with Jason so I slept a little later (a blessed 15 minutes) got him out the door, ate a leisurely breakfast with Gavin & Tova & decided to be ambitious & head to the Y for my first work out in about 2 months.

Going to the Y had been a challenge this summer.  Not just because who wants to get up & drag 3 kids to the Y so you can sweat?  Mainly we didn’t go because Tova hates being left with anyone but me.  That’s another post though.

Anywhoodle, we head to the Y this morning & leaving Tova in the childcare went surprisingly well.  The plan was if Tova cried for more than 5 minutes, they’d come get me.  I was able to work out until I was ready to go.  She never cried, didn’t need her blanket much & even played with other kids.  Of course, the down side is she’s attached to my ankle’s as I type.

Which brings me to my frustration.  Why won’t they leave me alone?  All I need to do today is fold laundry, wash laundry & then fold some more.  I need to take a picture of the clothes we’re going to wear for the extended family picture this weekend, oh & a shower would be lovely.  Apparently all with 2 kids hot on my heels.  Neither seems capable of finding something to do that doesn’t involve me.  I should rephrase, Gavin’s able to entertain himself but it’s at the expense of his sister, ie, taking her toys & flaunting them in front of her.  I’m all for playing with the kids & if they’d let me get my stuff done, I’d be able to play with them sooner.  Somehow that doesn’t translate today.

I’m going to sneak outside & put a couple of things in the recycle bin.  I wonder if they’ll notice if I don’t take them with me.

K~

Lego Crane

Ethan has been hard at work. His Lego City changes weekly. It’s currently becoming two cities with the help of his latest creation – The Lego Crane.

Ethan & his Crane

The Crane Operator

What do you think? Architect? Engineer? Lego Artist?

K~

For those of you looking for the submission address for Lego’s Dinosaur challenge, here it is:

Lego Creator Build-a-Dino Challenge

PO Box 1625

Enfield, CT 06083-1625

Little Piggies

The kids & I were outside this afternoon.

They were riding bikes & I took the opportunity to paint my toenails. Tova, did a drive by & hopped off her bike, plopped herself on the ground, took off her shoes & socks, stuck her toes in my face & excitedly said Mine! I couldn’t turn down such a heartfelt request & voila!

Painted Piggies

K~

Randomness

Nothing says welcome back to school like a cold.  Or maybe it’s allergies.  Whatever it is, I’m miserable.  So miserable I went to bed at 10 last night.  10!  I’m usually not in bed until at least 11:30.

The other night Jason & I were watching the Olympics.  The coverage was switching between beach volleyball & platform diving.  My question for Jason was why are the divers wearing more than the volleyball players?

Ethan is adjusting to school.  He still won’t say much about his day, but from the little things he does say, I gather he’s doing fine.  He did tell me yesterday that they had reading & math in the morning but because it was before lunch, he couldn’t remember what they’d learned.  With that theory, it’s not looking like we’ll have to worry about 3rd grade for next year

K~

The First Day

All I got from Ethan was his day was fine.  He couldn’t remember what they did.  He doesn’t remember anyone’s name, & he had recess before lunch.  Someday I hope he’ll talk about school.   We met his teacher last night.  She’s very soft spoken but also tech savvy.  I’m looking forward to checking  his class website for updates since Ethan won’t tell me what’s going on.  The soft spoken thing will be a definite departure from the norm

Gavin seemed at a loss without Ethan.  He was either hungry or bored & he kept begging to watch TV.  I offered to take him for a bike ride or something else fun but he wasn’t interested.  I hope Gavin’s transition to Ethan being gone goes smoother tomorrow.

Here’s Ethan’s First Day of School 2008 Picture.

One More Day To Go

Tomorrow is it.  The last day of summer vacation.  Do we swim?  Do we picnic at the park?  Do we hike?  Ride bikes?  How many hours of daylight do we have?

We went to the school today to play at the playground & possibly meet Ethan’s teacher, but she was in meetings.  I’m working on a carpool schedule & starting to think about what to do to fill those precious hours with only 2 munchkins wrapped around my ankles.  Jason suggests cleaning but that’s too obvious.

K~