Out of the mouth of babes

Okay, he's not a "babe," he's a preschooler, but close enough. He's been cracking me up all evening with his little 'Redisms.' Like when he flushed the toilet (he is afraid of it flooding so we have to be there when he does it). After flushing it, and the water going down as it is supposed to, he spread out his hands yelling, "It's a miracle...I had prayed to Heavenly Father!" Obviously a toilet properly working is something to have faith in. Just now, as we were debating what to do as a family, he said, "I have an idea in my brain!" His idea in his brain was to watch a movie and have family home evening. I think it's because of the treats we have for FHE.

Sometimes I look forward to the kids being old enough to do something in particular, and other times I wish they could stay little forever. Yesterday, I wished Punkie could stay little forever because I realized my littlest baby is growing up. She's still in a crib, but just for the time being. Yesterday morning we heard a loud BOOM upstairs. Yep, you guessed it--she fell out of her crib. She hasn't done it again, but I'm not sure if it's a matter of time or if she learned that maybe it isn't such a good idea to climb the bars.

So much to do, so much to forget to do.

I forgot to get something out for the PTA yesterday. So today I was frantically doing as much as I could before preschool. I ran out of the copies for the kids to take home so only the grades k-2 got to take home a 'join the PTA' flier. Hopefully the older kids have younger siblings.
I enjoyed the things I taught in preschool, but I did have one very rowdy kid. I would've called his mom to take him home, but that didn't work--I AM his mom {sigh}. So we'll have to take preventative measures next time. I'll give him a little pep-talk on how to act in school--even if your school is your home. Also I'll have to explain that teachers are not jungle gyms.

My kids will beg to go to the dentist now.

I'm surprised how quickly days go by now. It's amazing how that happens right when fall comes and the holidays are approaching.
The preschool field trip was great! Although my kids and I have been to a dentist before, the pediatric dentist's office was fun. The kids got whistles, dentist pouches (with floss, timers, and samples), and a balloon from the balloon room. The waiting room was actually a room filled with love sacs and big, huge bouncing balls. I like it at least as much as my kids' dentist office, which has play houses, an aquarium, toys, and movies. Although this staff was great at talking to them at their level. We never had dentist offices like this when I was a kid!

One of THOSE days

Insane. Today in a nutshell. Mostly because of preschool. But it was one of those writing on the wall days. That was Red. Punkie chose to write on the love sack. While I was cleaning up on mess, they were making another. And no, telling Red to clean up didn't work. He is on his fourth outfit today I think. Punkie is on her second. It's in need of a good wash too. Chief is falling apart over his homework again. I don't know if he'll finish it today.
On the good side, a nearby resource center for school stuff is awesome. I checked out some materials and signed Red up for a pre-K "class." And--Da, Da, Da, DAAAAAAAA--we got a nearby business to sponser the incentives for faculty and boy did they really come through!!!! Yea!!!

Kids say the darndest things.

Though we don't have a great host like Bill Cosby or the original Art Linkletter, church is still one of the best places to hear those treasured tidbits that make you laugh. Okay, I bet school is also a good place too. Anyway, my kids didn't disappoint in their conversations. As the Sunbeam teacher in charge of sharing time called order, all the kids quieted and the only sound left was Red's four year old voice asking the little blond sitting next to him why she wouldn't marry him. I couldn't hear her response, but his reply was to the affect that he'd either marry her, or his own sister. That's what I heard. Apparently the roles switched later since her father said he heard his daughter ask Red why he wouldn't marry her. My hubby's response? "Well, they'd better learn to get along if they want a happy marriage."
Chief's substituting teacher, thanks Tina!, let me in on his two cents. He explained to her that I went to the doctor and had Red one day. The VERY next day I had a pain in my side. I went to the doctor and Punkie was born. For some reason we don't understand Red has grown faster than Punkie.

I used to think he was an honest and observant child...

Always start your busy day with a good breakfast.

As I sit and write a delicious smell permiates the kitchen. My hubby at work creating a yummy masterpiece? No. Chief, doing his thing, making pancakes. His class at school recently made pancakes with marshmellows and chocolate chips. I don't have small white marshmellows and I don't want to open a new package of chocolate chips, so we might have white chips on the pancakes. Or plain pancakes.
We started a fall cleanup yesterday. I guess I should say my hubby did. You already know of my inefficiencies there. But I have been doing my best to keep up, in-between begging for donations for the PTA. I'm hoping to get a local business to donate incentives for the faculty to join. I get to address them on Tuesday.
I afraid I don't have anything of interest to say. I'm just plugging away at life, trying to keep treading above all I need to do. Don't worry--I still have a lot of fun doing it.

Are piles considered a decoration?

I've got a love-hate relationship with decorating magazines. The ideas are great (sometimes), and spur my imagination, yet they are useless to someone like me. I have no decorating sense whatsoever. I mean, I know what I like when I see it, but I don't even try at home. My house is for living and looks like it. Another problem is this: When I get around to cleaning, I get distracted by the small stuff. Take today, while I was cleaning the bathroom, I focused on scrubbing the door. Sure, it was something that was needed, but the door? I could have focused on other parts of the house that are buried under piles of junk and clothes. I could pick up the big stuff, move things where they need to go, etc, but no--the door was a priority. See--I know WHAT the problem is, but I don't know HOW to change it. I guess I could try to redirect myself, but as long as I feel like I accomplished something, then I am content with the rest of the house looking like a tornado hit it. Augh! Any suggestions?

Fun day

I think the activity for the 8-11 year old girls went very well. We had great decorations and stations, but we did have a smaller turnout than we hoped for. Still, we enjoyed the girls that came and hopefully they left with more than what was in their paper bags.

After Punkie woke up from her nap we went to a family day activity at my hubby's school. All for free we got to do some of our favorite things:

Got balloonsSaw a gummy bear burn upAnd my boys even climbed a rock wall. We dabbled in Jr. engineering, science, natural resources, and a few other booths. We all enjoyed the free ice cream (chocolate chip cookie dough was what we got). We did miss out on a wagon ride because the horses got tired. But we figured out what our future vehicle is:

I wonder what the gas mileage is? My hubby thinks it'll do the job to pull a trailer. Probably not up to the speed limit though.

And I toyed with the idea of a pet...

Naw, at first my boys barely would even touch it. Not until Mommy showed them she wasn't scared at all of a red boa did Chief get up his nerve to really pet it. Not enough nerve to hold it though. Red got close earlier, but he was too nervous.

I really should use static cling fabric sheets.

Manners and hairstyles

Red has advice for you. Instead of saying "Pretty please? As in 'can I do this, pretty please?,' you can say 'handsome please.' Oh, and here's the latest in hairstyles:

Yep, count 'em--5 scrunchies on one side of the hair. Red does a good job, don't ya think?

Field Trip Day

The field trip day was fine, but not exactly what I expected so it was somewhat disappointing. I knew the nature center was putting on a preschool program of getting to know nature through music theme today, so we checked it out on our field trip. Most of what they did I could have easily done on my own. The turtle and other creatures they had there are free to come and look at anyway. The kids did pet a snake. The only thing I can't do is play a guitar and sing. I guess I didn't feel it was worth the few dollars it cost me.

If you know of any ideas for a preschool field trip, please let me know by using the comments section!!!

Punkie likes turtles!

The beginning part consisted of drums and singing. I just have to smile as I see Red with his arm around one of his friends :).

The light at the end of the tunnel

The light is still far off, but I see the end to some of the projects that have kept me busy for awhile.
Preschool was centered around music today. Of course we do the academics too. We talked about time (weeks, months, calendars) and made a birthday graph chart. We practiced writing Aa. We reviewed our sight words (the and I) and phonic sounds for a,f, and m. Then we made tambourines and had a great time making music with a keyboard, drumsticks and toy drum, bells, and musical toys. We also turned up the volume and danced to Bob the Builder (great music for dancing to). That's why I didn't take any pictures--I was too busy dancing.

Another first day

So I managed to teach the first preschool lesson of the school year without any major hitches, having had just over a month off. We did get a phone call in the middle of preschool from Chief's school. Chief was calling because he was 'sick and sad.' Mmm, humm. When Daddy got home from getting some snacks from the store (apples, since I'm teaching about nature this week), he went and got him. Before school I had given him allergy meds since he was having major allergy attacks this morning. However, keep in mind that his good friend was also not feeling well and she was armed with a note saying she might have to go home if she feels worse. Chief beat her home. She left school soon after. Also keep in mind that Chief loves to help me out when I have taught preschool in the past. And right as preschool was letting out he declared he felt better and was ready to return to school. Although it is possible it took the meds awhile to kick in, I suspect he may have a shot at an acting career.

My poor, sick and sad son...

Scrambled Memory

It appears that beyond my main responsibilities, I've been concentrating on two different areas: church and school, with two subcategories each. For church I'm preparing for the primary sharing time lesson and an Activity Day for about 100 young girls and for school I'm the Membership Chair for the PTA and this is my week to teach the home-preschool lessons for Red and a couple of girls. With all I'm supposed to be doing I'm worried that I'm going to end up trying to convince the primary kids to join the PTA, the Activity Day 8-11 year olds how to tie their shoes, the preschool kids the importance of prayer, and I'll be following the older elementary kids around, trying to show them some fun games they can do at home with their families for Family Home Evening. Yeah, that'll go over real well.

Secret Hideaway Compromised

Okay, so I lost self control the other day. I went to the store for milk, juice, and one bag of "bedtime" treats the kids can earn if they go to bed well (so far not only have they not earned one yet, they are both grounded for their behavior last night two hours after we put them in bed--the boys, not Punkie). Red and Punkie were with me on this store trip. Just as I was leaving, my hubby said with a gleam of hope in his eyes, "And tootsie rolls, please." We spent I don't know how long in the candy aisle, pondering over this bag of candy or that bag (me looking at costs, Red at what he wanted). Since I told Red he could help me, I tried to steer him toward more practical choices (that could give us more for the cost). Although I flatly refused a few choices, I ultimately bought him some gummy halloween candy in a gaudy pumpkin bag. Yuck. I was rooting for the big bag of halloween candy bars. So was Punkie. She was only happy when it was nestled next to her in the cart. So much for my self control...
When we got home I got to work hiding the candy. The kids have no idea where the treats are, but I was nice enough to clue my hubby in to where I hid his tootsie rolls. But then last night he asked for some of the candy bars. He wouldn't stop laughing when he followed me up to our room and watched me take them out of a dresser cupboard. Next time I hide them, I'll make him wear a blindfold!

New addiction

I recently just found out about the whole Midnight Sun book that Stephenie Meyer had been writing until it was illegally posted on the internet. Since she decided it was better to scrap it and put it on her website so fans didn't go looking for it, I've been reading her posting of the unedited book. That's why I have been useless the last few days. I'm reading it every moment I can. I'll be finished with it soon enough and my kids will have their parents back (yes, my hubby is addicted too).

Red beat me at Monopoly. Again.