Halloween 2011

One Batty Night

The first grade at L's school has a whole unit on bats.  She has done a couple bat projects and knows more about bats than I ever will.  To end this unit and as a fun day before break, the kids had a bat breakfast and a bunch of bat centers on Friday morning at school.  Jeff was able to take the morning off to spend in her classroom (which she loved). 

To end the day all of the first grade classrooms have a "Bat Night".  A local bridge at the Pantano Wash in town is the home to thousands of bats and at dusk they all fly off, so the first grade classes use this as a family get together for the end of the unit. Each first grade teacher asks their students to bring in a shirt and then that teacher decorates the shirts for all the students in their class.  They also get bat goody bags to take home.  It is a great family event.  So this past Friday was bat night.  It was SUPER hot, but we were there and did get to see some bats.  I took video but will not post it as you can barely see the bats.  (Obviously I am not a videographer.)  Here are pictures of the evening.

Annual Labor Day Trip

For the past nine years there has been an annual labor day trip.  Well, we did miss one, so for eight years Jeff and I, and sometimes the kids have been vacationing for three days with some AMAZING people.  There are five couples total.  I went to college with all of the women and even went to high school with one of them.  Needless to say we have known each other for a while.  These women have also married amazing men and nine years ago we decided to do an annual trip. 

We all get along very well and for some of us it is the only time we get to see each other all year due to geography.  The guys sometimes play golf or watch football and the girls hang out and sometimes find a local spa.  I love these friends.  This year I really realized that they fall into the life long friend category.  You know those kind of friends that you don't talk with or see frequently, but you can pick up fast and you know that whatever would come my way they would always have my back, ALWAYS.  I have laughed hysterically and cried hysterically with them.  So enough for that here is a very abbreviated weekend from Labor Day 2011.

This year I only have two pictures. Why you ask?  Well because I always forget to take my camera out because we are having way to much fun.  Funny that they are from the very first day and then the last night.

 The first day driving from Reno to Lake Tahoe.  Yep that is my husband getting a big fat speeding ticket.  FYI the speed limit along those roads is 50.  Jeff thought it was 68. HAHAHA!  At least the officer was nice and I was able to take a quick picture from the back. I am sure I could get in trouble for this pic on some level, but it was too good.  Don't turn me in! :)

This was the last night.  This is Melissa or Mindi and her sweet daughter Megan whom I adore.   It was a great Monday night.

I am not sure what to share as we kind of a have a saying "what happens on the couples trip stays on the couples trip". :) HAHA!  No, really there was a bunch of laughs, good food, great people, sleeping in, time on the boat, time talking, ESPN watching, and maybe even a new tattoo thrown in there.  And no it wasn't me!

Thank you my dear friends for an amazing time!  We love you!

GET AWAY!!

Sometimes I am that mom.(oh and to meet another "that" mom, go to her web site you can see it over this way---->).
 I remember a story once that a women would tell before I had kids.  To make a long story short it was about her just wanting to leave, to just run far away to a place with no children.  Of course as a young woman without kids I was appalled!  I thought, where is CPS when you need them and I will never feel that way about my kids, how could she?!?!?!?  Well what is that old saying?  Oh yeah, NEVER SAY NEVER, AS NEVER IS FOREVER AND FOREVER IS A LONG TIME. 
Now there are days I long to run away.  To get away from the crying, the yelling, the fighting, and yes even sometimes the hanging all over me part. 

When I first had a sweet daughter I didn't seem to need as much time away, but when we added to our numbers I needed more.  I used to feel horribly guilty about it.  Especially when we'd get a sitter.  That the sitter cost too much, that after all they were my kids and I should care for them, no one can put them to bed like mommy, and the list went on and on.  I don't feel like that so much anymore.  In fact just a couple weeks ago I realized I was at the end of my rope.  I hired a sitter and went to a 10 am movie all by myself with red vines and a diet coke.  Then I went home and was a much happier and better mom.  I obviously don't feel guilty any longer.  I just realized that it is OK, because as a mom you know you don't even go to the bathroom by yourself.  I have found when I have time by myself to just be and do what I want, I come home and feel better about kids hanging off me, doing laundry is not quite as painful, and I can hear about the tag game at school while on the toilet. 

So. . my message to you!?  Just do it!  Don't feel guilt and definitely don't let the bag packers (Pack your bags your going on a guilt trip people) say anything to get to you.  Your kids might whine, or cry, or even run screaming after you when you exit.  But trust me they will not be scarred for life because mommy went to Bunco, the show is just for you.  Oh and some bag packers who are also moms will tell you they NEVER go out and that they love spending time with their kids, and they can never leave them, and their spouse would be upset, and you just get to have fun, yada, yada, yada.  My kind words about those moms; smile, nod head yes, and ignore them.  :)  Go out, relax, have a nice time and be the better mommy.

PS I do get to get away this weekend sans kids and am thrilled.  And they probably want to get rid of me too based upon our week. :)

Art from Preschool

So here is a large self portrait from sweet Sean's preschool.

I have no words.  I have not even asked him to describe it all to me yet, because I need to work on my poker face.

A Girl and Her Daddy

So I have a very sweet and sometimes feisty 6 year old daughter.  I have often wondered where women learn the skills of getting what they want from men.  What starts this behavior and how do they work on it?  Well. . .I have found my answer.  With their daddies of course.  I know, I know Freud would love this, here is our story nonetheless.

L:  Mommy I want a tv in my room.
Me:  You are never getting a tv in your room.
L:  That is fine, when daddy gets home I will just say to him "Daddy, I want a tv in my room. "  He will get back in his car and go to the store and buy me a tv. 
Me: HE WILL NOT!! 
L:  He won't because you will talk to him first and tell him to say no.  So instead I will just go to drivers school, learn how to drive and then go to the store myself and get my tv and bring it home.
Me:  You have to be sixteen to drive.
L:  Oh.. . .

REALLY?!?!?  Did I really have that conversation with my 6 year old?  Yes I did. . .what do you think it will look like at 16?  Yikes.  

Then and Now

So I have been going through pictures and I got a bit emotional. 
This is Lauren's first day of preschool ever!

This was the first day of first grade this year. 

This was Sean the very first day of his preschool years.

This is the first day of his last year of preschool.

Time flies when you are having fun!!