Tuesday, August 23, 2011

an update

Don't worry.
The tears have been replaced
with lots of check marks
on my to-do list.
Who knew a girl could accomplish so much?

Excuse me while I go finish
assembling the lasagna for
tonight's dinner.
And yes,
it is only 12:29 PM!

Have a wonderful day!
I know I will.

(The girls have adjusted just fine as well
.....to everything except the mandatory hot lunches)

Thursday, August 18, 2011

all alone.

I just dropped all four of my girlies off for their first day of school.
Sorry. No cute photos documenting this momentous day.
Couldn't find the camera:(
They were excited.
And a little nervous.
Wanted to know everything that would happen.
I didn't have all the answers.
But I guess that's a part of growing up.
Leaving the predictable routine of life at home
and heading out into uncertainty of the real world.

I know I am probably making this a bigger deal than it needs to be.

On the long drive to town I gave them all a little pep talk.

Be awesome.
Let your light shine.
Don't be shy.....
because Mimi says that shy people are really just selfish......
only thinking about themselves.
Look for someone ELSE who is nervous
and do your best to make THEM comfortable.
Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Don't be afraid of the bathrooms and pee your pants
like I did when I changed schools in the middle of first grade.
(they got a kick out of that.)
Have no part of gossip.
And don't necessarily believe everything they tell you.
(We are not Catholic).
Addie wondered if it was wrong to do the sign of the cross.
I think that is what "the Father, Son and Holy Spirit" thing is called......

I think I covered all the important stuff.
But I am wishing I could be there to hold their hands.......
Keep Gwen company in a crowd of strangers
so she doesn't feel alone.
Like I feel now.

This will be a good change.
I hope it will.
I know it will.
But for now, I am sad.
Tears streaming down my face....
Like seeing my little Addie struggle up the steep steps
onto a school bus of big strangers for her first day of Kindergarden.
Times 4.
They are all growing up at once.

Give me this day to be emotional.
And then on my next day off
I will conquer the world.



Thursday, August 4, 2011

a little more summer

After much deliberation, we have decided to put the girls in private school this year.
Big changes are ahead and my nest will soon be very empty,
at least during the day.
There are definite pros and cons
to both homeschooling and private school.
A con for private is that it starts mid-August.
So we are busy trying to cram some summer fun
into the next couple weeks.

Here are some pictures from this past week
along with lyrics to a Trace Atkins song
that gets me every time.





I’m lost in her there holdin’ that pink rod and reel
She’s doin’ almost everything but sittin’ still
Talkin’ ‘bout her ballet shoes and training wheels
And her kittens
And she thinks we’re just fishin’

I say, “Daddy loves you, baby” one more time
She says, “I know. I think I got a bite.” 
And all this laughin’, cryin, smilin’ dyin’ here inside’s
What I call, livin’

And she thinks we’re just fishin’ on the riverside
Throwin’ back what we could fry
Drownin’ worms and killin’ time
Nothin’ too ambitious
She ain’t even thinkin’ ‘bout
What’s really goin’ on right now
But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in
And she thinks we’re just fishin’

She’s already pretty, like her mama is
Gonna drive the boys all crazy
Give her daddy fits
And I better do this every chance I get
‘Cause time is tickin’
(Yeah it is)

And she thinks we’re just fishin’ on the riverside
Throwin’ back what we could fry
Drownin’ worms and killin’ time
Nothin’ too ambitious
She ain’t even thinkin’ ‘bout
What’s really goin’ on right now
But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in
And she thinks we’re just fishin’

She ain’t even thinkin’ ‘bout
What’s really goin’ on right now
But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in
And she thinks we’re just fishin’
Yeah, aww, she thinks we’re just fishin’
We ain’t only fishin’
(This ain’t about fishin’)




Addie wanted company on a little island, 
so she carried Gwen thru the muck.







Ella slipped and fell....
leaving a big mud spot on her white shorts.


Josie tried to help me get a picture from behind....


....but Ella wanted nothing to do with such a photo.


Sure wish I knew how to arrange photos.
Anyone know of a good tutorial?