Intervention

My eating habits are in need of a massive intervention...I think I just might be on a downward spiral to obesity. I believe today's lunch was Doritos, watermelon and two pumpkin bars. And I wonder why my stomach always looks and feels like I'm 3 months pregnant??? I really need to stop complaining and get some control. (But the pumpkin bars were really good! :) I believe I'm in an official eating and exercising 'slump.'

Week Wrap-Up

(The boys with Jack before the viewing)

I guess life is back to 'normal' now. (Whatever 'normal' is!) Everything in regards to the funeral was wonderful. It was a nice week filled with tears and laughs. So many nice things were done and said. Julie was an amazing person and so many loved her. Of course, the boys had a blast with cousins. We spent a day riding the train to Minneapolis...so simple but so fun for the kids. And a highlight was that I didn't have to cook for an entire week because of other's kindness...

Peanut Butter

I felt like a really mean Mom today....here's the story: Spencer has a really good friend in his class that is allergic to peanuts. This friend is required to sit at the peanut-free table at lunch. Spencer makes sure to remind me to not pack his lunch with any peanut butter so that he can sit by this friend. Today I purposely put a peanut butter sandwich in his bag. He was sooo mad at me. But I want him to branch-out and try to make other friends at his regular class table.

I'm sure he'll be cussing me all through lunch today.

Peace

(Julie with Spencer and Alex)

Julie's battle with cancer ended this morning. I am happy for her...what a wonderful blessing to have her spirit finally freed of her sickly body. The past few weeks have been so sad to watch. Alex kept insisting yesterday that she was getting better. In a way he was right...the time was coming for her to 'get better'.

Washcloth Concerns

Boys are home. Homework, practicing and reading are complete. Dinner is made and I'm sure nobody will really like it. I should be working on my talk for Sunday...however...I thought I'd share a few random thoughts instead.

#1 I'm feeling a little strange with my new found preschool freedom. I enjoy the 2 hrs Alex is at school but I'm almost feeling 'guilty' that I have some 'free' time. (By 'free' I mean: racing the clock to try and accomplish as many things as possible in that 2 hrs.) Susan reassured me I'd raised children for 10 years and it's ok to enjoy the break. Thanks Sus!

#2 I haven't run for 10 days now. Feeling the guilt from that...but not badly enough to get the running shoes on. So I eat an Oreo.

#3 I was at Lowe's today and spent a few minutes coveting the kitchen and mud room set-ups.

#4 Scouts last night was a nightmare. Not because I wasn't prepared. Just because we need a whole separate 'special needs' den. I'm not trained in dealing with autistic and undiscipline children. I try to look at the positive in the calling but last night reminded me how challenging it is.

#5 Every male in the world should be taught how to properly ring-out a washcloth. Ben has improved over the years but we're still a little challenged in the area. I told Spencer the other day you squeeze it until all of your knuckles are white. That's when it's rung out properly!

#6 It is cool out. Like 50 degrees today. The battle of trying to get Sam and Alex into jeans will be starting soon. Why, oh why, is it such a big deal? Heaven help me.

#7 We should have a family picture taken this fall. But I don't think I'm up to the battle of getting the boys to wear something presentable...

#8 I have two brand-new piano students this Fall. Being able to teach piano has always been a blessing. I enjoy it...but I continue to fill open slots when I say I'm going to cut back. It keeps our lives too busy. But I still teach.

#9 I really should start hanging some pictures in my home.

#10 Fall is here. The Holidays are coming. And so is winter. I'm questioning whether or not Minnesota is right for me.

Dripping Eyes

Alex has his first day of preschool yesterday. I don't usually make a huge deal out of these types of things but did manage to remember to take a picture before we left. He was fine until he realized I wasn't making a name tag for myself. That's when the water started to well up in his eyes and then slowly big tears started to drip over onto his cheeks. It was darling. He didn't say anything. Just let the tears fall. So my eyes watered watching the whole thing.

He was smiling when I picked him up and the first thing he said to me was "Mom...do you know why my eyes were dripping?" I answered "No...Alex...why where they?" He answered really softly "Because I was crying." (As if he thought somehow nobody new he was crying... and just thought he had dripping eyes syndrome.) Very cute moment. Then reality hit when we came home and he got sent to time out for saying I was a poopy bum. Fantastic.

Parade of Homes

It's the 2nd "most wonderful time of the year" for me. I'm a dreamer and so is Spencer. The two of us make a great Parade of Homes team. I love drooling over the amazing mud rooms and spacious kitchens. But Ben just refinanced the mortgage to a 15 year...and yes...it does make sense to pay the home off in 15 years....but does that mean I won't get my dream mud room until I'm 50? Who wants a dream mud room then? Maybe I'll just come to terms with it and start decorating this house. Or maybe not.

Credit where Credit is due

I just have to give credit where and when credit is due. I have a fabulous husband. He's a little corny at times (:) but always supportive and kind. He came home from work...I layed on the couch and slept through dinner. I'm not usually this pathetic but I've also never had strep this bad. He has the boys for the night and I'm grateful and lucky.

Recent Pictures...

The week has brought school days for the boys and strep throat for myself. (It's been a lovely one.) Sam woke up the first day of school and immediately got dressed and made his bed. It was very cute and very uncharacteristic of Sam. Both of the boys have had a good first week of school. (I have enjoyed the quiet and the house staying clean for a few hours.) Alex has missed them but enjoyed not having to share anything or be bullied.

Alex isn't really convinced that this bike is better than his broken tricycle. But his smile makes you think otherwise. He still prefers the broken tricycle...

We came home from the grocery store last week and the groceries weren't unloaded into the pantry but ended up here...the boys decided to play store. I did have to take the ice cream and hamburger 'off of their shelves' to put them in the freezer.

First day of school. Bright and early. It was a cold, rainy and windy morning. But these are some cute little dudes heading out to the cruel world.

All of us on the diesel engine. I was teasing Ben that his shirt is the same color as the interior of the 1950 diesel engine.

And I have to post a cute comment made by Alex. I told him I wasn't feeling well and needed to just lay on the couch. His response was a quick "oh...because you have hiccups or something?" I chuckled. In his little world a hiccup is one of the worst things that could happen to a person!

Labor Day and Such

Labor day always reminds me of Payson, Utah. Labor Day (or better yet "Onion Days") was the big celebration for the town.

We didn't celebrate onions today but we did do a little labor. Spent most of the day outside...washing cars...cleaning garage...mowing lawn...etc. I made the boys stay outside to help with the projects.

The weekend was fun...we returned to the transporation museum and this time the boys got to go on a diesel engine ride. Fabulous! We even braved Chucky Cheeses-diseases. Went to a friend's for a bonfire and the boys had fun running around in the dark. The temps were cool...Fall is here.

And tomorrow school starts. I think the boys are a little excited. I've prept Sam as much as I can for the early morning rush. (Should be exciting!) Summer has truly flown by. At this moment I'm looking forward to a little 'quiet' for a few hours tomorrow. The boys are SO noisey...they are having fun playing before bed but I seriously think I'm going to go deaf from the shear noise level. Bedtime: 15 mins and counting....