Parade Star

The kids and I walked with MOMS club in a parade this weekend. To be more precise, I walked the kids rode their bikes. When I signed up I didn't realize that the parade was 5 miles long and would last more than 2 hours. I'm just used to those small town parades that cover a few blocks and are over under and hour.

The kids did great. I was amazed that Sis rode her bike the entire way and Bro probably ended up riding more than double as he circled around us slowpokes! It was fun though and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. We got to see a lot of people we knew, if fact this photo of Sis is from one talented friend (thanks Eric).Hey, I said she rode the entire way. I never said she was happy about it!
-plus this was taken close to the end.

Riding the Bus without Seatbelts

Sis had a very exciting day at preschool yesterday...just not exactly in a good way.

As I dropped her off the preschool was put into a lockdown. A bank down the street had been held at gun point moments earlier and the robber was running. A couple policemen came in the school to let the staff know to keep all windows and doors locked and keep the children inside.

As I left I noticed that the school was surrounded by several officers and the streets were closed off. I called hubbie concerned. He assured me that she was safe there. So I came home to stay updated on the happenings. It turned out that the gunman was thought to be hidding in the orchard which butts up to the back of the church Sis attends preschool at.

About 2 hours later I got a call that they were evaucating all the kids and moving them via city bus to another church. Frazzled, I rushed to the church to pick up my child who greeted me with a smile and exclaimed, "Mommy, I rode on a bus and we didn't even wear seat belts!" (That's exactly what Bro said on his first bus ride also.)

I found out later that five SWAT team members had arrived at the preschool to escort the kids out. One even rode over with them on the bus. We have a friend who's husband is a cop and I saw his photo on the internet related to this story later that afternoon. When I asked sis if her friend's daddy was one of the "cool army men" that had helped them on the bus she replied "No, mommy, that army man was really nice."!!!

That Time Again

It's fundraising time for Bro's school. There's tons of fun products to check out.

The website is:
www.gafundraising.com

Enter the school pin 978890 & put in Bro's name and you're all set!

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!

One Last Night "Camping"

The kids got in one last night of sleeping under the stars for this summer. Actually they slept with daddy on the trampoline last night (I happily slept inside by myself). They had a perfect night for it- nice, clear and warm with no wind. We had a great time star gazing and chatting before the kids went to sleep. The makings of fun memories!

The downside is that they were awake EARLY this morning...thus they are asleep for the night and it's not even 7:30. Unheard of for my kids!

First Day of Preschool

Little Sis had her first day of preschool today. Well, it was more of a trial run as it was only an hour long and the parents were scheduled to stay today. But she did great and can't wait to go back.
The first few minutes she played by herself but felt very comfortable in the room as she had already visited it twice. Then she wanted me to play with her for a bit and was slightly clingy. I was just beginning to worry when long behold she discovered the DRESS UP CLOTHES!!! There is nothing better for little sis then a good game of dress up. Needless to say she spent the remainder of the hour changing clothes and running to the full length mirror to admire herself. She even found another little girl willing to play.

When it was time to leave we were the last ones in the room. Sis went up to tell her teachers goodbye and just couldn't stop talking. "On Friday I'm going to roll the dough into a big ball, and make a cat, and dress up and roll little balls, and..."

Love Books?

There's a very cool giveaway going on a Reading for Sanity.

Take a moment to check it out. Who knows maybe you'll be the proud owner of a new book!

First Day

Bro's first day of second grade was today. SECOND GRADE!! How fast time flies!

I once read a quote that said something about a day of mothering sometimes seems so long, yet the years fly by in a heartbeat. How true this seems today. It feels like only yesterday I was watching this little guy learn how to walk, a blink of an eye and he is 4 with his tool vest on playing in the front yard, another blink and it's his first day of Kindergarten and now today I'm leaving him in second grade. Wow.

Despite a poor start to the day, (we all over slept and I awoke with only 20 minutes to get ready. Luckily Bro was already up and almost dressed. "Why didn't you wake me?," I asked. "Because I was going to get dressed and surprise you," he replied. What a sweet kid.), Bro's first day of school went well. His favorite part...the teacher reads a little to them after each recess. His least favorite part...he claims there wasn't one. "Actually it was all good, mom," he tells me.

I, however, had a terrible time with it this year. Second grade is so much more serious than first. The kids went right to work, no wandering the classroom, no photo opts with mom. It was so hard to leave. Having to do a little work at the school myself, I found myself walking by his classroom several times to peak at him. He was doing great each time. Maybe, just maybe, I will survive second grade! Home sure seems quite without him.