WANTED:  NEW MOM

Requirements:

1.  Allow child to eat endless quantities of junk food.
2.  Allow child to buy whatever she wants at every store.
3.  Allow child to leave house without brushing her hair.
4.  Allow child to wear makeup.
5.  Drop everything to assist child in finding most recent misplaced toy.
6.  Always say yes.
7.  Allow child to make up the rules.
8.  Never request that child pick up her toys.
9.  Do not check to see if teeth are properly brushed.
10.  Do not remove clothes from dresser drawers that child has outgrown.
11.  Allow child to visit grandparents if she can't fall asleep.
12.  Permit child unrestricted use of all cell phone buttons/icons.
13.  Always believe what child says.
14.  Show child favoritism over sibling.
15.  Permit child to play outside in new school clothes.
16.  Read child's mind.
17.  Do magic.

Interested applicants contact Lily.

I never sleep well the night before the first day of school.  I have a million things running through my head.  Then I get up early and rush around to get ready, only to find myself with 45 minutes to spare before I need to get the kids out of bed and out the door.

I decided to clean up the toy clutter - the blocks, plastic animals and cars Rowan has strewn over the living room floor, the books, pretend cell phones, and doll clothes Lily has on every couch and end table.  She also decided to do some redecorating yesterday taking all of the blankets she could find and turning them into rugs.

But I had to stop picking up the toys.

The beginning of the school year is emotional because it means I'll be leaving my babies every morning after having them with me all summer.  And they are another year older.  Maybe it's because I'm a teacher, but it seems years for me are measured on the first day of school, not New Year's day, not birthdays.  THIS is a new year.  THIS is when I feel my babies growing older.

When I mention toy clutter to parents with older children they always tell me to enjoy it.  They say some day I'll miss stepping on a plastic giraffe on my way to start the coffee pot.  Someday I'll miss having to move six naked baby dolls to sit on my couch.  And they're right.  I will miss it.

But I know this year, like all other years, will be full of exciting new experiences.  I will have new students to teach, new techniques to try, new challenges and new celebrations.  Lily and Rowan will continue to amaze me with all that they learn and all they can do.  I will enjoy seeing their interests change and how they change as they interact with their world.  We will work and we will have fun!

I just don't understand how everyone else gets older while I stay the same age.

Have a good week.  Pray for me.  I'll be praying for you!

KEV Fest 2012 was a blast, as usual!  The kids had a great time playing with the ten million toys at the Back house!
 

Snow Cones! 

 

Ice Queens? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The kids and I went to Beech Creek Botanical Gardens in Alliance.  It's a really neat place with beautiful  plants and trails.  We loved the butterfly garden!  If you put sugar water on a q tip the butterflies will land on it.  The kids got their faces painted too.  We didn't get to explore as much as we wanted because it was a bit rainy and there was a large school group congesting the area.  We want to go back!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Grandma, for telling us about it!  You have to go with us next time.

Please say a prayer for Grandma Ruth!  She isn't feeling well.

Happy 7th Birthday Evan!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If crabbing was an olympic sport, our team would win the gold!