Back to School

I realize last year's back to school post is only a few posts down, but there is something about back to school that makes you think of a new start. My house is going to be clean and organized, laundry folded and put away, and blog updated. In other words, this should last about two hours.

Anyway, Maddie started junior high. That makes a mother feel quite old. I took Maddie and her locker partner shopping for locker accessories. It is very serious business. We only had to go to 10 stores to coordinate colors and get things just right. I'm very proud of myself, because instead of telling my daughter she was stupid and worrying about things that didn't matter at all, I just went with it. I did make fun of them the whole time, but we can't all be perfect. This is what made the final cut for the locker door. I didn't photograph the rest of the crap, but you get the idea.


And here is my cute junior high daughter.


Sam is going into 4th grade. I think it will be a great year for him. He has a great teacher, and when we showed up on the first day, he was seated alphabetically, and he ended up between two of his best buds Sam and Carson. How lucky is that?

Typical Sam style - he gets right to work!


Here's to a great year full of organization and cleanliness!

Book Review - Mockingjay Sucks

I hated this book. I skimmed most of it, just because after hunting it down when it is sold out everywhere, you kind of feel obligated. It seems anytime something bad happens in the book, they sedate Katniss and she wakes up in the hospital days later. I was kind of hoping someone would sedate me and I would wake up days later after I finished the book - but I'm still here. It is possible I am ornery because school started, but I really think this book just sucked. Just had to get this out. Thanks for listening.

A Historic Occasion

I feel like shouting this from the roof tops, but I guess a blog post will have to do, and I don't have to get off my lazy butt, which is also a major plus. I QUIT MY JOB! My last day was Sunday. Woo hoo! I was thinking about it and I figured out that I have not been unemployed since I was 14 years old. It feels pretty crazy. If you see Mike or me at the bottom of a freeway off ramp, please donate generously. I promise we will not buy drugs or alcohol with your money.

Don't get too excited for me, because starting in two months I will be doing a 40-hour a week internship for six weeks, which will be kind of like having a job, minus the paycheck.

Also, just to be clear, the title of my post refers to being unemployed, not posting a blog entry.

Merry Christmas

We are alive at our house, and I am enjoying a short break from school, which has been fabulous. I am actually almost (lets not get too crazy here) enjoying hanging out around the house doing laundry, cooking, etc.

Merry Christmas everyone! I'm considering the possibility of actually updating this blog soon.

Swag Bag

Today was the long-awaited first day of pharmacy school for me. I was greeted with a nice swag bag from Walgreen's. I'm not joking when I say it contained a bottle of cough syrup and a package of Metamucil. Hopefully not a sign of things to come for the year.

Our lunch was sponsored by Harmon's today. Apparently it is quite common for companies to bring us lunch. I don't really get it. Wow that was the best ham sandwich I have ever had. I think I want to work for Harmon's.

Anyway, typical first day where they hand you your handbook and then proceed to spend the next six hours reading it to you and reiterating key points eighteen times. We have two more days of orientation to look forward to until the real deal starts next week. Hopefully I can handle the load, and Max will settle into school so the mom guilt can settle down as well.

You are out of luck. I have no blurry first day photos of myself to post.

Has he been kicked out yet?

So Max also started school this week. My dad called each day for an update and to see if he had been kicked out of school yet. That is a vote of confidence for sure. Here are his blurry first day of school photos. The second photo has his new blanket and mini pillow Grammy Sue made for him for nap time at school.

Today was day three, and each day has gotten a little better. The first day when we went to pick him up, the director of the school told us he had issues during naptime (what a surprise for us!) I wondered how the director would know who our child was and that he didn't nap. Apparently he must have kept the entire class up. I think the teachers were very thrilled. I asked him if he made any friends, and he said yes. I asked him his friend's name and he said "potato bug." Talk about making your mom want to cry. You make friends with a bug on the playground instead of a human being.

The second day when I went to pick him up, I couldn't find him on the big screen monitor in the lobby, and the director scurried into the classroom to find that he was passed out on his cot in the corner. Apparently he did participate in nap time, just very late. Half the battle is going to be getting used to this new schedule. My kids stay up late and like to sleep in.

Today, he played with human beings instead of bugs, stayed on his cot during nap time and was very excited about his day and his "projects" he was working on and the letter C and its phonetic sound. Hopefully the adjustment will continue and he will enjoy his time in school while I try to enjoy mine as well. Mike picked him up today and I was talking to him on the phone. He sounded so grown up and like such a big boy.

Back to School

You have to post the obligatory first day of school pictures, as predictable as they may be. Even a slacker blogger like me can get this done if you don't mind blurry pictures.

Maddie spent a long time in the bathroom fixing up her hair, loves peace signs, and likes to pose. Sam wore old sports clothes, new shoes and of course did not smile. I think the kids will have a good year. Sam has a great teacher this year and came home so pumped up he went straight up to his room to do his reading.

Stopped by the Bells for a group shot. Henry wanted in.

Sam's friend is trying to help him smile.

The end.