First Day of School Pics

For my kinderbuddy, D, and my big 2nd grader, A, the First Day of School was almost 2 weeks ago. But, that was the day I had to report to work for Kindergarten at my school. My actual first day of school won't be until Tuesday, but I was so busy I didn't post about D and A's first day. Do, here are the pics...

D and his teacher, Mrs. R.

A and his teacher, Mrs. S. (Mrs. S. moved up to second grade. Now, how lucky are we?)

Marathon Mama Makes It!!

Hip Hip Hooray!!
At the end of July I joined up with Penguinsandladybugs over at Monthly Marathon to walk a marathon in the month of August. Well, as of Tuesday I had walked 14 miles. With only three days left I did the math. I needed to walk 12 miles in three days to meet my goal. 4 miles a day... Wowser! Let me just polish my fingernails on my shoulder... I did it!
(Yes, my butt, back, thighs, and shins hurt, but I DID IT!)
Wednesday night Diane and I walked 4 miles around her neighborhood. (2 miles were in the RAIN.) Then Thursday I walked one mile in the rain at home. I walked another three dry miles at Diane's house. Yesterday morning I walked 3 miles with Diane. And last night I walked my last mile right before putting the boys to bed.
Special thanks to my walking buddy, Diane. Without her hauling me around her neighborhood I would not of made my goal!
And thank you, Penguinsandladybugs for a terrific idea. Is September a "marathon month"?

True Love

The other day I was wiping up S after dinner. A and my husband were loading the dishwasher. I overhear the following conversation: My husband says to A, "You know how I know your mom loves me?"
"How?"
"I know she loves me because she waits for me to leave the kitchen before rearranging the dishes in the dishwasher."
:)

One Word Meme

While surfing over at Journey to the Prize I found this fun Meme. Trying my best to stick to the whole one word thing, here are my answers...

1. Where is your mobile phone? Ear.
2. Relationship? Married.
3. Your hair? Shaggy. (Haircut appt. on Tuesday.)
4. Work? Teacher.
5. Your sister(s)? None.
6. Your favorite thing? Sleep-scrapbooking-boys' funnies-chocolate-sangria.
7. Your dream last night? None.
8. Your favorite drink? Diet Pepsi.
9. Your dream car? Paid for.
10. The room you’re in? Office.
11. Your shoes? Knock-off Crocs.
12. Your fears? Cooties.
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? Myself.
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? Family.
15. What are you not good at? Good-byes.
16. Muffin? Cranberry.
17. Wish list item? $
18. Where you grew up? Florida.
19. The last thing you did? Straightened kids' bedroom.
20. What are you wearing? Capris.
21. What are you not wearing? Socks.
22. Your pet? Cats.
23. Your computer? Works.
24. Your life? Full.
25. Your mood? Tired.
26. Missing? Mom.
27. What are you thinking about? Classroom.
28. Your car? Barney-mobile. (purple van)
29. Your kitchen? Sunny.
30. Your summer? Hotter-than-the-hinges-of-Haddes.
31. Your favorite color? Purple
32. Last time you laughed? Today.
33. Last time you cried? Yesterday.
34. School? Kindergarten.
35. Love? Yes!

If you're playing along be sure to let me know so I can come visit!

Pit Crew?

The boys love riding their scooters. They zip around and do tricks and life is great. The best scooter riding occurs when I move the cars to the back and side of the driveway to give the boys a huge "race track" for riding. I usually take a book out and sit on the steps and "supervise" while the "race track" is open.
This morning we were all outside. I'm flipping the pages of Quaker Summer (very good, thus far) and the boys are racing. They are stopping for "gas" (crazy water bottles with spouts that look like Bugs Bunny characters... Taz for A, Sylvester for D and Bugs Bunny for S...) when D invites me into his play world with, "Mom! I need tires!!!"
I look up and say, "I guess you need a pit crew."
He looks me right in the eyes and says, with all the cockiness he can muster, "You ARE the pit crew!!"
Now, I know that we moms wear lots of hats... cook, nurse, shopper, teacher, friend, etc..., but now I have to be the Pit Crew, too? (And do I have to be the WHOLE pit crew?)
Well, if I'm going to be the Pit Crew... I'm glad my racers are the best!!

Totallyscrappy, Kindergarten Teacher

Have you ever read one of my favorite books, Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner? It is Amy Schwartz' delightful story of how Annabelle prepares for her first day of kindergarten. And I must tell you that her older sister gives her all sorts of "sisterly" advice.

In the story Annabelle Swift introduces herself with a chipper, "Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner." In celebration of my new position for this school year I want to say, "Totallyscrappy, Kindergarten Teacher!"

WFMW: Pick Your Nose?

When I was fixing lunch I came across an almost-gone bag of animal crackers. The chocolate ones. I dumped the little bits out into a bowl and thought to myself, "Nobody is going to eat these cracker bits."

As the boys were scarfing mouthfuls of canned ravioli I said, "Hey, look! A whole bowl of animal cracker heads, tails, arms, legs and noses!" Suddenly the whole thing became a boy-friendly, gross bowl of animal cracker parts waiting to be munched. The boys eagerly grabbed for "bits" to stir into their yogurt. And the most popular cracker bit? The nose, of course. What self-respecting male (regardless of age) can resist the offer to "Pick a nose?"

Gross? I know, but it Works for Me! :) With little kids around, you've gotta be willing to be gross... once in a while.

For more great (and maybe, not-so-gross) Works for Me Wednesday tips visit Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer.

And if you were to pick a nose, how 'bout the nose from the unusual, but lovable, yellow-cupcake-crusted-daddy?