YES!!! VICTORY!!!!

Well, this will be a short one, since the shorties and I need to get to Target soon. The great news is that yesterday, my sweet Simon asked for the potty and took care of all his business just like that! No Kindergarten diapers in this house! :) Of course, I have probably just now jinxed the whole thing, but he has repeatedly asked this morning to go. I think it's the stickers. They're like crack.

Anyway, not much else to report, Billy and I may have agreed on garage doors, the big kids are doing well, and not reporting some huge drama is a win. Olivia's party looks figured out too, have to make a few phone calls today. So I will leave you with Emi and her bed head singing the ABC's..... (edited to say, I tried to put the video at the bottom, the computer disagrees.....)

Slowly Getting Into The School Year Groove....

I have to say, we've eased into the school year schedule pretty quickly. Sure, the boys are still in middle school homework shock, but they're getting in done with limited whining... The littlest ones and I have been out this morning for the grocery run (minus the laundry detergent.. How did I forget that?! I need to get Billy to stop on the way home...) and then came home for physical therapy. Just keeping the morning busy seems to keep them in a better place. I am still fighting Simon and the potty. It is SO frustrating, but he will get there. I have yet to send a kid to Kindergarten in a pull up. :)

Billy and I are planning new garage doors. Seems easy enough, they are just garage doors. But really, there are TONS of choices and I am not a "see it in my mind" kind of gal... Hopefully we can make a decision by Christmas. :)

Thursday I have Open House/Meet the Teacher for Emi and Simon. It's the same teacher from last Spring, so we're just going to say hi and see what the class number ended up at. Last year there were only 4 kids total and it was great. They only go 2 days a week, but it keeps all of us happy. :) Then haircuts and that night I have to go to Olivia's parent orientation while Billy holds down the fort.

Beyond that I have to start planning Olivia's birthday party in a month. She's going to be 10 and wants a big slumber party. HELP me..... Ahhh, I am being interrupted by an adorable boy staring at me with sleepy eyes... I miss the 2 hour naps.... Have a good one!

We May Have Found A Solution To Morning Craziness!

Interesting thing happened today. We went shopping. The shorties were great in the store. Not so interesting, we shop all the time (ask Billy! :). But I realized that when we take off in the morning for a change of scenery, they are so much better with each other. So I have to visit every bathroom in San Antonio, but small price to pay for my marbles. I tell ya, NO 2 kids are the same. My older twin boys were the same sex, so they played the same. They rough housed, or played cars or whatever. The fighting wasn't constant. Olivia was always content to play with her babies or off by herself if the boys weren't doing something she wanted to do. But these two? Lord... Emi likes to look at books or watch her Leapfrog DVDs, she likes peace. Simon, forget it. He wants to roll around, throw balls, boy stuff. Problem is Emi doesn't. And Simon feels it deep in his soul that they should be together. Always. It's a constant battle to keep him from tackling her or taking books because  he doesn't want to do that. Sigh...

So now I plan on morning outings. Tomorrow they have physical therapy, so we're set there, but then perhaps Target on Wednesday. :) Win-Win, I think... Except for maybe the bank account.... I better get moving, nap is only about an hour these days and I need to make some phone calls while I can. Have a good one!

Birthday Celebrations and I May Possibly Have A Food Hangover....

Here we are on a Sunday morning, coffee in hand, toddlers playing nice for now... Yesterday we finally celebrated my 40th birthday, Billy and the kids did a great job. Now you get the joy of a big pile of pictures.... :)

We did cake and presents in the afternoon, I figure a shot of sugar isn't the best thing after dinner... (Billy gets my GF goodies from the Little Aussie Bakery, SO good!)

Now that's a husband.... :)

I obviously need a haircut...

Then we got slightly dressed up (basically, we wore pants... Which probably wasn't very nice since we hit 105 by 5pm...) Anyway, after mass we went to Outback. They have a big gluten free menu and the kids like the food. Total win-win.

Is Billy regretting our dinner plans??  :)

Emi and I

Simon really enjoying Billy's food. :)

Olivia

My favorite part of dinner was these pics. One of my biggest fears of bringing home Emi and Simon was the reaction from the older kids. I mean, they were 8 and 7, they've been the only kids for  a long time. But they really love their little brother and sister. You just have to watch them together....

Kevin and Emi

That's it, I think we're done with my birthday. (Thank God!) I made it through with only slight sadness. I have too much goodness to whine too much about the numbers, right??

It's Friday, Friday....

I usually am looking forward to my Fridays, no homework to yell about starting, dinner is simple, and everything slows down for awhile... But today kind of stinks. Emi and Simon are in full terrible two mode. They have been for about 2 weeks now. Emi is in charge of crying a lot and saying "NO". Simon's job is to revert back to not being potty trained and refusing to play nice... Which then starts the Emi cry-fest. I have done this before, these are kids 4 and 5. But it is never pleasant... If anyone says it is they're lying. :) Or unstable... So we forge on and pray that our sanity remains intact. Especially at my age...

We already hit the grocery store and have a third load of laundry in, so I feel somewhat accomplished by 10:30. I wanted to do some shopping, but we'll see if my associates are up for it. My morning so far screams not a chance....

Tomorrow after mass, we're going to dinner and then opening presents for my birthday. :) I mean who doesn't love the gluten free menu at Outback?! That and the fact that Billy hit the GF bakery for cake and cupcakes and I will be full until Monday. Have a great weekend, I probably won't post until Monday unless something earth shattering happens before then. :)

p.s. Good things are happening, so I could type this out I popped in an alphabet video and all I hear is laughing and singing a long. Hope it lasts!

Well, Now I Guess I'm Just Rolling Towards 41! :)

Ok, so I probably made too big of a deal out of turning 40. Maybe.... I still think that lady in the bathroom mirror is older than me and could use some microderm abrasion, but hey, I felt that way before yesterday. My kids were great, we aren't doing presents until Saturday (weekday birthdays are too difficult around here), but they did get me a big heap of chocolate to ease the pain. Along with a great lunch and a margarita before bed and I was good to go... Umm, minus the two brand new brass instrument players in my house trying to deafen me... Go middle school band! :)

I had a few birthday surprises too, I still have to settle into that.... Maybe more on that later...

I'm still trying to figure out our day today. I was going to drag the shorties out to Old Navy, but as we sit here watching Sesame Street and I have a big cup of coffee, Old Navy doesn't sound so great. :)

There Was Nothing I Could Do... Father Time Is No Friend Of Mine...

I turned 40 today. Nothing I could do... Except order that walker.... ;) Billy is taking the shorties and I to PF Changs to drown our sorrows... Not sure if Billy is commiserating or celebrating. He's not alone anymore... :)

Well, They're Off To School, The Shorties Are Lost Without Them...

Here are my oldest kids, ready for the new school year....

Billy drove the boys to middle school, I broke down and said yes to riding the bus home. I plan on being a wreck until they walk in the front door at 3:54 pm (according to the bus schedule. :) Anyway, they appeared to be quite excited, maybe a little anxious. I miss the little boys I seem to no longer have. I am proud of the young men that are standing in front of me... (figuratively, they're at school, remember?)  Once the boys took off with Billy, the shorties and I walked Olivia to school around the corner. My 5th grader already. Now she was excited to get back, she really loves school...

That leaves me with these two.

They are so out of sorts. Awful at the grocery store, worse once we got home. Emi kept asking me where Olivia had gone, Simon was just a pill... Apparently, me on my own, kinda crappy entertainment. Throw in a few older brothers and a sister, happiness everywhere. Thankyouverymuch.... Hopefully when nap is over some pleasant times will return, they did wake up earlier this morning and it can't get worse....

I got ice cream for everyone for 1st day of school snack. I can't help it, I want them to enjoy every part of school, including the mom interrogation when they get home. I miss them... I miss them separately, together, they tend to argue. :)

In 2 days I turn 40. I plan on wearing black and eating a lot of bad food. Billy wants to take the shorties and I to lunch. Don't know if I can crawl out of bed for that... I think he should take the day off and watch them, I mean, isn't it my birthday??? Ahhh, well, only to a certain point.... Have a good one!

Good Lord, They Have Completely Changed Their Minds On Potty Training....

Just what I need heading into the new school year... Like we don't have enough chaos with the big kids getting ready for school! (did I mention that I just realized that Olivia owns 4 pair of shorts for school... In 2 days??? We bought a million tops and jeans and shoes, just no new shorts.... How Mom of The Year am I????) So Simon has yet to do his number 2 in the potty. It was the last step for my older kiddos, I wasn't shocked. Irritated, no doubt, especially with his twin sister done, in panties nonstop, go Emi. Simon is now peeing and pooping in his underwear all freaking day long. (This is where you move on to another blog if potty talk wasn't on your agenda for the day...) So he has me pushed to the edge, and then as the three of us huddle with our "soup" that Simon has made, he yells, "Mommy, Emi peed here." She just squatted and peed on the bedroom carpet. Just cause. Fantastic. A woman bordering on 40 should not be here. Isn't it enough that my older boys start middle school in 2 days?? Isn't it enough that I.turn.40.in.4.days??? Now my precious 2 1/2 year olds have decided that diapers were really the better way to go?!?!

Ok... Deep breath, vent over. I have done this 3 times before. They aren't even 3 yet. They are testing their boundaries and it is a normal part of the process.... (I don't believe this yet...)

Whew, A Whirlwind Of School Open Houses....

It's is officially official. :) My two sweetest little boys will start middle school on Monday. They have lockers and gym clothes and everything. Yesterday we all went together for the 2 hour (a bit much if you ask me) orientation. I wanted all of us to go, mainly because I needed to be reassured. The shorties were awesome, minus the potty runs. I am thrilled we have them out of diapers, not so thrilled that they must try out every bathroom we pass. :) Anyway, the boys have one class together and advisory, so I think they will have a good year. Tomorrow they pick up their home set of textbooks. Can you believe that?! I hate it, I want them to have the responsibility of remembering what they need and getting it home or to class. Sigh... They are really looking forward to Monday...

Tonight was back to the elementary school for my 5th grader. It was like going home. I love, love, love our elementary school and it was the 1st time I only had one kid, one classroom. Kevin asked if he could go with us to help. I just stared at him and said,"help with what, the little ones are staying home with Dad?" So I asked him if he missed the school and he blushed. My boy... So the three of us headed out. I am disappointed and I hope I am really off base. We have the new teacher, so I couldn't get any scoop. Then we walked in and I wouldn't describe her as welcoming and friendly. Her room wasn't decorated much. I'll admit, Open House when I was teaching was never one of my favorite nights, all the parents coming at you at once, but you have to.fake.it.... I hope she will warm up. Other concern is the class make up. Really boy heavy, and, ummm, difficult boys. None of her good friends in class, and girls I didn't recognize. So I am hoping that I am being over dramatic, I don't want her year to suck.

Well, I better finish this, family movie night is "Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2". I hope it's short. ;)

What I Learned From Camping With Two Year OIds.....

Well, I must first confess, I already knew the first one, I am NOT a camper. I like the A/C, running water and a full bathroom. I fully cop to the fact that I went into this kicking and screaming... (kicking and screaming to my best friend, not to the other people in my house...) It's been 104 regularly here and the idea of never escaping the heat for 3 days terrified me.

Honesty laid out, I had a portable toilet for the shed. I have 2 kids that are finishing up potty training and I was not about to have a set back. And for me, with my Celiac and other digestive issues, going without was.never.going.to.happen.... The potty totally worked out, minus that whole emptying it after part. Yuck....

Billy went early with the dog to get the tent up, I love him. :) When we got there, the kids were so excited to fish, the shorties only wanted to jump in the lake. Needless to say, they spent almost the entire trip in life vests. We set up the rest of camp, the boys both caught a catfish and we swam for awhile....

I learned that there is little sleep to be had in a tent. Simon is a loud sleeper, it was Africa hot, and darn it all, the moon was WAY too bright... Billy slept outside with the dog, he was worried about a gang attack, I guess, out in the boonies....

The next day was long, after we  swam and had lunch, we all piled in the Suburban and hit the grocery store. I needed a change of scenery, little ones in some kind of seat, and air conditioning. I think it did us all good. More fishing and campfire smores followed...

Thursday morning we let the big kids fish and we took down camp. Billy looked over and said, "We're not campers." LOL! Camping to me is a shady hotel.... But the kids, all 5 of them had a ball. That's what we left with. Dirty, happy kids. Nice way to cap off summer....

Several Hundred Viruses Later, My Beloved Purple Laptop Is Home...

It's ridiculous how entrenched the computer/Internet has become in our lives. I have been without my laptop for a week while the Geek Squad found several HUNDRED viruses on my computer. There is a slight chance I can't blame all of this on Kevin... So I happily sit in front of my screen, ready to give the camping lowdown and it won't talk to my camera. Grrrr.... I only get so long before nap ends for one of the shorties, so I hope I can figure this out soon.

For this post, I will simply say, we are ready for school. Today we did one last swing through Marshall's to look at shoes and maybe another shirt or two. :) (Needless to say, Miss Olivia found more than two...) But the boys kept their moodiness to a minimum and the shorties only needed one potty trip. Total win... I just cannot wrap my head around the fact that my boys are no longer at the elementary school down the street, that no one will be walking home from school anymore (no way Olivia is walking home alone...). The boys are excited and I am trying to be too. There is nothing I can do to keep them young. I've TRIED.... So Monday they will be off to middle school and then 2 days later I will be 40. Next week sucks. I just need to survive the emotional roller coaster and hide it from my eager kids. School is good, growing old gracefully is good, age is just a number..... Did it sound convincing???

If I'm lucky there will be 2 posts today because my camera will say the right thing to the computer and they will agree to take my pictures from the camping trip 2011.....

We Survived Camping, My Laptop Did Not Survive My Son....

We've been back for a few days and I have lots of pics to share, but my laptop is with the Geek Squad. It should be back today, so until then I am using Billy's computer when he doesn't need it. I just felt the need to let y'all know that I was back, but it's hard to post on this computer and I can't download pics on his laptop. This is what happens when an 11 year old touches things. :)

So hopefully I will be back later today to fill you in, the kids had a great time, it was really hot, and Billy and I decided we were not campers... Well, at least not campers that go without water access....

I Must Color My Grays Before We Go Camping.... Right???

So I decided that I cannot go camping without touching up my roots. Two reasons... One, there might be a picture taken and I don't want to be mistaken for my children's grandmother, and two... You know, in case I die. It's like your mom used to say, "are you wearing clean underwear?" Same theory, but I want to look like I took care of myself in the off chance that I am attacked by killer bees, bitten by a poisonous snake, overcome by heat exhaustion, whatever... I mean, I don't know if mortuaries take that kind of primping on. I know they try to make the deceased look like themselves, but is hair color included? (I may have to tell Billy that if I die first, he needs to do my hair if I have roots....)

Anyway, so I took care of that. And bought everyone books and puzzles and batteries out the wazoo. Then we rented the boys' band instruments. Good God, that was pricey! I hope they take it seriously and enjoy it, we shall see... I better get moving, Olivia has a piano lesson tonight...

There's Nothing I Can Do To Stop This Whole Camping Thing....

Ugh.... It is really happening, soon I am going to be packing up to go camping. I really am nauseous. I worry about the shorties near the water (they will be living in life vests), I worry about the heat, and I worry about no drinkable water. Did I mention no water?!?!? When the house was knocked down after the flood, my dad had the water meters removed, I mean, no house, no water. But now I'm about to go sleep with my 5 kids and bottled water. Ugh... I'm sure it will be ok, and honestly, if I lose my mind, it's a 35 minute drive back home. (Did I mention that Billy and I are taking 2 cars???) I know the kids will have fun, I just have to remember to fake it for them. :) Outdoors is just not my thing.... As I type, Billy and the big kids are hanging out at Bass Pro Shop...

The end of last week did get better with the kids and school shopping. We may have struck out at the mall, but we did a pretty good haul at Old Navy with their $10 jean sale. Of course, they were out of shorts in the boys' size, so I am still working on that. It's just way too hot here to expect them in anything but shorts until October. I'm thinking of EBay maybe...

So Billy asked me to put privacy settings on my Facebook account. It's been open to everyone, I don't share info that is a secret, I don't post insane things like, "I'm not home now and the doors are unlocked". I mean, I have FB friends that have their address and phone numbers listed! Who does that?!  Anyway, since he asked, I went ahead and closed it to "friends of friends" only. I figure it's a simple favor to ask, it's just so sad for all the masses that sign on just to see the latest pic of my 5 angels. :) Maybe they'll just break down and friend request me so they can continue the good times. :)

Last night at church, the usher asked us  to bring up the gifts. I said, "the whole crew?!" I mean, usually I notice it's like a family of 4 they have walk up there. So we did and Kevin and Olivia walked up to the priest and handed him the Eucharist and wine and I saw him talking to them and when we sat back down, I asked Kevin what he had said. (terrible run on, sorry!) So Kevin smiled and said, "he asked us if all the kids were brothers and sisters. I told him yes." And he smiled. I laughed. People always ask them that. I admit, we don't all look like we're from the same gene pool, but I find it interesting that people ask.

I guess I should hit the laundry room, shorties are finally asleep and God knows I need to attack laundry mountain. Have a good one!

I Think Billy Killed The Beast... For Now...

I am back online! YAY! I have been keeping myself busy with back to school shopping. When did 11 year old boys get picky?! Kevin now says he doesn't want clothes with labels (like the Polo horse). Aaron just hates to shop. We left La Cantera yesterday with 2 shirts. One for each. Sigh.... I told them that we were going to Old Navy Friday and they were going to suck it up and get stuff done. They don't even have enough shorts to last a week without midweek laundry. (This is due to the middle school rule of no athletic shorts... My boys LIVE in those, thankyouverymuch....) So tomorrow is hardcore shopping with the shorties in tow. (Another reason why I wanted to finish yesterday, little ones were in preschool.) My biggest problem is that the boys are really skinny. They need an adjustable waist and still wear a size 10, sometimes even that is too big.

At least I got exactly what I expected from Miss Olivia. Completely absorbed in the task at hand, wanting to carry her own bags, it was nice and productive... So here's to a better Friday experience, I'd like to be done with clothes and supply shopping so we can just relax and enjoy our last few weeks...

This is what my dear Billy is up to when he gets home from work....

God help my soul. He is practicing the layout for next week. We are all going to try to go camping. Pray for my sanity. I don't rough it well. We are headed to my parents' lake property. Which, before the flood in '98 would be a lovely getaway in a sweet 4 bedroom house on the water. Now it's lakefront property... No house... So Billy is planning the layout and I am planning the escape. :) I mean, the shorties are going... They will live in life vests the entire time. My concern is boredom. I mean, you can only fish for so long, drift in a tube for so long... Billy thinks we're going for 2 nights... I am not making any bets. Plan on lots of pictures and my personal horror stories. He bought an "outside solar shower" for Lord sakes... 5 kids, no electricity, no a/c. It's been averaging 103 these afternoons. Of course, if it gets too awful, the outlet mall is close by, I mean, the shorties and I could go to escape the heat. You don't want toddlers to get too hot... :)

My Computer Hates Me, Or Kevin Killed It....

I would be posting regularly, but it seems that I have either ticked off my pretty purple laptop or Kevin did it. Every time I try to go to a different site, it locks up and gives me a "not responding" message. I'm probably going to have to take it in if Billy can't figure it out soon. I blame the kid that was playing Club Penguin on it....

Anyway, since this post has taken me at least 20 minutes to finish, I will probably not be posting as often unless I can figure it out on my phone. :) Enjoy August, this week the average is supposed to  be 103 here....