My Goodness!

A whole week with out posting anything and I STILL have nothing to say! I finished nearly a week's worth of workshops, so my summer vacation has officially begun last Friday, and will last about another 3-4 weeks. Back to work (hopefully) to start the school year on July 13th or 14th.

Less than 5 weeks to go on the maternity countdown, thank goodness. But also much less than 5 weeks to go until I have a Kindergartner! Woo hoo!!! (I'm not sure who is more excited.) It's time to notify daycare of her last day, pick up school supplies, etc.

This week I am going to be busy washing baby clothes, getting out the bassinet, making one last run to Target to get a few more things with my 10% off coupon, and so on.

By the way -- I needed to order something from Lands End, and because we had some Discover Reward points I used those on it, but I really wanted a free shipping coupon because shipping was 8.99. Someone had told me about this website called RetailMeNot to look for coupon codes and such for online purchases and -- voila! I found one. I like it because it gives you the expiration date of the codes, as well as the "success rate" others have had using it. I highly recommend it! I ended up paying a whopping .$64 total for my purchases instead of $50.64!

Stay tuned, I'm hoping later this week to get some nursery pics up. I'm more of a half an hour up, then one hour down type of person these days....

Complete Radomness

It's the first day of Summer. Happy Summer Everyone! From here on out we lose about one minute of daylight per day. Thank goodness. I won't get on my soapbox about the ridiculousness of Daylight Saving Time is (no s on the end of Saving by the way, just learned that this year), sorry Benjamin Franklin.

I will say that the whole blogging world seems like it is in a slump. Could it be the heat acting as thermal blanket across much of us right now? Is it the change of seasons? Me? I have my own list of excuses, also which I will not tire you with . So, in this post, I am choosing to give you a bunch of random photos which could probably each have their own post but I am declining to do so. I have a good book I'm reading, a cup of ice waiting to cool me from the inside out, and somewhere under my ear muffs trying to block out the sounds of sibilngs screaming I know I really should go intervene before some two year walks away with about 12 inches of dark 4 1/2 year old hair -- a new favorite right up there with dumping bowls of cereal or cups of milk on a table. But I digress...so enjoy:

Clara actually requested to be photographed. Not one of the better ones, but it's something.

I absolutely kid you not when I say that Greta would honestly rather be washing the windows in the house -- does a great job by the way, she's for hire -- than play. I don't know why, I don't ask, I just hand it over.
Father's Day brunch. It was hot, and unfortunately we were unable to spend a lot of time with daddy because he had to work all day, but the time we did have was lovely.
You can't really see it in this picture, but Greta did her hair herself complete with headband and barrettes. She had a necklace, clip on earrings, and lipstick to boot. It may have been Father's Day, but it was a girly celebration.

What Was I Thinking?

1 finger prick, 6 shots, 2 kids

I'll spare you any descriptions, and I seriously thought about photographing this event, but even if I had wanted to, I didn't. You can thank me later.

(BTW: Everyone is healthy, though beginning to complain of some sore thigh muscles!_

Facing the Futurelf

Today Greta received an important document in the mail. One I should probably keep in the keepsake box. (Note to self to get moving on that one.) It officially announced her first day of school start date -- they do staggered entry, with a third of the kids coming each day and everyone the fourth day -- as well as her supply list. Oh I long to see aisles of glue and boxes of scissors, brand new crayons all sharp and majestic and of course a backpack and lunchbox too. It won't be long before we have to make our shopping trip, since Greta's first day of Kindergarten will be Wednesday, July 21st! I can't wait. So above you see, Greta -- future Kindergartner, preparing to embark on what we can all hope will be a long, successful, fulfilling and happy school career.

2nd half of the Year Blahs

Well, it's official. Here we are 14 days into June and North Carolina has yet to disappoint on the annual doldrums of hardly being able to step foot outside. The past few days have been in the upper 90's and today is not going to be any different with a predicted high of 97 -- Real Feel temperature in the 100s. Yesterday we went to the pool for an hour, and the car thermometer read 100, and that is usually pretty accurate. When it's already 77 at 6am in the morning, what good could possibly come of the day? It's a rhetorical question. No good could come of the day. We try to play outside, we really do. But I don't make it 5 minutes, and even for the girls it's like moving in slow motion. And to say that this is just summer and to enjoy it while it lasts just isn't possible down here in the Sandhills, because it will be hot for the 3 1/2 - 4 months. So please excuse the crabbiness, it's just that I am melting....

The Latest and Greatest

If you've been around anyone between the ages of 4 and 12 lately, then you will know all about this picture. If you haven't, then you will wonder why there is an arm here.It's not the arm.

It's not the (surprisingly unwrinkled and currently dry) painted thumb.

Or the table.

It's the bands.

Silly Bandz that is. The next greatest fad. The next generation to the rubber bracelets known and loved from my own youth. How Greta -- seemingly innocently sheltered in daycare, it MUST be those corruptive big brothers and sisters, how dare they! -- even knew what these were, amazes me. She received a couple in a goody bag from school during her graduation, and immediately announced "Look mommy, Silly Bandz -- cool!" Fortunately, I'm not so out of the loop due to my constant interaction with the youth of today who wear probably 50 of these on each arm daily, I knew what she was talking about.

And so today, in honor of, well, Thursday I suppose, we let her pick out her own pack. This particular kind glows in the dark, an extra thrill. They have kept her quiet and occupied for over 20 minutes now, which beats the record of nearly any toy she owns. I suppose there might be more in her future. They're collectable you know. You can trade 'em. They're cool.

Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor...

...your poopy.

Thanks to a wonderful teaching team mate who helped my students throw me a baby shower yesterday I am proud to announce we surely have several months worth of diapers and probably nearly a year's worth of wipes. (Or just a little over a month's worth if this next baby is anything like Clara.) There are several layers and rows of diapers here that I'm not sure you can even see, and the table is over 3 feet long. Next on board is to find a place to actually store all of these, but I'm not worried. Free diapers are free diapers. I'll eat on the boxes if I have to!

Dance Recital:

10 months

Some disinterest

20 minutes one way, no watching during class, 45 minutes walking around, 20 minutes home

Lots of convincing that she needs to stay in dance

One 2 1/2 minute dance out of a two hour recital:

Still priceless

And, I don't care if I birthed the girl and might be a tad bias, I have heard from others that can attest to this statement

she honestly was the best one in her class.

Job Wanted

So, in this economy it's time for the girls to start earning their keep. Being cute just isn't cutting it anymore. While I start exploring various options, I thought I'd open up this post to any takers of an idea I have for Clara.

Professional Spiller

If any of you have any thing that needs spilling, dumping, emptying, dropped, splashed, spattered, sprayed or upset, we have just the person to help you with that. Often described as the person who could come out of a bath dirty, I know there has to be a way to market this talent. Perhaps I need to call Mike Rowe of 'Dirty Jobs' tv fame and see if she could be an assistant.

Overturn, gush, cascade, flood, heave, tumble, drop or strewn about -- you needn't look further for someone to accomplish this. If it can be held and it's content put somewhere they probably shouldn't in a less-than tidy manner, I absolutely guarantee that you will not be disappointed. Our girl is the best. And she comes with lots of experience. Why, today alone we've battled yogurt, cereal, milk, water with ice, diced tomatoes and I'm sure other things I've just chosen not to remember. And folks, it's only Monday.

Feel free to leave a comment if you think you might have an interest in borrowing her for the time being. I'm sure we can come to a formidable rental agreement. Naturally, the endearing smile will just be a free bonus, but I guarantee it will be there.

Winding Down

What a crazy few weeks it's been. I think I've only shared Greta's Pre-K graduation, and have neglected to mention the wonderful family visits we've had as well. We are excited (well, Chris and I are) for Greta's dance recital tomorrow, and even though she is dreading it and does not want to go at all -- not even with the bribery of getting to wear makeup, which she does NOT want to do either -- we look forward to it. It means dance is over! She really has not enjoyed it like we hoped she would. I suppose the lack of competition just doesn't do it for her. She's not a performer. Give her a time to beat or a person to be better than, and she'll go for it. But for now, I'm just excited that our busy schedules are winding down. The only big thing on the calendar for us is June 17th, when I decided it sounded like a great idea to take Greta and Clara to the doctor at the same time for their checkup and shots. I have no idea what I was thinking, it was probably the frugal side of me thinking about the $25 co-pay I would save by not having to go back separately, now I'm thinking differently. My school year is almost done, with a great deal of help from my mom the nursery is nearly complete -- pictures soon -- we just need a mattress to finish it off and to do some laundry.

Of course since it is now June, the weather has gone from warm to HOOOOOOOOOOOOT. Ridiculously hot. Today, at 11:30, the temperature was 88 degrees and the real feel was 96! AHHH! We enjoyed a lot of rain recently, 3 inches this week alone. I love rain and thought it was great, but Chris has to work this weekend, and it is supposed to be in the 90's and that rain was not close enough to the weekend to keep him here at home, so he will have a hot busy weekend. Saturday is the big recital, but Sunday we are planning to enjoy the pool after he gets home from work. I am thinking that after some light housekeeping, we will enjoy the day indoors, and maybe even watch a movie -- a very special treat!

Until next time, I am going to munch on some ice chips and put my feet up. Maybe Clara and I will read a book while the Wonderpets sing in the background. Chris and Greta are at her dress rehearsal, and I think there is a smattering of chocolate ice cream left in the freezer. Sounds like a complete evening to me.

Buns Busting in Air

Obvious future speech therapy aside, belated tribute for Memorial Day.