Kids, school, dog

Callie has wanted to grow her bangs long.  Callie noticed that a young lady that Callie thinks is wonderful had long bangs, and Callie wanted to be just like her.  I detest hair in the face. I hate hair that falls into the eyes, so this was really hard for me to accept.  She finally asked for a haircut.  I asked if I could take her to the hair salon, but she said no.  I reminded her how her last haircut went.  She wanted it cut, I cut it and she screamed that I cut it too short and she hated it and she hated me and she was never going back to school and she carried on about how ugly she was for 3 days.  True story. Callie assured me that she wanted me to cut it.   

This is how long her bangs were.   

This is her silly face, and this is how she was suppose to wear her too-long bangs so they were not in her eyes.

I did not get an after picture.  History has a way of repeating itself and after I trimmed her bangs there was screaming and crying and drama.  So I didn't cut the rest of her hair and I did not get a picture!

However, school started this week!  Whoo-hoo!  The kids were up and ready early on their first day and I was able to get pictures.  Yay! 

Here they are, all ready to go.  So exciting!  This year Joshua is in 6th grade-and that's middle school here.  Marian is in 4th and Callie is in 2nd. 

I love these silly faces.  Callie and Joshua are making faces and Marian is cracking up at them.  What a great way to start the year! 

As a random aside, Callie decided the dog needed a bath.  So she gave him one.  Somehow, I ended up doing most of the work and getting extremely wet!  How is that, do you think?

Hosing down the dog. 

While not thrilled, Levi puts up with is unless he thinks there is an option. 

Drying the now-clean puppy!  I didn't realize that his grown up coat would be so thick and heavy.  The poor dog looks so scrawny when he's wet, and he was still damp hours later. 

Such a sweet doggie.  Rylee loves Levi!

I Gripe

Some things have been really annoying me.  I realized that it should not be annoying to me; I need to view it as blog fodder, mock it severely and move on.  So, I am going to do that.  I release my anger and frustration at all the following situations and and I am going to move on with my life, feeling lighter, freer and happier.  So let it be written, so let it be done!

5 Things that Irk Me

1.  Today I was at my allergy appointment 45 minutes early.  I checked in at the desk and said, "I am 45 minutes early.  Can you squeeze me in early, or should I run over to Krispy Kreme and be back in 45 minutes."  She said she would check me in and I could be seen early.  I sat there, with my 2 lovely children for an hour.  Yes, and hour.  I waited the 45 minutes till my appointment, plus an extra 10 before they called me.  For an allergy shot that took 2 minutes.  Then I had to wait for another 30 minutes to make sure I didn't die of an extreme allergic reaction.  And then we went to Krispy Kreme.

2. The school misplaced my child on the first day of school.  I looked all over for her at the end of the school day and walked home in case that's where she was.  She wasn't.  So I called the school and told them I was missing a 7 year old.  They said, "We can page her to the office.  Would you like us to call you if she shows up?"   Now I don't mind so much that she was misplaced, and in reality, it turned out that she had just been taken to the car rider line, rather than the walker line.  It was the first day of school, and things are crazy.  No problem, but to tell me you'll page her and call me later?!  I don't think so!  I entrusted my child to you and I expect her back, and if you don't know where she is, I darn well expect you to tell me you are on it and will do your best to find her right away.  And you better sound like you care!

3.  The school held a Kindergarten Summit for parents of new kindergartners.  It was "Parents Only Please" at 10am.  Do you see anything wrong with that?  Every single parent who might attend has at least one child they are suppose to find babysitting for? I asked about it and they did not care and would not provide child care options.  I did not attend the summit.

4. My van had the air bag light in it come on.  The manual says to take it to the dealer "immediately" should that happen.  After a grouchy discussion over the $90 diagnostic they would do for it, they guy agreed to run the diagnostic for free.  I'm so relieved to find out that have NO IDEA why the light is on.  Hmmm.... that's the same answer we got as to why the transmission died.

5. Shoot. I don't have a 5th problem!  I guess that is good! Now I will choose to be happy and I will be done being annoyed!

Best part of Summer!

School starts this week.  While it is an exciting thing, it is also sad.  No more hanging out with the kids all day, every day.  No more getting up and going to do fun stuff just because we can.  No more lazy mornings, afternoons and evenings.  Sigh.  Farewell, summer!  

In preparation for the sad goodbye, we went to Krispy Kreme for breakfast.  Yum!  We will definitely be back during report card season, when they kids get free donuts for "A"s earned.

Tasty donuts! 

Marian did not want her picture taken, but Rylee wanted to be in it. 

"Don't touch my donut!" 

This is what I like to do in the afternoons, but not on the floor, and not in so many fun positions!

Naps, the greatest thing ever invented! 

Sometimes its okay to gloat

Delaney has finally gotten a chance to outdo her bigger sister!  Callie is going into second grade with all of her original teeth.  Delaney is going to start kindergarten in 10 days with one less tooth than Callie!

Photobombing at the Aquarium

I finally made it to the Aquarium this summer.  Yay me!  The kids were excited and we brought Delaney's very best friend James with us.  A good time was had by all. 

Here we are, just arriving.  The children are cooperating because I promised them pennies to toss into the fountain.  Joshua's "cooperation" had a different interpretation for him. 

The girls wanted to pose in the giant shark mouth, but they couldn't coordinate their poses at the same time.  This was as good as it got. 

Callie wanted to pose at this tank, but someone kept getting in the way.

Yep, there he is again! 

And again.... 

Okay, now I'm getting a little grumpy! 

"But it's so fun, I just can't help it!" He said. 

Whew, finally!  I waited till he'd finished his leap through the frame before actually taking the picture. 

I'd be more excited about pictures without Joshua if they were any good.  Sigh.  I need slower subject matter.  They don't hold the cute poses very long. 

Rylee loved this frog and had to be bribed away from it.  

And then we took the ferry back across the river and headed home.  It was a good trip and a good outing for everyone.  And shocking enough, Joshua never once complained he was bored.  Score!