Happy Holiday weekend!

I know it hasn't officially begun yet, but wanted to wish everyone a great long weekend! And share a sweet Sadie picture. She's been crawling since she was 5 months old and I just know this is going to be the one kid I need to get cabinet locks for.

Brag alert

I was reading a friend's blog and she was bragging about her little girl and I thought it was so sweet. And then I realized that I had plenty to brag about my little girl, too, so why not!

Ellie got her midterm report home last week and it was perfect! Well, there were the two E-, but I figure she got off lucky seeing as she is my daughter and I have a tendency to talk in class myself.

You can also see that she got a handwriting award. When she wrote her name, she didn't have any letters sinking or flying away. Kindergarten is hard work! I have to revel in all of this now because I fear for the day Nate goes to school. And also because as I type this Ellie is giving me a fit about doing her homework.

Ellie also started piano lessons last month. One Sunday I told my neighbor Janel that I wanted her to start teaching piano so Ellie could take lessons, and wouldn't you know it, she agreed! She must love me! I don't even have to get in my car!!! Ellie looooves piano lessons. She can't wait for Tuesdays, practices without me asking and even draws Janel pictures. Yesterday she did her homework in about 15 minutes because she couldn't wait to go to her lessons.

Yeah for Ellie! And please forgive the skuzzy hair. After 3 recesses in the 112 degree heat, the hair doesn't quite stand up.

Happy national Chocloate Chip Cookie Day!

Yes, it is National Chocolate Chip Cookie day! This may be my favorite day EVER! But before I get to the good stuff, I'll fill you in on our weekend. Mainly because I know my family will want to see pictures of the kids, not because it was terribly exciting.

Friday we went with friends to Tumbleweed Park and then continued to sweat for the next 6 hours. For everyone reading this from AZ -- if you haven't been to Tumbleweed, you are missing out. It is such a great new park. The whole thing is themed and the big farm part/play structure is under shade. You can even dig for dinosaur bones. OK, back to the weekend. That night Dustin had his silly fantasy football draft and I dealt with Cranky McSassypants. That would be Sadie. She's getting a second tooth and she is not nice about it. See the look of crankiness on her face?

Saturday we had to cancel our Primary Activity because of rain and Ellie went to an Eloise birthday party. It was done really well. All of the girls wore black and white and the mom had pink boas for all 12 girls and funky glasses. They watched the movie and got their nails done and ate "tea." Super cute! Ellie's on the left in case you can't tell who that glamorous girl is.

That night we went to the Wright's so the boys could watch UFC, and I dragged Gina with me to Scrapbooks Etc so I could finally spend my Christmas gift from Michelle. Thanks Michelle! And thanks Gina for going with me and putting up with my AWESOME drive-thru skills on the way home. And of course thanks to our hubbies who pretended like they watched the children. It was so much fun hanging out with Jackson and Gina -- I love that girl!

Sunday was spent Visiting Teaching and in meetings and today I got to go volunteer at Ellie's school. It was fun to see what they do, but man this one kid had to stay in at recess and I felt so bad for him. I don't think I could teach Kindergarten because they're all so sweet! And speaking of breaking rules -- some of you may remember when Ellie got in trouble for talking in the bathroom and had to pull her stick. Well, apperntly there are excpetions to the no-bathroom talking rule. When Ellie went back to school after being sick a few weeks ago, she came home and told me how everyone was telling her they missed her and "some people didn't even raise their hands." Then she goes on, "And someone even told me in the bathroom, but Miss Kogel said it was OK to talk in the bathroom as long as it's a whisper and only if you're saying "I missed you.'"

After I got back from school, all the neighborhood kids came over for our Monday kid swap. We used up the water balloons I had blown up for Saturday's activity that never got used, played Red Light Green LIght, mother May I and of course we HAD to make cookies to celebrate the day. So here are all of my little helpers. You haven't cooked unless you've tried to fit 5 little hands on the hand mixer. I think we have the cutest kids in the world on our street!

Now go eat some chocolate chip cookies!!!!

The last 5 pounds

Ahhhh gym -- how I loathe thee. I don't understand how people *like* the gym. I never have and I don't think I ever will. I don't get any excitement from running on the treadmill and I'm way too clumsy to be taking any classes. Before I got pregnant with Sadie, I was in great shape and running 3 miles every day. Then I got to be about 4 months pregnant and my muscles ached every time I went to the gym and I could barely walk for days afterward, so I stopped going. Now Sadie is 7 months old and my gym attendance has been sporadic. Not only that, but I've got a few more pounds to lose and they're all centered around my stomach.

So now that school is in, Nate's little rotation of things are going and Sadie is back on schedule. . . I'm hitting the gym. I just started back this week and I was saddened to find that somewhere over the summer, they've gotten rid of the trashy magazines. One of the only perks of going to the gym is the ability to read all the tabloids without shame! How will I ever know what Jennifer Anniston is doing or what the celebrity babies are buying? Is Paris making good on her promise to stay out of trouble? I had to read some Martha Stewart magazine -- the family version. OKay, actually it was really good and I'm thinking of getting a subscribtion. But seriously people -- why take away my one gym joy?

Yippee

This weekend's entertainment was graciously provided by our Ward, and every bit of it was fun! Friday night the Relief Society had a speaker come in and talk about parenting techniques. Not only was she an amazing speaker, but the Ward also provided dinner and babysitting. It wasn't anything I didn't already know, but I definitely needed a reminder. I think we all want to be the best parents, we just forget what to do sometimes. So I loved it and she was really fun to listen to.

Saturday I went in for my "My husband went on a trip and the kids gave me a zillion knots in my back" massage and then we went to our Ward Party. It was a picnic dinner and then swimming. They rented out one of the local pools, so the kids had an awesome time. Ellie just went down the water slide again and again, everyone else held Sadie and Nate just ran around with the younger kids, so I was pretty much kid free all evening.

One more announcement! My baby sister is getting married. At least according to her facebook profile. I saw "engaged" on there and called her up and screamed and shouted at her for not telling me that he had proposed. Turns out, she doesn't have the ring yet, so there were no major developments. We've actually known for weeks she was getting married. I am having so much fun helping her plan her wedding though. I've already spent too many hours browsing the internet for ideas! If only I were as cool as Lisa, I'd be making things too. ;p

We miss Daddy!

Dustin's been in Colorado this week and we can't wait for him to get home tonight. I think I missed him the most last night at about 3 am. I had told Ellie that she could have a sleep over with me, but I forgot how much she talks in her sleep. So after one of her spurts at 2:47, I heard Nate up and moaning. He had caught Ellie's fever and was 103. I got him some medicine, but he decided to be awake for the next hour. So we sat in the living room. He didn't actually believe me when I said it was still night time and kept begging to watch TV, so finally I opened the blinds and he got it. After that he went right back to sleep.


Sadie has suddenly developed this adorable winking smile. She sort of scrunches up her nose and then closes one eye. It's a little goofy looking, but it makes me laugh every time. She's also cutting her first tooth. Being the mama's girl that she is, she may be the only one in the house who doesn't miss Daddy!

Boy School

After two years of Girl School, today was my first day of Boy School. The best part? It wasn't at my house. My girl friend Rickie started us off with the letter A and colors. When I got there, Nate totally ignored me. No wonder middle kids always get the shaft -- they're so independent! And isn't he so adorable and cute? We practiced our listening face all morning.

I opened his backpack when we got home to find a stash of Daven's toys. Niiiiice! They're sitting on our counter until Sadie wakes up and then they're going straight back to Rickie's. I don't want them to get mixed up with ours. I don't even need to send him with a back pack, but he's just so sad when Ellie leaves for school and he wants to go to school just like her. And speaking of Ellie, she is healthy as a horse and back at school. I kept her home yesterday and spoiled her rotten. It was heaven, although Dustin did ask me if I was sure I missed her because it was like having the 3 Stooges around all day.

But back to Nate! Here are the super cute boys that are his best buddies. And here's to my third year of Joy School. Holy cow! I am officially crazy,

Monday, Monday

All of my kids are napping right now -- ahhhhh! Sweet relief. Ellie came home at lunch with a 1o2 degree fever and has been asleep since. Poor baby! No one could even tell she was sick because the sweet little thing never even complained. When I got her in the car she says, "Mom, I'm so sorry I didn't eat my lunch. I just wanted water because I don't think I'm feeling very well." No kidding honey! It was so sad to see her asleep in the nurse's office. I can't wait for her to wake up so I can spoil her! It seems like she's gone so much these days and when she is home, we have to work, so I can't wait for a down day tomorrow!

Nate had a great day at Wyatt's -- Thanks Janel. I love our little Monday swaps! While Ellie was off infecting the school with her fever, Sadie was napping and Nate was at Wyatt's, I got to go hold my friend's new baby. He is so adorably cute and I loved his little toes and fingers. It made me realize how big Sadie has gotten. The picture is a little old, but it still makes me laugh. Sadie really loves to get into everything she can. Recently she's learned to sit up from a lying down position, so she loves playing on the floor even more. She can crawl to a toy, grab it and sit up and play with it.

Other than that, I should probably finish all the cleaning I started this morning before I ran off to hold babies and pick up sick kids. Happy Monday!

It's a long one

I have had my first rite of passage -- my daughter had to pull a stick at school. ACK! I can't believe it. When she came home with the note, I was mortified. And do you want to know what she was doing -- playing in the bathroom with her friend. They were peeking under the stalls and talking to each other. Her reprimand went something like this, "ELLIE! There is PEE on that floor." Ellie then explains to me that if there was pee on the floor she would have seen it. "It could be DRIED PEE! So there are pee GERMS." She then had to write an apology note to her teacher.

So tonight was Curriculum night at the school and I'm so embarrassed to go because I'm sure her teacher is thinking that I'm the slacker mom that never had the "we-don't-peek-under-the-bathroom-stalls" talk with my daughter, mainly because I never thought I would have to. The teacher launches into her discipline plan and starts talking about sticks and a couple of parents I know start whispernig their horror of finding that their child had lost a stick already.

I can't even tell you the relief I felt knowing that I wasn't alone. One little boy got a stick pulled for hitting someone. His dad asked him if he felt bad and he said, "It wasn't even that hard!" Another little boy told some kid to get in line or he'd punch him in the face. And of course Ellie's little parnter in crime in the bathroom got her stick pulled too. And these are all good kids.

So that is our Ellie school story for the week. Also, tomorrow is her first play date with a friend from school. Her mom volunteered to be room mom, though, so it sounds like she's an over achiever. We'll get along just fine :p. She and Ellie are best buds and so cute together. I'm so glad she's found a good friend. Oh, and Chelsea, I met Chelsea tonight. She said Ellie and Chandler can talk each other's heads off at lunch.

Nate is still hacking away. He's actually sleeping, though, so that's a good thing. He is also obsessed with earning an Edward train -- from the Thomas series. I told him when his *sparkle jar* was full, he could go get one, but he can't seem to think of anything else. Everytime he wakes up or suddenly sees me again after a short break he asks if we're going to the store to buy Edward. He's about 2-3 weeks away from earning it, so this is probably going to drive me crazy. It is literally the first thing out of his mouth each morning, "We go to store? Buy Edward?"

I left Sadie for one of her first times ever tonight. It was with Jill, my FABO neighbor, who was so awesome to take my kids. If I was going to trust anyone with Sadie for the first time, Jill was the perfect person. She is just so laid back and low key so I knew Sadie would love her, and that even if Sadie cried the entire time Jill wouldn't mind. Of course she did great! Sadie's a champ.

And so don't kill me for making you read this whole thing and not having any pictures!

Missing

In case you're wondering where I am. . . I'm reading. I finally gave into the whole "Twilight" mania once Harry Potter was done and digested. Of course it only resulted in a new obsession and I finished the first two books this weekend.

Today Nate and I tracked down to B&N and picked up "Eclipse." Nate go to play with the Thomas trains and I got to read, all the while being served samplers from the Starbucks cafe. When I went to check out, they had sold out already. It was a nice morning! I'm only 4 chapters in, though, and I know I'll be pretty much absent from the computer until it's done.

If anyone else wants a new obsession, coughcoughmichellecoughcough, you can borrow my books!

Farewell Summer

This weekend's entertainment was graciously provided by our Ward, and every bit of it was fun! Friday night the Relief Society had a speaker come in and talk about parenting techniques. Not only was she an amazing speaker, but the Ward also provided dinner and babysitting. It wasn't anything I didn't already know, but I definitely needed a reminder. I think we all want to be the best parents, we just forget what to do sometimes. So I loved it and she was really fun to listen to.

Saturday I went in for my "My husband went on a trip and the kids gave me a zillion knots in my back" massage and then we went to our Ward Party. It was a picnic dinner and then swimming. They rented out one of the local pools, so the kids had an awesome time. Ellie just went down the water slide again and again, everyone else held Sadie and Nate just ran around with the younger kids, so I was pretty much kid free all evening.

One more announcement! My baby sister is getting married. At least according to her facebook profile. I saw "engaged" on there and called her up and screamed and shouted at her for not telling me that he had proposed. Turns out, she doesn't have the ring yet, so there were no major developments. We've actually known for weeks she was getting married. I am having so much fun helping her plan her wedding though. I've already spent too many hours browsing the internet for ideas! If only I were as cool as Lisa, I'd be making things too. ;p

Sick and Tired

In case you're wondering why I'm such a slacker -- it is mainly because Nate is sick again. I've never met a kid who gets as sick as often as this guy. I think he somehow gets the germs Ellie brings home from school because he gets sick as soon as she starts school and it never lets up until summer. The thing is, Ellie never gets sick. Anyway, so he has been waking up at 5 every morning hacking away and then he sleeps 5 minutes here and there on the floor, so he doesn't really take a nap either. It's kicking my butt. Plus we have all this ridiculous Kindergarten homework. It is so time consuming! And guess what -- my daughter has known her shapes for about 4 years now. We do not need to spend an hour every night searching through magazines for shapes to cut and paste. First it was circles, then squares, followed by triangles. . . I'm getting nervous for what tonight will be. OK, vent over.

I bought Nate his first wodden Thomas train. I can't believe I spent that much money on a toy that fits in my hand. He loves it, though. He sleeps with it, eats with it, takes it in the car. . .

Ellie is learning so much. On the way home she can't think of anything she's learned, but all night she just pops in with random stuff. She was writing her name on her homework and she told me, "The letters have to touch the base line or else they'll float away. And if they go too far down, they sink. Except guess what, mom, part of the G gets to sink!" And then she laughs so stinking cute. Or we'll be at dinner and suddenly she pop out a phonogram. Or we'll be reading a book and she'll tell me who the "characters" are, what the "setting" is, and that the author's purpose was to "entertain" us. I'm so glad she is learning so much and loving school. I'm also glad she loves to read so much. That's my favorite part of her homework. Nothing's better tha reading a book all cuddled up on the couch.

Sadie is Sadie. Cute as a button and just along for the ride. And with that, I'm off to wake Ellie up for school!