First Day of School

Zoe's first day of first grade and Sydney's first day of Pre-K. They were so excited, had a great day, and were so tired when they both finally got home that they were super cranky. Yep. And, I, being an idiot, thought Zoe got out of school earlier than she actually does so I subjected the little kids to an hour of sitting in the car. So...day one is done. Now to see what the rest of the school year has in store.

Shoe/Chocolate Addicts Anonymous

They say that the first step to change is to admit that you have a problem. So here goes:

Hello, my name is Lacey. I am a stress eater/shopper.
Now, this is a problem that I have known about for quite some time and it may be evident to those around me, but saying it out loud (in print for that matter) is a big step. You see when Iam feeling stressed out, insecure, upset, or recieve bad news (even just a little bit bad), I am overcome with the urge to consume LARGE amounts of sugar and caffiene and spend a lot of money on "things that make me feel good" in laymans terms that means SHOES and occasionally other clothing and accessories. Ok, more than occasionally. Get off my back about it. ;)
I noticed the problem recently as the cashier at the grocery store put 8 candy bars and a bag of skittles in their own little bag and handed them right to me winking and saying, "The most important thing..." Not missing a beat, I replied, "Ah, my little bag of sanity." Sure, it seems funny, but only cause you know it's true!
The plot thickened when I got a bit of disappointing news earlier today (don't worry everything is fine), and instantly went to my Amazon Universal Wishlist and perused my favorite items trying to decide which boots would be best for fall. I don't probably need new boots, even though my feet did grow half a size with Bennett. But I want new boots. I have it narrowed down to 3 pair. I know I shouldn't spend the money. And the only thing that is keeping me from getting onto DSW.com and ordering a pair is this blog and the overwhelming sense of guilt that I know I will feel if I do make the order. Plus I don't know which ones I really want yet. Maybe I should go into the store and try them on. Oh crap- you hear that....that was my addiction talking, right out there for everyone to hear (read).
So far I haven't broken down and bought anything. Nothing is on sale so it makes it a bit easier to resist. (Sales and bad news, well, thats just too much) I did just eat two mini Butterfingers though, and have the urge to raid the cupboards for more delicious chocolatey goodness. Well, I guess admitting the problem is not really helping since now I just feel like eating and buying MORE! What a dreadful cycle. Guess it is time to distract myself by changing a dirty diaper. Hoo-ray.

Last days of summer vacation...

Wow, big gap in the blogging! To be honest, I kinda forgot about it. After that whirlwind birthday situation, it was good to have a break. And a break we had - kinda. We went to Texas for a weekend visit to see Auntie Shar and her new appartment. As well as to "assist" with getting her settled. Hahahaa. Not sure how much assistance we were considering the three kids basically bounced off her walls (and likely angered a few neighbors). After that we came home and have been getting school supplies and school clothes/ shoes (Thank you, Nanny). I started a new term at school. Now the countdown begins to the kids school year actually starting. We have "Information Day" on Tuesday and the official start is Thursday. I can hardly imagine what I will do! Sydney will be in Pre-K from 9-11:30 daily and Zoe will be entering FIRST GRADE!!!! Oh my, my baby is growing so fast. Of course this realization has sent me into somewhat of a tail-spin. I have been ultra nostaligic the last few days. Looking at old photos and remembering all kinds of silly old things from days gone by. This on top of the back to school mania and the Dog Days of Summer with 107 Degree temperatures (keeping us indoors) has been nearly too much for my poor mind to handle. I have been walking around in a bit of a daze. The kids think I am losing my mind, because of my utter inability to focus from one minute to the next (i.e. I walk to one room from another then say "what did I come in here for?") I'm a pretty sad sight. Auntie came up for a get together this weekend and we saw her for a couple of hours including a customary trip to Target. That was nice and hopefully we can get together again soon. And now I have completely run out of things to say - or maybe not, I just lost track of my thoughts. So we will leave it at that for now.

Birthday Week (The longest blog post ever...)

Birthday Week 2010: Play by Play, Day by Day.

Wednesday, July 14: Crazy, Awesome Birthday Madness Week 2010 begins with Nanny's midday arrival. This annual event sends the kids into hyper-drive, making each and every detail of each and every happening about 300 percent more interesting/exciting/emotional. The day was a blur. Honestly. I can't remember anything we did that day prior to or post pickup. Auntie Shar came into town later that night after the kids were asleep.



Thursday, July 15: Outings. Lots of outings. Super Target was first on the list, as it is our favorite destination. At the Starbucks therein we partook in iced mochas (for the grown-ups), vanilla bean frapachinos (for the girls) and whipped cream (Bennett). Yum! I am pretty sure we went down every single aisle, some of them twice, a couple may have even warranted a third visit. The toy aisles were singing and dancing as we pried the children away. A cart full of whatnot later, we headed home for lunch. Next Sharlene and I needed a break, so we went out on our own. Back to Super Target (I told you we love that place!). Then we hit Gordmans and finally Hobby Lobby ( I am making Sharlene a Giant Kusudama Ball). Back to the house for a quick taco dinner then we whisked the girls away to the mivie theater to see Toy Story 3. We were the first ones there and very nearly the only ones (cause who sees a movie on a Thursday
at 5?) It was great and we will likely be adding it to our collection.

Friday, July 16: Decoration day! Over the last few months (okay, technically since February when they told me they wanted and Ariel Party) the kids and I have been crafting under sea decorations for the party. This was the day that we put them all up around the house. Since this was the big, joint, invite your friends party we kinda went nuts with it. Then we baked cupcakes, and I prepped the homemade pizza dough for the next nights dinner. Once the "work" was done, we played a bit and then Sharlene and I headed out for a well deserved drink.

Saturday, July 17: Playing, prepping, and last minute cleaning. PARTY TIME!!!!! Friends showed up and we colored Ariel pictures until everyone had arrived. We made oceans in empty soda bottles (lots of Dr. Pepper for me!), experienced near glitter overload, played pin the flower on Ariel (Zoe won, no one else was even close - Sydney missed the picture completely), sang a quick "Happy Birthday" scarfed down some cupcakes and tore open some presents. Everything was on super speedy mode because these children could not wait to get outside and play. They raced out the door screaming like a flock of banshees to splash in the pool and run through the sprinklers. Even fun Auntie Shar joined in. She began with chasing kiddos into the sprinklers, but was soon dragged into the pool fully clothed and dunked by a gaggle of gigglers. Eventually, one by one, they came straggling in to dry off. Play commenced indoors until bit by bit they left. Then we got to visit with Daddy online and open presents from him! Hurray! Pizza and Princess and the Frog bring this exciting day to a close.

Sunday, July 18: Sydney's 4th Birthday! Nanny prepared a wonderful suprise "Beach Party" and made our back patio into a beach, complete with sand. We built sand castles and played in to pool. Bennett Rode on his car and got sand in his little toes. We had hot dogs, fruit, and chips until the flies (that decided to take over my house and yard in the last week) sent us running for cover. Zoe lost a tooth during lunch. Daddy called to wish Syd a "Happy Birthday" we did presents and dinner then made some super fun snow cones for dessert.

Monday, July 19: I had a boatload of homework so that was my task for the day. Bummer. But Nanny, Auntie and the kids ran all over and played, cleaned up a bit, then they (minus Bennett who needed a nap) went to the local waterpark! They had a great time, and I got my work done, took down the decorations, and did some light cleaning. Shar treated us to some seven layer dip for dinner. We ate, watched a movie, and played

Tuesday, July 20: My 29th Birthday. Last year of my twenties. Yowza. The kids wished me "Happy Birthday" over and over all day long. It was super sweet. I began my day with a morning meeting at Starbucks with a Rep from the college I attend online. Next I met up with the fam at Sears for a photo shoot and to pick up some pictures I had ordered from before. Lunch at Red Robin commenced (Thank you for not making them sing to me!). Zoe made sure that I would arrive back at the house last so that they could hide and jump out to scream "Happy Birthday" when I walked in the door. Once we got home I gave the kiddos a few group gifts that I didn't want any one kid laying claim too because it was given mon their birthday. They in turn gave me some very thoughtful gifts. We played for a while then they came tromping into the living room from the kitchen with a cupcake and candle singing "Happy Birthday." It was so cool of them to try to make my day so special right in the middle of all of their birthday excitement. I have the best kids!

Wednesday, July 21: Zoe's 6th Birthday!!! Nanny orchestrated a beautiful tea party with a real tea set and tons of fabulous and very pretty food. the girls got all dressed up and inspired the grown ups to do the same. We rummaged through the dress up suitcase (the same one that just a week ago held a cat captive) and came up with some extra fancy accessories. We did an impromptu photo shoot and had tea. Then we quickly cleaned up and headed back to the warter park. This time we all got to go! It was so FUN!!!! Even Bennett had a blast (he is suddenly over his fear of the water). After we got back, showered, and started assessing the extent of our sunburns, Daddy got online again and Zoe tore open her presents then had a nice chat with her Papa. We ate "little chickens" (mini chicken wings) and potato salad, one of Zoe's favorite meals. We played until we were ready to drop. Then - we dropped!

Thursday, July 22: Today we said a sad goodbye to Nanny as we dropped her off at the airport. Auntie Sharlene gets to stay on a few more days before heading back the Texas way. As I write this the girls and Auntie are playing Disney Princess Yahtzee and Bennett is napping. I need a snack and some serious caffiene if I am going to stay awake the rest of the day. Exhaustion is setting in. This has been a whirlwind of a week, but it has been so very much fun. Tons of memories were made. I am officially calling Birthday Madness Week to a close, applying more aloe vera to my sun scorched skin, and taking my first zombielike steps into the world of raising a 6 year old, a 4 year old, and a 1 year old.

Birthday Pictures

Happy (Belated) 1st Birthday, Bennett!

Yesterday was Bennett's 1st birthday. The girls, of course, woke up at the crack of dawn and were ready to get the party started. Fortunately, we (Auntie Shar and I) were able to hold them off 'til just after lunch.
Since we were short a couple of important cast members for the event, we set up the web cams on our laptops and interfaced with some VIPs. The girls had a few issues staying out from in front of the computers so I am not entirely sure just how much our long distance counterparts actually saw, but they at least got to "be there" for the big day.
The presents were a hit. Who knew that 1 year old toys were so darn entertaining? As a matter of fact the toys were so popular that Bennett had a very hard timed deciding what to play with. No problem there though, Zoe and Sydney were more than happy to take a few off his hands. Actually, they got so excited that Bennett had some difficulty holding on to a toy for more than a few seconds. Ahhh, big sisters!
The cupcakes were a bit more manageable for Mr. Ben. In fact, he gobbled down every last bite of his. Surely, he would have licked up all the crumbs too had Mommy not swooped in with the washcloth and initiated clean up procedures. (A very special thank you to Auntie for all of her clean up efforts - You are a life saver, or some other very sweet treat :):).
After the hubbub, we were all worn out so nap time commenced. Then a completely unnecessary but fun trip to Target. Bennett's dinner time coincided, so he had a jar of babyfood out of my purse while we sat at the in store Starbucks waiting for our mochas! Ol' Blue Eyes (Bennett) charmed the pieces out of every woman who walked by ("Oh he has such beautiful eyes. How old is he? What's his name? Hi, sweetie!" was a common response to one of his smiles). The group tromped through the store leaving behind a wake of cuteness and noise.
Then we came home and had a quick dinner and sent the kids to bed. It was really a very successful birthday. I can hardly believe my baby is a whole year old. It makes me emotional. Imagine that, me, emotional. Hahaha.
Today we have his 1 year well check. And so commences the month of birthdays and festivities. On the docket: The girls joint Ariel The Little Mermaid birthday party, two individual parties for just family, my birthday somewhere in the middle, a visit from Nanny, well checks for the girls, and finishing up my current school term. Yowza, it's gonna be a busy month. So there will be lot lots more to come.
Photos are forthcoming. Thank you to all of you who helped to make my Little Man's 1st birthday a special one.

Are you talking to me?

Setting: Living room. Family watching Tinkerbell and The Lost Treasure.

Zoe: Those tadpoles are just like the ones in the bathroom and the kitchen!

Me: ???? I'm pretty sure you were dreaming, sissy. There are no tadpoles in our house.

Zoe: YES, THERE WERE. THEY WERE RIGHT BY THE DOOR!!!!!!!!!!

Me: Tadpoles that turn into frogs? How would tadpoles get into our house?

Zoe: I'm pretty sure a spider puked them up.