The Beginning of the End....

As I sent my sons off to school this morning, it seemed unreal. Usually, I'm ready for school to start, but this morning, as I dragged myself out of bed at 7 am so that I could make a nice breakfast for my kids, it seemed like it was way too soon.

First things, first, however....

Last night was back to school night. I think it's really important to attend, to meet the kids' teachers, find out where their classes are and get all the information about the coming year. However, this year, the 6th grade teachers threw me a curve ball...a 45 minute meeting about 6th grade. I think the idea of a meeting is a good one, but 45 minutes? (and yes, it did take almost that long). I really didn't have time to spend hours at Back to School night, so I was irritated. The "lead" 6th grade teacher got up and was talking about expectations, and I got a little panicked...phrases such as "we expect 6th graders to do 60 minutes of homework EVERY day", said to a mom who doesn't believe in homework for the sake of homework upset me. However, when I spoke to Kyle's teacher, who is new at our school this year, I got a much better feeling. He told me that the 60 minutes is the benchmark, He doesn't believe in giving homework just to give homework, and if I ever felt it was too much, let him know. It REALLY relieved my mind...I really liked Kyle's teacher.
Alec's teacher's (he has two) were also very nice, and I felt pretty good about them. They do a class blog, which, as a blogger, made me excited. I also love that all the teachers like to communicate by email and text message. I'm not the high maintainance mom who needs constant feedback from teachers, but it's great to know that if there's ever a problem, I can get in touch with their teachers quickly.

I had a few things left on our supply lists that I hadn't been able to find when I went to Target a couple of weeks ago, so I went to Walmart after we got home. I will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER wait again...I'll go in the middle of the night after work if I have to, but I will never go to Walmart (which I dislike anyway) the night before school starts again. It was a MADHOUSE. I found everything but 1 thing (does anyone know where I can find a 3 section black and white composition book?), but Walmart didn't have "Mockingjay"...I don't know if they were out, or just didn't have it, but I looked EVERYWHERE. I really wanted the book, so I went to Target (they were sold out) and Deseret Book (they didn't get their shipment). I finally gave up, I'm headed out to Layton this afternoon, I'll suck it up and pay full price at Barnes and Noble.

I didn't sleep very well again last night.

I made the boys waffles and sausage for breakfast. Summer's been low key breakfasts of toast, Poptarts, and freezer foods (Kyle loves french toast sticks), so the chorus's of "Thanks for making us waffles Mom!" made me feel good and a little guilty. We had a great, easy morning...the boys got ready without problems. Then it was time for our photoshoot...

Alec

From August 2010

From August 2010

Kyle

From August 2010

From August 2010

The now traditional picture by the countdown sign...

From August 2010

Getting their bikes ready...

From August 2010

Talia wanted to join in...

From August 2010

(Alec asked me if he could do a "Peace Out" sign...then they all wanted to. I was so proud!)

Heading out...

From August 2010

This was the first year that my photo shoot went well. They boys were great, and I didn't have to fight to get the pictures I wanted.

So, as the boys rode down the street, to my utter surprise, tears started pouring down my face. I have never cried when I sent the boys to school...not when I dropped them at Kindergarten, never. I guess it just struck me that this is my last year of only elementary school...my kids are getting older and bigger. Kyle is almost the same height as me. I know he will grow a lot this year, both physically and mentally.

Talia looked at me with great concern as I stood there crying.
"Mommy, why you crying?"
"Because the boys are going to school, and pretty soon you'll go to school and leave me too."
"But I will come back pretty soon!"

I guess you can't argue with that, they will be back pretty soon.

Now that it's done, I am enjoying my quiet morning with just my princess home.

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream....

From August 2010

Or in my case, not so much.

The worst part of it is...I used to be such a good sleeper....

When I started High School, I became aware that I needed my sleep. Between early morning classes, working, and dating, I had an "epiphany" moment...when I got good sleep, everything seemed to fall together much better. My parents never had to worry about giving me a bedtime, because most nights I went to bed by 9pm so that I would be rested the next day (the exceptions were Thursday night, when ER didn't come on TV until 9, and Saturday Nights, for Dates :)).

I married a wonderful man who did not require nearly as much sleep as I did. It never seemed to matter, though...he adjusted well to my habit of sleeping 9-10 hours at night, and I never had problems sleeping when he was already up, although his early rising habit still baffles me sometimes.

When I started working in Hospitals, my sleeping didn't change. I was easily able to adjust to sleeping days, and really never had any problems. I used to be able to sleep anywhere, anytime..(I remember one camping trip where I worked 7pm to 7 am the night before, and slept on the floor behind the seat of my Father-in-law's truck while we headed up to camp)...even when I was pregnant with the boys, I seemed to need AND get more sleep. I easily slept 12 hours a night while pregnant with the boys, and once they started sleeping through the night, I did too.

Until Talia.

When I got pregnant with Talia, I suddenly found myself inexplicably unable to sleep. Compared to my sleep history, I did not sleep well, I did not sleep long, but I was tired all the time (hinting that I did need the sleep, even if my body was incapable of providing it). I figured it was just hormones, and once I had her and she started sleeping through the night, I would too.

Not so much.

I miss sleep. I never fall asleep before Cole anymore. Last night I lay awake, tossing and turning, for at least an hour after he drifted off. I rarely sleep through an entire night without waking and tossing for a period of time (ranging from just long enough to remember I was awake, to an hour or longer). My crazy week made my sleep worse, and I couldn't get back into a normal(for me) pattern yesterday. I used to nap well before work, now I lay there awake, but figure the rest and quiet is ALMOST as good as actually getting a nap. I wouldn't call my issues insomnia...after all, I do get sleep, just not as much as I used to. Today I'm tired, grumpy, and unmotivated...but I have a lot I have to accomplish today to be ready for school in the morning.

She is my sunshine, though...

From August 2010

She was worth sacrificing my sleep.
(and now that I've vented and reminded myself of the positive, I feel a little less grumpy :). Although still tired and unmotivated ;))

Chaos reigns at our house...

What was I thinking? When I signed up for my schedule, I thought I had done a pretty good job. However, I noticed the error of my ways last Monday. I had put my on-call shift on that day, because there were already enough scheduled. I was pretty sure that I wouldn't have to work, so I scheduled a repair man to come to our house to look at our freezer. Unfortunately for me, there was a sick call (probably due to the nasty cold that's been going around work). Add a micro-preemie admit, and work was crazy and needed me. Because I had to wait for the repair man, I didn't get a nap. (plus, our freezer will cost almost as much to fix as to replace...just one more thing i guess...) I went into last week already at a sleep disadvantage, and now I was going to have to work 5 shifts in 7 days. So much for getting ready for back to school...the kids still didn't have shoes, and although I'd picked up a few clothes here and there, Alec didn't have anything new to wear on the first day. It has been a blessing that most their stuff from last year still fits and is in good condition, but I always like to get them a few new things. Now my time was even more limited...

Tuesday was our last family barbeque at the pool. It was actually my last pool day, because my mom doesn't have time to deal with the pool after she goes back to work. It was fun, the food was yummy, but it was the end of summer, and it's bittersweet. Summer has seemed so abbreviated this year, with all the June storms stealing my early pool time. I'm ready to send the boys back to school, but I'm sad to see my laid back afternoons hanging out with my mom and watching my kids play in the pool slip away.

Wednesday and Thursday were work, although thankfully not crazy nights.

Friday was my only day off. My mom had free tickets to the Children's Museum down at the Gateway, and I sacrificed my sleep to take the kids, along with my Mom, Brenda and her kids. Heidi thought it would be fun to join us, and Adam wanted to be with Heidi, so they came along as well. The kids had fun, and the fact that my boys were a little older and didn't need as much supervision made it a bit easier on me.

The boys and Heidi play some music...

From August 2010

Talia and Gracie play with the balls...

From August 2010

From August 2010

Building...

From August 2010

Water play...

From August 2010

Driving and Riding...

From August 2010

From August 2010

Horses...

From August 2010

Hunter hates pictures, I had to be sneaky...

From August 2010

Drawing station...

From August 2010

From August 2010

From August 2010

Kyle animating his own movies...

From August 2010

Putting on a play...

From August 2010

From August 2010

From August 2010

More building, this time with really cool magnetic "blocks"

From August 2010

From August 2010

From August 2010

We had a great time, but I was completely wiped out by the time we left. We headed home, and I tried to take a nap, but I couldn't really rest. I knew I had to get the kids shoes, so I dragged them out on Friday night. I received a shock when I realized that Kyle now is in adult sizes...his feet are exactly the same size as mine! When did this happen? Where did my baby go? We also headed over to JC Penney, where I was frustrated to find almost NOTHING in Alec's shirt size...even in the stuff that wasn't on sale. I did end up finding him a few cute things, and he's pretty happy, so I won't complain too much. Kyle also lucked out, as there were a lot of cool things on the clearance racks in his size. I think we're good on clothes for awhile....

I slept for 12 hours on Friday night. Saturday and Sunday were work, and were really fun nights, I work with a great weekend crew.

This morning I tried to sleep, but the kids were not quiet at all. Oh, well, I guess it gets me used to the fact that with the boys back in school, I no longer have someone to watch Talia while I sleep in after working. I'm sure she will be glad, however, to have the TV back to herself in the mornings.

The kids are getting haircuts in a few minutes. I still have to organize school supplies(thank goodness I got them mostly bought before my chaotic week), and of course Back to School Night is tomorrow. I was planning to stay up til Midnight tonight, and go buy "Mockingjay" right as it's released, but I think I'm going to have to defer to my sleep and just go buy it tomorrow.

That ends my chaotic week. I'm hoping that the regular routine of school will calm things down a little...I know, wishful thinking ;)

Waiting...

August 10th

Who are these kids?

From August 2010

Only 19, so very young for the important decision they were making. A little on the stubborn side, convinced that they were right, that no matter the odds, their young ages, or other issues aside, it was the right thing to do. The right time to do it.

Oh, and those two steady kids were right.

15 years, 2 houses, 3 kids, 2 cats, more fish than we can count. It's been 15 years since I married my very best friend for Time and All Eternity in the Bountiful Temple. It was a very windy, very hot August day, but all I remember was the laughter, and my best friend by my side as we started our life together. I don't regret one minute (ok, maybe I could have done without some of the stresses, but then I'd be giving up the triumph of overcoming them!).

From August 2010

I thought this picture said it all at the time, but now it shows only a fraction of the love and devotion we have for each other.

Happy Anniversary. I Love You. It's been the best 15 years of my life, and I'm looking forward to all the ones to come.

Lagoon

Well, our summer is wrapping up, but we're still trying to sneak in a few more Lagoon nights...

From August 2010

School will be here before we know it!

A Baby Shower...

Last night we (me, my mom, and Brenda) threw a baby shower for my sister Heidi. It's been a really long road for Heidi to find the right guy, and start her family, and I just have to say...I am so thankful that Adam came into our family. He is such a great guy, and such a wonderful husband to Heidi. After all the years of watching my sister date guys not worthy of her, I am SOOOOOO glad she and Adam found each other.

Now they've taken the next step, and baby Logan is due in about 5 weeks. I love to throw a party, so it was really fun to put a baby shower together with my Mom and Brenda.

I was in charge of dessert. Like my mom, I don't love to cook, but I do love to bake. Add that to Mindy's influence, and I've discovered that I like to make the presentation as pretty as the baked goods are yummy.
I made our family recipe chocolate chip cookies, which are always a hit, and mini cupcakes.

From August 2010

I decided to try a new recipe for the batter...something specifically for cupcakes. It was really good....and even this morning when I indulged in 2 cupcakes for breakfast, was still really moist and yummy. I took a hint from Mindy, and used the smaller nut cups to bake the cupcakes in. It was GREAT, I was able to fit 25 on a cookie sheet, and only had to run my oven for an hour. (Thanks, Mindy!) Let me tell you, if you have a lot of cupcakes to make, using the nut cups is the way to go.

We always do open house showers...it just seems to be easier for more of our large extended family to come if things are a little less structured. We had a great turn out...

From August 2010

From August 2010

(baby Fern...my cousin's baby, the namesake of my Grandma, and one of my NICU babies...she is so beautiful I just had to post her picture!)

From August 2010

Heidi and my cousin Melody...they are both having boys and due 2 weeks apart, so we just had to compare bellies!
(they look enough alike to be sisters, don't you think? Gotta love the strong DNA on my dad's side of the family!)

From August 2010

After the shower, Talia and I headed home. The sky was so stunning, with all the clouds, and the thunderstorms brewing over Layton, that I decided to get some pictures. I headed to the back of the Baptist church that sits on the top of the hill, and Talia and I walked to the edge to take some pics...

From August 2010

Check out my picture blog for the rest...

From August 2010