No crying today

Thank goodness, none of my kids disrupted church today crying at the threat of me having to reprimand them. OK, I hope the trend continues.

I must be really mean

Last Sunday, while I was presenting Sharing time to the Senior primary, I heard a familiar wailing. Yes, it was Greyson in the next room crying his eyes out. I sent my first counselor over there to see what was wrong. Come to find out, Greyson was acting up and his teacher told him she was going to go get his mommy and the boy started crying and screaming! When she then put him on her lap and talked to him, he calmed down. How's that to make you feel bad?
Take two...I get a message on the answering machine today from Kerstyn's third grade teacher telling me that Kerstyn got a "C" on a science test today and when she found out she went hysterical! She begged me to take it easy on her and that her average was still a "B". I went up to school at her lunch time to give her a hug and tell her not to worry about it and she started crying again. She told me that Brennan gets in really big trouble when he gets lower than a B and that she was going to get in trouble too. I tried to explain that if she was trying her best, it was okay.
I don't think that I am very good at this... I don't want them to be upset like that. But they do need consequences, right?

It is really annoying

It is really annoying that every time I turn around in the fall and spring, I have sinus issues! I don't have time to feel poorly! The world doesn't stop when I do, and I don't have a time out to take. Do you all feel my pain?

I must be crazy!

I signed Lauklan up for Coach Pitch Baseball. Kerstyn is going to be playing in the minor league baseball. Of course, this means that I will be at the ball fields on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Did I think that I was just sitting around with nothing to do? Oh yeah, Brennan and Kerstyn are going to start piano lessons next month (hopefully) and I have a husband is never home. Luckily Brennan wanted no part with baseball and Greyson is too small, but, it won't be too long until I know that I will be going 5 different places for 5 different kids! Chris warned me, I'll have to admit.
The things we do for our kids... Gladly, I might add.

Pee in the toilet?

Why is it that my dear, sweet Greyson must pee around the toilet not in it? It never fails, I have just cleaned the toilet and walk by the boys bathroom and smell urine! That just makes me fiery mad! I walk in there and low and behold, it is on the floor, or even better, in the garbage can that is right next to the toilet! Help me please! I have asked nicely, I have fussed, still, there is pee to be found. Good thing that I love that boy...

Labor Day

Well, I have to admit that we did a DARN GOOD job of relaxing on Labor Day! I believe that I was the only one to leave the house today. I went to the gym for some peace and quiet and exercise. Everybody else, well, they played video games and watched television. Hope they got it out of their system, because tomorrow is back to school, homework, and very, very little of what they did today. :)

Webelos Badge

Brennan received his Webelos badge tonight with several activity badges in the areas that he has completed.
Way to go Brennan!

Webelos Badge

I am really proud of you Brennan! Tonight he received his Webelos badge and several other activity badges. Way to go Brennan!
He only needs to earn is Outdoorsman activity badge and a few more things to earn his Arrow of Light. We are getting close.

First Day of school

Here they are, all ready to go!

Brennan is starting 5th grade with Mrs. Parker. Kerstyn is starting 3rd with Mrs. Lavigne. Lauklan is in Kindergarten with Mrs. Platt. Greyson is back at St. Edwards for pre-school. And, well, Aislinn is taking care of Mommy!

Back home

Glad to be back home, I'll have to say. However, thank you Mom, Carole and Gail, also known as the Golden Girls, for a WONDERFUL trip. I throughly enjoyed every minute with all of you! Can't wait for the next one...

New York City, Day 4

Gail with her 8 purses. I don't think that she will need any more for a while.

We went to the Brooklyn Diner for lunch today before the Broadway play, Mama Mia. Gail, Carole and I all ordered the 15 bite hot dog! We expected something totally different than what we got. The hot dog was about 1 inch in diameter and about 15 inches long! I didn't have my camera with me, but I'll tell you, it was CRAZY!
The play was wonderful! Mom and I truly enjoyed it!
For dinner, we went to Stage Deli and had a great dinner and cheesecake that was delicious! Everything there is large, large, large and tasty too!
After dinner was back to the street for more purses, watches and sunglasses!

New York City, Day 3

All of us in the carriage for the ride in Central Park.

Gail at Tavern on the Green.

Mom at Tavern on the Green.

Today we went shopping! I purchased gifts for the kids at FAO Swartz! I had them ship them home. We also got to buy some knock off's from people. Purses wrapped in sheets, watches in bags, sunglasses hidden! What a different place up here in New York City!
We ate lunch at Tavern on the Green. It was neat to see the place. Of course, the service was wonderful! However, a bottle of water was 8 bucks!!!

New York City, Day 2

Tiles for America. Children painted tiles for the people of 9/11. It was moving to see it.

Grace and I at dinner.

Mom and I went on a city tour this morning and early afternoon. Since we had been freezing in San Francisco, Mom was worried that she would be cold on top of the double decker bus. Well, we DID NOT have to worry about being cold. On the other hand, we were sweating like crazy! Gail and Carole went to a Yankees game. Then we met up later to go to dinner at The Tribeca Grill with Grace, my friend from home. Grace is a vet and lives in New York City, so I had to see her. We went from 3rd grade through 12th together.
I rode on the subway to dinner. It was so hot under there, but I wanted the experience of riding the subway. All I can say is I am very glad that I have my own car!

New York City, Day 1

Times Square. WOW!

The Empire State Building.

We flew from San Francisco to New York City today. We were so excited because we didn't even think that we would make it on the flight. But we did, so good! Flying standby is a whole experience within itself. We had a blast though. You just can't worry about getting there, just have a good time. We ate at Serendipity for dinner, the frozen hot chocolate was DELICIOUS! We also had a waiter that was a model. So, of course we had to take a picture with him. But, it was with Mom's camera, so I don't have it.

San Francisco, Day 3

The bay

Mom as we are eating our dessert.

Carole while we eat our dessert.

Today was the Ultimate city tour. We also ate at Inn and Out Burger and walked to Ghiaradelli Square and had a delicious hot fudge sundae! We ate dinner at some seafood restaurant wit a beautiful of the bay. Then off for more fattening food at the square.

San Francisco, Day 2

Mom and I in front of one of the big trees.

Gail, Mom and Carole

This was really neat. They showed how old the tree was and at what stages. See, my trip was educational too!

We did the Muir Woods and Sausalito tour today. It was really neat to see the trees and that quaint town. We ate dinner at some pizza joint and double tipped the waitress that was quite close to awful. Oops!

Monterey, CA

The Pacific Ocean.

Mom, me and Carole posing on the cliff. It was really beautiful!

We drove down the Pacific Ocean highway today. It was beautiful! I had never seen the pacific ocean so I had to stop and take some pictures. How pretty! We didn't make it to Carmel by the sea because of traffic, but what we did see was just beautiful! We ate dinner at Hard Rock Cafe, San Francisco at Pier 19 at Fisherman's Wharf.

Off to San Francisco

This is the crookedest street in America and I went down it. FUN!!!

Mom and I standing waiting to ride the cable car.

A shot of downtown.

I left to go to San Francisco on Friday, July 27. Mom and I were on a plane to New York City at 6:05 in the morning then off to San Francisco and arriving at 4 something out there! What a day!

Great Wolf Lodge

The gang inside the hotel.Brennan, Kylea, Aislinn, Greyson, Kerstyn, Thomas and Lauklan. What a group!

Greyson and Aislinn playing in the kiddie area.

Mark and the bigger kids letting the bucket dump on them!

Aislinn doing the frog slide for the thousandth time!

Greyson acting shy.

We went to the Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, Virginia for a ton of fun! The whole thing was a water park inside a huge hotel. The inside of the hotel had a magic game all through it where you had to wave wands and get clues. The kids thought it was the best!

July 4th in Virginia

Having a snack.

Greyson and Brennan relaxing.

Kerstyn had a lot of fun!

This one's for you, Mark!

We spent July 3 - July 10 in Virginia with Mark and his family. On the fourth of July, we went to a public swimming pool where the kids had a blast. So much fun, that we were all asleep by the time the fireworks even went off!