Preschool Graduation for the LAST Time!

It's official!  I only have big kids.  No more little kids in the Mayhem Mania.  And, no more paying preschool tuition!

The girls did a great job at their graduation.  The program was cute.  They marched in.

They did the pledge of allegiance.  We saw a slide show of the kids from throughout the year.  The kids performed 4 or 5 songs, including Deep in the Heart of Texas and a cute poem Kindergarten Here We Come.  They looked like they were having a really good time.  The ceremony concluded with the passing out of "diplomas."

I had to laugh, Eliza Claire was having a horrible time with her mortar board.  It kept sliding back and when she would pull it forward it would make her hair get in her eyes.  It was a never ending cycle.  She was getting very frustrated but luckily managed to make it through the program with out ripping it off or bursting into tears.  It reminded me of Charlotte's graduation where her mortar board fell into the choir loft during the program.

It was a great end to an amazing school year.

Note the shoes

I can't believe I have two Kindergarteners!  How did that happen?
Jenn

Tea Party Fun

This past weekend we were invited to a three generation tea.  It was so much fun.  The night before I decided after spending the whole day at the ballpark that I needed a little crafting therapy and bought supplies to make me and my girls hats for the occasion.  I got to the craft store about a half an hour before closing so I had to be quick.  Having just seen the royal wedding our hats ended up a bit more ostentatious than they might otherwise have been.  I had so much fun making the hats.  And luckily, all the girls loved them.

When buying hat supplies the first thing I spotted were birds.  I bought one for each girl in their favorite color and then picked one for me as well.  Then I looked for affordable flowers in coordinating colors for everyone.  Last I bought a single spool of ribbon that would work with all the hats.  One hot glue gun, an hour of time and lots of eye-rolling from Michael and I had four hats perfect for a tea party.

The girls were each thrilled with their hats.  I got lucky in that they all agreed to wear the dresses I suggested that I knew would look great with their hats.  Then we went to my closet to find jewelry and accessories.  Overall, I think it all came together nicely.

One side story about my hat.  When I was picking my flowers I spotted artificial money plant.  It immediately took me back to my childhood as my grandmother grew it in her garden.  She would let the seed stalks dry, cut them and then peel the outer layers of the seed pod off to reveal the silvery round pieces.  She would then use the stalks in flower arrangements.  I loved getting to help with the money plant and always thought it was so pretty.  So upon spotting it in the craft store I knew I had to have it for my hat.

The tea was such a lovely event.  There were 14 of us in all.  The tables were beautifully set in the garden.  The refreshments were divine and everyone had a wonderful, relaxing time.  The really neat thing is all three families have know each other for 35+ years.

The tea even included a fashion show of the seven girls in attendance.  They did a great job of showing off their fancy attire.

We had so much fun.  It was the great end to a crazy weekend.  And it was something I hope my girls remember for a long time.

Jenn

Grumpy Snakes Running Club

I call it a running club, but I use the terms running and club loosely.  About two months ago I decided to start the Couch to 5K program.  It is a nine week program that takes you from not running to being able to complete a 5k.  The program uses walking and running intervals to get you accustomed to running.  You start out alternating between running 60 seconds and walking 90 seconds.  Every week your increase the amount of time you spend running.  I had a couple of different Facebook friends who started this program before I did.  They kept posting their work outs and I decided I should give it a try.  If it were not for Facebook I would have never tried of doing this.

I downloaded an app for my iPhone (C25K).  I love it because it tells me when to run and walk - I don't have to keep up with anything and it allows me to make notes on each days exercise so I can see my progress.  I will say that I had been working out regularly for 6 or so months prior to starting the program and the first week I thought I would die!  OK, and the second week, too! So I don't truly believe you could go from being a complete couch potato to doing this program, maybe I'm wrong but I'm just giving you my experience.

I am currently stuck on week 4.  Actually I alternate between week 2 and week 4.  And honestly I still can't complete week 4 as it is laid out.  It has two different five minute running intervals and two that are three minutes.  I can't do the five minute ones so I cut them down to 3 or 4 minutes each.  I am making progress and I will complete week 4 this month!  But, I've decided that this is more a process than a goal. I do not see it as failure that I'm stuck.  I see it as success that I haven't given up.  Will I eventually finish the program? You bet!  Will I finish it in 9 weeks? Definitely not!  Am I enjoying the challenge and process? Wholeheartedly!  Will I eventually run a real 5K? I don't know.

I do my running outside on a wonderful local trail.  One of the things I love so much about the trail is all of the nature I see.  Wildflowers, Squirrels, scorpions, fish, cardinals, water birds, turtles and snakes seem to be the most common.  The snakes have one spot that they always hang out.  At least 75% of the time I can find at least one, sometimes several.  I hate snakes!  They give me the heebeejeebees.  But I love looking for them on my runs.  Luckily they are water snakes and are a good 20 feet or so away when I see them. 

Since my kids refer to my working out as "Mommy getting her grumpies out," and I always look for the snakes on my jaunts down the trail the name Grumpy Snakes Running Club seemed appropriate.  And you all know, I have to name everything.  Now I just need the t-shirt...

This series of pictures is of one of the skinnier species of snakes I see.  I happened to catch this one on the move.  

If anyone knows what kind of snakes these are please let me know.  I have no idea but am curious.

Jenn

PS.  These pictures did not come from a Grumpy Snakes outing.  One morning while doing Grumpy Snakes, I saw a big snake covered in moss or other green stuff.  I was so annoyed that I couldn't get a good picture of it with my phone, that when I got finished running, I came home and got my good camera with the good super zoom lens.  By the time I got back, the moss covered snake was gone or had washed off the moss and these two snakes were in its place.  In the course of taking these pictures my camera "broke," the manual focus/auto focus button literal came off my lens.  The pictures are not as good as I wanted them to be but the best I could do given the circumstances.  I wish my good camera wasn't so heavy so I could run with it every day and capture all the fun things I see.  I have taken my lens to be repaired and am anxiously awaiting its return.

Crazy but Useful Tip

A friend mentioned to me that she had read this tip and I filed it away for future use. I've tested it twice and it really does work. What is it? You can use hand sanitizer for deodorant.

I was skeptical but hurried thru a shower the other day and inadvertently left the house without deodorant I happened to visit a public restroom that had hand sanitizer and decided to give it a try. It totally worked. Hand sanitizer is definitely easier to locate in a pinch than the real stuff. Now if you ever end up in this predicament you'll know the quick fix.

Yeah, I know this is a random somewhat weird post but I'm all for sharing my secrets.

Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

Seriously?

This afternoon I took a nap. You notice I didn't say I enjoyed a nap or that the nap was a treat. It wasn't! First the lawnmower and weed eater were too loud. Then the kids kept coming in to ask me questions instead of asking their dad. But the icing on the cake: Rehm came in when his grandparents called. They wanted to know if we needed anything from the store for the dinner Michael was preparing. "Well son, that's a question for your Dad, ask him," I responded.

Rehm: He's not here.

Me: Where is he?

Rehm: At the store.

Me: So do you think he needs Grandma and Grandpa to get anything from the store?

Rehm: Oh, yeah, probably not.

Seriously, he had to wake me up for that one?!

Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

Another One

Charlotte lost another tooth tonight right after going to bed. She has two more that are loose. I hope the Tooth Fairy is more timely this time. She just showed up this morning, sometime after Charlotte got up, to leave her money for the tooth she lost Friday.

At bed time I thanked Charlotte for making me feel special on Mother's Day. She responded, "Mommy, thank you for making me feel like a special Charlottie every day of the year!" Can I just say, that was the best Mother's Day present EVER!


Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

The Tooth Fairy Is Too Busy

Charlotte lost her third tooth yesterday at school. He top two teeth are loose and so is another on the bottom. I'm afraid they are all going to fall out at once and Charlotte is going to be on a soft food diet.

Charlotte dutifully put her tooth under her pillow last night but the silly ol' tooth fairy didn't come! I told Charlotte a lot of kids must have lost teeth yesterday and she was running behind. Charlotte is not very happy with the tooth fairy today. She better show up tonight.
Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

Fun in First Grade

Charlotte's class has been busy hatching chickens this week. They have one more that will hatch today.

These hatched overnight



These were still wet and drying in the incubator before moving on with their older siblings above.



Charlotte was so excited to get to school this morning to se her baby chicks.

In a week or two they will all be going to live on a farm.

Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

Before and After

Rehm was long overdue for a hair cut. He couldn't decide what he wanted so we kept putting it off. After 24 hours camping in 90+ degree temps he was finally ready for a cut.

Before:


After:


I kind of liked the shaggy look though it did need some shaping. His dad is thrilled with the new shorter traditional look. Rehm? He seems pretty indifferent. Doesn't seem to like or dislike it, even though it is what he asked for. I guess hair just isn't important to him.

Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

The Royal Wedding

Charlotte and I had been talking about the upcoming nuptials for a few days. We decided that we would wake up in time to see the actual ceremony live. When we were discussing this and what time the coverage started, Rehm thought it was ridiculous that coverage was starting two hours prior to the event. Then I pointed out that he was at that very moment watching the NFL draft and that it was several months before the season even started. He didn't get my point but his father told him he needed to give up his argument at that time.

I am not a morning person. That is actually a drastic understatement. I despise getting up before 7:00am. But I wanted to create a special memory for my Charlotte. I remember watching Princess Diana and Prince Charles' wedding, well the replay. No one watched it with me nor got me up early to watch it. Honestly, I don't even think I knew it was happening until I turned on the TV and wedding coverage was my only choice on all three channels we could pick up. I was at my grandparents that day and I'm sure I watched the CBS coverage as that is the station my grandfather always watched in the mornings.

So, in the spirit of making special memories, I set my clock for 5:00am. Ugh! When the alarm went off I thought seriously about going back to sleep until 6:00. Charlotte would still have time to see all the good parts. But I had told her we would watch it live so I forced myself to get up.

We brought a quilt downstairs and curled up together on the couch. When we turned on the TV Kate was walking down the aisle! Perfect timing.

We ended up rewinding a bit so we could start with Kate leaving the hotel. We had so much fun watching, talking about the dress, all the amazing hats, and the ceremony. This time with Charlotte was sweet, simple and perfect.

Around 6:00am Rehm joined us. I swear that child asked a thousand questions in the hour he watched with us. Everything from why Prince Phillip wasn't a king and what rank in the military Price Charles had to why there were lamps in the choir loft. The child did not have a single thought that was not verbalized.


When we arrived at school I was glad to see the boy head to his class and know I wouldn't be answering incessant questions for the next seven hours. I apologized to Charlotte's teacher for waking her up early. Then I decided I should stop by Rehm's classroom and apologize to his teacher as well for all the questions I knew she would be getting. Not surprisingly, when I got to his class he was standing in the doorway talking his teacher's ear off.

It was a perfect morning with my two older children. I hope 30 years from now when Kate and Williams child is getting married they will remember and tell their children all about this day.

It was totally worth getting up at 5:00am. I'm just glad I don't have to do it regularly.

Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

No one is lacking in imagination at our house

Monday morning Ruby and Eliza Claire were playing a pretend game. They asked me if I would be the grandmother in their game.

They were sisters whose parents had died so they lived with their grandmother. Ruby was named Sara and was 16 and had a boyfriend. Eliza Claire was named Clarabell and was one. Their roles in the game came as no surprise to me as it perfectly personifies their personalities and ambitions.

I asked Ruby, I mean Sara, what happened to their patents. She started with, "well, there was a burn ban..." After suppressing my laughter, I learned the the family had gone camping. Their parents had built a fire despite the burn ban and it got out of hand and they died. She and Clarabell were in the "camping car" so they were safe. Her boyfriend was with them. Since he knew how to drive he brought them home.

Please tell me my kids are not the only ones who repeatedly play pretend games where their parents are dead because this is a very common occurrence at out house.

Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

One of the many reasons going to church is beneficial

Sibling bonding time.



And, just so you know, this was actually taken at a meeting following church, not during services. I do have a few picture taking boundaries.

Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

Getting ready for Houston

Charlotte is going to Houston with Grandma for the weekend. They leave tomorrow after school. We have picked out her outfit for Cats



And her outfit for church



She has all her other stuff in her bag and ready to go.



I hope she has a great trip.

Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

What happens when Mom takes a nap

I fell asleep sitting on the couch after the bigs got home from school. I heard someone put something in the microwave and assumed they had decided to have popcorn for snack. A few minutes later I smelled burning popcorn. I rushed to the microwave to get it out and found this.





This used to be two turkey hotdogs. Someone decided to cook them for snack. Said child set the microwave for TEN minutes. I'm not sure how long they actually cooked. Needless to say we have several windows open and our house stinks. The child in question has been reminded that they are only allowed to cook with adult supervision. I'm just glad nothing worse happened.

Sad thing is I'm still sleepy and now a nap is out of the question.


Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

Story of Her Life

Charlotte did this life cycle for a class at school.


















Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

Play Imitating Life

The three girls are playing with Playmobil. So far I've heard:


These were just so funny I cracked up:
Ruby (playing the part of the mom): Do you like my new outfit? It came free with the frying pan I bought yesterday.

Ruby: I'll feed the baby milk from my breast. I can't get to my breast so I'll need milk out of the fridge.

These just show how much the kids pick up about the adults in their lives:
Charlotte (playing the part of the dad): I'll make pancakes for breakfast and load the dishwasher. Oh, and I'll have coffee for breakfast instead of milk. (Yes, their dad almost always makes their breakfast and empties the dishwasher and usually drinks coffee in the morning).

Charlotte: Today is my birthday - I'm turning 40.

Ruby(still as the mom): I'll walk or maybe run to the show. I went to the Y and practiced this morning.

I promise you Ruby has never, ever heard me say anything about drinking milk.  I don't drink any kind of milk, ever. Well, unless you count half and half in my coffee.
Jenn