Better Late Than Never

I have seen hundreds of "first day of school" pics on FB and blogs. And I have been quite lazy about it this year. Maybe because I felt last year was the first day of preschool, and next year will be the first day of kindergarten. But yes, technically, she started 4 year old preschool at the same place. So here are a few pics for documentary sake. I didn't really get emotional about it - thank goodness. But I'm pretty sure I was saving all my tears for May.

Sporting her MeenyMinyMoe most of the week. Check her out on FB.

MC was nervous on the way to school (don't think I've ever seen her nervous - but she kept telling me she was going to "grow up" = throw up.) She didn't talk in the car - which is strange for her. She misses her previous teacher, Mrs. Courtney, terribly. But she has Mrs. Kacy as her new teacher. How did I forget to take that picture? Probably because I was surrounded by the 15 other 4 year olds in her class. Bless Mrs. Kacy. God, give her strength and patience. We get out of the car, and she sees tons of her friends but she is still stuck my leg (also not like her). "Mommy, is Claire here?" and one of the teachers calls for Claire across the playground... let me just say it was like watching a movie in slow motion. They are running to each other arms outstretched smiling shouting the other's name relief written across their face and they hug each other like there's no tomorrow oh the world is right now. And she took off without even saying goodbye. and that was that.

Claire and Mati Claire

So this is why a giant sandbox has been added to her Christmas List for Santa. I find sand in new places everyday. oh, I think that's Mrs. Kacy leaning over - better pic next time. Hm..I'm starting to wonder if they ever actually go inside. ;) Fun times. MC loves it.

This Little Piggy

My first piggy woke up one morning and asked me if we could make money. So I explained to her that's why mommy and daddy go to work... you have to do something to make money. Little did I know at the time, she meant to actually MAKE i.e. mint, draw, create money. So then I had another conversation about making money vs. EARNING money. The concept definitely caught on. She asked for something to put her money in. I was thinking a piggy bank! She was thinking a new purse! Yes, because the one she has is "old." So I had yet another conversation about why we go to the bank vs. mommy's purse. I showed her how empty my purse was. (sshhh..no one tell her about credit cards yet please). My sister found her this cute piggy bank at Target i think. Every day she asks what she can do. Slow down yall. Yes, I will eventually make her do these things without getting paid = chores, but to start - I thought it was ok to give her the spare change out of my wallet and Matt's fish bowl to seal the concept. What child do you know that begs to go clean her room and her brother's room!!! Then begs to clean the windows (no, not breaking any child labor laws). Her great-grandmother sent her $ for her birthday, and then "uncle" James slipped her some $ behind our backs ;), plus all the change she gets from me...i mean, this piggy is loaded...for a 4 year old. She has more $ in that bank than I do in my purse.

And here's the BEST part.... "mommy? when its full.... i'll give some to God and give the rest to somebody who needs it."

Just For Laughs

I think everyone could use a good laugh today. Remember this one?

Fun with Family

We came to TN to pick up MC and to hang out with my nieces. Kerigan turned 7 and she had her birthday party at the movie theatre! Very cool party and got watch the Smurf movie. They had a party room, so we had DQ ice cream cake. Then everyone gets free refills of popcorn and drink! Doesn't get any better than that!!!

Yesterday we went to the Lost Sea Adventure. Also pretty cool (literally). They said it was 58 degrees underground! I'll take it. Its a 4 acre lake in a cave! Yep, underground lake. I don't suggest wearing Sketchers' ShapeUps Flipflops to trek over a downhill/uphill gravel mile. But it was a lot of fun! Mattox really likes to say cheese for the camera...and pass out sugar. I don't think anyone was more excited to see MC than him. He kissed her 3 times when he saw her. I didn't realize just how much he missed her. He is the sweetest thing!!!!!!! love mister mattox. So glad everyone is feeling better and ready to come home.

Say "cheeeeese"

ps

...and no...i did not leave my sick child at home with a babysitter so i could go to the spa. lol. he was/is feeling much better! and he would probably prefer his "ra-dul" to me anyday. just for those of you questioning my parenting skills. ;)

July Ramblings

this month really needs to slow down. you can see from my lack of blogging that means i've been busy. we survived stomach bug #3 of the year. really. if we get another stomach bug after school, i might die. i caught somewhat of a break since MC was at my mom's the entire time. YES - I am a horrible mother. I shipped her off to her Gigi's SICK! She wanted her mommy she wanted to come home... and I was here with another sick child. Trust me, you don't have to comment on the guilt I feel. mattox is doing some serious teething on top of that. gotta love those molars and eye-teeth. He's been running fever for 1 week today = no sleep. this was supposed to be my "minus 1" week. MC was supposed to be enjoying her time with her cousins, and I was supposed to be enjoying only having 1 child to take care of and spending quality time with mattox playing with cars and trucks. It was anything but that. guess if you count quality lap time. he won't move. he won't stop fussing. he won't eat. he won't sleep.

then yesterday was my Rachel's last day. *sniff sniff* she has babysat for me since MC was born. 4 years. she left us for her real job. left 2 kids for 25 first graders. *sniff sniff* We wish you the best of luck this year! And if you get MC as a student in 2 years, you'll have to overlook her calling you "chachel" instead of Miss McFarland.

So I planned a spa day yesterday. my self-indulgence. I L.O.V.E. the spa. I feel clean, I feel refreshed, I escape. I get facial-ed, wrapped, massaged, waxed, pedicured, and blissed out. But yesterday was also anything but that. I decided to be brave at the facial and try a mini-peel. She said "its going to feel like ants crawling on your skin." And I pay for this??? Yes. I do. ok, it didn't burn that bad. then i get to the massage, and it was not relaxational. it was deep tissue and apparently i have ALOT of knots in my back. i think i even have a bruise today and am sore! it was a painful experience. worse than the bikini wax. nuff said. then my black toenail (remember earlier post in April) FINALLY fell off a few days ago, so i have this teeny-weeny paper-thin new toenail. the pedicurist ignored my comment about leaving that toe alone and decided to pedicure that nail as well. what nail? why don't you just clip that toe right off? there's nothing to paint really. then i absolutely froze during the body wrap. i had never done one of those before. interesting experience. i actually paid someone to give me a bath in this weird looking bed (visualize an egg shaped tanning bed that's actually a flat bathtub). very weird. and what's better - i paid someone to exfoliate my skin raw and then drown me in stinky green goop called seaweed. draped in these soaking wet towels and f.r.e.e.z.i.n.g. what's relaxational about that? do i have soft beautiful breath-taking skin afterwards? not so much. lol just plain ole dry psoriasis-stricken skin. who knew???

So we are going to torture ourselves even more and make the 8 hour drive to pick MC up. torture in the sense that mattox will most definitely scream the entire 8 hours. Can't wait to see my girl though! Happy 7th birthday to my niece, Kerigan!!

MC'isms

• "Why did they only mail half my new big-girl bed? Would it not fit in the mailbox?"


• "I didn't tuck them, mom..... i promise. I didn't ooze the scissors."


• During our nightly bedtime ritual, I told her she could not have her milk until she went potty (she must also go potty so we don't have any accidents during the night). Several minutes passed and then I overheard, "C'mon tee-tee, come out! .....please, I want my milk.... c'mon tee-tee c'mon!"


• (Also in reference to her new bed being delivered) MC gave me a quarter in the car. "Here's some money for my new bed... now you don't have to work anymore. Can you tell them its paid for and to send it to me now?"


• Matt cleaned out the lake house hand-me-downs and brought home a trailer-full to take to the dump. The trailer has been parked in front of our house for a few days until he could get a day off work to take care of it (we're talkin ancient deep freezer, pots, rusted broken un-fixable furniture, busted ski equipment, stuff a junk store wouldn't even take, etc). Every morning, MC comments on this sight. "Mom, we sure are trashy."

Sometimes I wish I could see through their eyes and remember everything being so innocent and simple. Gotta love my girl.