Matthew turns 10!

Just some pics from the 10th birthday party for Matthew. We hit a new hot spot called GlowPutt. The pictures don't really capture the fun, since everything was in the dark, lit up by black lights. We loaded up the kids with glow-in-the-dark necklaces, bracelets and flashing magnetic lights that most everyone wore as an earring! Everybody had fun hitting their fluorescent balls around the 18-hole course.

Afterwards, we went home to enjoy pizza, a football made out of cupcakes, ice cream and the biggest Nerf war that our basement has ever seen. Everyone went home happy and exhausted!

Quote of the Day

Molly - upon returning from her first day of Kindergarten as said to Poppy and Nana who were getting the full report . . . "Oh, riding the bus was really cool. We don't have to wear seatbelts, but the driver does. Tee, hee, hee!" Oh the joys of breaking the rules!

School Days, School Days . . .

The house is finally quiet. My littlest one went to her first day of Kindergarten. I was amused by the way she did it. In the past I have put each of my children on the bus. Each was a little apprehensive, maybe even a little confused about where to sit, what to do, who to ask for help. Each glanced back at me as if to say, "Am I okay? Am I doing this right?" Each waved a somewhat less-than-confident wave to me as the bus pulled away.

Not Molly! She lined up with the rest of the kids and marched right on to the bus. Did she sit in the front seat with the other frightened kindergartners? No! She walked confidently to the back of the bus and took a seat next to a child twice her size. I can only imagine what conversations they had on the short ride to school. Did she wave? No, I couldn't even see her among all the other older children.

When she got off the bus at school (Yes, I did follow my child to school. No, I did not cry!), she walked over to where her teacher was waiting. After giving her a quick hug, she continued on as if to go into the school with the other older kids. You have to understand that the rest of the kindergartners were still huddled by the teacher wondering what to do next. Not Molly. She knows where to go, what to do, who to ask if she doesn't. She is a veteran and hasn't even had her first official day at school yet. I guess that kind of attitude comes with spending countless days visiting the school to see her older brothers and sister.

So watch out, elementary school. Miss Molly is in the house and she's ready to take on anything you can throw at her! Good luck in school, Molly!

And They're Off . . .

Well, it happened. . . the first day of school. While Molly doesn't go until tomorrow (I don't remember "phase in" days when I was in kindergarten!), the rest of my kids woke up early and headed out to the bus stop this morning.

Maggie was the first to go. Our first year with two different schools and two different bus schedules. Actually, it was kind of nice just to have some time with her this morning before everyone else had to get up and start getting ready. She was ready to tackle middle school, although admitted to having just a little nervousness over the unknown. At the end of the day over a big pile of homemade puppy chow, chocolate chip cookies and milk (oops . . . I'll do a healthy snack tomorrow!), she had many tales to tell and acted rather nonchalant about the whole thing. Such a budding adolescent!

Matthew and Mason headed out next. Off to elementary school once again. Surprisingly, both of them were quite excited to be going back to school today. I think they were ready for a break from one another. Since we have so many who join us at the bus stop, one of the moms generously supplied everyone with doughnut holes and coffee. Yum. I love my neighbors. The moms were fighting the kids for first dibs! Both boys came home very excited about their classes and their teachers. Matthew was even carrying a new book home that he wanted to read. I've died and gone to heaven. My oldest boy actually wants to read!! Hallelujah for a teacher who has lots of great books for BOYS and understands how to motivate them to want to read them!

I'll let you know how tomorrow goes when the youngest finally makes her venture into the world of elementary school . . . right after I enjoy a cup of coffee in the complete and utter silence of my own house!

Pic of the Day

Just in case you doubted that all the craziness that I speak of really goes on daily at our household. Mason getting ready for an all-house Nerf War. Let the battle begin!!

Slip Slidin' Away

There are moments when my kids are running around the house at full tilt that I wish I could just harness all of that energy for some useful purpose. Well, it finally happened. A few months ago, my dear friend brought over a catalog with a product that she thought was perfect for me. You see, she knows me well enough to know that I hate to clean my wood floors. I can get the dusting, vacuuming and toilets done, but when it comes to that final step of cleaning the wood floors, I just crumble.

The catalog showed these wonderful slippers that you just put on your feet and glide around in. The bottom is covered with nubby micro-fiber "fingers" that sweep up all the dirt. When you're done, you just remove the bottom of the slipper, throw it in the wash, and you're ready for the next cleaning. Now, I really didn't think it was worth buying them and paying for shipping. But . . . when I saw them in the local housewares store the other day, I couldn't resist. I bought two pair. I figured I couldn't have all four kids wearing them at once, or we would have mass collisions. Notice, I did not say that I was going to wear them. I do have my fashion standards! The moment we got home, my kids fought over who got to wear them first.

Let me tell you, while I still need to mop on occasion, my wood floor is now sparkly instead of dusty. So if you happen to see a bright green or pink blur whizzing past in our house, never fear. It's just my kids doing their chores. I think I'll go sit in my chair and enjoy a cup of coffee!!

Ready . . . Set . . . Hike!

There's something exciting about watching boys play football. In a day and age where the lines between femininity and masculinity are becoming increasingly blurry, it's nice to take a moment to let boys be boys.

Little League Football just started up their 2008 season here. The first year that we were involved with football, I must admit that I was a little more than hesitant about letting my boys play. Something about watching them be crushed under a sea of humanity just seemed too brutal for my little guys. But they both begged to be a part of the action. You see, both of my boys are "all boy"! So with as much padding as I could possibly buy (and a little extra that I tried to tuck into the unprotected spaces), I sent the oldest one, Matthew, on to the field, worried sick that we would be racing momentarily to the emergency room with a broken bone.

What I didn't plan on was the excitement that I felt at watching my boy run, tackle, sack and score on the field. Admittedly, it's not always exciting. We are talking about little boys, who often run around more in a pack rather than as a well-oiled machine. But after years of yelling "Don't hit your brother!" or "Don't trip your sister!" or "Boys, no wrestling in the family room!", it's just a liberating moment to let your boys be boys . . . to let them do what comes naturally, flinging their bodies around in the hopes of knocking someone off their feet!!

This year, I have both boys in football. Fortunately, Mason gets his introduction into football in the seemingly safer manner of flag football. He has a one-year reprieve before getting his clock cleaned in the tackle league in 2009. So anytime you're here in the area over the next couple of months, come join me in the stands as I holler, scream and jump on the sidelines, cheering on my boys as only a good football mom can do!