Oh my gosh this was a busy month. Today is the 1st of October and just going back through the pictures to write the post explains why I am so tired and crabby today.
September is always busy….both girls have birthdays, we’re still working our way into a routine after summer, and well….I have 3 kids and 3 dogs. There’s just a lot to do. This year took it to a whole new level though. John has been busy moving the business out of the city and is working crazy long hours. We hardly see him most days. My role as commander in chief of the family dictates that I shoulder the majority of the household and parenting duties, but this is intense. His absence is what caused both of these pictures….
I believe it’s pretty well documented that Charlie is both the weirdest and laziest dog ever. As proof of that, this is the position the dog was in when I went to get in the car for school pickup. He did not move when I started the car. Nor did he move when I started to back out. He finally woke from his blissful slumber when I leaned out the window and shouted his name.
September also brings about the first school fundraisers of the year, and I am mostly somewhat happy to support. Jackson’s middle school had a magazine selling campaign, and that was music to my ears. I LOVE reading magazines….like I have genuine joy when I open the mailbox and there’s a new issue of one of my (many) subscriptions in there. I already subscribe to SEVEN magazines, but managed to add 3 more to my tally. Plus, I ordered a magazine for each of the kids in hopes that instead of wanting to eat dinner, they’ll be content curling up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and a glass of wine to read. My influence is great.
As for the girls’ elementary school, they host a Fun Run. Now, there is absolutely nothing fun about running. Ever. But, for the little ladies, it’s an enjoyable event….running around a bunch of cones and having the teachers mark your laps on your huge t-shirt. Whatever. I was there to support and had pledged a dollar a lap for each. Reese is actually quite the little athlete and is one of a handful of kids at the school who scores above the 85th percentile in all of the Presidential Fitness events. She runs an 8 minute mile, which is about 52 minutes faster than me. So, she ran her little heart out, and I was quietly wishing she’d slow down because those dollar tallies were adding up quickly
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Meanwhile, Malory’s competitive spirit was out in full force. She ran with a fierce intensity, right up until she passed the water station. And then, she tried to run with a full glass of water sloshing around. I’m pretty sure I’ve done that on a Friday night or two….except it was not water.
Anyway, doesn’t she look like a future Ironwoman? Her daddy was proud.
Speaking of little habanero, she is thriving in half-day Kindergarten. Part of me wonders if I should have put her into a full day program, but the reality of it is that it wasn’t an option. The full day program was called “enrichment” and is more or less a daycare for the last half of the day. For $400 per month. That factor, combined with her being my last baby at home, made it an easy decision for me. But, when she arrives home by 11:00 each day, has a snack and a little TV or tablet time, I’d better be done with my jobs at that point. The opportunity to blog or do anything other than a load of laundry or two is out, because this little lady wants to be entertained. So, we make lunch together and most days, this is what we do……
Now, she mostly tells me that while my pictures are pretty good, I could really benefit from doing it a different way. “Mom, that’s nice. Instead, why don’t you make that ghost look like mine?” Uh huh. Thanks, Picasso.
And, while we’re on the subject of Malory, the kindergarten classes at her school participate in Humpty Dumpty Day every September. This is the first time I’ve had a kindie at this school, so I wasn’t familiar with the tradition. Basically, the kids are tasked with creating a “vessel” for a raw egg to be thrown off the roof of the school and land without breaking. The big kids must have gotten wind of this challenge last year, because we’ve done several versions of the “egg drop challenge” at home….but from the balcony, instead of the roof. Only because we can’t get up there.
Anyway, my resident architect (Jackson) got right to work helping his sister create a plan for her egg which included a fuzzy sock, stuffed into a carton, covered by duct tape, and then attached to a Wal Mart bag for a parachute of sorts. We had high hopes for our egg’s safe landing. No dice, that sucker was scrambled.
And, in a display of what is clearly a mother’s first and only child….a family created this contraption for their egg’s descent from the roof. While it was fun to watch, it made the rest of us look lame for the household items we scrounged up versus the $30 in helium balloons. Whatever. Maybe I am just bitter and crying over spilled egg.
Ok, my blog boss tells me that I have now written 935 words of gibberish before getting to the real meat of the month….BIRTHDAY SEASON! In what can be described as a true test of Mom strength (both then and now) my girls were born a day apart. Well, 4 years and one day to be precise. But, this means that birthday season is BUSY for that last week of September. Reese’s birthday is up first and she requested a sleepover party at home, which sounded easy and low stress. Hahahahaha! Wrong.
In a moment of weakness, I agreed to allow the gaggle of girls to make slime. My kids have asked me to make slime no less than 100 times and I’ve always said no….with gusto. They’ve brought enough slime home from other parties and playdates for me to know that it is evil and one of those things that would survive the end of the world….like cockroaches. But, their pleading wore me down and the next thing you know, I was buying a gallon of Elmer’s glue and some saline solution. At least I had the good sense to make them do it in the yard. Meanwhile, John was pacing back and forth and huffing and puffing about the whole ordeal. He managed to keep it together until the addition of the food coloring and confetti, and then I’m afraid he lost it. What a kill joy. Nevertheless the kids loved it and the smiles on their faces made it (almost) worth it.
Later, because my defenses were down and I was exhausted from managing my oldest child (see above huffing and puffing), I was less than attentive to the painting portion of the evening. I can admit now weeks later that THIS is the project that should have been done outside. Oh well….lesson learned. #carpetcleaner
We wrapped up the party with gargantuan amounts of sugar, followed by a huge dance party and music videos courtesy of Tik Tok. (It’s a thing. Not a thing I like, but a thing.) Surprisingly, the girls were all off to bed before midnight, which might be a record in the 9-year-old slumber party books.
ALL OF THIS MERRIMENT, and we had yet to make it to her actual birthday. Birthday breakfast and off she went….Reese believes it to be the cruelest of punishments that if your birthday falls on a weekday, you have to go to school. I could have let her skip, but this mama needed a few minutes to collect herself. I still had a long way to go…
After school, we were off for the event ten (two) years in the making. Ear piercing. Every little girl’s dream….right up to the point that that gun comes near them. Then, it’s as if you are dragging them kicking and screaming to some medieval torture chamber. Thankfully, her kind and compassionate brother was there to hold her hand.
And, last but not least….my baby turned SIX.
In years past, Malory was content with a little ice cream, a cake and a few stuffed animals (see last year’s box of 45 Beanie Boos). But, she’s getting older and more aware of the lengths her mother will go to to “create memories.” And, she is NEVER going to be outdone by her sister!! Sadly though, the girl doesn’t have enough friends here for a full-blown party, so guess who was her best friend that day? (I wouldn’t have it any other way)
We also had a birthday breakfast, followed by school with mom volunteering.
And then, off we went to the zoo. We had a great day, saw all of our favorite animals and rode the carousel a few dozen times.
Plus, I’d say it was a successful trip when I looked in the rearview on the way home and saw this. MJ gave up naps 2 years ago and will fight it with the intensity of a thousand suns if I suggest one. Birthday girl was wiped.
Two more things before I sign off…..
Number one, I think I figured out who’s been eating all of the goldfish.
Secondly, this is me watching a Buffs football game on a Friday night. Mom’s are the ultimate multi-taskers. Can you imagine John having to watch the Bronco game like this? At least I had wine…..
