First Week Down....

Well, the first week of school is over. It went better than I expected, but we all know that I am a worrier. Zach loves pre-k. He's absolutely glowing when I pick him up at 11:15. He wishes that he could stay all day like Angie and Tony. He has three friends, two of which we knew from t-ball. One of the mom's said that her son comes home really excited about the games he and Zach play at recess...rockets seems to be the current favorite. Zach told me that his teacher let them dress up and act out a book she read. She's sends home a newsletter about what they are studying and I like that.

I had made a list of all the things we were going to read about at home this month, but quickly scrapped it when the kids came home with homework the second day of school. Spelling, reading, and math for both. For example I had put on my list for the kids to read two magic tree house books this month. Well, we finished the one we checked out from the library, and they brought home two this week.

Next week is busy for us. We pick up from our produce coop, Angie starts dance (and i still need to buy shoes), the boys (I mean brian and tony) start scouts and I think we are signing Zach up for soccer. That boy needs an outlet. We also have open house at school.

Aiden and Emi are enjoying having some time with us. They get to hear little kid books and watch little kid shows. They are getting really close and its so cute. Little E is developing her own personality, says something new every day and continues to crack us up.

Too Funny!!

So, now and then I hear people say things like "I can't believe you let your kid eat...." Don't you know that they aren't supposed to eat_____ until after age two?" But after you have two kids, frankly, you just have to pick your priorities and let certain things go. The older kids are so sweet and always eager to share with the little ones, especially when they come at them like a velociraptor.

But sometimes, little ones find their own way to get things you'd never let them have, but that they want. Take exhibit "A" for example. Emi hiding behind the couch drinking a rootbeer.

First Day of school

So, these aren't the best pictures, but I was informed that it was impossible to smile a real smile with a giant pack on the back. I think I had more trouble getting up than the kids and Zach was understandably tired since he was up until almost 11:00I had the kids in bed by 8:30, Angie and Tony were finally asleep at 9:00 and Mr Zach was still up at 10:30 talking to either himself or his imaginary friend. That boy talks alot.

So we had some drama this morning. NOTE Zach's old, almost too small motorcycle shirt. I had laid out a perfectly acceptable new blue polo shirt that was ok when I asked him on Saturday, but this morning oh no, not good enough. Yes, I realize that this was just a stall tactic, but yes I did cave and let him wear one of his favorite OLD shirts to school.

Angie and Tony settled right in and we took Zach to his class. He settled right in as well, asked politely for a puzzle and went to work. As we left, someone turned on the waterworks, and I'll just say it wasn't me.

Back to School

The new shoes are bought, the school supplies are packed in backpacks and I have loved reading everyone's posts and entries about back to school, especially on facebook. Most people are excited to have their kids back to school. Me, well, I have mixed feelings. I don't like my kids being one year older, I don't particularly care for the monday through friday grind and the homework every night.

But, back to school brings some good things. Back to school, for us, is like other people's New Years. Its back to budget, back to schedule, back to healthy eating, back to exercising. I really could go on and on, but those are our main focuses this school year.

Starting September 4th (its the closest to the 1st and when we get paid), We are dedicating one of Brian's paychecks to debt, and one to savings. We are super excited about trying this.

The schedule part is obvious. Up everyday before 7, kids ready for school, pick Zach up at 11:30, Angie and Tony up at 3:30 after GT then homework, dinner bed..blah blah. Pam is doing girlscouts for Angie and Brian is doing boyscouts with Tony. Then there's church (which we have to find) and dance for angie. Oh, and working 3 days a week still.

As for healthy eating, I made our meal planned for the month already, and I mailed our checks for our organic produce coop that we are joining. THis is a huge work in progress for me, teeny tiny baby steps. I have to talk myself into spending 5.60 for a gallon of milk, but I have no qualms about throwing a bag of m&m's and fritos into my basket. One of the local churches has a walking track, and I'm heading there after dropping the kids off starting Monday. And its back to the work gym after my 12hour shifts.

And we wonder why I am not ready for back to school.

Fiesta Texas

I may get pictures on here later, I may not. I like to use disposable cameras for trips like this. That way I'm not worried about the camera getting lost, dropped, wet etc. I worked Monday and mom took the older kids down Monday night and stayed at the Holiday inn since she had a free night stay to use. BRian and I came down Tuesday with the babies.

Our plan was to get up about 7 and leave by 8 so we'd be there shortly before after opening. WEll, I was exhausted from working and driving home, so we got up around 8:30 and were on the road about 9:30. SO, we got there around noon. WE waited to meet up with the gang, so Brian and I rode the teacups with Aiden and Emi. The kids had a blast, but those rides make Brian ill. Give him a big ole roller coaster and he's fine, but anything that goes round and round and he is green as a gourd. I later had to ride the carousel without him. THankfully Pam was there to help with the little ones.

SO, we met mom and the kids for lunch. They were super pumped. They had most of the kiddie rides 2-3 times each. Then, Angie tricks me into getting into the front seat of the log ride with her and we were soaked. I wish I would have thought to put on my water shoes. The kids rode some more rides, Aiden was too short for most of them, but we did get him on the gully washer which he loved. WE took the bigger kids on the roadrunner express. I thought it would be like the runaway mine train but it ended up being a bigger roller coaster. TOny was crying and he said he felt tricked.

Then we headed to the water park. THis was a bit stressful for me. Emi was completely fearless and so was Aiden. Next year will be better. SO, the bigger kids rode some slides with Pam and Brian and mom and I worked hard at trying to keep up with the babies. It was neat to see the looney toons characters. Zach had to give everyone we ran into a huge hug.

THey were so sad to leave. Mom rushed them over to the ferris wheel because Zachy really wanted to ride it and apparently there were several more kid rides over there. They were exhausted though.

And everyone crashed in the car except Emi, who took a 30 minute power nap and then was awake the rest of the time. She has traveled in the car the least of my kiddos and does the worst. Its not horrible, but its not great either.

Pictures from the Coast

Back from the Beach

So, we are back. I'll try to get some pictures on here later in the week. I got a couple of good ones. We left after Brian got off work on monday, so it was after 5. That got us to Port A around midnight, and Emi and Aiden were up until after three. Not sure if we will leave like that again, or if it is just because they are so young--we'll see. But, after that rough night, the rest of the trip was much better. We played on the beach the first day just Brian the kids and I. The kids buried us in sand, and Zach kept exfoliating me, and i for the first time in my life, burnt part of my butt cheeks. That night we caught crabs on the beach, and we found two live starfish. One was missing most of its legs and in the process of making new ones. The next day we took the kids to the Marine institute. This was free and there isn't much there, but of course, Tony loved it.

We watched a video on sponges (yawn) and All the kids except Tony took a nap in the AC. Then we played in the water some more. The next day we took the kids to the State Aquarium and Zach was dying to pet the sting rays. The tank was super crowded with people and everytime one would get close to Zach a big kid would dive in front of him and touch it before he could. SO, we left to look at other things and came back. I got Zach in the perfect spot for his height and he could have stayed there all day. Emi LOVED the shark tank and she kept getting down and running toward it after we left that area. She picked an alligator of all things from the gift shop, and it has been everywhere with her.

My mom wanted to take the kids to the beach one more time before we left, so she got them up at 7. Angie and Zach ended up being the only two to go. Tony was in the worst mood and went back to bed. Brian and I were cracking up. We left Port A about 1 and stopped at the childrens museum in san antonio to break the day up a bit. The kids got to run around a bit for a couple of hours before we continued our trip home.

We went to eat at Landrys in Corpus using our garage sale money, and I have to say the food was fabulous. I this giant seafood kabob with shrimp and scallops, tilapia and veggies and some of Brian's bananas foster crepe for dessert. Today is a lazy day.