The Missing Winks

Hello little Blog. I'm sorry I've neglected you so sorely these last several months. I promise, you'll be seeing more of me again. There's a time management issue (namely: Staying Up Too Late) that needs to be resolved. The problem has been identified and steps are being taken to remedy the situation. This little problem has created all sorts of ripple effects across our days, affecting all of us, including you, little Blog. Supper has also been affected and has been suffering with offerings like pigs in a blanket and mac n cheese, plain buttered noodles, and pancakes. Complaints have been registered and are being processed. Perhaps the only entity that has NOT suffered is PBS Kids, who has seen a significant increase in free time as I try to grab the missing winks in the afternoons.

Again, I apologize, Blog. Complaints are being registered from all sides and are being processed--they will be addressed in a timely manner, and your turn will come.

Remorsefully,
The Wink Waster

The Real Deal

Doc Olson took pity on a doubting, obsessive-compulsive mommy and did another scan. There. Is. No. Doubt.

With my mind at ease, we've begun the official baby prep. (Bj calls this "shopping". :) ) The "Before Baby" to do list is shortening by the day--a couple more cupboards and closets to organize and I'll only have sewing, shopping and some cooking/freezing meals left to do! Nesting, nesting...

Homeschool curriculum is on its way, scheduled to arrive tomorrow. We're flying through Pre-K materials right now, I'm anticipating Abby will be ready to begin a Kindergarten language arts in September. I've been pleasantly suprised to find the addition of schoolwork an easy blend with our routine. Most days Abby asks to do her schoolwork, and is usually finished in no time. Alex is happy working puzzles, coloring, or doing other manipulatives along side us at the table.

There's a quick update--there've been other happenings too, but we're off to a church picnic at the lake!

Late Night.

3:50 a.m. Up with what I'm assuming to be Braxton Hicks contractions...not painful, they just started enough of a back ache to keep me up...thought I may as well do something useful with the time, since I'll surely be useless tomorrow.

So, here's a few swimming lesson pics...I realize they're not great, but meh.

After lessons, she comes grinning, "Mom!! Did you see???"

How was everyone's Fourth? We had a wonderful day with friends, fireworks, canoe rides, splashing in kiddie pools and staying up waaaaay past bedtime!

I'm Dying Over Here

Snark, snark...thought I was going to talk about heartburn some more, didn't you? I'm not. I bought some "playsilks" from Dharma Trading Co. and dyed them with Kool Aid and food coloring. Super easy, pretty cheap and fun.

Abby loves them. This is what she does with them the most:

She wouldn't put the book down for the picture. I guess it's fitting that it's a color book. They've also been baby blankets, the green one is used as grass for animals to eat/play on, Alex puts them over his head and makes monster noises or wears them as superhero capes, they get waved around and danced with...they're pretty versatile and the kids are pretty good at coming up with uses for them! I'm thrilled with the open-ended possibilities.

Eat Out. It's Patriotic.

I have heartburn. It's been eating me from the inside out since I got out of bed this morning, no joke. What does the ticker say down there? Only 130something days left? Or is it more? Anyway, it's worth it.

Here are some cool kids. At Dairy Queen. What's not to smile about?

(Abby's dress is mama made, freaky easy pattern--plan to make more if we survive the Great HeartBurn of '08.)

She's awesome.

So is he.

(The last 2 were taken at Perkins. Yes, we do eat at home. Just not really last week.)

Can you believe that THIS little thing can tell me about a baby bird's egg tooth, is doggy paddling in swimming lessons and winning at Candy Land!?!? Time has flown. Came across newborn pics while browsing the outer reaches of the computer today.

Proud Mommy Moment...

Today was Abby's first day of swimming lessons! Given her reluctance to participate in group activities, especially those involving strangers, I was a little nervous for her, but no need!! As soon as classes were sorted out and we found her teacher, she didn't look back! She looked like such a big girl, putting her face in the water, kicking and splashing and trying everything her instructor put in front of her-- I was so proud watching her be brave and participating better than many of the other kids in her class! She's excited to go back tomorrow! Yay!! I considered taking pictures, but was unsure of the other parent's reactions to the creepy mom snapping pics of their kids in swimming suits. Especially if they knew they were for posting on the internet.

Also, it seems a little more clarification is needed on the baby name thing--in addition to Rollie, Alf is also out, and I'm pretty sure Ole is too, sorry Mom and Dad. There will be no Leopold, Efford is also on the no-fly list, and it hasn't come up yet, but just in case, I don't believe Burton is going to happen either. And for the record, all are very fine names representing very fine people. :) There, just clearing that up. Any other suggestions?

Also, found a little more reassurance on the home school front...last fall, Big Lake passed LOTS of budget cuts for the district, it rocked the community pretty hard. Today I was talking to another mom at swimming lessons who has a child in the Big Lake school--she mentioned that with the budget cuts and the teacher cuts that are already happening, class numbers next year will be up to well over 30 per classroom. That's big! The local paper was listing some of the programs to be cut, including multiple music programs and other performing arts programs. Sad times.

And in another part of the picture, the high school decided to quit naming Valedictorian because it may diminish recognition of the hard work of the other members of the class. What??