The FIRST day of school!!!

I am now "that Mom" who embarrasses her child with a photo in class.  Kate said to me as I came into her classroom (because she doesn't need me to walk her to class anymore) to make sure she was okay: "Hi, Mom.  Okay, Good-bye."   What a stinker!   She was not co-operative in the least as you can see.  I hope someday I'll be cool again.  

Jackson was up at 6:30 a.m. this morning.  He was not at all excited/nervous for school to start.  Kate and Ella soon followed and they were all ready to go at 7:30 a.m.  It made for a loooong morning.  I have been somewhat looking forward to the kids getting back to school.  I knew that I would miss them but I was excited about cleaning my house and it staying clean for more than three seconds.  I have given birth to four hurricanes and they tend to whirl and whirl and leave destruction in their wake.   I have been going insane at the lack of organization and cleanliness of my house and so I have some big plans for the hours they are in school.   However, that was far from my mind when I dropped them off this morning.  It always seems weird after I've walked them to their classes and given them a kiss that I'm suppose to leave.  I feel strange leaving my kids somewhere by themselves after having them attached to one of my appendages all summer.  It's a little sad too.  Another year at school means they are growing up and are one year closer to leaving me for good.  Sigh.  But I am resolved to take pleasure in the things that I am afforded because of their absence--like private bathroom time and being able to dress myself uninterrupted and no in-shower peace negotiations.  Still, I do miss them...

Happy Endings...

Kate just came down from her room sobbing.  My first thought was that something terrible had happened.  Nope.  She finished reading a book that ended with the death of the main character.  She looked at me with the sweetest face, eyes filled with tears and innocence and said, "This book makes me think that there aren't always happy endings."  I may be a bad Mom but I tried really, really hard not to laugh.  Oh, Kate life isn't always full of happy endings but it is full of joy.  You will find this out.  In the meantime, I don't envy you the next 10 years.

Sunday and potty words.

Max still can't get over his potty word problem.  I've told him that he is only suppose to say poop in the bathroom.  Today, during Sacrament meeting, Max announced with urgency that he had to go.  We headed into the only empty stall and then he proceeded to loudly talk about what he was doing:

Max:  Mom, I'm sitting on the potty and pointing my wee down.  My poo is coming, Mom.  My poo is coming.
Me: (Quietly) Max, I am here.  I can see what is happening.  We don't need to talk about it.
Max:  Mom, I can say POO in the bathroom!  My poo doesn't want to come out.
Me: Max!  SHHHHH!
Max:  Mom, I pooped.  IT'S DROWNING!  MY POO IS DROWNING!!!
Me:  Max, it's okay.  This is what is suppose to happen, remember?
Max:  Oh, Yeah.  Hey, MOM  I have more POO!
Me: SHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Max: (Oblivious to my embarrassment and having a great time) I have 4 POOS, Mom!  See.  1...2...3...4... Look, they are little!  They are brown and round.
Me: (Peeking out the crack in the stall to see if I can leave without being seen.)  Okay, time to go wash our hands.
Max:  I pooped!  Mom, I can say Poop in the bathroom!
Me: (sigh) Yes, you certainly can!


Out of the mouth of babes:

Max:  I don't kick or punch, I just wack things.

Last days of Hawaii and less than 24 hours in Portland...

Riding public transportation.  Big THRILL!!

OMSI museum: Jackson using an air hose to shoot balls at me.  :)

With much Aloha.

Ella vs. the surfboard

A little glue and a lot of tears later...