Back to School

First day of school! I cannot believe it. This summer did not exactly fly by with my school schedule from hell, but my time with the kids definitely seemed too short. The kids are in uniforms this year, which is the only reason Caitlin is wearing a "boy shirt"...after some grumbling about it I think she has finally resigned herself. But! She has assured me that she will be changing every day after school. (Yay! More laundry.)

Matthew ended up with Caitlin's teacher from last year, which he was happy about (and so was I)..Caitlin has a teacher that I don't know much about, but who seems really nice. Unfortunately Caitlin doesn't have any of her friends from last year in her class...poor girl-when she saw the list of kids I could just see her starting to stress out. It took her a while to make close friends last year and I know she hates having to start all over. But she'll do fine. As I dropped Matthew off at his class I spent a few minutes talking to his teacher and then said goodbye to Matthew...but he was way too busy getting settled in to pay any attention to me! I suppose it's better than crying, right?

It feels really wierd not having the bigkids home right now...Pea and Ben are sitting here playing/fighting together and they are really reminding me of Lil' C and Matthew at that age...better not blink I guess...before I know it these two will be off to school!

So...He might not be my son-

Happy Birthday Party Ben! I'm going to post more pictures on his actual birthday, but I had to share this video of his first experience with chocolate birthday cake. (spoiler: apparently Ben is violently opposed to chocolate):

Study Break

If I have to read one more sentence about language arts I will literally find a third story window and hurl myself out of it.  I'm blogging so that does not happen.  (also:  Dear Future Self: If you are considering going back to school again.  DO. NOT. DO. IT.  It bites.)

Quick, & tiny update/fun facts on the kids, plus a haircut and cousin visit:

Caitlin: Mature and helpful-Still worries when I go to school, says the best Christmas present of all this year will be mommy being done.  Im right there with you girl.  That, and finding a job!!

Matthew: Growing like a bad weed-continues to do kind things, like giving me pictures so I can think about him while I study.  Still really silly, but knows when it's time to be serious. 

Hannah: I've given up calling her The Bad One.  Not only because Ben has taken over the title but also because she is really growing up, making decisions about what she should and shouldn't do.  (not always the RIGHT decision, but at least she is thinking about it).  Also starting to play with Ben, which melts me.

Ben:  When he's good, he's very, very good...you know the rest.  He does play well by himself and with Hannah, but when he has had it, he will do "crawlin' and cryin'".  Until you pick him up.  Matt thinks he just needs an "Altitude" adjustment. HAHA!  He is on the cusp of walking-doing bear crawl, and free standing...but still too scared to walk alone.  He'll be one in a few weeks...I'm expecting great things by then!

Also! Ben got his first haircut :(  The Bozo sidehair was getting out of control.  He took it really well, no crying or anything.  Here's before, during and after:

Before. (Do you see why I waited so long?  Look at those beautiful curls!)

In Ms. Deana's Chair

"Uh, wait.  She's gonna do what with those???"

After.  Still has some curls, but not nearly as many :(

With wet hair.  He looks all 'growed' up!

Next:  We got to have the cousins and Aunt Elizabeth come over and spend the night...it was wonderful!  Nine kids and two adults sounds like a lot, but it actually felt like only a few-they all played together so well!  The big kids played Wii, and the little ones got to go to Sophia school:

Hannah, Sophia and Surfer boy Stephen.  Aren't they beautiful?

Big Kids playing Wii.  Alex watching :)

These were my attempts at a group shot.  I took three...it's a funny progression:

"Smile for the camera! Yay!! Say Cheese!"

"SMILE DAMMIT!"

"Good!"

Quick post

Ben has usurped Hannah's position as "The Bad One".  Here is just one tiny example:  (and yes those are knives.)

In other news...Yesterday we went to Lamar Dodd to see an art exhibition because we are all cultured and fancy like that (ha!  It was a school assignment).  Anyway, Hannah conned the Janitors into taking us on a tour of the entire buiding where we found this little gem:

It's made of papier mache and guess who else was there?

Yep.  The whole freakin' jungle.  And the best part?  The janitors are sick of tripping over these animals and are going to try to get us permission to TAKE THEM HOME!  Im so excited. 

More later :)

St. Simons Recap

Uploading all these pictures has taken forEVER, so I'm running out of writing time...here's the quick and dirty on our trip (which was fabulous!)
Event 1: Casino night!  The kids...well, they are still talking about it-

Matthew getting ready for the money machine...game face on!

Caitlin's turn!!

They ended up with $53!!!

My little gamblers...

Event 2: the new playground by the pier-

Daddy and the Ben

Monkey

Down the slide!

Cool spinny thing...

They all climbed the whale sculpture, but it was slippery!  Caitlin was scared to death-

Finally coaxed a smile out of her ;)

Perfect tree for climbing!

Headed to the water!

Event 3: The beach!

Everyday Matthew would draw a big circle for us to put our shoes, towels, etc.

Out for a swim!

Caitlin was always finding sea creatures...they found a lot of crabs and sand dollars!

Beach Bums:

He loved the sand!

Matt wanted to take the kids out to ride waves...I was scared to death!!  Of course they loved it...

Even Ben got to go!

Event 4: the pool!

Ben enjoyed hanging out in his float...especially when siblings would entertain him!

Event 5: Dinner at Skippers Fish Camp (a tradition :))

Checking out the gar and turtles:

Daddy and The Ben...matching!

And that's all!

Reason 5,783 I Love My New Washer/Dryer:

Accomplishment

I am very proud of Matt and I, and I wanted to record my accomplishments here...I'm burying this post between several others, because honestly no one probably cares but us ;)  For my records, actual post date is Sept. 2, 2010.

For the past three weeks, Matt and I have been getting up before 6am, and running about 2.5 miles.  We alternate, so he goes M & W, and I go T & R.  We skip Friday and try to make both weekend days.  Chassie goes with us in the mornings, which is great for her health as well!  Altogther, we are logging between 9 & 12 miles/week.

Last weekend, I was actually able to run five miles, no stopping, on hilly terrain through town-it took me a little over 50 minutes, but I did it!  And it was after swimming ten (there and back) laps in our pool. 

Yes, it might sound like I'm tooting my own horn here, but really I want to remind myself that I CAN do it-for all those times I feel like quitting, or forget my running roots...I am a runner, and I will make it to that marathon! (probably when I'm eighty, but thats ok).  I couldn't do it without Matt though..he is such an awesome running buddy.  We work well together, motivating and pushing each other to go just a little harder, or a little further each time. 

Anyway, that's all.  Except, I am secretly enjoying the run.  Getting up in the morning is the hardest part, but once I'm up and dressed...I am so glad to be at the beginning of the run....knowing that half of the battle is won.  Hopefully we'll keep this thing going!