In September I'll be perfect...

Do you ever feel like you keep making the same goals over and over again?

I do.

I'm pretty sure when my January resolutions gave way to my Fresh start February which turned into my March Makeover then onto my Awesome Attitude April and my Maybe in May... you get the idea.... I am pretty sure when I did all those months I was going to:

• set better routines
• develop self control

Pardon me while I pick myself up off the floor from laughing so hard at that one.

• eat more veggies
• exercise
• devote more time to scripture study and service and less to surfing random strangers blogs... (getting better at this one!)

Anyway, here it is September tomorrow and I've decided to be Perfect in September. I'm going to do all those things I've not had the self discipline to do. I'll try it for a month and see how it works. We are going to do Family Scripture Study every morning, I'm going to exercise, we are going to have awesome routines for cheerful schoolday mornings and peaceful homework/make dinnertimes (well planned and loaded with veggies mind you...). I'm going to do it all. Meaningful prayers, go to bed early, make healthy breakfast, eliminate anything white or artificial in our diet, use my food storage, drop off casseroles, babysit random children, spread the Good Word, Redeem the Dead!!! (maybe I'm feeling a bit inadequate... if you aren't LDS and this makes no sense go here for an explanation)

I'm ready for October are you?

In all seriousness here is my SuperStart in September theme:
Treasure the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less. -Anna Quindlen

and

The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself. -Anna Quindlen

Adios August, watch out September!

School Shoes.

I love shoes. I always have. Mom says that when I was little and got lost in the store she didn't go looking for me in the toy section, she went straight to the shoes.

A major perk of having 3 daughters is the shoes. Pink Mary Janes, Pink sneakers, Black shiny ballet flats, Zebra print shoes, Glittery Silver shoes, Red Mary Janes, patent leather in all its' varieties! What a treat to shop in the girls shoes section! (or even in the shoe tub in the basement, I think I have pink t-straps in 4 sizes!)

Last fall though, we hit a snag. Eve needed new sneakers for school. We hunted high and low and couldn't find her size! She tried on all manner of glittery, beaded, pink, slip on, open-toed fun shoes, but what she needed was something to wear for P.E. We found ourselves in K-Mart and she picked a lovely pair of velcro Little Mermaid Shoes. She thought they were the prettiest shoes she'd ever seen. (ugly.) But, alas, there were none her size. She looked up at me and said, "But mom, if they did have my size, could I have them?" Slam dunk I thought! "You bet honey, but they don't have your size."

You guessed it, we turned the corner and sitting on the top of a shelf was a glorious box of Velcro Ariel shoes in her exact size!

Man was she a happy girl all year long in those sneakers. Her feet have grown and she needed new shoes again this fall. Thank goodness her taste has changed.

Twas the night before school...

and all through the house, not a child was sleeping not even the mouse. (actually, no, I think we got rid of him.)

The backpacks were waiting right by the front door, only thing missing- dry erase markers, I need 3 more.

The children were bathed, the clothes all set out, Michael a 5th grader with lots of clout.

Eve onto first grade, a desk by herself, and books and blocks all sitting nearby on a shelf.

Father's blessings were given, the prayers were all heard, Michael feels excited and happy and not at all absurd.

They'll learn quite a lot, and have plenty of fun, the lunches and homework have just begun.

They'll be good examples and make lots of friends, and before we know it it'll be summer again.


Ok, so I lost my edge after the first stanza.... It is going to be a great school year. Eve's teacher is a wonderful lady and her classroom has one red brick wall with fresh black chalkboards and twinkly white lights... ahh so traditionally schoolish! I love the smell of schools in September.

Spoiled.

This summer I decided to indulge myself. I knew we wouldn't be taking any grand vacations (our beach trip was a delightful last minute treat from Linda!) and I wanted summer to feel like a treat-- even though there was bound to be dishes, laundry and life to keep up with.

So I read! I just let myself jump into books! What a treat! I'm going to have to put the brakes on now that we are back in school mode. I don't function all that well when I'm in the middle of a book-- well, unless you call "cold cereal for dinner because mom is reading" functioning....
Titles:

• The Giant Joshua, re-read because I love this book and love the strength of the characters.
• Harry Potter 1-7, I'm glad I read them, it was fun because Michael and I read them at the same time. I had thought we might go see movie #6 in the theater, but after renting #5 I'm thinking no. We'll wait for it to come out on DVD. I still can't figure out how Dumbledore's orientation plays into anything. Color me confused.
  
• So You Want to Raise a Boy, always a great read. I love how well the author of this book knows boys, it helps me realize what is going on in Michael and Henry's head. Raising boys is so good.
  
• Jane Austen, can you go wrong? I keep this in the car for when I have a 45 minute piano lesson to sit through. Plus, with a Jane Austin of my own...
  
• What to Learn Each Year, or something like that... I liked this one, it made me feel excited about learning with Jane this year!
• Guiltfree Motherhood-- after spending all summer reading this was a nice relief from the guilt I was feeling! Honestly though, a great book.
  
• Fire of the Covenant, Perfect book to read the week your hot water heater breaks. Seriously. Boiling water on the stove to wash dishes in the sink felt absolutely luxurious compared to the Willey-Martin handcart companies. I think Dave was glad I was reading this too. Cold shower? No problemo! At least I'm not wading through a frozen river wtih my 17 lbs worth of posessions on 4 oz of flour a day... (btw, amazing Dave fixed the water heater. he can do ANYTHING!)
• The Well Trained Mind, another book to motivate me to plan well and Learn with Jane.
• C-Jane Enjoy it! Blogger c-jane, cheerful insightful, fun to read. (thanks for loaning it Maren and again, so sorry it got water logged.) (Reminder to self, never borrow signed copies of books that you can't replace if the cover gets slightly damp from a kids wet swim towel....)
  
• The Thomas Jefferson Education-- this book gave me a list of classics to read and re-read! I really love the authors philosophy.

I'd love to know what you've read this summer! Please, I promise to control myself and still make dinner for my family. ;)

It is a good life.

Henry is just such a happy mellow guy (most of the time...) I watch this and I want to run and squeeze him! Amy's blog is Dancing in the Kitchen, I think that is a great name for a blog! We love dancing in the kitchen, or anywhere else for that matter!

Bethany Beach

This week Linda, Emily, Ruby and Joey drove all the way to Delaware to see the ocean. We joined them and spent about 3 days frolicking on the beach in the ocean and the sand sand sand! We love love love family!
We had such a great time together, we were sad sad sad to come home (Especially Lily! She loves Ruby and Grandma!)

Things I'll miss.

When they've grown...
Lily needing me go into the bathroom with her to turn the light. Every time. Even when the light is already on.

Henry grabbing my hand and taking me places, pointing and saying Dat! Dat! DAT! His thank you (day-doo) is totally worth it. (Plus resistance is futile, he is strong and can lift me out of my chair...)

Michael reading over my shoulder and asking what I'm doing whenever I sit down to the computer.

The sound of 3 girls giggling after the lights are out.

Feet that are cute and I don't mind touching. (I have a foot thing...)

Girls who like to sit on my laps and read to me.

Kids who want to go with me no matter where I'm going. Even when it is "easier" to go alone.

Shouts of kids playing in the yard while I'm snuggling Henry down for a nap... his sweaty little head leaves a wet spot on my shoulder every day.

Smearing sun-scream on little bodies... Even Michaels body is big now!

Love notes on my pillow.
I'm not writing the "things I won't miss" list. ;)

Week in review

Sunday: Churched.
Monday: Played, did laundry, swam.
Tuesday: Herr's Chip Factory tour, picnic, played, swam.
Wednesday: Played, did laundry, planned on swimming but was stormed out.
Thursday: Played, did laundry, swam, swung on a new tree swing the amazing Dave built.
Friday: Played, did laundry, swung, swam.
Saturday: Played, did laundry, swung, swam.

I love summer!


About the swing... it is awesome. I tried it, Dave gave me a "push", and seriously, my stomach was in my throat. Last night I took the trash out about 11:00 and if it weren't for the mosquitos I would have swung longer ;) Eve is the most enthused though, the other morning I think she was dressed and outside by 7:30. Joyful!

Thanks to Dad...

After Bruce's funny fake phone call about cars, my dad sent me this. It makes me laugh! The poor soul trying to park her car! Bless her and her 57 point turns. I'm glad it wasn't a mini-van or else you'd know that is what happens to me, but I give up and find a nice wide spot with no cars on either side... :)





Also. I may never drive over one of those oil change hole thingies again! Yikes!

We went to Hagley Museum today. What a cool place! The visitor center is filled with a floor of neat inventions from the 1800's and a floor dedicated to the cool things duPont has a hand in-- nylon, space suits, racecars, you name it, duPont does it.
Hagley is located along the Brandywine river, it is where E.I. duPont founded his gunpowder works. They have lots of hands on exhibits for kids, everything from simple machines and gunpoweder demonstrations, to the Sunday School where the kids practiced writing with quills.



We took a tour of this beautiful house, complete with beautiful china and crystal, eagles throughout, and a dumbwaiter. Cool! It was all fun and games. Till it started to rain. Some of you (Dad, Bev, Mom, Bruce) have been here when it rains. It doesn't sprinkle. Well, it does. But when it decides to rain, it RAINS! And today, it RAINED. We were soaked. Happy though!
Thanks for taking us along Roberts family! We loved it. Man, we got a lot of Bang for our buck ($1 Thursdays!). Get it? Bang? Munitions? Man, I'm a laugh a minute. :)