Wise Words

I noticed large white blobs floating around in the bathtub when I went in to wash Caitlin's hair. After a few minutes (and after seeing a gnarled, squeezed tube) I realized that she'd opened up my hair conditioner and squeezed it in the bathtub. The following conversation ensued:

Me: Caitlin, did you get into my conditioner and squeeze it all over the bathtub?
C: I just wanted to see what it would do!

Me: You need to leave my stuff alone. (A common lament of mine)

C: Come on Mom! Why don't you just put your stuff up so I can't get it?

Wise words, Caitlin. Wise words.... Unfortunately, I've tried that and I hasn't worked. You still find my stuff and still get into it!!!! I've found lip gloss in her bed, my shirts in her closet, and my shoes in her backpack. Where on earth am I going to put my hair conditioner if I can't leave it in my own bathroom? Thanks girl, for being wise and driving me to the end of my rope constantly.

Photos

I finally put up our photos from vacation (cue collective gasp!) Yes, I know it's been a while since I've posted new photos, but if you click on the "Photos" link on the right hand side of this blog, you'll go to our Picasa site. I'm sure I still need to edit them down and add some captions, but that'll have to wait. My eyes need a break from the screen. But they're up!

Gymnastics!

Just over a year ago, Caitlin announced that she wanted to play soccer. Her older brother loved it, and she wanted to join in on the fun. The trouble is that it wasn't fun for her at all. She liked the concept, but not the actual games. It was all fine and good as long as the sun was up and the day was warm. But if we had weather issues (major or minor), Caitlin was not at all in the game! Most of the time it was a chore to make her play. She wouldn't run after the ball after about 10 minutes. The whole idea of playing soccer just wore her out.

After much hemming and hawing from us (and sniveling and crying from her), and me swearing up and down that I was *never* ever going to enroll her in soccer again, we had her choose another activity that she wanted to do. And she chose gymnastics. I enrolled her in a gym close to home, and our first day was today! Yay! She woke up at 7:00 am and got dressed, she was so excited. It didn't start until 10:30, so she very impatiently waited around until it was time to go . She had a great time! I'm so excited she liked it!

The only bad thing about the day... the train. Right after leaving the class, we were stopped at a rail road crossing by a 100 car coal train. We had absolutely no options to go elsewhere, and just had to sit there. For 11 minutes (which is an eternity when you don't have a lot of time). Have I gone off yet about the "joys" of living on the edge of a rural area? 'Cause I can! Really! Coal trains are one of those "joys" ..... long, slow, and completely unpredictable. Luckily Caitlin's teacher was talking to a concerned parent and the door was still open, otherwise we would have been tardy on the 4th day of kindergarten through no fault of our own. Caitlin has agreed to run out of the studio right after class, and change in the car in the parking lot at school in order to avoid the train again. Have I mentioned how much I love our tinted windows? Can't see a thing!

First Week of School

Now that school's been in session around here for *over* a week, I should get a blog post up. Or some pictures. Or something. Getting a woozy head cold was not part of the plan. Or unexpectedly falling asleep on the couch in the middle of the day for an hour. Or having the A/C go out in Brian's car last week (still under warranty, thankfully!) in the middle of a hot summer. Or being overly bombarded by stressed-out MOPS coordinator about new members and welcome packet information. Besides getting the kids off to school and the necessary stuff done, I'm a little behind.

Brandon started school on Monday, August 15th, at 7:54 am. Really, now, we didn't need to start any earlier than last year. I seriously think the school board has it in for us. We start earlier, and get out at 2:00 on Thursday. Really? 2:30 is a little early to be out of school, but 2:00? Getting out the door in the early morning is not quite the struggle that it use to be, but a little extra sleep for the kids would be nice.

Caitlin didn't start school officially until Thursday, the 18th. Talk about a long drawn out process for the kindergartners. Monday and Tuesday were assessments for the incoming kids (80 in all). On Wednesday, half the kindergartners went to class. On Thursday the other half went to class without the first half (Caitlin fell into this category). And then, on Friday, they finally all went in together! Amazing. It was agonizing for Caitlin, and for me. I haven't played this many games of Candyland in long time! To pass the time during the week we:

Went to Sweet Tomatoes (Caitlin's choice for her "day before kindergarten" lunch).

Went to Target (where Caitlin achieved her goal of standing on one of the big balls outside).


And, finally, she went to school!!!! (Cue the hallelujah chorus!) Caitlin even woke up before 7:00 to go. Unfortunately for her, it didn't start until 11:30. It was a v.e.r.y. long morning.
She looked a little nervous in line to enter the kindergarten room, or maybe she was just squinting in the oh-so-bright Colorado sun, but was otherwise fine. She's only been waiting for this most of her life (or, since she was 19 months old!). Finally! Finally, she's at the same school as her brother! Not in preschool! She's a happy camper!
At some point in the near future Mommy will start enjoying her time without children. I have already gone grocery shopping alone, and not at night. Even though Caitlin's in school every day now, and school is just down the road, my time alone is the same as I had when she was in preschool 3 days a week (and less per day, since the hours are spread over 5 days instead of 3). Although it's nothing to complain about, I'm still not use to the schedule. It'll take a while. I'm use to Caitlin being gone in the morning, when I'm most productive. Not the case this year. Half day kindergarten makes everything feel very rushed (at least it did during Brandon's kindergarten year). But school is a good thing. Now if I could just ditch this head cold, I'd be fine!

How I've Spent Most of My Summer

Crazy as it sounds, I'm starting to think my summer involved mostly water and children. Wonder where I got that idea?