First Day of School Pics

Prince and Knight ready for 4th and 2nd grades!

 

Waiting for the bus

 

Princess rides the Middle School Bus now...

 

Princess and Dadof 4

Summer Fun

With only two weeks of summer left, I want to take a moment to reflect on the fun we've had! As predicted, we have spent many evenings out on the boat, floating in the lake. I cannot believe my little Duke is 3 1/2. He LOVES to drive the boat (with a little help from DadOf4).

Princess and Prince are always up for a wild and crazy tube ride.

Duke and Knight like to go a little bit slower.

We made it back to Iowa and Adventureland.  Here's a picture of DadOf4, Grandpa and my bro-in-law.

Princess loves her girl time with her cousins.

It was great to have some time with my mom and my sister too.

We were able to help celebrate Bill's sister's b-day!

Kinght with DadOf4's little brother

Grandma and Papa spoil the grandkids rotten!

Love the girl time!

Summer is looming!

TGIF!  Today is the last Friday of our 2011-2012 school year.  The kids go back next week for two days.  It seems kind of silly to go back for two days after Memorial Day, but it is two more days for me to get some stuff done before all four kiddos are home for the summer.

I am ready.  I am ready for the kids to be less scheduled and less tired.  Princess and Prince played  softball and baseball this season.  We had the Knight all signed up too, but the poor little fellow broke his arm the first Saturday of Spring Break.  He still got his jersey and hat, so that was something.  He was really excited to play, however.  I may look into fall ball for him.  We shall see.  I normally do not like to do sports in the fall.  I want the kids to have some time to get used to school before getting too many extracurriculars going.  The thought of all three playing ball at the same time is scary.  We were so busy this spring, it was unreal. 

It's been a good year.  We are all ready for some lazy summer days and time spent on the lake.

A Day in the Life...

I got a lot done around the house yesterday unfortunately most of it was done on closets so it does not show.  Oh well.  Progress is progress, right?

Today is Thursday and I have a haircut at noon.  I am getting this done on a more regular basis – easy New Year’s resolution to keep.  I wish I had a better idea of a new style.  Currently my only request is “get it out of my face!”

We had a nice Wednesday afternoon after the kids got home.  At first it was crazy. Prince came home really upset because a 5^th grader took his seat on the bus.  We talked it through and he has some strategies for today.  It was really an unfortunate set of circumstances.   

1)      The bus driver gave them a new seating chart yesterday morning.

2)      The seating chart consisted of picking a seat and writing their names on the chart.

3)      The bus driver was not there after school, there was a substitute.

4)      Very few kids ride the bus in the morning so when the afternoon kids got on the bus they knew nothing about the seating chart. 

5)      The normal bus driver (who is really, really nice) was not there to tell them about said chart.

6)      A 5^th grade boy named X had the misfortune of sitting in Princess's seat

7)      Princess bodily removed him from her seat.  (Did I mention that she has three brothers and does not put up with any crap from boys?)

8)      X proceeded to take Prince's seat (the other back seat).

9)      Princess yelled at him that he was in Prince's seat but did not vacate her newly-defended seat in fear that he would then re-conquer  hers.

10)  X (most likely embarrassed and angry at having been pushed around by a girl) refused to give up Princes's seat.

11)   Prince gets on the bus.

12)   Prince demands his seat.

13)   A ruckus ensues.

14)   The bus driver calls Prince a “little kid” because he is not a 5^th grader.  (This hurts his feelings more than anything that has happened thus far.)

15)   The bus driver (a sub) sides with X, the 5^th grader.

16)   Prince is forced to sit up front with the little kids.

17)   Prince is mortified.

18)   Prince comes off the bus close to tears and loses it when he gets home: crying, yelling at Princess and Knight, and, in general, throwing a hissy-fit.

19)   Hissy-fits are few and far between for my Prince so I know he is really upset.

20)   We go inside - all three kids are talking over each other, telling their version of what happened. 

21)   Did I mention that I only have one good ear?

22)   After about a half hour, I piece together what happened.

23)   An hour later, everyone is sufficiently “snacked” and calmly working on homework.

24)   Duke has miraculously continued his nap throughout all of this drama.

I talked to the bus driver this morning.  I approached it as “I need to know how to coach him from home.  Is that where he is supposed to sit?”  Answer: yes.

The real test will be this afternoon.  Princess will not be on the bus.  I see this going one of two ways:

1)      David takes Princess's vacant seat.

2)      David tries to take Princes's seat again because he can fight with a boy better than a girl.

Sign…

Tonight is going to be busy too.  Princess has her first softball practice.  Prince and Knight have Karate.  Princess's team does NOT have a coach yet.  While it will be really hard for me to not volunteer to be the head coach (JUST KIDDING, I suck at softball.) I am going to attempt to refrain from volunteering.  I told DadOf4 I should take Duke with me as proof why I cannot coach.  I do not have high hopes for this team if they are still searching for a coach at this point, but what can you do?  Prince's coach has been really on top of things and has already had a practice with two more scheduled Friday night and Saturday afternoon.  Knight has a practice on Saturday afternoon too and his level will form teams after March 1.

Happy Thursday!

Duke's Preschool Bday and Knights Ratty Class Photo!

I forgot today was Wordless Wednesday.  Next week I will be quiet, I promise!

Tuesday was a big picture taking day!  I dropped Duke off at preschool and we celebrated his 3rd birthday with his class.  He was so proud to be the one blowing out the candles!

What a sweetheart!  I brought in small cupcakes and juiceboxes for the kids.

I made it to the Knight's classroom too and took their class photo for the yearbook.  If you look closely you will see two little girls holding the class RATS!  Yep, that's right, Knight's class pets are rats:  Maisy and Roxy.  There used to be a Daisy too but she escaped in the teacher's house.  Yikes!

Tuesday

Monday was super busy and super productive!  Duke and I went to the gym and I walked/ran for 7 miles for an hour and 40 minutes.  I ended the day at 32,283 steps.  My goal is do get to 40,000 steps in one day this year.  I was close a couple of times last year but I have never done it.  After the gym I stopped and got Duke's hair cut.  He looks so cute.  DadOf4 asked if I had taken his picture yet, and I said, "Nope".  He replied, "Who are you and what have you done with my wife!"  Ha ha.  It is quite out of character for me.  :)

We also did 8 loads of laundry and put most of it away.  I didn't have time to sort all of the socks, but I will get to them today along with another load of laundry from clothes we wore yesterday.  A load a day keeps the chaos away!

Last night Prince and Knight each had a boy scout meeting. DadOf4 wanted to talk pinewood derby with both den leaders so it was a bit of a trick to get everyone in the right spot at the right time.  Knight had Drama club after school.  Princess, Prince, Duke, and I picked him up at 4:00.  Then we came home and started supper.  DadOf4 got home around 5:15 and we ate.  At 5:46, Knight and DadOf4 headed out to scouts.  I cleaned up supper and then at 6:30, Princess, Prince, Duke and I headed to Knight's den meeting.  DadOf4 left with Prince for HIS den meeting, and Princess, Duke, and I hung out for 15 minutes until Knight was done.  Princess, Knight, Duke and I all headed home around 7:05.  I got Duke a bath while Knight read to Princess.  Princess also gave Knight his spelling words.  Woo hoo - major multi-tasking!

I'm glad we survived Monday and are on to Tuesday.  If you are interested, head on over to my fitness blog to see my goals for 2012.  I need to figure out some way to get some additional steps in today.  I am a bit under the weather.  I have a sneaking suspicion that it is allergies more than a cold.  Our mold and cedar counts have been through the roof over the last few days.  I'm just going to keep moving today and see what great things we can accomplish on this fine Tuesday!

It Sure Is Monday!

I am dragging this morning and that 6:00 alarm was not my friend.  We had a thunderstorm last night and my little Knight woke up and came downstairs from 1:00-2:00.  Zzz.....

I signed the Knight up for a Drama club for K-2 at school.  I reminded him to go this morning and I hope he remembers.  We may have to have early bedtimes tonight!  I like the clubs that meet right at the school right after school.  All he has to do is walk to the library after school - all of about 15 feet from his classroom.  I'll pick him up from school at 4:00 - the Duke will have to have a semi-early nap so he can wake up at 3:45 to get the Knight.

As I ponder the thought of early bedtimes, I looked at our calendar for today and realized that won't be possible.  The Knight has a boy scout meeting tonight at 6:00 too.  Prince has a boy scout meeting too so DadOf4 and I will have to divide and conquer.  I will take the Knight, Princess and Duke to the Knight's boy scout meeting while DadOf4 takes Prince to his.  I can get the two little boys to bed on time this way and have a little chatting time with Princess after tucking them in. 

Off to the gym!  I was actually able to walk for an hour Sunday afternoon while the Prince had basketball practice.  Princess and I walked the track and watched their practice at the same time.  A win-win-win!

Prince's basketball and Princess time!

We've had a great Sunday so far!  We made it to church - a feat in and of intself.  After church we headed out to Cici's Pizza to celebrate good grades.  Prince got all As and Princess got 2 Bs and the rest As.  Knight got a really good report card too - they do not do letter grades for first grade.  It was nice to not have to worry about lunch or clean-up.  We have given up our normal going out once a week - our precious little Duke does not like to sit still so rather than fighting him at restaurants, we just eat in. 

After lunch Prince rushed upstairs to change into shorts for basketball practice.  Princess asked to come along so we all headed out.  We swung by Prince's BFF's house - they are on the same basketball team - and headed to practice.  While Prince and his BFF practiced, Princess and I walked the track.  This track is really nice.  It's one floor above the basketball court, and the court can be seen from the track.  It's nice - I get an hours' walk out of the deal.  Princess and I talked the whole time.  I love it!  I am so close to my mom and I really, really want the same for Princess and me.  We talked about her BFF going to a different middle school next year.  We talked about her most likely coming back to the same high school and what we could do to nurture their relationship while they are not attending the same school.  We talked about friends and what sports she would like to try (Softball).  I am so thankful for our time together.  I know my days of her thinking that I am smart, cool, exciting, etc. are limited.  I have heard that parents are not allowed to be seen at middle school by their tweenagers.  I love this little girl with my whole heart.  I want us to be close.  I am thankful for the hour we had one-on-one today.

Beautiful day here in the South

There are not a whole lot of things I really like about living in the South, but I have to admit I love today's weather.  I am an Iowa girl, born and bred.  To be able to play outside in early January as a child required coats, mittens, scarves, hats, and the determination that fun could be had in below-zero weather. 

That being said, it is over 70 degrees here today, sunny, and undeniably gorgeous.  My always-cold, almost-seven-year-old just shed his sweatshirt and is running around in short sleeves.  It would not suprise me to see the 8 1/2 year old here in a minute racing upstairs to change into shorts. 

Princess and I are inside for the moment making cookies.  Princess is flying solo with an assist here and there from me.  She likes baking, and I like having her do it - less chances for me to snitch bits of batter!  :)  I am betting the boys will have these cookies devoured before the day is done.  Another good thing!

This is our last down Saturday for a while.  Basketball is just beginning and baseball will follow.  We had such a fun time with the Prince in baseball last year!  He had a great team and he and DadOf4 had great fun going to practices and having some bonding time.  We are going to sign up the Knight this year too.  Life is about to get a little crazy but that's OK.  That's the way I like it.

Friday fun!

We had a good Friday.  Princess's 5th grade class headed to the fire station for a field trip.  This is their very last time - they will all move on to middle school next year.  Princess was pretty as a picture - but I am not partial or anything.  :)

She has a nice class this year and I love, love, love her teachers!  She didn't get her best friend in her class but she has done a good job of making new friends.

Even Duke got to come along for the ride!  He was really good - at three years old he CAN be good if he chooses to be and thank goodness he chose to be good!

Prince went to the Fire Station last fall and my little Knight will go in the spring.  Here are some pictures from when the Prince went:

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday to our little Duke!  Three years old!