Survived the First Week

Well, we survived the first week of 1st grade. We're slowly getting used to our new schedule with only a few bumps. Most of those bumps occurred with Murr and not Lindsay and me. He can't seem to comprehend that Lindsay has a specific bedtime now, and he misses her sleeping with us in our bed.

Lindsay seems to really like her teacher, which is always a good thing. His name is Mr. Mika and it's his first year to teach. He student taught at Lindsay's school last year and helped out a lot in PE so Lindsay was already familiar with him. He provided a little bio, which included the fact that he graduated from Texas State University. Since I have access to a county computer I decided to run a quick check on him to see if he had managed to stay out of trouble while attending our "party school". The results indicate that I won't be allowing him to drive Lindsay around any time soon. He was arrested for a racing charge, which is a misdemeanor, but it was dismissed for lack of evidence. I probably ran into him when he came to court a couple of times, but he doesn't stand out from the throng of "wrongly accused" that we see on a daily basis.

Anyway, like I said Lindsay seems to like him. All this week she has regaled me with stories of who got put on the "conduct board" and for what offenses. She's also emphasized those stories with the fact that she wasn't one of them -- yet. Upon questioning, because she doesn't volunteer anything but the conduct board stuff, I learned that she was raising her hand and answering questions that Mr. Mika had for the class. The first couple of days she let me know that he picked her and she knew the answer. I think it was Wednesday that she let me know that at some point during the day Mr. Mika asked a question and she raised her hand and he said, "Yes, Lindsay, I know you know the answer, but let's see if anyone else does." I knew the apple wouldn't fall too far from the tree! (stop laughing!)

First Days in First Grade

Well, so far (and I realize it's only been 2 days) Lindsay loves 1st grade and loves her teacher. She loves to tell me who has had to put their name on the "conduct board" and what they did to get it there. So far her name has not been one of the ones to get put up there, but I'm sure they day will come.

The Morning After

I managed to convince the girls at 10:00 that it was time to turn off the TV and go to sleep, and I'm sure it was the authoritative way that I said it that caused them to comply. Never heard a peep out of them until 7:00 when they started waking up. What happened to sleeping in on the weekends?

Anyway, they immediately started playing in her room. After several minutes I went to survey the further damage and discovered them putting stickers all over their bellies. I didn't question why they were doing this because it was keeping them occupied. (It also kept me occupied an hour or so later when I was picking up all those belly stickers from one end of the house to the other after they decided they didn't want them stuck to their bellies anymore.) While they were doing the stickers I started picking up the million little Barbie shoes and accessories, and other than the sticker business her room looked pretty good. I cooked them pancakes and they ate and watched cartoons and then painted their finger and toe nails. Then they decided it was time for another Barbie session. ARGGG. Why did I even bother to pick it up in the first place?

Managed to get them all packed up and headed to the bowling alley before too much more damage could be done. I'm one of those bowlers that if I get above 90 I'm having a good game, but I have to brag a little -- I demolished my competitors today!!!!!! Okay, I realize it was probably because I was playing against 6 year olds, and probably the bumpers helped me a LITTLE bit, but my final score was 117. Damn I'm good! The girls had a great time for about 45 minutes and then they grew a little bored having to wait for their turn to get there, and they were getting a little hungry. So we ordered hamburgers and hot dogs there and ate and then played a couple of more frames.

Since I still had some time before I had to deliver the girls to their respective homes, and since I had still not gotten Lindsay a pack to school outfit, I made the silly decision to take them to a "girly" place at the outlet mall. I fully explained to them on the ride over that we were only going to get Lindsay an outfit and if they saw something that they liked they would have to get their moms to take them to get it. (quit laughing) We arrived and they pretty much ran through the store exclaiming: "This is cute!" "I want this!" "I love this!" "I HAVE to have this!" And here I am trying to do some serious shopping for at least one BTS outfit, trying to keep my eyes on all three of them so some psycho doesn't snatch them, and following behind them trying to fold up and hang up the clothes that they're plowing through. They all fell in love w/ these cute monkey t-shirts, but they were 2 for $9 so I agreed that they could each pick out one. And then they discovered the little nook of cheap and not-so-cheap toys and decided they'd rather have that crap rather than a useful and less expensive t-shirt. And, of course, they had to spend at least 20 minutes picking out said crap. All in all I did manage to get out of there with 2 new BTS outfits for LEJ, all 3 girls, and 3 pieces of crappy toys that surprisingly cost less than the 3 t-shirts would have.

We delivered both girls back to their houses and came home. I popped the top of a cold one and picked up all the Barbie stuff again, finished straightening up her room, and now doing the first of at least 20 loads of clothes. I know you're jealous of my life, but you'll get over it.

Lindsay's Slumber Party

Lindsay's two best friends are Maren and Cassandra. She has spent the night with both of them a couple of times in the last year. I knew the time would come when it would be their turn to spend the night with us, but the fear kept me from committing to it. I mean how was I supposed to corral 3 girls AND Murr all under the same roof. At the beginning of the summer I promised Lindsay, as well as her BFF's, that it would happen soon. And then June turned into July, and then July into August, and I realized I better live up to my promise.

So, best laid plans, right? Today is 8-22-08 and Lindsay was to have an outdoor Summer Fun piano recital with jumping castles and games and trains, etc, so I decided to jump in with both feet and plan to have her BFF's over for a slumber party. I mean I had all the things needed to wear 3 girls out for a couple of hours and then head home to bed without destroying her room too badly ... Right? I didn't count on Mother Nature to give us some more "much needed" rain and cancel those plans. Oh, well, it hasn't been THAT bad. They did manage to dump out all the dress up clothes, and upend a few other things in her room, but it wasn't as bad as I had imagined. After I picked that up while they were eating and got the room looking presentable again, they decided it was time to get out all the Barbies, and of course Kens, which means I have itty-bitty shoes and other accessories all over her floor to be picked up at some point. Oh well, it's keeping them busy, right?

Anyway, when I made these plans I didn't know that the Cowboys were going to be playing -- big sin, I know. So Murr is holed up in our room watching them and I'm trying to convince the girls it's about time to quiet down.

Tomorrow morning we're going to go bowling and then eat lunch somewhere and then I'll drop them off at their homes.

Once I get through this first one I'll be prepared for all the rest yet to come I'm sure. (stop laughing)

My Friend Rosanna

She's doing good but the docs say it's a day to day thing until she hits the 14th day mark. She's able to talk and is recognizing everyone. Her right side is weak but functioning. One of her eyes is droopy but she can open and close it. They think she might have suffered a mild stroke. They will still have to go back in at some point and repair the other one. Did ya'll know they don't have to cut into the skull any more to repair these? They go through the groin like they do when they're putting in stents. To me that's amazing. She's got a long, hard road ahead of her, but she's a fighter and I now she'll make it.

A Horrible Reminder

My friend, Rosanna, who will be 41 on August 29th was rushed to the hospital with 2 brain aneurysms yesterday. They did surgery on the worst one, which was leaking, and now we're just waiting day to day to see how she's going to be. What a horrible reminder to not take life for granted and to live every day like it's your last. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.

I want to be a beach bum

Today was one of those days when I wish I had no other worries than a cold beer, eternal waves, sand in every crevice, and no responsibilities. If you can't find me tomorrow, at least now you know where to look!