"Not Me!" Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and so many others have not been doing this week!

Let's start by saying I don't like confrontation...at all...nothing confrontational with anyone! Therefore...I did not stand in the car pick-up line for Emily confronting a teacher on how to pick Emily up! Of course that wasn't me! I was not demanded by the teacher that I need to pull all the way up to the cones {a mere car length in front of me} before I could get Emily...who was already standing next to the passenger door ready to get in! I did not stand there and continue to confront her saying "I will next time...can I just go ahead and get her in the car?" She did not say "Get in the car and pull up now!" I was not a little scared like one of the kids...and do what I was told...continuing to be confrontational on my way around the car saying, "It's going to take me longer to get in and pull up than it will to just put her in the car!" {grrrr!} You can bet that it was not me who was first in line the very next day...pulled all the way up to the cones! Not me!

Emily will not be having another first day of school today. She will not be in a brand new class, with a brand new teacher that I've never met...starting from scratch! She will not be in a class with strictly all half-day kindergartners in order to make her class smaller and less confusing when realeasing the half-day kids from the full-day kids! She is not most upset about losing her locker than getting a new class!

I did not eat only cupcakes for breakfast and lunch and not realize it until we were trapped in the tiny allergy doctor office for Alex waiting...and waiting...waiting some more for the doctor...when I began getting very cranky and tired! We did not end that visit over an hour and half later with me repeatedly telling Alex "no!" and "stop!" and "finish your homework!" {sigh...} We did not deserve pizza for dinner and all feel better! {This was not on the same day as my teacher confrontation...nope!}

You would not have found us at the Cincinnati Reds vs LA Dodgers game this weekend enjoying popcorn and Cracker Jacks!


{Alex made this sign...Grandpa is a Dodgers fan! Emily was just ready to use her pom-poms and cheer for all the players!}



Emily did not finally get to be on the big screen shaking her pom-poms in the seventh inning! She was not so excited!



We did not have a great time and will not be going back! Alex did not say he wants the Reds to win next time because he did not love the big cannon booms when the Reds hit a home run! So not fun!








{3 Generations - Dan, Alex & Grandpa}



I did not spend my entire Sunday in pajamas, take a long nap with the kids and stay up late eating Chili Cheese Fritos. What? Not me! I always eat nutritious food! {really...I say this all the time! Cupcakes and chips are totally healthy!}

I will not be pulling out the long sleeves and pants this week because the temperatures will not be in the 40's in the morning! {Brr! Good-bye Summer!}

Happy Monday!

"You're Gonna Miss This...Moment" Emily's Art

Time to join Pam and share the moments we're going to miss one day...because life is so short! Sometimes it's hard to find those moments among our busy schedules, but that's what I love about participating in this...it makes me stop and think about it and appreciate them so much more! Be sure to stop by Pam's and share your moments with us!

Another successful week of school...with a few minor meltdown moments {courtesy of Alex and myself!} and a new change coming for Emily! With the long active days upon us now...I love this carnival even more than I already did! What a great time to just look at the little things I'm going to miss some day among all the chaos of school, activities and doctors appointments!

Today Emily had a playdate with two of her previous preschool friends. It's nice to hang out with the moms and allow the girls to still stay in touch since they are all in different elementary schools now. We chatted about how fast they are growing up and how all the things about school might influence them some day. It can be a scary thought and some I don't want to think about right now...YIKES! We decided we are going to keep them little and innocent forever and that's final!

So right now I'm cherishing this moment and enjoying all Emily's masterpieces that she creates almost daily!


I will really miss this some day! I love how she is just learning how to write her letters and the stories her pictures tell! This is a picture of Emily on her "First Day of School" {she needs to work on the letter 's'!} and she's wearing her purple dress and backpack. She said her hands are waving really big because she's excited to get on the bus! And, of course, there are always rainbows and butterflies! I love it and don't ever want to forget it! It's so sweet to me and she is always so proud of every single drawing she creates!

{sigh.....Emily don't be in a hurry to grow up...and keep up the beautiful artwork!}

What will you miss some day? Don't forget to join Pam and share your moments with us! Quick! Do it now! You know you'll miss it!

Wordless Wednesday {Mini Me}

{And a shout out to wish Dan a Happy 34th Birthday today! Hope you have a great day...and my cake is edible! Love you!}

{And another shout out to thank everyone for their thoughtful prayers for my sister-in-law's surgery yesterday! She had a successful surgery without complications...they removed a baseball-sized mass! They don't expect any bad news from the pathology reports, but continue to think about her and her family during her recovery! Thanks so much!}

In Our Thoughts Today

Please remember my sister-in-law today as she is having surgery to remove a large mass from her ovary. A prayer for peace and healing today and in the next few days would be so appreciated! She has three sweet little ones and they need their mommy to be healthy and strong!


Janet, you and your family are in our thoughts today! You are in good hands! We are praying for calm, strength and patience to find you during a successful surgery and as you prepare for a full and speedy recovery!

All our Love!

I ♥ Faces - Week 33 "Nostalgia"

I ♥ Faces is a photography site focused on the art of capturing faces and their various emotions. Each week, people from across the world have the opportunity to enter their favorite face photos into two categories ~ kids and adults, and sometimes pets!

This week's theme over at I {heart} Faces is "Nostalgia" and this photo is always one that reminds me of that! This is a picture of Alex from 2005 when he is just three years old riding Dan's old tricycle from when he was a kid! The tricycle itself is nostalgic and I hope that we can hand it down to our grandkids too! I sure miss that little chubby face! Why do they grow up so fast!


If you'd like to join us just click here! It's easy to enter, not so easy to win {so many great photos}! But lots of fun!

"Not Me!" Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and so many others have not been doing this week!

Let's start by saying that I did not wake up Sunday morning feeling like I'd been hit by a truck...aches, chills, hot, dizzy and not at all would you have found me sleeping on the bathroom floor...ugh! I did not spend the rest of the day in bed...with a few favorite family members who laid by my side throughout the entire day! {Alex, Emily & faithful Skipper...thanks!}

I did not hear Emily tell me one day "Mommy, I'm going to be just like you when I get older...and be really tired!" Aw...isn't that sweet? {Should I be flattered that she wants to be like me when she grows up...or upset that she thinks I'm tired all the time!}

Emily does not walk to the bus stop first every morning...leaving Alex behind still wondering about whether to get dressed and finish his breakfast! {He hasn't missed the bus...yet!}

I did not nearly burst my eardrums and have a mild heart attack from setting off our alarm system, either! I always have everything I need when I leave the house and never have to go back in to get something else! I did not try to beat the alarm in the 5 seconds I had left to leave the house before it would announce "Disarm System NOW!" I did not almost wet my pants and try to 'Disarm System NOW' with shaky hands in a state of panic! Whew....I absolutely did not do that! {Intruders beware!}

I did not take a long walk with Skipper...after eating a sausage McGriddle, and consuming a delicious iced coffee...because, like I always say, I eat healthy...McDonald's does not consider me a family member, at all! So...during the walk that Skipper and I did not take...my legs did not begin to feel like jell-o and Skipper did not try to scrap with a tiny white poodle...and almost lose! We are in great shape and taking a long walk is a breeze for us! {right, Skipper? Stop panting to death like you're going to die!}

I'm not so far behind on taking tests to renew my x-ray license that I have not put it off for 2 years and waited until the last month to get them all passed! I will not feel like a college student cramming for finals this month...ugh! {I was never a great student...I never will be! I just need to pass, right! But don't tell my kids that!} If I am absent from blogging...it is not because I will have my face buried in the last nine issues of Radiologic Technology! I do not ever procrastinate! Not Me! Don't wish me luck...I don't need it! {Please do...I will need it!}

"You're Gonna Miss This...Moment" Chit Chat

Time to join Pam and share the moments we're going to miss one day...because life is so short! Sometimes it's hard to find those moments among our busy schedules, but that's what I love about participating in this...it makes me stop and think about it and appreciate them so much more! Be sure to stop by Pam's and share your moments with us!

If you know Alex well...{or even if you don't!} he is quiet and usually a boy of not many words. So you can imagine the responses I usually get when I ask him about school and how his day went.

"How was school today?"
"Good"
"What did you do?"
"Nothing"
"Who did you sit with at lunch?"
"Nobody"
...you get the idea!

The other night when it was bedtime, I went to check on him and lay with him for a little bit and we had a nice conversation about school and how it was going. He told me about recess and lunch and who he plays with and some of his new friends...about their daily routines and what he did in gym class.

He is growing up so fast and I wish the only things he ever has to worry about are what's for lunch and his spelling words!

I will miss it someday when he might not want me to go in his room and talk with him and have him open up to me about school...or anything! I love when he's calm and quiet, not distracted, and has a genuine conversation with me! I hope that he will always want to talk to me about anything and cherish those special moments with his 'mommy' {sigh!}


What will you miss someday? Be sure to visit Pam and see other special moments and tell us what you will miss!

Take it or 'Leaf' it!

The week is winding down for the first full week of school for Alex and Emily. They seem to be making new friends, enjoying their classrooms and their teachers, and especially riding the bus and having their own lockers! I think I'm the most tired, though...and we're all ready for the weekend again!

Tonight after dinner and homework, Dan decided to blow the leaves into a pile off to the side of the yard...and Alex and Emily had to 'help'!




It's almost that time of year...we LOVE the Fall! The leaves are already starting to come down and they had the best time jumping in them and burying themselves...

{should we jump?}

{Absolutely!}














I'd say we're off to a good start to the school year and we'll take the fun and challenges of a new season...and 'leaf' the summer behind!