Today was the last day of summer school. I have to admit, it wasn't anything like I thought it would be. I was worried about only having 3 students(1 new and 2 of which can get on my nerves during the school year) and an aide. I actually ended up enjoying it. The kids were great and I really think they got some intensive instruction that they really needed. Each Thursday we 'cooked' or made something. Today we made an Orange Dream with orange, pineapple and cranberry juice and orange sherbet. It was yummy. It is so good to see the kids do things that many do not get to do as it is just easier for us Moms to do instead. PS- I always thought it was sherbert.

I took this picture the other day and Jim and the kids saw it and asked me why I took it. I took it because I always wonder what it is that people actually have in their refrigerators. I have seen many people's fridges and they are jam packed. We have a family of 5 and it seems the only thing in our fridge is drinks. What do people keep in the fridge?

I brought the boys to the pool today. They are into diving and it is the cutest thing. Jacob totally reminds me of a little penguin. He starts off with a divers stance, then puts up some animal ears and floats on the top like a penguin. I could just eat him right up. Here is a quick video.

It's just around the corner

We started school shopping this week. I'm trying to be better about not waiting until the last minute and complaining that they have nothing. We started at Wal-mart to get the school supplies. It is crazy the list of supplies they would like us to consider getting. Pencils, scissors, markers-fat and skinny, highlighters, 6 glue sticks, colored pencils, crayons, scotch tape...and all of that is supposed to fit in one small pencil box?!#% I think we should start asking where our tax dollars are going and the Box Top for Education money as well. Not to mention the tissues, wipes, paper towels, clorox wipes etc. that would also be appreciated.

Jacob was so excited when we got home. We took out all of the supplies and labeled them as we put them into the pencil boxes. He helped by sharpening the pencils. When he tried his backpack on he came back in and said, "Mom it knocked me over." I told him just wait until it is filled with his spare clothes and snack. Thank goodness the pencil box will stay at school.

I was just saying the other day that I hadn't gotten any letters from school so neither of them must be in a peanut free class. Joshua was in one last year. I did see on the school roster that Jacob's teacher was labeled as an allergy free classroom. I thought maybe they changed it each year to give the teachers a break. Well today I got the letter. Jacob will be in a peanut free class. Luckily I am already use to it. Joshua was not a peanut butter and jelly guy anyway and for Jacob it will only be snack. I am already use to reading the backs of packages.

We got some clothes at Old Navy and JCP. I was so disappointed with Old Navy and was last year as well. They just really seem to have nothing these days for boys. The little boys section is cute and the girls is as well. We scored some things at JCP even with Auntie not there. It is so hard with Joshua because his waist is too big for the 8 and his legs are to short for the 10. We are literally going to have to try on different brands and see what we can come up with. Good thing he will wear shorts for a while. I was bad though and had to buy some things for my nieces just because I don't have girls and the stuff is so damn cute!!!

PS I forgot to mention that Jim messed up his machine playing in the mud. It is idling real high and can't go above 10 mph. He'll have to take it apart and clean all of the grass out. You wouldn't believe where that stuff gets. Jeffrey had to be towed back by his friend. It apparently didn't like the mud puddles from all of the rain. And Joshua's...........the thing just hasn't been right since we got it. Not quite sure what the outcome of that will be.

3 days, 3 trashbags of laundry???

How does that happen? I guess it's same reason that when we go grocery shopping for the weekend, it costs more than my weekly bill!!!!

The weekend weather ended up being better than it had looked. We started off early Friday morning, with 6 people in the truck and six machines in the back, one standing on end and another in the truck bed. We went right to the ATV Rodeo and it looked like the weather was keeping people away. It was a little disappointing because they didn't really have any events for the kids to do. In the past they have had an obstacle course, which was apparently under water this year. The place was saturated as is the rest of the state. It rained off an on but not too bad, they had tents to protect my hair seek shelter under. The cool part was that they made a new mud run this year. Since Jeffrey is older and is at that 'don't really want to hang out with my family' stage, he was off with his friend and not around to do the mud run. He usually brings Jim's machine through. So this year, Jim did it. The little boys were so proud and loved getting to watch him go through. "That's my Dad!", I heard Joshua say. Here are some pictures of him. Can anyone say bleach?

Even the girls get into this. Here are some pictures of one attempt.

Here are the boys ready for Daddy to time them. Joshua didn't want to try the Radar Run with the big boys so they used the track when they were done.

The rest of the weekend was blue skies with fluffy clouds. The water was quite cool from all of the rain and was much higher than I have seen it in years. Not too much swimming happening this weekend.

Friends and Family site

I went to look at the Friends and Family site that I set up for us all to share pictures on. It has a new look and it freaked me out a bit. I had to figure it out but here are some tips for those of you who do post pictures or comments. The sign in is as the top, Member sign in. Then there is some faint writing that says ask to become a member. I think that will allow you to add pictures when I get the email to add it. What a pain! I hate change...it will take me a bit to get use to it.

Time for the Mud Runs

Tomorrow we head back up north, this time for a four wheeler jamboree. I think this is year number three that we have been. The most interesting part of it is watching people go through the 'mud pits' which are actually 3 foot deep mud puddles in my opinion. Jeffrey takes Jim's machine through it, doesn't want to get his dirty-doesn't like to clean it. Jim chomps at the bit to go through but never has. Honestly I don't think he wants to get his boots muddy. What else would he wear? :) The rest of it is really venders, so I get to hear a lot of "Mom can I get this?" and "Babe, I've got to have that!"

This could be a tough weekend up at the camp. It looks like they are having the same weather we are having here. That makes it tough when night falls and you have one channel that comes in and it is the one that always shows shows like Crime Scene Investigation and other gruesome shows that are so appropriate for a 4 and 7 year old. So weird saying 7 and I can only say 4 for another two weeks. Jacob turns 5 on the 3rd. The biggest problem is that we are bringing an extra teenager and four wheeler so we will not have much room to bring extra entertainment objects, aka toys. So please be sure to channel me all of your patience for the weekend.

Hey I think know I learned a new trick. Now if I could figure out learn how to do it without the underline. Ooh, a challenge.

Got it! Boy I'm good AWESOME!! j/k

A little of this a little of that

We headed up to the camp for Joshua's birthday. This caused him some stress. I had told him he could stay up as long as he wanted for his birthday so he didn't want to drive home on his birthday. "What good is staying up if all you are doing is riding in a car?" We got home around 9 and he did stay up. Jacob, surprisingly, went to bed on his own and Joshua enjoyed his night of watching television until Jim told him @11:15 that we were going to bed and that he really shouldn't stay up past 5:30. "I'm going to bed if you are". So we went to the camp, had a great time with Auntie, Jonathan and Nicholas and Joshua got to stay up as long as he wanted (and got to watch TV-which is apparently the great thing about getting to stay up late).

Believe it or not, school is just around the corner. And that means Joshua is chomping at the bit for new clothes and shoes. "What do you guys want to do today? Do you want to go to the park?" "Can we go to JCPenney?" (Joshua) At Target, "Hey Jacob, do you want to look at the backpacks? What kind of backpack do you want for school?" "No, I want to look at the toys. Can I have this mom? Mom, can I have this?" School shopping always cracks me up. You go shopping and they end up wearing shorts for the first month.

We did go to the mall the other day to get some hermit crab sand and a new friend for Crabby. Unfortunately, it didn't even make the trip home. They have a 7 day return policy so we headed back later in the afternoon for a replacement. So far, so good. This one is a little bigger and I can tell...I can see the poops all over. That's what happens when you're surrounded by boys, you get poop on the brain. Today I brought the boys to a park that had one of those talking tubes that you talk into on one end and are supposed to hear through the other end across the equipment. I find that I have to remind them that there are other kids around because I know the first thing out of their mouth is going to include poop, fart or their noises. Lucky Me :)

Happy Birthday Joshua

This blog thing is almost like work. I had to search and search in order to complete today's post. Today Joshua turned 7. I though it would be fun to take a look back at all of his birthdays.