The start of school.
As I see my friends posting new pictures of their kiddos heading to school,
I can honestly say, I do feel a bit bittersweet.
Although this year,
Unlike last year,
I feel TOTALLY excited.
A kind of bring-it-on attitude.
Fall has always been my favorite time of the year.
And LIKE, last year,
I'm able to FULLY enjoy it with both my kiddos.
BECAUSE
I will be home.
With them.
Just us.
Top 10 for the Week:
10. Mowing. So, this week my husband was gone a few nights. It was rough. And I'm even still feeling the aftermath of a LONG week last week. Anyways, to make it somewhat fair--I guess you could say--we decided I would take a "break" and mow the front lawn. It was horrid. Worst time ever. Seriously. I USED to love mowing the lawn. It was one of my favorite summer things to do. Okay, maybe not favorite but I didn't mind it. This time. It sucked. The whole time I was picturing Jay just coming through and getting it done with his lawnmower in like 10 minutes. Quick, easy, so stress free on the back, etc. But I finished it. Because that's how I roll. But I will NEVER do that again. EVER. Just thinking about it right now makes me irritated. YUCK.
9. Wet Bed. Clay wet the bed one night this past week. So I decided to clean ALL of the sheets. Kids decided it was a great time to have a dance party on EACH bed. It was cute. And on that day, I didn't mind. Amazing how some days you let things go and others you don't. Mal was also a great help at helping me put them back ON the beds. AND she enjoyed doing it. Ask me in 10 years, and the story won't be the same. But I'll take it this week!
8. 12:30 Haircut. I needed a haircut BAD. And my hairdresser only had a few openings, one being 12:30 on a Thursday. So I took it, thinking I'd serve them a picnic lunch at the hair salon. Well, I decided to meet friends at the park, then have a picnic lunch, then take them to the salon. It was horrible. My usual calm kids were bouncing off the walls. Now mind you, I have taken both kids several times--usually around 4:00ish right after nap/rest time and they do great. So, I was thinking that after getting some energy out at the park they would still be great. Nope. Not the case. Mal's haircut and my next one are on two separate days at 4:00. Why change a good thing, right?!?! Although I do have a few really good shots of Clayton with rollers in his hair. And that's on my Xmas list for Mal--hair rollers!:o)
7. RAIN. It rained a lot this week. And we were bored inside. So one day I let them play out in the rain. I thought it'd maybe last just a few minutes. But it was well into the second hour that I was smiling and laughing. Drenched, dirty, with smiles on their faces. It was priceless. And such a great time. Clayton had so much fun he almost slept 2 hours during his nap time!
6. JoAnne's. Clayton is getting close to starting to potty train. REAL close. So, one morning I decided to put real boy underwear on him. In fact, he was so excited about them, he didn't want to take them off. I also needed fabric for my Grandmother's quilt. Which meant, I needed to head to Kalamazoo (30 minute drive) and stop at JoAnne's. We made it there (in fact we even went to visit Jay's office first where he went potty there), picked out fabric (while my two kids were swinging around bags of binding), and was just about to have my fabric cut, when I looked down and saw Clayton's first accident. He had NO clue. Still swinging the bag, grinning the whole time, with wet pants. The three older women smiled at me and totally agreed to watch my cart while I ran out and changed his clothes and shoes. Luckily, I came prepared. I could tell the ladies were quietly reliving their early mom days when they nodded their heads and smiled back at me when I got back.
5. Sew MUCH. I've been a sewing machine! (HA! That's funny. Jay would be proud). I'm on my third table runner quilt in just about a week. I forget how much I LOVE it until I start doing it again. I'm looking forward to my mom and my sewing weekend in November! And these cooler temps are making me want to sew. I know, that's strange.
4. Clayisms. Clay had speech this week. Which I finally made it to ONE this summer (there were only three of them). It was interesting watching him and the other two boys. He is BY FAR the most social of the three. Interacting, smiling, wanting to do things, talking gibberish. But he didn't "talk" as much as the other two boys. Did I mention he was the youngest? He had a TON of fun at my Grandma's party. In fact, he WAS the life of the party (Mal too). He was SO wild. Here and there and everywhere. Pouring water from one glass to the other. Putting crackers in his water. Putting flowers in his shirt. Hugging people. Running around. Eating cookies. Eating cookies. Eating crackers. Eating crackers. He was a TWO year old. For SURE. AND he had fun. And that's what counts. Right?!?!?!
3. Malloryisms. It seems that Mal has a monthly episode of grumps/sassafras. Seriously. She's 4. (She was telling everyone at the party she was 4 before they even asked her name. "Hi. I'm four." With her four fingers held up in the air). This week was the week of the month. GOSH. She was testing me BAD. We made it through. I even talked her out of MOST of her tantrums. AND calmed her down. MOST of them I tell ya. Maybe that's why this week is still a little rough for me. I'm still thinking about last week! Anyways, it was great seeing her interact with my great aunts and uncles (which would make them her great great aunts and uncles). They adored it as well. "Smell these flowers. Now pass them around and have everyone smell them." Which they did. It was also neat to see the interaction between her and my grandma (the Corner creator). My grandma even fixed her Corner (AKA favorite security blanket in the WORLD). Which she watched ever so patiently. And she really is SUCH a great helper. With Clay especially. In my JoAnne's craziness, she was the one running to get everything I needed in the van. Wipes, diaper, pants, shoes. My favorite little helper. Even when she's grumpy. WHO DOESN'T have their grumpy days. (Doesn't help that my grumpy days were last week too! Ha!).
2. Mini Mom. I'm a Mini Van Mom now. And I LOVE it. It's been a week today! I LOVE my automatic doors and the luxury of having a HUGE back "trunk" that the kids can just run around in. AND the fact that now miraculously Mal can buckle and unbuckle herself from her car seat. Amazing what automatic doors can do to a 4 year old! Ha!
1. Mimi Visit. We had a great time visiting my grandmother and Dad's side of the family. I wish there would have been more time to really sit down and chat...but with two kids running around, it's kinda hard. Hotel was a bit crazy. Both of us didn't sleep that well with each of the kids, but the kids slept well AFTER they finally fell asleep! Car rides are always a challenge for us right now--even WITH the DVD player. But it's just a phase, right?!?! Oh please tell me so.
And that's a wrap.
Onto this week.
Hope you all are enjoying this fall like weather.
It's crazy.
Enjoy your week!
Until next,
Mrs. Newell
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