Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Playing Catch-up

Yes, I've been absent from this blog lately...lots to catch you up on! Since I last posted, my kids have started a new school year.

Hannah is now in Jr. High! Talk about making me feel old...I can't believe I have a kid that is almost a teenager! Seems like only yesterday that she was running around the house in her underware playing dress up. WAIT! That WAS only yesterday...hahahaha. She'll be mad that I wrote that. Good thing she has a pretty good sense of humor most days. Once in awhile I'll go a bit too far in the teasing department and she lets me know it. Mostly she is good for some laughs and takes teasing pretty well. That's important around here because I love playing little practical jokes on the kids and if they couldn't take it, it'd be a problem! Back to Hannah...so far her 7th grade year is going well. She is in volleyball and they have had a good season so far. They've only lost 2 games to (AHEM) Ft. Loramie. She's been doing well with her grades, too. I am always impressed with how well she does in math, and thanking The Lord that she seems to "get it." I struggled in math in jr. high & high school and am so glad that my girls are doing well in that department! She is definitely a big help around here with the younger two. As I type, I can hear her in the other room playing with them. Hopefully it doesn't end in crying and screaming because that tends to be the norm around here. Starts out nice and then suddenly someone's MAD. Sometimes Hannah tries to be the MOM, which is a big problem, especially when I am standing right there. I know she's trying to help, but man, it drives me crazy! Other than that, she's a pretty good kid. Wouldn't change anything except that she hates to shop...don't know how I managed to get a daughter that doesn't like to shop, but I did. It's like pulling teeth to get her to let me buy her anything. If I remember right, she was so miserable the last time I forced her to go shopping with me for clothes for her that she cried! When I was her age, I loved it when my Mom took me shopping (rarely happened, but I loved it). Hannah is pretty self-less when it comes to spending money on her...that's a good quality to have and one that I just don't understand!!! ;)

Chloe, on the other hand, is my little shopping buddy. She doesn't mind my buying her anything and her closet definitely shows it. That girl is my little fashionista and loves anything cute she can get her hands on. I call her my mini-me because she reminds me a lot of myself at that age. If I had a dollar in my pocket, I had to spend it. I always chose the biggest cookie, the biggest brownie or whatever and left messes around wherever I went. I was stubborn about silly things. It's kinda funny that the things I most disliked about myself when I was younger are the things that drive me the most crazy about her! I see those traits in her and it makes me cringe that I somehow passed those things on to her. She is different in some good ways, though. She is great about keeping her room clean and helping with chores (most of the time). She is pretty good with her little brother and sister and doesn't go overboard in the mothering department like someone I mentioned earlier! I also love it when Chloe laughs so hard that she cries (yes, she got that from me). She has this really deep belly laugh and her eyes tear up. She can barely tell me what is so funny because she laughs so hard. Usually it's something funny that Jack says or does. She is in the 5th grade this year and doing very well. She didn't have the normal 2-3 week period that she was totally stressed out over getting used to new teachers and schedules. My girl is growing up! She's great about doing her homework before I tell her to and I rarely have to bug her about making sure she's getting all of her reading in. She just does it. I am grateful for that. Heck, I don't even have to bug her to get to bed...she just does it. Hannah has been staying up later and I usually have to tell her to get to bed. Chloe is usually sleeping before I even think to tell her to go to bed. She's also great about getting up in the morning and getting herself ready for school. Hannah is getting better at it, but like me, is a late to bed, late to rise kind of girl. She's a little slower moving in the morning, where Chloe is up and ready and waiting for the other two to get their rears in gear! This year is proving Chloe to be a good student and a responsible kid. I think she's turning out quite well, if I do say so myself!

Jack, my little man, is in Kindergarten this year! I can't believe he's grown up so fast. He is a constant source of laughter (and NOISE) in our house. The boy has the loudest voice for a 5 year old. He has no volume button. You tell him to whisper and he just doesn't know how to do it! He also has the loudest girl scream of anyone in this house. It pierces my ears and makes me CRAZY! Most of the time it's because one of his sisters is chasing him or took something away from him. Usually it's justified, but makes me nuts none-the-less! Jack has been doing well in school. I was a little afraid that morning kindergarten would do us both in, but so far he's been doing okay getting up in the morning (me, not so much!). Mrs. Dapore says he follows directions well and works hard. They are learning "popcorn words," which are high frequency words, and he is finding them everywhere we go. I am happy that he hasn't gotten in trouble for talking because boy, can that kid talk! I think he saves is all up for home because he doesn't stop talking until he falls asleep. By 9:00 at night, I am just ready for some QUIET! He has been a little less loving with his baby sister since he started school, but played well with her today. She idolizes him and does everything just like Jack. Good thing he's generally a pretty good boy! It warms my heart when he calls her "sweetie" or "baby girl" and plays with her. He's been such a source of joy in our family and can always bring a smile to our faces...we love having him around!

Abby just turned 3 yrs. old on the 21st of September. She wanted to have a princess party and boy, did she! Princess this and that...most of her gifts had to do with princesses. She didn't quit smiling all day long! We kinda bribed her to get her princess party...she wasn't doing too hot on the potty training front. We'd been working on it all summer long and she was kind of hit or miss. She rarely told me when she had to go...I had to catch her...and she never just went by herself. Hannah did a great job helping me out over summer break. I told her I'd let her have a party for all of the girls in her class if she managed to get Abby potty trained...whatever works, right? However, Abby just wasn't interested in doing it without constant reminding. I was so tired of hearing the buzzer on the stove going off all summer long that I was about to give up. I mentioned to her a couple of times that she couldn't have her princess party if she didn't go on the potty all of the time. The week before her birthday she suddenly just started going to the potty all by herself and staying dry all night. We have had her in underware ever since and she hasn't had even one accident! I can't believe it! No more diapers! Anyone need some pull-ups? They have monster trucks on them (that's because my husband doesn't take the time to see if they are boy or girl pull-ups when purchasing them. No, this isn't the first time he'd done that. Yes, it made me crazy)! We are happily not needing them anymore. However, I do need a belt for the skinny-butt! None of her pants will stay up without the extra padding! I am very proud of her and so glad that potty training is OVER! She seems so much more grown-up in other ways now, too. She isn't getting into quite as much stuff as she had been and I am enjoying the couple of hours in the morning that we have by ourselves. It's hard to believe that she will also be going to school in just a few short years. That is going to be so hard to see my baby get on the school bus, but it will be nice to have a whole day to myself!

Who am I kidding? Then hubby will be shoving the help wanted ads in my face and telling me to get a REAL job!

Speaking of Hubby...his 40th birthday is this Sunday! I still remember when I used to think 40 was old! Now, not so much! We got together with some of his high school buddies this past Saturday. He seemed to be having a good time when I got there and he paid for it Sunday morning with a bit of a headache. I had to videotape a wedding, so I got there late, but I enjoyed seeing everyone and ended up having a good time, even though I was pretty darn tired. We don't get together with them as often as we should.

Sunday is also my baby sister's birthday. Shelly is only going to be 24...what a young pup. I still remember when she was born and I couldn't wait to hold her. She has been so much fun to have around and is one of my bestest friends. I can't imagine what I'd do without her! Happy Birthday, Boogs!

I have been very busy with weddings this month. I usually only schedule two a month to keep from going crazy, but I have 4 weddings in 5 weeks, plus the Senior Class Play to videotape. After that, I have a lot of time off and will be so glad to catch up on editing all the videos that are piling up on me! We also have several Woods parties to attend in my parents woods. Hopefully the weather will hold out and we will have some beautiful fall days. I also told Hannah she could have the "potty" party I promised her for helping with Abby's potty training. I think that we'll have that in the woods, as well. Hot dogs and s'mores and campfires and 20 girls...sounds like a recipe for FUN (or trouble)! Wish me luck!