Crazy Hair, Don't Care!

When it's crazy hair day at school, you do crazy hair.
(And when your mom is a beauty school drop-out, you have to do your own.)

Here we have the bun-hawk, similar to the mowhawk.

And this one is simply Bow-tiful!

You can never go wrong with a half dozen bows in your hair.

I never had crazy hair day at school when I was growing up. Did you?

Randomness and Other Things

A.) The kids celebrated their 100th day of school last week. 

That means that I have less than 80 days of a quiet house left before the madness of summer comes.

Just thinking about it makes me want to go take a nap.

 II.) #6 has grown hair! It's a miracle. It took her almost 8 years to do it, but she did it.

Yesterday she wore it down, AND she let me curl it - That's a BIG DEAL!

I called her "Lady Lovely-Locks" all day. She scowled at me, but I think she secretly liked it.

3.) I saved the best picture for last. my fine-looking husband fixing the water heater.

(*whistle*)

 He did this after he fixed the dryer.

The water heater's pressure valve was broken and was leaking water all over the floor.

Just over a month ago, this room was covered with wrapped Christmas presents. Can you imagine what a mess it would have been if the water heater had decided to break then?  

I give all the credit to the grace of God.

After 3 weeks, we now have a dryer.

We were able to find a shop that would repair the broken control panel of our dryer.

(When I say we, I mean my handsome handyman-)

I've never been so excited to do laundry before in my life.  I did 4 loads last night, and I've done 2 so far this morning.  I'm like a crazy woman washing everything in the house- sheets, bedding, pillows, the dog (oh wait, we don't have a dog). It's so nice to be able to have soft, warm clothes again.

No more scratchy underwear!

Whoo-Hoo!

Through the Eyes of a Teenager

 #2 and #3 are both taking a photography class in school.

Yes the same class, the same hour, the same teacher, the same everything!

 It's been fun to see the world through their eyes (or should I say photos?).

 Who knew our weeds could look so cool?

 And this angle of the sagebrush across the street - breathtaking with the blue sky and mountains behind it.

 Speaking of angles, how about this one?

I think I'll appoint them both Official Collins' Family Photographers.  They can be in charge of taking all the photos from now on.

Randomness Post # 7.2356a

 i. Last month I cleaned out my closet.  This is what is left-  a few shirts, 2 skirts, 1 pair of jeans, some shoes, and a bathrobe. This cleaning was due to having recently read the book: 

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Condo.  It's all about how to declutter and organize, but you probably already figured that out (you smartie!). I've slowly been going through the house, keeping only items that bring me joy (aka-still fit me) and getting rid of the rest.  I still have a lot to do, but I choose not to think about that right now.

f. Over the weekend I ran to the mall to buy #4 new Sunday clothes.(He's growing like a weed and now towers over me- No FAIR!) I just happened upon a store having a huge sale.  After spending way too much moolah (that's Spanish for Money- I think), I now have some jeans that fit, and a new jacket!  I also bought Clint a few things, and #2 a few things but she won't get them until her birthday next month.

5. Speaking of birthdays, my sweet little girl will turn 18!  That's E-I- G-H-T-E-E-N peeps!

(insert running around the house screaming)

I'm much too young to have two adult children.  I want a do-over!  Who do I call to file a complaint?

 

 xii. I went on a school field trip with #6 to Cornbelly's.  

I had her cute friends in my group.  We got lost in the corn maze), which only took us approximately 1.4765 hours to complete. (I hate corn mazes, but I was such a good sport this time.  You know, to set a good example for the children and all. . .  We also went on a hayride, played on a beach made of corn kernels, and entertained ourselves on about 1000 different playhouses and swing-sets.  It was a good time.

A.  Last night I looked over at the lamp on Clint's nightstand and thought how sweet it was of him to decorate our room for Halloween.  Only he didn't.  So that only means that spiderweb is real, and I'll be spending some much needed time dusting the house today!

1st Grade Update

It's been quite an adjustment sending my baby off to the big scary world of 1st grade.  Six hours away from mom is almost more than this little one can handle.  

She had a good four day streak of no crying, however, that ended today.  This morning she cried again.  It is heart wrenching to have to leave her weeping, but I know it's for her own good.

I'm grateful for her teacher who never gets annoyed or frustrated with her when she cries. She just loves her, comforts her, and encourages her.  Seriously she's the best.

"Few of us will reach our potential without the nurturing of both the mother who bore us and the mothers who bear with us." - Sherri Dew

Yo-Ho, Yo-Ho A Pirates Life for Me!

 

Ahoy me hearty.   

Today be Pirate Day at thar elementary school.  Arrr!

Every gent and lass who dresses up like a pirate will get free booty (a bag of popcorn.)  #5 and #6 were definitely all in! Aye, they be!

 Last night we rummaged through the Halloween costume box for piratey attire.

We used pieces from a zombie costume, a fifties costume, and even a knight costume.

 It's not authentically pirate, but the girls were happy with the hodge-podge costumes, and that's all that matters.
They're just happy to dress up period.

 When you dress up, the rule states that mom has to take your picture.

These two had way too much fun posing and pretending to be pirates.

 We also blasted and sang along with Disney's Yo-Ho Yo-Ho, A Pirate's Life for Me song while getting dressed and ready for school this morning.

It's no wonder I suddenly have a hankering to go to Disneyland!

Beauty Sleep!

 Everyday after school, this is what I see. . . sleeping teenage boys.

Apparently having to get up early and spend the day engaged in schoolwork is really taking it's toll on them.  Not to mention, #3 has been playing tennis at the high school every morning at 6 am!  

 As soon as they walk in the door from school, they grab a snack and decompress in front of the TV.  Within 15 minutes, they are out like a light.

ZZzzzzzZZZzzzzZZzzz!

Apparently even teenage boys need their beauty sleep.

Homesick!

Oh man has this school year been a rough one and we're only a week and a half in!

Every single morning since school started, it has been one cry fest after another.  #6 who is quiet, shy, very timid, and a total mama's girl has cried every single school day, which means I have cried every single day school day.  She sometimes wakes up crying, nervous about going to school.  She loves it, but says it lasts too long.  (She'd rather be home baking, playing, and watching cooking shows with her mama.) She gets homesick. 

When we pull up to the school that's when the tears really start to fall. The crying is never a tantrum-like hard cry.  It just a silent, tears falling, -lots and lots of tears falling- cry  Her teacher has been so sweet to wait for her by the door -every single day- take her by the hand, comfort her, and help her acclimate to being away from home for 6 hours each day.  

Have you ever had to leave your child at school crying?  It's so hard.  It makes me cry, which makes everyone I pass in the hall wonder why this mom is still bawling her eyes out on the 8th day of school!  Then I come home to a quiet, empty house and that makes me cry some more.  I need a teacher waiting for me at my front door to dry my tears and help me acclimate to all my babies growing up!

Back to School Mugshots

Wordless Wednesday:

Melancholy

 This morning I woke up feeling quite melancholy.  "What is going on?" I asked myself.  After contemplating on why I was feeling so down, I realized that for the first time in forever. . .

(hold on to your hats)

I'm sad summer vacation is over and my children will be back in school.

I know, I know! I'm usually excited for the structure and schedule (and let's not forget the alone time) the school year provides, but not this year. This year, I feel sad, and anxious, and lonely.  

It's similar to when you have company come to visit.  They're so much fun.  You've had a blast, and you're just starting to get into a "groove" with them.  Then suddenly their visit is over.  It's time for them to leave.  You're so sad.  You will miss spending time with them, and doing fun things with them.  You'll miss their company and conversation, and having them around. 

That is how I feel about school starting.  I will miss the company of my children.  

I will miss having to bake something everyday with #6.

I will miss the endless "I'm bored's".

and the late night movies with my teenagers.

I will miss looking out the window in the middle of the day and seeing my littles out jumping on the trampoline.  

and I might even miss having to do 100 loads of dishes a day. (okay, probably not)

Graduation

 We have a graduate!

 Last week my baby girl, #6, graduated from Kindergarten.

It was a cute program full of singing, recitations, actions, and a slideshow (of course).

 Then each child got to take their walk of fame across the stage to receive their diploma

 and then down to hug their teacher!

This was a bitter-sweet day for me.  First of all, because my baby is no longer a baby.  This is the last Kindergarten graduation for us, which means my kids are growing up.  Second, because no one from my family was there for the first time in forever, which means my family is growing up and everyone is busy with their own lives.  Change is good, but sometimes it's makes me want to cry.

Here's to moving forward.

Sing a Song!

Wordless Wednesday (more or less)

  After 5 years of singing in a school choir, this was/is #2's last and final choir concert.

She will not taking choir next year.

(insert happy and sad face here)

Backfired Plan!

I've been trying the entire school year to get two certain girls to walk into school by themselves.

The older one (believe it or not) was the most hesitant.  I tried a count-down - okay two more weeks until you get to walk into school all by yourself!  YAY!  (Insert Happy Excited Smiling Face and Hands Clapping for Joy.)  Once the countdown was over, I drove through the drop-off line despite the tears from the back-seat.  "This will be good for them" I kept telling myself.  "You have to teach your kids to do hard things and to be independent" I repeated this over and over again through the crying.  I had to practically push my 2nd grader out of the car.  She proceeded to stand there on the sidewalk of the school kicking and screaming and crying in front of everyone.  I did what any sensible mother would do - told them to get back into the car, parked in the parking lot, and held their hands while I walked them into school. 

Last Friday, the best things happened- A certain second grader wanted to walk the mile home with her little friend.  I told her if she's not big enough to walk into school by herself, she's not big enough to walk home by herself.  She said "Oh, okay, and jumped in the car".  It wasn't until Monday that I knew my reverse psychology had finally and actually worked!  Monday morning I was informed that I was no longer needed as an escort.  They would be walking into school by themselves.  

Our scripture reading that morning was all about courage.  On the way to the car my second grader said to her little sister.  "Can we be brave and have enough courage to walk into school without Mom?"  to which her little sister responded, "Yeah! (DUH!)  We're not babies any more."  or something like that.  

Sure enough, a miracle of all miracles happened and my baby girls walked into school without me.  At first I was excited and relieved, but quickly those feelings faded into sadness.  Wait!  My babies are growing up?  I'm not needed any more?  (WHAAAAH!) 

WHAT WAS I THINKING?

Suddenly I wanted to walk them into school.  I wanted to hold their hand and kiss them and hug them good-bye before turning them over to their teacher for the day.  Dang, I hate it when my plan backfires, and I'm the one left in the dust. 

Kindy 500

 Yesterday was our school's Kindy 500.

This activity is the highlight of the year for the kids.

Each child is to create a 'car' (or airplane, tractor, butterfly, ice cream truck, bulldozer, etc) at home complete with license plate from your assigned state.

Yep, we represented the great state of Louisiana.

On Kindy 500 day, they bring their 'cars' to school. 

The rest of the school and the parents line the halls while the Kindergartners drive their 'cars' through the halls in parade fashion.

(Too bad they don't throw candy- Now that I'd be excited about.)

After the parade, the students break up into groups and 'drive' cross-country on an American History Tour.  Yesterday we toured Mt. Rushmore, Mt. Vernon, Betsy Ross's House in Philadelphia , the White House, the Statue of Liberty , the Lincoln Memorial, and we also went on a bald eagle watch picking up souvenirs as we went.

There was a lot of work put in by the teachers, and community members that volunteered their time to dress-up like historical heroes to teach our children about America and how great it is.

The history buff that I am loved it!

By the way, we did not make this carriage.  We borrowed it from the neighbors.  SCORE!