First Day of School

Today was the Tumbleweed's First Day of Preschool for the year. She attended preschool from January-May of last year, and has moved up to an older class this year. I am still not sure about the decision to move her up, but she seemed to do OK today. Several of the kids seem so much older. I know she can hold her own with older kids, but there were a few times I thought she looked so small... just yesterday I thought she looked so much older.

I shaved today!

Woo-hoo! I had time to shave my legs today. I know - it's the little things in life that mean so much. I can't remember the last time that I had time (and remembered) to shave both legs while I was in the shower. Here's hoping that it happens more regularly :)

Back to walking!

We have finally managed to replace our double stroller, and it was on sale! So for the first time in nearly 3 months, I was able to attend walking group. It was bittersweet, as the Tumbleweed picked a flower that I was allergic to and insisted on carrying it with us - with me sneezing all the way.

Soccer Camp

The Tumbleweed attend her first sports camp this week. She went to Tykes Soccer camp every morning for an hour and a half. The experience as a little hit or miss --- there were a few good days and a few nots so good days. I think she did get a good introduction to soccer, but the fact that she wasn't the best at it got her a little discouraged at times and she would give up.

Only a couple of weeks until outdoor games start...

I went all "Super Nanny" on them

So, yesterday was so horrible I decided to re-arrange our life. The Tumbleweed whined from morning to night, complaining, refusing and being just plain difficult in any way she could. The Dandilion must of thought she made it look like fun, because when she decided not to nap - so did he.

After they went to bed, and I flopped on the couch defeated... I started thinking... Super Nanny comes into a house, hangs up a schedule, makes the family stick to it, and they all live happily ever after --- so why I can't I do that?

We now have a schedule hanging on the wall. It is as much to remind me as anyone else, but the Tumbleweed is starting to learn to tell time so she has taken a little interest in it as well. It has a lot less TV - which is a little hard in some ways, but easier in others.

I hope it makes us all happier.

Celebrity Wedding

The Eagle and I went to a celebrity wedding this weekend... one of our friends is a meteorologist on NECN and we attended his beautiful wedding on the coast of Gloucester on Saturday. It was truly beautiful and I wish we had been able to spend more of the weekend "escaping" from the kids. It was a great reason to get away. And the cake was devine.

The Olympics are over :(

So sad that I won't have any Olympics to watch... although, I do need to get some sleep. I have been up late so many nights watching gymnastics on the edge of my seat. I am so glad Shawn Johnson finally got a gold - and it was so cool that a US man won a medal on high bar too. It really is a shame that it happens only every 4 years.

Team Finals Tonight

Only a couple of hours until the Olympic Womens Team Final! Looks like anouther night of nail biting and little sleep. Last night's men's competition had me on the edge of my seat until the end and I am sure tonight will be the same.

Time to race to get the kids to bed...

Go USA!

The kids are away!

And I spent the day at the scrapbook store cropping... yay for me! Well, it would have been a bigger yay if had completed my vacation scrapbook, but I am 6 pages closer.

We also went to see a late movie tonight - Mamma Mia! Not so sure about Pierce Brosnan singing, but otherwise good. One day I have to get to Greece - it always looks so cool in the movies. I thought the same thing after seeing "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"

Lazy Blogger

I have not been very good about getting back into a routine after the vacation. I have been grocery shopping on weird days, doing laundry only when I need to, and even staying home for entire days! I almost never do that. I guess that is what summer is for - being lazy. Well, I have certianly caught the lazy bug. I hope to catch up on my blogging soon.

One Tired Family

Well, the new car has 3000 miles on it and we have returned safely from our 2 week road trip. I will be updating my blog with my thoughts recorded during the trip soon, so I will be able to scrapbook them later.

We are one tired bunch - although somehow no one slept so well in our own beds last night. I hope we can all get back on a schedule soon!

1 Stroller Down, 1 to go

We have now replaced our single stroller. We chose the Chicco Trevi as it has the ability to fold up smaller than the Graco. It also had a nice tray and a good sized basket underneath. We had to buy an add on cupholder for me, but it seems like it will work.

I think we will wait until after our trip to replace the double stroller.

New Wheels

Well, we have finally gotten my replacement vehicle. A copper red Mazda 5. It has the desired 3 rows of seats and they fold down in the back, sliding doors on both sides and gets better gas mileage than our Honda Odyssey. I haven't driven it yet, but Mike likes it.

We also rearranged the kids' car seats... switching the Tumbleweed to the Driver's side and the Dandilion to forward facing on the passenger side. We'll see how it goes.

Hardford here we come!

I am all signed up for CKC- Hartford. I only wish it was this weekend! I am looking forward to a busy scrapbooking getaway with some MOMS Club friends. No kids allowed (except in photographs).

The Dandilion Turns 1!

Today was our last cupcake day... and boy did he make the most ot it. I didn't really get a very good picture, but I sure worked hard for the ones I got. Now that he has had cake, it was pretty hard to get hom to even look at the camera.

He did get to eat a little frosting after I gave up.

Car Shopping, Again

After careful consideration we have narrowed down our choices to the Hybrid Mercury Mariner, the Hybrid Toyota Highlander, the Honda Odyssey and the Mazda 5, taking into consideration price, fuel mileage and interior space/layout.

I hate car shopping. I hate test driving cars I don't know. Well, actually I have never test driven a car - because I won't.

My first car was a chevy cavalier. My parents found it at the local dealership and facilitated the purchase so all I had to do was fax the paperwork and get a ride up to their house. They had already picked it up, since I was only able to come when the dealership was closed.

My most recent car - the Honda Odyssey - was test driven by the Eagle as I was too busy with the new baby to go to the dealership and take a ride.

Why should this time be any different...

Hide your GPS

Well, we learned the hard way. My sister's rental car was broken into at the mall and her boyfriend's GPS was stolen. Apparently it happens a lot there. It isn't like they didn't know to take it down, they just forgot. And they forgot at the perfectly wrong time.

Fortunately that was all that was taken. Their trip back was delayed by a couple of hours while they filed the police report, taped up the window, exchanged it for a different rental car and drove back to Philly without a GPS.

A bummer of a wrap up to the weekend.

Frustating Photo Shoot

Well, I thought I was doing a good thing when I pre-scheduled an appointment to have the Dandilion's First Brithday Photos and Family Portraits taken two months in advance. It ended up being a pretty awful morning.

We arrived ten mintues early for the appointment, but the store wasn't open. When it did open we went to the studio and no one was there yet. We waited, and waited, and waited. Finally, Mike found a manager to lodge a complaint with. He had no way of knowing who was supposed to come in, and when, so we headed to the food court for smoothies. On our way back we ran into him and he said that the 11:00 person had just arrived. She had already started the people after us, but agreed to take our family shots before showing them theirs. We agree to come back to select the pictures later that afternoon.

The Eagle was pretty furious, and took every phone number he could get his hands on to call and lodge a complaint. (Though he hasn't yet).

It's Party Time!

Today was the Dandilion's First Birthday Party. We had a a nice crowd of family and friends over for a BBQ. Even my sister and her boyfriend were able to make it in from Philly for the weekend.

We debuted our new bouncy house, which we decided to get instead of a swingset this year. I was a little nervous having swings with such little kids, and figured it would be better to wait. Plus, we might want a fancier swingset once the kids are old enough to use it.

The Dandilion seemed to enjoy his Sandcastle Cake, although we later found out he had dropped most of it onto his lap. He seemed a bit overwhelmed by everyone singing, and he really didn't sit still for long while we opened presents. Oh well, I guess that is pretty normal.

Hard to believe it has been a year!

Cleared

Today was my appointment with a knee specialist. He confirmed that I have a partially torn PCL, and do not need surgery. He gave me a new knee brace and told me I didn't need the crutches anymore (that's good because I wasn't using them...) and he referred me for physical therapy. I am also allowed to drive - although we had to return the rental car today so I still won't be going anywhere.