My Birthday

Today is my birthday.  Birthdays look very different as a grown-up.  We still go to work, do chores, take care of kids - life just goes on.  An occasional party will happen, but rarely do grown ups throw parties for other grown ups.  Taylor and Emma have been asking about my party.  They've been asking if I'll have cake.  I told them I don't know.  Maybe just ice cream then?  I don't know.  Candy?  I don't know.  All of these things are possible, but I didn't want to tell them yes, and then them be disappointed because we didn't have any.  I'm not expecting them.  Not because my husband isn't thoughtful - he really is-but because I'm the one who usually does those things.

Anyway...I overheard Taylor asking Will this morning, "Why doesn't Mommy get a cake or ice cream, or candy?"  Will told her that they would see.  I love how sweet that was.  Taylor, wanting me to feel special on my special day.

The girls had preschool this morning and my plan was to clean house while they were gone.  I decided, "Hey, its my birthday!" and went garage saleing instead.  It was the perfect garage saleing day.  I got all of this for $15.45!

This is the piece I'm going to talk about.

This was described as a "moving sale".  The garage was filled with treasures for my kids.  I went inside expecting the same.  Instead I was blasted by memories of my grandma.  Everything I saw was something she had, or similar to something she had.  When my grandma passed away and my grandpa remarried, the new lady got rid of all my grandma's stuff.  Really, with no warning at all.  We had picked out a few things to take, but had we known she was giving it ALL to a thrift store, we would have taken more.  Anyway, because of that I was tempted to buy everything in this sale.  Dishes, clocks, footstools, etc.  I left with a handful of linens, aprons, a plastic NOEL sign, and these plastic light up carolers. 

As I was paying, the lady, who was probably my mom's age, said, "I want you to know, these carolers greeted me, my entire life, on the front porch of my grandma's house at Christmas."  Her voice was filled with deep sentiment.  I told her I could tell, that's what drew me to it.  I told her about my grandma and how I wanted to buy everything.  She gave me a discount and said she was glad it was going to a good home. 

Taylor and Emma saw every thing that I bought and Emma said, "you bought yourself a lot of birthday presents."

Yes, I did.

Lately

With the arrival of the new puppy and a strange rash on my legs (I'll spare you the details), I haven't been getting much sleep.  I am really feeling the affects in my daily life.  I. Am. Tired.  Because of that, I have been unmotivated to do much of anything.  I thought that with the girls going to preschool, I'd have lots of extra time.  I don't.  In fact, I feel like I have more to do, or at least higher expectations. 

I finally felt myself lifting out of the fog this morning.  I have slowly been chipping away at my to-do list.  I pulled out some fall and Halloween decorations, which immediately lifted my spirits.  I also changed my playlist to Halloween music - just to keep things interesting.

This is our mantel, decorated for fall, with a Star Wars man who still hasn't made it into the basement to be with his friends.  We'll see how long he stays there.

First Few Days With Winnie

The first few days with Winnie have gone pretty well.  I am feeling a little sleep deprived, though - very much like a having a newborn baby.

The first night we put her in a box and she was just not having it.  She whined/barked so loud that it woke us all up at 2:00 in the morning.  The girls called me into their room and this was our conversation.

Taylor:  Mommy, that puppy is waking me up.
Me:  I know.  She's really sad because she wants to play and we are making her stay in bed.
Emma:  That's just like Lady and the Tramp.  She wanted to play too, but they made her stay in the basket.

Last night Winnie was trying to eat out of Oscar's bowl with him so he barked at her.  She ran away and cowered.  He then took a mouthful of food and dropped it in front of her.  How sweet is that!?!

At 4:00 in the morning I had just taken Winnie out to go potty.  Will asked if that was the first time she had gone out.  I told him it was the third and that he was getting more sleep than he realized.

Winnie

I know we're crazy, but we added a new member to our family today.  Winnie is a 6 week old lab/german short-hair mix.  Will has always wanted a dog of this mix and when I found them free on Craigslist, we just couldn't resist.  Yes, she will be big, and yes we'll be up a few times a night, but I think she's a nice addition to the family.  Oscar needed a companion.  He's a senior citizen now, 7 years old, and hasn't calmed down much, so maybe Winnie will help him exhaust some energy.  He really likes her now, although this evening he went through a period of depression.  Welcome to our family, Winnie!

This was during Oscar's depression period.  We couldn't get him in the picture.  On a side note, when did my babies become little girls?

Isn't she a cutie?!?

Fun at the Fair

I love the fair.  In fact, that might be an understatement.  I love, love, love the fair.  I have since I was a kid.  I loved the excitement that built inside me as I watched the fair come together the week before.  When I was younger, the first Friday night was free so that's when my family went.  I would go later in the week and ride rides with friends.

Now, since I don't live in Hutchinson anymore, I have to fit the entire fair experience into one or two visits.  Its fun, but its exhausting.  This year I went on Friday night with two very good friends from high school.  I love these two friends  and wish we could get together more than once a year, but that's what happens when you become an adult.

We still aren't totally adult-like, though. : )

Saturday we spent the day at the fair with my family.  We did a lot of stuff and when I got home I still thought of several things that we missed!  I guess I needed three days.

The kids made puppets in the DO ART building.

 

The girls practiced their screwdriving skills in a construction areas for kids.

Looked at the scarecrow entries.  This is Flynn and Rapunzel.

The girls rode the ponies.

We watched the pig races.

Aunt Sarah got all the kids' faces painted.

We got tired and headed for home.

The following list is full of highlights that didn't get documented by pictures.

*Fried cookie dough - absolutely delicious.

*Riding the sky ride.  Its a ski-lift, without snow.

*Overhearing a conversation about how tasty the gizzards would be in a specific large chicken.

*The magic show that my sister thought was the worst magic show ever, but Taylor thought was pretty cool.

*Learning about dairy cows while watching a milking demonstration.

First Day of Preschool

Okay, I know its not "real" school yet, but just the same, I am leaving my kids with strangers 7 1/2 hours a week.  Monday, Emma and Taylor started preschool.  I didn't think I'd be emotional about it.  They (and I) were really ready to start preschool.  I think we all needed a break from one another and they needed to learn how to take instructions from some other adults. 

They were very excited and not a bit concerned about being in a new place with strangers.  I guess that's a benefit of being a twin (and already having another good friend in their class.)

I picked them up after their first day and they had lots to say.  They played a lot.  Someone brought birthday treats.  Cookies with peanuts in them.  Obviously those parents did not attend the parent meeting.  Taylor has a peanut allergy, so instead of cookies, she had cereal.  Oh, its a good thing she is responsible and that her teachers are going to take care of her.  Not just her, but Emma, too.  I know that we have placed our children in good hands.

Notice the beautiful bouquet of leaves that Emma made for her teacher.  I'm sure it will be the first of many "treasures" she gives her.

They love their new backpacks, even if they are a little large for them.  I got the chalkboard idea from my friend Rashelle.  I love the idea of having something the same about each year's first day.  Since we will not live in our tiny house through graduation, at least we'll always have that chalkboard, and hopefully a tree!

And yes, a few tears escaped my eyes as I left them there, but just a couple.  I then went home and enjoyed some quiet time in my home by myself.  Yes, I think this will be good for all of us.