11 Years!

It was our 11th Anniversary yesterday. We thought about going away for the weekend, but it was cost prohibitive this year, plus childcare issues would have to be solved...blah, blah, blah...so...I got us concert tickets. We started with a yummy dinner at Texas Roadhouse and then went to Cricket to see Poison and Def Leppard. Bill got me a Def Leppard CD for a gift, along with a nice card and chocolates. The concert was really fun and I got us great seats that were cheap! We got home at midnight! A really late night for us old folks! We did have fun and it was a nice Anniversary!

My New Job

My new job on Monday's is to watch Bella while Lynn & Mark are working. I wasn't too thrilled about this at first, since my kids are at school...and you know...I'm working myself. But, Lynn was persuasive and it's actually saving her a lot of money and she said she'd pay me....so....Monday was our first day. We actually had fun and it was a little bit of auntie/niece bonding. Kinda neat too, since I don't have any GIRLS! We went to the gym and then watched TV, played little people, eat lunch and generally hung out. Bella likes to do her own thing, so we got along just fine. Here are some photos of my Bella Cadella.

My Popcorn Kid

Don't even TRY a trip to Target with Alex without popcorn! The kids loves it! He doesn't like to share and makes sure everyone knows the bag is HIS! If you can convince him to share, he has to put it in your mouth for you. It's pretty funny!

A Day 8 years in the making

Yesterday was the day!! Both kids in school! I was so excited and also nervous for Alex and how he will do. Ben . . . .he started 3rd grade! Still at the same school....likes his teacher....bouncing off the walls when he got home after his first day! Ben will do well this year, he has good focus and his reading is really improving. He has lots of friends at school and likes his teacher, so far!

Alex started yesterday. He is hard to get up in the morning - the bus picks him up at 6:55 a.m.!! He is not used to the schedule yet, but he'll get there! He hopped right on the bus and away he went! When he got home, he looked a little tired, but excited. He told me he played with Zachary and that he had rice for lunch. His teacher reported on his paper that he did "OK", but hey, he can't be "great" on the first day, right??! He got up to do it all over again today.

Monday's with 5 kids!

Two Monday's in a row with a full day of 5 kids. I've been helping Lynn and Mark out while they work - cuz I am not really doing anything else! (that was sarcastic). It's been a struggle, they all want different things at different times and one moment they're all friends getting along, and the next they're fighting and someone is crying! Plus, two are still in potty training mode! Oh, did I mention that Lizzy is ALWAYS hungry and bored??!!! Here are some photos of the first Monday with all of them. The second monday I didn't have the strength to take photos.

Swimming at Lynn's house

Friday was one of our last free days before school starts, so we went swimming at Lynn's. It was fun; Lynn's friend Amy came over with her kids too and we swam for a while, then the boys went in to play Wii and the girls went in made up a dance to a Taylor Swift song. The little ones had fun too, playing and watching The Incredibles. The mommy's even got to chat a little bit! It was a good way to close out summer. Thanks Lynn, for having us over!

Summer Fun

Bella was playing with my candles and made me think maybe she'll be a candle lady with her Aunt Kim some day!

Here are the three boys being super silly a couple weeks ago at my house. They used pillow cases to make their own Sack Race!

Only a few more days of summer left - - we've had fun but it's time to get back in the school/work routine! I'm ready for the boys to go to school, even if they might not be ready yet!

Sedona in July

Lynn and Mark have a time-share at Los Abrigados in Sedona. This year, my mom also rented a unit and so Bill joined her with the Boys on Saturday. Since I had a PartyLite event on Saturday, I didn't get up there until Sunday. Then Bill left Sunday night and I stayed until Wednesday with Ben and Alex. I didn't get to do a lot, due to the fact that I was with the boys alone, but it was relaxing and I even got to read my book!