The Equipment Man

I just wanted to share this with all of you...it's an article about Don's job as the Director of Equipment Operations (the lady got his title wrong)! We are very proud of him & miss him (he as at work more then he is at home these days)!

Here is the site with the article (Just copy & paste it to view):

http://mizzoumag.missouri.edu/fall-2007/features/equip-guy/

1st week...DONE!

Well the kids survived their 1st week of school with only 3 days of minimal tears from the Kindergartner. We have learned the whole getting the school's lunch is stressful for Olivia (she tried it twice & it put her into tears both times)...so from here on out she'll be taking her lunch to school. Bailey & Nico both had a good 1st week with minimal homework...hope they know that will change ! ;)

One more side note: Only 8 more days until Kick-off...MU vs Illinois! GO TIGERS!!!

I think our dog, Chloe, is trying to "off" us!

Okay here is the deal...this weekend some of the lights go on in my Explorer (the wrench, ABS, & one other one - can't remember). Well being that my car is our courtesy car and the fact that the kids & are going to be going to Des Moines this weekend, I thought it might be a good idea to have it checked out. So I ask Don to contact our dealer to see what we should do, and he replies with, "that's not normal you better take it in and it's still under warranty". My thoughts are good because I don't really have car maintenance $ in the budget. So we take the SUV in yesterday & leave it with the local dealer. They proceed to call Don a couple hours later with this, "well I don't know how to tell you this but it looks like some kind of varmint has been chewing on your wires by the tailgate and it's going to be $110 to fix it"! (this is were you imagine the red in Don's face & the steam shooting out his ears) Oh yes, the varmint would be our dog, and it's not covered by the warranty! Needless to say Don wants to "off" the dog.

Oh, but the story gets even better! I said to Don yesterday after we just after dropped the Explorer off, "I'm anxious to see what they say because you have the same lights on in your car too" (which came on about 2 weeks ago & we haven't done anything because the whole "no $ budgeted for the cars this month"). I'm sure you can see were this whole bit is going?!? So Don just picks up the Explorer, brings it home & looks under the Cavalier...yes you are right my dear she has managed to chew those up as well!! Not sure what to say other then laugh & cry!!!

All from this sweet little face:

I'm Baaack & the Kids are Back in School!

I know you are all amazed that I'm finally updating this...I have good excuses for why I haven't been on in awhile but I won't bore you with them! :)

The kids started back to school yesterday, which leaves me here wondering "Where in the heck did the summer go?". EVERYONE that I have talked to has said the same thing so, why is this? Is it because we are all getting older, because our lives are consumed with so much, because all of the fighting our children do with each other helps warp the time by, or maybe it all of the above.
Anyway, regardless of why the summer is over and they are back in school!

My kids started back yesterday, Monday, August 20th. Bailey is now in 6th grade, Nico is in 3rd grade & Olivia is in Kindergarten! I know what you're thinking because I keep saying it myself..wow, I can't believe they are that old already! Last night Don & I were talking about the kids and their 1st day and I had brought up the fact that when Bailey was in Kindergarten (which seems like yesterday) I was pregnant with Olivia.

As for how their 1st 2 days went:

Bailey had a great two days after some vicious nerves about all the changes from 5th to 6th. In 6th grade this is when they start changing classes and have different kids in each class. But she did great and all of her anxieties were relieved when she found out it wasn't that hard & she had a few friends in many classes! I'm glad she figured it out because I know I was confused ! :) She was however a little shocked yesterday when she had homework already, but it wasn't too bad.

Nicholas also has had 2 great days! He is definitely all boy though...I don't get much info from him, but I still try! This year will be very different for Nico as well...3rd grade is the 1st year that they start getting actual grades and homework gets pretty intense. Also, this is when the go from learning to read to reading to learn. He had his 1st homework assignment today...it was pretty easy so far!

Olivia, my little Kindergartener, is sooo cute in her little uniform! She had a great 2 days with the exception of lunch yesterday. She was so brave & happy at drop off (mom had tears), but at lunch time when she saw me it hit her. The newness, excitement nerves, the whole idea of going through the lunch line (even though I was there to help her out) etc..all caught up to her and she started to cry. Mom felt SO bad and really just wanted to scoop her up and take her home, but I knew she needed to stay the day and stick it out and she would be fine...which she was. So we sat together through her lunch with her on my lap, Liv trying to fight off the tears, & mom bribing her to just eat a little. Here is how the bribe went, "Come on sis just eat a couple of Chicken Nuggets, you need to get your strength for the rest of the day! If you eat some of your nuggets we can go get ice cream after school?!?". Mom & Liv both one..she ate a few nuggets for mom & she got her ice cream after school, as did the other three. Today went great for her because mom didn't help in the lunch room today...I was supposed to help out in ther all week but after yesterday I told my friend Tracy (she supervises the lunch room & recesses) that she had to count me out because I had a feeling that Olivia would be better with out me & I was right.

And last but not least...Isabella! No she didn't start school but I have to talk about my little sweetie! She has done great so far without her siblings but has asked a few times "when are we going to get the kids from school?". I don't think it's going to take her too long to fall into a routine without the kids...she is already enjoying having mom all to herself - just like she likes it!

Isabella on my birthday 7/8...she likes to pose...

Here are some photos of the kids on the morning of their 1st day of school:

I told you she looked really cute:)...

Nico striking a pose...

Bail standing nervous by the Family Stone...

They are so sweet!!

Olivia @ her new desk/table...

Nico @ his new desk...

Bailey @ her new desk...

One more thing, With all of this excitement going on Mom & Dad didn't even have time to enjoy their 14th wedding anniversary today! Oh Well...there'll be many more - right Don? This is where he would say, "Yes Dear"!! :)

Happy 14th Anniversary Donnie Boy! I love you!!

Swim Lessons

Not to much new to report on other than Olivia & Isabella started swim lessons today (they last for 2 weeks). They both loved it and had a great time. For Bella's lessons I have to be in the water with her. It took her just a short amount of time to warm up to the idea of following instructions from me but she did get the hang of it and enjoyed it! As for Olivia, she just loves to be involved in activities, so needless to say she enjoyed her class! Hopefully I can get Bailey to take some pictures for us to share with you all...it is a little difficult for me to take them while in the water.

Mohawks

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that this would happen but it did....my boys got Mohawks! Don was talking to Nico about how he need his hair cut, and from that conversation it transpired into Don, Nico, Borts, Erich, & Andy (the last three work for Don) all getting Mohawks. So you ask why....well their idea was to do this to get through football camps. I know most of us would choose a different vice to get through something but for them the Mohawk was the answer. I have included photos for you to see......

1st Swim Meet vs Macher's

So this spring Don & I told Bailey & Nico that we thought that it would be a great idea for them to join the swim team at our swim club this summer. After many arguments/discussions they finally agreed (or were pushed) to join.

Bailey all along has been very apprehensive about the whole thing because she just didn't feel that her freestyle was very good but was pretty confident in her breaststroke & backstroke abilities, and as Don & I told her she could pick the heats that she would swim in & didn't have to do all. With this knowledge it helped to ease some of the nerves. Well on Monday, June 4th they had their first practice and Bailey of course was ready to quit because her freestyle wasn't "any good" according to her (this child feels that she always has to have everything perfect in order to do it). So as we said to her it was her very 1st day on a swim team and that she needed to give it time and that we were proud of both of them for doing this, and that nobody has all strokes perfect & it takes time to get them down pat. So, let's fast forward to Thursday of the same week and what is Bailey doing...yep the freestyle & quite nicely I might add. Oh yes it was another "mom's right" moment...got to love them but don't let my mom hear this because I'm still right in that relationship! :)

As for Nico, he claimed that he hated swim team too, the first few days, but he really seems to be enjoying himself. I think it really helps that he has become the little helper/buddy to the coaches & they all knew him by name on the first day (maybe this isn't such a good thing..J/K)! His stroke of choice would be Bail's least favorite...the freestyle. He is very good & fast at it until he needs to breath. When he is swimming he clips right along in great form, and when the breathe thing happens it's like he completely stops swimming, pops his head out to breath (meanwhile doing the doggy paddle) and then proceeds to his good form. This style is definitely slowing him down, but I'm sure that he'll have it down by season end.

So now here is the exciting part: Last night (6/13) they had their 1st swim meet.
Bailey entered into 3 heats: 50M backstroke, 50M breaststroke , & medley relay. She took 3rd in backstroke, 2nd in breaststroke & 3 in the relay, and she got a ribbon for all three!
Nico entered into 2 heats: 25M freestyle & medley relay. He took 2nd in freestyle & 3rd in the relay, and he got ribbons for both of those as well!
Just in case you couldn't tell mom and dad are VERY PROUD of both of them! Their next meet is next Wednesday and we will let you know how it goes!

Bailey on the starting block getting ready for her 50M breaststroke......

Nico on the starting block getting ready for his 25M freestyle.....

Nico swimming freestyle for the relay.....



Bailey swimming the backstroke for the relay.....

Apology

Please accept my apology for no new activity in a week. My internet and email were down from last Thursday until last night!! I never realized how much I LOVE my laptop and internet until it was taken away from me...whew glad that spell is over!