Christmas 2007

We had a lovely Christmas. Santa got the girls a huge Disney Castle and the Barbie the Island Princess Vanity, Kaytlynn and snow globe (just like she wanted) and a party dress for Delaney(just like she wanted). Some of the other presents they got...
Kaytlynn-Barbie Island Princess Wii Game, Barbie Island Princess Maiden and Prince Antonio, 4 different dressy necklaces, 1 custom made silver bracelet with her name on it, a guitar, perler beads, a doll from the strawberry shortcake line, Twister. My sister got her a butterfly habitat.

Delaney got the mini barbie princess, mini kingdom castle, Barbie Island Princess Maiden, 2 strawberry shortcake c.d.'s, 1 large strawberry shortcake doll that blows strawberry smelling kisses when you hug her, Gingersnap (from the strawberry shortcake line)Chutes and Ladders board game, Buckaroo game My sister got her a horse and carriage that carries 2 barbies inside and I must say it was the hit!

They also got a ton of DVDs!
Todd got a Star Wars Wii game, several new shirts, and some wind chimes with solar powered lights as the inner globe.

He got me an ipod, accessories to go with it, and some dead sea spa treatments! My parents got us a family season pass to Six Flags since that is what I wanted!

My dad read Luke 2, said a prayer and the kids went to ripping open everything in site. Delaney spent the whole time saying"I want mines, I want mines" right after she opened a present. She really didn't look at what she received...it was more fun tearing into everything!

What a Week...

We just got back to Houston after spending the week in Denton with my parents. It was a really good and really bad week. We arrived on the 22nd and spent the first couple of days just chatting, eating, wrapping and playing spades. Mother played with us, which is unusual to say the least, but very fun.

We took the kids to see Santa at my mother's little mall and to our surprise...there was absolutely no wait! We got a pic of just our girls and then we also got a pic with the other grand kids as well. Santa was so nice. He specifically asked each child what they wanted. I thought he was so gentle and sweet. I loved his disposition...it was perfect. Both pics came out nicely to boot! The kids then went to a small dinky carousel (a 3 seater) and rode it until we ran out of quarters!

Dec. 24th, Santa made his yearly appearance outside my parents backyard...and it was a hilarious meeting...yet again. Each kid was very excited to tell him what they wanted...and wouldn't you know that my girls CHANGED WHAT THEY WANTED RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOT!!!! I wanted to cry!

Ill type more later since I don't want some person reading 18 paragraphs about my Christmas, and truthfully...I am sitting here enjoying listening to The Statler Brothers "The Christmas Card" C.D. which is not my usual type of group to listen too but probably more beautiful due to the fact that I listened to this as a record at my parents house 1000 times each Christmas as a child. Memory Lane is a nice place to be every once in a while...especially at Christmas time.

Girls are better...

Just when Delaney started getting better, Kaytlynn started getting worse. We ended up taking her to the Dr. when we were clocking her above 104 degrees. The Dr. said she had an ear infection and the croup. I believe the Dr., but ...#1. We have never had croup before and now twice in two months??? and #2. I never heard the barking seal cough that she had the first time. The Dr. just said it was not as severe as it was the first time. So Kaytlynn is on antibiotics and in 3 days time, she is already fever free with only a slight cough! YAY!!!

The girls are sick...AGAIN!

Delaney had a fever this past weekend with a cough. Eventually the fever went away, but we have still been having to give her some prescribed cough medicine. Kaytlynn got a fever last night, and she has a NASTY cough. We just made an appointment for 3:45 at Dr. Oneil's office. I am at home instead of work, and I don't think my principal is too happy about it, since it is December and the natives are restless...but again...nothing I can do about that.

The librarians had their Christmas party last night. We did a gift swap and it had munchies at Hirsch's librarians house. It was a lot of fun and I was home by about 7:00, so we weren't there from all hours of the night.

Our 10 Years!

Yes, Todd and I actually celebrated our 10 year anniversary today. I can't believe it, because it really does seem like yesterday. When Todd is getting me an anniversary present, I like him to get me the traditional gift...For example...Anniversary 1, the traditional gift is paper. Todd got me Romeo and Juliette print by Jeffrey Barson. The 2nd anniversary is cotton...he bought me a quilt, so as you can see...he does use his imagination ( or knows someone who does!) Fast forward to year 10...the gift should be made of tin. He showed up about an hour into my workday, which is odd, with a big smile on his face, holding a big tin of cookies. I tell him thank you...laugh with him...and little does he know, he just made my day. He then asks "you want a cookie....I open the lid and amongst all the cookies is a small black jewelry box...holding a beautiful tanzanite and diamond ring inside. He did really well. He can really be a romantic when he wants to be.

We didn't get to see each other till 8:00 tonight because I had a late night school program, but I am sure we will go out on a date somewhere tomorrow night. I'm grateful God let me have him 10 years ago...Here's praying for another 40!

Thanksgiving was Wonderful!

We were all in Denton for Thanksgiving. The Northrup's got to Denton on Thanksgiving Evening at around 5 and we met everyone at The Cracker Barrel. We waited for about 30 minutes to be seated. Daddy waited in the car to listen to the football game, while everyone else tootled around the store inside. The cousins were all so happy to see each other and were busy chasing each other around and showing each other what toy or Christmas decoration they wanted in the store! My parents had the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, but the rest of us (Nevins and Northrups) had breakfast food and it was delicious!

Friday we watched the movie Elf and again watched the kids play and we did the same thing Saturday, except that night, everyone but Daddy(way too tired) went to Lisa's to play Clue (while the kids just ran all around her house screaming giggling, and chasing. They also had a good time playing dress up. Delaney was particularly partial to the bridal costume that she borrowed from Emily! She thought she was something pretty special...from her veil to her huge flowing dress. It was so cute to see her pose in her fake bashful pose! We stayed until 12:30! The first game of Clue...Lisa only put 2 cards in the envelope, so when I guessed I was right on the 2 cards, but not on the 3rd! It was pretty darn funny. Todd won the second game.

We went back over to Lisa's house Sunday and played pinball and air hockey. And left at around 4. We were exhausted when we got home, but it was an amazing weekend.

Grace's 3rd and Emily's 6th Birthday...

We planned on leaving Friday night, but something was up with my car battery wires (corroded or something) and my car was dead. Todd fixed whatever needed fixing Saturday morning and off we went to the Coppell Aquatic Center. It is only like 15 minutes from my parents house, and maybe 10 from Lisa's. We got there with about 30 minutes breathing room. I was exhausted, so I stayed in the party room and Todd swam with the girls. All the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves. Gracie has really started talking a lot and she is so matter of fact when she is talking to you that it is hard not to laugh. When she is working on something she shhh's you! "shhhhhh! Hush, Mommy, Otay?"

We spent the night at my parents but spent Sunday afternoon at Lisa's. They just got a new REGULATION size air hockey table so Todd spent his time on it with Scott and Jacob. I played on their pinball machine. I usually suck royally at pinball. I get around 40,000 points a game. My second game though, I got 198,000 points on my first ball!!! I was so excited that Lisa ran and got the camera. My 2 and 3rd ball were typical, and I finished the game with like 201.000 points! We came home and were just dead...but we will be back up for Thanksgiving, so I'm not too sad!

Whistle While You Work!!!

Kaytlynn has officially learned to whistle. It happened sometime this week. She has been practicing for some time. She will blow through her persed lips and say over and over again "Can you hear me" and we would say yes (not specifying whether it was her air, or an actual whistle that we heard!)

Now she goes around the house whisteling away. It is quite adorable.

Veteren's Day Parade

Kaytlynn's class had a Veteran's Day Parade last Thursday. I didn't get a note that I was supposed to and I "found" it in a pile of Todd's stuff on Wed. morning. It stated that she needed to make a patriotic hat for the parade on Thursday. Well....I have MOPS on Wed nights so I told Todd he was going to do it. As he stood there with his mouth agate, I instructed him to go to Michael's and get a foam hat and just decorate it with glitter glue.

He did as advised and one upped me! He found a foam #1 GIANT HAND for her to decorate as well. They decorated both and so did Delaney. He took off work ( I couldn't, as usual) and went to pick Delaney up from Ms. Carmen's and they went to watch Kaytlynn in her parade! In the pictures she looked so cute! She wasn't allowed to have her foam hand because she had to hold and wave a flag, but Delaney had hers!

Kaytlynn's First Report Card!

She got it last week and she did really well. She now knows more than 30 of her site words and knows all the sounds and the letter it goes with...except U. It stated she could only count to 19, but actually at the time she could count to 30, so I don't know what that is about. There were no negative comments, except the fact that she couldn't spot rhyming words well. I am so glad that we have her at Spring Baptist Church. I don't know if she would be nearly as successful in a public school setting. I am loving the fact that she only has 9 kids in her class, where there would be 22 in a regular state school.

Halloween...

We had Halloween at our church this year and it was a really fun night. I went as my usual Juliette and Todd was the Cat in the Hat, but the girls were Barbie and the Island Princess and although I wasn't thrilled about the costume choices (I was pulling for Madeline), they turned out looking adorable. They had tons of games, moonwalks, slides, rock climbing walls (we passed that one up), and best of all, a large petting zoo. The girls had a lot of fun petting the llama, goats, rabbit, and chasing the turkeys and looking at the gigantic turtle.

The Girls Are Sick!!!

So Kaytlynn had the croup last Wed. She missed school Wednesday and Thursday...and so did I. She stayed home with Todd on Friday. By Friday, the croup was gone, but she now, rattled when she coughed and had a fever. Todd took her to the doctor again, after she went into a coughing fit and could not stop...she was the color of lavender. The doc wasn't concerned and sent her home with a decongestant...Delaney too, because at this point, she is showing the same symptoms...just not as bad.
She gets worse...last night she was coughing and Todd felt her and said she was burning up. Her fever was at 103.7. This morning it was 104.5. We took her to the emergency room...and the doctor said she needed to take Kaytlynn's blood to see if we were dealing with a virus or bacterial infection. Kaytlynn of course was so sad to hear she had to get a shot. I told her that we could get anything she wanted if she was brave...clothes, a new movie, shoes, whatever. She said she wanted a fan...a paper one. I told her we would make one as soon as we got home. She was brave...she only cried when they were actually giving her the shot and she was nice and still for the nurse too. It was viral...both girls have bronchitis...Kaytlynn's was still worse than D's. We are keeping them on the decongestant that the 2nd doctor gave her...this Doctor also prescribed cortisone spray for the nose and breathing treatments for Kaytlynn. Now we just sit and wait for them to be better!

We did make a fan when we got home though. She chose it from my scrap paper. We just folded it back and forth and stapled it at the bottom...and she was SO proud of it. How easy to please is she!!!!!

On a side note...Last night Todd pulled out Darby O'Gill and the Little People. It was really neat going down memory lane watching that movie again. It was the first movie Sean Connery was in and I used to think he was so gorgeous...and still do! The girls enjoyed and it and so did Todd. It was all of their first time to watch it! I love it when we all pile on the bed and watch a movie together as a family...everyone is so happy, gigglie and content.

My Misplaced Hands

So....I'm friends with Linda Ellis. She's is at least acquaintances, if not good friends with, anybody who is anybody in the reading community. She invited me to dinner with Dick Allington. Richard Allington has been researching good teaching and learning within the reading and total classroom for about 40 years...literally. So, as people say, "He's the Man"! After dinner, I ask if he will take a pic with Linda and me. He agrees, and searches for a good background. He decides on a park bench under gold lettering that says "Saltgrass Steakhouse" with a picture of a longhorn underneath it. So we sit on the bench...one girl on either side of Dick. He has his arms around both of us and we are talking a giggling. I am at a little bit of an awkward position leaning into him...and I'm always very clumsy when I get gigglie! The girl takes the picture of us and hands the camera to me, so that we can view the digital image...so that we can approve, or disapprove of the shot just taken. Well, as I lean over more, so that both Dick and Linda can look at it...I drop the camera. In my reaction of not wanting the camera to fall, I reach and grab it. At this point my hand and wrist is literally resting on HIS CROTCH!!! I just about died and he is joking around and laughing...in a split second of all this laughing...I drop the dang camera again...and catch it AGAIN!!!! He is really laughing now...the people standing around us, and Linda are bent over with laughter. I am completely red faced and he says "I've heard of aggressive Texas women...but Wow!
The next day at the conference (it is the reason why he was in town)...he always had something to say to me and then ended up signing his new book...by first asking "Just who will be looking at this book" and then wrote....Watch those Hands!
The conference, by the way, was incredible. He is absolutely so knowledgeable about different research and the research that is called research, but is really profitable garbage. I wish I could listen to him more often!

My Little Counters

Kaytlynn has been practicing counting. She can count to 30, but still skips 15 and sometimes 20. Delaney though, has been listening to us and she can count to 30 too! She has been counting trains and cars as we pass them when we are driving around! She misses a few numbers here and there...and never really the same ones...but it is very cute to hear her!

Tea Party

We went to Peyton Crenshaw's Birthday party today. It was at her grandmother's house who lives in Conroe. The company that did it was called Little Miss Tea Time. She brought Victorian lace dresses, necklaces, bracelets, hats, purses, etc. They played silly games, did a fashion show, and had tea and cookies (and cake and ice cream). The girls all had a great time. Delaney was even 2nd to the last left in musical chairs...it took quite a bit of prodding, but she got competitive once she got into the groove of it.

Afterwards, we drove to Best Buy so that I could let Todd run in and get the new Tiger Woods game for his Wii. It was his birthday present and he was quite happy that he got it!

Kaytlynn Is Reading!!!

I can't tell you how exciting it is to watch it happen with your own baby. Here I am, a reading teacher that has taught literally hundreds of kids to be a better reader over the past 10 years, and I have always loved that thrill, but to watch it with Kaytlynn is a totally different animal.

She has been learning her sight words. She gets 3 new ones each week. She goes to school 3 days a week, so really it is a new one each day. Its hard. Its a lot more than public school...they are at 6 words in Kindergarten right now at the school that I teach at. But the amazing thing is...She is doing it! Right now the words she can read are...

It, See, In, Three, Can, His, Four, Is, Two, One, Here, I, And, This, Mother, A, The, Has

She has also been working on her letter recognition, and letter sounds.

Today when it was time to introduce her 3 new sight words...I didn't tell her what the word was, like I usually do. I just let her sound it out...AND SHE DID IT!!! YAY! I was so proud of her. The word was His...she saw the word IS in it and knew to put an H in front...I couldn't have screamed. Tomorrow is our Parent Teacher conference, so I am hoping to hear good things.

Modest Delaney...

So Delaney is finding her own modesty and we are really getting a kick out of it. Delaney, like her sister finds quite a bit of pleasure running around in her birthday suit. She likes dressing like a princess and wearing her bathing suits around the house...so, I will allow her to play "dress up" with these things...but inevitably, she ends up naked. We get her back in clothing...and she gets naked again.

Well....about 2 weeks ago, she would be naked and we would ask for her to put some clothes on. She would go get her clothes and say "Close your eyes"...or in her dialect... "cose youw eyes" and while we pretended to do so (to make sure she wasn't pulling a fast one on us) she would put her clothes back on. She has done it several times now and we find it quite funny!

Last night, she is on the potty and her daddy went in the bathroom to wash his hands...nothing unusual. She looks at him and says in a bossy voice..."Just Wash Your Hands and Get Out Daddy"...We both wanted to burst out laughing!

Kaytlynn's First NOTE HOME!!!!

Wow! I can't believe how the time is flying with Kaytlynn. She is doing very well for the most part although, we got our first note home. Kaytlynn so far, has mainly been working on her shapes, colors, writing her name, and working on writing and learning 2 new letters a week, and 3 new sight words a week. I can't believe she has only been to school 9 times (it is only a 3 day a week school) and she can already read I, Can, See, Is, It, In, This, A and something else that I evidently can't remember. She didn't like doing sight words at first...but now she thinks she is soooo smart. She even asked me tonight if she was as smart as me yet! So she comes home with these checks and check +'s all the time...of course we are thrilled with it...EXCEPT twice now...they have worked on sequencing and at the top of her paper is a check minus and the teacher says..."done with help". no worries, right? Well the 3rd one came home this week with a note that said she needed to work on her listening skills. I automatically start thinking...SHE'S TALKING WHEN SHE SHOULD BE WORKING. So I call the teacher at home (one of the perks of sending your kid to private school). Low and behold, Kaytlynn is EXTREMELY quiet at school, but she looks around and sort of daydreams a lot. I am now putting 2 and 2 together and realizing...if its tough or she doesn't want to do it...she stresses out and "checks out" for a while. I told the teacher to redirect her...and to call us if it continues, because that is not typical. I think her teacher is very meek...and Kaytlynn is used to Hitler Mommy...so maybe she is trying to push...so far, no new notes, so I am hoping she settles down and the teacher will start calling her on it. I also pointed out to the teacher that Kaytlynn is a baby of the class since she was born 15 days too early for the cut off. I don't think she knew it, because she even stated on the phone that it probably is just a maturity thing...especially considering that she hasn't been to pre-school.
I can say I was relieved to hear that it wasn't talking...I did not want to go through the Like Mother, Like Daughter phase!
Tomorrow we go to GG Tamez's Birthday party...swimming, of course, say they are pumped up about that.

Our Sweet Wally...

Wally, our almost 16 year old Pomeranian died Thursday night. I came home from work and saw him on the bean bag in the kitchen. I had seen him on it when I got home...and he had not been feeling great since we got back from Denton, so I thought I would just let him rest...we were thinking he had eaten something not so great. An hour or so later, Kaytlynn was saying "wake up sleepyhead" in the kitchen and I knew before I even got to the kitchen to check. I told the girls he was really sleepy (I didn't want that to be the last thing they remembered) and put on a movie for them in the playroom. I called Todd and he came home and buried him. After he was taken care of we told the girls. Delaney immediately asked if she could play Happy Feet on the Wii, so it didn't bother her at all, but Kaytlynn cried for a while. I was 5 like her when my first dog, Becky, died. I thought that was coincidental. She is persistently asking for a new dog, but we are trying to wait a while. I guess we will see how it goes. Todd and I are both wrapped around her little finger, so we are seeing just how long we can hold out.

He was such a sweet dog. He loved to go on car trips and especially loved visiting my mother. He was laid back and only barked when someone rang the doorbell. He loved baths and as soon as he finished with one, he would run around the house barking and yelping, running like a mad man. It was funny, only because it was the only time he would play!
He constantly tried to "escape" and go for a neighborhood jog, and our neighbor Jeff would always bring him back to us! Most of all, Wally loved to eat people food. We tried not to do it since we wanted him to be healthy, but my mother and the girls thought it was hilarious to feed him. He sort of stayed away from the girls...not that he didn't like them, but they made him nervous...but as soon as they had food, he was RIGHT THERE by there side. Their very best friend. Delaney spent this last weekend putting her Super girl cape on him. I wish I had gotten a picture of it...although he didn't think it was that great and I got on to Delaney...it was very funny.

Enough of my rambling. I am glad he was not in much, if any pain and that it didn't take long. We will miss our beautiful, sweet Wally.

Kindergarten

Kaytlynn started Kindergarten on September 5th. We have been so busy that I have not really had a chance to post. She loves it. She is going to Spring Baptist Church and there are 8 other kids in her class. She goes full days on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I didn't get to take her on the first day of school, like I am sure most of the other mommies were able to do, but Todd did video walking her into class. She looked so cut with her Disney Princesses backpack and her black Siamese cat lunch bag. She comes home each night with one page of homework and gets 3 new site words each week. She is working on the letter T, learning her shapes, and her 3 site words this week are SEE, CAN, and I. I really want school to be a great experience for her. Something she can learn from and enjoy. I never could seem to do both of those after about 2nd grade until I reached college.

Delaney has been fine as far as being happy at Carmen's, though she did ask one morning to see Kaytlynn on the way to drop her off at Carmen's, but when she gets home, she is silently begging for attention with "dad, watch me do this, and mom watch what I can do." We clap and hoot and holler for her and it seems to be working, because it is lessening already!

Today is Saturday and Todd took them to work with him for about an hour and they had a good time playing hide and seek and running races. We even got a nap in today...and that is rare!

Six Flags

Todd, Kaytlynn, Delaney and I went up to Denton to my parent's house. We brought 2 friends of ours with us. Kim and Chris Gonzales. Kim is the music teacher at my school. Kim found out last Thursday that she was pregnant with their first child, so we decided to go celebrate at Six Flags since we all had a season pass and it was a 3 day weekend. We got their late Friday night and got settled. We went to Six Flags at about 1 on Saturday. We chose to ride the biggest Steel rollercoaster named The Titan. The first drop is the largest and it CLIMBS SLOWLY up the hill to get to the highest point. Kim looked over at Chris on the climb and says..."Do you think the baby will like this ride"? He didn't believe her until she had told him 3 times she wasn't kidding and then we dropped. It was terrific! He cried...he was so happy.
My mom watched the kids for us so we could ride the big rides with them.

Sunday we went again, but this time we just took Kaytlynn and Delaney around the park. They love going to Six Flags...so they had an excellent time. That night we played with the Wii and also played spades and up and down the river. Lisa joined in on our up and down the river game and we ended up going to bed at 2:30. Can you say exhausted. I loved the weekend though. It was the youngest I have felt in a really long time.

We drove back on Monday and on the way stopped at the Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana. Kim and Chris had never been there and I think they thought it was pretty neat. We bought a variety of cookies and are still enjoying them a week later!

A Bunch of Stuff

I have not been to good posting, have I? I didn't realize it had been 2 weeks, but every time I thought about posting, I didn't have any time to post.

Kaytlynn had her actual birthday party. She had a Barbie party. The guests were my mom, Lisa, Scott, Jacob, Emily, Grace, Jeanne, G.G. and Nico Tamez, Anne, David and Gabriel Wisenbaker, Grandma and Grandpa Northrup and Todd, Delaney and me. Everyone had a good time. We played "Pin the Crown on Barbie", ring toss with a blow up castle, and just let the kids run around. We ate pizza and Kaytlynn had a HUGE barbie cake that she absolutely loved. I think her favorite part was us blowing up a hundred balloons and putting them in the dining room. She thought that was soooo cool! I was really sad on her real birthday, but her party was the Friday after her birthday and maybe it was because I was so busy or something, but it was a fun and happy day!

I started teacher in-service for the new school year the next week and this week has been the first week for the students to come. I have been EXHAUSTED!!!! It usually isn't this bad.

This weekend we are going north to Denton with some friends...Kim and Chris Gonzales. I teach with Kim at Cooper. WE are all going to go to Six Flags. If it doesn't rain, of course! It will be good getting to see my mom!

I have not been thinking about it much, but next week Kaytlynn starts Kindergarten. It makes me awfully sad, even though I know that I should be happy. I think she is going to do really well. She likes to learn and is usually a pleaser. I sure hope it is easy enough for her. She has only been around things that make her feel successful, so I hope that doesn't change at school. I also wonder how Delaney is going to do at Carmen's without her big sister. She can be so insecure at times. I have been trying to play up the good points of being all by herself with Carmen and she seems okay with it, but I can tell she doesn't get it.

K-A-Y-T-L-Y-N-N and Zerburts!

Kaytlynn learned to spell her name out loud this week. I dedided to teach Kaytlynn to spell her name, so she would know it before school started. She learned it in about 2 days. She says it really fast. I didn't tell Todd what I was doing and he came home from work the 2nd day and I said...Kaytlynn, How do you spell your name, thinking that she would blow Todd's socks off when he heard her spell it. Well, I can't remember exactly what she said, but it was like

"Z_R-I-D-Y-C-B-R" and she screamed it. The funny thing is she looked so proud till she reached like the last 2 letters and looked at me like she was completely confused...and then said...ummm"that's not right, huh?" I nearly died laughing!

I then said...what does your name start with...she said "K" and then said K-A-Y-T-L-Y-N-N! Todd was so surprised and she was so proud!

Delaney has learned to Zerburt (blow raspberries on your stomach) to tickle...she thinks she is so smart when she does it. I still think she likes to stick her tongue out in different directions and make you copy better though. Boy, Ive never seen a kid like their tongue more!

Kaytlynn is 5 and Graceful!

Kaytlynn turned 5 today. I've been dreading it for a couple of months now, and it is just as sad to me today as I thought it would be. She asked me almost the minute that she opened her eyes this morning if it was her birthday! I sang Happy Birthday to You all day to her...except when I was supposed to say her name...I would say a silly name instead Happy Birthday Ms. Magilicuddy....Happy Birthday Shing a Ling a Ding Dong....Happy Birthday Stinky Cheese Man...and she would laugh so hard...saying THAT'S NOT MY NAME...I'M KAYTLYNN NAFWUP!!!! Nafwup is how she pronounces it. The only names acceptable to her in the song were My Tinkerbell (her nickname) and Kaytlynn.

We went to my school today. I worked in the library getting ready for school to start. The girls watched Dora DVDs and colored and cut construction paper. My Assistant Principal Mr. Green had his little girl Kayla come play for a while, and Ms. Uhlig's daughter, Skyler, played as well, so the girls had fun. I also met my new AP...her name is Jaunee Perry. She seemed nice...and knowledgeable.

When we were getting ready to leave the school to go home, Todd and I talked to each other on the phone to plan the evening. Todd wanted to know if Kaytlynn wanted Pizza for dinner...when I asked her, she said, "no, just cake". I of course added, we have to eat dinner before we eat cake...so she said...we can all have some yogurt, and then eat cake. So that is what we had for dinner. Yogurt and Cake! Todd went to order Kaytlynn's real birthday cake for her party on Sat. I am so excited because it is going to be a Barbie Doll cake. Where the cake is actually Barbie's dress! Kaytlynn is going to FLIP when she sees it.

We gave her a Wii game (Happy Feet)tonight, but she really wasn't that interested. Her new thing is drawing pictures with a pencil and lined paper, and hanging the finished product by a fancy sticker on a door...any door. They are ALL over the house. She also likes to make crowns out of paper and does a pretty darn good job of it, if I do say so myself. No one taught her how...don't even know where she came up with the idea. I think she is going to be a really creative thinker.

Lastly...!!! She came prancing into the living room tonight...literally prancing, with a coy smile on her face. She said "now that I am five, I can be graceful...and then curtsied!!! it was so freakin' cute!!!! I laughed and agreed...she just giggled and pranced around a little more...sort of hopping on her tippie toes!

15 Year Reunion

I had my 15 year pre-reunion last night and I am so glad that I went. It was so fun seeing everyone. Almost everyone are mommies and daddies now. It surprised me that the women didn't seem to look that different, but the guys had gotten so much taller and had much broader shoulders and facial hair...that you would know you knew them, but couldn't put a name to the face. There were like 80 people there which is HUGE considering how small my class of 1992 was. I got home at 3:00am and that was hard...its been a LONG time since I have been out like that.

I was not able to show Todd off to everyone because he had to take the girls to a birthday party...he was probably thankful! but I was a little sad that everyone didn't get to see my wonderful guy.

I've Been Teacher Tagged by Jeanne

Here are my answers:
1. I am a good teacher because I have read a ton of books. I know books, I try my best to get to know the kid and try to pair them with something they like and don't give up on getting them enthusiastic about reading...ever.

2. If I weren't a teacher, I would be... a Physicians Assistant in an Ob/Gyn office.

3. My teaching style is...based on constant informal assessment and I give the kids all the ownership they can handle. I believe they need to be reading books they can read and want to read and write about things they know about or want to know about. Each kids different, so their reading/writing choice should be as well.

4. My classroom is... homey but incredibly structured. I'm a library that tries my best with my money to make it look more like a library in a home rather than a classroom.

5. My lesson plans... are always planned based on what I think the kids would like to hear about. I get my ideas, by just browsing the shelves, finding a book that I think they will like, and then building a lesson or booktalk, or author study around it.

6. One of my teaching goals is...to understand that if they can read, they can literally learn to do anything and if they can't, they will be powerless in some situations.

7. The toughest part of teaching is the lack of authority teachers have in many many areas, from grades, to discipline, to what books are supported, to what we think is best for students.

8. The thing I love most about teaching is... seeing that I have made a real difference in a child that will stay with them and empower them forever.

9. A common misconception about teaching is... you really don't work that much. When you are finished with the school day, you still have to plan and organize for the next day. Then you have to make a couple of phone calls that last a good 20 minutes a piece. Oh, then the paperwork for the kid you had discipline problems with, and the team meeting, or school wide meeting, or district wide meeting. AND WE DON'T HAVE SUMMERS OFF! What about the staff development we have to attend for and not get paid for....I just put in over a week last week and didn't get paid a dime. And now I am a librarian, so I have to know about books...so I have to read a tremendous amount ALL OF THE TIME and then i have to order these books. These are all things we do off duty...we don't get paid a dime for it, yet it is expected...so yes...we work more than the average person thinks.

10. The most important thing I've learned since I started teaching... is if you set a level of expectation the students will meet it. Yeah...what Jeanne said.

Kaytlynn Winks and Delaney's a Star!

Kaytlynn was in the backyard playing in the pool with Delaney, so I decided to take my little camera out there and capture the moment. Kaytlynn is a "poser" in front of the camera, so she gets up and strikes a pose...but it is with a funny face that I have never seen before. What she is doing, hits me and I say..."Kaytlynn, are you winking" She giggled really loud and said "Yes...you want me to do it again." She was so proud of herself.

Delaney was showing me her sharp swimming skills...she lays down in the 3 inches of water with her arms and legs spread eagle...saying, I'm floating like a sea star!

A Cake For Nana...

We made a cake for Nana today. Who cares that Nana is 5 hours away and isn't visiting us anytime soon. Nor will we be headed North that we know of. I had some Nesquick in the pantry that I wanted to get rid of so I googled a recipe with Nesquick in it...and came up with a Neapolitan cake. I asked the girls if they wanted to make a cake and they screamed YES! And one said...a cake for Nana! Then the other chimed in "Yeah, a cake for Nana!" I told them that Nana lived far away and Kaytlynn said..."That's okay...we can still make her a cake!" So we did. Its pink, brown and white and the girls are thrilled. Delaney loves the pink part (of course) and Kaytlynn loves the chocolate (of course). It was a good Saturday with my family.

Getting Ready For School

We are getting ready for all types of school. This week has been awful. Next week all of my work is due in my YA Lit class that I am taking for the 4th time, so I am cramming in as much as I can. I am also doing curriculum writing for the Battle of the Books, so I have been reading those 10 books and writing questions to go along with them. I don' t think I have ever read so much in my life. The last Harry Potter book...Deathly Hallows came out last Saturday and although I have my book and audio CD's ready and sitting on my bookshelf, I am too busy to read it, and it is driving me mad!!! I will say that I do catch myself smiling as I see all 7 books lined up neatly in a row on the shelf though. It makes me smile seeing it look so complete...I guess it is the librarian in me!!!

Another thing that was accomplished this week for school, was Kaytlynn getting her school shots. I still can't believe she is going to school in 6 weeks! Delaney got hers as well, and although they both screamed bloody murder while receiving 4 shots each, they calmed down pretty quickly, and boy were they sleepy that evening. They came home and immediately asked where their prizes were for being so brave. Kaytlynn got Strawberry Shortcake and Apple Dumplin' dolls and a bunk bed for them and Delaney received an Angel Food Cake doll, so they were happy in the end!

As far as Statistics for the girls...here they are:
Kaytlynn took a hearing test and an eye exam and passed with flying colors.
When questioned about the letters, she could sound them all out, but couldn't name them all!!!
She new all her shapes and colors and counted fine. They said she was doing great.

She is 4 years and 11 months
weighs 40.5 pounds = 50 - 75%
42 inches tall = 50%
BMI 16.1 = 50 - 75%


Delaney impressed them by knowing all the shapes and a few other things that they questioned her on. They said they usually are a little ahead when they have a sibling a little bit older than them. We told them about her only knowing the colors pink and purple and told them that at first we thought she was color blind maybe, but now know that she just doesn't care! They laughed and said girls weren't colorblind...and that she was fully capable...she just didn't want to. They said not to worry about it....so I guess we won't!

Delaney is exactly 3 1/2 years old
Weighs 35 pounds = 50 - 75%
40 1/2 inches tall = 90 %
BMI = 15 25- 50%

A few more Barsons that I found.

Jeffrey Barson...

Jeanne said to post our favorite painter...mine is easy and most people that know me, know that it is Jeffrey Barson. I like him because he combines art and literature. I can't believe it, but he chose to retire a few years ago...when he was in his 30's! I hope he gets back into it one day!

Back when Todd and I were first married we caught a cat in the woods beside our house in New Caney. We couldn't think of a name for 2 days and he would not leave the picture of Juliet, hanging over our bed alone...he kept pouncing at it, so we named him Barson.

Well it finally happened!

Kaytlynn finally got gum in her hair. On top of that, the little stinker stole the gum in the first place. She was grounded from gum for one month a few months ago because she stuck it to the living room wall. After I finally greased it out with hair detangler, I told her no more for a long time. We are so lucky we didn't have to cut it. She felt so bad that she didn't even complain about the grounding!

The girls are way off their sleeping schedule this week. Since they are sleeping in, they don't want to go to bed till about 10:30 or 11:00. Todd and I have been letting them watch something to calm them down late at night, while we sneak off and watch an episode of 24! Its been fun, but since Kaytlynn will start going to Kindergarten in less than a month, we are going to have to stop. The girls have also been sleeping on the couch and love seat. They asked and I couldn't think of a good reason to tell them no, so that is where they go to bed!

The girls finished their session of dance up from the Y. They enjoyed themselves so much, that I might sign them up for next month as well.

I am at home by myself today. Todd took the girls to Carmen's today so that I could work on my school work. All I have done thus far is read. I guess I will get to the essays and such another day. I am trying to get through YA literature for the 4th time in my college career!!! Needless to say, I am not happy about it! But this too shall pass...it just can't happen soon enough!

Wally is Powerful

2 notes before I tell the story

1. Wally is getting old (16 yrs old now) and now growls and lightly bites at the girls because they chase him and hit him with their wands or pet a little too rough. We try to tell them to stay away because he is "old and grumpy".

2. We are trying to teach Kaytlynn a few of God's characteristics...He is love, He is powerful, He is kind.

So me and the girls are in the bathroom and Kaytlynn is talking about how God is powerful and that we are his children...even Wally. I say "Yep, even Wally, because he made Wally" Then next thing you know Delaney says..."Wally is powerful like God" and before I can say anything, Kaytlynn makes a funny face and says..."No he's not. God's not old and grumpy!!!" and then she stops and looks at me with a questioning look and says "is he Mommy?"I had to try really hard not to burst out laughing when I told her...no, God's not old and grumpy.

Rainy days

It has rained every day for the past 2 weeks. I think the kids are getting a little stir crazy because Kaytlynn keeps saying she wants to go to a friends house! They have ballet tonight, but I have not mentioned it, since I don't know if it will be too stormy to go or not. I plan on working out a little after her class if I have it in me to do so. I haven't worked out in over a week and I am feeling a little guilty! Todd came home with a really cute gizmo last night for me...its a key chain with a digital picture frame on it. You can load like 80 pictures on it, and then brag about your babies wherever you go. Pretty cool, huh?

I made a pot roast last night...cooked it in the crock pot, so that is what we will be having for lunch in a few minutes and I am really looking forward to it. Its actually got some nutrients in it, with the potatoes and carrots in it, so I am sure the kids will want nothing to do with it.

Happy Fourth of July

The girls spent the late evening running around with sparklers in their hand. My batteries in my camera were dead, so I didn't get any pics and I wish I could have. They have so much joy in them that it is incredible just to watch them. Kaytlynn had to stop for several breaks, but Delaney kept running around the entire cul-de-sac over and over singing "Bibbity Bobbity Boo" from Cinderella. She thought she was so smart and cute. We were able to see the big fireworks from Splashtowns parking lot as well, but they weren't as interested with that. Our neighbor Alba came to chat a while and watch the girls too. It was a great family day. We plan on ending it with the girls watching a Strawberry Shortcake movie so that Todd and I can sneak a 24 episode in before bedtime. Tomorrow will be a big day. I have class at SHSU and Todd leaves for Michigan for the funeral tomorrow.

Bad Hair Day

Yesterday I slept in a bit. Not much, but longer than the girls. They would come in and talk to me, ask for permission to do such and such, but other than that they were fine. It's not like this was the first time this has happened. I just don't like to wake up at 7 every morning like they do.

Anyway...I wake up, cook pancakes for the girls, watch a movie with the girls, do workbook pages with the girls and then do the ultimate for them....I get the mixer out and let them start "baking" an applesauce cake. I need to go check on the dryer so I walk past the TV. As I pass by, I notice Kaytlynns First Haircut picture is a little crooked. Its a folded piece of cardstock with her picture getting her haircut on one side of the page and a clear envelope holding the cuttings of her first cut. Well when I go to adjust the card, I notice THERE IS NO HAIR IN THE ENVELOPE. Kaytlynn decided to "play" with it. She used her step stool to get it while I was sleeping and "just did this"...she says as she rubs her fingers together letting pretend hair fall from her fingers to the ground! We looked and couldn't find any...I was so angry and sad. I made her go to her room and had Todd come home from his lunch break because I felt like I was going to snap! She ended up being so sorry...she even pet my head when she apologized. So I guess when we go for her second "hair cut" we will say it is her first to get some new locks of hair!!! Id rather have her than her locks, but it would be so nice to have both! I just keep telling myself that this is just going to be hilarious one day! It will, won't it?

Grandma Calhoun

We got the call yesterday evening that Grandma Calhoun had passed away. Hospice came last week, and they thought that she would live longer than she did, but I think everyone is happy that she was not uncomfortable for too long.

We went over to Todd's moms house for about an hour and came home. I think that Todd will be flying to Michigan on Thursday. They are hoping to have the funeral on Friday. Everyone seems to be sad, but also doing well, in focusing on the fact that she is Heaven now with her husband and most importantly our Heavenly Father.

We've had a bad day...

Not a horribly bad day...but its up there. We went to visit Carmen. She just had surgery. The girls and I took over Fried Chicken, some sides, and some vanilla ice cream over to her house. She looked good and the girls were so sweet with her...they covered her with a blanket, kissed her, and gave her sad eyes. After eating, Kaytlynn started saying she didn't feel well. Turns out she is sick. She says she doesn't know what hurts, but she is lethargic even after a 2 hour nap. She also has a 101 fever. So I guess we will just get to find out what is wrong with her by her symptoms, if she ends up showing any. My Mother in Law called and said her mother is not doing well. They are starting to have to up the morphine often now, and she just went into hospice care last week...so it seems she is going quickly. Which is sad, but no one wants her to "stay" if she is going to just be hurting.

Todd is working late tonight and is also going to be working the weekend...I hate that. He did it all the time at his last job, but was starting off this job where it wasn't so necessary...it has picked up lately though. At least they said they would give him another day off for it.

On a good note. We finished swimming lessons today. Both girls did excellent in their last week of class. Delaney was a completely different "swimmer" this week. She didn't even think of crying today!

We also got the movie Madagascar in the mail today and boy do they love it...they laugh out loud at it often, and are already watching it for the 2nd time. I wish they could stay this age forever.

Delaney's Practically a Fish...almost.

We just got back from the YMCA. Today was the first day Delaney didn't cry and it only cost me a Strawberry Shortcake pony and a Lemon Meringue Pie doll. Yes...I bribed her. But it worked and she did so well. She was so proud of herself every time she got in the water and kicked or blew bubbles or whatever. She was still scared...I just knew she was going to yank her swimming coaches swimsuit top right off with the way she was pulling on it!

Kaytlynn is doing wonderfully. She was the only one in her class that could go to the bottom of the "deep end" and pick up something they threw down there. They called it treasure, but it is actually a plastic stick. Everyone smiles and laughs at her because she is a little cheerleader! She yells...Go Delaney Go...Good Job Delaney, Good Job! She high fives and gives thumbs up. She is definitely an encourager. She does the same for Theo and Brianna, who are also in her class.

I bought them both a new swimsuit last night at Wal-mart. They are pink with brown polka dots. Kaytlynn keeps correcting me that it is black. I tell her they are brown and she will just nod. Then I caught her telling Delaney in her ear "They are really black...she's wrong". Little Stinker! I think she has a little bit too much of me in her at times.

Today will be extra traumatic because at 2:00 I am meeting the girls for the dentist office. Both are going in for check ups and cleanings. This ought to be quite interesting, as even brushing their teeth is a triathlon sometimes.

Rice Problems...

It all started 2 days ago when I was cleaning up the kitchen. I had a 1 gallon container of dry white rice that I found a dead bug in. I was going to throw it all in the trash and thought it would make it heavy and maybe tear the bag, so I thought I would just pour it down the disposal. I realize that I have several degrees, but none of them came in handy when needing to remember that rice expands. The sink backed up and just sort of vomited all over my kitchen. When Todd started working on it, I asked if it could be the rice that I put down the disposal...he said naaaaa. BOY WAS I RELIEVED! About an hour later he said....did you put DRY RICE down there? I nodded yes...and then he realized what I had done.

He worked 2 evenings until midnight trying to fix the problem....When he told me Friday morning that it would cost 125 dollars, I said call em! He said...That is a lot of money. So I stayed quiet. This morning, he finally sent up the white flag and called. They guy said it was like concrete! It even broke a piece of his equipment. Todd worked beside him the whole time to speed up the process. He finally left 3 hours later and I asked Todd how much it cost...he smiled and said..."That was the best 250 dollars Ive ever spent." I let him celebrate by letting him go buy a Wii Nintendo. He said next time he will listen to me when I say to call the professional....I say..."we'll see!"

Mommy, We're In Love

So I am sitting in the office typing on the computer and Kaytlynn is going to the bathroom across the hall....and I hear "Mommy, we are in love, right?" I said yes, and she started giggling. She said, "We are in love, because we are a family". I wanted to melt.

Today the girls started swimming lessons and ballet lessons at the YMCA. Swimming Mon, Tu, Wed., Thurs. from 9:15-9:45; and Ballet 3:30-4:30. Kaytlynn had a fun time swimming...they practiced blowing bubbles, kicking, and jumping of the side into the water. Delaney didn't think it was so great. She hardly participated and then about halfway through, she walked of the steps she was supposed to be sitting on and went straight down. I kick my shoes off and scream her name (getting ready to jump in) and the teacher swims over to get her. She didn't want to participate anymore, but I was a mean mommy and made her. She likes water, but doesn't enjoy pools that much, but I want her to at least know how to get to the side if something like this ever happens again.

I put in an hour on the treadmill while the girls played and then we went home, ate and napped!

Ballet went better even though there were a couple of times that they both got frustrated and wanted to stop. I ended up bribing them....if they tried their best, they got a Strawberry Shortcake Doll. So they did well. Their teachers name is Ms. Suzie, who is very formal, and doesn't put up with any nonsense (which impressed me), and the helper is a young girl named Allissa. They were both very nice to the girls.

We will be swimming again tomorrow, so I am keeping my fingers crossed! Meanwhile, I am going to go play with the girls I am in love with!

Home Again

We got in this morning at 1:00 am. The girls sat in the back of the minivan watching Barbie Princess and the Pauper and a Strawberry Shortcake movie, while Todd slept, I drove and listened to an audio book for my class. Delaney stayed awake the whole way home and when we turned into our neighborhood, she finally gave up the ghost and went to sleep. We didn't want to come home but Todd just accepted a job at DHL and was asked to come home early for a meeting and other stuff, so home we came. It is probably for the best since we have my assistant principals wedding to go to tomorrow in Giddings, Texas. I always hate leaving there, because everyone has such a good time. We spent most of our time at the pool or just chatting while watching the kids run wild in their back yard. The funniest thing that happened was us taking the kids to my mother's duck pond in her neighborhood. While feeding the ducks, Kaytlynn bent over a bit too much and fell right into that nasty green water! Her head popped up and she actually swam to the side, with her eyes as big as I have ever seen them, while my sister pulled her up on to the ground. ...my mother yelling "get her, get her, get her"...she freaked out as much as Kaytlynn did. Kaytlynn shocked me when she swam, since she didn't know how to really.We tried to blow it off by saying..."why did you get to go swimming and we didn't?"...she just looked at herself in disgust and said matter of factly, "Well, I am all wet"!

Settled at Nana's

We came in late Friday night...actually Saturday morning at about 12:30am. Neither kid new where we were going until we were half way down the road. Delaney woke up about 5 minutes from their house. When we pulled into her neighborhood she smiled as big as she could and said..."do you smell something mom?" and giggled and giggled. I finished the phrase with her..."I smell Nana's house!!!" The kids stayed up till 2:30 playing with Nana and Papa in their big brown recliners. They were all in Heaven.

Yesterday the kids went to the pool with Todd, Scott, and Nana. When they all came back we ate and Lisa took her kids home and put them to bed, while I put the kids in the computer room to watch Straw ba ba ba ba ba berry Shortcake. When Lisa came back we stayed up till past midnight watching 9 to 5. That movie is so funny and full of such hilarious quick one-liners. We watched it over and over as teenagers...so it brought back good memories as well.

Today, Momma made breakfast as usual. My kids finished in record time and when I commented, Mother smiled and said...they know what their prize is going to be. She took them to the donut shop and let them pick out about a dozen donuts. As they were leaving, Kaytlynn had the boxes of donuts in her hand, looked up at Nana and in an excited voice questioned "Nana, are we gonna have tacos?" My mother has laughed and laughed at this blond moment of Kayltynn's.

Kaytlynn has also been showing off to everyone that will watch how she can fold a washcloth or a hand towel. She and Delaney are both in cute Super______ dresses today and mother asked Kaytlynn are you SuperWomen. Kaytlynn giggled and said No, Silly Nana, I am Super Girl!

We have spent the rest of the day eating and talking in the kitchen while Mother made a chocolate pie and a coconut pie. It has been really fun. The kids have spent most of the day running around in the backyard...playing with bubbles, playing chase, throwing steel javelin tipped stakes from Papa's garden! They all love playing with one another. It is a sad thought that in 10 years, we will have a 18, 15, 14, 13, and 12 year old. We were talking about that yesterday and the thought has stayed over me ever since it was spoken.

4 Kids a Jeep and a Pool

I started going to the Y with Jeanne this week. We are taking it pretty easy, so I have not killed myself as of yet. We meet up, drop the babies off and while we work out, the kids have a ball in the different areas on the site. It is by far the largest and nicest Y I have been to.

Today after the Y, we all went to Jeanne's to swim in her pool, but on the way there, Kaytlynn noticed Jeanne's Jeep. She has never commented on a car before, but when she saw the top down...."ooooooooo Mommy, I like Miss Jeanne's car" I want one. Jeanne ended up taking both of them around the block in it.

They swam for about 2 hours and played in the playroom with Nico and G for another hour. Before we left, I made them promise they would not take a nap on the way home so that they could go to bed at a decent time tonight. They both promised. I loaded up the car...and again, they excitedly promised me to stay awake...giddy with huge smiles. I did not make it 1 mile down the road before I hear Darling Delaney sucking in all 4 walls of the van...that kid can snore! So I weakened and told Kaytlynn that she could go to bed bed too. She was out in less than 1 minute!

Todd is mowing so that we can go to Denton. We are leaving tomorrow to spend a week there. Todd has to be trained up in Dallas so we are killing two birds with one stone and I am just too excited. The kids don't know yet...but they will be thrilled tomorrow! Nana and Papa's is their favorite place and Emily, Jacob and Gracie are their favorite cousins to run wild with!

An Unusual Sunday

It is unusual because we didn't go to church. I have a sinus headache and my throat hurts, so I sent Todd up to the church to rock the Babies A class and I spent my morning doing laundry. The house is a mess and I don't quite know how it got in such a disarray so quickly, other than that I have a 3 and a 4 year old.

Todd went to Sams with Delaney to pick up my birthday present. It is an arbor for our back porch. I am hoping it will ease some of the sun coming through our back windows. I took Kaytlynn to Michael's and bought a few crafts for the girls to do during the summer and used my 40% off coupon to buy an acrylic stamp block. While we were there Kaytlynn begged me for an odd little prize and I got it for her. She wanted a patriotic door hanger. Its made of wood and has a flag painted on it. It was so cute that she wanted it, that I couldn't say no...needless to say it doesn't match my decor, but who cares, because it makes her smile!

As I type right now, Todd is in the backyard putting my arbor together while the girls sit at their picnic table and eat their PB&J sandwiches that they made all by themselves. They have just started doing this and are so proud of themselves. They make them for Todd and myself as well...and lets just say they are heavy on the peanut butter!

Don't you just love getting in contact with an old friend! I had the pleasure of not 1 but 2 old friends contact me this week. Jill Fitzpatrick, an old friend I taught with at Bammel Middle School sent me an E card for my birthday and Marie Downer now Marie Jimenez contacted me through myspace. I knew Marie at SFA and we spent most of our class times together and go together a couple of times a week to just hang out. I mostly remember her from when my house burned down. I spent the night crying at her apartment, and she was happy to be there for me. They both live in the Austin area (they don't know each other), and I hope to see them some time this summer! I can't wait.

One Giant Step

For me starting a blog, that is! I have been wanting to do this for some time and am so jealous of everyone I know that has one, but have been to chicken to do it my self. I guess we should all start placing our bets as to how long I will keep this up as I am not a technology lover! On the other hand, I like writing and bragging about my babies...so I am thinking it is a 50/50 probability.

I finished the 2006-2007 school year yesterday and I am so glad it is over. I can't wait to spend the summer playing with my babies! We all went to Wunsche Bros. Cafe and Saloon last night with Larry, Stacy, and Taylor Massey and the girls spent the whole evening munching on their beloved french fries and ketchup and entertaining the whole restaurant dancing to the live music. There is nothing more beautiful than ballet done to Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, right? It was hilarious and we all had such a good time.

I plan on "planning my summer" as far as cleaning and cooking goes today. I wonder how much of that planning will actually get done though?

P.S. If you are wondering why I chose to write this in pink, it is because it is the only color Kaytlynn and Delaney deem acceptable.