CJ's First Day at School (otherwise known as crying at the bus stop)

Our oldest, CJ, had his first day of school yesterday. We were all very excited, but no one more so than CJ. He had made a paper chain and had been counting down the days. He got all dressed up nice in his new school clothes and had his new backpack ready (which was almost as big as he is). The big yellow bus came and CJ eagerly hopped up on the steps, turned around and did a few poses (who taught my son how to Vogue?) My mom told me that I would be like all the stereotypical kindy mothers and crying as my first born got on the school bus for the first time. In a twist of irony we turned around to see my mom wiping her eyes saying something about how she couldn't believe he was big enough to go to school. Craig later reminded me that I was not untouched.....that I had been doing the same thing only two days ago. So off our big boy went to school. We went up a few minutes later to visit with him and check out some things at the school. When we got to visit him he was eating a grape snow cone and making new friends. After that Craig and I went out to lunch to celebrate CJ's first day and reminisce his younger years (a whole total of five). Later that day CJ came home on the bus with his big cousin Bryant and again stopped on the steps to pose for his adoring paparazzi. He proceeded to tell us all about his first day and how at every instance he would sit down and a girl would sit next to him. He vowed that the next day he would NOT sit by any yucky girls. He also told us how his new friend had two strikes on the first day.......my son is making friends with the wrong crowd already :) The only thing that didn't go smoothly was that CJ was upset that he got a tiger clap applause instead of round of applause when he told the class his favorite color.

Kaylee wanted to go with her brother so badly.....she keeps saying "I ride the bus when I get bigger". Drake was very excited to see his big brother when he got off the bus in the afternoon. I had also sent chocolates for CJ to give to his bus driver and his teacher, which I thought would be a good way to start the year. Craig told me that boys do not do that and that I was trying to kiss up to the teachers. Hey, a little bit of chocolate as a kiss up bribe or for any other reason is never a bad thing to give. Today CJ came home from his second day of school with his first homework assignment. You would have thought his teacher had given him a ticket to Disney World. It was the first thing he wanted to come home and do. I can only hope that his excitement for learning will continue and that he will always want to do his homework right away. It's a good thing I am an optimist, huh? Although, I do like to think that Craig and I have started CJ on the right path to becoming an independent person with a love for learning and knowledge.

Our Day At The Zoo

Yesterday was our last day before CJ's first day of school. I decided we needed some fun after the recent bad things happening in our lives. So the kids and I, my mom and my nieces and nephews went to the zoo. Our zoo (St. Louis) is ranked one of the best in the country. They have a new exhibit that features dinosaurs that the kids loved. Thankfully the kids were almost on their best behavior....five kids under six, one nine year old, and two adults (one of which had to work the night before and hadn't yet gotten to go to bed). The weather was great and the zoo was not very crowded at all. The kids had a wonderful time! Afterwards we treated them to frozen custard at Spanky's. Here are some pictures of our adventure.

We will miss you Sheba!

Today our beloved dog Sheba, had to be put down. We have known for about a month that she was probably suffering from chronic liver failure. She was fine this morning and hten all of sudden just got really bad (I wont go into details). Sheba was a very big part of our family. Craig and I got her when Craig was still in the army. We got her to keep me company. So we have had her for almost nine years. She has been there through all of the kids being born and was really good with them. Sheba slept with CJ every night. At about nine o clock she would be waiting at the door to his room to go to bed. Just last month CJ gave her a pep talk about watching over the house while he was gone spending the night at Grandma's. She was one of the best dogs you could have. We will miss her greatly. She will always be part of our family.

Murphy's Law

I should have known.....things were going to well....it's Murphy's Law and it will get you every time. We were doing so well getting everything paid off and getting the fixed up. Then it happened.....starting with Sheba getting sick last week and the big vet bill that produced. Yesterday I went to the dentist for the first time in quite a few years. The good news is that nothing is majorly wrong, just a good amt of minor cavities which need to be filled. The bad news is that I am so terrified of the dentist that he told me that I need to go see a sedation dentist. My dream appt right? Go, take a few pills, sleep through the entire thing and wake up with it all fixed. Well, it is going to set us back a pretty penny. The insurance does not cover the sedation part at all and only eighty percent of the work. Thankfully they have a twelve month no interest payment plan that all we need to do is qualify for. Here's crossing our fingers and toes. Last night at dinner going over some differences in Craig's paycheck we found out that he was overpaid and we will now have to subtract that out of our budget as well. However, it would not be right to keep money that really did not belong to us (which they would probably come after later anyway). Then the most disgusting part.....all of our drains backed up and sewer water was flooding the house. So there's more money for the plumber.....I told Craig he needs to consider becoming a plumber for what they charge an hour! :) Thankfully it was only a clog and only took an hour to fix. Now the cleanup begins. We had to go and get a Rug Doctor to clean it all up. I can't get the Dora song out of my head....."Clean up! Clean up! Everybody do their share!" Thankfully everyone's health is in good standing. Except for the mysterious stuffy and runny nose that everyone around here has seemed to catch. I am thankfull that I have been working some overtime and that all this stuff won't put us back to far, it's just kind of disappointing. However as we have all been saying lately "It is what it is". At least I now can use my disposal without holding up a baking sheet to shield me from flying food and we will have some nice clean carpets. :)

Happy Birthday Craig!

Hapy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday dear Craig!

Happy Birthday to you!

Today is Craig's 32nd birthday. If you happen to see him today make sure you let him know how important/special he is to you :) Hope you have a good day Honey!

I should have knocked on wood.

When I made my last post about nothing going on I should have knocked on some wood. We are now headed the other way. So far there is only one bit of bad news. Our beloved dog, Sheba, is sick. We have had her since we before we got married. She really is CJ's dog now.....she sleeps with him every night and he is in charge of her care. The other day he was giving her a pep talk that she was in charge of the house while we weren't there. :) We noticed she just was not herself and took her to the vet. She got a coupld of shots (vit B and cortisone) and some antibiotics. Then we got a call the next morning from the vet. It seems that he bloodworked showed what seems to be chronic liver failure :( However, he said it could be from the infection. We are hoping with all our might that this is the case. Any good thoughts would be appreciated. She has been a few days on the antibiotics now and seems to be back to her old self, so we will continue with the meds and see how it goes.

Another thing that happened was that I got an early birthday present for Craig. My sister and I went out for dinner and had a great time. It was really nice to spend time to myself and also time with her. While we were out I got this tattoo. I think it turned out really nice. Craig joked with me that if we ever got a divorce, I could just add a jr to the end.

CJ will be going to school soon. He is so excited! Friday we will go to get his school stuff as this weekend is tax free holiday here in MO. I have already bought him some new clothes and he has them all lied up as to what he wants to wear each day the first week. I cannot believe my baby is going to school!

My other baby boy Drake will be one year old in another month. Time is flying by so quickly! He is the happiest kiddo that I have ever meant. He actually took two steps the other day. I am posting all my pictures at the top as I cannot figure out how to put them at the end, but I will include a couple of Drake.

Happy Birthday today to my "baby" sister Erin, who is now expecting her own first baby. :)

A whole lot of nothing.

There is a whole lot of nothing going on at our house lately. For that I am very thankful.....:) The kids are doing well, no big accidents or injuries. We have been playing outside a bunch. It has been really hot, so we have been trying to play in the water a lot. CJ is very excited about school. He cannot wait and already has his book bag picked out. My nephew Bryant will be on the front page of the Post next weekend.....we are all very excited about that! Both of my sisters are pregnant and the kids are anxiously waiting their new cousins. I jokingly told Craig that I was feeling left out and he said "Well, it better stay that way!". Work has not been the greatest for either of us lately, but coming home to the family always makes up for it. I hope to have more to post about soon with lots of birthdays coming up and CJ's first day of school.