First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for the kids. Gabe began 5th grade at Main Street, where he will be for the next 2 years. It is a mix of kids from all three elementary schools, so there were a lot of new faces. He says he had a good day, just trouble with his locker. I am nervous for him, he has a difficult time making friends and adjusting to new situations. I pray for a good year for him.

The trio began 1st grade at Pleasant Elementary today. Once again they are in 3 seperate classrooms. We feel this is the best for them. They can make their own friends and be just single kids instead of 'the triplets.' I heard from Luke and Jonathan's teacher's today. They called to tell me how well the boys did and what great kids they were. Caitlin was a bit put out that her teacher didn't call as well. My prayers are for a good year for the three of them as well. Tanis starts there Thursday, so I guess I should say 4 of them!

I spent my first day of freedom doing math homework. I studied for over 3 hours and still have a lot to do before bed. Fractions are harder than I remembered!

Gabe had his ADHD checkup yesterday. The dr. was concerned that he reacted so poorly to the medication. He said he should have shown great improvement and we should have noticed a major difference. Gabe's behavior got worse, his self control became non-exsistant, and his sleeping habits worsened. So we have an appointment to see a pediatric neurologist on Sept. 15th. They are beginning to believe it is not ADHD, but don't know what it is. So this is the next step.

That's our day in a nutshell. I need to get the threesome to sleep. Have a nice night.

According to my email I only have 7 days to meet the hot singles in my area!!! I don't think I have any available time. I will be too busy taking surveys, trying out male enhancement products, taking hundreds of vitamins, and shopping at Victoria's Secret and Best Buy.
I hate Spam. Both the mail and the food.

Tomorrow the kids start school. I am looking forward to the break. I get to have some Amanda time and some Sean time. I think they are ready to go. Every hour I get an update on nerves from all of them, but I know they will be fine. They will be happy to see their friends again.

I am swamped with laundry today and need to get Gabe's football uniform washed for practice tonight. I had planned on a longer post, but this is it for now!

El Tuesday

I am not plagued by incontinence (well not much, anyways), I don't need to know about enlargement aids for male parts, I don't care about the hot, sexy singles in my area, and I really doubt that there is an actual 500 dollar gift card to Victoria's Secret with my name on it. These are the e mails that awaited me this morning. If someone were to just look at my inbox they would think I was a pants wetting, desperate, small private parted man with a fetish for sexy lingerie!
Today is orientation for Gabe at Main Street School. I don't know who is more nervous- me or him! I am trying my best to not let him know that I would rather get my yearly than take him. I hate, hate, hate situations like this. My shyness gets overwhelming and I tend to give myself panic attacks. I think my weight issue is a key reason. But I am going to suck it up (and suck it in) for my son. Think of us at one o'clock!
Tonight is hopefully our campout at Kellie's. Gabe opted for a slumber party at Amy's - I don't understand why~ Kellie and I are former girl scouts and have multiple camping adventures under our belts. Okay, so they didn't always go as planned, but I really needed to get an updated tetanus shot. I think I will have to do a post - with pictures! - of girl scout adventures. We really had fun, and only would hate each other temporarily.
I am making sure my camera is charged so I will get lots of pictures of our experience tonight. I hope Kellie is still up for it!
I need to go and do my exercises for the morning. I am feeling motivated and positive today. I hope it lasts! I need to be able to wear shorts to Cheryl's party next summer!!! :)

Fried Egg

(If you say that fast enough it sounds like Friday)
Why does life have to be so tough sometimes?
I keep trying to remind myself that God is in control and He does not give us more than we can handle. I really need Him to stop thinking I can handle so much.
I am so tired of crying and being sad.
I just want my Happy self back.

I am about 3/4 of the way done with a new cross stitch which I will share when it is done. It is my stress reliever, so it is coming right along!

I took Gabe to his intake appointment today and he starts counseling at the end of the month. I hope that it will help this time. The new ADHD medication is not effective so we are going to see about trying the next one on the list. The poor boy just has no self control and I know he can't help it.

Hope you all have a good weekend!

Tuesday and Wednesday

This is the motley crew I had to take back to Lura's in my car. She had 2 quiet, well behaved boys.

The new puppy.

Gabe

My big boy!!!

Tanis and the wooden bird that did NOT break when it got knocked off the table.

Scamp. You can't hear her snorting in this picture!

Baby Gretchen. Eating cereal is hard work!

What a crew!!!

We were lucky enough to get to spend Tuesday and Wednesday with friends. On Tues. The kids and I went to Lura's and then took a group trip to Planktown Market. Honestly I was disappointed in the renovations. It was no longer a quaint mennonite store. They completely modernized and it is just like a big box store, just different variety. How sad. We went back to Lura's for lunch and played outside for awhile. I had trouble driving on the way home hearing the kids talk about Mike and Ike's/ Apparantly my oldest doesn't get that that is the name and thinks they are Mike n Dyke's. How do you possibly correct that without calling attention to the word!

Wednesday we spent the morning at Victoria's and were once again served lunch. How nice! I got to feed Gretchen (whom the trio call's Grouch-en) her cereal which was a treat for me! The kids played well together and I enjoyed getting to visit with Victoria for awhile. We ran home, threw on our suits and then drove to Kellie's for swimming. All but Johnny got in the pool and had a ball. Lura was supposed to be there, but she didn't show up until we were leaving, so we visited with her for a little bit. Plans are now in the works for a campout/sleepover at Kellie's next week. I am sure any of you guys would be welcome! Cheryl, you have had the most camping experience lately!!!

I am off to clean and do laundry. Tomorrow we have playdate at Victoria's! I should have more fun pics to add to our playdate album.

Have a good day everyone. If I haven't told you all lately, I love you guys!!!!

I got this in an email and thought it was worth sharing!

1. A friend of mine confused her Valium with her birth control pills... She has 14 kids but doesn't really care.
2. One of life's mysteries is how a 2-pound box of chocolates can make a woman gain 5 lbs.
3. My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely.
4. The best way to forget your troubles is to wear tight shoes.
5. The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you are doing, someone else does.
6. The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.
7. Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today...
8. Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.
9. I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting fire to my underwear...
10. Amazing! You hang something in your closet for a while and it shrinks 2 sizes!
11. Skinny people irritate me! Especially when they say things like...'You know sometimes I forget to eat!' .....Now I've forgotten my address, my mother's maiden name and my keys, but I have never forgotten to eat. You have to be a special kind of stupid to forget to eat!
13. I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast. Are they kidding? That's my idea of a perfect day!

Six year old shopping spree at the Toy store!!!

Isn't she fashionable?

Luke's Blueberry

Sean showing his acorn he found

Gabe striking a football player pose

Today Sean took the day off, and Monday too! We had some fun family time - a picnic and hike at the nature trail and picking blueberries. The kids were their normal rambunctious selves, but it was nice to be out of the house on such a beautiful day!

I went to a rummage sale this morning that was fill a bag for 5 dollars. They handed our garbage bags and I got a lot of clothes for the kids. Caitlin got 2 pairs of pj's in the bag and was thrilled by that! Tonight she is wearing the satin rubber ducky ones.

Tomorrow we have no exciting plans, I want to get my laundry done and we might go to the drive in, depending on what is showing. It is nice because they only charge 6 dollars, I think for adults and kids are free so it is an affordable night for us.

I am over halfway done with a really cool cross stitch that I have been doing during my periods of insomnia. It is Mary Englebreit - I love her designs. I have another that is just waiting to be framed that I did while in the hospital a few years ago. I have designated a bin as my 'new house box' for things that I make or buy to go in our new house. It is my incentive for working hard to get out of here. I can't wait to be able to freely decorate again and paint my walls!

Gabe is finishing up his first week of football practice tonight. It is week one of conditioning, a really tough week. I am proud of him for sticking it out. He is not fond of it, but they say no kid is for the first few weeks as it is all tough exercises He looks so cute in his uniform too!

I took Luke, Caitlin, and Jonathan to Toys R Us for their birthday shopping on Tuesday. They had a ball and not only got a present (Old Grandma and Old Grandpa give them shopping $ each year) but gave me their Christmas lists! It is so fun to see them get so excited over little things. I also love how different their tastes are - they are definately their own persons!

Well, the pizza is about done in the oven, Caitlin is ready to crawl in the dryer to get her pj's, and I have to get dishes started. Hope you all have a good night!

Flashback Friday

We Love and Miss you Angie!

GA-ross!!!! and a hee hee

I was driving to McDonald's to meet Kellie and Miss Kristin (the trio and Tanis' former day care teacher) when I happened to flip my tongue and look in the mirror. It was so dark blue and looked like a slug. So, what do you do? You drive with your knees and take a picture while going down the road. I was later lectured on how unsafe this was, but the kids weren't with me, so I thought it was fine. I am sorry Kellie and Sean for my unsafeness. Notice that my hair and makeup are not done, I do those in the car too, and I still posted this! Woo hoo!

Later in the day Sean and I took our own picture while watching the triplets last tee ball game. He wouldn't let me show my tongue in this shot. I was slightly disappointed, but was informed that not everyone would think it was a neat as I did. The triplets did very well in their last game and are sorry that their season is over. I have several newspaper clippings that give Gabe and the triplets runs singles, doubles, and triples for each game. Now I have to get scrapbooking before I lose them!

It's Good To Have Friends

I am a lucky girl. My kids are lucky too. I have the most wonderful friends and we get to see many of them regularly. I only wish that I could see my blog friends regularly too. I couldn't ask for better people to know and love and I am so thankful. Here are some random shots of friendship from the trio's party.