An Afternoon at the Park

A friend sent out an email to a bunch of people today inviting whoever was free to join her and her kids at the park. The sun was shining so I said I would love to go and run off some kid-energy. After all, it was an early release day for Kelton and a long afternoon stretched out.

I pulled on my heavy winter coat because even though it was sunny with a 50 degree temperature, the wind was whipping but good. The kids, of course, opted to fore go common sense coats and went with the spring look.
As it turned out only three of us where brave enough to go (and about a zillion other people, all craving fresh air, who were there). It was a nice break and the kids had a great time. (But a special note to the Parks and Rec department....it's time to unlock the park bathrooms. Thanks!)

Kaylen and Evan spinning on the swings.

Evan (big brother to Jaren)

Kelton who is waaaay too cool to be at the park these days. At least, that's what he wants you to believe. :)

Baby Jaren

Goofy child of mine.


I actually kind of love this one.....so innocent looking, right? :)

Monkey girl swinging on the rings and the dropping to the ground.

Trying to get a picture of my with my kids but no one wanted to cooperate. Figures. :)

The boys: Kelton, Evan and Nick

My cool kid and the flower princess. :)

Exciting News

Kelton bounded off the bus tonight bubbling over with excitement. He was tested in reading today and he is reading on a solid 2nd grade level! He is thrilled and I, of course, am as well and had the "happy tears" to prove it. Having your child do well and be proud of himself is an amazing experience! I will never, ever grow tired of it happening.

Yay him!!!!

I have to say, I am not surprised. In recent weeks I have noticed his reading skills improve by leaps and bounds - and his excitement with reading is doing the same thing. It is just so cool to watch.

Lately he has volunteered to read Kaylen her bedtime story (I still get to read his though) and it's one of the moments in each day I look forward to. It's surreal to hear him read the stories to his sister that we read to him when he was small. Full circle, I guess.

The other day he discovered the comics. How I adored watching him on his bedroom floor as he read the strips out loud.



I've also noticed lately how "grown up" he is becoming. More able to control himself and think things out before acting. More calm. He's easy to talk with and we have some good conversations. Gone are the days of one sided conversations - now he is an equal, and eager, participant.

I do long for the days when he would drag his blanket ("Baby" is what he calls it, and yes, he still has it but now it's only a bedtime thing.) around the house all the while sucking on his binky asking for juice in a sippy cup but at the same time this new place where he is is truly amazing...and wonderful...and fun. He is growing and changing right before my eyes and every day brings something new.

He is almost seven years old, this little boy of mine. I'm not sure how that happened but here we are. And my baby is reading at a second grade level. And he LOVES to read which thrills me beyond belief.

These are the good times. These are the times that make all the other times worth it. I am so, so, so proud of him.

Seriously Awesome!

My co-chair and I are seriously awesome and yes, I am tooting my own horn. :)

I just received a call from Scholastic to congratulate us on a job well done with last weeks book fair. In her hands she was holding the financial documents I submitted this weekend via their website and she informed me that we posted the highest earnings on record for our school.

Highest on record.

I am thrilled. Beyond thrilled, really and oh so proud of Ingrid and myself. It was a huge amount of work and we really rocked it - and rocked it hard.

Last week, while crazy busy and beyond hectic, was so much fun. I'm actually feeling a little post-book fair blues today. I made a warehouse run this morning for books that we pre-sold because we ran out of them and then delivered them to the classrooms. When I went by the library area that we called home all of last week I was hit with a wave of sadness. The cases and boxes were stacked in the corner waiting for the Scholastic truck to pick them up today. I wanted to run over there, fling open the cases and open for business. I loved the excitement from the kids and the noise level, while deafening at times, was intoxicating. So much fun.

Kaylen, on the other hand, is happy to not be at school. She was such a trooper last week but on Friday the Vice Principal summed it up well; "Happy joined us on Monday and Grumpy is leaving us on Friday." Friday was beyond miserable with her but Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday went fine. Thursday was hit and miss with her attitude but Friday she was a sick and tired of being at school all day...and she made a point of letting everyone around her know it.

Dakota came by on Friday just as we finished packing up and cleaning. We loaded everything up and headed home where I was gifted with a really great watch from Eddie Bauer. It's pink and I totally love it. Most of all, I love the thought behind it. So sweet. And then, as if it hadn't been a big enough day, the kids and Dakota decided we should go out to dinner. My choice! I picked the Spaghetti Factory and off we went.

After dinner we decided to stop in at Target to pick up cold cream to wash the face painting off of Kelton's face. (The kids got their faces painted the night before at Dr. Seuss Night. Kaylen wanted hers off before bed that night but Kelton wore his to school the next day. His teacher had painted it and told him "I expect to see this still on in the morning!" He was all too happy to comply.)

Going to Target was *not* the biggest idea we've ever had. We ended up removing the kids from the store and Dakota took them to the car while I bought the cold cream. When I came through the doors into the parking lot, I could hear Kaylen SCREAMING. Lovely.

It took a bit but we finally got her into her car seat and off for home we went. I can't really blame her - it had been a very long week for her and the trip to Target pushed her completely off the ledge. *sigh* But still.......it was a nice time of feeling appreciated by my family.

Here are a few photos of the week to share:

Is this thing on??

Someone wrote and said my blog isn't coming up - weird. When I log in to the main page it isn't showing but when I hit the March archive it's all there.

Must be a glitch on the Blogger side of things......

I'll keep an eye on it.

Thanks for the heads up!

Casey is a Rock Star!

This blog has been hijacked by Dakota.

I wanted to hop on here and say that

Casey is a Total Rock Star!

She, and three friends, two of whom do not even have kids at our school, completely rocked the Scholastic Book Fair this week! As of this morning they were $1500 over last year's total - and this is an all new PTO group running the show. Correction - this is CASEY running the show, with the assistance of her wonderful sidekicks. (This is where Kaylen generally kicks Kelton....get it?)

Last night, while the kids and I were enjoying Dr. Seuss night at Kelton's school, we got to watch Casey in action among throngs of eager kids and parents with cash and credit cards in hand. When it was over, the principle let me know what a fantastic job Casey has been doing with the Book Fair. She didn't need to tell me, as it was obvious, but still, nice for her to recognize my Wife's hard work and talent.

I know you've all missed her posts this week, but let me tell you, she has been working her *ss off this week, and will be doing so all day today. They - sadly only two or three people - start clean up at 3:00 today. It's been a very busy and WILDLY SUCCESSFUL WEEK!

GREAT JOB, CASEY!!

Wednesday

First and foremost - the most important news of the day is:
Kelton lost another tooth! This makes tooth #5 handed over to the Tooth Fairy. Apparently he lost it during math time at school and when he bounded into the library/book fair this afternoon he was glowing with excitement! After showing me and telling me all about it he grabbed the phone and called Dakota. So, so, so cute! I just love how excited he was especially given the fact that this tooth has been loose for a while but he had decided against anyone touching it AT.ALL. So basically - it just fell out all by its little self. And he couldn't be happier.

I have it on good authority that the Tooth Fairy is planning to leave a crisp $1.00. :)

Secondly: the book fair is going really, really well. Grandparents morning was today and let me say, grandparents are *very* early prompt people. The event started at 8:45 and yet the room was buzzing with activity by 8:30. Dakota's mom and step-dad met the kids at the school and the four of them checked out everything, bought several things and then moved on for a tour of the building. I hear Kelton introduced them to his teacher when they delivered the book they purchased for her from her wish list.

I was so busy that I couldn't interact with anyone at all. I was ringing up sales as fast I possibly could.

By 9:30 the book fair area was emptied out and I was counting out the registers. In less than an hour, those wonderful grandparents and other family members bought over $1100 in books. I was totally blown away.

Kaylen is clearly getting *very* comfortable in the book fair area. So much so that I spent a good portion of they day asking her to lower her voice. I'm sure the computer science teacher, who holds his class on the other side of the library, will be thrilled when we are done.

Kaylen and Jeri's daughters watching a movie on our portable DVD player.

By the end of the day we were all more than ready to be on our way but once we leave the school I still have to go to the bank to deposit the money. Tonight that "little" job took 45 minutes and lots of frustration. The teller miscounted and her total didn't match mine (we triple counted so I knew we couldn't be off) so she ran it twice and finally came up with the missing $3.00. The coin counter jammed on me and it required someone to come clear it out (turns out that some of the bags that catch the coins as it sorts were full). The kids were, in my opinion (and yes, I know I have high expectations), acting ridiculous and I kept having to go over to the toy area and remind them to be quieter. When we were finally walking out the door another customer caught up with me and said "You know - I thought they did really well in there. I've taken my kids before and it can be really trying but I think they did great. You have good kids."

I know I have good kids...actually, I know I have *amazing* kids. I just know they were a bit rambunctious (especially Kaylen). Though I guess after being on good behavior for the past three days without much of a break for just screwing around I guess they did ok.

By the time we were in the car, it was closing in on 5:30 so I decided to stop at McDonald's. We hit the drive through and came home to eat.

Then it was time to hang the posters that Grandma and Grandpa bought for them. Kaylen stuck with her puppy theme and added "Snuggle Puppy" to her poster from last year. Kelton once again proved his "big kid" status by choosing a sports car poster.

After I hung it for him he stood back and admired his room. He turned to Kaylen and said "Doesn't my room look like a big kid room now?"

I'm pretty sure I heard my heart breaking. *sigh*

After hanging the posters I tossed the kids in the shower and then into their pajamas. And then, even though it was really bedtime, I let them stay up to watch a tv show together. I feel so awful that they have no time at home this week and no time to just be kids. I know it's short term and by Monday we will be back to life as usual but I have to say - there is an amount of guilt happening this week. I am, however, enjoying working the book fair (which is good since I've been there every day from start to finish with a mid-day break to run home and let the dogs out and feed them) but I'll be glad when it's done.

Tomorrow is all day as well and then we have an evening family event that runs from 5:30-7:30. I'm guessing I'll be home around 8:30 (Dakota is switching her Thursday study night for Friday so that she can take the kids.)

By Friday afternoon I am going to be more than ready to pack it all back up and send it on its way. :)

Lack of a Real Update.....but just the same...I'm posting :)

I'd do a real update but I'm just too tired.

*yawn*

It was a long, busy, crazy, fun and hectic day. Tomorrow will be more of the same and I am very thankful that my best buds will be there to share it all with me again.

And maybe tomorrow I will be successful in talking them into a silly dress-up photo. All the kids are doing it. :)

Kaylen was a trooper. I'm pretty sure her patience won't last all week but she was good as gold today. Bless her little heart.

I'm off to look at some wholesale clothing and then I'm going to bed. Night!

Monday: Overheard

The kids started a chore chart yesterday. It's a basic one just to get them in the groove (brush teeth, make bed, brush hair, read, etc). At the bottom of the page there is a place to write in either an allowance or a reward for the end of the week.

They hadn't decided which they wanted more - a reward like going someplace or money.

A few minutes ago, as Kelton was checking off this morning chores, he decided that for his reward he wanted to go to the mall. Then he went into the living room to ask Kaylen what she wanted to do. And then I heard my very intelligent child say the following:

"Hey Kaylen - I have an idea! If I pick going to the mall, she will have to take you too. So you pick money and we can share it. That way - we get both!"

I am in such big trouble. :)

Gotta run - the Book Fair awaits!

Setting Up The Book Fair

I absolutely could not have done this without so much help. My friends Melanie and Jeri offered to jump in and help which is great considering they don't even have kids at our school (and even more great because Jeri is a book fair diva when it comes to setting up and running!). Mel spent pratically the entire 2 hours setting up and organizing the poster display (so many more posters than I ever considered there would be so this was no small task!) while Jeri and three others helped me set up the tables.

This was no small job and I am so thankful for the help.

Check it out:
We went from this:

To this:




In a mere two hours. :) Bring it on - we're ready!

We found a Clifford costume in one of the boxes so we convinced Ingrid, my co-chair, to put it on. Pretty funny! :)

So if anyone is looking for me next week - you'll know where to find me. :) Here's hoping for a wildly successful book fair!

Skate Away

This morning I took the kids over to our one and only roller skating rink to take part in Tot Lessons. This is a beginner class for kids aged 3-7. It's a drop-in class so we can go when we want and not feel pressured. Which is good because I'm not really sure how the kids feel about going again. Well - I do at this very moment because they are both saying they want to go back but several times during the 45 minute lesson they both voiced unhappiness and frustration marked with pointed "I'm never doing this again!" feelings.

I was out on the floor as well but definitely not in skates. I'd hate to think what one fall to the floor would do to my back and besides, it was much easier to steady both kids, who were lunging for me and hanging on me, with both feet firmly on the ground. Let's just say that between setting up the book fair last night and roller skating this morning my back is hating me. Ugh.

When we first got there, both kids were so excited they could barely contain themselves and there were other families that we knew so we all enjoyed seeing familiar faces. We got the skates on and off they went! The instructor came over and gave them some one on one time and Kaylen took to it like a duck to water (which is no surprise - she loves her princess skates and skates around the house often). Kelton was a bit slower and more reserved but he did what was asked of him as well.

Then the class started and Kelton ran hot and cold on whether he would do it or not. He left, then came back, then left. Kaylen stuck with it but they lost her excitement for it when he wanted everyone to learn to skate backwards. I have to agree a bit with her - it is a lot to ask of children who are barely able to *walk* backwards without falling all over themselves. :)

She had a few moments of meltdown panic but we were in the homestretch. A game of Hokey Pokey and two free skate songs and we were done. I was breathing a sigh of relief because my back was killing me and I was tired of trying to keep the kids engaged.

And then, wouldn't you know it, came the phrase "THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER!" from Kelton. I spun on my heels and said "What?" with a confused look in my eyes. He responded that he had had a great time and that he wants to come back next week. "Me, too!" said Kaylen as she jumped up and down.

Uh.....uh.....uh.....

"You do?" I asked

"YEAH!"

Then Kelton said something that made me laugh "Mom...I think I was judging a book by the cover again. I need to give it a chance."

Dang I love that boy. :)







And yes - she is wearing pants! (This is two days in a row for pants!!! WAHOO!) :) I told her that pants would provide more padding if she fell and she didn't even question me. Kelton opted for sweats because they are fluffier than jeans so he'd have more padding as well. :)

Overheard

Tonight while Kelton was brushing his teeth he said "I wish these pajamas didn't have this tag. It bugs me."

So I walked up behind him and yanked the tag out.

"You are so strong, Mom!" said a clearly impressed little boy.

I said, "Yes I am." and continued on my way into another room.

When I walked back by the bathroom I heard Kelton talking to himself. He said:

"Note to self: Mom can beat me up."


:) :) :)

Truth is Stranger than Fiction

I was just now talking on the phone with my dad while the kids are out playing in the yard (or shall we just call it what it is: the mud field). And then...a knock on the door.

I ask my dad to hold on a second and I answer it to find a woman standing there with the screen door open (which personally I find wrong. I have a screen door for a reason. Don't open it! If I want you to gain access to my house, I will open it and invite you in.). The woman looks me up and down and then says, "Is Dawson here?"

I look perplexed and say "I'm sorry but you have the wrong house. There is no Dawson here." (and just why am *I* sorry?)

And here is where it gets good: She gets huffy with me! Seriously. She acts all put out, turns on her high heels and walks away as she mutters under her breath.

Like it's MY fault she has the wrong house???

Sheesh!

New Page

Tonight, a little more than two months after I received it for my birthday, I finally got around to uninstalling my Photoshop Elements 4 program (it has never worked properly on Vista) and installing Photoshop Elements 7. It took more than an hour to accomplish this task. For some reason, the uninstall took forever!

The new format of PSE is so completely different! Eeeeeek! It took me a bit to figure out the basics but I did manage to create a page. I'm not 100% crazy about it but at least I did a page, right? To be fair, I did see a page very much like this in a magazine today. Not exactly like, of course, but I did try to mimic it. Not sure it worked for me but hey - at least it's something. I seem to have my own style though I'd be hard pressed to tell you what it is...."ridiculously simple" comes to mind but you know, it's a style that works for me. :)

Still - you gotta give me credit for trying something new. :)

credit: Dani Mogstadt's kit "Don't Rain on My Parade"

I Will Not Eat Green Eggs and Ham...

...I will not eat them Sam I am.

Well - he wouldn't eat the green eggs but I hear he made short work of the ham. :)

Today was Dr. Seuss Breakfast: Green Eggs and Ham at Kelton's school. It's an annual event for first graders and their parents in our school district. While parents are invited and encouraged to attend, younger siblings are not and since Grandma wasn't available to stay with Kaylen we decided that Dakota would join Kelton. I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to attend everything but because of school and work, Dakota doesn't. Kelton really wanted to share the experience with her since he had a choice. I was ok with that - but I admit to wanting to go just the same. :)

Since I wasn't there, I don't have a first hand account. I do, however, have photos. After the event was over Dakota drove over to my Moms Club meeting and handed off the camera (Thanks, honey!) and told me all about it. It sounds like it was fun.

The Aqua Doodle

Yesterday the donation center truck was by and among all the things they hauled away was the Aqua Doodle. Can I be honest here and tell you that a little piece of me died as the truck drove away?

Yes, I took the toy out of the house.
Yes, I put it out and marked it for pick up.
No, the kids don't know it's gone but then, they haven't really played with it in a long while now.
Yes, we needed the space for all the new games and toys they have recently been given.
Yes, I know it was time to let it go.

And yet......

Oh and yet.

I just want to cry every time I send away pieces of their baby and toddlerhood. We have had that Aqua Doodle since Kelton was about 18 months old. It's gone through two toddlers scribbling on it. It's been fun but lately it has only collected dust.

It was time.

And still....

Working the Homework

I'm sure this is old news for many of you but just the same, I'll recap:

Kelton has been swimming in homework. Drowning, actually.

It has grown over the months to be intense with 20 minutes mandatory reading a day and what was up to an hour of writing (because he does need extra support for penmanship but an hour? Overkill - and making us both miserable.). I have all but cut out the writing part and instead we are focusing for about 15 minutes a day on the correct (and neat) letter formation. God bless his little heart but man did he have awful penmanship. His imagination for stories is outstanding but trying to figure out what he wrote? Forget it!

He's doing so much better now but it hasn't been without a struggle and price. It was really doing a number on the time he and I spent together - not to mention impacting family time for Kaylen as well. It got pretty ugly so I emailed his teacher and she revised the writing plan for him....only it increased his writing time. So - I made the decision to go about it in a more productive way; using less time and the basics of writing that I learned as a child. None of this fancy D'Nealian stuff which is great and all but when you don't have a handle on the basic letter shapes in a readable format, it just adds to the chaos. (D'Nealian is the "adopted" style of our school district. as well as many others in the country.)

And it's working. We have cut homework down from two hours a day (which was insane and waaaaaay too much!) to 20 minutes in the morning and 15 in the evening. We are much happier.

At least - until Friday's homework packet came home.

HOLY MOLY!

Nine pages of writing (and I'm taking "writing" not just complete the word or circle the word) and four pages of math. That, my friends, is THIRTEEN pages of homework.

Insane.

And more insane? It took three hours to accomplish. That's right - half a school day to do the weekend homework. Even if that homework was broken down over 7 days that would have been roughly 25 minutes a day. Over 5 days would have been approx. 35 minutes a day. Plus the 20 minutes of reading and 15 minutes of writing.

It doesn't take a math major to know this is too much for a 6 year old. And I'm not going to lie - way too much for me.

I was less than happy. Waaaaay less than happy. I wrote a message on a post it note and stuck it on the top paper in his homework file that went back to school today. The note said "This took 3 hours to complete. It is too much!" (Passive-aggressive, much? Yes, thanks for asking.)

This afternoon when Kelton arrived home he presented me with a post-it note from his teacher. It said:

"Kelton should've gotten only one handwriting/reading page instead of six. The "Wonder Stories" were stapled to his reading page by accident. I apologize for the inconvenience. Mrs. T"

That's right people. Remind me to thank the teacher's aide next time I see her. Those 6 pages are what took the most amount of time to do and, hands down, caused the most frustration for all of us.

I know it was just a mistake and yet - it doesn't make it feel any better. It doesn't give us back the time. It doesn't erase the frustration. It doesn't give us back the sunny early part of the day when we could have been out and about playing or going for a bike ride. It doesn't give us back the family time we missed and it doesn't give Kaylen back time when she wasn't hushed and pushed from the room so that we could get the homework done.

Inconvenience? Yeah - I'll say. :(

On the up side, Kelton is really hoping this has earned him a few weeks of no writing assignments. I didn't want to dash his hope because it's exactly what I am hoping for as well. It seems like we earned it. :)

The Book Fair Display Case

Look what I did this morning?!?! I am oh so very proud of myself.


The walls aren't really pink.....I don't know why it comes off that way. But still - it's a sight to behond, isn't it? :)



I'll take that gold star now, please. :)

Locked In

This morning I sent the kids to the bathroom to brush their teeth while I washed the breakfast dishes. I heard chattering going on but didn't really pay much mind until I heard something that caught my attention. I couldn't even tell you what is was right now but it was enough to make me shut off the water and ask "Does Kaylen need something?"

I heard back "Kaylen is locked in the bathroom." from Kelton.

And then I heard what must have been what I heard to start with.....quiet crying which hinged on the verge of growing louder.

"KELTON LOCKED ME IN HERE!"

I went to the bathroom door and asked her to try to unlock the handle. The crying became hysterical. "I can't!" she sobbed.

I went to find the screw driver which I knew could pop open the door. But I am out of practice. When Kelton was three I did monthly unlock drills on the bathroom door. When he was four and locked Kaylen in my bedroom, I realized I should have practiced on my bedroom door, too.

Today I realized that if you don't practice picking locks, you lose your skill. Use it or lose it. Bummer.

The crying continued with little fingers poking out from under the door. I held her tiny fingers for a couple of seconds and then tried to get her to calm down. Finally...finally she grew quiet enough that she could hear me. I had her look at the handle and then told her to move the circle with the line it in so it went straight across. A couple tries later she got it and the door opened.

While I comforted Kaylen I was plotting my revenge deciding what discipline road I would take.

I decided to have Kelton do a few chores (because I had wasted time when I could have been doing things to get Kaylen free) and then he had to play whatever games Kaylen wanted to play until it was time for the bus (I have declared Friday morning "homework free" time which means it's his one free morning to do what he wants before school. It's a cherished treat for him so it was a big deal to lose it.). They played Cooties and the new Sorry game (Kaylen got to go first for each game - it was only fair - which was really hard for Mr. I'm Always First Because I Say So.) and then it was time for the bus. Kaylen became all misty and said "But he hasn't played ballerina yet!"

I was not quite over being ticked off at him so I calmly said "It's time for school now but when he gets home tonight he *will* play ballerina with you." That was met with groans galore from the lock-happy boy child. I just looked at him and said "Remember this next time you feel like locking your sister in a room."

And yes, he had to play ballerina with her. But because she is much nicer than me, she didn't make him wear a ballet outfit.* :)

*Kidding....kind of.

Bingo Update

At last look, the following was my criteria for a successful event:

Will there be enough pizza?
Will the popcorn machine actually make popcorn?
Will the pizza arrive on time and still be hot when it's served? Will we sell enough food and bingo cards to at least break even?

I am happy to report that the answer to all is YES YES YES and YES!!!

We had plenty (as in too much) pizza but that's ok. We sold off the remaining intact pizzas for $5 each and sold each and every one.

The popcorn maker worked well and much popcorn was enjoyed by the masses. The machine was borrowed because the one our school used to have *ahem* disappeared when the principal retired and everyone from the old PTO left last year. And, ironically enough, the PTO account was all but emptied out about that time as well. But I'm not bitter.....it's just the kids who suffer. Grrrr.

Anyway.....

The pizza was indeed still hot and people seemed quite happy.

And we did more than break even. After expenses we walked away with a profit of approx. $340 which more than covers the cost of the brand new popcorn machine we are purchasing for the school.

Everyone seemed to have a really good time and, wouldn't you know it, my son won one of the Bingo games. I missed seeing it but I heard it was a three person bingo and they did a "number off" (calling out one more number and whoever had that number on their card won) and he walked away with the prize. Not a bad one either - an electronic version of "Sorry". He also won a book bag by being the only first grader with a certain number on his card.

Kaylen didn't win anything and her complete and absolute breakdown at the end of the evening proved that point. Poor girl - she has my luck. Which is no luck. Kelton, however, is one of the luckiest people I've ever met.

We, as a PTO, learned a great deal from our first Bingo Night and will be able to implement a few new things in May when we do a Bingo for Books night.

First things first though - the Book Fair starts in just a week. There is much to do between then and now and so, so, so much to do the week of. It's going to busy....but then, what else is new? :)

B-I-N-G-O

It's PTO Bingo Night at school. Weeks in the planning all come down to the next few hours. Will there be enough pizza? Will the popcorn machine actually make popcorn? Will the pizza arrive on time and still be hot when it's served? Will we sell enough food and bingo cards to at least break even? I think we are past hoping for a profit on this (fund raising? What's that? *sigh*) and focusing on just breaking even.

And the big question: Will there be a big turn out?

Dakota is coming home tonight to take the kids so I can help with all that needs to be done (while still spending time being with my family in the midst of all of it). Instead of have Friday Family Night she will use that as her study night. I know she is stressing over a huge paper that she needs to write but the kids really wanted her to come to Bingo Night so it was their idea to give up Family Movie Night in favor of having her at Bingo.

It's going to be interesting to see how this all plays out. Wish us luck!

Family Portraits

This past Sunday we went to Flash Portraits and had family portraits taken. This one photo session has been a long time coming and way past due. We've been having annual family photos taken every year since Kelton was born and yet last year time got away from us and we never had them done.

As you will see - we had wanted to go for our usual, and classic, look of jeans and turtlenecks. I know it drives my sister crazy but we like the look - it's timeless and it's nice to look back and not be distracted by the clothes. It's our version of black and white, I guess. :) This year, however, you will notice that little Miss I Am Who I Am shook things up. She was going to wear a dress and that was that. I have to say, she does look adorable. :)

(note to my sister: I hope someday she doesn't look back and say "Geez Mom! What were you thinking when you had me wear THAT?" like I tend to do when I look back at some of the *ahem* "outfits" we wore in family pictures. But if she does - I'm sending her to you for an explanation. :) )

And now - for your viewing pleasure:





(click on the last two to get a closer look)

Yummy!!

Sunsweet Chocolate Plum Sweets are DELICIOUS!!



I also have to say that I need to learn moderation.

I'm just saying..... :)