FREEDOM...or Sadness?

The long awaited day finally came yesterday. I put both my kids on the school bus, and I was free for eight hours. I felt differently about sending Emma to Kindergarten than I had Jacob.
I don't know who was more excited when Jacob started kindergarten, him or me. When the bus came that first morning, I put him on that big yellow bus he had been waiting so long to ride, and as a turned back to walk into the house huge wave of excitement and freedom flowed through me. I never really looked back. But with Emma, I started to really worry the night before, asking myself such questions as, "Is she really ready for this? Am I really ready for this? just kidding! Of course I am ready! Is she mature enough? responsible enough? She's so Young!" I had to wonder, "Do I feel this way because she's my baby, or because she's a girl, are these all real concerns? Why was I feeling so different about Emma than Jacob?"
Emma was very excited to go to Kindergarten finally and to get to ride the bus with her big brother. As I turned to walk back into the house I decided that I felt both, freedom to be alone for that long, and yet sadness that another phase of my life is coming to a close. My babies are growing up. I'm sure the answer, for me, is not to go have another, but to enjoy each phase as they come.
I got good reports from both of my children when they got off the bus. Jacob said that school was fun and it was a short day, because they had early dissmisal. (they didn't. I guess it's been too long since he was in school.) Emma was excited to tell me that she didn't even get put in time-out. Yeah Emma! We're so proud! And in Emma's defense, she made sure to tell me several times that she needed to take her folder back today. I guess she was more ready than I had thought.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Here it is, my thirty-third birthday!!! Unlike many others, I have always loved my birthdays. It doesn't bother me to get older. It's just a fact of life, right? I could sit and reflect on the many things that the past 33 years have meant to me, but I will spare all. Instead, let's just have a moment of silence...that was good! Now, on with your busy lives.

Pause it!

This afternoon as I was reading to Jacob and Emma from the Magic School Bus, Emma hops up and yells, "pause it!", then she runs to the restroom. When she returns she yells, "press play!" Ya, my kids don't spend too much time watching TV or anything. I had a good laugh that instead of her saying, something like wait, or hold on, she says, pause it. Really, what did she want me press?

This rememinded me of when we were very young children, long before the days of tvs in cars, we would go on family road trips. My mom would recite from memory Classic Stories, Nursury Rhymes and Fairy Tales. I loved to listen to her tell these stories. Anyway, if Mom would ever stop talking for even a second, my little sister Amy, who was probably about 3 years old at the time, would tell mom, "wead, wead!" meaning to read. That used to make us all laugh.

Good times...

Seriously!

Why is it that whenever I think of posting about my day or family life the beloved quote, "There's nothing wrong with this place" comes to mind. Maybe it's an attempt of talking myself into feeling better about life. Like, This is all normal...???

Oh well! Here's to the good times of being a mom; the kids who one minute just might kill each other and the next minute love each other and play so nicely together, the never ending laundry pile and constant chance to do the dishes and the blessing of full time school, the never ending supply of hugs and kisses and bedtime. I just keep thinking to myself whenever my kids want to sit or lay all over me, or beg to be tucked in at night, or beg for my attention when I am so busy, There will come a day when they don't want this anymore. Then I will miss it. I love that great country song by Trace Adkins called You're Gunna Miss This. It's a good reminder.

So you think you can dance, dance, dance, dance.

Yes, this show and American Idol are guilty pleasures of mine. In keeping with the spirit of "fast and testimony meeting" this past Sunday, (Thanks Matt for the little reminder/horror story http://mattandamyras.blogspot.com/2008/07/so-sometimes-crazy-stuff-happens-at.html) I would just like to add a big Amen to the comments made by the full-time paid judges this week. (They of course asked me to be a judge, but I was unable to accept, due to my jam-packed social life and their inability to pay the required salary.)

I feel that Mia's comments to Jessica about her holding Will back were right on the money. She actually came right out and told Will, "You need another partner". It was great! A bit embarrassing, but great! I agree with Nigel when he said that he wished we could have sent home two girls. That would have obviously been Comfort and Jessica. The Boys this year are stronger dancers than the girls. I personally wasn't ready for Thayne to go home, but at this point in the competition it's going to stink because someone has to go home.

It will be interesting to see this next week, with the top ten, picking different partners and dance styles. Let's see how things are when partners are changed up. I personally love Twitchington, Joshua & Katee, and Marc & Chelsie, and Will.

These are a few of my favorite things!

These are listed in no particular order: Vera Bradley bags, ipods with great play lists, happy children, Mexican food, family, friends, quilting, scrapbooking, a clean house, good communication, Mississippi mud, rocky road ice cream, air conditioning, swimming, making jewelry, good hair, phone calls, reliable vehicles, webkinz, reality TV, etc.

I can't take it anymore!

Okay, I'm totally giving into all the peer pressure of creating a blog. Not so much because I think my life is so exciting and I'm just dying to share it with the world, but because...Let's be honest...is the "why" really all that important? Ya, didn't think so. Hopefully I can really get into this and post regularly and it will be enjoyable for all.
Enough from me, let's hear from you. How do you feel about me?