A little kitchen conversation...

Noah exchange (yesterday morning) -

"Mom, is there a college near here?"

"Yeah, bud...quite a few of 'em."

"Good - cuz I want to go to one like ten minutes away."

"You do?"

"Yeah, cuz then I can see you all the time."

That's my boy. <3 br="">

May Mayhem

Between Abby's Night Owl Sleepover (only five girls stayed over this year vs nine last year - live and learn)...

Organizing and putting on the school's very FIRST talent show...(Abby and three of her buddies sang the CUPS song/Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone - they were so cute.)  
Insert video here - have yet to upload, of course

Finally finishing Noah's skateboard mural that my dad started back in MARCH...


And then getting ready for Noah's backyard campout party (actually had the party on June 1st)...


Things have been a wee bit nutty. Fun - but nutty.

But in keeping with my resolution, I forced myself to post a few pics to the blog that I already posted on facebook.

June will be just as eventful. Dress rehearsal tomorrow night. Recital this weekend. Last week of school - YIPPEE!!! Choreographing a little Aladdin Jr. Packing up for VA. Abby's gymnastics showcase, and right after, the kids and I are heading down to Virginia for 7 weeks where I will be teaching musical theatre camps this summer (hence the Aladdin Jr. reference).

This will be the kids' first time doing something like this so they are pretty excited...and they get to take the camps for FREE! We are staying with my dad and stepmom which will be fun too - a little crowded, but fun. Just trying to get all of my ducks in a row before we leave. Definitely stepping outside the box venturing off to VA this summer, but I think a escape from the neighborhood kids constantly knocking at my door ...er....change of scenery will be good.

Really, really good.

I Could Use More Moments Like These...

Nowhere to be. 

Ignoring my endless "to-do"s. 

Just playing a little Rummikub with my boy ( - took the game along to my mom's this past weekend. First time the kids had played. Noah can't get enough of it!)

Post Mother's Day resolution - play more board games. Force yourself to do puzzles even though you hate puzzles. Noah asked me to help him with his 100 piece Marvel Comics puzzle the other day. I whined a little a first, but I did it anyway. I just can't resist that kid.

She's Nine...

I can't believe it. It was Mother's Day nine years ago when we brought her home from the hospital - only two days old. Little fingers, little toes, swaddled (somewhat) in a little Classic Pooh receiving blanket.

I blinked.

Facebook post: Birthday lasagna and a full size drink! No more kid's cups for this nine-year-old!

This year has flown. I am talking by the speed of light. Seriously, I'm trying to figure out how to freeze this age. Abby being nine and Noah - almost seven.

When did this even happen?

Facebook post: 4/9 - Dinner outside at the taco stand

The closest thing to freezing time?  My camera. Even if it is just capturing a moment with my phone. The moments I want to remember. The ones I am afraid I will forget.

My facebook page has become a mini-blog of sorts over the past several months - posting (probably too many) pics of the kids and captions. Lucky for me, it's been right there at my fingertips since I haven't been able to make the time to sit down and write an actual blog post.

This going-back-to-teaching thing (just part-time among my other side jobs) has been a lot more challenging than I thought it would be...and even though most some days, I feel like I am barely keeping my head above water, I've realized that blogging was an outlet for me. I've missed it. I love looking back at these stories about my kiddos and my experiences as a mom (as long winded as they may be) and re-living those moments - frozen in time.

So I am making a Mother's Day resolution - for myself and my kiddos - to post more this next year. Write more. Tell their stories and mine - stories we can laugh about, learn from, and remember for years to come.

Because, holy cow...those years are coming faster and faster.

Facebook post: 9/4/12 - And they're off!

 

Facebook post: 12/31/12 Kiddos begged to stay up until midnight this year so pj party 

in the living room ~ Happy 2013!!!

 

FB post: 2/27 - After school donuts at Yum Yum!

FB post: 3/31 - Happy Easter! :)

FB post: 5/12 - Best part of the day: Snuggling with the kiddos on the couch watching 

dvred American Idol. Sure love those kids of mine.