Here are the promised pics..............

Business as usual.................

Well another week has come and gone. We've done quite a little bit with the highlight being back to school. Monday was meet the teacher for Logan and went well but was disappointing b/c we didn't get to go in the actual classroom. There are 5 2nd grade classes at Logan's school out of the 557 total students. We were pleased with the teacher we rec'd although Logan was bummed that his 2 best friends were in another room.

The weather this past week has been very unAugust like with the rain and cooler temps. Although it would have been ideal weather to sleep in on our last day before school started we were up and at em on Tues morning. I had a last minute burst of energy to accomplish summer pics that we had never gotten around to. Addi had a precious dress that I had to have her picture in. So in the pouring rain with our dedicated Auntie KK in tow we headed off to the portrait studio. The kids were less than cooperative and our photographer was less than desireable but somehow we managed to get a few good pics. I am currently not at my home computer so I don't have access to those pics but when I do I will post the best ones. The ones of Addi Grace are so sweet.

That brings us to Wednesday, the 1st day of school! We were up in a timely fashion and out the door on time. Now let me just tell you the traffic on the 1st day of school in Piedmont in atrocious. I had asked Garrett in advance if he wanted me to walk him into school and he said no he didn't need me. In a moment of weakness I agreed, so there we were the only car in the dropoff line as every other child was being escorted into their classrooms by not only one but many by two parents. I was devastated but was past the point of no return. We hadn't left early enough to get a parking spot and thanks to the 8 inches of rain we rec'd the 2 days prior it wasn't wise for me to offroad the van into the nearby field. So Garrett hopped out and we were off to battle the traffic at the elementary school to drop off Logan. No being a big man on campus this year there was no question, Logan would walk in by himself, and so he did. Addi and I were off for some girl time. We ran our errands, had lunch with Mark and KK, and squeezed in a little shopping. Then it was back to Piedmont to pick the boys up from school.

Thursday was back to work for mom and another day of school. So far so good! Addi woke up with a fever in the wee hrs so Mark stayed home with her. Of course she was fine all day so we decided to ride it out. But of course the fever came back with a vengeance late that evening after I was home from work. So Friday was centered around a trip to the doctor. Sure enough another ear infection and likely a sinus infection. So $75.oo later we were doctored and medicated and on the road to recovery. Friday evening we had some friends over for hot fudge sundaes and just took it easy. Today we slept in and I spent the morning doing some deep house cleaning. Since I am not at home to add my back to school pics, I have included some oldie but goodie pics from my sister's archives.

Last Saturday KK, Addi, & I drove to Lawton to attend my other sister's baby shower. We are getting geared up for the big day when my 1st nephew will arrive. The shower was a success with lots of neat stuff but the highlight were the diaper cakes that KK & I made. I'll be sure to include some pics of them. We were quite proud of them and surprised at how neat they turned out. So today my mom, sister, and brother-in-law came up to get the few things they need to finish getting ready for the baby. Being the resident expert on baby gear I met up with them at BabiesRUS and then we headed to KK's house for pizza. After the company left, KK and I decided to update my blog. So many thanks to KK's assistance in decorating my blog.

Is it really August??????

I look at the calendar and it confirms to me that it really is August already. Where did the summer go? We have been trying to escape our prior summer schedule that revolved around our unexpected health issues for a little more R &R before the routine and business of the school year set in. Last week we traveled to my grandparents in the SW corner of the state to Hollis, OK. Now in addition to getting to see our extended family, the best part about these trips is that we have absolutely no obligations. We just eat, sleep, and play. It is a great time to rest up and rejuvenate for what's to come. As I hope you will see in my pictures (if I ever get them downloaded) we spent a great deal of time in the pool which was awesome. The kids had a blast and would have swam all day every day if we let them. With everything we've had going on this summer, our opportunities to swim have been far less than usual. Addi Grace turned out to be quite a little fish or mermaid as she calls herself. We put some of those floaties on her arms and next thing we know she is jumping off the diving board all by herself and swimming to the steps. Who would have thought? Logan spent the days perfecting his front flip off the diving board, and Garrett is somewhere in between. The pool has become a little more relaxing for me as well with the kids old enough to be so much more independent. I did spend a great deal of time catching people jumping in on top of me, lest you think I got to float around and read as I once did! It happened to be the Blackeyed Pea Festival while we were there so we got to attend the parade which was fun for the kiddos to get to see all the horses and tractors. While Piedmont is certainly a suburb of OKC, it is still a farming community as well so these things aren't completely foreign to my kids but they liked seeing them up close.

We made our way home last Sunday via my sister's house in Lawton for lunch. Auntie KK, Addi Grace, and I are headed back there tomorrow for Amy's baby shower. We are starting to get really excited about the birth of our newest baby to the family which we hope will be in the next month. Finally I get to be the aunt who spoils the baby, gives it back, and goes home. Mark and the boys are planning a day of guy events that culminates in a trip to the Lazy E Arena to see an Endurocross dirt bike race. That should make for a great Saturday for them. Sunday as far as I am concerned is the official start of our back to school routine with our usual church activities and hopefully a lazy afternoon that just might include a nap. Last evening was meet the teacher for Garrett and we were oh so pleased with his placement. He is forunate to have the mother of the sweet young teacher he had for prek last year. Now Garrett loved her so I am sure he will love her mother just as well. We got him paid up for lunch which he has been the most excited about. Garrett considers kindergarten "real school" b/c it means he gets to eat lunch there. I am a little concerned that he may check out mentally after lunch though. You see last night while at the school he wanted to know if he was in the morning or afternoon class, to which I reminded him he was in both. He wasn't too sure about all that! I think he will actually love it as he was never ready to come home from prek last year. We also purchased his school shirt which the kiddos wear every Friday. I actually like to call last night's events checkbook night rather than meet the teacher, b/c you spend <5 min with the teacher and around 1 hr writing checks for stuff!

This week I started my medicine which has gone pretty well overall. The side effects have been very manageable so far, mostly body aches and headache but nothing that keeps me from going about my usual activities, just makes me think man I'm sore every now and then. I have a home health nurse following my progress and I spoke with her today. She seemed to think the side effects would increase as my does increases which only makes sense but I am still optimistic that this too shall pass. Hopefully soon this will just be my new way of life and won't feel so overwhelming. We've also spent a fair amt of time this week with routine medical maintainance for the kiddos. The boys both went to the eye doctor and Garrett went for his before school SHOTS! He was a trooper and thanks to the wonders of modern medicine he only had to have 2 actual injections as they have combined some of the vaccines into one. Pretty cool! Today has been house cleaning and the long overdue playroom cleanout. I spent the morning sorting through the collection of toys we have accumulated over the last 7 yrs and throwing out, packing away, and reorganizing what's left. Now is I can just get the vacuum run before it's time to cook dinner. Maybe a shower in there would be a good idea as well. I keep putting off my shower thinking I might step up on my elliptical for a little exercise but after I consumed 1/2 box of girl scout cookies with lunch I figure why start back today! Hope to get the pictures on here. Enjoy!