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!