By Herself

So for the first time ever, Landree is by herself in our house. Peyton went to preschool last year but Landree took a nap during that time. She had 3 girls to play with over the summer and at one point we had Katie here too. Then she went down to just her and her sister and now she is just stuck with me. On Monday she kept asking where Peyton and Daddy were but kept reassuring herself that Buddy was still here. Monday through Wednesday she packed Abby Cadabby, Wormie, and an Elephant everywhere she went. Today she was better and I wanted to cry when she was trying to play Ring A Round the Rosy with Buddy. Bless her heart she is trying to play kid games with a dog. We are getting to do more things together and I have been reading lots of books and I can't tell you how many times we have sung our ABCs, Jesus Loves Me, and You are My Sunshine in the last few days.

She seems to be doing this a lot these days

I would love to know what she is thinking.

Just when I think she is calming down, this happens

The big opened mouth growl. I love it and most of her pictures are of her doing this.

Peyton wanted me to put a picture of her bee sticker on her blog. She got it today because she "pushed her chair under her table without instruction." Don't most kids just want to call soemeone and tell them? Nope my 5 year old is up with technology and wants it on the blog.

Got Venison?

Haley- you can skip this post- I know how you oh so love discussing deer meat.
So I have been trying to cut corners and pinch a few pennies around here and decided I was not going to buy any meat and only use what is in the freezer for two weeks. I got through a few days of chicken no problem and I love having Baked Potato night. I then started hitting the venison meat. Last year Brian processed his own deer and made a lot of patty sausage meat and durger (deer hamburger). I'm thinking we had around 60 pounds of it if I am remembering right and we still had some from the previous year. So here is what I have made so far

Durger- Hamburgers made with Onion Soup Mix
Durger- Pennsylvania Coal Miners BBQ- like a sloppy joe
Durger- Tacos/Burritos
Sausage- Homemade Pizza
Sausage- Spaghetti Meat Sauce
Sausage- Potato, Onion Hash
Sausage- Mini Meat Pies
Sausage- Pancake Breakfast for Supper

I did make it through the two weeks but I still need to get meat out before I put more in when Brian goes deer hunting this fall. I have thought about chili- but it is too hot for that. So, if you've got any ideas, just put them in the comment section.

She has the Gossip Gene

I have always struggled with being a gossip. Let me rephrase that- there was a time when I saw nothing wrong with it but as I have gotten older, I have realized the error of my ways and am trying to be a better Christian. Unfortunately, Peyton has the Gossip Gene. She comes by it honestly and its just not from my gene pool either. I want to know the education information about her day. I want to know what they read, wrote, what math they did, etc... and she isn't talking. Instead I hear that her teacher made a mad face to another teacher. Also, one boy spit on her leg while she was trying to walk over him because he wouldn't move so she could get her backpack. She did not think he needed to be sharing his germs with her. And guess who she had to tell- the one person who would think she needed to come down here to take care of a 5 year old- Aunt Melanie. I think Peyton did it on purpose because she does like to get stuff stirred up- she walked around for two months at one point saying that if a dog or a cat bothered her, her Aunt Melanie would come, "Tear it Up." And no, she wasn't exaggerating, I heard Aunt Melanie tell her that. She is also concerned about the classes SuperStar. Supposedly he isn't a good superstar and has been making bad choices all week.

I don't know about you but when we were kids and when I taught in Little Rock, we had fire and tornado drills once a month. Today Peyton announces that she had a fire drill and a Lock-Down Drill. On the Lock-down drill she went into a very detailed explanation of how it was if a mean guy or girl was wanting to get in and how she had to hide under the table so he couldn't see her and if they principal came to the door and wanted to get in they couldn't let her because the mean guy could be hiding behind her and they had to put up a green square to show they were okay and then she went on a tirade about guns. (Longest run-on sentence ever) It immediately made me scared for her but then I remembered my mom telling me how scared she used to get when they had to hide under their desks for the nuclear bomb drills. She was in Kindergarten 50 years ago and what do you know they were scared of crap too.

So while I want to try to teach Peyton not to be a gossip and a s**t stirrer, I do like knowing what exactly is happening in her room. I guess I haven't completely reformed yet.

It has to be a Stinkin' Conspiracy

So Monday morning after dropping Peyton off, I heard the sappy first day of school poem and cried. Today I spent time with Landree's Mother's Day Out teachers discussing Epi-pens, snacks, Landree's seat placement at Lunch, hand-washing of other students, etc... Tonight I sit down at my computer and someone had sent me the poem below and of course I had to cry again. It has to be a conspiracy and I'm swearing off all reading of sappy writings until I get on more of an emotional even-keel.

10 Things Every Child with Food Allergies Wishes You Knew!
By Gina Clowes
1. I long to be included. I would like to look, act and eat like everyone else. I’d like to buy my lunch and sit wherever I want. I know I can’t, but I am so happy inside when someone cares enough to provide a safe potato chip, cookie or Popsicle for me. It’s nice when I can have something similar to what others are eating but I love it when I can eat the same thing as everyone else. Whenever it’s possible, please think to include me!
2. I’m scared I could die from my food allergies. I’ve heard my parents and teachers mention “life-threatening” food allergies and I remember having some reactions where I felt very sick and really scared. I could see how frightened my parents were too. Sometimes, I could use a little reassurance that I will be okay.
3. I feel like I’m the only one sometimes. If you have a support group or another way to arrange for me to meet other children who have food allergies, I would really like to know that I am not the only kid who has food allergies. Having another friend with food allergies in my classroom or at lunch time helps too.
4. I get confused when grown-ups offer me food. I know I’m supposed to be polite and listen to grown-ups, but my parents have told me I am only supposed to take food from them. When you offer me food or especially candy, I’d like to take it but I’m not sure about what I am supposed to do.
5. I get itchy spots sometimes when grown-ups kiss me after they’ve eaten something I’m allergic to. I get itchy spots when your dog licks me too. I’m not quite brave enough to tell you this so I’m hoping you will remember that if you have just eaten something that I’m allergic to, I may get hives if you kiss me soon afterward.
6. I’m embarrassed when people fuss over what I’m eating. I know I have to eat my own safe food, but it’s easier for me when I’m not singled out. Sometimes, it’s embarrassing when grown-ups ask lots of questions. I love to fit in more than anything.
7. I hear all adult conversations about my food allergies. My ears perkup when I hear grown-ups mention my name or food allergies, so don’t pity me or act terrified because then I get scared. Food allergies are just one part of me. Let me overhear you talk about all the other wonderful things about me!
8.Sometimes I’m sad about having food allergies. It’s hard to be the only kid in class not having a cupcake and eating something different from my box of “safe treats” especially when there are about 20 other birthdays in my class. I know it’s not the end of the world, but from my perspective, it’s tough at times.
9. I’m watching you—Mom and Dad! You may think that I’m too little to notice, but I see that you went back home to get my Epi-Pen® when you forgot it. I see that you read the ingredients on the Smarties everytime. You are my role models and I am learning how to manage my food allergies from you!
10. I will do about as well as you do. My parents “can-do” attitude will help me cope with the challenges of living with allergies and ensure that food allergies don’t stop me from being everything I was meant to be!

Peyton's First Day- Lots of Pictures for you Grandparents

We got the girls up, fed them Chocolate Chip Pancakes (yes they were dairy, egg, and peanut free but surprisingly not taste free- Brian tried to eat his weight in them), got everybody dressed with their hair done and out the door for pictures by 7:15. Here she is in front of the house- she's trying to look all happy and excited but do you noticed the balled up fists?




Brian pushed Landree in her stroller so I was free to snap pictures and Peyton tried "flying" down the sidewalk out of the neighborhood.

She got a little concerned when she kept seeing the helicopter flying over her school. Really it was flying over the new High School to document all of the traffic because it is opening without traffic lights.
How did I get a child with legs like these?

Peyton has been trying to convince us that she can walk to school by herself. Halfway there today she informed me that her legs were tired. I reminded her that she wanted to walk by herself and that we would be doing this again this afternoon. She responded with, "Momma, I think you might need to bring the car this afternoon." Even the parents behind us were laughing. We got to her school and I made her stand in front of the library so I could get a picture. I was shocked I even found a free spot because all the parents of the other 1200 kids were trying to get pictures.

We made it into her classroom where we put everything up and she got started playing with Play-Doh. Brian and I actually left without having to be asked. We went and put money into her cafeteria account. I ran into our HOA President whose son had Peyton's teacher a few years ago and they loved her so that made me feel a little better. We started to leave and Brian said he was going back to check on her. I decided that I didn't want to start crying up there so I sent him and he snapped this pic when he went.

I held it together and didn't cry until we were walking back home. Landree and I went to eat breakfast with a friend and we commeserated over our babies starting Kindergarten. I'm going to have to work on Landree's nap schedule because she wouldn't go to sleep and only got about an hour before I had to wake her up to go pick Peyton up. I thought we might fry on our walk up to school and got tickled at myself because I was wondering why I was so hot because it was only 95 degrees. You know you live in South Texas when you're saying it is ONLY 95 degrees. I sure wanted to take a golf cart away from a lady in my neighborhood that drove to school in it to pick up her kids. Of course Peyton's class was the last one out and she immediately informed me that her mouth was too tired to tell me about her day. She didn't want to talk to anyone about her day.

Five hours later I know that she liked snack and lunch- big surprise. She got her picture taken by the lunch lady for her account. She only made one friend today and she is okay with that. Her favorite book was Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. The teacher made a mad face at another teacher because her class got mixed up. She went to Music and the teacher told them all the music class rules. We asked her what the rules were and she said she didn't remember but if you didn't follow them then you would go from 4 points to 3 points. So we then asked if she didn't remember the rules how would she know if she was going to break them and then lose a point. She told us she was okay with that so of course we responded with the fact that we weren't.

So overall it sounds like she had a great day and she wants to go back tomorrow. Sounds like a successful day to me. Now lets see if I can get us all up, fed, and dressed and to school on time.

Poem Just for Me today

Hundreds of Thousands of People have heard this poem in the last few weeks but today when I heard it on the radio, I felt like it was just for Brian and me.

Trust You'll Treat Her Well
Author: Victor Buono

Dear World:
I bequeath to you today one little girl ... in a crispy dress ... with two blue eyes ... and a happy laugh that ripples all day long ... and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I trust you'll treat her well.

She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning ... and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine. Prim and proud she'll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say "Good Bye"... and walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.

Now she'll learn to stand in line ... and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears to the sounds of school-bells ... and deadlines ... and she'll learn to giggle ... and gossip ... and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy across the aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry.

No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch steps on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in a sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn to kiss lilac blossoms in the morning dew. No, now she'll worry about important things. Like grades ... and which dress to wear ... and who's best friend is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls. And now she'll find new heroes.

For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and father and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers ... which is only right. But, no longer will I be the smartest man in the whole world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time ... she'll learn what it means to be a member of a group. With all it's privileges. And it's disadvantages too.

She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud. Or kiss dogs. Or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms. Or even watch ants scurry across cracks in the summer sidewalk.
Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to become a woman.

So, World. I bequeath to you today one little girl ... in a crispy dress ... with two blue eyes and a happy laugh that ripples all day long ... and a flash of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I trust you'll treat her well.

I was holding it together by a thin thread this morning and this made it snap in two. I'll post pics tonight.

It is a darn good thing the Olympics are wrapping up tonight because I haven't gotten to bed before Midnight in over two weeks now. I have LOVED watching all the sports but my secret horrible fun thing is making fun of the Chinese "volunteers" and Olympians. I know it is horrible- I already said that but you know half these people are in fear for their lives if they make one mistake. Mom was here for the Opening weekend and we talked about floggings and thumb screws- horrible I know. Don't even get me started on Gymnastics and the Underage girls. We are watching the Closing Ceremonies right now and they have a big group that have Bike Helmets on and Brian was surprised that they had so many. I told him it was probably because they make most of the world's bike helmets in their sweat shops. His response was- Yeah and they're probably covered in Lead Paint too- Do you see why I married him?

So tomorrow is the first day of Kindergarten for Peyton. Pastor Barz did a special blessing and prayer for all students this morning so she says Jesus is ready for her. Her clothes, shoes (took us 15 minutes to find- glad we looked tonight), and hairbow (like you're surprised) are all laid out on her dresser. The stories "The Kissing Hand" and "The Night Before Kindergarten" have been read. Her Backpack is filled with the hundreds of sheets of papers I had to fill out (I'm not sure I didn't sign her over to them), her pencil box, lunch money, and this Letter P.

She got a yellow P to decorate as homework while we were at Open House on Friday. We were planning to go drop Landree off at Kidz-Kare (all 1200 students were scheduled to be there between 4-6 so we decided we didn't want to lose her in the crush) and then come back and park our car at our house and then walk to school since everyone parks in our neighborhood anyway- Yep we're that close. Well it decided to pour down rain so Brian dropped Peyton and I off at the door and then parked as close as he could. Here is Peyton waiting and ignore the head tilt because that is all she's doing these days
We finally found her classroom and met her teacher. Of course Grandparents I got a picture of her in her seat. Her eyes looked a little tired all day and I was a little worried she was coming down with something but so far so good.

Her teacher had us put away all of her supplies and gave her the P homework to decorate and me a packet to fill out. We then signed up for PTA- which I am already in charge of doing the Newsletter for- I know no one is surprised. We bought a school shirt and a water bottle for her and ran. Since it was her night, we took her to her favorite restaurant and I got a few pics on my camera phone

She and her skinny Daddy- again ignore the posing- she thinks it's cute and now Landree is doing it too. I know the second one is blurry but for once she didn't have her head turned so I had to post it-

Brian is calling me a brown-noser because I took a gift to Peyton's Teacher on Friday night. I just learned that you can stitch cards with cross-stitching thread- I know who knew. I got the pattern from www.makeandtakes.com. I love this blog and it gives me lots of fun ideas. Here is my card that I made and I included a gift card to Lakeshore Educational Supply.

and here is my basket of all the fun things you like to have as a teacher but never usually buy yourself.

I also included 3 dozen pre-sharpened pencils because they always seem to eat them. I am not brown-nosing, just wanted to do something neat for a teacher because I loved when I got little unexpected gifts when I was teaching and no matter how prepared you are, you always have to go to the teacher supply store that first week or so. Plus- I got most of it for next to nothing because I had a coupon for almost everything and waited until it was on sale too. I was glad I did it because she was very appreciative.

Don't ask how I am doing or how I think I'll do tomorrow- I think staying home this last year has made all of this harder. However, I am looking forward to getting some one on one time with Landree and maybe I can get her potty trained. I have been asked for Chocolate Chip Pancakes and bacon for breakfast so I'll hop her up on some sugar and clog her arteries with a little pork fat before I send her on her way. After we drop her off tomorrow and Brian goes to work, Landree and I are going to eat breakfast with a girl from Haley's neighborhood who lived in Maumelle, AR- small world- and whose son is starting K tomorrow too. So we're going to go cry together and be pitiful. I'll post pics tomorrow I promise but it may be tomorrow night. Please pray for God to give me strength tomorrow so I do not act a complete fool up there and embarass my child on her first day.

We're still Kicking

Okay, Okay so I have been non-existent for awhile. Those of you who have emailed me with concern for the family- thank you for checking on us. So here is a rundown of our last few weeks.

• Landree is doing well and goes back Wednesday for a check-up with the Surgeon.
• Haley's girls went to Little Rock for two weeks and I get them back tomorrow- Yeah!
• My best friend Jessica and her son Colby came and spent almost a week with us and it was like no time had passed. We had a great time and it's only been a week since she has been gone and I already miss her dearly. If anyone has seen a SD card, I'm looking for one that has the most of her vacation pics on it.
• Landree developed a yeast infection from all of her antibiotics and got sidelined again from Summer Camp/Mother's Day Out
• We made a grand tour of Louisiana and it was way too short. We normally have Nacho and Margarita night at Moms but we brought some of our Vacation Alcohol and Nacho and Guavaberry Colada night instead. Ooohhh it made me want to go back to the Caribbean again. I got to see Katie, Jayce, and Maddie all of which I have not seen since Christmas. The Grants have decided to move back to Bossier so we get to see them more- Yeah. We then took Katie and Jayce with us and went to Mawmaws and Genevas. I have pictures from a fishing trip with my grandmother, great aunt and uncle, my Aunt Geneva, my husband, 4 kids, and a hell of a lot of fireants that I will share later.
• Wednesday we finally headed home and left Jayce to stay at Mawmaws and brought Katie home with us. I know some people might think I'm crazy but the trip was much easier having a 13 year old along for the ride.
• I forgot to set up for Buddy to stay at the Willards so I was able to get him in the kennel which turned out to be best because they found a tumor under his armpit. I okayed for them to remove it and they took out a tumor bigger than a golf ball that luckily was benign. He was pretty pitiful the first few days and Brian was even carrying him up the stairs the first two days. He is much better now and finally stopped limping after the vet removed his dressing on Friday.
• Thursday Landree finally went back to Summer camp and had a great day and I have to admit, I did take a breathe because it was the first time I had been without her for more than half an hour for over a month.
• Saturday, we took Katie to San Marcos. The child couldn't even sleep the night before she was so excited. I thought she was going to have a heart attack in Aeropostale. All tops were 50% and I let her go for awhile and then I had to stop her and get her focused. She did great and made good choices on what to get. It was hot and miserable and was over 100 degrees the whole time we were there. We did absolutely nothing last night but recover from shopping.
• We were supposed to go to Sea World today but it is way too hot and the Beluga Whales had babies and they have shut Viva down which is Katie's Favorite show. So we just went to church and have been lazy. There was a lot of questions about who Katie was and one of the men was wondering if I had been keeping an extra child from them.
• Brian found out that he moved up on the list and that USAA will be paying for him to run the San Antonio Marathon in November. He has decided to run the half marathon which is 13.1 miles. He is a little nervous but he runs 5-6 miles most mornings so I think he will be okay.
• I have been working on a complete meltdown about Peyton starting school. I have been working on getting extra pieces to add to her wardrobe to get it ready for school. All of sudden her shorts are booty-shorts because her legs have gotten so long. (How did I get such a skinny, long-legged child) It then dawned on me that I didn't know if she could wear sleeveless shirts and what kind of shoes she could wear and if she had to wear socks all the time- Uniforms would be so much easier. I realized that she would be gone from me all day and have to navigate her day at a place where she will know no one and will probably get scared and nervous and I can't fix it. I know she will be all right but I still worry. My Mawmaw was talking about it and my aunt told her to stop or I might cry. My grandmother told her that was okay- I wouldn't be related to her if I didn't. I sure do love that woman.

So now your all caught up on the basics- didn't that just make your day- hehe. Hope you have a great week.