Rolling over!

Joy rolled from her back to her belly in her crib today! She's done this before with some assistance, but this one was solo because she did it while she was going down for a nap. She was so surprised she started yelling like a banshee! She's growing up so fast.

Growing Up

I've had to face the tough reality that Faith is growing up. She's interested in different things, has ever so fun mood swings, is getting zits, really should be wearing a cami and showing daily, plus so much more.

The latest reality for me was her planning on how she could get a job to earn some money. She's going to ask our neighbor if she can help her in the garden for $0.50/hour. Then again, I guess she is still a kid in some ways!

Back to School Anxiety

Well as it is now several days past the 4th of July, I am officially in back to school gear up mode. I am starting to look around at my house and see all of my "do this summer" projects that are still in process or not even begun. My reading pile has barely shrunk because for every book I read, I seem to add one or two more to the pile.

I'm starting to wonder about class lists, and am figuring out how to get into school at least once per week to work without my children tagging along. I am wondering about tweaking my reading class once again and exactly how different our new social studies text will be. And this will be the year that I sit down with the 8th grade SS teacher and we figure out how we will teach US history so as not to both cover the same small bits to death!

I'm hoping I can convince Joy that taking naps in her crib is a good idea before she will have to at daycare this fall. I would like Faith to read a little more and watch tv a little less. I'm wondering how will we afford everything this fall - especially since I don't want to take away EVERY activity my former only child has participated in.

I wish I could feel that exercise is a priority and that it is fun to do. I wish ice cream had no calories and a full serving of fruits and vegetables. I wish I had all the time to do everything I want to do.

Sounds of Summer Silence

Just a quick note - right now I am enjoying the silence. Both girls are taking naps. It doesn't happen often, but Faith had a sleepover at a friend's last night and she is exhausted. Joy is finally getting on a bit of a schedule regarding napping - if she would just stop knocking her nuk out of her mouth we'd be good!

Joy rolled from her tummy to her back today - YEAH!

Ebay sales are quite interesting when you are the seller - making some decent $$ though. Might have enough to pay for one week of daycare at the end of the summer but we'll have a lot more space in our closets!

Every reading teacher should read The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller. It's reinspired me to try Readers' Workshop again.

Humane Society

Everyone kept telling me that it wasn't a good idea to sign up my animal loving daughter for a week long summer camp at the local Humane Society. They kept saying that she would be bugging us for a pet continually. My family laughed and laughed because they know my oldest well and they know me even better.

Day 4 of camp is today. She's been begging for "her" dog all week - an Alaskan husky. When we finally convinced her that he was not a good choice for our family, she started begging for "her friend's" dog - a chocolate lab. We finally had to break down and tell her that we WILL NOT be adopting a dog from the shelter this week - no matter how cute they are or how friendly they are or how much fun they would have in our backyard or how much they would keep our oldest from being BORED. Nope, no dog. Now if I had my way, maybe a cat would come home...

But Dan says NO pets - at least not until the baby is two. Then we shall see!

Happy Father's Day

Here's to supper daddy! He helped with the oldest's sleepover on Friday - Saturday. Bless him, he not only heard them "Let me teach you how to make scrambled eggs!" but got up to make sure they didn't burn the house down. Then he took her swimming for special Daddy-Daughter time today so that I could try to deal with the cranky little one. I know - this picture is the only time she smiled all day I think! Can babies start teething at 2 months old? 'Cuz I think I feel a tooth breaking through.

Personalize a digital collage

Random thoughts.

1. This is going to be a long summer vacation. It's day 4 and already Faith is bored.

2. I'm proud of myself for going to the mall and into several stores -some with incredible sales - and we only bought one container of Claire's ear cleanser and one Japanese eraser.

3. I wish the baby would figure out how to sleep other places than on me. I love her but I don't always want to be wearing her.

4. I have to watch my couponing and only print the coupons for things we actually buy - too much wasted ink and paper. And ink cartridges for the new printer cost an arm and a leg.

5. I love friends who work at American Girl and bring you along to the employee sale!

6. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of produce my "deluxe produce assortment" from SHARE Wisconsin will be - I have have to dig out some recipes for unusual items.

7. We have Fall DAYCARE!

8. Now we have to figure out how to pay for it - gulp!

9. Faith mouthpiece tested for band and will be playing the trumpet. She did best with French Horn but they said that is not a good instrument to start with.

10. I'm a little bit sad she won't be dancing next year - too much $$.

11. I have to stop staying up extra late "because the baby will just be getting up soon" - last night that didn't happen until 5 am - got to get some real sleep!

12. My life is pretty boring.

Joy's homework by Faith