Spoiled Pet #1

This is Patch.  Laying atop my new off white sofa.  Yea, she's a diva like that.  See the slip cover all scrunched down?  Yea, she only likes the hard to wash fabric.  Hence her nickname, Bratcat.

Yesterday we had tornados swirling around us.  So close, the schools refused to let the kids get on buses.  The phone call from the school district said buses could run up to AN HOUR AND HALF late! Luckily they ran only 20 minutes late, as the weather cleared.  But today is quite different, as you can see from the tent pictures.  It's about 45 degrees outside.. Friend Grace is spending the weekend with us.  I was concerned about what we would do to keep the girls entertained all day today....no good kid movies here, no one wants to go bowling, little too chilly to go to the park.  Well, Jenna solved that problem.  About 9 am she asked me to put up the tent.  Since then, she and Grace have trapped animals in the tent (sorry cats and dog) and now have a small sofa and pallets made, waiting darkness to fall so they can have a Harry Potter marathon using the laptop, hence the power cord.  Come darkness though, they may wish to switch that power cord to connect to a space heater!  The low tonight is 30.

The Only Way to Camp!

with power

in the back yard

with your best friends!

BANG! BANG!

Alec and Shawn have a new hobby...well, Alec has a new hobby, Shawn has just sucked Alec in! After a junior pistol certification class over Christmas break and all sorts of shooting gear for his birthday, Alec and Shawn attended their first pistol match today.  There were no rankings or prizes (or ribbons, as Jenna asked), just a morning of manly shooting at the range with a few other Dads and kids.

First ribbon

This year, Jenna joined the 4H club.  Mrs. Beth, her riding instructor, heads the group. The 4H big event is Horse Bowl.  Its a quiz bowl of only horse questions.  The team meets weekly for an hour and a half to practice horse bowl questions and eat snacks.  Jenna was a member of a mixed team, meaning 2 senior 4H members and 2 junior 4H members.  The team placed fourth.  Jenna was ecstatic about winning her first horse ribbon.  It is proudly displayed on her wall, waiting for ALL the others she wants to win!

Fourteen

Oh my!  Where did the time go?  My 5lb 10oz baby boy is now 14!  For the party, Alec had Harrison Barber over and Shawn took them to see the movie Chronicle on Friday night.  Saturday, Shawn took the boys to someone else's airsoft birthday party and then to Hooters for supper.  Wow, a 24 hour party and all I had to do was make a cake from a box.  Maybe 14 isn't SO bad?!

2012 Future Cities

Alec and Alyssa were both members of the Future Cities team at school this year.  Future Cities is a competition where a group of kids build a model of a city in the future.  There is research that has to be done to support the ideas and there are requirements such as you must have power, industry and such to support your city.  The grand prize is a week at space camp!  While we didnt win, our team had some great ideas and enjoyed spending the day at NC State and eating in a college cafeteria.  Alyssa was curious about all the kids in pajamas and slippers eating breakfeast at noon.  I think she will fit right in!

Back to School for Everyone BUT Mom!

So, today was THE day....a day I have dreamed of....and dreaded for many years...but mostly dreamed of!

ALL THREE KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL !

All 3 were a little apprehensive, Alyssa more so than the others. Alec still gave Mom and Dad a hug and kiss outside the school (almost in the bushes!), Alyssa readily gave out hugs and kisses, but we werent allowed to walk her into her classroom! Jenna, Shawn and I both walked into class. Jenna sat with Mrs. Greisz, the teacher assistant, and unpacked her backpack. Then Mrs. Haulsee helped her put her things away in her cubby. Then we quietly slipped away.

In the school courtyard, I stopped and talked to several K parents. Most were holding it together very well, except for two of them....one was in tears the other was whooping and hollering about her freedom (no, it was NOT me!) I will admit I got a little misty eyed after seeing the teary mom, but it was VERY short lived....I decided to join the celebratory crowd and offered bon bons and the soap network at my house at 815a.

So, from 8-3 I didnt know quite what to do....the house was SO quiet....its a mess, too. But I didnt want to spend my first day completing ALL the things on my TO DO list (yea, right, its been growing for FIVE years now). I did go for a run, took a long shower and then had a pedicure and went to the dreaded Walmart for a few essentials.

Came home with intentions for a nice afternoon nap, but made banana bread for Alec instead.

315pm sharp, bus 121 arrived.  It deposited 3 happy, but hungry kids into my driveway. All three had a great day and are anxious to go back tomorrow!!! If only it can stay this way....