Happy Halloween

Layla picked a costume this year that couldn't be cheaper ... LOVE IT!!!

School Pictures

So Layla brought home her school pictures today. Too cute. I always frame a 5x7 of Gage's and Layla's next to each other on the piano and I just keep stacking them inside the frame so that I can look back on all of them. Gage looks like a completely different person this year but Layla just looks like Layla with longer hair. It's a big toothless grin picture and I love it!!

My kids are growing up so fast but as Kathy reminded me ... I was popping out babies in my twenties instead of dating and drinking. I get to date (Nick, of course) and drink (cuz I don't do that now) in my forties when my kids are grown. That's right all of you with your little ones ... I'm done in just about ten years!

I just realized that in ten years Gage will be almost 24!!! Holy Crap!!!!

Warning: I'm On My Soapbox ... You May Want To Stop Reading Now

So I did my Wednesday volunteering in Layla's class this afternoon. I read with a couple of groups of kids. They were reading a first grade level book and what should have taken ten minutes to read took more than thirty. Layla's teacher came out into the hall just as they were finishing to see if the book was too hard for them. The kids went back into the class and I told her that it was very frustrating to read with these kids because I feel bad for them. It is clear that their parents don't read to/with them ... ever. That may sound all judgey-mcjudgerson but it's just the way I feel. Anyway, her teacher agreed and said she wanted to show me something. Now, she's not really supposed to show me this but I have known her for years (she was Gage's teacher) and she knew that I would just look at what she wanted me to see. It was the MAP test scores for the second graders. Layla had the highest score for reading ... by far. She was so far above that she was in her own catagory. Her teacher was pretty excited that they had to create a box just for Layla!! Now you may think I'm just bragging (no shit I'm bragging) but I'm not just bragging. I just want it to be known that the only thing Nick and I did was read to her ... every night whether we felt like it or not, whether we were tired or crabby or busy ... it didn't matter. Sometimes it was a pain in the ass and sometimes none of us felt like it but look where it got her!!

Sleeepy

So I had a dream about "the conflict" last night. It was so crappy I think I actually cried in my sleep but that's not the worst part. The worst part is that I couldn't go back to sleep. There is nothing worse than laying awake in the very early hours of the morning. I'm sure I wasn't alone, I probably woke Nick up with all of my tossing and turning. So now I'm all baggy eyed and tired and I really just want to go back to bed. I hope Nick wasn't up for as long as I was or his day is going to be shit. I'm off to make a big fat pot of coffee and get Layla ready for school.

Nick ... if you're exhausted ... I'm sorry!!!

Just wondering ...

So we got a call from the Norm Coleman camp yesterday. It wasn't the automated call ... nope, it was a real live person. Of course he asked for Mrs. Diane so I asked who he was. He didn't answer he just started reading from his script. I'm not sure why I felt compelled to listen even for a minute but I'm actually glad I did. The guy made me laugh out loud. He had the worst voice EVER for the job that he was doing. It was monotone and he was mispronouncing half of the words he was reading. He was talking about unions and how Al Franklin (yes, he said Franklin) is bad for unions and Franklin this and union that. I finally said "Dude, his name is Al Franken." I couldn't help but laugh when I said it and clearly it didn't hurt his feelings because he laughed too. I said "Okay, I'm gonna hang up now." and he said "Yeah, (chuckle, chuckle) I guess you are."

I'm just wondering ... do you think he got it right after that??

Are you ready to ROCK???

So I pre-ordered Guitar Hero so that I would not have to wait like everyone else. Smart right? Not so much. It came out yesterday and while Layla and I were at Super Target yesterday afternoon we saw four of them. I thought it was no big deal because surely Best Buy would be shipping ours out today. Not so much. I got an email this morning that they would ship it in two weeks. Two weeks!! No way. I started calling Target stores and the one closest to me had one and the guy even said he would hold it for me. Layla and I went before school this morning, wet hair and all, and picked one up. Now I'm gonna finish this blog and clean the house and my reward will be putting it all together and rockin out ... all by myself. Maybe I'll be a pro by the time the kids get home. I better get to it!

P.S. Yes ... I realize I am a huge dork.

BFF's

So Layla celebrated another special day yesterday. She and Allie celebrated the "anniversary" of when they became best friends. They got their nails done and went to lunch where they sat alone and exchanged gifts. Too cute!!

Happy Birthday Layla

So today my little girl turns eight. She is a beautiful, sweet, smart and caring girl and I'm lucky to be her mom!!

Things that make me extra happy

So there are many, many things that make me happy but there are a few things that make me smile a little bigger.

-Watching Layla and her girlfriends get insanely excited to see HSM3 tonight.

-Getting a postcard in the mail from Gage's teacher saying that he aced a test and that he's a really good student and helps people out.

-Hearing the rattle that is Nick's car pull into the driveway ten minutes before I thought he'd be home.

-Candles making my house smell yummy.

-My best friend going shopping with me just so I don't have to go alone.

Boiled Peanuts!!

So I just read my brother-in-law's blog (the nice one) and he says he has a supplier for raw peanuts. To most of you that probably means nothing but to me that means tasty, delicious, salty, yummy boiled peanuts!!! I know that most Minnesotans have never tried a boiled peanut and the ones that I have forced them on pretend to be disgusted. They can't get over the texture or something. Whatever, more for me! I'm hoping Pete will be bringing a pot over this weekend. Fingers crossed!!

* I used a total of eight exclamation marks ... I think I'm excited for some boiled peanuts!! (ten)

Dancing Queen

So Layla got her costume for dance. Fierce!!

You'd never know I grew up in the south

So if you're reading this the odds are good that you have been in my house before. I'm not ashamed that people wear an extra sweatshirt and slipper socks when they come here. It's cold ... I like it cold and it saves money and we'll just say it saves the planet too ... cuz that sounds better than being just plain cheap right? Well, you'll all be glad to know that I broke down and turned on the heat today. It's set at a toasty 64 so if that's not warm enough for you ... come prepared! We will see you all this weekend in your sweatshirts, blankets ... whatever. There will be huge pot of steamy chili and some nice toasted subs to warm you up and maybe some hot cider and hot chocolate for those who don't complain ;)

Instant Gratification

So when I want something I usually get it. That's not necessarily a good thing. If I change my mind about something after I've made such a big deal about getting it in the first place, well then I just look like an ass. I really should try to be more like Nick ... I know I know, who says that about their husband right? Well if I could show as much self control as he does I don't think I would ever regret a decision. He can ponder a purchase for months ... lots of months. Me ... not so much.

What made me think of this? The man wanted Taco Bell for almost a month before he finally decided to get himself a freakin' taco.

kicks to the shin

So it was a trying day today. I'll just say that there are behavior issues with one of the kids at preschool and I'm not down with it, like the issue of, I got kicked in the shin ... hard ... on purpose. I kind of wish I could kick people in the shin when I don't get my way but alas ... I am a grown up :(
Let me tell you this, if either one of my kids had ever kicked their teacher in the shin not only would I have been beyond embarassed but they would still have my hand print across their butt. My kids knew that which is why even though they may have wanted to kick a teacher in the shin they certainly didn't.
I'm off to spend the rest of the evening with the family and get some sympathy for my shin.

Ode to the sweater dress

So Layla got a gift card to Old Navy from her aunt and knew exactly what she wanted. There is a sweater dress she has had her eye on for a month so she made a beeline for it when we walked in the door. I loved sweater dresses when I was younger. So comfy and cozy! I'm okay with this trend coming back .... it probably never went "out" but whatever. I was talking with other moms while I was waiting for Layla after school and they brought up some of the trends that can stay "out" as far as I'm concerned.

-Tight rolled jeans anyone? (I could get mine so tight it would cut off the circulation to my feet)

-How many pairs of socks can you wear? (four socks per foot .... any more and I couldn't get my shoes on.)

-Who can get their bangs the highest? (me)

-neon ruled (orange and pink ... nice)

-leg warmers (still cute on little girls)

-jelly shoes ... (I grew up in the south and we wore those a lot. I remember my feet would get all sweaty and the shoes would suction to my feet and when I took them off I would have the diamond pattern in my skin.)

Those were the good ole' days.

Oh yeah .... I forgot about hyper color shirts. Remember those?? Those were horrible, all the boys would try to put their hand prints right on your boobies and God forbid you get sweaty armpits .... oh lordy.

My new home

So I switched ... no more "The Wife". If you found me here, check back soon for riveting blogging!