I just realized that I haven't updated in a few days. I tell you my life needs to slow down or it will be over before I know it! For example: Yesterday we went to school got home at 12:30, ate lunch and GG got dressed for tumbling, then to tumbling from 1:30 to 2:15 (she loves this class and I am glad she is in it) then to the court house to drop off our appeal to the assessor's office. It was the last day to turn it in so I had to go. Came home and rested for about 30 minutes and we packed everyone up and headed over to school for Liz's Volleyball game. GG played with her friend Krystal and Monkey slept. Then came home and made dinner at 6pm ate and then it was time to get ready for bed. The day just flew by.

Today it has been slower so I thought I would update while I had the chance. GG is having quite time in the playroom and Monkey is taking his nap. Oh and the movie that J and I went too was good. Very sad. But it was good nonetheless! Ok it is time to write my grocery list. We were suppose to go on Monday but we were too busy. The sad thing is I can't even remember what we did!

We had such a fun day today. Got up early and picked out some pumpkins...they are huge! Then we went to the Home Show at the Race tracks. We watched different demonstrations on cookware, cleaning supplies and many more. There were tons of booths set up. The kids had fun too. They got balloons GlamorGirl got a flower (purple) and Monkey got a motorcycle. They got to make slime, play in a ball pit and jump in the moonwalk. And they got tattoos! J and I bought really good smelling candles. We got roasted coffee, baked apple pie, fudge brownie and juniper breeze! We needed candles and we still do but these buys are helping restock our supply. This afternoon the kids and I took naps. It felt so good to sleep. After the nap we played outside. The kids rode bikes and played with the neighbors parachute guys. Now the kids just got bathed and are getting ready for bedtime.

Yesterday J and I played the board game Battle of the Sexes. It is really hard. I knew none of the answers, at least it seemed like it. The questions J got were name the six cast members of the hit series Friends. I mean come on. Then he also got a question what is the national group of breast feeding called? Seriously if he got that wrong I would of beat him ;) I go to the meeting once a month for heavens sake. I think it will be more fun with more players. We are planning on having a couple over from our sunday school class so they can play with us.

Just in case I don't have time to update tomorrow here is the plan for the day. Church in the morning, lunch with J's parent's sunday school class, Liz is coming home with us and J and I are going to go see the movie Ladder 49, finally. I need to figure out a good time to go Christmas shopping with J and leave the kids home.

Now that it is the end of the week I will just do some highlights of the week! J and I got dressed up nicely and went to the police department for the New Chief to be sworn in to office. Now J has a new boss. But he hasn't made any changes. From what everyone said about this guy he will make good changes like getting a bike unit, horses for parades and things like that. Specialty things! I guess time will tell how this guy is.

Wednesday we had a friend over for dinner. So that was a lot of fun. Speaking of friends I talked to an old friend from WIU and she was telling me about the school she sends her daughter. It made me think about the school the kids go to. Since I work there I see everything they are learning and how they are taught and so on. But it made me think about it and see that this school is the right school for my kids and for J and I. They have learned so much in 4 weeks it is amazing. And they are smart kids to begin with. The one thing I love the most is that the children get one on one time with the teacher and then with the assistant each day. So they are learning and experiencing things at their own pace and are learning to listen to a teacher. I just love that school too because there are Bible stories and memory verses each week. It also helps that there success rate in college is outstanding, great self discipline among other wonderful attributes.

Thursday it was absolutely beautiful outside! I took the kids to the doctor because GG has had a cough for almost a week. Yeah it was a virus nothing they can really do for her. But the doctor prescribe something to help her sleep at night...the coughing was keeping her up. Monkey also got a well baby check up and they both got tested for lead. I will find out those results next week. So after that they got ice cream at Mc Donalds for being good at the doctors...and I felt bad about them getting poked for the lead test. We did them both at the same time. They sat on my lap and the nurse did one and the doctor did the other. While I held their hands. They both screamed and I felt super bad. But they only cried for about 30 seconds. That is because they knew mama was right there to hug and comfort them. I hate seeing them hurt. Then we spent the afternoon outside with the neighbors. GG had Cubbies and got her first patch for her vest. She is doing so well keeping the verse for Cubbies and the verse for school straight. Smart little girl, sometimes too smart if you know what I mean!

Then today GG and I went to school and Monkey stayed home with J. They went to the Library and Police department. GG got to eat dirt for snack, smashed oreo cookies, chocolate pudding and a gummie worm. It was D week! Well that is about it.

What day is again?!?! I just can't believe it is Oct already and today is the 5th. All I remember about yesterday was all the crafts GG and I did while Monkey slept. We made an airplane, caterpillar, and colored so many pictures! We also played with playdough. It was a fun day. Then we went grocery shopping which we needed desperately. Today GG had tumbling. Then it was homework time and more coloring. She is so much like me as a kid. My mom said I could color for hours on end. She had to make me stop. Well I need to go make dinner...

Yesterday was a very productive day. I went through all the winter clothes from last year to see if any fit. Then reorganized both of the kids dressers. J and I went through the toy room and got rid of some toys we are going to donate. Then we moved the room around. It looks so much bigger in there now. The kids have enjoyed the new look too because they have more room to play! The thing that helped the most was finally hanging up the green organizer(ok that word looks wrong but I'm not in the mood to do spell check) that Monkey got for his birthday. When that was finished I cleaned the house. It looked good for a day!

This morning the kids and I went to Sunday School and then church for me, children's church for GG and nursery for Monkey. Then to grandma and grandpa's house for lunch and hanging out. Tonight J and I were suppose to go see that new movie Ladder 49 but Liz wasn't feeling good (she was going to watch the kids) and J got the chance at some overtime. We are going to go another day. The kids and I got home around 5:15 and I called J and he came home from work to eat dinner with us then he had to go back. At least he got to see us for that 30 minutes! If we were still living with my dad he couldn't have done that. Oh and GG is getting sick. So far all she has is a cough that won't go away. No fever or anything else but that horrible cough that keeps her up at night, at least I think it does. She has taken a nap the last two days and she doesn't take naps. Ok I need to go do some other things...

Today was great. This morning J came to school in his uniform and talked to the kids about police officers. They each got a coloring book and a badge. They kids were pretty wired from that! When we got home we did the usual lunch and naps. Then we took library books back and went to the courthouse to register to vote. The kids thought that walking through the metal detector was pretty neat. Our courthouse is really nice…first time I have been there. Registering to vote was so easy so if you haven’t registered yet I suggest you do it. You only have until Oct 5^th, I believe. The last election I was registered but couldn’t vote because they couldn’t find my name on the registration. Turns out I was in the wrong building. Oh well. Anyway, then later we went to watch Liz play volleyball. They played a team of 4^th through 6^th graders. They killed them. Our team is 7^th and 8^th. It was funny too because the coach made the girls play position that they aren’t used to and hit over hand instead of under. Another funny thing that happened at the game was Monkey. He stood up on the bleachers and started yelling. “GO CLA GO CLA…” It was more funny because he had his hands cupped around his eyes instead of his mouth while he was cheering. At one point he put them in a diamond shape on his forehead! What a little nut. After the game there was a high school reunion for the public school that used to be in the building, before our private school bought the building. That is about all the exciting things that happened today. Oh yeah GG got to play with her friend Krystal who is 5. That made her day.

I can't believe it has been two days...I thought I was doing so good! Anyway, J has been off the last couple of days so we have been keeping pretty busy with things. Right now Monkey is sleeping and GlamorGirl is having quite time so I thought I would update real quick before I start in on the laundry. Today at school the kids got to wear their new slippers and drink out of their new water bottles that we bought especially for school. They loved that! GG just asked to paint her toe nails so that is what I will be doing in about 2 minutes :) Tomorrow at school they are getting a special guest. They have been talking about the letter C and what sound it makes and words that start with it. Well the focused on Community Helpers. So J is going there tomorrow in uniform and talking to the kids about Police Officers and giving them each a badge. I think the kids are going to go nuts when they see him. They absolutely love having a daddy who is a police officer or peace officer as Monkey would say! Tonight GG has Awana Clubs so we will get some special time with just Monkey who eats up his special time!!! That is it for now.

My days have been so riveting that there isn't anytime to write about them! I am making time today since J is starting his 3 days off. Funny story...because it just happened and that is about all I can remember! Monkey asked J for some milk. Then J said you want some klim? Then told him it was milk spelled backwards. He asked Monkey if he could say milk backwards. Monkey then turned around so that his back was to J and said "like this, daddy?" It was funny. Ok you might have had to been there but we thought it was funny :) Today was quite busy as was yesterday and the day before and so on. We had my brother, his wife, my niece and step-mom over yesterday for company. After an already long day. Then today after work it was eat, change GG into her tumbling clothes and rush out the door. After tumbling a friend came over for a play date. We all left the house at the same time because she had a Cubs game to go to and we had a volleyball game to get too. Then came home and made dinner, ate and gave kids a bath because we had french toast and they were both sticky. Now it is 15 after 7 and I am going to get the kids to bed and then crash!!! Tomorrow is another long one....

Wow I just can't believe how fast my days are getting away from me. It is already Thursday...the week is almost over. GlamorGirl is doing wonderful in school and the teacher give her rave reviews. She told me the other day after answering one of her many questions that I was a genius. Then I asked her if she knew what that word meant. She did. I haven't ever used that word in front of her! Her vocabulary is just incredible. I can't believe it sometimes...which is why I ask her for the meaning of the word and she always knows. She is seriously like a little sponge. Then there is Monkey who is keeping up with the 3 year olds in the preschool. The kids in my class have just turned 3 so we have the youngest group of students but it is amazing to see him interact and join in with the class. HE just turned 2!!! And he loves going to school, and absolutely dislikes it when I leave him home with J. As for me I am hanging on for the ride! Last night I was laying in bed trying to watch the season premiere of Law and Order and I kept falling asleep. I don't even know what happened. Oh well. I was obviously tired. Well I need to go work on something....

Imagine with me for a second my 2 yr old son, Monkey, singing "Come on feel the noise" then my 3 yr old daughter, GlamorGirl, singing "Girls rock your boys!" It was stinking hilarious. Later on Monkey tried singing the whole thing and ended up saying..."come on feel the noise, girls (pause) shake your booty." J and I laughed so hard :) Another little song J taught the kids was "Here I am...Rock you like a hurricane." Today GG and I went to school and Monkey stayed home with J. After we ate lunch we took the kids outside, it was beautiful out! As we were outside in the back we decided that we needed to take the fence down. So J proceeded to take it down. We only have a section down but in a few weeks it will be all down. I am glad because it was falling down and now it can't hurt anyone or cause damage to anything! Our neighbors got a new 57 inch tv that we went to check out and the kids got to watch Clifford on it. It was huge and expensive. This evening my dad, Roberta (my step-mom) and Kevin (my brother) came over. It was the first time Kevin has seen my new house. So that was fun showing it off to him. His wife and daughter, Kiera, are coming to town this weekend so they will come over again! I am going to start jotting down funny things the kids do that make me laugh because by the end of the day I have forgotten most of them. I really want to have those memories. Ok until tomorrow...

Well we had some technical difficulty with our phone so we weren't able to get online. Friday ended our first week of school. Thursday GG started Awana Clubs and Liz spent the night after her volleyball game. Friday afternoon Princess died and we flushed her. GG was super sad about that but I told her we will get another pet. We just haven't decided on what it will be yet. Yesterday the kids and I took a trip out of town for the day and that was so much fun. Today we went to church and spent the whole afternoon with J's family. After dinner we went on a family walk/bike ride. The kids rode their bikes and J and I walked. Now that our phone is fixed I will be able to update regularly again.

Yesterday was exhausting! We had school in the morning came home real quick for lunch then out the door again for GG's tumbling class. We got home and the kids played in the sprinkler for about 30 minutes with J so I could get some down time. Then it was off again to the school volleyball game. The school goes from preschool all the way up to 12th. So we went to cheer for Liz (J's sister) at the game. She loves going to school and going to activities...it is just so neat to watch GG make friends with kids that are older than her. Like at the game she made friends with a 5 year old that was at the last game we went to as well. I was happy because it occupied her while I watched the game and Monkey!

Today we went to school and just got home. I am in the process of making lunch. Then we are going to take it easy. J is water skiing with some guys from the department. So I have the kids all day today. After lunch it will be naptime/quite time and then we will play outside until dinner!

Our first day of school was AWESOME. This morning we took the kids pictures with their book bags and their new school clothes. They each looked so adorable. Then J took us to school and we all walked into GG's class room to drop her off. Then Monkey and I went into our room and waited for the kids in our class. We had 11 kids today and most of them just turned 3 or aren't even 3 yet. We have the youngest class and so it was a little more unruly then the other ones. I am glad GG is in another class with kids more her age. With all considered we had a good day. J came to pick us up and he brought me flowers for my first day of work. He is so sweet! GG came home with homework. It was a worksheet to fill out all of her favorite things and about her family. She enjoyed doing that. We got home and my world went nuts. J laid down and slept for over 4 hours...why I'm not really sure?? But I think that is why he might of bought the flowers so that I wouldn't be mad at him...hehehe! Anyways, I got all the laundry cleaned and put away, dishes done, my legs shaved, the fishes bowl cleaned, and the kids and I played outside! We were busy. After dinner the kids and J went to return a library movie and then took baths. GG is sleeping and Monkey is on his way to dreamland. I need to head there too.

This morning we got up and went to Sunday School and then church. I love that SS has started back up. The kids both did very well. Then we went to the grandparents house to see the new redone rooms. They look great. So much bigger and brighter. Then we came home. We went to the store and got each of the kids a new outfit for school tomorrow. After dinner some friends stopped by. They wanted to see the landscaping that we have done to the house. They are the friends that helped us move in so they know all the work we did to the outside. Then they came inside and hung out for awhile. I am glad that they dropped by they are a great couple. Tonight is an early night because the kids have their first day of school tomorrow. Which means I have my first day of school so I am going to go to bed.

Ok so today was my very last day of working at the YMCA. I brought all my cleaned shirts in and left the one I wore today there. I filled out my time card one last time. It was sad but this new work environment I think will be great...only 10 kids at a time, organization and structure!!! We got home around 1:30 and had lunch. Now GG is watching the movie from the library and Monkey is napping. When he gets up we are going to a house warming party for a lady J works with and immediately after that we are headed over to our Sunday Schools BBQ. We have to pick up some pop on the way though. So I am going to get myself ready to have some fun :)

Yesterday one of my co-workers brought in doughnuts for me since it will be the last time I work with her. That was very sweet I thought. Today was my last day working with the weekday people. My co-workers brought in bagels and brownies and I got a goodbye present. The present was two awesome picture frames and a bunch of pictures of kids from the Y's Mazing Kids room. Very cute. I also got Monkey's coat that Jen had made him...she made one for GG too! It was kind of sad saying goodbye to those people who I know I will probably never really see again. Unless I go to visit. Then we came home and had lunch. This afternoon we went to the Library. The kids each got their own cards which they thought was super cool. The whole basement of the library is for children. They had a computer for the kids to play on and different activities and games for the kids to do while there. They love going to the library and it is only 2 blocks away so we will be going a lot more now. My neighbor told me that they do a craft day once a week so I need to find out what day that is and take the kids! We checked out Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the movie and about 10 books! GG and I got a special book that we are going to read every night until it is done. It is an older kids book and she loves it! It is about a mouse who dances in the ballet. After the library it was a rush to get the kids fed and off to school for the preschool orientation. They each got to see their classrooms, met their teachers again, and met the kids in their class. Then they made bags with their hand prints on them. I really like the teacher I am working with, she is very organized and on top of things. I think we will work great together! So that made me very happy. On the way to the car we walked by the office and grandma was still there working so we stopped in for a few minutes. Then came home gave the kids baths and put them to bed. And that was our day!!!

Yesterday was quite busy and I was not motivated to write. I went into work and found out that I was suppose to be there until 1. I swear it said 12 the week before. Anyway, I got to leave at 12:15 thanks to a co-worker. GG had her first tumbling class at 1:30 and I wanted to get the kids home and fed first. There were about 10 kids in her class and two were boys. It was fun watching her class even though we couldn't hear what was going on. They did the spring board and at the end she raised her hands like the Olympiads did. One mom said she looked like a little princess. I think so. Toward the end of class the kids took a turn walking across the high beam. She walked across with no help from anyone and only 2 kids in the class did that. She is definitely coordinated. During the class they were on there hands and feet walking in a circle. The teacher told them that was called an elephant walk. GG stood up, while picking her wedgie, and said, "no that is called a wedgie!" (she was also moving her hands while she said it, she is so animated). Everyone in the room laughed, so I had to ask the teacher what she had said that made everyone laugh. She makes us laugh all the time, I love that little girl so much. Which reminds me of another story. J sings this song to Monkey...it goes, "I want to Rock. Want to Rock...(then he makes a noise)." Well the other night Monkey started singing it back to J and the noise he made was hilarious. I started crying I was laughing so hard. After the class we talked yard work and did some. Then we hung out with the neighbors, so that J could sleep. Being in the air makes me super tired. This morning the kids and I went to school to drop off my W2's so I can get paid! I can't believe that school starts in less than a week. While we were there GG got to meet her teacher Mrs. Sherry and Monkey got to meet his Mrs. Barbie. Friday they have the orientation and the kids will get to see their rooms. Now we are going to the store to get food and other random things we need. Also today GG has been potty trained for 2 years, just thought I would mention that little cool fact about my brilliant little girl.

After I posted on Saturday GlamorGirl helped me make the cookies for the church picnic. She is actually becoming a big help with baking and cooking! Then she helped me label all of her and Monkey's school supplies. We adjusted her book bag so it would fit. She is growing up so fast. She starts her tumbling class tomorrow...I hope I remember to bring her. Anyways, after I got all the things I needed to get done I went into my room and turned on the tv, J was playing playstation in the living room. About 5 minutes later he came in and wanted to play games with me. We played Racko and Boggle. It was a lot of fun. The kids colored at the table while we played.

Sunday the kids and I got up and went to the church picnic. They had a bouncy thing that the kids could jump in and water games for them to play. They had a lot of fun it was hard getting them to leave! We came home and I took a nap and J played with the kids. Then we spent the rest of the night hanging out outside.

Last night GG woke up and came in our room. She was talking in her sleep and laughing. It was funny listening to her. She was telling Monkey he was funny because he had on a silly hat or something like that. Her laugh was the best part! Then this morning she woke up at 6:30 not feeling good and she throw up 3 times. She took a nap at 9am and woke up at 11 feeling better. Now I am going to get the playdough out for them so I can jump in the shower! I will try and update later if anything exciting happens...or at least update again tomorrow.

I have started getting behind on this posting. I hate that because I really like being able to look back and see what we did on a certain day. Yesterday I took GG to work with me and Monkey stayed home with J. After work we spent the afternoon cleaning up the house. It looks good! Then we took the kids to a park after we ate. They had so much fun. We even remembered to bring the camera and take pictures ;) On the way home we asked if they wanted to go to bed or eat ice cream? What do you think they said??? Ice cream, of course! So we had ice cream outside as a family. Then they got baths and into bed they went. Here is a cute story... at dinner we pray before we eat. We take turns praying, like tonight was GG's turn and tomorrow will be mine. She was praying and all of a sudden Monkey says Amen in the middle of her prayer. It was too funny! J and I had a hard time keeping ourselves from laughing. GG seemed unphased by it and just kept praying. I love when the kids pray. They thank God for things we adults take for granted and it is so refreshing.

Today even though it is only 2pm we have gone to the teacher store to get the kids paint smocks for school, the bank, and to Target. We bought Monkey another Christmas present while we were there. I love buying Christmas presents. The only thing is sometimes I can't decide on what I should get the kids. Like GG...should I get her a leap frog or a learning computer? And the other decision I have had to make is should I get it for her birthday or Christmas? She is so easy to shop for because she loves everything anyone buys her. Plus, she is a girl! Monkey is a little harder for me but I mange! Well enough of my rambling for one day. I need to label the kids school supplies and make chocolate chip cookies for the church picnic tomorrow.

This morning I didn't work but J worked last night so I needed to get the kids out of the house. So we got up and went to the Park District to register GlamorGirl for a tumbling class. As soon as I walked in a girl said my name. I thought I didn't give my name to the lady on the phone how do they know me. I looked up and it was a girl I went to college with. She was in my major. We talked for awhile and just caught up with each other. That was really nice. Then we went to school to fill out my tax forms for working there. The kids were so happy to see Grandma...I don't know if it is because she *always* seems to give them candy when they see her at work. I really don't know ;) Then we picked my dad up at work and went out to lunch with him. We went to Bakers Square (Monkey's choice) and had a good time with grandpa. Then we came back home and woke J up. The rest of the day was spent doing family activities, like shopping! Well and spending time outside with the neighborhood, and I really mean the whole neighborhood! I keep forgetting to mention this but Monkey learned a new skill in the past few days. He learned to open the car door. So he has to open it everytime we leave. hehehe Tonight after dinner we took the kids to get ice cream because they behaved so good while we were shopping we treated them for their great behavior. They didn't even know that they were going to get the reward either! We went to the McDonalds with the playland and let them play too. There were two big girls there that GG played with. At first I thought she wouldn't fit in with them but they really wanted to play with her and included her in the game they were playing! Monkey also learned how to get up the maze. I think he grew a few more inches that have helped him to be able to do that now. I think that is great because now I don't have to go up in that smelly thing ;0 Well GG is in bed sleeping and Monkey is waiting to be put to bed.