Update on us...

I feel like I haven't given much of an update on what's been happening in our lives...so our weekend so far? Busy as usual.

I spent the entire day (10am - 10pm) scrapbooking. Ray took the kids to the grand opening to a new kids museum in downtown Raleigh this morning, and then met me for dinner this evening.

The girls are great...Ashley is just as excited about our upcoming trip to Disney as I am. She keeps wanting to talk about what we are going to do there, who we are going to see, and the friends she is going to miss while she is there.

But she has also been trouble lately. We are dealing with her not taking no for an answer. Anyone else have a four year old like this? She asks for soda (or to stay up late, or whatever) and she just keeps asking, over and over and over again. Drives me nuts.

And Audrey is a drama queen (although a really, really cute one). Ashley so much as looks at her funny, and she will start crying saying "ow", knowing that might get our attention.

Ray and I actually got to watch a movie on Friday night, something we haven't done in years...(seriously, I went to Blockbuster and the credit card on file expired in 2005). We rented National Treasure (do not make fun of us, we have completely opposite tastes in movies, this was the only compromise) and it was really cute. The problem? I could not go to sleep afterwards.

I hope everyone else is having a great weekend...

Blog Tour - Turtle Feet, Surfer's Beat

Marina Kuperman has been living in Costa Rica for almost 5 years. After visiting
the Playa Grande’s Leatherback Turtle National Marine Park and seeing this critically endangered animal, she became so moved that she not only wrote the book ‘Turtle Feet, Surfer’s Beat’ but also founded the online community for kids,
teens and their parents to take action in a fun way to help marine preservation.



What is ‘Turtle Feet, Surfer’s Beat’ about?

My book revolves around a typical suburban teen girl, Penelope, from the States
that is forced to go to Costa Rica with her parents for her father’s job assignment. Involuntarily, her parents sign up Penelope to spend two weeks at the Leatherback turtle biological station (for ‘her own good’). Penelope, obviously isn’t pleased but forgives the horrid accommodations and the never ending bug brigade as she sees the turtle and instantly pledges to do all she can to help it from extinction. But hang ten, dudes! Penelope is about to get help.

One lonely night, as she’s patrolling the beach for turtle poachers she stumbles and falls directly into the arms of the local surf champ. Together they dive into the world of surfing and marine preservation.

You’re website www.turtlefeetsurfersbeat.com is more directed at a community
setting rather than focusing directly on the book, why is that?

I figure, a good read helps to get us all hyped-up to take action and make a difference, especially if it’s for a good cause. And that’s exactly what my book intends to do. Since, we are all in the know about the conditions of our oceans, and really wanna do something to start making a difference. Plus, we also know that thing is so much more fun to do when you’re having a blast at it with friends. So, that’s exactly what www.turtlefeetsurfersbeat.com is all about. It’s not your typical site of more information thrown at you, but rather a way to get involved and join forces with your favorite surfers, musicians, artists,conservationists, and other cool people already taking action.

Thank you for having me as a guest and I look forward to everyone visiting our community and joining in the fun!

Marina Kuperman
TURTLE FEET, SURFER´S BEAT
Take the ultimate ride!!!
www.Turtlefeetsurfersbeat.com

Because I think marine conservation is a great cause, I purchased one copy of the book to give away to you guys...it doesn't come out until November 15th, but leave a comment and be entered to win. And make sure you check out the rest of the site...have a great weekend!

Friday Pictures, Yes, I know it's Thursday...

I am helping out a writer tommorrow and participating in her blog tour (so definitely come back and check it out tomorrow, there just may be a free book in it for you...), so Friday pictures are today...

Monday night Ray took Ashley to the gym with him so that she could play, and Audrey and I had some time to play too. To Audrey this meant playing with the front door for 20 minutes. Seriously. She spent 20 minutes going in and out, in and out.

She is trying to close the door on her own.

I am going outside Mom whether you like it or not.

She is signing "please" so that I will close the door for her so that she can then knock on it and push it open.

Success! I have pushed the big heavy door open (it helps that my Mommy leaves it cracked...)

And this my friends, is how she gets out of the door. She started backing herself up, and sometimes she starts the backing up process just a little bit farther away from the step than I personally would. Just saying.

Knock, knock...

Check post below for a review and free! food!

Informational Blogging - Nature Valley Roasted Nut Crunch Bars

I was sent two boxes of Nature Valley's new Roasted Nut Crunch bars to try out and review. Let me first off say that as a perpetual dieter, I love eating "bars" for breakfast. I am the type of person that needs protein for breakfast in order to make it through my morning, and normally crunch bars and chewy bars are high in protein and are something I can easily grab on my way out the door (along with my large mug o' coffee).

Let me also say that I love peanuts...seriously. I think the fact that the rest of my family can't eat peanuts, I want them even more. These new bars are packed with nuts followed by five other natural ingredients. There are two kinds, Peanut Crunch and Almond Crunch. And both were very good. I was surprised at the combination of nuts and sunflower seeds, but the taste was very good. And the bars were filling as well as packed with protein (each bar contains 7 grams of protein).

The only downside is for those counting your Weight Watchers points. The Almond Crunch is 4 points, and the Peanut Crunch is 5. It still isn't bad for a meal, and for those needed a great energy bar high in protein, these are defintely good. I just try and eat only 2 points for breakfast, so these go a little over my goal.

I have 5 bars of each kind if anyone wants to try any. I would be more than happy to mail them to you. Just leave me comment and let me know. First come, first serve. Let me know which flavor you would like to try....

I am SO creating a Blog Award...Only if I knew how...

My new good blogging buddy Pam gave me this award last week:

From the creator of the award..."the thing that I love most about blogging is that I learn so much about a person just by reading their blog. I have met MANY wonderful people with wonderful stories to tell, and I am grateful every day for each person that I have the pleasure of crossing paths in life with. I wanted to create something special for the people who have inspired me through their blogging; the stories they tell, and the lives that they lead with grace and dignity. I visit their blogs for inspiration and encouragement...."

If you were to talk to my good friend Dorrie (who should TOTALLY start a blog), she wouldn't agree that I am inspiring right now. We talk on the phone everyday, and she says I need to cheer up. My problem? I am kind of stuck...I am in that really bad I am going on a big vacation in a month phase (I know, poor me, but seriously. I NEED a vacation). But more importantly, I am also stuck in between careers...in a career I want out of, waiting to finish school and get on with a career I really want into.

I am not a patient person, I don't like being stuck. I hate in-between stages...like when Audrey was trying to walk but she wasn't really and wanted us to walk her around the house all day holding her hands? Yea, I don't do well with in-between stages.

Anyways, my point in all this? Who knows, but I learn a ton and get a ton of inspiration from these bloggers....

Julie, my favorite NoVA person...seeing as I got the hell out of that state, she inspires me in that she is still there :). Hehe.

Life with Hannah and Lily...loss of her daughter, she blogs to help her through. I normally cry with every.single.post.

Lisa's Chaos...cancer, family, life. Talk about inspiring...

Sanity...two sets of twins (if that ain't inspiring, I don't know what else is...), hospitals, surgeries. More than an inspiration.

Carrisa Blog...I am pretty sure she doesn't read here, but she started the Biggest Loser Bloggers club...very inspiring and I can't wait for her and all the other participants to reach their goals...

Who isn't blogging nowadays. You can find all types of blogs from overseas soldier blog to fun knitting blogs. If you need information on blogs you can find it online.

5 Minutes for Mom Contest

Check out their latest, and something we are going to get regardless of me winning or not...I need to back up all my pictures I have....

They are giving away 3 WD Passport Portable Hard Drives.

Weird Stuff

I see some pretty weird stuff sometimes at work. Being at the largest hospital in the area, we attract all sorts of people. I have been asked for money on more than one occasion. I see way too many kids walking around barefoot in a hospital where they require us to cover our food if we take it from the cafeteria to our offices (plenty of stuff floating around the air I am sure). I have seen an entire family get into an elevator, all gnawing on chicken legs, from the littlest 2 year old to Grandma.

A few weeks ago, I was about a quarter mile from work when I saw a man in his hospital gown and slippers walking down the side of the road. I guess he didn't like his service of care....

I see prisoners, both Federal and State. Some in shackles on their feet and hands, orange and white striped uniforms. Some are escorted by one guard, others by many.

But this morning? This takes the cake. I drove onto campus and standing in full view of everyone right next to the visitor parking garage and one of the employee lots was a man with his hands down his pants. Doing his own thing. Not what I wanted to see. By the time I parked and walked into work, he was gone. I am guessing one of our police officers found him (or at least I am hoping).

So what's the weirdest thing you have seen at work? Or at the mall? Or anywhere else for that matter?

Fun Monday Food Time

Fun Monday from the Food Snob...

"I want to see your favorite recipe, be it either because your grandmother wrote it, it's the easiest thing you can slap together that everyone likes, it makes you feel healthy, it's cheap, etc. You don't have to make it (although you could if you want) but let us see the index card, cookbook, printed paper from the web, and why it's a favorite in your house. If you have a lot, just pick one, I know I'll have to!"

As all of you know, I love to cook. And most of my recipes are off the internet where I have them printed and put into a binder. Coming up with my favorite is hard, but I thought I would show you guys this one, a favorite of all the family (yes, including Ray) and it is one of my make ahead meals...you can make it the night before and you can also freeze it for later use.

Enchilada Casserole, from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients:
· 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
· 1 onion, chopped
· 2 cloves garlic, minced
· 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
· 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
· 1 teaspoon ground cumin
· 2 teaspoons chili powder
· salt to taste
· 4 (10 inch) flour tortillas

· 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a deep dish pie plate; set aside. 2. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef and onion until beef is no longer pink; drain fat. Return to the heat and push the meat and onion to the sides of the pan. Add the garlic to the center of the pan and cook briefly. Stir the beef and onion together with the garlic.
3. Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, cumin, chili powder and salt to taste. Mix well and allow to thicken slightly.
4. Spoon a thin layer of the beef mixture onto the bottom of the pie plate. Begin layering the tortilla, beef mixture, then cheese, ending with a final layer of cheese on the top.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and lightly browned.

Friday Pictures - It's Been a Long Week

I never thought Friday would get here. I thought the week would go on forever, kind of like a really bad movie. But it's here, and there was much rejoicing...

It's FINALLY raining in Raleigh. But according to the news this morning? This rain did nothing for our drought.
Ray has worked late the past two nights. This is what Mommy lets them do at bedtime...watch a little tv in my bed...basically because I couldn't get the tv in the playroom to work. Cause it really isn't fun keeping Ashley from jumping on the bed and squashing her sister or watching Audrey catapult herself across my bed coming within inches of falling off the side...
But they love it.
I think Ashley has the misconceived notion that she is going to spend ALL night in my bed.
Daddy just called. Audrey obviously wants to call him back. That and call Papa.

What they are watching...

I had a brilliant idea last night to make Ree's Oatmeal Crispies. I took out the pecans cause of allergies and replaced them with chocolate chips. These cookies? Yummy. Thank goodness Ray didn't like them (the oatmeal for goodness sakes, he can't get past the fact they have oatmeal in them).

The theme of the week.

The recipe made a huge batch, so half of it is in the fridge...

And this came in the mail this week. Ray just about peed his pants he's so excited. Anyone to babysit??

I Normally Don't Complain, Really I Don't

It's just been one of those weeks. And while I am normally an upbeat, happy person, I just feel like complaining a little today. So either laugh at me, console me, or just tell me I am plain whiny, I don't care. It's only Thursday...when I woke up this morning, I could have sworn it was Friday.

I hate it when Ray sacks me when I call his cell phone. How do I know he sacks me? It will ring once or twice and then miraculously go to voice mail. Then I know he has hit that button on his phone to send me to voice mail. Thank goodness I wasn't calling him with an emergency.

What else I hate? When I go to talk to a coworker or boss or someone at work and they continue to type on their computer while I am trying to tell them something. Or they read emails. WTF? Seriously, as much as I am chatty at home and with friends, I am not at work because I don't work with chatty people. Just give me two minutes to ask my question without looking at your computer.

I am finally starting to feel better, but Audrey has a faucet for a nose. At least it's clear snot and probably her allergies. We were told we could wean her off the Zyrtec in May, well, here we are in September and she's still on it.

Okay, I feel better. Thanks for letting me whine.

Another Cool Giveaway...

Check out 5 Minutes for Mom (which you should do daily as they are great...). They are giving away this stroller. Good luck!

Soccer Monster (I love that episode of the Backyardigans...)

Soccer Monster from Amy W on Vimeo.
This is Ashley's first official throw-in. Just ignore my scary, obnoxious voice.

The game was great. Ashley participated, although I don't think she touched the ball except for the throw-in and their version of a corner kick. But she said she had fun and she told the coach she had fun. At this point, that's all that matters. And there was no hand holding in the middle of the field, thank goodness.

This week has been the longest week known to man. Seriously. I am fighting a serious head cold (AGAIN) and our best friends on our street are on vacation. Damn them. We have no one to entertain us. And speaking of our neighbors, last night after soccer, we gave Ashley breakfast for dinner, some frozen pancakes (parents of the year award, I know). She knows that her best friend Hayden has breakfast for dinner sometimes, and she told me she wanted to call Hayden's Mom Edie and tell her she was having breakfast for dinner. I told her they weren't home, they were in Disney World. Her response?

"Mom, they have cell phones, call them on that."

Well, I guess she's right. Next she's going to be asking for her own cell phone.

Information Blogging

I know I have a few teachers that read this site as well as parents with school aged children, so maybe this contest will be of interest to you all. Be the Change! Share the Story! challenges students in grades 1-12 across the United States and Canada to create and document their social and environmental projects on film. Besides helping to make a difference in the global community, winning schools will receive over $200,000 in cash and educational resources.

Directly from the website:
"The Be the Change! Share the Story! school video contest invites student teams to choose and execute a social or environmental project of their choice and document their progress in a couple of short videos that will be uploaded on Quantum Shift TV between September 2007 and March 2008."

"This is a chance for students to make a difference in their communities while learning valuable lessons in social studies, sciences, and the arts. For teachers & educational professionals, the contest offers a project-based tool that fits into their existing curriculum. Inspired by schools already doing this, we decided to create a contest to connect schools in the United States and Canada and create a global community where students can connect with other students and learn more about the social and environmental work being done by people their own age."

If you are interested, definitely check out the website. Looks like a great project for any school aged child.
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I am just full of information today....next week is Take A Child Outside Week. It is an international program to help children connect with the outdoors. Plus, getting them outdoors gets them out of in front of the tv and burning off some energy. I know in Raleigh the NC Museum of Natural Sciences is hosting some activities, so check in your area for activities as well. One idea I saw on the site that I know Ashley would love to do is to take a piece of masking tape, make a bracelet with the sticky side out, and collect things on a hike to put on it such as leaves and sticks.
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Tonight is Ashley's first soccer game...I only hope that she doesn't feel the need to hold her friend Ayden's hand the whole time like she did last week in practice. And yes, Ayden is a boy. We are in trouble for sure.

Fun Monday - Art

This week's Fun Monday is from Sayre...

"Brush off your interview skills. Talk to everyone who lives in your house. I want to know what their, and your, favorite piece of art is in your home. Photographs do not count. If there was a fire in your home, everyone would grab photographs, but what is the non-photographic piece of art you would grab on your way out - and why? (Edit: These don't have to be paintings - these can be wall hangings, statues, lumps of clay by your child, anything that is artistic expression of some kind EXCEPT photographs.)"

Back in June we did a Fun Monday posting of pictures that hang on our wall. And since my weekend was pretty full and I didn't remember about Fun Monday until this morning in the shower, I had to pull this one out of archives. And surprise, surprise, it's Disney related. And since we are going to Disney in just a month, I thought I would add a little art work that would look great in my house...This is from The Laughing Place, a great site for Disney freaks like myself. Oh, and it's only $595, heh, pocket change.

This is a little cheaper at $18.95 on the official Disney website. (Hint family, my birthday is October 19th....). I love Mickey's Fantasia being the band geek I am.


Have a Fun Monday....Let's all hope that this week goes by fast...

Friday Pictures - Hold on, I have a lot to talk about today!

I WON! IWONIWONIWONIWONIWONIWONIWON! Yea for me I finally won something!

Thanks to the ladies at Pinks and Blues...I won their Hanes giveaway contest.

Also, for all my Wordpress friends...I tried all day yesterday to leave comments on your blogs...(you and you and you and you....) but I was denied. I have no idea why. But I was there, I promise! And I tried again this morning, and I still can't. Maybe something is up at work...

Crazy Hip Blog Mamas is giving away a stroller. To enter, you have to nominate someone who needs a stroller. And this woman is really, really pregnant. I think she really needs a stroller, what about you?

Okay, now some pics....

Remember when I told everyone about 6 months ago I was making some curtains and this fabulous blogger (who also happens to be my neighbor and her daughter and Ashley are best friends) was helping me (really she did more than help, who knows what they would have looked like without her help) (nevermind, I know what they would have look liked, some fabric in a shopping bag). Anyways, they are done. Well, almost. I have to glue gun some buttons on, but here they are! Aren't they cool? And I didn't pay the $800 not including installation for them that the custom curtain lady wanted to charge me. I think I paid around $250 for the fabric and supplies...

They really complete the room...

Close up (remember, I am not the best picture taker...these pictures don't do them justice!)

Hayden (Ashley's best friend), Ashley and Catalina, another neighbors daughter who goes to school with Ashley also. Silly face time.

I finally put batteries in Ashley's Fisher Price MP3 player...

So then Audrey wanted to listen to some tunes, and since she doesn't have one of those Fisher Price things, she took my Ipod.

"Mommy, the Backyardigans! I hear Pablo!"

My Mom ordered the girls their Halloween costumes, here is Tinker Belle and Tinker Bee. And if you want to order some Disney costumes, go to Disney Shopping.com and use the code PUMPKIN. You get 10% off select items.

How cute are these wings???

Lately, Audrey has become extremely animated. And she has many different faces she likes to show us. This is her mad face....

And this is her attempt at a sad face...

Ashley had to get in on the action. This is her mad face, but honestly I think she looks constipated.

Okay, I think I have covered enough ground for one post...have a great weekend...

MOOOOOMMMMMMYYYYYY

I am used to being called upstairs to Ashley after we say goodnight. Some nights, she calls me back into her room once, sometimes more. Most of the time its just a request for a specific stuffed animal (which most of the time is downstairs in her backpack from when she took it to school) or a cup of water.

But last night, Ray and I had been sitting downstairs for a few minutes when we hear "Mommy" over a monitor.

"Was that Ashley or Audrey?" Ray asked.
"Holy Hell, I think that was Audrey." I was shocked.

So upstairs I go.

"MOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMYYYYY"

I opened the door not knowing what to expect considering I had put her to bed and she had not made a peep since I had left her room some 15 minutes prior. She was sitting up, with a book in her hand that she did not have when I left her.

"Book."
"Yup, that's a book. Give it to Mommy."

She has a nightstand next to her crib that has some books on it. The only thing I can figure out is that she reached through and grabbed this book (it was a small board book) and then decided she needed to give it back to me. I gave her some more cuddle time, and laid her back down and that was it.

I guess I will be getting my exercise now from TWO kids calling me into their rooms after bedtime...
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Look what Sunshine gave me! Even cooler, I don't have to pass it on to anyone...



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Want a chance to win a wireless keyboard and mouse? Go check out 5 Minutes for Mom's latest contest...

Good Day

I am hoping today continues to be a good day. So far so good....

Every morning, the alarm goes off at ten minutes to six. I normally take a shower, and then wake up Ray and have him take his shower before I leave for work. Why we do it in this order, I have no idea. Some mornings, I beg Ray to take a shower first so that I can have that coveted 15 more minutes of sleep.

This morning? He got up on his own and got in the shower first. Of course, I was so shocked I couldn't really go back to sleep. That and my leg was twitching....

Who else can do this with their thumbs???

Have a Happy Hump Day...

Patriot Day

Right after September 11, 2001, I purchased this book for multiple reasons. I wanted a good pictural description of the day and the days after. I also wanted something to be able to show my kids when they are old enough. Pictures often speak louder than words.

But when are they old enough? School age? Middle school? I know they won't really comprehend the entire thing until much older, but eventually in the coming years Ashley will hear about the memorials and moments of silence and ask questions. And because Ashley will ask questions, so will Audrey.

And I know we just finished a Fun Monday where we all did a good deed, but today, go do another good deed (check out this website). Smile at everyone you greet. Pick up lunch for a friend. Email someone and check up on them. Anything, something.

Happy Patriot Day.

Fun Monday - The Good Deed

This week's challenge is brought to us by Nikki...

"I am not looking for a story of when you have offered your help in the past, I actually want you in the next two weeks to go out and help someone. Go visit a nursing home, cook dinner for someone sick or with a new baby, donate to a charity or even send just a "thinking of you card" to someone who needs it. It doesn't matter what your good deed is, or how great it is. It just needs to help someone!"

I have always donated blood. Needles don't scare me, and I have pretty good veins. I have also worked in the health care industry for the past 7 years and often get opportunities to donate.

Last Thursday at work, the Red Cross was here taking donations, so I donated. Hopefully my donation will help someone somewhere in need. And in case you were wondering, my blood type is B+. Only 9% of the population in the US has my blood type. But still, I know my blood is still needed.

Contest and Food

From the fabulous Pinks and Blues site is this contest...go check it out. And if I don't win (which the likelihood of me winning, next to nothing) I will probably order Ashley some of the shirts. They look adorable and are inexpensive as well.

I also tried another recipe from Simple Recipes a few weeks ago. I made her Mom's Chicken Enchiladas (recipe here). I love mexican and can eat stuff like this every night of the week. Unfortunately, my stomach doesn't always agree. Anyways, the things I did differently? I heated up the tortillas the low fat way on the stove. I think next time I will try the traditional way. Also, a short cut that I will do next time instead of cooking the chicken (which I boiled this time thinking that would be good and it was just a pain in the ass) is buy the already cooked rotisserie chicken when they go on sale at the grocery store after 5:00pm. That way, I just pull the chicken off of that and it saves a lot of time.

Friday Pictures

I am a slacker, I know. But every.night.this.week has been something. Tuesday soccer, Wednesday tutoring and haircut, Thursday band. Even when I got home from band practice at 9:00pm last night, Ray had to go back out and meet clients. It's just been one of those weeks. Ashley has been sad she hasn't gotten to play with her friends more, Audrey begs to go outside as soon as we get home. Oh, and work is sucking too. My every other Friday off has been taken away. I am glad it's Friday.


So of course no new pictures have been downloaded, so here are some more pics from our last weekend at the beach.

Ashley and her best friend Hayden.

Yes, she is wearing a Sunshine Designs shirt here. And yes, it says Birthday Princess. And no, it wasn't her birthday.

Sometimes she likes the sand, sometimes not.

These kids love rides.

We are not sure if Audrey is our child. She doesn't really like ice cream.

I Hate My Middle Name

I really, really hate my middle name. And the fact that I am going to share it with all of you is a huge step. If I had the energy or the motivation, I would change my middle name to my maiden name, which I love. But that would probably just piss off my Mom, so I will keep it.

And if you have this name, I love it on you. Just not on me. I am really not a Louise, whether it's my middle name or not. Yes, I am Amy Louise. Amy Lou for short, but thankfully no one called me that as I didn't tell anyone ever what my middle name was.

I chose really important and cool middle names for my kids so that they don't have to live their lives like I have. Ashley's middle name is Gail, which happens to be my Mom's and my MIL's middle name. And Audrey's middle name is Rose, and yes, I am aware that there was some horror film back in the 70s or something named Audrey Rose. Someone sent us the movie after Audrey was born. But Rose is my Grandmother's name (Rosemarie) and it was really important to me for one of my girls to carry on her name.

Anyways, the whole point of this exercise? I was tagged for a meme from Happy Working Mom.

"You must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post containing your own middle name game facts. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog."

L - Loud. Ray is always telling me I talk loud on the phone. Oh well.
O - Outgoing. I know, a total copout, but I can't think of anything else. And I am kind of outgoing.
U - Understanding. I would hope that is a trait that my friends use for me.
I - Why do I have such a difficult middle name? How's this...I really don't like ice in my drinks.
S - Totally stealing here, but I love scrapbooking too. It's a total addiction.
E - I love to eat. Seriously. Who doesn't?

I tag these wonderful people who hopefully have easier names than mine.....
Pam at Random Thoughts
Beccy at Peppermint Tea
Wolfbaby at Dreaming and Believing
Pam at the Dust Will Wait
Terri at My4kids
ChrisB at Ms Cellania

Uniforms

This is just one of her choices for her uniforms for Pre-K. The other includes polo shirts with her choice of whatever bottoms, just khaki or navy blue. What do I personally think about uniforms? I guess I am more indifferent. The school gave a couple of reasons why it has the Pre-K students wear uniforms. I agree with one - it does make it easier in the morning. In fact, I just bought one of those organizers that has the days of the week on it with slots for clothes and shoes. No more fighting about wearing the same skirt or the same dress over and over again. Or wanting to wear stuff that doesn't match. It's like nails on a chalkboard for me, and I know it shouldn't be.

The school says it also encourages self-expression by having the students express themselves creatively through art, music, and academic achievement rather than through clothes. My point? They are only four, although I can see where they are coming from. I do think some of the outfits Ashley would pick out for herself are pretty creative though. It also states it boosts school spirit and builds unity. It was neat seeing all the kids in her class in the same clothes and Ashley has been pretty excited about this whole uniform wearing thing.

I didn't cry yesterday with her going to Pre-K, but on the way to work this morning it hit me. She actually has less than a year before she goes to kindergarten if she goes to the school she is slated to go to. Since it's year round, she could start school (depending on what track she gets) in July. Now that is scary.
Her sister needed in on the action.