Its Round Up Time!

This is our second Round Up and I wished I would have planned things better this year. I would have loved to actually go to the PBR and some of the rodeo events, even Happy Canyon, but once again that thing called money seems to be non existant in my household this summer. At least extra money for fun stuff like this. So last night I got to enjoy seeing the lights, explosions, and cheers of the PBR from my front lawn. One of the benefits of living at the top of the south hill, I do have a great view of town.
Last night was another joyous motherly experiance when my toddler puked all over my bed at about 2am. Didn't really get much sleep after that for fear he was going to puke again. I do have to admit that this morning was nice and quiet as Madi was at Kindergarten and Bubba slept from 9am to noon. A little bummed I missed the Round Up Field Trip with Madi's class but she didn't seem to mind of course. And then my quiet morning turned back to normal when she got home and was hungry for lunch and Bubba woke up and puked on the hallway carpet. Nice. Back to reality! Hopefully he feels better soon so we can enjoy the downtown festivites for the week.
Oh and here is a picture from Madi's first day of kinder.

Summer Fun

We spent a week at Wallowa Lake. It was great weather, there was lots to do, and we loved it. The kids were tuckered out every day and that was with naps too! Mitchell and I even had a date night! That's an impressive feat all together. But throw in hiking, fishing, playing lakeside, and a tram ride, and we had one fun filled week.
Then I spent 2 weeks in Portland alone with the kids. Mitchell had work training and traveling. Better me be staying at my dad's house with a car to use then stuck in Pendleton. This was another highlight of the summer. Everyday we had plans and play dates. I saw all my friends and family. Met some new babies that have been born since we moved away and just honestly enjoyed being with my kids. It was actually a very blissful time. Madi even got to attend a church camp. It was fun to almost pretend we had a different life for two weeks. Nice, huge house in Forest heights and an Acura for the week. No minimum wage job to report too at 5am. But then Mitchell came out to Portland at the end of about 2 and half weeks to pick us up and bring us back to reality. It was a struggle I will admit to adjusting from being single to married again. Those first few days were not very fun. But no one every said being married was easy. I think in the end though being away from each other did us good and made us realize that we do really love eachother and we truly missed one another.

We have entered School Age

I still don't feel old enough to have a child in kindergarten. Madilynn finished her second day today and so far its a success. Maybe it will hit me the hardest when Bubba starts school. He still has 3 more years to go. Suddenly that seems so far off. It will probably be nice once they are both in school all day! Think of the savings on daycare I will have at that point.
The First Day:
Scared to let her ride the bus alone, for fear that she would not find her classroom, we both drove her down to school. We probably looked like typical cheesy family, all four of us walking to the classroom on the first day. Yes, I took tons of pictures that morning. Not just of Madi standing with her backpack but also of her getting ready, eating breakfast, etc. But no I did not take the camera to the school, I am not that bad. Madi's been in preschool and there were a couple years of her being in full time daycare but something about big kid school just makes me tear up a little. Even though its only AM kindergarten which is 8:15-10:55. I think her preschool was actually longer than this. But oh well thats what we get with the under financed school systems. At least her teacher is lovely and I am very excited for this year.
Madi rode the bus home that first day and she loved that more than actually being in class. Go figure.
Day #2
Mitchell walked both kids to the bus stop and Madi was eagerly awaiting the chance to ride to school with the big kids in the morning. Bubba tripped hard being his goofy self and went hands first into prickly bushes. Mitchell spent the next 10 minutes trying to pick out the owees while Bubba sobbed on his lap. At least Daddy, the hero, was there. When they came back to the house sans Madi, Bubba even let him pick at his hands with tweezers. Why does he let Daddy do this and not Mommy? If I were to pull the tweezers out in front of him he would yell "No I hate it!" and run to hide. Yes you can thank big sister for that vocabulary. After the short couple of hours of quiet in the house and serving my toddler three different breakfasts we drove to the school to get Madi. I wanted to talk to her teacher. What do I get in response to her not taking the bus home? Glares and a pouty face. While other kids run yelling "Mommy!!!" I get "I don't want you to pick me up, I want to take the bus!". Okay then. We proceed to a local park so the kids can get their energy out. But of course all my kids ever want to do is swing. Seriously, go PLAY. Run, jump, climb, get the wiggles out so you are too tired to fight once we get home. Madilynn proceeds to fall HARD off the swing and get barkdust down her shirt and pants, in her hair, and scrapes her elbows. She sobbs for ten minutes and doesn't seem to want to stop so we leave. Now I have both crying, Bubba because he wants to play and Madi because her head hurts. At least after lunch its naptime! And the daily school routine proceeds tomorrow.