Aak! I'm famous! And now Google-able!

I submitted something here; go check it out!

In other news, my class starts today. I'm officially a student again. The last time I was a student, I did my papers on a typewriter. Oh, and also, I didn't have kids or a full-time job.

But at least I'm famous now. Book and movie offers can't be far behind.

Remember to memorize pages 39 to 110 for tomorrow's lesson.

Today was the first day of school! The satisfying feel of a new crayon in your hand, the rustle of new uniforms, the scent of the teachers' raw panic: the start of a new school year brings back so many memories. Like the memories of taking Number One to her first day of kindergarten four years ago and having to pull over to the side of the road afterwards to sob uncontrollably.

Luckily, taking Special to her own first day of school was not quite so traumatic. She was thrilled to be starting kindergarten, and her first words to me at the end of the day were, "I loved it!"

Number One had a great day herself on her first day of fourth grade. She allowed me to take one picture in her classroom, and then she was ready for me to go:

We met at Ben & Jerry's at the end of the day for our traditional First Day of School Ben & Jerry's Extravaganza:

I would buy her Lemonade Sorbet every day of her life just to see that smile!

More pictures from today are here.

Go Wildcats!

We had a BIG weekend--Number One turned nine yesterday, and we've been celebrating since Friday! We started off by watching the premiere of High School Musical 2 (not as good as the original but still had some very catchy tunes) on Friday night. Saturday morning we had Cinnabon for breakfast, and spent the day getting ready for the big birthday party that night. Number One and her friends had so much fun watching HSM 2 (again--they'd all watched it Friday night also), doing crafts, eating chicken nuggets and carrots and watching Number One open her presents. I was pretty proud of how her cake turned out--notice how I photographed it so you can't tell it's the Leaning Tower of Cake:

On Sunday, we ate out with GrandMom, GrandBob and Aunt M after church at Olive Garden; I took the girls swimming in the afternoon. On Monday morning, Number One woke up to find that her room had had an Extreme Room Makeover:

She absolutely loved it, and it looks wonderful--so girly but more sophisticated than what she had before. We've ordered a Nancy Drew movie poster to go above her bed, and she's really excited about that, too. (If you want to see more birthday pictures, email me and I'll send you a link to my web album--I don't want to post the other kids' pictures here without permission.)

School starts Thursday--sniff, sniff--I can't believe I have a 4th grader and a kindergartener! Special would have started school a month ago if she could have; she's definitely ready. Let's pray that I don't completely embarrass myself on Thursday--I'll save my sobbing for the office, where I can shut my door.

Toodles!

I got a meeting with the Bobs in a couple of minutes

So here’s how my past month has been: work work meeting meeting meeting work meeting meeting work work work meeting home swim cook eat clean storytime work. I've had six meetings so far this week--and it's only Tuesday.

My company is implementing a new software system that will affect everything we do, and I’m the division lead on that project which requires many meetings and a lot of extra work. We’re acquiring a new company, and if all goes as planned by year-end we’ll have moved to their office building and I’ll most likely have a new boss, a new job title, new responsibilities, and a longer commute. Batman starts school Thursday, the girls start school in nine days, and I start school in two weeks. Batman and I are looking for a new church home. Number One has a digestive condition that requires daily monitoring and weekly calls to the doctor. We’ve been planning her birthday party, which is next weekend. And Special is apparently training for a career in men’s clubs, judging by her latest dance moves.

BUT. I like my job a lot, in spite of all the meetings. Our new offices are in a great area with lots of shopping and lunch places nearby and I can still take the freeway all the way there. The girls are very excited about starting school, as am I (Batman is . . . not excited about in-service but will be happy to see his students again). We have narrowed our church choices down to two and think we can be happy either place. Number One’s doctor is excellent and is very proactive in treating her condition. And Special does provide for a lot of laughs, even if many of them are behind her back.

So, I’ll keep churning out my TPS reports and blogging when I can. Always look on the bright side of life . . .

And I’ll use my Crock Pot a lot, like for this recipe I’ve posted here.

And I’ll keep in mind that it could be worse. I mean, at least my name isn’t Michael Bolton.

Wuv, true wuv

The other night at dinner, Special was pestering us to let her have a root beer float for dessert. Batman told her tht if she didn’t finish her dinner she’d never be allowed to have a root beer float again—he’d tell her husband that she couldn't have them because of how she acted when she was five.

As we laughed, Special informed him that she’s never getting married. She said she doesn’t like to kiss in public, she doesn’t want to have a baby because it hurts, and she doesn’t want to cook. Number One piped up and said, “The reason you don’t want to get married is so you don’t have to buy things for your husband!”

Hee! Just think of the number of shoes I’ve sacrificed on the altar of marital bliss! But then I compare this:

to this:
And I have to admit that the sacrifice was worth it. Happy 16th anniversary, Batman!!

PS You owe me a pair of Manolos.