Wyatt had to take pictures into school today for his turn at their "Discover Me" board. I was looking through old ones and came across this one from vacation last summer. WOW--I can't believe how tan they were! It makes me REALLY long for summer!!!

Wyatt was so dissapointed. They called me last night to sub in his class for the first time(I did a half day in there , but never a full day). I just couldn't do it, though. I'm subbing every other day this week and I really need today to get some things done. His b-day party is Friday night and I have to get some things done for that! I still hated saying no--but I did not sign up for a full time job!!Well, better go get busy!!

Lily with her artwork displayed at the movie theater.
Lily with her new favorite toy.

Lily has been wanting a "Skip-it" for a while. She decided to spend her money today on one. I guess it's the new thing at recess. "All the girls have one." I can tell she's done it a lot--she's pretty good.
Well, we finally did it. We bought a washer/dryer today. We couldn't even do laundry this weekend and unfortunately, no place stocks this model so it will be a week from tomorrow before we get it delivered. It's rediculous what they cost--you could buy a cheap car for what they cost! Oh well, can't go naked I guess! I tried to add a link to the one we got--but it was so long, it was throwing my page off. It's the Maytag Neptune 9700 washer and the dryer that goes with it. They had a good deal at Home Depot where one of the pedestals was free.
It'll be so cool to get a load of laundry done in less than an hour---which is what it's been taking us with these old ones!! I have to say, we got 15 years out of the ones we have now. We definitely got our money's worth!!!

Bad, Bad Tooth Fairy!!!!

OMG-We have the WORST tooth fairy around here! She is just SO inconsistent! Lily put her newly lost tooth under her pillow last night and the tooth fairy forgot to come!! I'm pretty sure she had the money laid out and ready too and it just slipped her mind!! Lily was in tears this morning--I was so mad at that tooth fairy!! Wyatt told her the tooth fairy doesn't work on Saturdays--she didn't buy it! It's not the first time she has forgotten, either! (Or should I say, that we THOUGHT she had forgotten!?!) All was fine, though---when we went to double check her bed, we found that the money had slipped between the headboard and the wall--WHEW! I explained to her that she leaves the teeth sometimes because she knows that the mommies like to keep them! I hope your tooth fairy is better than ours ;-)
She is dying to go shopping today to spend her whopping $2.00. Actually she has $20 also that my mom sent her for Valentine's day. It's burning a hole in her pocket. My kids are just like me, they can't save!! Jeff is the saver in the family--luckily, I guess since he makes the real money!
Well, need to go get on the treadmill and then go do some shopping!

My friend Amanda mentioned that she wanted to list some things on e-bay but wasn't sure how. I told her I do it all the time, so she offered to take some pics of the kids if I would help her with e-bay. (She's a photographer) She just snapped these real quick while Lily was over playing today so I could get an idea of what she does. I have seen her portfolio, too and it's really good. I really love the first one. You can see Lily's lost tooth in the second pic.
I guess we are gonna go tonight and get Wyatt's birthday shopping done. He has been wanting an I-pod since Christmas and we told him if he still really wanted it by his birthday--we would get it for him. Don't ya hate those promises you don't really intend to keep--but the kids will NOT forget!!! Anyway, I guess he's gonna get his way! There is just nothing else he wants. It's so hard for boys at this age, I think!!

Wyatt is so excited--he finally learned how to blow a bubble! Now all he wants to do is chew gum!

It's been a nice, relaxing weekend so far. Last night we just went out to eat and today Jeff is working on the basement.

Lily's friend Lauren called and asked her to come over to play which I was glad about, because she was so bored. She lost a tooth today. It was the weirdest thing--it's been loose for a while and she was just sitting at the table drawing and it fell out in her lap!! She was like, "Oh, my tooth!"

Wyatt has a party to go to tonight. I really need to be getting some things done around here--so much clean laundry to fold!! It looks like we're going to have to buy a new washer and dryer before we wanted to. We were hoping to get the basement finished first, because they are at the top of the stairs and could get banged up when we carry things down. But, the washer is REALLY on it's last leg, so we may have to go ahead. I can't even stand to use them anymore--which may not be a bad thing--Jeff has done ALL of the laundry for a while now. What a bad wife I am!! Not really, I do end up folding it still! And putting it away is the worst part, I think! Well, enough talking about it, I guess I'd better go get some of it done!!!

I haven't taken any pictures lately----too busy!!! So this is one of Lily from a while back. She had all of her Build-a-Bears together and was trying to look like she was one of them.

I subbed today in Kindergarten--it's the only Kindie class I hadn't been in yet and I have to say I hadn't heard the best things about them!! I was really kind of nervous about it--but it turned out to be one of the best days I've had!! I made an agreement with the little boy I had heard could be difficult (to say the least) first thing and he was so eager to please me all day. It's the best feeling to get good, positive behavior out of a child that has a hard time with it. The best part is how great they feel about themselves! I really love teaching for that reason! I'm in the same class again tomorrow--so hopefully it will go just as well! I've been working 3-4 days a week lately and I feel like everything is falling apart at my house--can't get anything done! I still find time to update my blog and sell on e-bay, though. Hmmm, could it be a time management issue? Naaahh.

Well, Jeff and Wyatt will be home from basketball soon, need to go finish up supper!!

We had a great day off today. Tracee and I took the kids to McDonald's and to see Curious George. The movie was OK. I think the girls liked it, but it might have been a little on the young side for the boys. After that, Lily and I went and did some long overdue grocery shopping--I had no time at all last week. Then we had ballet and basketball tonight. Poor Wyatt, he put several shots up and just couldn't get any of them in--he was pretty upset afterwards.
It was just nice not having to rush somewhere this morning. Oh, they had Lily's Curious George artwork on display at the movie theater. They had a bunch of them from Monart Drawing School. They had them matted with their name and age on them. It looked very official and she was excited. I need to take her back and get her picture in front of it.
I'm not subbing tomorrow--I'm getting my hair done finally after 2 cancellations! It's been 11 weeks I think--it needs it bad!! They called me to sub 1 day next week and 3 the week after that--so that's not too bad. I need a break after last week!

Lily with Shannon and Rachel.
Lily with Cinderella.
Lily with the evil step-sisters. Aren't they pretty?
Me and Lily.

Today we went to a local theater production of Cinderella. We have been to several at this place before and they are always great! They provide a snack and drink and it's only an hour long--perfect! We went with 2 other mothers and daughters and went out to lunch first. It was fun.
Speaking of eating--Jeff and I went out last night for Valentine's Day to a nice steak house in downtown Indy. It was really good and we didn't even go that much over the $100 gift certificate that he had. Maybe $30 with tip and valet parking. Not too bad. It's been a busy weekend so far after a very busy week. I had a very challenging 2nd grade class on Friday and they wore me out!! It didn't help that I've got some kind of head cold thing. Anyway, I was glad the week was over--working 4 days might just be a little too much for me!! Especially when it involves 25 kids all day!!!

BROWNIE FIELD TRIP

Lily had a field trip for Brownies yesterday. They went to a local veterinarian. It was really good and educational. They showed them all about how they examine an animal by demonstrating on a cat and showed them the underwater treadmill that a dog was working on-that was pretty cool. They got to pet a snake and a bearded dragon--they thought that was pretty awesome, too. They also showed them vials that had heartworms, fleas, ticks and other various parasites. You would think a bunch of 6/7 year old girls would be grossed out and going --EEEWWW. But they were actually very interested. Lily was telling us all about what she learned at dinner-I was surprised by how much she retained. Anyway-they all want to be vets when they grow up now. And they all went home wanting to adopt a dog!! NO WAY!!!

Pin the lips on Miss Valentine game.
A game where they danced around and if their number was called when the music stopped, they were out. Lily was the last one left--she was so excited!
Wyatt opening his Valentine from Mom and Dad.
Counting candy hearts with Anna at the school party
Lily's most recent project from her art class. Curious George.

OK, I haven't posted in a while because it has been a CRAZY week! I have subbed every day except Tuesday and that day I was STILL at school all day--helping in Lily's class and later with her Valentine party. I was in charge of hers this time. I popped into Wyatt's, but they weren't doing much at the time, so I didn't get any pics. We didn't do too much for Valentine's day. Jeff and I are going to a really nice restaurant tomorrow night. It's one that we probably wouldn't normally be able to afford, but Jeff got a $100 gift certificate for it from his group at work. We figure it will still cost us about $50. I'm looking forward to pigging out!

Father/Daughter Dance

A close up of Lily's hair--I tried to do a French twist.
Lily and Dad at the dance.
Lily and her friend Anna.
Lily and Rachel.
Ready to go.

Lily had her Father/Daughter Dance last night for Girl Scouts. She was really excited to go. The theme was Hollywood and they were supposed to dress like their favorite Hollywood star--which is hard. Lily just tried to look glamorous. My mom found her a black dress with "a point". (It had an assymetrical hem) Very Paris Hilton--HAHA!(So she also took her "dog in a purse") It was so funny when she opened the dress. She said, "I've always wanted a dress with a point!"
Anyway, she had woken up yesterday with a headache. I gave her Motrin all day and she seemed fine. She said she still wanted to go. About halfway through the dance, Jeff said she started feeling bad again, but she wanted to stay. Heaven forbid she miss anything! She had fun anyway. We're making her take it easy on the couch today, though. I just hope it doesn't turn into anything else!

I can't believe I forgot to mention the most exciting (and scary) part of my day. A little boy in one of my classes had a really bad asthma attack during gym. It scared me to death-I've never dealt with that before. I rushed him to the nurse and lo and behold--she wasn't there today!! Luckily, the ladies in the office knew where to find his inhaler. He could barely even talk to tell us his name. He was fine, luckily.

What a day--I'm tired! I subbed in gym today. I was kind of nervous about it--unfamiliar territory. It was actually really fun and easy. 4th grade jumped rope and did some different contests with that. 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade all played a relay game. It was kind of cool getting to see so many classes in a day. I had 7 different classes. I was amazed at how many kids I knew in each of them. I have subbed for most of them at one time or another. It's kind of nice to sub in a setting where the kids can be loud. Although my throat is kind of sore from talking loudly all day. I got the hang of using my whistle more by the end of the day--that's the trick. Lily told me I should bring it this morning. I swear, she is definitely my organized one. She is always reminding me about things and keeping me straight.
I was proud of myself, I got up at 6 to get on the treadmill. I haven't missed a day in a month now. It's just become such a habit. Hopefully I'll keep it up. The only problem is there's nothing good on TV at 6 am. I usually watch Food Network while I'm on, but it's not on yet at 6.
Well, I've rambled on enough. Need to go get some things done before basketball practice. Run, run, run.........

Why do we even spend our money on toys?? Jeff bought a new shop vac today and the kids(especially Lily) have played with the box ALL day!! What is it about a cardboard box? I don't think anything has ever kept her attention for longer!! She looks like a rag-a-muffin in this picture!! She has a terrible habit of chewing on her hair and it just makes it hang in these long, wet strands--YUCK!! Oh, she is under the box in the picture with Wyatt!
These are some pics of the basement progress. Jeff got all 4 walls for the closet up today. It looks a lot larger than we thought it would--but that's OK--we need the storage!! It's actually going faster than I thought it would--he's gotten this far in only 2 weekends--not too bad.

We had a cold, snowy day yesterday. This is how Wyatt spent his day. He helped Jeff in the basement in the morning and then his friends came knocking. These are his friends Trevor and Michael. We've been limiting the video games a lot. Basically, he gets to play them on the weekends and that's it.

Jeff got all 4 walls finished for the closet yesterday. He still needs to get 3 of them up. Our neighbor has to do a small plumbing job first that will be behind one of the walls. Something to do with an outside spigot. Hopefully, he will be able to get them up today.

Well, I need to go finish getting ready for church!

OK, it's been a couple of scary days for me. I had a mammogram last week and I got a call on Wednesday that they wanted to see me back for some additional pictures. I had the appointment this morning. Jeff went with me because I was really worried. It turns out that I have calcium deposits in my right breast. It's nothing to be concerned about, but something they will definitely watch. If it would have turned out to be something, they would have most likely caught it in time to do something about it. I urge everyone who is 40 plus to go get their mammogram. It's not a big deal at all. I actually had my first baseline one at age 35. They recommend getting the baseline one between ages 35 and 40. They use it as a comparison for later ones.
Anyway, I feel relieved. I actually had a really nice day. After the appointment, Jeff took me to may favorite restaraunt, PF Changs---YUM! It was so good. I feel like I deserve it since I've been so good and have lost 12 lbs! Then we went to Costco, which is always an adventure. We bought huge sizes of a lot of things--I need a bigger pantry!! I think we are actually going to make a place going down the stairs to the basement for extras like that.
The weekend should be pretty low key. Jeff is going to work on the basement. I'm going to try to organize a few things that I always put off! I feel like my closets and cabinets will never all be organized at the same time! Am I the only one that feels that way?