Last Day of School

Today is the kids' last day of school (and also my 10th anniversary). If I was less confident in my abilities as a parent, then I would look at this day as a lot of my acquaintances view it - I would be all weepy and emotional. But...I'm just not. Well, I guess I'm kind of emotional...

DUDE! It's the last day of school!!! Hooray! Summer can officially begin!

My kiddos have surpassed yet another milestone with flying colors. And I just can't be weepy about that. It's like the first day of school for me - how on Earth could I ever cry about them growing up? I knew that when they were babies, they weren't going to stay small forever. And I am filled with pride at the fact that each of my kids is a happy, independent little creature.

This school year has been wonderful. Each kidlet has had the teacher that was absolutely perfect for him or her. Janna thrived in pre-school. Elliott was in Kindergarten heaven. And Gabriel changed so much in first grade.

The teachers the kids had were also a perfect fit for me, too. None of them wanted "parental interference" (as Gabe's teacher called it). They didn't want the Moms and Dads coming in every day to help out. And I loved that! My kids don't do well with me hanging around their classes - they act differently, they don't participate, and they hang on me. Which is annoying...and not at all their typical behavior. When I went in to help, the kids were basket cases. I prefer letting them enjoy their school stuff without me. Those moments are not for me - they're for them. And they enjoyed every single one of them. And I enjoyed having them write stories or draw pictures about them. Listening to their glee and watching them grow are the moments meant for me.

At 3:01 this afternoon, I will officially be the overly proud Momma to a UPK-er, a First Grader, and a Second Grader. How freakin' cool is that?

My big, handsome boy! He insisted on wearing the outfit he wore the first day of school. he said, "I look just like I did when I started First Grade. Only my mouth looks different (he pulled out a tooth this morning)." Sorry to tell you, Gabe, but you have gotten a LOT bigger in the last 9 months!

My sweet Elliott Jane (with one of her favorite things in the world - her American Girl Doll) all dressed up for her last day of Kindergarten. She is so excited for First Grade! She insists that she's having the same teacher Gabe has, and she can't wait to go to the Primary School. She's the light of my life!

"Look at my hands, Momma!! I'm making Metallica hands!" Janna's pre-school ended in May, so she's been hanging out with me. n the fall she'll start AM UPK - and she's so excited! She already packed her backpack!

Trotting

For the past 2 months, we've been almost constantly on-the-go. Between school, sporting events, Jon's travel schedule, vet trips, and all other kinds of random excitement, things have been hectic.

Which kind of makes me nuts.

I like down-time. A LOT. I like to sit on my butt with a book and a mug of tea. I like peace and quiet. And when I don't have any, I get...well...bitchy.

So I've taken up jogging. Which, if you know me, really doesn't sound like something I would do. But...I did. And I'm proud of myself!! The jogging may be very slow, jiggly, and really ugly...but it's jogging!

I started about 2 months ago. I would jog half-assed for a little while (and I do mean little), then I would walk for a long while. It was probably a 30 second/5 minute+ interval. Which is a great way to start. If you stick to it, and increase the jogging time. I didn't. I just hung out there.

Then my husband decided he would get back into running (which I LOVE!!). So I decided that I needed to stop being a pansy. In two weeks, I've gone from a 30 sec. jogging/5 min. walking interval to a 6-8 min. jogging/2 min. walking interval. 6-8 minutes? Is over a half-mile at my pace. Which is AWESOME!! Especially for someone who didn't "run" for" the first 33 years of her life!!

Before and After!!

Janna's tooth is finally...uh, normal-ish?! I took her for her final "fixer-upper" appointment last week!

BEFORE:

The snaggle is in full effect!! Her root canal was a success, and she never had any residual pain.

AFTER:

Dr. T. bonded the tooth! It's a slightly different shade of white, and it's a little shorter than the other teeth around it. But it's smooth, pain-free, and she can bite hard foods again!!

I hate ferrets...

I hate ferrets in the springtime.
I hate ferrets in the fall.
I hate ferrets in the winter when it drizzles.
I hate ferrets in the summer when it sizzles.

I hate ferrets...oh why, oh why do I hate ferrets?!

Because they sneak into my house and crap all over the place!!!

We went to Florida for Spring Break. And when I came home after 11 days, I was greeted by a pissed off cat - who had ripped out a bunch of her fur and puked all over...and a fucking ferret. Yeah. You read that correctly - a FUCKING FERRET.

The neighbor bought his kid (who doesn't live there during the week) a ferret. Because apparently nothing says "love" like a smelly weasel. And said kid let said weasel out of his cage on Saturday (April 23)...and we found it on Tuesday (April 26).

Or rather, Gabriel found it. And freaked right the hell out! Jon was unloading the car, I was cleaning up Kuzco's puke, and Gabriel was putting some of his Florida loot away in his room when he starts panicking.

My kid, who is all legs and arms, comes flying down the stairs - as white as a ghost. "Oh my G-d, Mom! There is an animal in my room that isn't ours. It's just not ours. It looks like a huge possum!" And of course I didn't believe him - until he started to freak out some more. Just then Jon came in the house, and the giant possum walked down the steps. And scared the crap out of Jon.

We eventually caught the smelly little effer, and his owner came to get him. We were left with a giant mess. Poo all over the house, little niches full of stolen toys and garbage, more poo, birdseed/catfood all over the place...oh, and more poo. We were up til after 11 on Tuesday night cleaning up ferret crap. We thought we had gotten all of it. Nope. We were up til after 11 again last night cleaning up more ferret crap. And this afternoon? I found more ferret crap. IN MY COUCH.

I don't condone violence against animals. Ever. I don't really even like hunting. But if I EVER see that mother effer again...Momma's gonna whoop some ferret ass.

Chompers!

In the past 3 days, we've been to the dentist's office 3 times. Which means that we've been there every day this week. Yay.

Monday's trip was to check out Janna's snaggle tooth. It wasn't good. So we went back on Tuesday for a baby root canal. She was a tropper! No complaints before, during, or after the procedure! She still has her snaggle tooth, but that will be fixed when we get back from Florida. But snaggle tooth aside, she's still stinking cute!


Gabe and Elliott went to the dentist this morning for routine cleanings. In addition to a new toothbrush, Gabriel left the appointment with a little jar of teeth. He had to have 3 teeth pulled (because the adult teeth were growing up behind the baby teeth). He thinks he looks so cool!

And I happen to agree!