I got home from the park/picking up the kids at school. I had been gone about an hour and a half. We let Willie out of his crate and I go to take him outside. Outside is this horrible high pitched noise. OMG! I looked around and realized it was coming from our backyard. Narrow it to where the power meter and AC unit are. Realize it isn't the AC unit so it must be the power meter thing. Call Ray. He called Dominion and they say "Well, I don't think those things tone". Well, ours is. So Ray comes home and hears it, too. The high pitched tone is deafening. It's awful. Power guys got here in two huge power trucks. Guys are wearing heavy duty gloves to protect them from electricity because "these units don't tone" and they aren't sure what the sound might be (hence the huge electric trucks and gloves). They are stumped. They think it might be coming from The cable splitter thing below the meter unit. Ray touches it and it's, um, working fine. Then power guy says "i think it is actually coming from that bucket." Look into the bucket below the meter. In it is Trevor's toy metal detector, sitting in a bit of water. It had gotten wet and suddenly decided to go haywire while I was gone (not that it had rained or anything). We called the power company, they brought huge trucks, two men with heavy duty gloves because our son's toy metal detector got wet and decided to tone repeatedly. lol.

We met friends for dinner tonight and went back to their house to join them at their movie night. We watched Water Horse. The son, who is about 10, came up to me and whispered in my ear "Man, you are really gifted to have Trevor. He is AWESOME!" It was so cute.

Poor poor Ariel. Honestly, it has been a rough week for me and Ari and Ray. Various reasons, almost all of which I'll blog. Part of it is end of semester for psych busyness. Then there's the "getting into the routine of school'. The kids are still loving school, though Trevor questions all the rules to me afterwards. But getting into the routine just kind of makes our mornings rushed. Then there is the ever present puppy. The dog wears me out to the point that I am just totally drained by the end of the day. Completely. I have been stressed, sad a little, depressed about nothing in particular and on the go go go getting things away from the dog. Then he growled at the kids because he took their toy and they tried to get it back (by reaching and just pulling it away from him). Not a play growl, a "this is mine" growl. I've heard him do it a couple times to them when they go to get their things back and I rolled him. But I occasionally need to leave the room to pee, or do laundry or empty the dishwasher, etc. I can't be standing over kids and dog all day long to assert my authority. The kids instantly yield when he growls because they don't want to get bitten. So I think that kind of reinforces his behaviour. So, after reading a bit this morning about dogs and kids, I realized that I can't EVER leave him unattended with the kids. So today we're getting a step to open baby gate for the kitchen, one for the downstairs and a big puppy corral, much like what he was housed in when we went to adopt him. That way I can feed him and keep him in the kitchen while we eat. I can crate him when I am upstairs showering like I do now, or I can put him in the corral while I need to be doing laundry or want to read the kids books. And he won't be interacting with the kids and have the opportunity to growl and be possessive over THEIR things when I am not in the room. It will be a huge load off my work, too.

But that is not about Ariel. Consequently, because of all these things put together, I have been not the best mom lately. I've been tired and snappy. I've lectured and been horrible at redirecting or just letting things go. Today Ariel and I played Balloon Lagoon, we went to the park, we read books. I thought we had a good day. Then this afternoon we got back from the grocery store where Ari had been so good, walking beside the cart, picking things out, etc. She wanted to go in the pool out back. Sure, I say, I'll join in as soon as I finish unloading the groceries. I finish up and it has only taken like 5 minutes. Well, wet Ariel wants in and is done outside. I am sick of being inside and wnat to go outside. I told her that she just got in the pool and now she was all wet, couldn't we go outside? NO! Ariel has been kind of rude and beligerent lately. She's been demanding and testing me, anyway. So I got a little short with her and was like "Fine, go change your shorts, you got all wet out there and then just want in right away." So she goes upstairs and I hear the door close. I go up and open the door because she NEVER closes the door. She takes one look at me with her huge blue eyes and just bursts into tears. Poor Ariel. I felt horrible. She is never sensitive like this, I know she must be missing her sibs. She just cried and cried and cried while I held her. She has been kind of meandering lately, asking me what to do. She's suddenly realized her daddy is gone all day and has been asking for him. I think she just misses everyone. I felt awful for her. So I helped her change while she cried and we lay down on the bed and she fell asleep. Poor baby girl. :(

So I gotta say, this week has been one hell of a week. I'm glad the kids love school, but it sure is throwing the rest of us for a loop.

OMGOMGOMG.. WHAT A RELIEF!!!! They had a wonderful first day. I walked down to pick them up and Rachael, who is let out first, comes running up to me and throws her arms around me. Then she says "Mommy, I.LOVE.my teacher! She is so nice. I can't wait to go back to school tomorrow!" So apparently she had a fantastic day. She met a couple people and talked to them (a biggie for my shy Rachael) and loved her teachers. Though I was really nervous about it, I am also not surprised she liked it. Everything is so wonderfully structured that she is never left wondering what to do. That suits Rachael well. Then we wait. and wait. and wait. No Trevor. Hm. I ask the teacher in the front if they released the Kiss and Ride kids already for 2nd grade (K&R is car drop off, what we do, but I like walking up right now) and yes, they had. I figure I missed him since I was talking with Rachael. Head up to the car area. No Trevor. Go down right as they are releasing the bus kids. Hope to god they haven't slated him as a bus kid, since technically we are eligible for the bus since there is a stop right by our house. Go back up front and like all the kids have been released. Then here comes my spacey Trevor. Apparently, he has gotten all wrapped in in looking at books in the classroom and totally forgot to leave. His teacher didn't kick him out, either. lol.

But they had a blast. Trevor and Rachael didn't really get to see each other in school and they were disappointed about that. They passed in the hall, but eat lunch and have recess at different times. They came home and we looked over their Tuesday paperwork and they played for a while. Then we made mini pizzas and ate red velvet cake for dinner as a special treat. Then we took the dog for a walk and played down by the creek and they are currently asleep, I am thinking. So yay for good days. Hopefully more days will be good!

It is so quiet here right now. And the dog is FINALLY FINALLY settling with *gasp* one of his own toys to chew on. Maybe I won't be getting up every five seconds to redirect. redirect. redirect. He has a rope bone, some dragon that squeaks and has crinkly wings and is nice and soft like one of the kids stuffed toys he loves to steal, a snake that is harder to chew and some soft fleece squeaky that has lost most of its stuffing that is his favourite toy. Oh, and a bird feather the kids found that he loves to chew on. But no.. he wants a book, a shoe, a boot, the chain on Ray's mountain bike, the BMX trick bar thing sticking out of Trevor's bike, the sofa, the kitchen chair, the trash in the bathroom, a game box from under the coffee table, the kitchen trash, the dog food in the back at the back of the pantry, the wires under the desk, a stick horse. Those are all things I have redirected him from in the past 30 minutes. Sometimes I think I might go insane. To his credit, he walks well on leash, he sits for people to pet him, he can successfully pass by dogs and people on the trail without too much trouble, and he doesn't have too many accidents in the house. It's mainly the "watch him like a hawk every waking moment he is not in his crate" that gets to me after a while.

The kids were fine at drop off. It was a madhouse. They were super excited until it was time to say goodbye and it was so hectic. I kissed them goodbye, no one cried and they went off to class. I managed to do all my crying and weeping and second guessing myself last night so I managed not to weep in front of them and managed not to cry at all this morning. Ariel and I distracted ourselves by going to Target and buying the everyone stuff. When Trevor had his first day at K, I bought him a little hot wheels thing. So Ariel and I picked a Bionicle out for Trev, a Littlest Pet Shop for Rachael and Ariel got these three little horses and a stable (horses in my pocket or something like that). Then we had a coffee/hot chocolate at the Starbucks in the Target, came home and walked the dog/went to the park with him. Met Ray for lunch and now I am back and Ariel is on Starfall while I pay some bills. As we were walking through Target Ariel kept wiping her eyes and saying 'My eyes keep watering mommy." :(

It is really quiet right now. Too quiet.

The little monster boy is officially ours. The guy did the home visit this morning and we passed. It really seemed like a formality. He spent more time playing with Willie (lol! But thankfully not HIS willie. lol) than checking our house. He looked at the backyard and where we kept the crate. That was about it. Then we had to PAY for our dog and he was ours! He's been good today. We had to implement a "NO BEING ON THE COUCH!" rule. He was starting to jump up and see the couch as his and he would get all play nippy with the kids and drive them off the couch. When he was doing it before, I would have them turn around, pull him off the couch and get back up on it. But I got tired of constantly coaching them and then it dawned on me: "Why is he even allowed up there at all when no one has invited him to come on up?" I mean, hello, he's basically chasing the kids off the couch. That's a big no-no in my book. So poor Willie is no longer allowed on the couch. I guess eventually he will be if we invite him up, but for now it's not at all. We also got the prong collar and he has been SO MUCH easier to walk on the way home. Tonight we took him for his walk and he watched us so well at a hell position. Then we got to the bridge where the kids like playing and we switched out his collar and put on the retractable lead and let him loose and he ran through the water and chewed sticks and ate dirt and had fun. Then he was back on the prong on the way home and, even though he was full of piss and vinegar, it was much easier to keep him at a heel. I've heard people say the prong collar isn't humane, but omg, anything is better than constantly jerking the life out of the lead when he is constantly pulling. THAT seemed inhumane, to me. The prong collar just starts to tug when he gets in front and I don't even need to jerk it... he's instantly reminded to come back to heel. He watches me the whole time. It's awesome. He's seems like a smart dog, though.

After taking him to the dog park this morning and letting the kids play at the park next to it, I went and FINALLY got my hair done. My poor hair has been growing out and looked awful. So it is cut and colored and she did a great job. Yay for younger looking hair! heh.

I find it highly amusing that the size small cat door we got to go into the storage room and keep the dog out of the litter box and cat food does not hold the dog back. CHAOS, our big 20 lb Maine Coon barely squeezes his bulk through the door. Rachael says as we're walking upstairs "Willie is trying to get in the cat door!" "Oh, don't worry," I naively respond, "He's too big to get through that teeny door." But, as I watch, he somehow contorts his leggy body and squishes his way in through the door. lol



*sigh*

The school orientation went great for Trevor and so-so for Rachael. She got the teacher that Mazie had been saying how wonderful she was. I was saying how shy Rachael was and she would have a tough time opening up and feeling comfortable in the big school environment. But, her teacher is apparently like the grandmother. She is older and sweet and has a big couch that she sits with with kids who are having a tough time that day. She seemed very nice.. however.. EVERYONE who goes to orientation seems to go with only their K kids. Because the room was PACKED with parents and kids and very overwhelming. So, while it was nice to see her classroom, we didn't really get a chance to do more than say Hi to the teacher and it was extrememly intimidating to Rachael due to way too many people being in the room. I assured her it would NOT be that crowded on the first day of school and we found some cool things in the classroom to look forward to.

Trevor's room was awesome. His teacher is also very wonderful (she got Daniel's approval. heh). There was like only one other person in his room so he got lots of time to talk to the teacher and she told him all the cool things they would be doing that year. He left the room THRILLED to be starting school. He is excited to learn about habitats this year, especially desert ones with tarantulas. His magnet with his name on it also has a wolf spider on it so he thought that was really cool. His class also isn't huge, which is nice. So besides me being a bit sad and weepy yesterday evening (part PMS, part sadness, part being burned out puppy watching constantly), I think it will go ok. Especially for Trevor.

On a puppy note, Willie is doing awesome. I am completely worn out at the end of the day redirecting his chewing, but he's been getting better due to my vigilance. It did annoy me a bit this morning. Ray has no clue how much work it is looking after a puppy. He was not showing me much sympathy when I vented to him at the end of the day yesterday. Then this morning, he's working from home and nonchalantly cooking himself breakfast, browing the internet, etc. I got up at least 20 times in between eating to not only get the kids water, make their breakfast, etc.. but to also bring the dog back upstairs (we finally have a babygate for the stairs!), take shoes from him, or kid's toys, or whatever and substitute his OWN toys. I was getting a little frustrated, I shouldn't have to ask Ray... he can hear just as well as I can when the kids yell "Willie has my toy!!" (his puppy teeth are too sharp and their hands to small to pry things out of his mouth) and Ray can perfectly well see Willie wandering downstairs. It just doesn't register to him. So finally this afternoon, Willie, a hound at heart, is pacing the house like he always does and sniffing everything. It's a little unnerving, his pacing. But I'm used to it and he settles down after he has sniffed every square inch of house, and Ray says "I just let him out. Why is he pacing?" I'm like 'You just now noticed that? Now, show me some sympathy. You have been oblivious all morning to everything he has been getting into. He does this ALL.THE.TIME." Thankfully, Ray got the hint and watched him for me for a while so I could actually study without having to chase Willie every 5 seconds.
But he has been awesome in every other way. He is walking wonderfully on leash, though I did get him a pront collar today to help me out. He is walking next to me with minimal correction during the first half off our walk. He mostly needs correction when the kids speed past him, or he sees other dogs. Our routine is that he MUST walk next to me and not pull while we are walking. If we stop somewhere, like to explore a stream, he has to stand patiently with me for a minute until I give him permission to explore. Then he can go to the full length of his leash and run around and through the streams. Then I call him and we walk nicely again. He does mostly good until we head back. Then he knows we're heading home and he is much more distractable and needs much more correction. I think the prong collar will help me because it hurts my hand to keep correcting. Now I just won't need to correct so hard. He is also working on sit and has been doing good with that. He will sit with a treat for definite, sometimes he needs a reminder of me pushing on his bum. We also make him sit before putting on a leash and he is very calm.
Chaos is getting along better, though I know now why Shadow's owners turned him into the shelter for "not getting along with the new dog". I always assumed the dog chased the cat. No, Shadow actively follows Willie around being intimidating. Willie is terrified of Shadow (but not Chaos anymore. He keeps trying to intice Chaos to play by play bowing all around him) and when Shadow comes into the room, Willie won't look at him and gives him wide berth.
Otherwise, things are running smoothly here. It is still raining, which is making for some cooped up weather. Ray is about to take Willie to get his license and go to the dog park to get out some energy. I am going to take Trevor to Webb's party and hang with the girls for a few hours.

I made a B on my psych test. Yea for not getting another C! I also made an A on the paper. 3 more chapters, 1 more paper and one more test and about 10 more days. I can do it.

It was crazy raining this morning. Like pouring buckets. I didn't have a rain jacket, the dog still needed a walk. So I put on a sweater with a hood and off we went. (the kids have rain coats). Willie was horrified. He did NOT want to walk in the rain, even though he will happily jump through water and puddles. he finally got used to the water, esp when he got to say hi to a couple greyhounds on hte trail walking in the rain, too. he and I were SOAKED by the time we got home, though. At least it wore him out. So we crated him and went to the library.

We have orientation today for school. The school called yesterday. Apparently, they hadn't registered the kids yet because they did not have physicals. OMG. When I took in the registration paperwork I EXPLAINED to them that Ray had started a new job and we wouldn't have insurance until late Sept. THEN I would take them in and bring the paperwork in. I have vaccine exemption forms. She tried to give me some slack about it and said at the time that she couldn't register kids without a physical. WTF. I pointed out that we have vax forms, I will be getting them their physicals. And, as an aside, I'm thinking to myself: don't you HAVE to enroll us? You legally can't actually deny school enrollment because they haven't seen a doctor, can you? So, after talking with her, she says the vax information is really what they want from the doctor but if I have exemption forms, I am fine and the kids will be registered. This was like over a week ago. Fast forward to yesterday morning. I'm telling Mazie how I haven't heard anything from the school and orientation is soon and I don't know what classes the kids will be in. Phone rings. It's Ray. Apparently, they have called him a couple minutes ago and told him they can't register the kids without physicals. WTF! I had already been through it with the woman weeks ago! So he explains the situation to her. She is short with him and gets off the phone ad then calls him right back about vaccines. Then, as she is starting to talk to him about that info, she trails off... "Oh, I have the forms right here. Nevermind." I covered thos bases. I remember Trevor getting kicked out for not having the chicken pox vax and so went ahead and got those exemptions turned in (for the record.. I am selective, delayed vax. Not no vax.) I'm thinking now... sheesh.. do I really want to get into this again? So I'm going today... this is the school's one chance. If I go and there are no classroom assignments for them and they are still not registered because of this, I'm homeschooling. Forget it. I'll officially call incompetance. Hopefully they will be registered and it won't be a problem and I can forget about it. I'm just not sure why they wouldn't register the kids after I had already explained the situation and she said it wouldn't be a problem. I didn't realize I would be fighting about a delay in the physical. I thought I would have more problems with Trevor being homeschooled that year. Let's hope their registered!

We were on our way back from Lake Fairfax and the kids were all talking in the back of the car. We all started discussing how people are related and how I am a wife and a mom, but not all people are a wife and a mom together, etc (they thought all married women had children). So, then we started talking about how their grandma is my mom. So it carried over that one day they would have kids and I would be a grandma, but I would still be their mom. Besides the cuteness of Rachael saying "So when I grow up will Trevor be my dad?" lol. She decided to name her children right then and there.

Rachael: Mommy, I am going to name my kids Duststorm, Gleam and (something else totally strange I forget).
Trevor : Those are dumb names for people Rachael. No one names people names like that, only pets.
Me, supporting Rachael: Well, some people *do* name their children unconventional names. Our names might be strange to people in another culture.
Trevor : I know! Rachael, you can have three kids and name them Trevor, Rachael and ARIEL!
Rachael, all thrilled : Yea! Trevor, Rachael, Ariel and Ribby-pie!!!
Trevor, sighing : Ribby-pie is NOT a name!

It was so funny listening to them! Then in the bath this evening.

Rachael : It stinks in here.
Trevor: I did not fart. It wasn't me.
Rachael: Well, I didn't fart.
Trevor : Hm, maybe it's these bubbles. (from the bubble bath)
Rachael: I went to the bathroom, but I flushed the toilet.
Trevor: Are you sure you flushed the toilet?
Rachael: Yes!

We just overhear the silliest stuff sometimes. Had a good day. Willie did great in his crate while we were gone. We had friends over and everyone had fun playing. We went to Lake Fairfax where Willie walked VERY well on leash in about ten minutes, then tore around the lake while the kids dug seaweed out of it. It was a good day.

He is worn OUT! He was worn out yesterday and spent all night in his crate sleeping. He did one houndy bay and some whines, which we ignored, and he promptly lay down and went to sleep. He didn't whine when Ariel came into our room around midnight. He didn't whine when she woke me up at 3am because her legs hurt (yes, she's still doing that about weekly) and I got up and found motrin and water for her. I was so scared he would wake and start whining to get out, etc. His foster must have crated him. he doesn't mind going in the crate at all.

This morning Ray went biking and the kids and I took him for a walk. He walked quite a ways. The KIDs walked quite a ways! About twice our normal walk. I had to carry Ariel about 1/4 way back home when she conked out. Once in the door, little Willie (lol) totally just passed out. He flopped all his paws and gangly legs on the floor and promptly fell asleep. He slept for a while, then proceeded to chew on like everything except his chew toys. Argh. It was a constant chase around the house to say "Drop it!" and trade his unsuitable "toy" (ie: the kids shoes, the couch, my matress, numerous socks and articles of clothing, stuffed animals, etc etc etc) for his much less interesting rope bone, squeaky thing or ball or the sock I finally let him have. It's no fun once he actually possesses it, the little beast. He wanted every OTHER sock. heh. I called Ray and he brought Willie a pig ear, which FINALLY satisfied that urge to chew.

After Ray got home, we met Brett at Lake Fairfax with his English Mastiff, Roxy. Roxy is about half the weight she will get and she makes Willie look like a chihuahua or something. She is HUGE, and was terrified of Willie at first. But she's a big sweetie and, except for a growl and bark over a stick Roxy decided was hers, they got along really good. They're working with Roxy because she is scared of other dogs. Willie got completely worn out at the park and had fun bounding around like a big pawed puppy. He has no problem getting in the water and wading around. We stopped at Petco and got him raw hide and compressed raw hide bones (irradiated! fun times! bleh) and a collapsible water bowl for when we are out with him. Then we came home and the kids played with him in the wading pool, then we bathed him. After dinner he got another walk (without Ray, who banged up his knee pretty bad on his mountain bike ride) and he's conked out in the hall right now. He only had one accident in the house today, but I think it might be because we were outside most of the day. He's been doing really well on that respect. He's smart, he does reasonably well on a leash. When I have walked him he tries to say hi to everyone he passes, but he doesn't bark. He's so quiet! He barked in the back yard at some people who passed close by the back fence. And that one bay in his crate. That's it. I hope he stays that way!

Tomorrow I have to get out to the grocery store. I think. I'm a little scared to crate him during the day, but maybe if we take him for a good long walk and give him a raw hide he should be fine. With his houndy bark, I don't want him disturbing the neighbours. They are most definitely NOT dog people and i am sure they are worried about the same thing. Shadow is doing much better and will sit in the same room with Willie without looking like he's moving in slow motion. I'm hoping to take him to Frying Pan Park tomorrow to see the farm animals and some new situations.

I attempted to wax my bikini line. Not that it has been warm enough to go swimming, but, well, just in case. I am sick of shaving it like every freakin day. I am a waxing virgin. I had no idea it would hurt that freakin bad! I'm all humming my little song in the bathroom as I apply the Veet wax strip. I moosh it all into place. I think it will probably feel like taking a bandaid off or something. I rip the strip off. Oh.My.God. It HURT! Especially when you're not expecting it to hurt quite that much! What do people do who get EVERYTHING waxed? Do they lidocaine your nether regions or something? Thankfully, it didn't hurt as much today when I did the other side. It hurts a bit less (but not much) when you are expecting the sensation. heh.

I am tired today. I have been going to bed at like 11:30, but getting up at my normal 6:30am. This is just not enough sleep for me. Must go to bed earlier tonight. Especially since I am still working out. Nothing like dragging yourself ut of bed to work out when you are tired.

I think we are going to the Air and Space Museum today. Trevor and Rachael are super bummed that grandpa had to go back home. Trevor wanted to visit the museum with him, but we just didn't get a chance. But I promised we would go today. Hopefully we have enough on the Smart cards for the Metro so I don't have to buy anything today.

Otherwise that is it. We went to Chuck E Cheese (ugh!) last night for dinner and stuff. Ray-dad wanted to spoil them his last night in town. The kids had a blast. Ariel loves the little car that also takes your photo. She must have gotten about 5 photos taken. Rachael loved talking on the phone to Chuckie Cheese. Trevor just played tons of video games. Everyone had fun, although it always seems to wear us adults out more than the kids. heh.

Friday night my fil came into town for business stuff on Monday. So Saturday, after a bit of a slow start, we headed out for the Montgomery county agricultural fair. I am such a sucker for ag fairs. I could spend all day looking at sheep, cows, chickens a rabbits. Regrettably, we did not make it to the chickens, but we did see the draft horse rescue horses. Oh my, what gorgeous horses. I love draft horses. We spent a good deal of time there, ate such fair delights as fried oreos and funnel cake and lemonade that SAYS fresh squeezed, but I really think is a mix with some lemons squeezed in it. The kids rode on all the kiddie rides and played games and won two fish. Rachael and Ariel got to ride the neighs.. Ariel got the fiesty pony that wanted to like gallop around the ring and wouldn't stop when it was time for the ride to stop. He was cute. A fun day was had by all.

This morning we went out to Algonkian park and went geocaching since ray's dad has a good handheld GPS. We only found one of the three caches. But it was a nice walk.. a long walk. We should have thought of all the walking they did yesterday before we walked like a mile into the woods. heh. I totally felt like we were in the middle of nowhere, but, as there is no such thing in northern virginia, we came across a park in the middle of the woods. Looking across the park, there is huge houses on 3 acre lots, almost obscured from view. Go figure. So the "sick of walking" girlies played at the park for a while and the boys went in search of the last cache. They didn't find it and we carried girlies the like 3/4 mile back. heh. Then we ate a snack and played some more at the BIG Algonkian park. Hit Costco for more coffee, which I am tempted to make now, and ate an early dinner at Buffalo Wing factory.

Then, poor Ariel. We came home, beat and just bummed around. I read the kids some books. Then Marcos stopped by and Trevor went outside. The girls went out, too. I was searching for mostquito srpay when I heard this scream from out front. Ariel had accidentally closed Ray's huge heavy truck doors on her fingers. OMG. Poor baby girl! Ugh. They swelled up huge and looked nasty and she was screaming and crying. Thankfully, I don't think they are broken. Not having insurance will keep you from rushing to the hospital. We put ice on them and I felt them all over. They are nasty swollen, but don't feel broken. And she can bent them. She is sleeping now, she was exhausted anyway. I felt bad for Ray's dad, too, who had been outside with them and he apologized for not being right there. But, it would have happened had I been there, too. We can't always been assisting our kids. They open the car doors and get things from the car all the time. So he shouldn't feel guilty. Ray should be home in a moment with some motrin to help with the swelling. I guess we will have to wake her up. I hate to have her nap and wake at 10pm.

Tomorrow we start out "school schedule". I'm trying to help them get into a new routine where they wake, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth and empty the dishwasher BEFORE doing anything else. Then we'll like take a morning walk or something to get into the routine of getting out some energy before heading to school. It will also get me into the 6:30am get a move on routine, since I have been working out in the morning, but sometimes getting up at 7am and not always showering right afterwards. So we'll see how that works out. heh.

So our visit with the financial adviser was interesting. And insightful. I realized that 1. We are young 2. We are not in nearly as much debt as I thought 3. I forgot what 3 was.. oh, our financial adviser isn't a money snob. He didn't laugh at us because we were coming to the table with less than a million bucks to invest. It was nice. So he basically just took all our information and copies of our bills and stuff. He kind of interviewed us, asking how much we were willing to be risky, what we wanted to do when we retired, how much college did we plan on paying for the kids, etc. He also took down what we spend each month. He said we should have no problem meeting goals and we should have plenty of surplus income to use. He also said we were the first people he has seen in a long time who had a vacation account- basically, I also put money into our vacation account and we vacation out of it. No money, no vacation. It's revolving, I always pay into it. It's not EXACTLY what he has in mind, but it shows we think about vacations and plan for them. So I am super optimistic that he can get us on the right track.

Then we went out for pizza (just Ray and I!) and ate good pizza and saw the funniest movie since Office Space- Tropic Thunder. OMG. That movie was fucking hilarious. I am buying it. It's SO RARE to find a non romantic comedy that isn't filled with gratuitous boob shots that is also really funny. It was really funny. Did I say that?

Poor Ariel was a WRECK when I left her. She was fine all day, fine when I picked up Kat. Turned into a basket case the minute we got home and had to leave. She clung to my leg, wouldn't let go and then chased me out to the car. *sigh* Kat said she got better, though and was fine. They ordered pizza and watched a movie.

Crap, we overdrafted. Thankfully we have tons in savings to overdraft into. This paycheck was tough because it wasn't a full paycheck. And we haven't been living very frugally. *sigh* We're seeing the financial planner tonight. I'm glad. I can't wait to get started on this.. I am hoping he will give us a plan for the extra money, our lagging 401K and put us on a good budget that will help build our vacation savings. I'm also hoping that I can somehow qualify for some sort of grant or scholarship for school should I go full time. I've got like a 3.8 GPA. That should get some money or SOMETHING, shouldn't it?

Tomorrow Ray's dad comes into town for the weekend. We're going to the Mont. Co. fair and hope to go geocaching on Sunday.

I made blueberry freezer jam last night. It's good. I just didn't feel like going through the effort of canning and I bought all these blueberries on sale at Safeway. So freezer jam is was. I had some on toast this morning. I probably could have smooshed the blueberries more, but it's tasty. heh.

I started reading the kids the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. The kids like it.. kind of. And I completely got sucked in. I am reading book 2 right now. Trevor found the Warriors manga at the library and got that to read to himself and finished the book in one day. Yes, one day. Yea, it's manga, but he also spent like half the day and bedtime reading it. The kids loves reading as much as I do.

Nothing much else is happening. It's been a slow week. I haven't gotten together with anyone. I've been feeling kind of antisocial lately. Which is fine by me. I go through phases. I think I am just enjoying the last few weeks of summer with them before I ship them off for the day. It makes me excited for them and nervous at the same time. Until Ariel goes to preschool, what are we going to do together?

The babysitter comes tonight relatively early. None of the kids are freaking out. I am hoping Ariel doesn't cry. The incentive? Ordering pizza and watching a movie with Kat. I guess it will be on the CC, as will Ray and I going out to dinner afterwards. Argh.

Oh, and grades were just posted! I got an AAAAAAAA in english! Go me! Much better than that crappy B in English 111.

The kids are all bathed and hair has been washed by Ray. They are in jams with teeth brushed. We settle onto the bed to read a chapter out of the Warrior Cats book. Ariel, who isn't much interested in Warrior cats, meanders the bedroom and I don't pay much attention to her. I finish my chapter and look up to Ariel, who has put on the pillow case like she's in a potato sack race, complete with pillow. She is wearing two of Ray's black dress socks on her hands and a dry, clean washcloth on her head. I laugh at her. She exclaims "I am a hermit crab!"

Then I tuck her in and she demands butterfly kisses. Then demands to give me some. Then I call Rachael and Trevor, who have gone downstairs for a book to look at in bed, upstairs and overhear Rachael saying "I have given you enough farts, Trevor. No more farts!" Then she is carrying her book upstairs, some picture book called "Diary of a Fly" and she is saying... "It's Diarrhea of a fly!!!" and gives this hugely atrocious fake laugh. I tuck her and Trevor in. And Rachael says "I am LIVING in Trevor's bed." She does loooove somehow sleeping next to her brother in his twin bed. He and Rachael have their twin beds shoved together, but Rachael MUST sleep next to him. She always ends up sleeping in the crack between the two beds. Even when we move her into her own bed at night, the next morning I will find them all curled up together like some old married couple. It's adorable.

They always read a bit in bed. Sometimes Trevor reads to Rachael, but mostly she looks at a couple books, he reads his books (he just finished Magic Treehouse- some Ice Wizard one and is now reading Pirates at Noon or something like that). Ariel mostly annoys Ray by getting up constantly for water, or to pee or to just be annoying to Ray. Eventually they will fall asleep.

That's about a typical evening. Granted, scary ari doesnt always give her best hermit crab impersonation. heh

Our school stuff came! OK.. my mom won Trevor a backpack full of school supplies from her office. She was thrilled and so was I. It just came in the mail. Now I have already bought their school supplies so I had told Trevor he could keep the supplies in this backpack. It was also incentive since he didn't get a personalized backpack like his sisters. He LOVES his backpack... and it came chock full of stuff! We were all thrilled. 2 packs of markers, a pack of crayons, pack of pencil crayons, TONS of pencils and pens. Folders, tons of paper, binder, protractor, ruler, glue sticks (which ARE going to the school since we have tons and the store was out), pencil top erasers (also going to the school as the store was out) and high lighters (willing donated to the very excited college student mom). Among other various things. How thrilling! Trevor donated markers to his sisters and kept a pack and the crayons. He was thrilled with the blue composition book and gave the purple notebook to Rachael. I reminded him that he would be able to use much of this and not to waste all his paper, it would be good for homework and reports, etc. I have no clue what second graders do.

Then their lunch boxes also came. They came from Reusable bags and were made from old apple juice boxes. They are a lovely red color, though I do wish they would have packed me three different styles. But all the same is fine. They are very bright and easy to see. I don't think the kids will be losing them. heh.

It's been an exciting day for the mail!!!!

Ray just asked me if we bought any baggies for him to put his sandwiches in. I was like "No, but we have... ummm... you know..." and I trailed off. Ray finished for me "You mean that stuff that ISN'T baggies?" "YEA! That stuff... it's.. ummmm... saran wrap!"

Seriously. Seriously? I joked that english was my second language and silence was my first. I do that all.the.time. I'm blaming it on precoffee.

We have finally convinced Rachael that she *must* learn to ride a bike. The biggest issue being the weight of the trailer now. We have a Chariot trailer for the back of my bike. We had to have to permanently put on my bike because switching it back and forth was making the gears on my bike skip and it was annoying. So we installed it onto my bike, took it to the bike shop and got it fitted properly so I could ride with the kids during the week and my gears wouldn't skip. I didn't anticipate the new issue that came up... I am strong enough to pull them, but they are too heavy for me. Rachael is about 50 lbs at least and Ariel is about 30 lbs. That's me pulling more than half my weight. When I go up hills, if the hill is too steep, the trailer full of kids pulls my front wheel up. I talked to Ray about it and he said it doesn't happen to him, but he thinks the kids are probably too heavy for me to hold the bike down. I do stand on the pedals to ride uphill sometimes, if I need to. But if I don't, it's a PITA for the bike to start to tip backwards! I would like to bike more than we do... Trevor adores riding his bike. I love riding mine. But pulling the girlies is a pain. Plus, my knees royally hurt after a day of pulling them up hills. All this prevents me from riding as much as I'd like.

Rachael, however, HATES trying anything new. Hates it. She drops things so quickly the minute she has to work at it. I find it HUGELY frustrating. She has refused to learn to ride a bike all summer because she doesn't want to work at it. She has outgrown her bike with training wheels and I refused to buy her a new one until she rode a two wheeler. And I've been a little irked by her lack of enthusiasm- actually, she has enthusiasm. She does want to learn, she doesn't want to TRY. I've reasoned with her about how difficult it is for me to pull her anymore because she's too big. How, if she rides a bike, she can ride with her brother around the complex. I've related my dependence on my bike when I was younger and even as a teen before I had a car.

Finally, Ray took the kids to the bike store to get a disc break for his bike to mountain bike with a friend this morning. He showed Rachael all the girlie bikes. Rachael has been SUPER girlie these past few weeks, getting out MLP, Barbies, dolls, etc. It just happened like overnight. So Rachael saw this bike with a sparkly seat, streamers on the handle bars, the works. All girl. She loved it. And rode it down the aisle at the bike store. We promised her- ride Trevor's old 2 wheeler and we will buy you THIS bike. OMG! That evening she was riding! Not well enough for the bike yet. She gets all freaked out and breaks suddenly. But, honestly, she can ride. She has a balance down, it's just that she doesn't have the confidence. She has that middle child thing- she has an older brother who always does things first (after all, he's older- he can read, he can ride a bike, etc) and a younger sister who is, well, younger so she's always too little (too little to fit on a two wheeler, too little to do this or that). So I think Rachael sometimes doesn't know where she fits in. She'll be riding fine and Ray will let go of her, then she will be on her own and riding! Then she'll realize daddy isn't holding her anymore and freak and brake. She doesn't see herself riding and get thrilled the way Trevor did when he started riding. So we'll practice again today, and yes, this is one of the few things I am kind of firm about and bribing because I am sick to death of pulling her in the trailer. I am hoping she rides up the street by herself like we told her she needs to do before she gets a new bike. And yes she can do it. She didn't need Ray's help yesterday. Rachael is extremely athletic, she just hates pushing herself. She was riding mostly without Ray's help from the moment she got on the bike yesterday, he was just touching her back, not balancing her. She seems to already know how to ride.. she just needs that confidence.

So I am SUPER PROUD of my little girlie and I just hope she gets that confidence today!!! I'm dropping the whole "usually I don't praise that much" in favor of a super lot of "YAY! RACHAEL!! RIDE THAT BIKE GIRL! AWESOME!!!!!!!!!" heehee..

OK. I gotta tell ya, I *am* a little excited about them starting school. I just ordered their backpacks from LLBean (and got free shipping, thanks MDC boards!), and ordered lunchboxes for them- cool ones made from recycled juice boxes that the kids think are cool. I called the school about registering and she said I can drop off the forms anytime. All I need is the religious vax exemption forms to notarize and I am ready to register them. I called the school and asked about Trevor and if he would need placement testing and she said she didn't think so since he was going into second grade and had attended the school in K. She said just to bring the reply to the NOI I sent for his homeschool year. That basically says the curriculum I used met their requirements. I will probably also bring math a phonics samples, since that's what they will care about. Just to make sure and cover all my bases, I also called the school board's homeschool line and left a message with them (guess they are at lunch) so they will also let me know whether or not he needs testing. I don't think he will. It was one year and he's not even in a grade that gives SOLs yet.

So I am a little excited. I certainly wouldn't let the kids in on any misgivings I have (and I do have some). The kids waffle between excitement and saying "NO! We don't want to go to school."

So we are planning on getting our school supplies today. I have no school work to do today for myself and I am just relieved English is over with! I think I did ok on the quiz.