"A Wink and a Smile"

The other day I was driving down a road on my not so usual path of getting the little one from preschool. I saw a few little boys just getting off the school bus and running home by themselves. They were little kids ... probably 5-7 years old. My first thought as they ran home to their apartment, was "wow, they are really young to be going home alone ... unattended" . Then I thought of how it was when I was younger. Back then it was seemingly safe to kiss children goodbye and let them walk to and from school (or take the bus). Are times really all that different? My girls do not live within walking distance of the school they attend. My day starts off by getting the 7 and 9 year old on the school bus by 6:50 A.M. They are lucky enough to stand in my garage until they hear the sound of the bus and then they get to run onto it at the end of my driveway. After they head to school, I leave within 25-35 minutes and take the high schooler to her school and then the presc...

I read her blog and knew that she was coming into town for her book signing and I thought about going, but I also knew it was the day that I was getting my braces off (MONDAY 11/9). On Sunday night before, my husband made a quick trip to Walmart and brought home a flyer saying how Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman) was coming the next day. I'm not sure if my husband was more excited about me getting my braces off the next day or having me MEET THE PIONEER WOMAN. I guess I really did want to go, but now I HAD TO GO! Monday was a crazy day ... jitters in the am 4.6 mile run to make me feel relaxed (it was also my longest run yet) drop the 12 year old at her homeschool art class quick trip to Walmart (to see if there were Pioneer Woman cookbooks ... no luck, but my husband picked me up a few ... I'm gifting some for Christmas). home to throw a pot roast in the crockpot braces removal at 11:30am dentist visit at 1pm usual afterschool chaos of swim team home for a 30 minute rest wa...

My little girls have always loved roller skates/blades, but man they are a mommy's worst nightmare. I feel the need to wrap them up in bubble wrap and that can take a long time ... something I don't always feel the energy or time to do (blushing) . I love that my bigger girls are such helpers now. Even though I curse the idea of velcro-ing on all that safety gear, I can see the joy in SKATING. To feel joy is not always instant gratification. It may take a little time ... you have to be patient and appreciate it when it comes!

For the last 4 years I find I am a little nutty the 2 weeks leading up to school. Last year may have been a little calmer ... only 2 going to "school" and the other 2 were homeschooled. I had a lot less supplies to gather, but then I did feel the first time pressure of lesson planning. Some people have asked about our changes and I am not sure I can fully articulate our reasons for sending all the girls back to "school". I'll give it a try though. A little history ... We moved to our current state back in '05. In the years prior, they (I guess it was only the oldest 2) went to public school. We had a great public school that I did really like. Aside from {e}'s 4th grade teacher, I was pretty happy with the teachers and the school atmosphere. When we moved here, we were warned of the terrible public schools and in our incredible state of being hurried (finding out that we are moving halfway across the country and actually doing it within a 7 week t...