School Supplies

So I started to get ready for school, you know uniforms, school supplies all the necessities. I am currently in for $300 for uniforms - why such hideous clothes made of awful fabrics are so expensive I am not sure. But then I looked at the at the school supply list they just sent out. Between the two of them I have to buy 6 boxes of crayons. Can someone explain why Grace needs 4 boxes of 24 count crayons? Last year the list required her to bring in two boxes of crayons and when the school year ended I got one box of crayons back unopened.

Then I got to Ben's list. For him I have to send in regular school supplies, glue, crayons, markers and then at the bottom for the lunchroom for the "resource room" it says he also needs to send in paper towels, napkins, cardstock, baby wipes, clorox wipes, tissues and cups. So normally I wouldn't think anything about sending in what they ask. However, last year I got a note home saying that I needed to make sure I was sending a napkin in Grace's lunch because the napkins in the lunchroom were only for those that buy lunch. I wonder if these are the same napkins I am sending in at the beginning of the year?

What isn't on Ben's list - pencils and erasers?

School supply lists are an enigma. I just buy it and send it in, I bet if you asked the teachers they couldn't explain it either.

Mini Fashionista

I oficially have a mini fashionista on my hands. Grace will be 6 in a couple of weeks and I had briefly talked to her about going school shopping for uniforms while in Florida because they are easier to find than in Oklahoma. So the first thing that she asks is "what about school shoes?" I tell her we can look for those too. Then she says the magic words. . . Mom I'm going to be 6 soon and I really NEED a pair of twinkle toe sketchers. EVERYBODY in my class has them. Do you think I can get them?

How can a 5 year old NEED a pair of shoes? How does EVERYBODY have them? I thought that I had at least 5 more years before we got to the everybody has them and I need them too conversation.

So I give in, I tell her we can go look at them and see if she likes them and if they fit well. So we look, I see $40 for a pair of kids shoes and I almost gag. Now my daughter is a real girly girl, not a tennis shoe wearing type. She lives in "high heeled sandals" and "sparkly shoes" most of the time. I think she has worn her tennis shoes she has now maybe a dozen times in the whole year so I think she will try them on and realize they are TENNIS SHOES and that she will only get one pair (She is allotted $40 for school shoes) and then say no thanks I'd rather have 4 different pairs from target.

I was wrong, she tries on the brightly colored diamond studded, light up twinkle toes and is in love. Now the only size we can find is a 10 and they fit just right and I would rather get a 1/2 size bigger so she can wear them longer since they are so freaking expensive for a kids shoe (I am more of a 9.99 from target kind of shopper.) I tell her she can spend her $40 for school shoes however she wants and that we will get the 10's and look at other places for a 10 1/2. She agrees and is ear to ear smiles.

So tonight we are saying our prayers and what does Grace pray for . . . "please help me find a 10 1/2 twinkle toes."

I have a fashionista - a jewelry wearing, accessory loving, twinkle toes, almost 6 year old fashionista, Lord help me.

The End . . . of Babies

So the end of school is near for my little princess. I can't believe it is already May. She is going to be leaving preschool and next year will be in kindergarten and I can't believe it. Sometimes I look at her and I have to do a double take because I am expecting someone smaller more baby like and not the big girl that is in front of me.
In fact, the other day I went to the park with a friend and I was looking around for Grace and couldn't find her, I started to get nervous, when my girlfriend said, there she is right there under the slide, and I looked quickly and said that it wasn't her . . . that little girl was too big to be mine, but low and behold it was.
She does her dance recital next week, and her graduation two weeks following. I am going to try not to cry when my baby walks in her little cap, but I am sure I will. I have recently been so taken with how big my little ones have gotten, they are growing so fast right before my eyes.
My Benjamin, my little man is growing like a weed, talking like crazy, and moving non stop. Although they are getting big, my heart sometimes still sees them toddling around in a diaper and a onesies with a juice stained mouth, and cookie on their faces, and I think it might always be that way.

MIA

So I know that I have been missing in action this month, but it has been CRAZY!! I have had school stuff with Grace, regional conference for Premier, and helping Peter with Life Builders. All my pistons are running and I am beat . . . but in a good way.

So here is what has been going on (I am sure you are dying to know, edge of your seat right?):
Peter and I and Life Builders is expanding, he has an office in Riverview, Brandon, and Bradenton now! We are so excited about new opportunities that God is opening up and continue to pray for his hand of blessing on the counselors and Life Builders as they go out into the community.

Peter is going on a trip to California to visit the largest Christian Counseling Center in California! They are going to give him the tour and talk with him about what they do, how they became so successful, and all those type things. He is totally excited about it. I know it is going to be really great to see a picture of what Life Builders could be in our community.

I contemplated scaling back my Premier business to go back to teaching, but after thought and regional rally, I decided not to. I do miss teaching alot, but I really do enjoy being a part of Premier and doing home shows, and I make good money with a super flexible schedule, so I am going to stick with it and press on through this year. My goal is to make designer which is 7 sponsored jewelers and 36 home shows. It is definitely doable and I am super excited to give it a try, Premier is a really awesome company and I really love my fellow jewelers and my upline is fantastic . . .so I am making strides in the right direction.

I am thinking about teaching preschool at BSBA where the kids go to school. It would be 3 mornings a week so I could feed the need to teach and have my little class without a full time classroom. I also would still get to be home when my babies are home which is the most important part of all. That was the biggest reason why I decided to continue with Premier, I get to work in the evenings and any schedule I want so I can work when Peter is home instead of them being in daycare or with a sitter.

Grace had Donuts with Dad and made him a faux wood pencil holder from an aluminum can. She was so proud of it and was dying to give it to him. When I asked her about how it was she informed me that the donuts were so awesome and tasty. Peter told me later that she ate the entire donut . . . quickly.

Peter and the kids went to Michigan were Ben was a ring bearer in a wedding, he looked so stinkin' adorable in his little suit, nothing like 5 below and 12 inches of snow to make you appreciate Florida and its sunny climate.

As for the 5K, I still don't know about it. I haven't quite started running . . . at all so my guess is I might have waited too long to get my butt in gear.

Schlumppy

So I am such a shlump, it was so cold this morning and I was tired so . . . I totally dropped Grace off in my giant jean skirt that is to the floor and is missing the button so I use paperclips to keep it shut and Peter's giant blue sweater that I essentially swim in. I can only imagine what people thought when I walked into school this morning. Granted I am no supermodel in the mornings generally, but this morning I think I might have looked like a walking laundry hamper just swimming in clothes, not to mention the slapping jean noise that this monstrosity of a skirt makes when you walk. It screams Little House on the Prairie, all I need is a bonnet and a basket of wildflowers to fit in. I am the poster child for that show What Not to Wear today. I could take a picture so you can see what I mean, but I won't subject you to the horror that is my wardrobe choice today.