Blissfully Ouiet

Yep, it's that time of year...SCHOOL!!! In the words of a friend, "I've just realized again that two are much easier then four." Only for me, I am down to just ONE. I will be honest, I felt a moment of panic when I realized that my babies would be out of my care for 6 hours a day, five days a week, but that only lasted for 20 seconds as I celebrated the quietness and cleanliness of the house. I do have a couple pictures to document the first day, but again, I have not spent the time it takes to figure out my new computer. So, descriptions are going to have to do.

Anna wore her new butterfly shirt which is brown and blue and ties in the back with capries that are denim and brown sketchers. I curled her hair "like Miley" and she picked out HUGE dangley earrings out of MY jewlry box. As she looked herself over in the full length mirror she posed and said, "I look soooo good!" She loaded her JoBro backpack onto her sholders, asked me if she could pick out my outfit so that I would not embarrass her on the first day of school, got pictures, and we were off.

Cole wore cool zippered shorts with a silky athletic shirt and "really awesome" sketcher shoes. His 3rd grade friend told him that he could tell Cole was in 4th grade because he was dressed so cool. I felt a moment of pride and confidence that I was still with it enough to pick out cool clothes for Cole. As we proceeded to walk up to school Cole walked ten feet in front of Anna and I and went to his class by himself. I was really tempted to go into that class and give him a big kiss and hug and say,"I love you my boy!". But, I knew if he was to EVER trust me and think I was the bomb, i could not do any such thing. I settled for going to the door of his class room and waving good bye with a quick thumbs up.

So, in the first two days of school I have met girlfriends at Panera for bagels one day, and the next we met friends at the zoo. This school year is starting out swimmingly.

Memory Lane

Memory Lane...the tag that gets everyone involved


I usually NEVER do the "Tag" games but since I saw this one on 3 separate blogs this morning, I figured I should give it a try....


I hope you will play along. Here are the directions:
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Picture less

Well, I have yet to figure out how to attach my pictures...It downloads them alright, but the internet that we are using cacn't find the blogging site to sync the pictures to. I know posts are way better with pictures, but you really don't have to read this if you are not interested, right? I will try to figure things out soon though. I just wanted to give an update on several things.

First, I am up to 15 miles! Yeah! I ran 15 2 weeks ago. It was hellish. It is so humid here that before I even start to run, I am sweating. I run very slow. About 12 min miles when I am on a long run. My motto is "Slow and steady finish the race". During that run I went through 3 complete bottles of water and did not even have to go pee once-that should tell you how humild it was. Also, it was the first run when I tried any kind of energy booster. I want to train just like I will be running the marathon, so I tracked down what kind of energy stuff they will have at the water stops. They will be passing out a product called gu (pronouned goo). I found a running store that sells it and that is what I have tried. It is like thick hair gel in consistancey. They have all different flavors. My favorite so far is the vanilla bean and second is tri-berry. They do actually give you a boost for about 20 min. I could not have finished the 15 miles without it. This weekend I am going to run 17...wish me luck.

The next thing is, guess what I get to do again?!? I get to take ANOTHER driving test! I am beyond excited... Anna and Cole cleaned out the van a couple weeks ago and threw my paper work away. The really smart dmv does not keep records of testing on the computer. That's right. I get yet another chance at the wonderful menuverability. I count myself so lucky!

The last bit of info is that Taylor has officially reached the twos-a little early. He has to do absolutley everything by himself, or he throws a fit. For example, getting his bath ready. He has to be the one to turn on the water, put his toys in the tub, flush the toilet, ect. He has not figured out how to undress himself and throws a small fit when I have to help him do that. He is so stinkin cute. He talks up a storm. He uses sentences and always says "thank you momma" whenever I do something for him. He gets jelous when I pay attention to anyone but him and demands my attention. He is still enough of a baby that I don't mind lavishing my attention and kisses on him! It is a good thing that another baby is not in the near future.

We will be going to Utah in 2 weeks. We are all very excited to be "home" and have time with all of our family. I am a little nervous about flying with the kids and not Travis. Taylor will still be a lap rider and that is always pleasent! But the other kids are so good at traveling and are such big helpers. I know everything will go alright, but the thought of those 5 hours...stressful.

Alright, that is all I can think of for now. I will really try to get the pics up and going so it is not so boring!

Delay

Sorry for the delay in blogging. We got a fancy new apple lap top. I LOVE it. I will never, never go back to not having wireless. It is just one of those things. Like tivo-if you have it, you can't live without it. I mean, what would I do if I could not record American Gladiators to watch later at my convenience? Anywho, as with all new things, this computer is taking getting used to. I have actually written 2 other posts, but have not worked out how to get my pics onto the blog. The Apple just says it can't find the server when I try to attach pics. So, I just wanted to tell you all that I will be back to the full blogging as soon as Travis can figure it out. Until then, here is a completely pathetic joke that Travis heard in the ER the other night...

Q:) Where did Michael Jackson go to school?
A:) "Bringum Young"

Never Boring!

Alright. Anna is one of the most creative little girls I have ever come across. Certainly way more creative than I am. The other afternoon Taylor was down for his nap and the kids had STRICT instructions to play quietly or watch tv as I would be getting my daily beauty nap also. Well, I can ALWAYS count on Cole to sit and watch tv. In fact it was not long ago that he would proudly list that as his best talent (I think it is now playing the DS or on a good day he might say it is math). Anywho, I am always leery when I leave Anna to her own devises. Let me explain some of her "art"...

And the categories are: Nail polish
Tin Foil
Tape
Dried food (noodles, rice, popcorn)
Glue
Cotton balls
beads and ANY type of string
bowls, cups, plates, silverware
paint
Alright-really the list could include anything that you might find laying around your house. I mean ANYTHING she can make into "art". A couple of my favorite things have been:

Painting the toilet seat with pink nail polish so that is would look "prettier".
Using dry noodles put into two cereal bowls and then glue the bowls together to make maracas(only ONE of MANY ways that she can make maracas).
Chipping off the green paint on her bedroom wall and then gluing it onto a paper because the color was too pretty to throw away...
Going through a WHOLE stack of Sam's club paper plates-painting them and then putting prices on them to sell on the corner of the street.

Those are only a FEW of my favorite "art projects" that Anna has created. But, I think this beats all. Yep, she painted Cole's bike pink so that she could ride it and everyone would think that is was a girls bike and not a boys bike. Cole was pretty upset until I whispered to him that the paint was washable. Yes, I have learned that with Anna in the house, everything needs to be WASHABLE.

FAILED

I sit, my knees shaking, in the drivers license testing center. I am hoping against hope that I will not get the old white haired man. You see, he looks sweet, but experience has taught me that he is anything but. I think to myself, "I will fail for sure if I get grumpy gramps! Why does he not like me? I am youngish, cuteish and niceish. If anyone should like me it should be that old fart!" I heave a big sigh of relief when a man, no I mean a woMAN calls, "MS. Nelson?" Thankful that I did not get gramps, I stand up and walk to the front of the building. I put on my most enduring smile and wait for instructions.

"Vehicle make, model, color, and license plate number?"

"Ughh"..., I stammer. Already I am failing. What kind of a person can't recall the make of their vehicle when they drive it 25 times a day! Finally it comes to me, "Dodge caravan, silver, 2000, license plate number is...just a sec, let me look", I look out the window trying to see the numbers. Do you think I would pass if I got the numbers wrong? I couldn't really see the last one-it was either an 8 or a 2...I guessed 2 hoping it was right.

"Alright Mam" (mam? I am not 40...) "Go turn your car on and roll down the drivers window. Do not put the car in gear. Wait for me.

As I walk out, a nice black gentleman gives me a smile and tells me to keep my cool.
The woMAN takes a minute to come out when she does she asks me to beep my horn, turn on my blinkers and hit my breaks. I think I pass that part as she nods and climbs into the van. She explains that she will tell me way in advance when to turn and so forth. First we start with maneuverability...

"Pull up to this first cone and line your front bumper up with it. Good. Now go out and around the middle cone and line up your back bumper with the middle cone in the front. Now put the car into reverse and back up around the middle cone and back to the side..." Watch the back cone on my right... Too late. Put your car in park so that I can check the cone."

I sit there a little stunned that I ran over a cone that I did not even see.
"Mam, put the car in PARK as I am going to be behind you. I don't want an accident."

"oh, sorry", I muster as I put it into park.

Once back in the car, she tells me the directions to go out onto the street. I drive very slow (st least 5 under the limit) and cautious. It takes us 20 minutes to go around the block (app. 1.5 miles I am told). Back at the building the woMAN turns to me and says, "You passed your driving test, but failed the maneuverability. Would you like to come in and reschedule?"

Duh...? "Sure".

Now to summarize this story...

Make sure your kids are out of my way when I am backing up.
Never let your drivers license expire.
I probably would have been better off with grumpy gramps.
I am supposed to drive with someone 21 or older in the car at all times until I have a valid license.

Is it a felony to drive with out a license?

Check it out!

My good friend- yah, you know who you are- told me about this awsome blog. I have spent more then 3 hours on it at one sitting. It has recipies, stories, pictures... I have rarely seen anything quite like it. Check it out and leave me a comment after you look at it! I am interested to see if everyone liked it as much as I did. it is

http://thepioneerwoman.com

No, it does not have anything to do with mormons or old fasioned stuff. And you simply must read her "romance" posts...