Back to School for ME!

My kids have been back in school for almost a week now. Now its my turn. Tomorrow will be my first day back to school in 8 years. I am going back to college to finish my degree. (And I am scared to death) I didn't think I was going to be this nervous, but I am. A lot has changed since I was last in school. The biggest thing to change is ME! I am now MARRIED and a MOTHER of THREE. Most of my classmates will be hurrying out of class to get a quick nap before the nights frat party. I will be hurrying home so I can get the laundry and dishes done before the kids get off the bus. I also have to find time to do my homework after I help my kids with theirs. What was I thinking? Why am I doing this?

Why because I want to prove to my kids (and myself) that I can. I want to show my kids that they can do anything if they put their minds to it. I also want to be able to take care of my family if I ever have to. You can't support a family of 5 on a minimum wage job any more. And without a college degree that's about as good as I could do. My kids deserve better than that.

I can do this. It will be very different than most college experiences but maybe it will be better. I know what I want and I am there because I want to be. Wish me luck.

Oh I want to thanks my sister for hooking me up with new school supplies. When she heard I was going back to school she bought me a new backpack filled with notebooks, pencils, pens, highlighters and folders. Hoe cool is she? This totally made my day. THANKS SIS!

Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Sorry Kids!

PS I'm not really that excited about the kids going back. Now I have to get up at 6AM when all summer long I had been sleeping until 7:30 at least. I also will miss the kids. I am a stay at home mom and this is the first year I will have no kids all day long. Last year my daughter only went half day. But what am I going to do all day. I can only clean for so long every day. I am very excited for my kids though. They all seemed ready and eager to be back. I think it had to do a lot with seeing their friends again. My youngest is in Kindergarten. My middle son is in first grade (which = real school) and my oldest is a big time 3rd grader.

Happy First Day of School!

Wordless Wednesday - Friends

Cash for Clunkers

Before

After

I proud new owner of a 2009 Nissan Sentra. This weekend we traded in my clunker 1994 Town and Country for my beautiful new car. This is my first NEW car and I am so excited. I am no longer a mini van Mama. Not that there is anything wrong with driving a mini van. I was just SO over it. I mean I am still only 27 years old and wanted something a little COOLER. Not to mention it gets 33 mpg. That's a big jump up from the van. I will miss all the room the van had to offer and the fact that I could separate the kids but I'll get over it!

Hula Lessons

During our latest trip to beach we were able to take Hula Lessons. The boys were not so thrilled with the idea but me, the princess, my mom and sister were all so excited. The lessons were given by a man from the Hawaiian islands who travels to Myrtle Beach during the summer to perform. We had such a great time and learned some very interesting facts about life in Hawaii. I thought I would share some pics and a you tube video to help my teacher out. If you are ever in the Myrtle Beach area look him up! The song playing is the actual song we learned to Hula too. Each word in the song has a motion. That's how people in Hawaii told stories before they had paper. Very cool!

Wordless Wednesday - Papa's Hat

Build-A-Bear Birthday

For my daughters 5th birthday we took a trip to Build-A-Bear. She heard a friends mom say you could only visit Build-A-Bear on your birthday and she remembered. (Thanks Liz.) After waiting 30 minutes just to get inside the building we started having fun. Rachel knew exactly which animal she wanted. Then we went to the stuffing.

The hard part was finding just the right outfit. But we finally found the right one, High School Musical PJ's with matching slippers.

My moms birthday was also last week and she joined us at the beach for a couple of days. My mom is a HUGE bear lover so I thought she would love a new bear from Build-A-Bear. I also had a huge surprise. My boys really wanted to get a bear. I thought they would be too old or think it was girly but they kept on asking if they could get a bear of their own. Of course I gave in. Why not! Its only money. A lot of money. But its only money.

Happy Birthday MOM!

Today I would like to say Happy Birthday to a wonderful woman, MY MOM! Thank you Mom for everything you do. I wouldn't make it without you! I love you!

You are always there for me when I need you. If its for a laugh, a shoulder to cry on, advice or a babysitter. I very seldom go a day with talking to you even if its just to say HI.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! I LOVE YOU!

Wordless Wednesday - Birthday Edition

Happy Birthday Princess!

Today my little princess turns five! WOW five years already. She is growing up SO fast. She is the baby of the family so it makes me a little sad that she is getting so big. But at the same time I am glad. The older she gets the more Mommy/Daughter stuff we get to do together.

This weekend we had a very special Mommy/Daughter trip. My princess has been wanting to get her ears pierced for a while now but was a little nervous about it hurting really bad. But she was getting frustrated because we couldn't find any clip on earring and the sticker ones always fell off. Well this Saturday we finally took the plunge. She got her ears pierced.

I could tell she was a little nervous. Well really nervous. (She looked like she was about to throw up.) I was prepared for the crying. We had her favorite teddy bear, Susy and I was holding her hand. Then the count down. One. Two. Three. Yeah pierced ears. She didn't cray at all. She barely even flinched. I was so proud. A small crowd had gathered around and they all started cheering when she didn't cry. She just got this HUGE smile on her face.

Well now my little girl is one step closer to being grown up. She still has a way to go but is one step closer.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS! I LOVE YOU!