A Normal "Bedtime Routine"

After a very busy day of school, homework, activities, dinner on the go somewhere in between it all, we finally arrived home ready for our "bedtime routine". I was flying solo tonight, so I told the big kids, "Shower and jammies and then we will do dessert and read a book!" Everyone got ready and was enjoying dessert!! I decided it would be a great time to put S to sleep and then come back down for our chapters of "The Magic Tree House"! Of course, just when you think everything is going perfectly, a fight breaks out!! "He stole my sticker....he ripped mine, I wanted it first, etc. (get the idea!)." So I calmly took the stickers away and proceeded back up the stairs with the baby. Just then L. lets out a huge ROAR to me!!! He starts lecturing me (while screaming!) that he should have the stickers and somewhere in there told me I was "THE MEANEST MOTHER EVER!!!" Good thing I have tough skin!! I promptly said, "no book tonight, get to bed now!" and he was beside himself! Now he was upset about not reading (which is part of his homework) and he continues to yell at me (while I am putting S to sleep-poor baby). This crying continues of course because he is so tired and just needs to sleep. Ahhhhh, I'm tired!! Why does bedtime always have to be a struggle? Sometimes I think it would be easier just to let them stay up all night, just so I don't have to go through this nightly routine, which seems so simple, but at times ends up a complete disaster!!!

KikibOnan

How cute is this shirt that my BFF made for S!!! I love it!! She is working on more for the guys for Christmas presents! They are handmade by my friend and her sister with love. You can get lots of designs, letters and numbers too! Great gifts for birthdays or holidays!! Get yours at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6475045&order=&section_id=&page=1

It's Hockey Time!!

Hockey Season is upon us!! The boys have their first game tomorrow at 11 am. They can't wait!! They had practice this morning at 7:30 am and tomorrow at 6:30 am and then their game at 11! Yes, welcome to HOCKEY!! Luckily, Dad is a coach and loves playing just as much as the kids do, so he does most of the hockey practices. The boy love it, and I can't wait to see them play!!

Back to School Night

We went to L class tonight! He is going to have a great year! He has a very sweet teacher. Lots of energy and enthusiam for her job!
This is the letter L wrote to us (it says mom, because he thought C would still be travelling). He left it at his seat for us to find tonight! :

In case you can't read/decipher it:

Welcome to my seat mom,

I like fun games in P.E. I like centers. I have a favorite center it is the game centers. We have class pets they are hermit crabs. We have two. We are learning about science.

We are learning about weather. I like the books. I like tooth tally. I like my job the door holder.

I think this is too cute!!

Out of the Mouth...

L told me the jacket I wanted him to wear to school today looked, "HIDEOUS"!! Seriously, that's what he told me!! Have a great Monday!

Cake Mix Cookies

I needed a quick birthday snack to send into school today for J's birthday celebration with his new class (which he loves!). I wanted to be fast and creative. I came up with these!
Cupcake Cookies...because although delicious, cupcakes are REALLY messy for 5 year olds!
One box of cake mix (I used vanilla)
1/4 c water
1/4 c oil
1 egg
Mix all ingredients together. Stir in an extra treat if you want to (I added colored sprinkles). Drop on greased cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes in 350 degree oven.
After cookies are cooled, spread vanilla or chocolate frosting on the flat side of the cookie and top with another cookie to make a cupcake cookie sandwich!
Yummy and cute!

Riley

This is our new pup! He is 10 months old and quite adorable! We are having such a great time with Riley. We got him from a breeder when he was 8 months old and he was pretty well trained already (that was a life saver!!). I needed to train him to the electric fence though...sigh! Well, it all worked out fine and he was even leaving the yard on a lease with no problems (something our other Lab would never do, so walks were impossible unless you took him in the car to leave the property! UGG!) Anyway, yesterday I was getting the mail and Riley was walking next to me, usually he stops towards the end of the driveway but he must have forgotten and when he heard the warning beep for the fence, he bolted through it instead of retreating backwards. Then he didn't want to come to me because he was scared (do you blame him?) and after finally getting him (now picture me holding the mail and did I mention I was also carrying the baby?) and dragging him back into the yard he was scared to even be in the yard. He is doing better today, but this week, I have a lot of puppy training ahead of me!