Where did summer go?

So, since we've gotten back from vacation it has been busy around here.

Kids started their new schools. They both seem to be assimilating better than I expected. The teachers seem to like them.

Christopher sang me his rendition of "Good morning to everyone" today. It's the song the teachers use to get everyone interested in morning activities. He is such a delicious little kid sometimes. Especially when he's being good. Music classes are a must for this kid. I will tape him with the digital and upload it tomorrow. We are also going to go check out a karate class for him this week and see how he likes it.

Gail started a new school as well as her extra curricular activities. She is taking Greek classes and a ballet/jazz/tap combo class. She wasn't too happy about Greek esp since she only understands very little bit and she hates to not be an expert at everything. But she was happier at the end of it today. It turns out there is a little girl from her class at public school that just so happens to be in her same class at Greek school too! She can't remember what her name is but she is very excited about the prospect of making a new friend at both schools. The importance of friendships is so crucial at this age. She keeps telling everyone she meets that her birthday is coming. I mean complete strangers on the street now know our names and birthday's. My "don't talk to strangers" conversation constantly gets pushed to the side because she seems to think informing the stranger who her mommy is (by full name) and when our birthdays are takes precedence!

Have a told you the time she was introducing me to people (multiple) in Eckerd drug store while I was walking around with tampons and a huge package of maxi pads in my basket? and people were actually stopping to hold long conversations with us! The older ladies seemed to take a keen interest in my basket and future purchases. I can only imagine what color my face was.

Anyway back to what we've been up to.

Will just started his new position as a web developer at Mc Graw Hill. It was only his first day but he seems to think he will get along with the people he will be working with. It is corporate so no more jeans and tees. Khakis and polos for his new svelte shape. He managed to keep all his weight off that he lost over the summer. I am green with jealousy. I will try to get him to blog more often now that he has some fodder. No promises.

I started school again too. It is a heavy reading semester: second half of advanced bio, western civ, and math for educators. Have I stressed to you about how much I hate math? The class is interesting I guess mostly because, it attacks it from an educators point of view and we get to use the computer lab for it. Oh and I think I might need glasses. All that late night reading in dim lighting has taken its toll on me. {(No Pat, I have no floaters)} As soon as our vision plan kicks in I will check it out.

Needless to say everyone is really tired come the end of the day.

My March of Dimes walk is this weekend. I am looking forward to getting out the city for a bit. I didn't hit my goal of $300. I'm a little bummed about that. Maybe next year.

Possible future postings: American people have gone nuts over children's birthday parties. Their trying to get me to go to Weight watchers but I say no, no, no. Turtle Care 101- Why won't this turtle eat anything green?.

BTW..keep forgetting to tell everyone..pass it on

Its that time of year again.
I have joined the march of dimes walk to help raise moneys for premature babies and their famillies.

I hope everyone can help with a donation to this worthy cause and reputable foundation. If anyone would like to join me and walk the more the better.

Thanks for all your help. Here is a link to my personal page at march of dimes:

http://www.walkamerica.org/panayou31



why I'm walking:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVghSy-Cens

Kids and their observations

So Gail says to me the other day " hum, you didn't have any coffee yet". As she stares at a the coffee pot disapprovingly. Me "what makes you say that?" Gail "there isn't any spilled coffee on the table (meaning the counter top). How's that for observation? Maybe its because she has a perfect view of the counter top from her vertical angle. Maybe she makes little observations like this all the time and just doesn't discuss them with me. But the truth of it is. I need to wipe the counter top more often after making coffee with my always leaking coffee pot.

Sleep is elusive

Why can't I sleep? If I could stay up till 3 am and wake up at the crack of dawn, like my husband does, refreshed and ready to go I would stay up all hours of the night. But I don't. I've hit the snooze button until the poor clock radio has given up and let me get up on my own accord. That was back in the good old days, back in my college roomy days. I don't get that luxury anymore. That's why I need to sleeep!

OK 1:05 am here. If I get to bed now and the kids poke me in my eye at 8:30.. that's like 7 1/2 hours. That's not bad. It will be like the fourth or fifth time I got less than 8 hours this week. But I gladly give up some sleep to stay up and listen to Regina Spektor "Samson" song and Bon Jovis new song "Let's make a memory". http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=6961441

OK, I need to invest in a good alarm for the 8 am History class I registered for this Fall. I found two that I am debating ordering.

One rolls off the table and doesn't stop rolling around till you get out of bed an chase it down to turn it off.
http://tinyurl.com/2d6mbw

The other is a sensory assault alarm clock "a strobe light, a vibration pad and high decibel sound".
http://tinyurl.com/2zfrz6

Hum which one to get?

Okay 1:19am. Must sleep. Busy day tomorrow.

Kidisms

Chris wakes up, middle of the night, groggy.

Christopher "Mommy, can I have some water?"
Me" Ok honey hold on. I'll get you some"
Christopher "In my blue cup there"
Me "Is this todays water"?
Christopher "No, it's night water"

:) Could just be a mommy thing but I thought his reasoning was so cute.

Mostly packed, weather is looking good

So I am mostly packed. The kids stuff anyway. I tell Will "I think we should be good with this one big piece of luggage". He looks at it with doubt on his face. Damn know it all. In the end we will have five bags, 3 small carry-ons and 2 checked under the plane. Hope we got enough room in the compact car we rented :0)

Its more than a week. I packed enough stuff for each kid for one week under the assumption we will get to do laundry once. That's reasonable right? Gail's spare implant stuff is taking up tons of room. I even decided to leave the dry and store behind because I was worried the bulb would break. I hope Portland doesn't get rainy as soon as we touch down.

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USOR0275?from=search_10day

Whew, gonna be clear and dry while we are there. Awesome!

Can't wait to see my nephews and see how big my cousins kids have grown. I am gonna spend the better part of this trip just hugging those baby Bagby boys.

Contest.. any film students reading my blog?

http://www.current.tv/ecospot

Make an ad to show what you or others could do to help save the ecosystem/ Earth and win a car.