We are getting CLOSER to a ROUTINE. Can you feel my HAPPINESS?

I NEED a routine as much or even more than my kids do. I am finding that LIFE is just getting busier and crazier. NO SLOWING down over here. Just more things pulling me in different directions, PTA, Health, Halloween Spook Alley at the school, volunteering, work, homework, and then the things I am longing to do that are the first things put on the sideline, sewing, painting, re decorating the kids rooms, crafting, creating, yoga. I know it is LIFE. So I will STOP whining and make more time.

A GREAT moment amongst all the CHAOS.

  Taft was making Lego creations last night with Estee when he said the cutest thing in the world.  I over heard him tell Estee “This is my Life, It’s what I LOVE to do”. The expression and the passion behind his words had me melting all over the floor. It was so precious. I am so glad he is proud of his work. He has a shelf covered in his special creations.

This Glitter toes tutorial was posted on Made by you Mondays at Skip to My Lou by Laura from

http://laurathoughts81.blogspot.com/2010/08/glitter-toenails.html

It is about $20.00 to get your toes all Glittered up. Laura posted a great how to glitter your own toes for FAR cheaper. So check it out. Thanks Laura.

Before

After

If you are opposed to having a sparkling bathroom floor this might not be for you. It looks messier than it really is. It only takes a few minutes from start to finish and it looks great. I feel like I am sporting pink disco balls on my feet and I love it!! I used red nail polish and tourmaline glitter by Martha Stewart.

I also found a tutorial on glittering your own shoes. They are a MUST see.

http://wildflowersandwhimsy.blogspot.com/2010/09/tinkerbell-shoes-tutorial-sorta.html

The last few months have brought some firsts that I am not ready for.

Adler is in MENS shoes. He now NEEDS deodorant. He is doing his homework without a fight. He is acting more mature most of the time (I think he will always LOVE to tease his brothers). He will be taller than me in a flash. He is already LOTS stronger than me. He starts middle school next year, that one alone gets me close to a tantrum. STOP LIFE!! SLOW DOWN!!! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!

Estee is in Kindergarten. She is my baby. She is my last Kindergartner. She walked into the school with her cousin Holden, without an adult (didn’t think that one would come so quickly).

She lost her first tooth last night. I sit next to her at the dinner table. I looked at her and her tooth looked different. Her tooth was SO loose. I talked her into letting me pull it. After the baby tooth was gone you could see the adult tooth had already broken through her gums, and is fighting her little mouth for a spot. Scott thinks it will straighten out but I am not so sure. I know it isn’t too early, I just didn’t realize my baby was getting so big.
She is so proud. Her little smile is so cute.

She is so turning into quite the high maintenance, opinionated little girl. She wants her hair curled everyday ( just so you know I do NOT curl it everyday). Do you know how long that takes? Too long for an everyday thing. I am not sure how we are going to make it through her teen years, and the way life is flying by, it will be here before I know it.

The guys came to Scott and said that they want to be scouts, so we made some calls and got them in. We went to our first pack meeting last week and they LOVED it. I am ready for the guys to have more growth opportunities. They are working on their tennis belt loop and their manners belt loop. I am hoping that manners one will really stick.

Halston is the one that started all the scout stuff. He is OBSESSED with everything survival. He does his homework so he can watch Man vs. Wild or Dual Survival. I am SO HAPPY to have something that gets him motivated.

Mr. T Roonius is just a sweetheart that has done his homework like a super champ the last few days. So maybe he only does it so he can play video games, is it bad that I don’t care what the reason is I am just happy he gets it done without a fight? Is it too early to say we may have a routine going on? I am crossing my fingers.

Adler is quite the helper in the kitchen. He loves to help make dinner.

This cake was SO delicious and moist. Adler happily did most of the work.
It is a chocolate cake with chocolate mint chip pudding and topped with whipped cream and gummy candy. He was so PROUD.

Two weeks ago he made chicken tacos. I cooked the chicken and he did the rest including cooking the tortillas on the grill. He is gaining some great skills. His future wife is going to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, me.

Estee wanted to make a cake too so on Sunday she helped me make a raspberry cream cheese cake. It was so delicious too. I wish I took a picture.

All the kids want to make their own special cake for family dinner at my in laws. Hall picked out a triple chocolate cake with Oreo pudding and Oreo cookies and M&M’s on top. Sounds Yummy!

It is fun having the kids help in the kitchen, especially when it is one at a time.

I have had these for years. I got them at a garage sale for almost nothing. I painted them black, then shades of teal, then I sanded them to give them an aged look.

I think they are so cute. I love the teal. It gives my room a touch of color. Can you tell each one is a slightly lighter shade of teal?

I still have all these. I am not sure what I going to do with them.

Toothpaste wiped on the door, left to harden into cement.
WHY?

I think I have fulfilled my need to make button birds. It was a fun run.

No longer eyeless.

This one needed more than just a bird.

She was up before me this morning ready to go to school. I think I am going to regret not putting her in morning kindergarten.

Hubby came home from work to take Estee to her first day of school with me.

She jumped right in and only hesitated for a second, after big hugs from Scott and I she was ready to stay and play.

My kids after school.

My kids and their cousins. They all go to the same school. Estee and my nephew Holden are even in the same class.

Silly kids.

I LOVE these kids.

I have one more to go, if I can stop at just one more. I needed more color in my family room and thought this was a great cheap solution. I used craft canvas’, Modge Podge, Fabri-Tac glue (it dries so fast and holds well) fabric, and buttons.

I added a cloud or what is supposed to look like a cloud to this one.

I love this little blue bird. It turned out so sweet.

This poor little chubby bird is eyeless. I didn’t have any buttons that looked good, as you can see by the glue, I tried.

Adler ready for his first day of 5th grade.

Halston ready for his first day of 3rd grade.

Tafty ready for his first day of 2nd grade. He is such a monkey. It is SSSOOO hard to get a picture of this kid.

My guys. Estee starts Kindergarten on Tuesday.

Still smiling and ready to go.

I never thought I would buy character shirts and now that is almost all they wear.

I guess the pictures show his true personality.

I LOVE these guys so much.