8 DAYS AWAY FROM GIRLTIME!

The semi annual Scrapbook weekend is just 8 days away! We've all been communicating for the last few days with humorous countdown antics. Everyone is ready for a break from reality and a lot of laughs (talked to Jessica today on the phone and have already started our fun!)

BACK INTO BLOGGING

Have completely gotten away from the blog for awhile, but ready to jump back in with some updates on our life!

1. Fall is here for sure, leaves are flying. We live in a windy spot so no raking here!

2. Katie is almost 10 and is always cracking us up with new phrases and a more mature outlook on life. She was telling us the other day about something that happened at recess and her comments were something like, "...the part that really sucked about it was...." Brian and I looked at each other over her head and raised eyebrows at the same time! I stopped her story and asked what she just said and she fully repeated the exact wording! I explained it wasn't something a little lady should be saying and it's more adult language than 5th grader. She kind of smiled and just moved on with her story...so what do you think will be her new fav word to say out of mom's earshot?! (better than most her dad could be caught saying out of her earshot!)

3. Brian is a hunting banshee with goose and deer season in full swing. He's really enjoying hunting with Millie and different buddies with all of his goose paraphenalia - smiling from ear to ear!

4. Work for both of us has been tense, but we're still employed and in today's economy, that's a good thing. But there are days...

5. Scrapbook weekend is just 12 days away, cannot wait! BUT - I am not yet prepared to go, so the pressure is about to start.

6. We have a sweet new nephew/cousin! Master Cormac was born in late Sept but Katie or I have been sick at opposite times enough that we've both only seen him twice so far. Don't want to spread any germs his way!

All else is good, buckling down for winter's approach. Oh, how that sounds yucky!

Here are a few back to school pixs of Katie and friends

SO PROUD OF HER!

Miss Katie has been doing a great job at keeping up with her school work, cheerleading and now flute lessons. She's been a very good girl at home, making sure her bed is made, clothes are picked up and room is neat and tidy - OK, at least tidy. She decided to wear a new outfit to school last week and I told her we had a few minutes for a quick fashion shoot before we left the house. Here she is modeling and hamming it up for the camera! Ahhh, a scrapbookers dream! Love you little lady, you make me so proud!

STOP AND PUT SOME BOOM IN IT!

Here's the girlie-girl cheerleader in all of her smiling glory! She loves cheerleading, although the 3 x week 2 hour long practices are beginning to wear on her (and Mom & Dad). She's doing a great job balancing the needs of homework, dinner and practice much better than I anticipated. She's found that she really appreciates the nights without practice! One drawback this year is that she is almost 9 and the other girls are all 7 or young 8's. She and one other girl are much more mature than the rest and it bothers them both to put up with the inattentiveness from the younger girls when Coach asks them to correct their behavior. Katie has been known once or twice to go up to the youngster and say, "You need to listen to Coach or we'll all be here forever!" No, the apple does not fall far from the tree...(bottom picture, Katie is in the center)

FIRST DAY OF 4TH GRADE

The Bloomfield district went back to school on Tues, 9/2 so we were barely finished from the Labor Day weekend while getting the first day of school festivities prepared. Historically, Brian and I have taken the first day of school off so Katie can get on the bus at our house, take the appropriate photo ops, etc. With Grandma always affiliated with the bus garage and our favorite driver Mrs. B, it was never an issue. This year was a little different.

As normal, the weekend before school started I left a message at the bus garage explaining to the supervisor that Katie would be getting on the bus (same bus she always rides) at our house instead of at Cathy's, the fabulous child care provider we've had since Katie was 6 months old. So the morning comes, Katie has the anxious excitement of the first outfit selection, new backpack is heavy jitters and of course which shoes to wear. We are in the driveway taking photos with both Grandmas, Daddy, Mom and Millie, and we see the bus approaching the top of the hill about 1/3 mile from our house. We're all at the end of the driveway, camera is ready to snap that last step as she reaches for the handle and vvvrrrooooooommmmmm right on past our awaiting posse! Our new bus driver, Mr. Holcomb, didn't look at us, didn't see us and wasn't going to stop. The photo on the bottom is what Katie's face looked like as it was speeding past us, at least I was camera ready for something! So we jumped in the truck and headed to Cathy's house for the next opportunity. There were a bunch of kids, parents and grandparents there doing the same thing, so we joined the party and got some cute scrapbook shots to share later!

What a way to start the day....

WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?

Can you believe school is back in session in just 16 days?? Our school goes back on Tues, 9/2 - holy cow! We attempted some school shopping this weekend, but had one of Katie's pals with us so that didn't get a whole lot accomplished. She's set with jeans now though, great sale at JCPenney if anyone has girlie-girls to shop for - tres chic! Next will be sneakers and shoes to match a few of the outfits Grandma splurged on at Limited 2 - oh the prices there :(

Hope everyone is hanging in there with their last two weeks of summertime fun! I caught up with Jessica today, she's been in hiding all summer I t hink! Gave her a good razzing about not keeping her blog up to speed, we'll see if it worked!

Enjoy your upcoming week!

SEE...SHE'S GOING TO DO GREAT THINGS!

Many of you know that I've said for the last few years that my darling daughter will likely become a pole dancer based on her personality, flair for the dramatic and well, she's just darn good at it on the basement support poles. I found this article on CNN.com today so now I know she's actually just a little ahead of the curve and she'll do great things with her fine talent!

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2008/08/10/fortin.hm.pole.dancing.cnn

Swing it Kate!