So, Kailee's first day of school was yesterday and I can't tell you how excited I was since I had huge plans for Davis and myself!  We were going to read, play, do chores, etc.  Well, I turned the TV off in the morning after we got home from taking Kailee and would you believe Davis didn't know how to function?  I mean it was like I just took away his most prized possesion!  So, I thought I just need to get him started on something or maybe we should do some reading - yes, that's it- we will read.  We were going through the books when I came across The Berstein Bears and Too Much TV.  Perfect I thought!

I was almost in tears by the end of the book.  They misspelled the title of the book.  It should of read 'The Barretts and Too Much TV'.  The entire book was excatly us!  I just don't realize how much tv we watch or how much the kiddos watch.  Who cares if it is Noggin?  The point is they watch way to much!  So, of course, those that know me.  I immediately went off the deep end and unplugged the TV.  I told Davis no more TV and we had to find something else to do.  All day he moped, hung his head, was BORED, etc. 

When Kailee came home she wanted to watch her FULL HOUSE episode from the day - guess what Kailee?  No more TV!  She about died!  I did let her watch 1 30 minute show and then it was off for the night!    What happened to building forts, wanting to play with all your toys, reading, exploring the world?

So, here is the problem.  I do fine having no tv during the day, but I tell you what come the end of Sept.  I will be glued to American Idol, Private Practice, and Grey's Anatomy!  I don't think I would make it without those.  now I could perhaps go without American Idol, but the other two - NO WAY! 

It is so hard to keep the tv turned off at night.  Especially once the kiddos are in bed.  It is just too easy. 

I am making a committment here and today.  To really watch the amount of TV and turn the damn thing off!  How can I day no to my kids, but yet they see us doing it?  Now that makes a lot of sense...

Can anyone tell me what happened to this summer? Remember me saying I was going to relax, enjoy life and make the most of my family this summer?  What happened?  I am not ready to give my children back to the school!  I am not ready for endless drives around town taking them to their activities.  What happened?

I started May out with the best feeling I have felt in a LONG time.  The feeling of knowing that I am at a place where I should be and very content.  Now, I am sorry that I have just 3 more days with Kailee before she heads off to 2nd grade!  These next three days will go so fast with a cul-de-sac talent show, Mother/Daughter Game night, Class lists being posted, and Meet your Teacher Day!  Where does the sleeping in, Chores, watching Full House, Swimming, Riding Bikes, and the endless slamming of the doors going to go?

School has yet to start and the last few weeks have been busy with PTO meetings, chairing the Holiday Mart, starting game night, and of course starting the Green Team for the school.  I think I may have just found a new full time job at the school between the PTO, the lunchroom, and the classroom, I might, just MIGHT have time for the one soap opra yet!  HA HA HA!!! 

My Davis is heading to preschool!  Yikes!  I better worn the teacher now.  Might as well program the principals speed dial on the first day so I know it is set...  :)  I think school will be good for him.  Just hoping they can get all this crap figured out with him!  I pitty the sole who gets to do speech with him.  :)

Davis's schedule is also booking up fast.  Between swimming lessons twice a week, preschool, and playdates he is going to be a busy little guy.

Kailee is also finding herself very busy to start the school year off.  She has decided to forego soccer (thank you Lord) and has replaced that with Hip Hop Dance lessons.  She is in love with her teacher who is a Cheerleader for the Chiefs (Come to think of it, Sean has volunteered quite a bit to take her...).  She also has her first communion this year which means classes each week as well as Girl scouts. 

Whew!  Again, I find myself asking, "What happened to Summer?"

So, I guess we better say goodbye to some of the things we have come to love these past weeks; swimming, riding bikes, koolaid stands, watching every single Full House episode, the endless closing and opening of the front and back door, the water trail from the back door to the bathroom, The endless supply of popsicles in the freezer!  Come to think of it, poor Sean and trying to work through all of us the past few months most of been pretty difficult for him.  He is probably counting down the days while I am still trying to make them last.

Happy Mother's Day to all you Mother's!  I can only hope yours was as nice as mine!  Sean actually made my favorite breakfast this morning - biscuits and gravy, YUM!

My sweet Kailee came in my room this morning, told me Happy Mother's Day and presented me with a card she had made all by herself and a package that she had made at school.  It was a picture frame that she made using my favorite colors.  She is such a sweethart.  She even signed her card with Sean's and Davis' names.

To be honest I wasn't looking forward to the day, just because I knew we already had the tickets for the Royals and I was not in the mood to watch another ball game.  But, you know what?  Today turned out to be one of my favorite days!  We had a great time!  There was actually more of a crowd at the game, it wasn't as cold as the last one and we cheered, yelled, and had a great time! 

It is always so much fun to just be with the family.  Everytime we go, it gets better and better.  The kids made it through the whole game with out whinning or telling me they were bored.  They stayed in their seats - and we really did have fun!  Not to mentioned - the Royals won!!  :)

Kailee also had her dance recital on Saturday - she did great!  She had so much fun and it was fun to watch her.  It is so amazing to see how much of a young lady she is becoming!  This week will be another busy week for her with Soccer, Dance, sonic night, and the talent show at school.  I can't wait to see her on the stage with her friends!

Davis had a great time this past week as well.  He is really enjoying being at home again.  One day we went up to Cabelas and we ate lunch at T-Rex, which he fell in love at!  Now we hear Roar! all day!  Which is kinda nice from, "I'm Buzzlightyear, I come in peace".  But will also be nice to get past the Roar! as well.  He rides his bike everywhere! He is always asking me to go to the "Duck Pond" so he can ride his bike there.  I am planning on letting him take his fishing pole up there this week - that should be fun. 

Davis has his allergy appointment tomorrow.  I am just waiting for them to tell me that he is allergic to everything I feed him and then they get to tell me to change everything I do and blah, blah, blah...  Really I am kinda looking forward to it, hopefully the poor guy can get some relief without shoving tons of drugs in him... 

Sean leaves town again on Tuesday and will be back on Saturday.  I am SO looking forward to his return as he won't have to be gone again for a little while.  It will be nice to have him home again. 

Whew!  What a week it has been!  I must say I was a little exhausted yesterday.  I thought staying at home ment that you had a clean house and hot food on the table - HA HA HA NOT!  Let's see, Monday was Hot Dogs (Turkey Dogs with whole wheat buns - does that count as healthy?), Tuesday was Papa Johns Pizza Night for the school, Wednesday Sean left town so we had Chicken fingers, Thursday was leftovers, and Friday was another school event - skating party where, you guessed it - more hot dogs!  So much for taking the time to prepare menus.  That will have to be my goal for this week.

Davis had his retest for his hearing and failed again.  So we went to the Dr. where they did a different test and he failed that one too.  Poor guy maybe he isn't so bad after all - he can't hear me screaming at him!  In reality it is probably both!  He will go to a specialist next week to have allergy testing done etc. 

Most of my time was taken up by helping with the neighborhood garage sale and getting ready for the PTO picnic at school.  However, I did manage to get some laundry caught up and managed to play with Davis quite a bit.  We had a blast!  He was Buzzlightyear and I was Lighting McQueen or He was Spiderman and I was Mator (Yeah, try playing Mator).  He started to learn what chores are - that's when he would ask when he could go back to school - HA!

Kailee Aced her spelling test this week.  We practiced outside with sidewalk chalk on the driveway.  She had fun with that one.  As of this moment, I am outside watching her run a lemonade stand.  3 customers in the last hour and half - I think she will drink most of the lemonade herself :). 

What else did we do this week?  I bought a bike - yep me on a bike!  I made it around the block before I huffed and puffed my way back home...

I went roller skating - gee hadn't done that since 4th grade - only fell once!

Davis and I went to the school to eat unch with Kailee - Davis that he was hot stuff. 

This week Sean is out of town again all week so hopefully I can get caught up on some more of the house stuff.  Thinking about redoing Davis' room as well as going through the basement; and of course preparing a decent dinner!

Well, I did it - again!  As you all know I am a complete 'city girl'! I am in love with concrete and tall buildings.  Dirt, Bugs, all other forms of dirty nastiness is just not my cup of tea!

Well, I am stepping out of my box!  Earlier this week, I decided that I would help Sean mow the yard.  The first time I have mowed in 15 years (15 years ago was the first time I mowed and the mower was taken away.  Since then I have not mowed).

Sean started the mower for me and mowed the first strip so I had a line to follow.  The best part was he probably already knew deep down that I was going to suck at it, but he still let me do it.  I only stalled the mower 4 times - I thought that was pretty good!

So, long story short  I vowed that I was going to reaquant myself with the earth this summer.

Today, Sean came home with the kids and said they were heading outside to plant the garden (of course I had just gotten out of the shower).  So, instead of staying inside like normal - I headed out!  I grabbed some gloves (pink of course) and went to town.  Of course the first 20 minutes was all about getting my head in the game.  I had to keep telling myself to think positive, and to shut up and just do it.  Eventually, my attitude changed and it started to become fun.  Well, except for when a worm inched my way. 

Kailee is very excited about her garden.  She planted Strawberries, green onions, spinach, green beans, peppers, ginger snap peas, cucumbers, and tomatoes.  Hopefully they will all come up!  So, let's see what I can get myself into now that I have a whole new world opening up...

Yippee!  Sean made it back home today!  I don't know who was more excited, the kids, myself, or Alex (our Dog).  I think Sean was thrown off guard when he opened the front door and a sea of people attacked him. 

It was a fight to the first "Hi", "Daddy", "Sean", HUG, Whatever you get, all while he was on the phone and two bags in his hands and of course a pile of mail.  Now that I think about it - Poor Guy!  He was probably wanting to start walking backwards - HA HA HA HA

Davis went to bed last night telling me repeatedly that he was going to wake up and his Daddy was going to get off the airplane and come home. Kailee was also just as excited!  Those kids love their Dad so much!  Kailee made cards, pictures, and left notes for him everywhere - it was so cute. 

Geez, you would think we hadn't seen him in years or something by reading this, hun?  It has been a whole 6 days!!!!!!!!!!!!  A very long 6 days at that!  :)  During these past six days lets just think to what has happened.  Ummm....

Grocery Shopping, Homework, School, Work, soccer practice, Church, Dance lessons, homework, school, work, dinner, make lunches, homework, school, work, oppps, Kailee I think we forgot to feed the dog, work, school, oppps, I think we left Alex outside, you get the point. 

Sean had a great trip.  First part of the week was in Vegas and the second half was in Ohio.  He said both went well.

We are happy he is home again and does not have anymore travel plans 'til May the first week in May.

What are we going to do this summer?  Kailee sat down with me and made a list.  Here is what she has so far (Please remember this is HER list):

Camping (in the backyard)

Swimming

Make homemade ice cream

Lemondae stand

Go on a treasure hunt

Go to the Stanley Park

Sleepovers

Go fishing

Learn to ride my bike

Roller Skating

Grow my own garden

Go to the movies

Go to the library - read lots of books

Paint the swingset

Cheerleading and Dance Camp

Baseball games (Thanks DAD!)

Go to the Farm (To see Farmer, Aunt Mary)

Go to Grandma Ness’

Go to Grammi (Walk the town)

Go to Na Na’s (wants to jump off the diving board)

Color and do puzzles

Play with Barbies

Play outside.

Whew!  What a list!  I wonder if sleeping is in there?  Boy, I can’t wait to hear Davis’ list now...

That’s right!  Today is Sean’s Birthday (Don’t worry, I won’t share your age)!  Although if you ask Kailee she will proudly announce it.  I think Sean is getting sick and tired of hearing her tell everyone that it is her Dad’s birthday and he is ___! 

The kids were so excited about your birthday.  They kept asking me what kind of party you were going to have, so it was time to plan the party!  Of course, me, always waiting ’til the last minute, I managed to plan a party in under a few hours.  Kailee and Davis helped pick out presents.  Kailee and Davis helped pick out a tent, sleeping bags, and lawn chairs.  Kailee picked seeds for the things she wanted planted in the garden (mind you she picked corn again along with watermelon!).  Davis picked a ice cream maker!  YUMMY! 

I asked the kids were we should have the party and the immediate answer was of course Chuck E. Cheese!  For those that don’t know Sean, he hates that place and I say hate because he really does. I talked the kids into taking him to Beach Bums Island (Chuck E. Cheese - but WAY better).  So, when he finished working last night we said Surprise and headed out the door (with our cake and presents in the back).  We had a blast!  I think by the end of the night, Sean had some fun too!  We played games, had pizza, and laughed a lot.  The best part was the cake!  YUMMY!  The kids were so excited about going to their Daddy’s birthday party that it made it all worthwhile!   

Happy Birthday Honey!

So, should we or shouldn’t we?  I have been asking myself that question for a few days now.  We all know that our children deserve the best, but when is it enough?  When do we say, "stop, you have enough, you need to use your own imagination and you need to figure some things out on your own?"  Today’s children are spoiled (mine are at the top, I know), and are given anything that they desire.  So, when do we get to the point where we say enough is enough?

Hmm.  Maybe it has something to do with ourselves.  Do we keep at it to make our children happy?  Do we keep at it because it keeps our children quite?  Do we keep at it because we think our children love us more for it?  Do we keep at it to out-do the Jones’?  or are we just fooling ourselves and not evening realizing it?

Well, I believe I have realized it.  Our children really only desire our love and attention.  Our children will be just as happy with you playing a game of good old fashion Hide-and-go-seek then you spending the money on some video game.  Yes, the video game is a plus.  But they really just want us, as a parent, to be there, to teach them, to guide them, to play with them.

So, today will be a day (as with the other days that continue) for me and my children.  We will spend time together (no not at some amusement park or some mall somewhere).  We will discover new things together, maybe read a few stories, maybe go on a nature walk and discover hidden treasures, who knows what we will find.  I do know that I will see my children in a different way and, my children too, will see me in a different light as well.

I challenge you.  I challenge you to ask yourself the same question.  What is it that our children really need and want?  What is it that we can do for them?