11 Months!

It has been 11 Months since I posted here. My monsters are an entire year older! I survived the entire year of all 3 monsters in school full-time. We experienced our 1st earthquake. Right here in VIRGINIA! We have traveled to Hawaii & Seattle.

A year. An entire year. I cannot believe that I have missed documenting all those moments. The good & bads of school. The ups & downs of their little monster lives:( It is time to set aside 30 mins each day to meditate & blog about my monsters.

Canʻt wait to get back to documenting our lives. I will start with Declanʻs last origami class tomorrow! That should make a fun post!

Sheʻs 6!!!!

I honestly cannot believe that my "baby girl" is 6 years old today! It seems like just yesterday that she came into our family!

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY MARGARET FRANCES!!!!!

Life With PePe!

This is Killi's (our) new puppy, PePe.


He was Killian's birthday present this year. He is a Havanese and will only grow to be about 12lbs.


PePe has been with us now for just over a month and things are going fairly well. House-breaking is not so bad and the fact that he is small and can be put in the pack-n-play to sleep or for a time-out is good. Gus adjusted wonderfully to him and seems to enjoy having a playmate, even if he is 130 lbs smaller:) PePe uses Gus as his step-stool and often as a bed:) And after a really tough first two-weeks, PePe has even come around to the very children he was intended for:)

I'm not going to lie, two-weeks into PePe, I was not sure this was going to work. He HATED the monsters and they had gotten sick of having a new puppy that they could NEVER touch without being attacked:) Now, he rarely snarls at them and they have gotten much better about letting him be a DOG and not a toy to be carried all the time.

But, as is usually the case, PePe has been added to my "chore list". I feed him, I clean-up after him, I get up in the morning with him and I bathe & dress him (He is tiny.He needs a sweater to go out:) With this care also means that PePe sleeps in his pack-n-play at the end of my bed. Well, tonight the girls thought it was about time that PePe move into their room, so I happily gave it a try. It lasted about 15, VERY LONG, VERY BARKY, mins!!!! But I say and wait. Waited for them to come BEG me to take PePe back. So, of course I did and they have decided that maybe it is best if PePe just stays in my room until he is 12 or so and he can just visit them in their room:)

It is nice to have my puppy back, quiet as I tuck into bed tonight:)

Happy Holidays!!!!

The Monsters on Christmas Morning at the in-laws!

A Christmas picture is just as good as any other to begin this post since I have not posted here since about Halloween:)



We have had a busy few months around here. Foolishly, I thought having all three monsters in school all day-five days a week was going to open some time up for me. That has not been the case, someone always has something happening to keep me busy!

The monsters are progressing in school and some days are better than others for all of us:) I still have many days that I'd like to just lock the door and keep them all home with me so that I am the only CRAZY influence in their lives.

They are growing-up quickly...too quickly. I am now the mother of a 5, 8 & 9 year old, seems like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant, not 10 years ago!!! I wish there was a way to slow time down, as cheesy as it sounds, it is the one thing I wish I understood and took more advantage of when I was younger. Now there is little free-time, life just keeps happening!!!

I no longer have babies, not even toddlers, now I only have kids. One of which is trying to jump into double digits on his next birthday!!!! Oh how I need to make more time, learn to enjoy and live better in the moment. I guess that should be my goal for the coming year, reclaim my family before they are grown-ups:)

It's That Time Again

Parent-Teacher Conferences are tomorrow. It will be the first time we are going in for all three monsters. And while we are not expecting any surprises, it always unnerves me to sit and listen to someone else tell me about my children:)

It does feel alittle different this year though. I feel calm, and excited to hear what the teachers have to say. For the first time since school began for my sweet Killi, I feel like we have the right teacher and the perfect team to support her and I am hopeful that the conference will support that. As for Declan and Marg, I just hope to hear that they are working to their fullest potential, okay and I admit that I am wondering if Marg scored higher or lower on her kindergarten eval than Declan did:) So much excitement:)

Happy Halloween!!!!!

We made it a whole block this year trick-or-treating:) After just three houses Killian did ask her father why we needed to go to other peoples houses for candy when we have some at home:)

Not Really Feeling It.

I am having a very difficult time embracing the new school year. It has nothing to do with the teachers or staff because once the kinks of a new school year were worked out they have been great. I am just not feelin' it. What I think is getting me is the homework and the schedule, I am not really a fan of either. I mean I do get the schedule thing, I know that it is not possible for 700 kids to just come and go as they please from school, but the homework thing I don't get. I feel that the kids are in school for 6.5 hours a day and only awake for a total of about 12 so figure out a way to get the work done at school. If they need extra practice, find time in class, cut 10 mins off lunch:) just don't send the work home. They are kids, elementary school kids, they deserve to have the 4 hours between school and bed free for fun and relaxing activities.

I will say that the monsters seem to be enjoying themselves. They enjoy their classmates and their teachers and aside from Marge coming home VERY tired, I have very few issues. No crying from the Killi monster and Declan has never been so happy to go to school. I think I will just be thank that everyone is willing and able to go to school everyday and stop complaining about the schedule and homework:) I just hope the year continues on this path!

Week One Down!

We have all managed to survive the first week of school. Not only have we survived, but some of us have even enjoyed ourselves:) I will report, with mixed emotions, that all three of my monsters " love school". I am getting used to having them gone, but I was pretty busy this week so it is hard to tell how I will handle a slow week home alone:)

The car breaking down did mess us up alittle, but I am always happy to have an excuse to change a schedule:) For all of us the most difficult transition has been bedtime. We spent most of the summer with a bedtime between 10- midnight with rising times between 9-11 am. That worked for the summer since our pool didn't open until noon, but with the whole 8:40 arrival needed at school, bedtime has had to adjust. And it is. Most nights anyway.

We topped off our first week with a wonderful trip to the park with some of our favorite people, we even had some dads! The girls and I finished with dinner with friends while Ben and Declan hit the P-Nats playoff game.

Tomorrow morning we will head out for some Titans football then a quiet day at home and NFL watching on Sunday!

It Is Almost Time!

Tonight we went to "Meet the Teachers" that the monsters will have for the coming year. Everyone seemed pretty happy after we met the teachers. This is a very good thing since Killi was very nervous about her teacher, but once she was able to put a face to her teacher she was very excited! Our first stop was Declan's class and we really stayed only long enough to drop his supplies and grab the papers that needed to be signed. We said hello to the teacher and we went on our way. Next stop was Margaret's classroom. We filled out some forms and she chatted up the teacher and checked out her room. She seems fine with the idea of school, but I am not sure she is fine with the actual leaving:) I guess we will see how Tuesday goes. Hopefully there will be no tears...Well, at least not from her:) Last we hit Killi's class where we ran into some friends that she will be with and the "not mean teacher" :) I am glad we all made it through!

My expectations for the year are low, much lower than they have ever been before. I am not sure if this has come after years of reaching for the stars and never getting them or if I am just so sure that this will be a great year!

Sweet Summertime...

I am very torn on summer ending. A week from today, I will be spending my days alone at home. All three monsters in school full-day. I am happy for them. I know they will enjoy it and have fun, but what about me???? They are just ditching me! After 9 years of sitting at home with children, they are all leaving! How mean they are:)

I will be happy to see them go because the fighting has gotten out of control! Screaming and yelling at eachother all day long! My cupboard will be happy to see them go too! They seem to eat so much more in the summer!

I know I will enjoy them more when I do get to spend time with them, since I will miss them so much! And I am hopeful that they will feel that way about eachother too:)

I cannot wait to have time to clean the house, one room at a time and have the room I started in still clean when I finish the last one. I am excited to have time for my school work. And I am excited to spend some time with my husband.

I think I will find this to be a good experience for all of us, eventually, in a few weeks or months or...well I will tell myself that anyway:) It will be good!

For now I will enjoy my last few days of Sweet Summertime with the monsters!

Is It Too Much To Ask?

Dear Children,

Is it too much to ask of you NOT to behave like animals in public? I mean, if you really feel the need to act like animals, I will be happy to accommodate you when we are at home. I can put bowls on the floor next to the dog's and a blanket on the floor to sleep on, but my goodness, just act like the kind, respectful, intelligent children I know you are in public!

When you misbehave and act out in public, it is rude to the others around us, disrespectful to me and daddy and makes people think less of you. So, I am begging all three of you to remember your manners from this moment on!

Your Loving Mother,

Emily Fallon

Football

WOOHOO!!! Football starts tomorrow! I am so excited! There is nothing better than sitting out in the 100 degree heat at dusk while the buggies bite your legs:)

That is however that last bit of football complaining I am hoping to do. Declan is really looking forward to the season. His coach ROCKS and the games are alittle later this year, so it should be good! We are hoping that Declan figures out that it is tackle football he is playing and not flag:)

Biggest Joy of Parenting

This morning we had to make a run to the doctor for Killi & Declan. Just quick check-ups, but it ended up being sooooo very exciting! You see, all five of us now see the same family doctor, so when I walk in with the kids, he always asks them how their father is. Today started not differently. The doctor walked in the room, said hello to each monster and asked how daddy was. Well, my lovely monsters decided to give the doctor a BLOW-BY-BLOW of the argument that mommy & daddy had last night. It was great! Mommy was mad at daddy for...and because he...Gosh I love these monsters:) The only thing that saved these three was that they sure it make it out to be ALL Daddy's fault:)

So, we leave the office to rush home for Killi's tutoring session, where she no sooner started working when I hear her retelling the tutor the story of the "fight". Mind you, we again in the car home, discussed home things that happen at home stay at home! Things that we talk about as a family, stays with our family. For the life of me I cannot understand why my kids are not getting that! I mean I had that drummed into my head by the time I was their ages! Again I will say that it was still all daddy's fault in this story too:)

For the record and since the children have shared with EVERYONE already, I will tell you all that the "fight" was more about mommy & daddy being very tired and needing someone to vent to then anything good:) And, I think it is good for them to see us "fight" sometimes. To know and understand that things are not always smiles and laughs, sometimes life is hard, but that we always love each other.

Where Have I Been????

What an awful blogger I have been here! No news of the monsters for weeks and weeks! School I finally over for the year! I was very happy to see the year end. I am finding it difficult to feel like I am getting what I want out of the school system. I "like" everyone well enough teachers & staff, but I just didn't expect to have to fight so hard for what I think my monsters need. Plus the politics SUCK! I could never have imagined elementary school for my kids was going to be more difficult for me socially that Wall High School had been:) but it is!

Anyway, school is OUT! We have been spending our days at the pool and will do just alittle traveling, which will be a change for us. I wonder how we will like being home more than away for the summer, we have never done it!

The monsters quickly switched to a "summer schedule" of going to be LATE and sleeping their mornings away. It works here though because the pool doesn't open until noon so if the roll out of bed at 10:30, I can feed them and they are ready for the pool!

I will post pictures soon! Maybe from the FolkLife Festival if we can make it down there in the heat tomorrow!

Ah...

Perfect song on the radio
Sing along 'cause it's one we know
It's a smile, it's a kiss
It's a sip of wine, it's summertime
Sweet summertime-
"Summertime" Kenny Chesney

The weather is HOT and STICKY. The pool is open. We have made it to another summer! Declan and Killi are just about finished with school. We have abandoned what schedule we had and we are back to winging-it. The only schedule we have sort-of maintained is getting to and from school, and you see I said "sort-of":)

With the weather HOT and Ben traveling all last week, I have completely turned on the slacking mode. I have a messy house, a pile of laundry and no desire to do anything but sit on the beach with a book(I will substitute a pool since the ocean is 2 hours away). I hit the county pool once this week with Marg while those other monsters suffered at school and today we all hit the community pool.

I love the pool. I love that the monsters love the pool. They swim and play with their "summer friends" all the while getting exercise and tired:) We picked up some new goggles and sunscreen and we are good to go!

A few more days and school will be over and we will have very few commitments. We hitting my FAVORITE time of year!

Spoiled...

I love fireworks. Independence Day has always been one of my favorite holidays because of the fireworks. Because of this, my children have also come to love fireworks.

As of late, we have become quite a spoiled bunch with awesome firework displays for our viewing pleasure, about twice a month. It has been incredible! We are talkin' REAL firework displays, on par with any I have ever seen.

After last night's display, I did express concern that 4th of July way be a let down this year and that the fireworks would not hold the same level of excitement for me, but that feeling was gone once I started making plans for our firework viewing next weekend;-)

How lucky we are to be spoiled by fireworks!

Uncharted Waters

I need a nautical map, I have a feeling we are headed straight for the rocks! I am just going to admit it, I am not having an easy-go at it with this whole parenting thing. I feel like we take two steps forward and three back! I am frustrated and confused. I am at the point of asking my husband for parenting advice and assistance, for the first time.

Nothing seems to be working. I push, they push harder, why do they not pull anymore? What happened? I am not sure who thought it was a good idea to let them have opinions of their own and three different thoughts at that! This is insane! I want to change my parenting style now...I want to go with the philosophy that children should be seen and not heard! What was I thinking trying to raise vocal independent thinkers? Being open and honest is starting to haunt me now! How was I to know that at 8,7 & 5 they would have learned to speak up and out! Okay, I admit it, it was me! I did this! I made my bed!!! Now I want them out of it!LOL!

Well, tomorrow I will have to work on braking their spirit, once I get done with that maybe I can build them up again as little robots, brain-washed little followers;-)

Marg...

My darling 5 year old decided to share with me today that her daddy loves me only alittle, her brother not at all and her sister hates me, but that is all okay because SHE loves me...ALOT!LOL!

What am I going to do with her:)

Opening Your Eyes

As any parent knows, one of the most difficult things to do is see things that are wrong with your own child(ren). Amazingly, we can spot a child with "issues" miles away unless it is our own:) That always make me laugh;-)

With my three kids growing-up, what I am noticing is that the scale of "normal" is extremely varied(mostly from parent to parent:) For the most part, two are my three monsters are "normal", but really they are not. Declan is 8 going on 75, he doesn't always get along with his peers, as most of them are not into reciting US History. Margaret, my other "normal" child is 5 going on 16. She is too smart for her own good and has common-sense that spans far beyond her 5 years on this earth. Then I have Killi, who is does not fit the mold. She has some LD and is sweet and kind to the point of allowing others to walk all over her.

There you have it, three kids and not one of them fits into "the box". Declan and Maggie can, when they want to jump in the box, but Killi would rather use the box to make a car, plane or boat to take her away:) It has taken me some time to see that Killi is not near the box, she is in her own circle, and I love her for that. I have known for most of her life that she was a little "different" but I was not sure how. Now I know and I am happy that I know. I want other parents to know. To feel that calmness you get when you stop trying to force your child into the "box". Sure, it is nice when your child can do the "box" when they need or want to, but it is just as okay for your child to never hop inside.

Take a look at your kids, are they in the "box", a "circle" or maybe something else. Just see it. Recognize it. I know it is hard, but it is harder to be the child forced into a box that you cannot fit in. And next time you spot that kid that is "different" think about what others see when they look at your kids.

Mothers Day

As far as days as a mother go, today was a good one. The monsters slept in, there was little fighting and things were pretty quiet and that made for a pleasant day. Chocolate Chip pancakes for breakfast, cleaned bedrooms and a flag football game that was my day.

There is nothing I would rather be doing than spending the day with my family, there are never enough of those days!