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.