The Big Day

Today is the day I am officially the proud owner of a kindergartner. Not just any kindergartener but this big kid with an amount of self-confidence I didn't know he possessed. He could barely eat this morning, he was so excited to go. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. I kept waiting for that moment when he would realize what was going on and just lose it. Didn't happen.

We walked to the bus stop, just four houses down, and when the bus came he just hopped on. His bus driver is terrific and told him where to sit. She told me she likes to keep the little ones up front near her and I said, "THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!" (suffering a little bus anxiety). So we followed him to school just to make sure everything was o.k. He hopped off the bus and started walking inside and I yelled to him and he turned around with this look like, "Oh yeah, she said she would follow me to school. Ok, bye." He waved and he was gone. That's it. So he comes home and I said did someone help you find your classroom and he said, "No, I knew where it was." Well, alrighty then. Some of you warned me this would happen but I guess you just don't believe it until it happens.

It's a bittersweet kind of day. More sweet than bitter. I remember being completely sleep deprived when he was an infant and thinking this day would never come and, quite honestly at the time, thought it couldn't come soon enough. And now it's here and I wonder if I wished too much away or didn't enjoy it enough but all in all I think we did o.k. I've struggled with my choice to stay at home, pretty much from day one, and today it became really all good with me. It was worth it. Pure and simple. I always thought I was that mom who would be dancing around the house when he went off to elementary school and really, not so much. I think maybe in another week I'll start tappin' my foot a bit.

And what's not to like about school? I don't remember any of my teachers looking like this:
Seriously, how cute is she? I took this picture at his open house on friday. And check out his new do. Daddy took him to the "big man barbershop" for an Army man haircut. No more Cartoon Cuts (WOO HOO!!! There is much rejoicing!) So that's really about it. Monday's are half days in Fairfax County so tomorrow is his first full day - 7:55 to 3:12 (not 3:15, not 3:10 - 3:12, that's when the bus arrives.) It's a long day for a little man. We'll see what kind of spirit he is in by the end of the week!

To Save or Not to Save...

That is the question. I did dive into my computer room and am slowing making progress. Here's my question: Do you save scrap supplies you're not using or are seriously out-dated for your kids to use? I have old CM short cuts, punches, die cuts, stickers and the requisite gazillion deco-edge scissors. I'd love to ditch, donate or sell them but I'm wondering if Spence will ever need them for school or something. Have any of you found that stuff to be useful for your kids? I even have this Fiskars punch thingy....any takers? (:

Have you seen this?

Just hopped on Ali Edward's blog and saw this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjPrL3n63yg

I saw these incredible guys on Good Morning America awhile back. Talk about inspirational. They had me in tears then and they got me again today.

Hot, hot, hot...

No, not me (LOL) - the stinking weather, of course. Seriously, 100 degrees and code red air quality. Thank goodness for the playdate otherwise the Spence-man and I may not be so happy staring at each other. We would be cool, but man, we'd be bored. So two five year olds smoked my butt in Toy Story Memory (repeatedly). It really wasn't pretty. Nothing better to show you how fried your brain is than to play Memory with a five year old. Quite the ego boost. Then they played entirely too much on the computer - just trying to level the playing field. (:

This blog is merely procrastination rearing it's ugly head. Lurking downstairs is a) Laundry; but even worse, b) The computer/scrapbooking room. To say that it is a disaster is a gross understatement. It's so bad that I just walk in there, look around and walk back out. I'm not sure how it got that way. It used to be an ode to organized beauty and now it's organized beauty's evil spawn. I literally can't wrap my head around it. Spence is at camp and this is precious uninterrupted time and I don't think I can get my mojo back until that space is conquered. Any advice? I think it's like dieting. I know that the only way to lose weight is to move more and eat less. The only way to fix that room is to dive in and do it.

We went to see POC2 again. It was awesome, again! I haven't seen a movie in the theater multiple times since I was in high school. Our sitter for the night has seen it four times so I don't feel so bad. And it really was worth seeing it again as we caught quite a few things we didn't see the first time. Totally as entertaining the second time. And we got to go out again - 3 weeks in a row!

Spence starts kidergarten in 2 weeks. His elementary school is on the year round calendar so his first day is July 31st. I think I'm freaking out more than I'm willing to admit (though that would be admitting it, wouldn't it?...hmmm.) Any advice from you seasoned moms? I feel panicked everytime I think about putting him on a bus. What if he freaks out? What if he forgets where to go? Ahhhh!!!!! Seriously, I'd love to hear how you prepped your kiddos for k'garten and how they did. He's going full day also 8:15 - 3:00! I know he'll be tired but I think after a few weeks he'll adjust to the hours. OK, now I think I'll go work on the computer room so I don't have to think about school. Perfect. Stay cool everyone!

Arrrr.....

ahoy, mateys! If ye scurvy dogs haven't seen PiratesII yet, ye better get your booties there soon or you'll be walking the plank. Savvy?

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest ROCKED! I do not care about so called movie critics who didn't like it. I guess they don't like Christmas, the circus, puppies or anything else that is entirely TOO MUCH FUN! I am saddened by those who do not possess the fun chip. My personal opinion: these movies are way too much fun! I loved the first one and so, in a very out of the ordinary trip to the movie theater on opening weekend no less, we HAD to see it. I was a little anxious because the reviews have been less than stellar but have no fear...it was AWESOME! Maybe I don't get out enough or don't have a life because WOW was that a fun 2 1/2 hours. A great dinner afterwards with my main squeeze wasn't too bad either!

And if you'll allow me a brief regression to my early teen years - Check out Orlando Bloom in Pirates! You can keep Johnny Depp. But Orlando? That is a fine looking pirate. If I were 13 I'd so have a poster of him in my room. (As opposed to being 38 and having a picture of him on my blog. Yeah, that did not escape me.)

Now I only have to wait a year for the next one! Arrr.....