Posting will be light..

School is in session.. But not really.

We had school for 2 days.  Then 2 days off.

Then school for 4 days in a row, and now we have 4 days off in a row.

We stop. We start.

I suppose it's best this way, not waiting till after the holiday, and at least we won't be still in school in August of 2010, but all this false starts. I'm going to forget something or someone.

Thank Goodness Summer came back to say goodbye. I was SHOCKED at how cold it was last week. It was oppressively hot and humid one day, then FREEZING the next.

Hello schizophrenic New England weather, take your meds. It's still summertime here.

I don't want to hear about "the Frost" for at least another month. There will be news coverage EVERY MORNING till the first frost of the season, get ready for "the Frost"! "cover the trees at night" just in case of the Frost. THERE WILL BE A GRAPHIC.

 Posting this picture because I love it and he was ADORABLE tonight & I need to remember these moments, for his safety.

This baby is now almost 50 pounds and PLAYS SOCCER and is all growed up.

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Day 3 of The 30 Day Shred PART 2:

Dan and Coley are still in it with me. We are attending a wedding for my cousin on Saturday. I bought me some VERY high heels. It the heels don't snap my little ankles, I'm sure those stupid Jumping Jacks will.

This Post is brought to you by: Nicole Kathleen

The goblet known as "THE SHRED" has been passed amongst this family for at least a year, and now it has been passed on to me.... great.

 

I (like my mother) am very unmotivated, unless... there's something in it for me. : ) see that is why i have just finished the second day without complaint. Yes maybe to gain this goal that i want means adding on 30 more days to the already painful journey that awaits me in the weeks to come, but if i nicole kathleen finish the now 60 day shred i nicole kathleen will be able to get my nosed pierced like my best friend sabrina jennine.

besides the fact i will be as my cousin garron calls it "BUFF" i will also have my nose pierced!!!

Thank you for your time..

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I KNOW. In all honesty I'm not loving the idea of a nose ring.

But she agreed to EVERYTHING. The 60 day shred. It she makes it, it would have to be small. Tiny. Demure.

We shall see.

September 1, 2009

He has waited for this day for over 2 years.

Today was his day.

He was a total rockstar.

Let me present to you.

My soccer Prodigy:

He scored 5 goals.

+ One for the other team. Whoops..

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I finished the 30 Day Shred. It was a good feeling to obtain a goal. I should do it more often.

Anyway: Since it's Sept 1st, I'm starting over . Day one of the 30 Day shred has been completed. Dan and Nicole did it with me and we all were sweaty and hating Gilian together. It will be fun to compete with them!

Forever Sisters..

Sisters are different flowers from the same garden.  ~Author Unknown

Sisters don't need words.  They have perfected a language of snarls and smiles and frowns and winks - expressions of shocked surprise and incredulity and disbelief. Sniffs and snorts and gasps and sighs - that can undermine any tale you're telling.  ~Pam Brown

I know some sisters who only see each other on Mother's Day and some who will never speak again.  But most are like my sister and me... linked by volatile love, best friends who make other best friends ever so slightly less best.  ~Patricia Volk

Sunday : Playing Ketchup

The First Full day of school for Nicole was on Thursday, she is an official High Schooler.

She got to play hooky on Friday to attend the long awaited deep sea fishing trip. But due to Tropical Storm Danny they only got a few miles out before they had to head back.

(ps. A very SPECIAL Thank You to Tropical Storm Danny for the flooding caused in both my basement and back yard. Babysitting the sump pump last night was not my idea of a good time).

It's a well known fact that our little town does not offer any buses for the High School.

What? you ask.. No Buses? I FREAKING KNOW.

It is thought amongst the Town People? that at this age, our children should be able to either secure a ride or walk to school.

While I think this is STUPID because it means I become the bus driver, I am glad that my taxes did not triple in order for the town to buy a big yellow bus.

The Mama Bus leaves at 6:40AM and returns home no later than 7:05 in order to be here when Emily's bus arrives at 7:15AM.

A tight schedule, two small children and a TEENAGER should make for interesting stories.

She has never done a fall sport, looked into field hockey, but didn't like it.  So it's open gym as well as gymnastic classes in preparation for the Cheerleading tryouts, thank goodness they are after we return from Disney.

Speaking of Disney:  THE PRINCESS has arrived:

She loves school.There are rules and schedules and friends.

She is too funny. She finally lost that tooth. Total is 6? Her two front ones are kinda looking at each other, but I think as she loses more, they will have room to turn.

On Friday they were given REAL homework. Like big kids. SHE LOVES to be in the BIG KID circle. Gets all serious when speaking of class work and class rules and how manners and listening will earn them prizes.

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Day 30 of the 30 Day SHRED:

Last night I was visited by Captain Migraine.

I gave it a try, but after bout 3 minutes, I gave up. Even the Arm Crosses were making my head pound. So I did my make-up Shred today at 6:00PM and I'll SHRED again for Day 30 in a few minutes.

For REALZ. I did not think I could do this.

For the last few years I have not been able to be consistent with exercise, even when I REALLY wanted to. The last two weeks I've noticed how much stronger my body is, how I can do more reps with better form and how far I've come with my coordination.

IT IS ONLY 20 MINUTES. That's the kicker. I'm not off saving the freaking planet people, there is NO EXCUSE why I can't do this everyday. Also, there is not as much guilt. I ate cake, dumplings and frosting this week.

Normally I would be kicking my own ass because it's either watch your DIET or you better make sure your active.

When I do neither?

There is much swearing and yelling and the need for BIGGER JEANS.

Saturday

It was a LONG RAINY GROUCHY Day..

Tropical Storm Danny

They were all ready for their deep sea fishing trip.

All six of them got up early and drove to the coast. They packed lunch, dressed in LAYERS and one person who is notorious for getting sea sick applied his motion patch.

They got a few miles out and the waves were 20 feet swells. It was rough seas.They decided to turn back and reschedule.

Everyone was very sad.

Stupid Storm.. Stupid Waves..

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Day 28 : done. It's late, almost 12:00, but I made it in. It was a great work out too. I'm hoping my form is better, I focused on doing as many reps as possible in a row.

The B.

His name is FLIPPY., originally uploaded by Michelle.Dan.

O this boy.

I just love him.

I snapped this picture of us yesterday. I'm sitting on the floor of the kitchen and he's got those chubby arms wrapped around my neck.

I was trying to distract him from the tantrum he was .5 seconds away from throwing, because he didn't want to get into the car.

I can't say I blame him, we have dragged that poor boy all over creation for school shopping, school supply shopping, food shopping and whatever else shopping needs to be done.

He is mostly a good sport, but lately he is super aware of when your 100% attention is not focused on him and he will exploit this totally to his advantage. Usually it involves touching, throwing or knocking over whatever bright and shiny object has caught his attention.

He had a play date today with Uncle Randy . A random afternoon spent at their favorite store, Home Depot, then they watched a little Scooby -Doo and wrapped the afternoon with a Happy Meal.

* Thing I don't want to forget:
He finished his dinner. He was pleased with himself.
I asked him How he got to be such a good eater.
He thought about it did the SCARY face and told me that he "had lots of practice."

(the REALLY scary face, is where his eyes get REALLY big and you can SEE his brain working, it's like his THINKING face.)

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Day 27: it's the final countdown.. 3 days left. I can't believe it. I can so feel the difference. My arms are stronger and I feel the muscle in my legs. It's a good thing too, because I'm having a good time cooking from that evil website where everything is made of SUGAR and Butter.

The First Grader and The Freshman

The First Grader and The Freshman, originally uploaded by Michelle.Dan.

First Day of school for the 9th Grader and the 1st Grader.

This morning was very hectic and I' m exhausted, but they both got to school in one piece.

Emily's bus driver forgot to stop, we made the mad dash and made it. She loves her teacher, because she commented on her pretty dress and called her sweet.

Coley got to school about half hour early, but it was OK, she found friends there. She got a locker and knows at least one person in all her classes.

A successful first day..

Aiden and I visited Emily's Dr., picked up her perscription, brought it to her school and made it back in time for the furnace man. We had a busy morning too. It's not all bon'bons and nap taking here, we are HARD workers.

I can't wait for Aiden to go to school. He is bored? going thru a phase? pushing my buttons? Whatever it is, it is non-stop for 8ish hours and you know it's bad when you are thinking his bedtime should be 5:00PM. I need to miss him a little, to remember WHY I LIKE HIM.

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Day 26 of the Shred, Cole came in from Cheer Practice. They do some serious hard core workouts there. She watched me shred and helped me with my form and showed me how to stop using my back and use my ABS to do crunches. It was VERY hard not to tell her to shut up and leave me alone and by the way your grounded for telling me I'm doing wrong.

Just ME and You?

Just me and You?, originally uploaded by Michelle.Dan.

Tomorrow Nicole and Emily will leave for the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

Aiden and I will be home alone, just like the old days.

School for him does not start till after Labor Day.

He's a big kid now, he has classes 3 days a week.

I will be his sole entertainment between the hours of 7-2.

I'm not sure he's going to be exactly overjoyed at the idea.
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Day 25 : As soon as I hit publish, I'm headed to Shred. I'm exhausted. I didn't trust myself to shred first, then post. Our new school schedule requires a 5:30AM wake up.

It's going to be tough, but I'm thinking I can get in a good workout before I fall over.