Attack of the killer hornworms!!!

Brent and I were in the backyard tonight proudly picking our veggies out of our beautiful garden. All of a sudden, I saw the biggest caterpillar I have ever seen. We called the kids out to show them. Then we realized that we were each showing the kids a different worm. We took a step back and realized that our tomatoes were covered in these things. We came inside and look online and now know that our tomatoes are being eaten by horn worms. Of course, I had to take some pictures first, but then Brent peeled them off and put them in jars for the kids to take to school tomorrow. They had better leave our tomatoes alone!

It's my turn!

I started back to school this week, and Emily and Tyler felt it was appropriate to take my picture like I do for them. Emily needs some work...or a bigger screen on the camera. We had a great first day. I only have 14 kids, which is fabulous compared to the 20 I usually have. They seem to be a pretty easy group of kiddos, and I am very happy to be back in the classroom. I cannot wait until Friday, though!

My first day of school!

I am alive

I am still here...just busy. It is inservice week and clothing sale week. How lucky can one girl get????

My day alone, just me and the pepto

What did I do on my first day alone in I don't know when? Well, I had big plans. But I got a stomach bug yesterday and I was wiped out. Brent and I took Emily to school and then I came home and rested for a bit. Then I decided there were things I needed to do. So, I pulled together my best attitude and headed out to the world of Memphis shoppers. Blah. First, I went to Super Target. I bought many glamourous items, including kitchen shears and pants hangers from the dollar bins, knit pants for Emily, and stuff for Tyler's treasure box at school. Red dot merchandise was 75% in the dollar bin! Then I headed to Chocolate Soup. Nothing there. Then I went to TJMaxx. I was beginning to get annoyed by everyone being rude. Then I went to Lace Cottage. Then I went to Ross. I really don't like Ross, but I was going to Shoe Carnival to look at shoes for Becky's wedding and Ross was next door. I ended up getting the silver bridesmaids shoes for $13! What then???? Hancocks and another TJMaxx. Then TBCY for lunch. I should not have done that. My tummy has given me grief all day for that choice. Then I went to regular Target and was so annoyed by the rudeness there that I called it a day and came home. I did get a few minutes rest before going and sitting in the car riders line. I have not done that alone in 2 years. It was odd. I was bored, but I also did not have anything to do. Once I get some projects going, that will get better.

Emily had a great day. She has acted like she's been at Macon Hall all her life. The only bad thing she has said is that she didn't have time to finish her lunch. Funny, her chips and Twix bar were gone. The poor sandwich only had 2 bites gone.

Off she goes!

Emily started kindergarten today. They do staggered attendance the first week and today is her day to go. She will start 5 days a week on Monday. We have walked Tyler to his room all this week, so she has been by to see Mrs. Driskall, her teacher, several times. There is another Emily in her class, so she is Emily P. I thought she would go by Emily Kate, but she thought Emily P. was cooler. And who am I to argue. She was so excited and I can't wait to hear how her day went! It was a girls day...only 2 other little girls were coming in today. I am sure she will have loads of stories to tell!

Tyler's first day of 2nd grade

Ok, so I am a tiny bit behind this week. Sorry.

Tyler started second grade on Monday. His teacher is new to Memphis and the school. She is from St. Louis. He has 2 girls in his class from last year. His girlfriend is not, but he sees her at lunch and in car riders line. That seems to be OK for now!

Comment from Brent

Apparently, my husband feels that my blog entry from yesterday was too long to be one paragraph. I apologize if I offended anyone by this. I didn't know blogs were graded.

A Clinique compact

I dear friend of mine has someone, maybe an aunt, that works for Macy's managing the Clinique/Estee Lauder line. Every couple of months, she sends a huge shipment of leftover bonuses. We go through all of them and divide the spoils. It is so much fun. I love make-up. I was going through my new stash a little bit ago (Yes, I was getting ready at 2:30 today, so what??) and I started thinking. If I wanted to, I could afford to buy department store makeup at this stage in my life, but I don't. I am fine with other brands. But, when I was in the 8th grade, I wanted a Clinique compact more than anything. It was THE status symbol at my school. After P.E., all the girls would gather around the locker room mirror and whip out their compacts to freshen up. I wanted one of those green marblized things so bad. I never had to nerve to ask my parents for one. Even then, I couldn't see spending money like that. (I mean, $20 would have bought a new pair of keds!!! Hee hee) Remembering that made me think of status symbols throughout my life. When I was in kindergarten, it was a rabbit coat. Remember those??? I never got one...too expensive I'm sure. Plus, a little impractical. In 3rd grade, it was a ski jacket that the sleeves zipped out. I had one, but it was THE UGLIEST thing ever. I am sure mom found it on clearance. It was yellow, gray, and red. But, I loved it. In the 4th grade,it was Chic jeans. I could choose one pair of Chic jeans or 3 pair of Super Denims for the whole school year. I wore those Chic jeans until they were thread bare. In 5th grade, it was parachute pants. Mom found 2 pair on clearance for my birthday. In 6th grade, it was reebok tennis shoes. Grandmother Baeder got them for me for Christmas. I had to wear them with everything. In 7th grade, it was Sebagos and keds. I got the Sebagos, but I had to buy TG&Y white canvas shoes and I glued the old blue labels off my mom's 1970 keds to the cheapo's. Toward the end of 7th grade, it was Guess jeans. There was no way my family could afford Guess jeans, but somehow, right before we moved to Huntsville, my mom took me and bought some. I wore those jeans for 2 years. Even when the knees busted out, I sewed them back up. I guess when we moved back to Huntsville is when status symbols really made a difference. Everywhere else that I lived, it was cool to have certain things, but you were liked even if you didn't have them. It wasn't like that at Huntsville Middle School in 1988. I wish I could go back and whip out my Cover Girl compact and stick my tongue out at those snobby girls. I wish those girls hadn't made me feel so bad about myself. I guess there were other status symbols throughout high school, but I don't really remember them. I had found so many wonderful friends that loved me even if I bought my make-up at Walmart. :) I don't really remember it being an issue in college. I know I wanted certain things that I couldn't have, but I never felt like I did when all those girls pulled out their Clinique compacts. And if you are one of my teenage friends dealing with this right now, please know that it doesn't last forever. Find friends that don't care what is on the outside. There is life after middle and high school. Praise the Lord for that!!!

Not too bad...

Brent and I have been married 11 years. We got 12 5-piece place settings of our everyday china. Brent broke a bowl within the first year. Emily broke a dinner plate today. I guess that speaks well for Mikasa. I bet I don't have any more credit from wedding returns to replace the plate, though.

Ready for school

Emily got her kindergarten shots yesterday. It did not go very well. She has been given some unhuman strength, that's for sure. There were 4 shots, and after #1, she rolled herself in a tight little ball that could not be undone by 2 grown women.

Registration was this morning for both of them. We also bought our school supplies at school this year. I am sure it cost more than Walmart, but it took less than 2 minutes to do and no crazy mamas with buggies riding my tail. We came home and they put name labels on everything and had to best time. They love new school supplies as much as I do!