Sick day - again

No, not me (or the dog!) today it was Mr. Tater. Pinkeye has struck, which shouldn't be a surprise since he has had a gross cold for the past week or so. It feels like we can't go more than 2 weeks without having to take a sickday for someone. Oh well, tis the season, right?

Although he is "sick" he is totally still himself and was good enough to play by himself for awhile so I could work on our bedroom a little. I wish I would learn that if I stayed caught up on daily stuff that these days could be way more productive!

Early out today meant Teagan was home in time for naps. Of course, she had no desire when I mentioned it, but after doing a "craft" she was out. Can you find her in the picture? Gotta love naptime, but do you think I was productive? Give you one guess. Hey - there is always tomorrow!

I leave you with a video showing just how sick Tate is - wow this pinkeye is just wiping him out!

Sorry its sideways.

You know its been a long day when...

you are too tired to even eat potato chips! Kindergarten is hard work people!

Just say no!

Sorry - couldn't resist the picture. The reason behind it follows: We are pretty excited here at the Schaefers. Brad and I have decided to join some of our friends on a trip to Mexico early next month. I am so excited that I try not to think about it much because it seems so far away.

The beach

The drinks

Ahhhh...

The part that I have to think about is the fact that I need a swimsuit - maybe a couple. I have some from past summers, but would really like one that just fits better. That being said, I had to take the kids with me on a quick try-on session this afternoon. I stopped at a local store at the mall, picked out a couple to try on, and all 3 of us loaded up the handicap dressingroom. You moms can totally picture this in your head. You new or expecting moms - just wait!

So, there we are - the kids are dancing and jumping on the bench and I am trying on suits. I don't really mind having Teagan there because she has a pretty decent fashion sense. I try on a couple and proceed to put on the last one. It is my favorite out of all of them and Teagan says it is hers too, except for one thing. "Whats that?" I ask. Her reply? "I can see your chest crack, Mom." Simple enough - that one went back on the hanger! Back to square one!

My baby is growing up!

Actually not the babies you are probably thinking of. This baby:

My brother, sister-in-law, and hubby hosted a 21st birthday party for my sister last night.

We started at a local restaurant/bar with family and friends.

We then loaded a bus and headed to downtown Iowa City and a local establishment.

We all remember (or have forgotten) nights like this. And some of us still have the pleasure of being able to have nights like this every once in awhile now!

Let me just say that after staying out WAY too late and watching WAY too many people drunk on a WAY too small dance floor, I can say that chapter in my life is over. And I am OK with that! That being said we had a great time and it brought back some good memories! As long as you are with good friends and family there is a good time to be had.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH!!

To be 6 again

So, I asked Teagan to clean of her desk. This one..















This is what it usually looks like after a week of school work brought home, stuff collected throughout the house, and outfits that didn't get put away. It is one of the banes of my existence and it drives me CRAZY. I try to keep up with it during the week, but not this one, so this morning I asked her to go through the papers and decide what to keep and what could be thrown. She was quietly working in her room and was expecting to find at least some progress, but this is what I saw instead:




















I said (as calmly as I could, of course) "Teagan, I asked you to clean off your desk." To which she replied, "I am Mom. I thought I would take the stuff off my desk and cut it up to put on my walls." AWESOME. Now, not only do I have to see all that stuff on her desk it is now on the walls. She is cutting it down, which all us moms know means scraps everywhere! And I can't discredit her for being creative, but now I have 2 messes to clean up. Should have just done it myself. Arg!
Some samples of the early work:

And it isn't contained just to her room. All over the house as "decorating". Ah, to be 6 again!!

Rituals

Just thought I would give you a glimpse of the rituals my kids HAVE to do everyday. Seriously,

I think if they didn't do them something bad might happen!

yep - those are the snow boots ON the kitchen table. Not sure exactly why they have to be there, but they HAVE to be taken off by Tate himself. For some reason he feels the need to put them on the table. By now I have already picked up the hats and gloves that the enoys sliding across the table onto the floor. What goes on in their heads?

Asking Teagan to give me any papers I need is also a loaded question. This is what I usually end up with. Look familar to anyone else?

How about this? We used to use a checklist when we got home, but these stickin big coats are about impossible for me to hang up let alone a 6 year old. Again, easier if I just do it. I know, I am enabling, but you know what? It is just easier people!

Then its off to dress up like her favorite teacher of the day. Sometimes it is one of the kindergarten teachers and she has a pile of books and uses a marker as a pointer. Today it was the music teacher, who, obviously wears shoes like these. Lets hope she isn't wearing her fleece jammies, but hey, who am I to judge? Kidz Bop in the CD player and we are rocking and rolling!

Boots off and ready for "Girls Dancing" or "Michael" (otherwise known as Little People - I'll tell that story another time!) Tate is ready for a "'nack" and "my bankies. Bof of dem Mom". This is his chill time and I use it to its fullest because...

see it coming?

yep - here we go!

our future daredevil-pretty sure given the Schaefer genes he won't be a gymnast. He balances on the edge, usually while watching his show.

Hits once on his feet.

Bounces once on his knees and dives face first towards the other end of the couch. And then up laughing to do it all over again. Let it be known - I do not approve of this or allow it if I see it. There's that word - if. I cannot watch this terd every minute and to his credit he is honest. If I ask from another room what he is doing he simply says, "I jumping on da couch Mom!" I'll take honesty over not listening anyday!! We all know the not listening probably won't get any better!

Teagan didn't feel the best today. She has a cold and has been saying she has a headache. Poor thing! You know when they sit still like this for this long that they don't feel well.

This is the latest bedtime "thing". He is loving his blankies more and more each day. Not sure how I should feel about it. They stay in bed unless he is resting or napping - hoping we can leave it at that. And check out the unzipped zipper - watchout ladies!!

The usual suspects

Yep - these guys struck again. They took Tate out on Friday night and Teagan on Saturday. Brad and I usually get lucky and they skip over us, but not this time - Sunday and Monday were our days. And let me tell you this bug made me have flashbacks of last year's food poisoning episode. I will leave it at that with the hope that we are done with these guys for this season!

By Monday night I felt good enough to finish putting together our Valentine's Day banner. I hung it with some clear, tiny hooks from 3M. Those things are awesome. Now, we'll see if the banner can hold its own against the furnace vent right below it that sends it waving!

Cute right? The DVD is cute, but my son asking to "watch girls dancing" is starting to worry me. At least now I know what he is talking about! I was a little concerned for awhile!

I think I mentioned in my last blog that we were struggling with Tate and some of his "words". Well, this guy came out and Tate hates it! He has had it twice, so I guess we'll find out if he learns from it or becomes one of those kids who bites the bullet and pretends to like it just to get back at us - trust me, he is totally capable of it!

He is becoming quite the ham. He talks so much, putting phrases together and using some big boy words - even ones that are OK :) Here he is fake yelling back and forth with Teagan saying "I beat Teagan, I done eating."

Did you really think Teagan wasn't yelling back? If you did then you should come hang out with my kids and find out how they really are!

Had some corn on the cob tonight. The kids both love it and once Tate remembers how to eat it he can't get enough. Makes me think of summer - it cannot get here fast enough!

Teagan (again) needed new shoes for school. I can't keep this girl in shoes or pants. I know she comes by it naturally, but I thought we might have a couple of years until I had to buy new shoes halfway through the year. She still likes what I pick out, so I guess I should be happy with that.

So, thats what has been going on with the kiddos this past week. Now on to some deep thoughts by Darcy Schaefer. Does anyone else miss that skit on SNL? Made me laugh til I cried!!

What is this guy doing judging American Idol? I love Doogie as much as the next girl (or boy!), but did I miss something? Does he sing or dance? I think he might have hosted some awards show one time - just curious.

I have mixed feelings about Jillian. I don't watch Biggest Loser religiously, but when I do watch it is usually only for the weigh-in. Does anyone else think that she is way too dramatic, like all the time? And how does her hair always look so awesome after she puts her hands in it so many times? Just jealous, I guess!

Have a great Thursday everyone!