Laura's First Day of School...

Went wonderful. Her teacher said she had a great day. I was a mess. They have them eat breakfast so the teacher suggested that we walk her through the line and sit with her a minute to make it a bit easier for all 3 of us. Let's just say Laura handled like a pro, I acted more like the 4 year old! I started crying before I left the building and even made the teacher cry! I guess I'm a memorable parent now! They do "curb side service" for pick up and drop off which is wonderful. Just stuff her in and off we go. Laura had a lot of fun but didn't care for lunch because it was "Tacos. I don't like tacos, Mom. Yuck." She apparently did eat some of it which goes to show hammering in "do what your teacher tells you" weeks before school starts really helps. She even laid down and rested but didn't "close my eyes, not yet...maybe later." I'm very proud of her and she can't wait to go back.

Yeah, We're Still Here...

Things have just been a little hectic lately! Andy is in the last week of this cycle and believe me the end can't come soon enough. For any of us! He's been working his usual 12 hour days but he's been working every day. He has one day off (tomorrow) in 2 weeks. That's a lot of time at work. Needless to say he's exhausted and sick of these kids who seem to only get worse every day. He won't have his birthday off (don't forget it, it's Thursday) so we're going to celebrate it on the Sunday after instead which works double well because the kids graduate on Saturday. So we'll celebrate them being gone too! I do have a request for all of you to send out some extra prayers for CSM Hemphill, Andy's boss and a very close friend. He had a stroke yesterday and is in the hospital in Minden. I'm not sure how he's doing but Andy is going to go by tonight to see him.

Laura had dance camp this past week and really loved it. She did really well and kept up with the older kids. I'll get pictures sent and posted soon, promise! She'll start tap and ballet in September. Monday night for one and Wednesday night for the other. I can't keep which is when straight! We're in the process of getting all necessary items for both classes, and there's a lot, on top of getting school supplies and uniforms. Yep, all Louisiana public schools wear uniforms and yep, she looks adorable in it. They have some pretty specific guidelines and as soon as I get the skirts and pants taken in (she's so tiny!) I'll send some pictures of her in her uniform. As well as her decked out in both ballet and tap garb. I'm going to be doing a lot of waiting to pick up and drop off real soon!

So far the San Antonio trip is still on. I keep finding problems with the hotel, problem being that I keep trying to find reviews on the internet and don't like what I read then usually find out I'm reading about the wrong hotel. I guess its pretty much a toss up on hotel and location when its a new city and you can't afford a 4 star place. This is the first time we've ever planned for a vacation and booked a hotel and all that so its really scary for me. I have trust issues with hotels! I'm just afraid of getting there and being disappointed/upset with the place.

That pretty much brings you up to date. I haven't been doing as much emailing as like I'd like to, busy with Laura and *CFS is rearing its ugly head and I've just been exhausted more than usual lately.

Also...

Happy Birthday (July 17th) to Meghan! Hope it was a good one!

Wishing love and luck to my darling in-laws, Kate, Josh and Sophia, on their upcoming HUGE move across country. I hope we get to make it to MO for a few days to see them when they're there.

*Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (link)

If We Hadn't Told You...

Andy is working day shift now. So far so good. He leaves at 4:20 am and is usually home around 5:00 pm. Its not bad but it's really an adjustment for Laura and I. This cycle ends sometime near the end of July, I believe the 26th or around there. Then he'll be off for a few weeks.

We're excited for the off time because we are going to take out first family vacation! Yay! We're going to go to San Antonio for 3-4 days. We are so excited! We are going to hit SeaWorld, the Zoo and Aquarium, the Alamo, Riverwalk, a cave, and we have a few restaurants picked out. We're trying not to tell Laura too much because she latches on and gets disappointed when we don't do it "right now".

First she has dance camp in June. Its an hour a day for a week. They do a bit of everything plus some modeling. She's going to love it! She keeps asking if today is time for dancing. So far she is loving, loving, loving gymnastics and is the best one there, not just a mother's opinion, she really knows how to do most of it and she loves doing those things so much, she picks up quick! We will be starting dance classes in the fall for her and continuing gymnastics. Andy has it in his head she needs Karate lessons but she has to be 5 for that! She did love Kung-Fu Panda though! She was karate chopping the seats in front of us, luckily it was an empty theatre pretty much!
She is also starting preschool, real preschool, in the fall. She'll go to Union Elementary in Doyline, weird I know, I figured Minden. Yes, it is all day 8-3, yes its awful! Oh and yes Moms I will be driving her there and picking her up everyday. Major reason being because the bus carries kids from preschool age on up through High School. I just don't think so!! She starts on August 14th and its going to be a rough day. She's starting school a year earlier than I had planned!

That about covers everything. Things are pretty peaceful around here for now. Unless both cats are out together then its every man for himself. Or cat anyway. Surprisingly Daisy actually likes the intruder (Ozzie) and she hates all other animals. Weird.