A Beautiful Fall Day....

I love cool crisp mornings! Coffee outside and watching all the joggers go by - knowing I finished my workout at 0615 is so satisfying!

Christian still sick - I think he has the flu.

The Yuckies...

Christian is home with the yuckies today...

Hope he can sleep it off.

Say It Isn't So...

I did NOT accomplish my mission today. I fell short by a trip to the post, UPS and ToysRUS for a return. Oh well, I did manage to finish the grocery shopping to the tune of $391.78! I feel pretty good though - I saved $113.50 with 91 coupons bringing my total down to $277.50! Not bad for groceries in our house for 2 weeks - remember who I am feeding (3 growing boys, hubby, and Ella Grace who eats like a growing boy!). I wrapped up a few phone calls of the pending several and I picked Christian up from school early since he had a migraine.

On to tomorrow with a new list!

Ahhhhh Monday

Monday - again.

I am armed with my list and ready to go - I am going to fit all my errands into today so I can stay home and clean out closets, drawers, and cabinets this week.

First, groceries followed by Target, PetSmart, Phone Calls, and then dinner prep.

Change

The weather is changing and it is lovely!

Time for fall clean out! If it was not used it is gone...in the fall yard sale of course. Then, wipe it all down and rearrange it all.

Time for changing around of the furniture to. I have a difficult time leaving rooms the same for long periods of time - so if you hear me shuffling furniture around at 2:00 a.m. - go back to sleep!

Manic Monday

Would it be wrong to fit EVERYTHING into one day - today (Monday) so I could have the rest of the week off?

This weekend we caught up on some much needed family time. We also ran a few errands and bought a new family board game for "game night" before bed. The kids all bathed early and are ready for some hang out time, with the game on in the background (of course).

Have a great start to the work week everyone!

P.S. Carly, Ella Grace wanted you to know she bought some shorts like yours. She can't wear them to school unless they are under her dress - the teacher clued me in that her panties are showing during gym time. Guess with boys you don't have that issue!

Blogging More...

Okay, I am going be begin blogging more...

Should we begin with last week? I had a conference on Wednesday with Christian and Carson's teachers...outside of the tendency to "finish first" and turn their test quickly they are adjusting very well and enjoying their new school.
Ella Grace....my heart aches! The first week, someone pushed her down "my friend" she says and she has a "cut" on her forehead that requires stitches! These people in the ER know me by first name - something is wrong with that! Second week of school, is going great - on green (behavior indicator for parents) all is well and she seems happy. Third week of school - HOLY COW what happened!?!?! My sweet little girl is on ORANGE (not a good color) with remarks "not following direction and not listening." Then, I receive a call from the school - Ella Grace took her skort and panties off on the playground and tinkled....oops! When we ask her why she just says, "I not suppose to?" - I don't think she fully comprehends how to explain why she did or didn't do something. I am sure it will come in time, but she is just not there yet. I really wanted to say - be glad it wasn't number 2! So Friday, I was approached by her teaching staff (conference set for later in the week) that perhaps we should think about counseling for her.....WHAT?!?! She is 5 - she has a grasp of the English vocabulary, but it is still developing and this whole school thing is new to her - can we not give it a chance to work before we send the kid off to counseling?!?!? Come on bloggers, friends and family post your thoughts...

ONE YEAR

It has been a L-O-N-G time since I posted, but I felt today we needed to post. Today marks one year that Ella Grace Ana Payne has been home! It seems sometimes like just yesterday and other days it seems like she has always been here. She is a remarkable child and I say that not just because she is our daughter, but because I look back on this year at all of her accomplishments and just think WOW - what an amazing little person and all that she has endured in her short little life span.

So today, we will celebrate her arrival home and the coming together of our family. We are fortunate and so very blessed.

I promise to back track and fill in the gaps from the last post now that life has slowed down a bit.