A few more pictures

I decided to skip school pictures.  Of course I sent them to school on picture day dressed nicely so that the class photos will hopefully have a good remembrance of my kids.  However, as far as buying them ourselves, the cost just seemed too outrageous  for this year.  SO!  Today I took their annual fall photos. I don't have the traditional blue watery looking background, but I kind of like how the black turned out. 

Why I'm wiped out today.

I hope that means the kids are wiped out too and they will sleep soundly tonight.  :)

Update

So.... we are well into the swing of fall here.  School is in full routine, homework is a daily (might I add awful) battle and the days are getting crisp and beautiful.

Goose is doing great in school.  My only complaint is the aforementioned homework battle.  He often forgets to bring things home that are required for his homework.   He has 3 different teachers through the day because of his gifted classes and I am beginning to feel like they don't coordinate homework very well.  There are nights when he has social studies, spelling, reading and math.  Those nights he can easily spend from the time he gets home until 7pm (with a break for dinner) doing only homework.  Then he need to usually read for 20 minutes as well, which he does at bedtime.   After spending ALL day doing school work, it seems like it shouldn't take sooo long for homework.  Part of his problem is that he doesn't focus and just get it done, but still!!!

Ok, that rant is over.  didn't mean for it to come out like that, but tonight was another battle, and hes' still not done at 6:30pm.  I guess I should be grateful that I haven't had any calls from his teachers.  I can only assume he is working acceptably in class...

Sweetie is also succeeding in second grade.  Homework is much more manageable.  Usually just one worksheet and reading for 20 minutes.  She is very neat and exact about getting her homework done.  Her latest accomplishment is keeping her room clean for the past 2 weeks!  I've been very proud of her diligence in keeping it up.  The special treats from Nana haven't hurt her willingness either.  :)

Tank... in preschool and ready for high school.  She loves the attention she gets in class and craves it that much more from me the moment she gets home.  She's made some beautiful projects already and we are excited to see what new creativity she brings home next.

Twister is gaining more personality every day.  He makes me laugh ALL the time.  Its not usually what he's doing that is funny, so much as its the way he looks at me as he's doing it.  For example, today he was eating his lunch and climbed down off his chair.  I was watching him do this, so he continued walking all the way around the table, without taking his eyes off me.  It was like he was just waiting for me to pounce on him and put him back in his chair.  It was all I could do to laugh at him.  He's such a character, I love this age for that.  I don't so much love the enormous messes he is capable of making, but that is a post for another day.  :)

The Peanut is growing well I'm told.  I'm nearly 15 weeks now and had my doctor's appointment today.  The doctor actually really scared me by not finding the heartbeat for several minutes, however once the little peanut stopped moving around, the heartbeat was strong at 150 beats per minute.  I feel like I may have FINALLY *really* gotten out of the first trimester yuckies.  I hope.  Last time I posted that I was feeling better and taking control of the house... then my headaches came back to haunt me full force.  NO FUN.  They were not typical migraines for me, but they were very  persisitant and still painful.  Anyway, I've had 2 days headache free, so I'm really hoping I'm on to better days.  In general, I do have more energy.  My only bad times seem to be around 5pm when I'm trying to juggle making dinner, really needing to eat, and kids that haven't finished their homework yet.  ugh!

Benson and I are going on a REAL date this weekend.   I can hardly wait!  Its been a long time.  Between his horrible schedule and not having extra moola for going out, its been months at least since we've been out on a date.  We're going to a "They Might Be Giants" Flood Concert.  Its somewhat sentimental for us because we went to one of their concerts when we were first dating.  :)  It will be fun.

So... that's our life in a nutshell.  :)