Friends, Panties, School and Teeth

I have been in such a frozen state lately! Maybe more mentally than anything. I feel like I must be actually cleaning my house only in my head because everywhere I turn it looks actually worse, no matter how much I do. But, I think the basis of my mental-paralysis is actually denial that school is starting in one week. For some reason, I feel sort of blue about the whole thing. A little part of me dreads the routine (although I actually feel happier once I'm in one) that school brings. Every morning its like we have to shoot out of a cannon to get going fast, and every evening is full of homework, family time, any extra-curricular activities, baths.......and all on a very specific early-to-bed time-line so they can wake up and handle it all again the next day. I've really enjoyed our sleeping in, lax, flexible summer. And, as a pleasant surprise, the kids haven't driven me crazy this summer. I don't feel claustrophobic like I thought I would, or even "ready" for them to be gone all day.

Part of my sadness is the (obvious) fact that each year they will keep going into an older grade. I mean, that sounds so wierd. But last year, there was lots of anticipation and excitement when Jordyn started Kindergarten because it was all new. But now, I want her to just start Kindergarten over and over and over and not keep getting older!

And also, with Jordyn and Lexi in school, what are me and Peyton going to do for six hours? Don't get me wrong, it sounds heavenly in many ways. But as the third child, Peyton only knows life with her entertaining older sisters around. Now she'll just be with boring old mom all day! I think *this* is when many people have more babies ;-)

So, event through my mentally frozen state, I've managed to do a few noteworthy things. I literally felt like I didn't do anything worthwhile today (prob because my to-do list is so long still), and I sat around mindlessly on my computer way too much, but here are a few highlights:

Heather and Jason are some of our good friends who moved a few months ago (like everyone else) but they only moved 20 minutes away. So I had their kids over today to play. Kylie and Lexi are the same age and call each other "best friend", and Collin is 10 months older than Peyton. It's a fun bunch. (Lexi really was having fun, she just couldn't peel her eyes away from the movie to smile).

Peyton liked having a rough & tumble type play with Collin today! I tell ya, this LoveSac is one of our best "toys". The kids jump, fall, and play on it all day long.

I'm continuing the dreaded process of organizing all sorts of girls' clothing, getting ready for school mornings!

Jordyn lost her second tooth (well, third if you count the one the dentist had to pull 18 months ago that is STILL an empty spot) last night! I get so completely grossed out by loose teeth. I absolutely can't deal with it, so it's Tucker's job. But last night in the car it just fell out while she was talking! That is MY kind of tooth loss!

I seriously get a kick out of Peyton every single day (we ALL do). She's a funny kid. So tonight I was playing on the floor with her, and suddenly she got up and laid down on her stomach and said "Horsie Mommy!". I didn't get it at first, and finally Jordyn said "Mom, she wants to be the horsie for you". So I thought, what the heck! And sure enough, that's what she wanted, so I "sat" on her for a horsie ride!

My cute mother-in-law has herself believing that I'm a good at flower arrangements. She's had me do two for her house so far, and I guess when someone else believes something, it makes you think you can? They turned out decent, so Tucker keeps asking when I'm going to do an arrangement for our house. Even though I feel extremely amateur, I finally bought some flowers at Michael's and attempted one for our dining room table. I don't think this pic shows it very well, but you get the idea.

And finally....this probably deserves it's own post....but we're still working on Pey's potty training. I CANNOT stress this enough that this was HER idea. I know you're probably thinking I'm on crack because she is only 22 months old, but I swear it is totally her idea! She's been interested since 19 months old. For months, she would take off her diaper and get annoyed when she was wet, or had to pee. So finally, last week, I decided to give it an official try. I kept getting afraid that the "window" would pass of her willingness! We still have a few accidents a day, but by accident I mean that she starts to pee (forgetting for a second that there is no diaper) then totally stops herself and says "Mommy, potty!!" and we run to the potty and she goes a ton of pee! Many other times, I just take her. Around every hour. And she willingly goes each and every time. She is a great little wiper too. It's just so funny to me, but it is totally her personality! I'm afraid there isn't any turning back now because when I put a diaper on her, she will soon tell me "mommy, pee pee" and try taking it off. This is not even a LITTLE bit how my other two were to potty train, and if she were my first, I would probably be a lot more judgemental of others who had 2-3 year olds that weren't trained. But I really know that this is NOT me, it's all her. She just "gets it".