PTA, School Daze and Braces...

I really am in a DAZE that school has started already! No way! And that I have a 5th Grader....AAAAGH! And not only a 5th grader but one with braces.
PTA is of course crazy (speaking of crazy, I am PTA President for those who did not know) but hopefully it will calm down (yea right)! I just realized that the last time I was loca enough to do the PTA President thing in California, I had HALF as many children and 100% in school (well Cameron was in Pre-school but that helped). Wish me luck!

Bailey was SOOOOO excited to get her braces on and could not stop talking about them and telling everyone she saw. She had a hard time deciding which color to get but finally decided on a solid pink (sometimes they do 2 colors). She actually looks really cute and OLDER which is scary for me. NO GROWING UP!

And the first day of school...what a riot. It is of course all about WHAT TO WEAR! The girls laid out their outfits the night before, shoes and all. They were both up at about 6:45 am working on their HAIR, did their chores and were ready to get on the bus at about 7:30...ONE hour before the bus actually arrives! Classic first day of school. We did have a bonus because Maama and Bhampa were there to share it with us. So fun. And helpful!

It is now just 2 days later (school started Wednesday) and we ALREADY almost missed the bus this morning! Hummm...school days.

Here's the neighborhood lining up for the bus. Can you believe that this one bus stop fills the entire bus...and it is only for about 10 houses. SCARY!

Good-bye 5th Grade Bailey...

And here is cute Morgan getting ready for her Pre-school open house. It was such a thrill for her that she FINALLY got to put on her backpack (filled with who knows what) and go to school like her big sisters. Soooooo Cute--even though it was just an Open House and Pre-school does not start for another week, it was still her favorite day ever!
Oh how they grow!

Our last summer hoorah...

Last Friday we were lucky enough to be able to go boating with our friends the Pratts. We had SOOOOOO much fun and everyone got in on the action...check it out. And no laughing at the old lady on one ski (yes that IS me...going slalom for the first time in about 15 years).

The Bunch Family on the "molecule"- so fun!

Bailey & friend Jamie "flying" on the molecule.

Bailey getting up on water skis...almost.

Yes that is me. Amazing I know.

Hottie John doing the wake board thing.

Cutie pie Jackson loving the boat!

Hot mommies getting literally thrown around!
Thank you Pratts for an amazing last summer family fun day...now comes scary school!!!!

To the women in my life...

We took these photos at our Family Reunion in July and since I am the first with the disk of the pics, I thought I would get on it and share some of my favorites with you. I LOVE this one of all the girls. I am so grateful to be in a family full of such amazing and beautiful women who I want to emulate in every part of my life. The cornerstone of these women is of course our mother who in my opinion is perfect in every way. She is the ideal woman as far as I am concerned...incredibly spiritual, down-to-earth, highly educated (and continues to pursue this in every way), wonderful wife, best friend to all, and foremost marvelous mother! I am sooooo blessed to be her daughter and friend.

I am also truly grateful for my girls and hope to be to them what my mother is to me. Already they are proving to be delightful and energetic young woman who are learning each day the importance of being daughters of God. I love each of these women and young women so much and thank Heaven each day for their part in my life. I love you girls!

Tim & Faith

Here's a photo from Tim & Faith in Anaheim. We had a great time and it was especially fun with my Mom and Rach. The suite was indeed SWEET...loved the free drinks and awesome seats and private bathroom. Like watching the concert from your comfy living room couch...but live! Loved every single minute. Could not stop screaming like a crazy teenager. Best concert of the 6 I have seen so far. Thanks Ryan and Rachel!

John and Megan - 13 Years!

13 Years ago today I made the VERY BEST decision of my life and said YES to marrying this marvelous man. I thank Heaven each and every day that John was brought into my life and has been my rock and best friend and so much more ever since. Thank you honey for your faith, integrity and never ending love. I look forward to many more earthly years together leading to all eternity....how blessed am I! I love you John. Happy Anniversary!

Obsess much???

Well Rachel called last night at about 7 pm informing me that she had 3 tickets at the Anaheim Pond in a sweet suite for Tim & Faith TONIGHT... for FREE (thanks to the generosity of Ryan's work who own the suite at the Anaheim Pond). What could I do??? Of course I am going. I called John, got a babysitter, booked a flight (free thanks to John's frequent travel on Southwest), and now I am packing and ready to go! I come home Saturday night so it really is a very fast and crazy trip. But hey! You only live once right? And seeing Tim & Faith 3 times in one year isn't like stalker status is it? I'll let you know how it goes. I will miss my honey not being there with me but am grateful that he doesn't think I am crazy and allows my inner child to come out once in awhile. Thanks John. I love you. Happy 13th Anniversary Sunday. See you then.

My life with a boy... and missing the Birthday Girl Bailey.

My life with a boy has been quite entertaining. I really never believed the "they are so different" crap thinking that "how could 1 year olds (and younger) be THAT different just because of their sex?" But I am now a believer. The kid is driving me insane. This is just a small example of what I am talking about. Left the bathroom for a total of 15 seconds to grab a towel and Junior decides he wants in...and so throws himself over the side fully clothed. I did not hear him "fall" and he did not complain a bit. Talk about OPPOSITE from my girls. They NEVER would have "thrown" themselves fully dressed into a tub and if they "fell" there would have been MANY tears. Not this kid. He is into anything and everything and that includes pulling numerous objects onto his very large and tough noggin...without shedding a tear. The biggest rule in our house with him is "CLOSE THE BATHROOM DOOR!" repeated in our house about 200 times a day. We have found my eye make-up remover, John's former blackberry (sorry Honey) and numerous other objects in his favorite toy-when-the-door-is-accidentally-left-open - the TOILET! COME ON! When do they grow out of this gross stage??? But then again, I also am now a true believer in the "boys are for the moms" theory...HE IS MY HEART! Despite all the craziness I love him soooo much and am sooooo grateful for him.

Anyhow...the main reason I think I am struggling today is that my beloved side kick and best friend Bailey is out of town. She flew (on a plane by herself) to Arizona to join her daddy for a birthday fishing trip and a few days with her good friend Cam Richins. I MISS HER!!! I really do not appreciate how very much I rely on her (more like use and abuse her) when John travels. She truly is a gem. I really can't believe I have had anything to do with raising such an amazing young lady of 10 (as of this coming Saturday). What did I do to deserve such a choice spirit? She gives me HOPE each and every day that maybe sometime my other 3 crazies might actually turn out to be normal! Hopefully sooner rather than later. Thanks Bay...I love you stinker!
Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

Copycat

A copycat (also copy-cat or copy cat) is a person (or animal, or computer program) that mimics or repeats the behavior of another. The expression may derive from kittens that learned by imitating the behaviors of their mothers. It has been in use since at least 1896, in Sarah Orne Jewett's "The Country of the Pointed Firs". The term is often derogatory, suggesting a lack of originality.

Thanks to Katie's friend Kristen my blog has a new look. And since I have absolutely no creativity I just copied Kristen's blog. So I owe her a big thank you even though I don't even know her and hope she never finds out. If she does then it is ALL Katie's fault! But come on...aren't we all just a bunch of copiers?? Who really is original? Not any earthly mortal that I know. We might say we are original but somewhere out there is someone else doing the exact same thing as we are thinking THEY are so original. And how many ideas have you heard that you had thought of too but just didn't verbalize?? If we all had the guts to verbalize and act on ideas we too would be millionaires like everyone out there with "original conceptions." So I raise my glass to all of us...copycatters of Blog land and America...here here!