Started back to school today. Went pretty good even though both boys seemed to be pretty tired. Both had gotten spanked and put in time-out this morning for being just ridiculous. ugh. Late nights mixed w/ sugar and crappy food i'm sure didn't help, and the weather is rainy and dreary. seemed to be a bad mix. But they came around and we had a great little time. E is learning so much, sounding out his words more and figuring out what vowel sounds are in words all on his own. Found some new picture word flashcards at Toys R Us yesterday while looking for b'day gifts for them, so used them today and he really liked it alot. Saved me about 12 bucks buying them there, than at Abeka;) see, make do, make do. Started our new Bible curriculum today and it's okay. reviewed some of the Bible stories we'd read out of his children's Bible that i love and he remembers so many details it's insane. really means he is hearing and understanding what i'm reading. i try to explain it all to him as i read so he can fully understand. I'm so excited that Awana starts this month, bc between that and what i'm doing at home, i'm just praying he will come to know Jesus on a personal level soon. he is so open and trusting. just praying for my boy.
  Mom and Dad came over yesterday for Labor Day and R and Dad ended up going out fishing while me and mom and the boys all went to Ocala to Toys R Us to do the b'day shopping (yes, with the kids!HA) and try to get some party stuff. The men got beat down w/ the wind and waves and only caught little fish, so no fish fry dinner there:( but i'm sure it was good for Dad to get out on the water since he never gets his saturdays off now, and Sundays he rarely goes out bc of his commitments at church. R was wind burned pretty bad on his face. Me and Mom got all our shopping done and got the boys some cool stuff. tried to keep a nice mix of creative, learning and just fun stuff for their b'day. We got them some dinosaur train stuff since having 4 train sets isn't nearly enough:) so that should be  a fun surprise:)) man, they just love trains. luckily they had a small GeoTrax train set up there for them to play with since the Thomas one is no longer there. prob'ly a bunch of hoodlums stole the trains or ruined it, so that's gone now. i was panicking for a minute. almost had to take them to Barnes and Noble to play with Thomas, but alas, we found the GeoTrax--thank GOD! Then went to the party store, which was CLOSED, ughhhh. so then turned around to go try Hobby Lobby. Got some cool foam stickers for pool party for 30 cents on clearance. there's about 50 stickers inside and so i'm gonna attach toothpicks to them to make cupcake toppers:)) Mom brought me one snorkel for one of the boys' cakes and now just hafta swing by LeaAnn's for the other one. can't wait to make them:) hope it's not hard. looks really easy online. that's what i'm aiming for this year. Instead of going all out on the goody bags to send home, am only putting candy etc in plastic baggies and will try to make a fish tag or something pool-ish and say thanks for coming to my party. so far have bought individually wrapped lifesavers to go in them, and then thought about swedish fish and goldfish too. just trying to take everything way down a notch. i know i'm the only one who cares about it, and it's a party for the kids, not to impress anyone or go over the top. i think i just love to do it and make it cool....but i'm trying to do low-stress this year. waiting this long to plan everything is a 1st. so yeah.
anywho. must go shower. tonight's the 1st night of Tee ball for E and M. should be "fun". if the weather holds out that is. been raining hard all night and most the morning and is still overcast with lots of clouds and sprinkles. Christa also called to say that there was an opening for soccer, but called her back and said no. just dont' think i can do mond-wed nights for the next 6 weeks. 2 nights is gonna be hard enough. he didn't sound that interested in soccer this go-round anywho, much to my chagrine, so maybe next time he will go for it. just tired of tee ball. goodness, i think that was 4 full months, and he STILL wants to play. sigh. hope M does okay. he doesn't have a great attn span yet, but maybe w/ sports. he's so active.
  Well, off to shower. i look like a hot mess. this weather has gotten me in a funk so i need something to wake me up. later haters.