Another Knot Untangled

When I had kids, no one ever sat me down, looked me in the eye and told me that my children would really, actually, one day grow up to be their very own person.  Their life path was so knotted and twisted (and intertwined with mine) that I naively didn't think it would ever Really work its way out.  However, since the day they were born their self experiences have been working through the knots and Untangling themselves to tell their very own (separate from my) life stories.

(I'm sure it gets worse as they get older but I'm already feeling it this week.)

So with that said, school is back in session and since Tyler is now in Kindergarten (All Day Long) I'm getting  used to the mostly empty and very quiet house.  I made myself a schedule to keep busy and to not dwell on things.

I'm back at the gym daily (after taking about 6 weeks off this summer.)  Already my back feels better but my muscles sure do ache from the new workouts.  I also have a Zone cleaning schedule for the house.  (You know, clean one area each day and eventually the house gets clean)

I thought I would be a total wreck now that my BABY TYLER was at school all day.  However, the fact that he LOVES it and comes home bursting with great stories makes me feel a lot better.

Unfortunately, some of his stories involve a girl on the bus.  She's a first grader and Tyler calls her "the crazy one."  He told me today she said she wanted to marry him and she even tried to kiss him.

As cute as he is I don't blame her but I told Tyler to tell her and anyone else! that His Momma said no one was allowed to kiss him....Until I Say So! (or at least 20 years from now.)

Needless to say, Untangling my Life is an exciting journey!  I'm glad you're here with me.  Lord knows I need the support.

Kindergarten and Second Grade

 Today was the First Day of School!!

(why they start the year so early is beyond me)

The kids slept fine last night but I tossed and turned all night with anticipation.

Lauren and Tyler

First Day of School, 2011

Tyler is ready to go.

Nap-Mat in the Back-Pack, Lunch Bag in hand and looking pretty cool.

He proudly picked out his own outfit.

 Look at my big Second Grader!

Her bangs are pretty cute, eh?

Waiting for the bus.

Lauren knows the drill but where is Tyler going?!

They ended up sitting together in the first row/window.

As I waved goodbye I noticed Tyler tearing up and blinking very quickly to try to hide it.

This about sent me over the edge. 

I kept a smile on my face until the bus pulled away.

Then I had a teary moment because my (last baby) boy was on the bus going to school.

...welcome to the rest of my life....(sniff)

I kept myself busy with a pre-written schedule so I wouldn't dwell on things.

2 hours at the gym, weekly groceries, zone cleaning (house cleaning,) shower, WAIT FOR THE BUS!!

I was so excited when they finally got home from school.

I tried to quiz them for information but they weren't having it.

They both told me they had fun and liked their teachers and pretty much agreed to all the questions I asked.

Tyler was the only one who offered up some personal information.

He said "there's a crazy one and a naughty one in my class, but no one pulled a stick."

(when they get in trouble by the teacher they have to pull a stick)

Lauren already had homework.  It was a weekly assignment but she wanted to get as much done as she could.  She spent an hour! doing homework after-school.

Tyler, who had no homework, fell asleep waiting for Lauren to finish.  He was asleep 30 minutes after getting home.  It was a BIG DAY for him for sure.

(did you notice the change in outfit?  When he got home he decided he needed to change out of his school clothes.  They weren't  fancy to begin with but he knows what he wants. He is definitely a 'Little Man!')

I'm very excited for this school year.

We love the teachers and I can't wait to see how much they learn.

Time to go read now.

Lauren gets to read to us for 20 minutes every night.

Meet the Teacher

 Last Friday was Meet the Teacher Day at Lauren and Tyler's school.  (I'm wiping a tear from my eye because they are both old enough to go to the same elementary school.)

Lauren let me braid her bangs back into a ponytail but she told me she wants to cut them back before school starts.

I think they look pretty cute as they are and she can JUST ABOUT tuck them behind her ear.
Oh well, she knows what she wants and I respect that.

Anyway, back to Meet the Teacher Day.

Tyler has the same teacher Lauren had in Kindergarten...we know her and we love her.
That was a given but, Lauren's 2nd grade teacher...
WOW!

She called Lauren the other day to welcome her to her class.

Then, at Meet the Teacher Day, she greeted Lauren by name as we walked in the classroom.

(She said she studied last year's yearbook to help her recognize her students.)

I love this type of dedication!  Dare I call her the perfect teacher?

We'll find out soon since school started today!

Mommy vs. Foodie Blog

I love being a Mom and I love writing about it.  (My kids are hilarious and easy subjects.)  I also love cooking  but I don't write about that as often.  (The meals taste good but they don't make for entertaining stories.)

I still cook just about every night we are home.  I think all my dinners are pretty tasty and if my family knows what's best for them they will always agree.

This post is dedicated to the Foodie Blogger in me and the pile of recipes I have congregating on my computer desk.

Enjoy the Good Eats from the past few days:

Flank Steak with Bloody Mary Tomato Salad  (this was even better as left-overs the next day)

Jay's Signature Pizza Crust  (I love trying new pizza crust recipes and this one did not disappoint.  Next time I will divide the dough into two pizzas because it over-flowed my pizza stone.)

Farmer's Market Pizza  YUMM!  (Even Matt liked this and he never likes anything without a piece of meat it in.)

Chicken with Corn served over green salad  (I seasoned the chicken well and cooked it in my Foreman grill) (The children ate their serving with some Ranch dressing)  This was a deliciously light yet filling salad.  A total family hit!

Coming Up This Week:

Creamy Linguine with Shrimp and Veggies

Black Beans and Yellow Rice

(maybe I'll even take pictures when I make these meals)

Since I am a Mommy Blogger at heart I had to post this cute picture of Matt reading to the darlings.  I can't believe school starts on Monday.  I'm going to miss my lazy summer days but then I'm excited to get back into a routine and actually get things accomplished!

Grilling Confession

We ate Carolina Barbecue Burgers for dinner tonight.

(similar to this recipe but I used 96% lean ground sirloin instead of the ground turkey)

Since these were to be grilled on the charcoal grill I expected Matt to actually grill them up for me.

---However---

Matt has been extremely busy at work AND he's been on vacation 3 of the past 4 weeks.

He called me to say he'd be working late.

I've never told Matt this but I've always thought I could manage the charcoal grill myself.

(behold my Grilling Confession)

This was my opportunity to find out. 

I rolled up some newspaper and added it to the bottom of the charcoal chimney, then I added my briquets and lit the newspaper.  10 minutes later it looked like this.

Burgers and Onions a-grill

They turned out pretty well.  Not as juicy as Matt would have made them but the kids ate their entire burger each and for that I'm super proud.

My name is Christine and if need be, I can use the charcoal grill.

Weekend in Helen

This weekend was un-BEAR-ably fun!

(I'm hilarious...you'll find out why soon)

We rented a cabin with Dave, Susan and their boys in Helen, Georgia.

I was able to snap this picture while driving because all traffic in Helen, 24-7, 365, is Stop and Go.

Although we had to drive clear up a bumpy gravel road to get to our cabin, the views were Amazing.

Check out this view from the hot tub on the screened-in porch. 

or check out this YouTube video I just found of our cabin

"Rooms With a View"

(I'm totally rocking the background music)

drinks on the patio

Georgia Mountain Sunrise

(photo credit goes to Dave who got up for a 2-hour early morning run) 

Our main goal in Helen was to "tube the Hooch"

(float the Chattahoochee River)

This picture I took during one of our Stop and Go drives does not do justice to just how many people were floating the river.

(ka-billions, I tell ya)

I think we all had a great time.

It was hot but the water was cool and refreshing.

The water was shallow, the bed was rocky but we had our River Sticks to help navigate.

Matt and Tyler floated together and finished long before we did.

Luckily he was at the top and able to snap pictures of us slow-pokes.

Lauren and I

Dave, Susan, Ian and Eric

We also hiked up to Anna Ruby Falls.

the gang (minus photographer Susan)

the four of us

Our plans for the weekend were to go tubing and enjoy the neat little German town of Helen.

We did all that but I'm pretty sure the kids will remember this trip as the time they saw the BEAR!!

They were playing downstairs when the boys ran up and said they saw a bear.

At first we thought they were joking but instantly became curious.

Nope, they weren't joking!

 Matt got pictures of the bear from the the front porch about 5 feet away.  (All the pictures I took were through the basement windows.)  The previous renters left their garbage in the bungee corded garbage can outside.  This was no match for the mid-size black bear.  I watched as he stuck his head right in the garbage and pulled out a box of fried chicken (he ate it bones and all.)  I've never seen a wild bear before and was really impressed by his muscle tone, big teeth and the fact he didn't really care that we were all watching him.

The great company, great food and all the excitement truly made it an un-BEAR-ably fun weekend.

P.S. The encounter with the fearless bear reminded me of the Honey Badger mentioned in this video.

(not suitable for children or the workplace)

Damage Control

My Dad did all he could and I don't blame him.

Despite his best efforts, both of my brothers turned to the dark side 

and got their college degrees at Oregon State.

(Oregon State WHO?  I know!, right?)

I choke up just typing it.

(see below:  me looking awesome, brother Kevin with the stalwart face and baseball cap and Brian in the black shirt silently screaming SUPERSTAR)

such a perfect Oregon Duck family 

What went wrong with the boys??

Having a family of my own, I didn't worry too much about my brothers' bad decisions.

However, I should have been more careful because my SUPERSTAR brother Brian has bonded with my son and has him slightly brainwashed.

Brian and Tyler playing

(an obvious picture of Brian implementing his master Beaver plan)

I didn't realize how bad it was until we were on the plane home from Oregon to Georgia.

Right after take off Tyler told/yelled at me that he liked the Oregon Ducks the SAME as the Justin Beavers.

(He meant the Oregon State Beavers but I'll never tell him that.)

Enough people chuckled on the plane that...

...Damage Control starts immediately.

Go Ducks!