Alex's 1st Day of School!!!!!

With his snack packed, backpack stuffed with school supplies and dressed in his school uniform Alex was ready for his first day. Dad gave him a hug and we were off on our way. During the walk I reassured him everything would be okay and he was pretty excited. Once in the school yard I could see the "worried" look coming across his face. His teacher walked through all the Kindergarden families saying hello and answering uestions. She made a beeline for Alex when she saw him starting to get upset. Mrs. Alaimo was awesome, got right down on the ground with him and told him about all the great stuff they would be doing. Smiles came out and he seemed okay. That is until the school bell rang. He looked horrified. He lined up with his friends but then turned and asked me to go with him. My heart just broke. When I said I couldn't he started to cry and well I just about did too. Mrs. Alaimo took Alex and another little girl who was having a tough time to the front of the line and let them be the line leaders. They held the door for their new friends and disappeared with a wave inside the building. Needless to say it was a long walk back to the house for me and Rachel.

Eleven o'clock came pretty fast and I headed back to pick him up. All the nervous Kindgergarden parents huddled to one side waiting for their little ones. Alex was the first out the door. He scanned the crowd and when he saw me screamed my name and ran, arms wide open. I nearly got knocked over by the hug. Beaming from ear to ear he told me what a great day he had and couldn't wait to come back tomorrow. Whew! Follow that up with a phone call from Dad to see how his day went and it was off to the Y to pick up Ms. B.

Now I just need to sort out all the paperwork they sent home...more paperwork! I feel like I have homework!

Relaxation before the madness begins

We just enjoyed 4 days in the mountains, relaxing, canoeing (that's a whole other post in itself), mini golfing, arcade game playing, bbqing, etc. before Allen heads back to teaching and Alex off to St. Monica's. The mountains were great, great weather, great house, great time overall. It was tough knowing the days were winding down until Tuesday when Alex would head off and I would try my best to keep it together. Allen was bummed because he had to be at work and couldn't be there to see him off. Alex kept insisting he was excited, that is until Monday night when he told me he was a little nervous. We assured him he would make lots of friends and love his teacher and it would be fine. He wants Manuel, from the Y, to come with him. He doesn't understand why everyone from his old school just can't come to the new one.

Monday-We got all his school supplies together and labeled them all. Laid out his uniform for the next morning. Made his snack, gave him a bath and made sure he headed off to bed at a decent time. No reading in bed tonight we told him, yeah I know I've got a big day tomorrow he replied. You sure do buddy!

Whew! What a start to the week....

So we had a great weekend. Jenn & Rob took the kids, including Aisling, for basically 24 hours. We enjoyed a trip to the mall, lunch, the Spinners game and hanging out with Randy and Kristine before picking the kids up in the AM. Sunday was great as well, especially knowing we had a short week before heading up north for a mini vacation.

Tuesday we had new parent info night at St. Monica's followed by a meet & greet with Alex's new teacher, Mrs. Alaimo. Alex of course went right to the books to read. I got recruited for some more fundraising (as soon as I told them I worked at the Y it was all over). Allen was quite overwhelmed followed by flashbacks of his childhood education. He immediately like the Principal and knew Alex was in the right place. Tuesday should be quite the day. Alex is so excited but I think I have more butterflies than him. I'll try my best not to cry.

Everyone keep clipping those Box Tops for Education, turns out it's a full year thing so I'm basically going to need them for the next 10 years. Stay tuned!

The weekend that went by too fast.....

As I stated earlier, weekend days go by about 10X's faster than work days. I don't get it. Doesn't seem fair. I want to run for office and try and get the world (well I guess just the US) to switch to the 4/3 split.

Anyways, Friday was a alot of yard sale prep. There was a TON of stuff for the yard sale. Saturday up bright and early to set up. Ran the yard sale 8-1 and sold an okay amount of stuff. Made enough for 2 nights out in Key West or 40 frozen drinks from the Flying Monkey-it could go either way. Donated the bulk of what was left to Ron & Patty's church for their yard sale. Big Thanks to Dad for all the stuff he gave us to sell.

Saturday night we took the kids to the beach to play ski ball, arcade games, eat pizza, fried dough and more junk. It's certainly not the beach I remember very fondly as a kid. But Alex and Rachel had a great time. Got a slice from Tripoli's (best Pizza in the world hand's down!), fried dough from Blink's,( No more Happy's German Fries, what's up with that?) lots of ski ball and other games. The kids had a blast, have to say we did too.

Sunday Ron and Patty graciously hosted a cook out at their house. It was great seeing everyone. The kids again had a blast. Jenn decided to invite Alex, Rachel and Aisling over next Saturday for a Princess/Prince party and sleepover. Not exactly sure she knows what she's getting into, but I will most definitely enjoy the night to myself!

Time for some family days

That's what the kids call the weekend...family days. Alex wonders alot why we have more school/work days than family days. He doesn't think it's fair. I don't either. How about a 3-4 split? I'd go for that. 2 days just goes by so fast. And why does it always seem like 2 days at work are 10 times longer than 2 family days? We've got 2 great family days planned. Almost fell through thanks to my second bout with bronchitis this summer (who the heck gets bronchitis in the summer? Let alone twice?) as well as some staffing issues at the Y but both worked out. That is thanks to Dr. Thavaseelan and some great staff that pulled together and made it work so I didn't have to. I'll update you later and let you know how everything panned out!

Hey a shout out to Sheila and Chris who are moving into their first house over the next few days. Can't wait to come visit and check the place out. The little red heads miss you La!

Not nearly as exciting as last weekend....

So overall this weekend was pretty boring. Allen worked the Y's 3 on 3 tourney all day Saturday, then we headed over to Frank's for the after tourney cook out that he hosts every year. Pretty fun until Rachel took a header into the dirt, split her lip and now looks like a prize fighter. It was then time to go home. We did go to the Animal Planet Expo at Topsfield Fair Grounds on Sunday with Randy, Kristine and Aisling. They made up for the fact the Expo was lame. I'd have been upset if it had cost anything.

Allen had promised me lunch at the Clam Box in Ipswich so I was looking forward to that. The line was insane (people in front of me were regulars and told me 30 minutes at least from where we were). Then I saw the prices!!!! $21.00 for a large clam plate. HELLO! I realize they are (according to Phantom Gourmet and just about everyone else) the best fried clams around but are you kidding me?!?!?! Needless to say we left. Picked up McD's for the kids and grabbed some steak tips from Butcher Boy a couple of potatoes and made ourselves a nice little lunch for around $16.00. And that was for both of us! Maybe I'll get to try the Clam Box in February when no one goes and the cost of clams is like $10.00. I'll keep you posted.