September Acres

I've never been one to keep a journal or diary (as we called it back in the 70's).  I had a diary in grade school but wrote in it only sporadically.  It was one of those cute little ones with a lock and key that were so popular back in the day. I had some riveting entries like this one: Today I went to school.  I came home from school and Debbie came over after school.  I watched the Brady Bunch and  The Partridge Family at night. And this one: Today I went to school.  Dianna was sick today and didn't come to school.   Riveting.  Am I right?  Good thing my diary wasn't put in a time capsule lest future generations think kids in the 70's were super boring.   Since that first little diary I've tried to journal (the new millennium terminology) every now and then with similar luck.  Even I get bored with what I've written.  Over the years I've tried to figure out why I didn't enjoy this process.  In ...

I'm sure everyone has seen this demanding email by now.  After reading it I first thought 'poor child' and then it started me thinking about birthday parties in general for little people.  I don't know about you but birthday parties when I was younger meant some cake and ice cream and opening (modest) gifts for the lucky birthday girl or boy. Times have changed, yes?  For the better?  Not really. We've all heard about the parties for celebs kids which are over the top outrageous but how many of us have been to a party with the same outrageous-ness (new word I just made up) just on a smaller scale?  In a world where bigger is better how can we top a really BIG fest next year?  People spend hundreds and thousands (!) of dollars on their little prince or princesses parties.  There are even party planners for kids birthday parties.  Who knew? We've done big parties here and small ones and I think the smaller ones are more memorable for the k...

Only 5 days left of school here.  Can you believe it?  Each school year goes by faster & faster for me.  I think it's an age thing... The summer weather and the continuous heat are slow coming this year - thank goodness.  But before long we'll be spending most of our time in the pool.  We have a couple really cool trips planned and I hope to get out of the heat for a bit sometime in July. So many moms I know dread the coming of summer and having the kids home all day.  I personally love it - a slower schedule and spending fun time with LM and her friends is a welcome change. I'll be busy this coming week working on LM's last day of school pool party for her friends & getting my feet wet as the PTA president for the upcoming year.  While I feel like I am fairly qualified for this job it amazes me that they will let ANYONE run the PTA. I guess it's desperation...

Not participating, you ask?  How can someone not participate in something that is so good? As I said last year, I actually like the idea of being 'screen-free'.  BUT, if you are going to DVR all of your shows this week just to watch them all next week, what is the use?  And, truthfully, isn't that what most of us will do?  I've heard people say this is the plan. LM's school is actually having their screen free week this week instead of next so it coincides with the school book fair & Young Author's Night. I realize that all too many of us spend way too much time in front of some type of screen: television, computer, iPad, etc.  And as parents, our kids emulate us so if we're spending a lot of time in front of a screen chances are so are our kids.  The idea of a whole week that is screen free is enticing, but in this day and age how reasonable is it? Schools and businesses communicate via text and email more often than not. Books are being ...

It's back to school this week after a week off for spring break.  It's been busy around here just doing a little bit of everything.  Making 'stress balls' for LM's school project.  200 stress balls.  I guess she needs a stress ball after that!  They still need to be decorated with little pom pom heads and faces. Time at the library.  We have a teen center at our library - the kids have to be 12 to use it.  Someone is very anxious to be able to do that... I moved this chest out of LM's room and into the kitchen/dining room for the Keurig.  I plan on painting the chest again soon, too. LM got some pointers on photographing pets from the latest issue of 'American Gir l'. She did a great job on this shot of Smokey.  Maybe she should take all the photos for the blog... (Does anyone remember the American Girl magazine from the 1970's & 1980's) What we haven't done yet is dye Easter eggs.  Two dozen eggs a...

Luckily, I do not often get sick.  As a mom it's really hard to have any down time and keep things running smoothly.  But yesterday I just didn't feel well.  I don't think it's the flu or a cold but not being a doctor it's hard to tell.  I'm feeling a bit better today and should be able to resume my normal activities. But yesterday was another story.  Unfortunately, LM had a dentist appointment after school that I couldn't change on such short notice.  I tried to lay low for the rest of the day.  That was a bit hard since the members of my family didn't realize that I seriously did not feel well.  At the end of the afternoon I had had it and finally said 'what do I need to do or say to make you understand that I don't feel well' and that I wouldn't be doing the following: I am not going out to the car in the dark to search for your library book. I am not washing clothes 'for fun' so you will have your favorite hockey pant...

We have two weeks left of summer vacation here.  This summer has flown by faster than any I have remembered.  I guess it's because we've been so busy and have hardly been home.  I really long for the lazy days of summer that I remember as a child. My mom found this free printable called 101 days of summer fun @ Laura Winslow Photography.  We had big plans for these ideas at the beginning of the summer and then life happened: a quickie trip to St Louis , babysitting class, golf camp, a planned trip to Disneyland with LM's girl scout trip for four days, dentist & hairdresser appointments, a planned road tour of California and the usual household things-like laundry & grocery shopping.  We have also found time to do some of the things on this list.  Like: Family Movie Night (when the McKenna 'American Girl' movie was on NBC) Visit a Museum Staying up late (too many nights) Dance in the rain Make a fort Take a class  Eat Breakf...

We have a large 'winter visitor' population this time of year in Arizona.  Most of them are retirees.  Older retirees.  This morning I was behind two cars with out of state plates going v e r y slow - like 10-15 miles below the speed limit.  I'm no speed racer but on a sunny morning I don't think the speed limit is too much to ask. Anyway, I said to myself, 'you've been driving for 40+ years, can't you put your foot on the gas?'  And then it hit me that if they were in their 70's (very likely) they would have been driving more like 60 years.  AND, that I have been driving for 30 years.  I know, how is that even possible?  But it is. Even more startling is that LM will be driving in 6 years.  Again, how is this possible?  She is just a baby (imagine the rolling eyes of a 10 year old at this point). Time flies.  Yes, it does.  But it doesn't make everyone do the speed limit - which on the road I was speaking of is 35 mp...

A few weeks ago LM decided she wanted to have a sleepover this weekend.  Not just one friend, but 3.  I didn't think much of it until she presented me the invitations she made on the computer.  She was serious.  My husband asked the other night, 'is she really doing this,?'  As it turns out, yes.  I am fine with it and he really is too.  He even loaded the Barbie All Dolled Up Nail printer software into his new computer so the girls can decorate their nails! LM wanted to know if we should have goody bags.  I reminded her that this wasn't a birthday party, just a sleepover and goody bags definitely would not be necessary. She's quite the party planner, I tell you!  I told her we'll order pizza (no cooking for me!), get the movie 'Spooky Buddies' and even buy some soda - as long as what she picks out is caffeine free!!  She found an idea online of a 'popcorn bar' - pop some corn and set out bowls with toppings - m&m's, Parmesa...

Monday was the first day of school here.  The summer just flew by.  It always does. LM started 4th grade.  For some reason 4th grade seems so old.  9 doesn't sound as old as 4th grade does to me.  She has had a good couple of days, likes the teacher and her classmates.  Homework? Not so much.  I think we hit the jackpot with her class.  Good, hard-working, nice kids.  The cream of the crop, really.  It doesn't happen every year so I know she will enjoy it.  Tomorrow night is 'Parent Information Night' at the school.  I know I should go but I am considering not.  This is our 5th year at the school so even with changes how much more information do I need?  But I also feel like it is the right thing to support the school so we'll probably go.  Now that school has started I'll get back into a routine and have time for fun projects like painting and blogging. Promise.  September Acres is now on Facebook, too ...

until LM starts school. Fourth grade. Seems like yesterday she was starting pre-school. Guess we all say that, don't we? The summer has flown by just like it always does. So we'll be spending the next 2 weeks just enjoying the days, trying to stay cool & finishing up back to school shopping. I also need to try to fit in a visit to the eye doctor. So I will take a blogging break for the next few weeks to enjoy everything and try to be productive. But I am sure I will take some time to read my favorite blogs at some point. See you in a few weeks!! The pictures were taken last year at the Fourth Ward School in Virginia City, Nevada.

I have to share this story... Today I took LM with me to the grocery store. She made sure she brought along HER coupon book. It's a binder she made with 'her' coupons, which are ones I don't cut out. Ones for things I rarely buy like chips and candy. And dog food - lots of dog food. I cut out a few dog food coupons but we only have one dog who eats dry dog food and the occasional biscuit. So we cruise through the store getting what's on our list. We get to the register and she helps me unload everything on to the belt. I pay. The receipt comes out and the cashier hands it to me and then says 'oh, here's a coupon'. I take it and don't ' think anything of it. LM asks to see it and says 'yea, my first catalina '. ???? Now I am not sure if the coupons that come out of the register are technically catalinas but clearly we have been watching too much 'Extreme Couponing ' here at September Acres...

LM's class had a field trip today. We were literally in the middle of nowhere. We drove through wild, wild west towns on Route 66 like Hackberry, Valentine (you may have actually sent your Valentine's here for postmarks at some point) and Peach Springs. The little towns lead you to Grand Canyon Caverns . The caverns are not actually in the Grand Canyon but about 40 miles away. The opening that brings air into the caverns is at the Grand Canyon. The Caverns are the largest dry caverns in the United States. It is a beautiful sight once you reach the bottom. It is always 56 degrees F down there. 'Down there' is just over 200 feet. You get down there via elevator. The three third grade classes in LM's school went to the caverns today via school bus (always fun for the adults, right?) I chaperoned along with some other parents and got to ride on the bus. When we arrived the 3 classes split up and went down to the caverns one at a time. While we waited we ate lunch and sp...

I hope everyone has been watching season 2 of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution . It is eye opening to say the least. Here he is filling a school bus with the amount of sugar kids consume each year - just in chocolate milk. If that doesn't do it watch last week's episode on what gets done to the 'extra' meat from your average cow. This year's show has been focusing on school lunches, namely in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He has been banned from these schools by the school board. But he knows (as we all do) that these school lunches are not the quality food that we should be feeding our children. LAUSD isn't probably that different from the food in your kids' schools. What's a mom to do? First of all, try to go to lunch with your kids and see what is being served for lunch. Even if you send lunch with your kids it's still worth looking at. Kids trade food at lunch. Some kids only get a hot meal at school. These are the kids that really ...

Well, not exactly. But I can bake and I can decorate a cake and I like it. LM's first communion is coming up and we are having a reception after mass at our house. We did talk about ordering cupcakes from my friend's new cupcake shop. After a few episodes of cake boss LM has decided she'd rather have a cake. Something like this: Sure, if you don't want to go to college! I was thinking something less ornate, like this: Something I can make with no problem. I told LM that this weekend we will have a cake tasting. We'll make a couple of cake flavors and see what she likes, decorate a couple 'mini' cakes and she can make her decision. I am thinking of making a red velvet (of course) and a marble cake and she can pick what she likes best. It should be a sweet weekend...

On the days when LM has Brownies I take the girls (and one boy, the leader's son) to the leader's house for their meeting. I usually have 6, this week I only had 5. To get to the car they always walk up to the top of the hill and trail along behind one another along the fence line. It has always reminded my of the Von Trapp's (minus the clothing made out of drapes!)when they are leaving Austria at the end of 'The Sound of Music'. This week I had my phone with me and remembered to snap a shot of them. Climb every mountain, Ford every stream, Follow every rainbow, Till you find your dream.

My husband and his friend N took LM and N's two boys to the Coyotes game this weekend. They spent the night. LM said she liked the boys' weekend. I had big plans. I wanted to read the books I mentioned . I wanted to finish this book . I wanted to go see 'The King's Speech' and use the movie gift certificate my friend gave me. I wanted to clean my office a bit. Big plans. But you know what they say about the best laid plans. I offered to sell Girl Scout cookies for 5 hours on Saturday and 5 hours on Sunday (you read that correctly, a total of 10 hours) so there would be enough parents (there has to be 2) in order to keep the booth open. Keep in mind that LM was at the Coyotes game so I didn't have a child boothing on Sat or Sun. Although I know the leader appreciated it and so did the parents I helped out I think I should have only offered to do it once. But I made a committment to the leader (who is also a friend) and I was going to honor it. Even ...

Yesterday when I picked LM up from school I noticed she had on 'new' shoes. I asked her why. She broke her sandals during recess. I didn't really notice what she was wearing on her feet yesterday morning since she left when the delivery man was here. Rest assured, I would have nixed the sandals as it was a bit chilly in the a.m. The nurse provided her with tennis shoes and socks. I was happy that the nurse was able to do that & that I didn't need to be called to bring a new pair. I often complain about the wacky (in my opinion) things the school does but I was thrilled to see them take care of LM when she needed it. When we got home I ask LM for the socks so I could wash them and return them to school this morning. She said, 'oh, I only had them on for a few hours. You don't need to wash them.' Alrighty then. I washed those socks and returned them along with the shoes and a thank you note to the nurse. Oh, and today LM has on boots....

Last night when I went to pick LM up from ballet I spent a few minutes talking to her teacher. Before we left she said, "LM only had one ballet shoe today". So I asked LM about it and she said there was only one shoe in her bag. We dug through her ballet bag & the missing shoe bin at the ballet studio but didn't find the match. I did, however, find her black bolero that I spent forever looking for on Friday night. Amazingly, I never thought to look in her ballet bag for her sweater. Here's hoping I find that other ballet shoe in an odd spot. Before next Monday...

I have been watching The Talk since it started and love that hour each day. It's like hanging out with your friends and chatting for an hour. Lots of mom talk. All the hosts are moms - some have toddlers & preschoolers (Julie & Sara), some have school aged kids (Holly & Leah) and some have grown kids (Sharon) so there are lots of stories and tons of advice. It's very relevant to moms out there. The other day they were talking about having kids. More precisely, having more kids. They all went around the table and chatted about that - Leah loudly and proudly announced 'one and done for us'. You all know that we have one child. When Leah said that I thought, 'I wish I could say as proudly and happily as she just did'. I struggle with the fact that like it or not (I don't) it's one and done for us too. There are many factors that went into that decision. Some of them include: fertility issues, age (mine), the fact that my husband is one...