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You know how in my last post I said that nothing exciting had been going on, just life? Well that was sort of a little white lie. We did have one "event of excitement" last Monday.
Question: What happens when one is driving down a highway at 60 miles per hour and one's hood flies up?
Answer: 
Yep, that is Bill's van and that is how it looks these days.
Last Monday he and two fellow fire fighter/union members were driving to Winona for the MN Professional Fire Fighter's conference. On a straight (luckily) stretch of highway just outside of Red Wing Bill's hood suddenly and inexplicably flew up. Luckily no one was hurt but Bill's van sustained well over $3000 in damage. The picture really doesn't show the full story. To quote Bill when he called me "It looks like I hit a deer or something or someone." I would have to concur. His windshield is cracked in multiple places, his roof dented, the hood destroyed (and temporarily wired shut) and many other dents, scratches and things broken. Thank goodness for car insurance!
So o.k. a little more than "status quo" at the Lamberts.
As usual life has been nothing short of crazy and hectic at our house, at work and everywhere in between. Honestly I was shocked when I logged onto the blog only to see I hadn't been here since September 3rd. Yikes! Maybe that is why my mom called to confirm I was still amongst the living. The funny thing is that there isn't any one thing going on - just life.
I have to say that with two kids in school now it seems like we are even more busy. I'm not sure why that is or whether I just perceive it to be that way, but it certainly seems this is the case. So WHAT have the Lamberts been up to you ask? Well here is a quick recap and at the end of my post I captured it in pictures for you as well. Remember I am having fun with iPhoto these days so humor me. :-)
Anna had her first school project where she had to create an oversized paper doll of herself and then each "t-shirt" talked about and showed her life - her house, her family, what she wants to be when she grows up, etc. So she and I went on a little picture taking trip around the house. I thought our house looked so pretty so I had to share that as well as a picture of Ry and Anna and of Sophie the now grown up kitty.
As if turning 40 wasn't tough enough I went to the eye doctor and discovered that not only can I not see far away, but I can't see close up very well anymore either. Anna models my latest accessory.
Gracie has taken to sleeping upside down a lot lately. Not sure what is up with that but I captured her on the couch one night hanging out with Bill.
The musical group Journey came to Minneapolis last week for a concert at the Target Center. Bill and I went and enjoyed seeing their new lead singer, Arnel Pineda. If you haven't heard this Cinderella story let me indulge you. When Steve Perry left Journey he was replaced by Steve Augeri in 1997. He left the band in 2006 after suffering from a throat ailment. In desperation Neal Schon hit the web and after a few days stumbled on a video of Arnel Pineda on YouTube singing with The Zoo, a cover band in the Philippines, mimicking everybody from Sting to Led Zeppelin. But is was his cover of Journey's "Faithfully" that really got his attention. Arnel was summoned to the states for an audition and the rest is pretty much history. He did NOT disappoint. Bill an I really enjoyed the show and because Pineda is so young he brings this great energy to the band. They played for nearly 2 1/2 hours. It was fantastic!
In the spring I insisted on buying a Hibiscus plant for the deck. I had seen these and thought them to be so pretty so I bought a small one, repotted it and hoped for the best. Amazingly it has survived several attacks from Gracie (I have no clue why a dog wants to eat a plant) and not the most attentive watering from yours truly. But despite this it has given me two beautiful blooms this summer. I captured the one that appeared last Saturday morning.
Last is the kids have been getting along pretty well lately. They have this common bond called school and it seems to suit them well. I captured them playing with Lite Brite the other night. Isn't Mr. Potato Head cute in lights?
So you see, life is just what is happening at our house. Not much drama, pretty much just life. The most exciting thing we are doing is counting down to our Disney trip which we embark on on October 14th. Yeah!
Enjoy my amateur video. :-)
Well I sure wish I were posting a smiley photo and a happy report. In reality if I had a picture to share the subject(s) would be crying (take your pick either me or Anna). After what I thought was a bumpy first day I didn't expect this morning to go off with out a hitch but I certainly expected even a teeny tiny bit better one. Instead it was a worse one than yesterday.
Anna started to cry the minute she got out of bed. She cried while I got her dressed (in the outfit she excitedly chose last night). Suddenly one of her favorite tops was no longer comfortable. Then we battled over socks. The ones she wanted to wear didn't remotely match her outfit but I finally caved (remember Carol pick your battles) and then she caved too and told me to pick them out. The first pair "felt funny" which brought on more tears. So I found a new pair and they worked. Then I got her shoes on and suddenly "the heels are slipping" and you guessed it . . . more tears. Then it was off to fix her hair. More tears, I picked the wrong bow, one pony tail was too tight and one too loose. Someone I managed to get her to eat a granola bar between the tears but had to forget tooth brushing - it just wasn't worth the hassle today.
Then we headed to the car and I couldn't find her jacket (it was only 49 degrees this morning!) so more tears. I found a jacket and got her in the car. Ryan got her to stop crying but as soon as we pulled up at my sister-in-law's house and she saw her Auntie Ema the tears began again. We walked her to the bus stop and somehow got her to stop crying. Then the school bus rounded the corner . . . more tears. So my last glimpse of my little girl, a teary face looking through a bus window. :-( I feel horrible emotionally and physically. I never in my wildest dreams thought this would be so hard.
And I KNOW she is fine but it doesn't make me feel any better at this point. If this keeps up I will be the one crying by week's end.
Today was a big day at our house as was it at many of yours — the first day of school. This was however, no ordinary first day. Ryan headed off to 4th grade at a new school called Weaver Lake Elementary STEM Magnet. And Anna headed off to Kindergarten (half day, morning).
Ryan's school is the Science, Technology and Math (STEM) focused school in our district. The teaching is based on a "hands-on" approach with a focus on the three areas that are the Magnet's concentration. Ryan expressed interest in attending this school this past spring when it was relocated to a school building much closer to our house. He has been exceling in Math and also really likes Science so it seemed like a natural fit. As luck would have it his best friend made the same decision and with limited openings they were both fortunate to be chosen in the random lottery. And even luckier they got the same teacher and are sharing a locker. Ryan had a good first day and really likes his teacher Ms. Mary Oldham. His class has 35 kids in — the most he has ever had — but I am confident Ms. Oldham will manage it well. Ryan did say that he knew no one else in class except Josh and that no one played with him today but Josh but I assured him that would not last long. Saying a prayer and crossing fingers that this is the case!
Anna has been ready for Kindergarten for months or so she has been saying. It turns out the difficulty falling asleep and the night waking were likely brought on as a result of anxiety over the approaching school year. This weekend full blown protests began with her finally dissolving into tears last night in bed and telling me she had a stomach ache AND a cold and surely could not go to school. She also told me she would like to "pass" on Kindergarten. Not pass like you think of in school but rather pass on it as "fore go it." I told her that wasn't an option. This morning she was still distressed but we distracted her with getting dressed and curling her hair. She arrived at the bus stop excited but when the bus rounded the corner she turned to me in a panic, grabbed me and asked, "Momma how many hours do I have to be there????!!!!" As I steered her towards the bus I said only 2 1/2 hours and then bless her cousin Marah who grabbed her hand and said, "Come one Anna let's go," and hustled her on to the bus. Anna has a girl from her dance school who is actually from Ryan's grade and Anna adores her. Harley spotted Anna and asked her to sit down so when the bus pulled away Anna had a big grin on her face. I had a big lump in my throat as did Bill I imagine.
I met her bus on its return after 12:00 and she was all smiles, told me she had a great day, that she made 4 friends and that she was "definitely going back tomorrow." Boy did I breath a sigh of relief! Tonight she was busy laying out her clothes for tomorrow and looking forward to the day.
They really do grow up too fast. As the day wore on today I realized I was really tired out and I really think that the day itself was much harder on me than I care to admit. There are so many emotions in particular about sending your youngest off to school for the first time. I am always excited to pick up the kids at the end of the day but today in particular I was very anxious for 5:00 to arrive so I could head to my sister's to pick them up. I guess it is a sign they are getting older and I am getting older. :-(
Hope the first day of school went well for everyone with kids!
Yep, that is Bill's van and that is how it looks these days.
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