no sauce, s'il vous plait

In the Sunday paper @ the beginning of this month, we got a coupon for Smokey Bones. We wanted to use it before it expired, which was good that we took note of the expiration date which was today. Whew- just in the nick of time. Saturday we took the family out to lunch. The Wardlings loved their ribs. When I was pregnant with Penny, Clyde and I took the boys to eat here on one of our lunch dates that we used to have. Josh doesn't like sauces of any kind, ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce etc. This day was the exception, because he slurped down this ribs and sauce like it was the best thing he had ever eaten. I do seem to remember that we told him he was eating chicken, but it really didn't matter.
Josh told us that, "this is the best food that I have ever eaten!" That is saying alot from our no-sauce man Josh. They all enjoyed their lunch!
We saved our bones and brought them home for our lovely Uno. She gobbled them up with such intensity.
After eating, we went to the grocery store to buy cookies for Clyde's primary class and a few other things. We have decided to go a bit green when it comes to using plastic bags. We would like to think that we are helping out the environment, after contributing 11 years worth of disposable diapers to the landfills. Plus, this is a small gesture I know, but when you use as many plastic bags as we do, I am feeling good about our decision to use the bags.

i must win uno

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I must win @ uno. I do not care if my opponents are my own children. Clyde and I have stopped playing the game due to major arguments and I stand strong @ the draw two war rule. Long story. Friday night, Clyde, Peter, and Jamey went to a Superchunk concert @ the Cat's Cradle, which left me and the Wardlings home to play. We had a fun time goofin' off too. We took Uno, the wonder dog, for a walk around the block for some exercise. She is still learning to walk beside us, so it took bunches of arm strength to keep her close to me, while watching after the Wardlings. Then it was home and bath time. Clyde surprised us with dinner, so that saved me from cooking and the Wardlings from eating my food. It isn't as if I am a total bad cook, it is just that Clyde does it a lot better than I do.After bath time, since they were all stinky Wardlings after an afternoon of playing outside, we got out the card game of uno for an evening of fun.
As soon as the cards were shuffled, I told them the rules, which comes down to one really. Mama always wins. I distributed the cards evenly and we began to play. Even Penny had her 7 cards. She played by matching colors only. The other Wardlings played by matching colors or numbers. As luck had it..hee hee...I won. I was so excited too. No mercy!
We popped some popcorn and shared a chocolate, before the game ended.


What a fun night...well it was for me anyway. :)

i.e.p

I was so impressed with our 2 little Wardlings, plus one today. We had an IEP (Individual Education Plan) meeting with our county's pre-k school system. This meeting took over two hours. To be honest, I didn't expect it to be that long. I had packed a snack pack full of goodies for them to have during the meeting. I am glad that I did! They played really well with toys and each other in the office that we met in, whilst the big people discussed Penny's needs. There was a team of 7 working on the IEP. After our meeting, the Wardlings played a bit on these little swings. Their behavior won them an Icee @ Target. This was a good day...long, but good.

wardlings back home

This is how the 2 Wardlings left @ home reacted to their brother and sisters being away for the 1st day of school. Jacob started the day in the usual way. He wanted to pick a video. I'll give you one guess...that's right Star Wars III. "Anakin, you were my brother!" Jacob arranged his pillows on his chest, like a table and he play fought with his star wars babies until he fell asleep.
Penny was out by 11am. Old routines are showing their faces. I like it! She cuddled up in her bed, under the blanket Bubbie made us when I was pregnant with Jacob. I love that blanket!
It rained for the most of the day yesterday and so getting the big Wardlings off the bus was done rapidly. They both hunched their heads, so that they wouldn't get wet. It was just barely sprinkling, unlike the complete down pouring of today, so they looked a bit silly.

We hurried into the house and talked about their day. It was a good day for both of them. I am quite relieved. Erin and Clyde had a good day as well. Erin is learning her routine and class changes well. She is making friends and it is nice to know that the teachers are all looking out for her. That is just another perk of having her @ the same school that Clyde teaches in!
Last night, after dinner and chore time, we watched a film, that kinda got a bad rap. Now, I must say that I haven't read the books that they are based on, so what has been said about them may, in fact be true. We netflixed, "The Golden Compass," and I watched the majority of it before allowing the Wardlings to watch it. It is pretty good. Narnia-ish. The rumors and such about the film have said that the characters kill God in the end. That didn't happen in this film. Demons are in it, but demons aren't what we think they are or used to them being. Demons in this film are the children's souls, taking on a various animal shapes. They are a good thing to have. They are helpers. Just fyi, in case you needed another children's flick to netflix.
After the kids went to bed, I then put in, National Treasure II. (I am working on Christmas gifts and I needed something to listen to/ watch whilst knitting.) We had started the film a few days ago, but I was in my huge allergy attack mode and med's had kicked in. I was trying to keep my eyes open, but they became too heavy. Besides, I couldn't stand to look @ Nicholas Cage's hair piece any longer. It really bothered me. Seriously bothered me! I had watched over 1/2 of it, so it was mainly the last hour that I finished last night. It was ok. All in all, yesterday was a good day.

teary-eyed twinge

A tradition we have is the first day of school photograph. Our little man, Josh got up this morning without any delays. He got dressed and was ready to go. How handsome!
Libby-lou's pretty smile is great.
Jacob doesn't start kindergarten this year. He will begin, Mama's school soon.
And finally Miss Penny.

I spent yesterday hemming pants and repairing various other articles of clothing. Libby is sporting a pair of pants that Erin ripped the knees out of this past spring. I cut them off, hemmed them, and it was sweet that she chose to wear them today. I did the same thing to another pair of pants of Erin's that had a wicked nasty stain on the knees. I cut them off and made bermuda length shorts and she wore those today. I love getting more use out of our clothes!

Libby got up this morning great. She was nervous, but got dressed, ate breakfast without a hitch. They have a way late lunch this year, so we were sure to pack a snack. Last year I was a bit teary-eyed when I walked the Wardlings to class on their 1st day. This year there was a twinge, but then the girls started arguing over a hair clip. I re-thought my teary-eyed twinge and was grateful that they were going to school. yippeeeee!!!

hi, ho...hi ho, it's off to school they go

We made it safe and sound to the Wardlings' new school. We were actually a bit early. I was expecting to have more people there and we were pleasantly surprised.

In the classroom...
Libby was excited to be @ school today. We took her to class first. She got her stuff out and organized. This is her, 'get outta here, you're embarrassing me" smile, to me, before we left.
Josh was way cute in his room. He got to his desk and was ready. When I hugged him good-bye, he wrapped his arm around my head and patted my ear. I briefly talked to his teacher before we left and as I turned around he was already sitting @ his desk working on his morning work. I said 'bye Josh' and he didn't even look up while waving bye to me. He did the same wave to Clyde after Clyde said bye to him as well.
Our local news station was @ our school this morning. That was very exciting for the Wardlings to see.
I think tht we have turned a page in the level of affection we can show our Wardlings while others are in view. At home they are all cuddily, but not in public. I need to remember that, or just take it to the next level...Uncle Buck style...you know threatening to walk them to class in my pj's and bathrobe, while wearing curlers and slippers if they can't give a little peck on the cheek.

penny's blessing

Continuing from our childhood traditions, the night before school, Clyde gives the Wardlings each a blessing. We all got one this year. It is very touching to hear the sweet prayers. Once we were finished with the blessings, it was off to bed. Penny hung around for a minute longer and climbed up behind me and gave me a blessing. It was very sweet. (I apologize for my sickly face. I had a major allergy attack yesterday and I was feeling rotten and boy does the picture show it.)