Day 243/365 - August 31

When school started, the teachers (Trio as they like to be called) told us about three weeks into school they hold Parent/Teacher Conferences with all new families.

Today was our day. We met this morning at 7:45 and talked to The Trio for about thirty minutes until the bell rang for students to come in.

They were all pleased with how well Avery has adapted. They also said she has really opened up since the first week of school.

Right now, she has all A's and B's which pleases Wes and me VERY much. I honestly never thought I would be so happy to see a B.

This has also been a good experience for Avery. Having never made a B, she was super upset going into the school year. "I know I'm gonna make my first B this year." We've told her to just try her hardest and we will all do the best we can.

I think she's finally come to the realization that it's great to reach for the stars, but you also have to be realistic at the same time. Knowing that Forest Avenue is a full grade level ahead means that she essentially skipped 4th grade math (STJ was a grade level ahead in English). When you stop and think about the amount of skills learned in one year...it's huge! To have a B while tackling all of this new and advanced material...proud doesn't begin to describe it!

Day 242/365 - August 30

We've had our share of ups and downs with homework.

This school year has been full of adjustments - new school plus 4th grade just to name a few.

There have been more than a few nights that ended in tears. Avery and me too, once in the privacy of my own room.

Then there are the moments where things just "click." You know what I'm talking about, the light bulb goes off and they just "get it."

It's times like those that can make you forget all the others when you want to pull your hair out.

And times like tonight. When your child hands you a card that she spent an hour making for you.

Just to tell you how much she appreciates all of the time you spend helping with homework, studying together, and the encouraging words you manage to find when you think there's nothing left to give.

This moment could have been super special, but I ruined it. Yeah, that hour Avery spent in her room working on this card meant an hour that wasn't being used to study. When I got on to her about that, she was preparing to hand me this sweet card she had just worked so hard on.

We both cried a little. Me, for feeling like the worst mom ever (again).

Day 241/365 - August 29

Lady and Dosie went to the groomers today and got all prettied up.

Well, they're not really girlie girl dogs but they got a bath, short haircut, and trimmed nails.

They are always so proud after getting cleaned up!

Day 240/365 - August 28

Wes and I did a bunch of yard work today...flowerbeds for me and trimming bushes for Wes.

While Wes was trimming and cutting back a vine along the side of the house, he ran across a bird's nest. I mean, literally ran into it, hit it, knocked it. The mama bird flew away, the baby bird fell out of the nest, and there is an egg still in the nest.

It is now our mission to keep up with the safety of this little bird. How? I'm not sure.

Day 239/365 - August 27

I've always been pretty upfront with the fact that I want to be organized and together, but just haven't quite gotten there yet.

I've never really hidden the fact that I'm not the best house cleaner. Yep, I've owned up to spider webs and layers of dust existing in my house.

Today it finally "hit me" that the calendar on my fridge was from December 2009.

Sure, I walk by and look at it hundreds of times but I've never stopped to actually think, "hey, maybe I should get a new calendar." Well, maybe I have but just remembered how hard it is to find the right size to fit :)

Now that I've admitted the fact that I have a 10 month old calendar in my kitchen, the real question is...how long until I replace it.

Day 238/365 - August 26

So, how exactly does one's yard look like this

when you have not a single tree?

When your next door neighbor has these.

Day 237/365 - August 25

Happy Birthday to...ME!

Yep, the big 3-6 today. I've caught up with Wes for another year.

I had a wonderful day.

My Dad called this morning and surprised me with lunch at the Capital City Club. Talk about amazing views (20+ floors up) and delicious food. It was a great meal and wonderful company too! 

Imagine my surprise to find out that Avery had almost no homework when I picked her up from school. Seriously, that SO made my day!

Avery and Wes took me to dinner at Miyako which just so happens to be where Avery went for her birthday (notice a trend here? yep, we like what we like. obviously, considering I'm wearing the same top too!).

On the way to dinner, I received a phone call from Best Buy. Actually, Avery was playing a game on my BlackBerry and said "it doesn't have a name" and I told her to just answer it. Good thing she did...the phone (htc EVO 4g) that I have been waiting on FOR-EVER finally came in today. They were going down the list until they got folks that actually answered the phone. Considering they only got two phones in, I was super excited. I mean, come on, how much better of a birthday surprise can you get than that?!?

So, we went on and enjoyed a yummy dinner and then headed home for an even yummier cookie cake. I seriously {heart} cookie cake and think I might actually have a problem once it's in my house.

Avery picked out the design. She wanted a heart and since I use to like chocolate icing best but now like white icing best (and because she likes chocolate best), she wanted the heart to have both flavors. When Wes placed the order, he was invisioning a heart inside a larger heart...not half chocolate and half white. Bottom line, it tasted just the same!

After cake, I opened my present - a new pair of awesome PJ's. Then it was off to get the rest of my present...my phone!!

Avery asks me every year, "was this your best birthday ever?" I can honestly say that yes, this was the best birthday yet. I was surrounded by my family and had an evening full of time with them doing what we wanted to do. No pressure from anyone else, no stress from outside stuff. It was truthfully just a perfect day. Thank you Wes!!!

Day 236/365 - August 24

Driving to work this morning, I looked out the side window and noticed a hot air balloon taking off from AUM.

Although the picture quality isn't the greatest, it's still a pretty cool sight.

Day 235/365 - August 23

No more delays...the grass had to be cut. Wes called our neighbor down the street and borrowed his push mower. I went out to go take my picture for the day and saw this instead.

Turns out, our next door neighbor saw Wes using the push mower, felt sorry for him, and offered up his riding lawn tractor.

Honestly, I'm quite disappointed in myself. I was REALLY looking forward to a photo of Wes pushing a lawn mower down the street!

Day 234/365 - August 22

Sunday always means ironing at our house. If not, that means daily ironing in order to have Avery's uniforms ready for school each day. I Wes (because we all know that he does most of the ironing) would much rather iron in bulk, over the weekend, than in the middle of the morning rush.

For whatever reason, Wes wasn't home to iron this afternoon which meant that the burden fell on my shoulders.

I really do not enjoy ironing at all. Some people get joy from the neat, finished product. I'm not one of those people.

Day 233/365 - August 21

We had a yard sale today with a couple in our neighborhood. While I enjoy getting rid of "stuff" and sure don't mind pocketing some extra cash, I really do not enjoy all the prep work.

Avery and Josie set up a lemonade, water, and cookie stand in the front yard.

(Not the best picture, but I grabbed my point and shoot and it was early.)

Although they weren't the best at manning the stand, they made about $15 total. Avery learned a valuable lesson regarding partnership today. It might be great to have that extra set of helping hands, but those hands also get half the profit at the end of the day.

Day 232/365 - August 20

Avery's cat, Princess, is either a) part dog or b) crazy. She will play with any kind of "toy" she can find - and I use the word toy very lightly (usually anything that starts with Bar and ends with bie). Anything she finds that can be batted, swatted, or knocked around is fair game for her.

However, she's not up for playing with said toys on carpet. Nope, she prefers the added fun that tile brings to the table. Therefore, these toys have to find their way into the kitchen.

How do they get there, you ask?

She carries them in her mouth, of course. How silly of you to think a cat would do anything else.

Wes picks them up as he finds them each day and sets them on the mantle. Many times they end up in the animal's shared water bowl. Princess thinks it's fun to knock them in there and then paw them out (of course spewing water everyone along the way). Usually on Friday, I will return them to their rightful homes...only for the game to start back over again.

This was the collection from this week.

Like I said, is she really a cat?

Day 231/365 - August 19

It's never a good sign when Wes come inside while cutting grass and asks me to "come outside." When I resist because I'm in the middle of something and he insists, "just come here," I know for certain it's trouble.

I knew when I walked outside and saw this

that it was gonna be bad.

Didn't know what to expect, but it wasn't this

The steel tire rod snapped in half. Are you kidding me? This is a $2500 lawn mower that he's had for 6 years and only uses to cut our grass!

Wes has been eyeing this new Toro with a bigger/better engine. I quickly told him tonight that this was NOT the way to get a new mower and that I really hope he enjoys the push mower he will be getting next. Truthfully, I'm really hoping they can repair this one, but it doesn't look good.

Day 230/365 - August 18

There have been lots of adjustments this school year, but many are good.  One being the fact that Avery's math book is available on-line.

Doesn't sound like that big of a deal until you think about how many books these kids have to take back and forth each and every day. The ability to keep one book at school is huge!

I {heart} on-line math books. Not so much the decimals, fractions, and place values though.

Day 229/365 - August 17

In a nutshell, today was just a crummy day. You know - one of those days that makes you realize you should've just stayed in bed or wish you could go back to bed and start all over? Yep, that's the day I've had.

Nothing terrible, just yuck.

I've had a lingering migraine since last Friday, the 13th. It will NOT go away, ease up - sure. Go away - negative. To say I feel bad would be a slight understatement. However, I've pushed through and continued doing all the stuff you are "suppose to do" to keep life functioning both at home and work.

Mid-morning, I was filing a few papers in one of the two drawer filing cabinets stacked on top of each other at work and realized that there was just WAY too much stuff crammed into one of the drawers.

Taking a proactive approach, I decided to move a few items to another drawer.

Probably should have thought about closing one drawer before opening the second. It didn't take but a split second for the filing cabinet to start falling towards me and in slow motion fall forward, flip upside down, and fall onto the floor. Luckily, I quickly moved out of the way.

Both drawers were open, so everything dumped out. Of course, the filing cabinet is now broken and we have to order a replacement.

This is the temporary fix - both two drawer filing cabinets side by side with the damaged drawers on top (they were stacked on top of each other). Personally, I'm kind of fond of the "open air" filing system.

I know you're wondering why there aren't any photos the actual damage. I really didn't think my bosses would appreciate me whipping out the camera in the middle of that fiasco.

Honestly, the day just went downhill from there.

Day 228/365 - August 16

Princess decided to help Avery with her Alabama History homework this afternoon.

Isn't she a great assistant? Nothing like finding globs of black fur all over everything! At least she wasn't eating or carrying around any of the papers. Progress, progress.

Day 227/365 - August 15

Take a look at this silly cat.

She has just taken over Lady's dog bed. Do you think the dogs even tried to move her at all? Nope, they just let her rule the roost.

Day 226/365 - August 14

I surprised Avery by stopping by Target and picking up Just Dance for the Wii. She played it at school during PE this week and has talked non-stop about how much fun it is.

Avery had the game unwrapped before we pulled in the driveway. She played it for at least an hour straight and had the best time!

I just couldn't convince her to keep the Wii remote on the entire time. She said it "got in her way" and would only wear it on occasion. At least she's playing it and having fun. It's not all about the score, right?

Day 225/365 - August 13

I've had my Blackberry for a little over a year now and have become absolutely addicted to Brickbreaker. It's such a basic game, but I {heart} it.

I was super excited to finally "beat" it today. Well, not actually beat the game because it doesn't actually end...it just starts back over at level one and advances faster. Still, bottom line - I won and I still have FIVE lives left!!!

Looks like it's definitely time to get my new phone :) Actually, I've been on the waiting list for the new HTC Evo 4g phone from Sprint for nearly a month now. Really hoping it will live up to all this hype (if I ever get one).

Tonight, Wes and I went to see Inception. Wow, what an amazing movie!

It's a good thing I enjoyed it since Wes told me that it was the last movie he was paying to go see. $9.50/ticket = $19 plus $12 for popcorn and a drink was a bit too steep for him.

Day 224/365 - August 12

Avery got this new watch when we were at the beach over 4th of July. She goes through spurts wearing it.

Now that school has started, she wears it every single day so that she can know what time she gets to school, etc. I think it's pretty cute to see these small little changes in her...she sure is growing up.

Day 223/365 - August 11

College football is less than one month away - woo hoo!!!!

I was not nearly as excited to open the mailbox and find this today.

Avery saw it and asked if she could rip the cover off and throw it away. After telling her, "no, it's Dad's and even though we don't like Alabama, we shouldn't mess up his magazine," she asked if she could just scratch it all out.

That's my girl - War Eagle!!!

Day 222/365 - August 10

For as long as Avery has gone to school, she has always wanted to ride the bus. Now that she's attending a public school, she finally gets the opportunity. Wes takes Avery to her "zoned school" in the morning and the bus picks up kids for the magnet schools.

I asked Wes if he would please take pictures for me and of course he said no. So, imagine my surprise to receive these via e-mail today.

Although they aren't the best lighting, they are Avery's first day riding the bus and Wes took them just for me. How sweet was that?!?

Day 2 of school (with classwork and homework) - still loves it. Whew, I think I can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Day 221/365 - August 9

My sweet baby girl is officially a 4th grader. I seriously do not know where the time has gone! I will admit that I have been pretty anxious about today - first day at a new school. Avery has done great...until last night. I think it all finally hit her - all the changes. However, she woke up excited and ready to go this morning.

Of course I took the traditional photos at home before we left.

I asked before hand if Avery minded me walking in with her to take pictures and she said it was fine.

Little did I realize that I would be the ONLY parent there. Oh well, it didn't bother her and of course it didn't bother me either :)

I'm sure her teachers were shocked when I asked if I could snap a quick photo with each of them, but they humored me.

I had a knot in my stomach all day long...wondering how Avery was doing. To have her get in the car this afternoon and tell me she had a great day and loved it was everything I hoped for!

Day 220/365 - August 8

After another day full of cleaning and organizing, I decided to take a break this afternoon and do some baking. Avery had her friend Mackenzie over and I really thought they could use some cookies :)

I found a recipe for Malted Chocolate Chip Cookies on The Pioneer Woman's blog a few weeks ago and have been chomping at the bit to find time to bake them.

Let me just say that this was the best cookie dough I have ever tasted. Seriously, the best. I'm getting excited just thinking about it!

I must admit, the cookies were pretty good too.

Wes even loved them. Coming from him, that's big. I so don't understand it, but he's not a chocolate person?

Day 219/365 - August 7

Whew, talk about a day. I spent the majority of it working with Avery in her room. We went through e.v.e.r.y. single thing in her closet. She tried on all of her clothes and shoes to see what fit, cleared out and organized her toys, and this is the end result.

Although it was lots of work, I'm super proud of our accomplishment!! You can actually see what clothes she has AND move them around. There are even empty spaces for shoes! Avery informed me that simply meant we needed to go shopping :)

Day 218/365 - August 6

We decided to do some major cleaning this weekend.

Wes started with the entertainment center/bookcase.

He is convinced that I never clean this thing. Now tell me, wouldn't it be much dustier than this if it hadn't been cleaned in a year?

Day 217/365 - August 5

I picked my Mom and Avery up this afternoon and headed to the uniform store. We needed to get the last few items before school started and I wanted to make sure we didn't have to deal with the tax free craze over the weekend. I know you save the 10% tax, but I made that mistake once before and it was SO not worth it. I would honestly pay a mark up just to bypass that craziness!

This afternoon we picked up two jumpers, two pairs of shorts, and two button down shirts.

With this final purchase, we should complete Avery's school wardrobe. Thanks again Mom!!!

Day 216/365 - August 4

After a summer filled with kids, I must admit that I'm pretty sad it's coming to an end. I have truthfully enjoyed having my nieces spend so much time with us this summer and Avery has loved it too!

I couldn't resist taking a last picture of Avery and Paige together today. 

Would you ever know they had just gotten up out of bed and dressed?

Day 215/365 - August 3

A few nights ago, Wes promised Avery that we would take her to California Yogurt Kraze when Paige and Caitlin were here. The way things worked out, Caitlin went home over the weekend but Paige stayed a few extra days.

Needless to say, Avery was quick to remind us of that promise - which is a HUGE thing with her right now. Not sure if it's the age or what, but it's always promise? promise? promise? You would think we don't stand by what we say, but that's not the case. Anywho...

Tonight, Avery asked if we could go (across town) to get yogurt. I said no because we wouldn't have time with dinner, etc. This is the face I got.

After Wes and I talked, he reminded me that it was a promise. Of course, it was HIS promise, but did take them? Nope.

Needless to say, I took Avery and Paige and they were quite happy.

Day 214/365 - August 2

Tonight we went back to school shoe shopping (in the rain).

The school's dress code is pretty strict, especially on shoes. Tennis shoes must be white, black, or gray with no other colors. They can also wear Mary Janes, loafers, and lace up shoes.

The icky part? They must wear socks.

Doesn't sound too bad. Until you stop and think about Mary Janes, Sperry's, or Yellow Box...with socks.

After an hour at the shoe store, we came home with one pair of plain ole gray tennis shoes.

Tennis shoes that Avery really does not like, but settled for because they met the criteria. {sigh}

Day 213/365 - August 1

With Avery gone, Wes and I decided to work in Avery's room.

After a little discussion, we finally agreed on a design and got to work.

Avery was ecstatic when she got home and saw it. Mission accomplished!