on my own

I'm on my own this week. Sean is gone to New Mexico on a men's retreat. Unfortunately for me, he is with my sister and her family in the mountains! He promised to play with Katie for me and take some pictures though. I've been catching up on laundry and rearranging furniture. I've gotten a lot done just in a few days. Things are starting to fall back into place. The kids are in their first full week of school. We have no more travel plans for a while. We can get used to a routine now! Our summer was so chaotic. It was good, but just really busy. It's weird with the kids being gone all day. It's going to take some getting used to. I'm finding things to do while they're at school. It's just weird having some time to myself.

Girls' Night

Sean and I have had this fun weekend planned with our kids since April! Sean wanted to take the boys camping. Holly and I had a fun weekend planned of shopping, makeup and movies. We rented Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants because we were planning on seeing the sequel at the theater. We shopped and shopped but didn't find any good deals. We had manicures done. That was fun. This picture was taken at PF Chang, where we ate dinner. Holly had never eaten there. She really liked it. I had a really good time with her. We've never really done anything like that just the two of us. We did make a memory at the movies. I was stuck with the car for the weekend since Sean took the van to haul the boys and all their camping equipment. So, I drive up and find a parking space at the movies. We went to a matinee so not many cars were in the lot. We went and ate lunch and saw the movie. We were away from the car for a couple of hours. As we were leaving, the car started making a funny noise. I jump out and look at all the tires thinking one might be flat. No flat tire. I pull forward again, and the same noise happens. Holly jumps out and looks under the car. She says, "Uh, Tonya, there is a tire under the car." I was like, "WHAT?! A TIRE?!" I jump out and look under the car. Sure enough, there is a small tire under my car! I have no idea how that happened! You would think I would remember driving over a tire! Seriously! So, I lay on the ground and try to pull it out, but it's stuck. Putting the car in drive or reverse only drags the tire. The only thing that will work is to jack the car up and pull the tire out. I get the spare tire jack and decide this is a lesson for Holly. I make her lay on the ground with me and show her where to position the jack and how to turn the handle to raise the jack. As I'm showing her, I see this man walk up out of the corner of my eye. He's giving me this weird look. You know. An onlooker. This was an onlooker in awe. He says, "Everything okay? You need some help?" I say, "Oh yeah, we're good. There's just a tire stuck under my car. No problem though. Thanks!" While I'm still trying to get the car raised up high enough to get the tire out, Holly says the guy and his wife are now watching. I pull the tire out and throw it over in some grass. The guy comes back over and says, "Wow, there really was a tire!" Duh! I told you there was! So, that was our fun times. True story.

It's official!

It's official. We are no longer a homeschool family. Today was the first day of school for my kids at Wright Christian Academy. They were totally excited. I was excited for them, yet a little sad at the same time. I mean, really, we've been together every day for the last four years. So, I think a little sadness was permissable. I did cry after I dropped them off. Really I am excited for them. It's a great school. I know they will do great and make lots of great friends. I guess I would have felt a little better if the kids had at least acted like they were going to miss me! But oh well. We've been planning on this and getting this in our heads since March. So, we all knew it was coming. It just didn't really hit me until last night and this morning when they all got out of the van. It almost felt like their first day of kindergarten! I had Sonic drinks waiting for them when I picked them up this afternoon. They thought that was a nice treat. They were all full of stories about their classes and teachers. They loved every thing! They already even have lots of friends. Their closest friends go to our church, and now they go to school together. That's pretty cool. We're even carpooling. How crazy is that? I didn't know carpooling was even in my vocabulary. I'm still on the search for a few more school supplies. And ties. The boys have to wear ties on chapel days. They have chapel every Wednesday. Holly has to wear a skirt, but we already bought a couple. So, this weekend, I will be shopping for ties. The boys are even excited about wearing ties! It's going to be a great year!

On the way to school this morning, I was giving the Motherly First Day of School Address. Devon (the one in red) always has trouble remembering to zip his fly. No matter what. It seems like his fly is always unzipped! I even threatened to make him go without pants if I have to keep telling him to zip them! I guess that's bad parenting. Because I haven't actually had the nerve to make him do that yet. I don't want to get arrested or anything. Anyway, as we were walking out the door this morning, of course, Devon's fly is wide open! So, as he was getting out of the van, I said, "Devon, every time you leave the bathroom, make sure your fly is zipped!" That got me to thinking. I'm going to start a quote book of things said or overheard on the way to/from school this year. It will be even more fun when we carpool with the Hilton's next week. So, I will be posting random quotes from the quote book.

It's going to be a great year!

good-byes

Sean, the kids and I went to Langley yesterday to spend a little time with my cousin, Bo. He's leaving today for San Antonio. He joined the Air Force. He seems really excited about it. I'm glad! I'm really proud of him. I think he will do great. It's really sad to see him go. As soon as he's completed basic training, he's off to a tech school assignment. My sister and I grew up with Meghan and Bo. They actually did live with us for a while...they were over at our house all the time. They are both just like my little brother and sister. Meghan just got married, and now Bo is leaving for Air Force. I can't wait to hear from Bo after he gets settled. I'm feeling just a little emotional today, I guess. I love my family! It's hard when you're really close to your family. My sister and I really close. I'm glad that she and Nate are doing what they love, but I'm really getting tired of them living so far away! Zach and Katie really need their aunt Tonya! Just a few months until I see them all again though. Hopefully, I'll see Bo around the holidays. You really should always make sure the people you care about most know that you care about them.

fired

my family is probably going to fire me if I don't get our house back in order. I need to do laundry. I'm in the middle of rearranging furniture and throwing stuff out we don't need. It's pretty much a mess, and I have little time to work on it. if they do fire me, I hope I get to keep my pac-man game.

the wedding

We made it through the wedding weekend! Terri and Meg and I got to spend a few nights together. We kidnapped Meghan and brought her to mom and dad's house. We stayed up late watching movies and eating chocolate and popcorn and talking. It was a beautiful wedding and of course, Meghan was beautiful!

This is me, Meghan, Bo and Terri. Meghan and Bo are brother and sister. Bo was Meghan's Martin of Honor. That's what a male Maid of Honor is called.


Sean was an usher for the wedding. That is a picture of my Carrie Underwood hair. I loved the hair, but the makeup was a bit much. Meghan, Holly and I went to have our hair and makeup done for the wedding. Oh, and Katie went with us too.


Here are the girls!


The "sisters"!

Meghan and Bo!

It was a crazy weekend, but we all had fun. Meghan had a great day, and that's all that mattered! It was good to spend some time with Bo, too. He's leaving in a week to go to Texas. He's joined the Air Force. I'm so proud of both of them.

need more Katie!

There has been a lot going on over the last month! Holy moly! I think things may finally be slowing down a bit. My sister and her two kids went back to New Mexico about a week ago. It was awesome having them here for a couple of weeks! I really miss them!!! I had a lot of fun with Katie and Zach. Terri and I didn't get to spend as much time together as we normally do, but we had a lot going on...the kids and the wedding! Katie is really growing up. She is communicating better and completely ornery! She's crazy! But I love every minute with her!

This is me with my niece and nephew, Katie and Zach. They are beautiful and fun and crazy...and I miss them!

This is Katie playing on the back porch at my mom and dad's. She thought it would be funny to play in dad's watering bucket. Then she kept ducking down so I couldn't take her picture.

This is Katie eating cake at the wedding. Did I mention what a nut this kid is?

This is Katie getting her hair done for the wedding.