these days..

these days,

we have gotten into the swing of school days.

we have a good routine that is helping us NOT be late all the time.

it is busy and i go back and forth to the school four times a day, but it has really been working for us.

our secret to not being late is hitting the a-joining park for 10-20 before school.

this has helped relieve the sting of the reed bros. not sharing the same recess times this year as well as helps get some wiggles out of my little reedos.

plus that motivation to get to the park is a lot higher than it might be to get to class.

hmmmm. interesting huh?

it works for us.

we hit the park,

we drop off the boys

 and then ella and i head back home for a little snuggling.

we do hair and watch cartoons and we've even baked cookies in that 90 minutes or so.
i really love that time.
it sorta takes the place of that old snacktime together.
last year, we had so many awkward 45 minute times of waiting around and it was in places that were too faraway to make sense to come home.
but this year we have way more usable time.

then.....i drop her off!

and i have 4 whole hours by myself!!

i'm telling you, people, i can think again!

i can have my own ideas and thoughts and i can just breathe with out people all over me asking questions and needing help.

it's the best thing to happen to me since i actually birthed these kids.

some of you may be shocked at this kind of talk, but don't fret. 

we are all different and i don't gasp in amazement that you sleep with your children in your bed or cry when they leave or feel incomplete if you have a few hours away from them.

this is just my thing.

i NEED time by myself.

NEEEEEEED IT.

and then

i come back and pick her up.

i bring a picnic blanket and a snack.

i've missed her.

she hugs and kisses me all i want.

she's missed me.

and the world is as it should be

then come our boys darting over to our picnic

it's a good routine.

these days,

i have a sister in the same state again!

we are all so happy about that!
it just feels right to be close.

these days,

we've been collecting our halloween costumes early.

because we didn't want them to run out of the muscle-y ones before october again!

ella doesn't have hers together yet.
she's going to be the less well known "firestar".
from the original cartoons called spiderman and his amazing friends.
i have to make that one.
but she doesn't lack costumes, i can guarantee you that....

and here she is being a "ballerina photog" 

what else?

these days we are plugging right along

bein' a family.

how about you?
what are you up to these days?