How Tech-Saavy Am I?

So yeah, this morning I just taught a student in Texas via Skype for an hour, how cool is that? I have to say technology has its benefits. Not only was I able to communicate to a student that's in a different time zone than I am, but it motivated me to actually make my bed since my computer is stationed in my room, and I wanted to give the false impression that my beds are always made, and my room is not a catch all for various toys, laundry items, and books that I mean to read soon.

Meanwhile, Lorelei was back to school today, looking adorable in her uniform, Project Runway is back for another season, and I just took a sip of really good coffee. Is it just me, or is everything right in the universe this morning? I just need a money tree in the backyard, a nanny, and someone to landscape my backyard for free, and I'll be utterly content.

What? Too indulgent? You're right. With the money tree in the backyard, it would be greedy to expect free landscaping.

What to wear?

I have an uncanny memory for absurd and shallow details. For example, I remember what I wore to the first day of my freshman year of high school. I had agonized over it the entire summer before. I wanted to make a good impression, look nice for the teachers, but cool for my peers, and most importantly I didn't want to look like I was trying to make a good impression. I had to play it cool, go casual, like I had just thrown it together that morning. My keds had to look clean, but not too clean, not brand new, just slightly worn in.

I'd like to think that since having children of my own, I've outgrown such shallow tendencies. I'm no longer thaaat vain, that consumed with worry over what others around me think of what I'm wearing, how I cut my hair, and whether or not I wear socks with my keds. But this morning, is back to kindergarten class orientation day - you know the day when the kids can meet their classmates and their teacher and get acquainted with their new classroom. And so as I get ready to go, I am once again humbled by the reality, that I'm not as grown up as I think I am, not quite as sanctified as I'd hoped. Because the first thoughts that entered my mind were what am I going to wear? I have to make a good impression on the other moms. I don't want to look too nice, like I'm trying to hard, but I'm not just ganna wear my usual housecoat and curlers if you know what I'm saying........

I've said it before, and I'll say it again; I'm a slow learner. I hope they like me.

Catchin' Up

We're back from a wonderful trip to Washington to see Dan's side of the family and many, many cousins. We all had a blast spending late nights staying up to talk theology (to think all of those Presbyterians in Dan's family married a bunch of baptists)! We celebrated the twins 4th birthday, Dan and I spent hours in downtown Olympia, and then in downtown Tacoma exploring used book stores, and drinking amazing Washington coffee. It was all great, but after 10 days, it was good to be home! Now it's time to gear up for that whole back to school thing, how am I ever going to retrain my kids to go to bed early and get up early? Any ideas?

Unpacking

Just got back from 10 day trip to Washington state, will blog soon, must unpack, must clean van, must buy food, must not drive 18 hours with 4 kids to get somewhere again anytime soon.

Check it Out

Also, you've got to check out my friend Kelly's blog, and read her post, "The 5 Stages of Wal-Mart Grief." It's a classic. (See my link to the Kellers)

Kids Really Do Say the Darndest Things

Yesterday, Dan called to Morgan to come to him, and she kept playing and ignored him. He went and picked her up and put her in his lap and started explaining (lecturing) to her why she needs to obey. He told me later that she just looked up at him and said, "Are you done yet?"

A few weeks ago, Noelle said, "Mom, I'm going to have 19 kids when I grow up," then she sighed dramatically, "I'm sure going to be tired from giving all those spank 'uns...."

On Sunday, I did the ever popular, thumb-removal trick for the girls, they totally bought it, and when I tried to teach them how I did it, they were practically crying because they didn't want me to take their thumbs off.

Lastly, Morgan again. On Saturday morning, she took her nice, plush, monogrammed blanket out into the front yard. Dan told her in a very stern voice that she needed to keep that blanket inside so it wouldn't get messed up. She looked up at him, and then clutched the blanket to her face, and said, "But I love it." You had to be there, but trust me, it was cute.

Rerun Relief

So whilst wrapping birthday gifts this morning for some upcoming parties, I flipped on the family channel reruns they show at 11 of The Gilmore Girls and I was reminded of why I loved the show.

Lorelai's character is a young mom of a teenage girl, Rory, who has just had her first break up and is feeling depressed. Lorelai goes into her daughter's room to wake her up for school, she says:

"Hey, I have a huge dilemma that I need your opinion on, am I more beautiful today than I was yesterday?" (Rory groans) "I'm just not sure. At first when I looked at myself in the mirror, I thought yes, definitely, huge improvement, but then I thought maybe it's not that I'm more beautiful today, maybe I was just as beautiful yesterday, but I lacked the self-esteem to recognize it."

Priceless.

*Her character spells Lorelai with an A, my daughter's is spelled ei, and just so you know I had never even seen the show when my Lor was born. I'm not thaaat influenced by television, though if I were to have a son, I'd seriously consider the name Regis.

VBS, Visalia, and Vicks Vapor Rub

So Here's a few pics from VBS, it was a "royal" theme this, "The King is Coming," thus the outfit.

We finished out the week with a VBS finale Friday night, and then Saturday, the girls and I road tripped it out to Visalia without Dan to keep my mom company while my dad finished up his last weekend in Muldova. We just got back yesterday and we're recuperating the house. Basically, all is well, we had fun with my mom shopping at Target together, venturing to a new cupcake shop, and watching random British movie rentals, that Dan would've hated. As for the Vicks Vapor Rub reference, well, I was just trying to use alliteration.