The Three Whale, A garbage dumpster and a 6 inch cockroach!

So Charlie had a test this week on a story called the Three Whales. I had printed off some study guides for him and he was ready for the test on Wednesday.

Wednesday night I was straitening up because the cleaning lady was coming on Thursday so when I cleaned out Charlie's backpack I saw what I assumed was the study guide from his class on the three whale story, along with all the other worksheets he didn't need I tossed it all into a big black garbage bag.

As a total side bar that comes up at the end of the story I had also gone around cleaning up the living room later on that night and I found this 6 inch plastic cockroach the kids had been playing with from an insect kit they had. Hating cockroaches and knowing the kids had been scaring their dad with it for a few days, I just tossed the cockroach into the big black garbage bag as well.

Well Thursday morning comes around and I had gathered two big bags of garbage and trying to save room in the can I asked John to take the bags to work and throw them in the dumpster (do you see where this story is going yet?). Thursday at dinner time Charlie comes to me and asks me where his Whale test is.

My response, "Did you get it back already?"

Charlie, "no, instead of putting it in the in basket I put it in my cubby and brought it home from school yesterday."

My thought "NOOOOOOOOOOOO"

Charlie "so mom, where is it because if I don't take it back to school I have to stay in from recess and take it again."

Mom "well Charlie, I didn't realize it was a test and I think I threw it away."

Charlie "can I look in the garbage?"

Mom -In my head "how do I explain this" to Charlie - "well I think it went to the garbage at Daddy's work"

At this point John walks in and we tell him what happens. He says no problem, I didn't put the bags in the dumpster yet. So I go out to his truck and there is nothing there. I came in to tell John and he said "oh yeah, Tim drove my truck and he emptied it first"

So we explain to Charlie as he is sobbing that we will go to the dumpster to see if we can find the bag. John did point out that he shouldn't be so upset at anyone - he is the one who didn't put the test where it belongs!

John being the great dad he is went to the dumpster and had to rouse 3 Dumpster divers as they call them out of the can. So by the time they are gone and he can get to it the bums have torn all the bags open and scattered everything in the dumpster and around the can on the ground. John climbs in and spends 2 hours going through the garbage with no luck. He said it was horrible because while he was in the can 4 or 5 bums came to try to look through it also and some guys from the business next door came over and found him looking in the can (although they laughed when they heard what he was looking for and offered to keep an eye out to make sure he wasn't mugged). While he didn't find the test what he did find in the dark as it fell on his hand was the horrible 6 inch plastic cockroach that once again came back to scare the pants off of him!

***we are still waiting to hear what the teacher says to do about the test!****

Bless you Me

John came into the room the other day and Audrey didn't realize he was there. She sneezed and before he could say anything he hears her say "Bless you Me!" Could she be any cuter!!

The Jungle Book!

We have a super star on our hands!




Charlie just finished up participating in a production of The Jungle Book! He was amazing - he is such a funny guy and was so into it. He has been practicing for 3 months and it was such a joy to get to watch him perform this weekend! He was a Monkey and part of the Jungle Chorus.

Time to get it done!

The truth is it is time for me to get things done. Both literally and figuratively ~ it feels like a few things in our life are slowing down which means I have some time to get things done. Today is the first day in month that there hasn't been anything on the calendar!

But things really are slowing down, the huge school fundraiser I helped co-chair is over (we earned $15,000 for the school). Charlie's play is done this week (but practices are over -which means all the costumes I have sewn, shopped for etc are also done). I got 2 dads to take over the Wolf Cub Troop so that is off my plate. We have minimum days this week so life is a little slower at school and we seem to be in a relatively smooth schedule for a few weeks.

So today I cleaned the pantry and a ton of kitchen cupboards. I also cleaned my laundry room (the tiniest laundry room in the world that has to be home to tons of stuff). After that I went to Winco and restocked the pantry!!! For those of you who shop at Winco you know what I mean when I say this is like going to Costco where you get one item by itself but I save SOOOO much money. (I would spend easily 2x's as much as I did at Raleys or Safeway).

Tomorrow my goal is to clean out my closet and fold all the laundry and get it put away.

I know it sounds like nesting and maybe it is. The reality is Baby #4 is due in just a few weeks so getting ready for her is on the to do list. But there is a lot to do before she comes including celebrating Audrey's birthday so we also went to the Dollar tree today for goodie bag stuff! She is so excited to have a birthday and to be a big sister. THis morning she asked me if the baby was out of my tummy yet and when I said no she said "me be big sister tomorrow?".

Well I am starting to totally ramble so I am go to go clean off all my kitchen counters and the wall above the TV before it is time to make dinner! See it is a never ending list of things to do! But YEAH no school tomorrow!!!!

The Saga of the Gorilla

I don't think I can do justice to the Gorilla story at our house but these pictures are so cute I can't not try! John got a gorilla mask to wear for Halloween and has loved trying to scare the kids the last week. Audrey really didn't like it at all so she was not happy when he put it on right before the kids went trick or treating!

Audrey was not going to go near daddy, Charlie & Annie for a picture as long as Daddy had the mask on!


Audrey pouting because Daddy wouldn't take off the mask!


Audrey telling Daddy to take off his gorrilla mask and to put it away in the closet.


John took off the mask so Audrey would come take a picture with him.


Audrey was okay getting on Daddy's lap to take a picture without the mask!


John tricked her and slipped it on!


She likes the mask just fine when she wears it! Just not Daddy!!!


PS. John did wear the mask when the doorbell rang once and when 2 of the little kids ran away from the door he took it off!!!

Happy Halloween

I love Halloween. It is so much fun to see the kids dress up and enjoy it so much.

When Charlie was about 2 1/2 and Annie 6 or 7 months old we were in San Diego for Halloween one year (the month of the big EDCO flood!) and we went trick or treating with the kids in this neighborhood that was just ideal. Everyone was out front and friendly and there were pot lucks going on and kids running up and down the street. John and I always said that is what we want for our kids one day and we truly have found it.

We left our house about 6:15 and within 10 minutes Annie found a friend and they were off running down the street together. Charlie and John were soon faster than Audrey and I so we all kind of went our separate ways for a while. About an hour later we stopped by the house and picked up Uncle Brett who came out with us. John had run into Dante and his family at some point and he borrowed his golf cart. After dropping Audrey & I back off at home to rest they were out another hour or so! Now we all have way more candy that we will ever need and it is time to pack it all up again and get ready for Thanksgiving!

Trip to the Fire Station

Annie had her first Kindergarten Field trip on Friday. They went to the Fire Station.

It was awfully cute to see her with all her friends and John was able to meet us there! Each kid got a chance to try out the hose and Annie had everyone laughing because they were seconds away from her turning the hose onto them!