my son, the pimp

So, apparently Jared has a girlfriend at preschool. Her name is Gracie and she wears a Strawberry Shortcake sweatshirt. Last night he was telling us about her, and how he tried to catch her as she jumped down from the monkey bars. In fact, he's so taken with her, that last night before he took his shoes off he said very matter-of-factly "Gracie's my girlfriend". And then before he brushed his teeth "Gracie's my girlfriend". And again as he hopped into bed "Gracie's my girlfriend". Today he hasn't really mentioned her. I guess that's good. After school today, Mrs. Lynn took me aside and commented on how well Jared is behaved and that he's doing very well in preschool. She said during coloring he came and sat down next to her and said "Sooooo, where'd you get those green eyes?" *Sigh* I'm gonna have to watch that kid.

first day of preschool

It went well, although I had to pretty much drag his ass out of bed. He had an "incident" at 4 am and he was pretty damn tired this morning at 7:30 when I woke him up. When we arrived, all the kids were playing in the back where she had a giant trampoline, and a huge swingset. Jared took to the trampline right away. After a few minutes of playtime, they went inside for a story, after which I left. He was pretty shy at first, but Mrs. Lynn said he warmed up towards the end. I think he's really going to love this. He has more homework. This time he is to bring something red from home and share it with the class. I think he's going to build a tower out of red leggos. So, the first day went well. Thank god.

As for me, well, I've been sweating my ass off at the gym about 4 days a week, and I love it. LOVE it I tell you. I've been getting better too. I'm no longer the one clutching my chest sprawled out on the floor trying to get a breath of air so I don't die of a heart attack. I'm totally hanging in there now, and it feels good to make progress. And, I LOVE my yoga class. Yes Penny, you were right. Where the hell are you anyway? I also LOVE my striptease class. I'm telling you, it's the greatest thing. Now I have an excuse to shake my ass without going to some meat market of a club, in which I'm way to old for anyway. It's a ladies only gym, and all the middle aged moms shake their money makers like they did ten years ago before they were soccer moms. Yeah, it's fun. Anyway, that's it for today. Gotta make dinner.

Screaming fits of rage

Yep. That's my daughter's new favorite pastime. For the past week or so she's been plopping herself onto the floor screaming with madness at the slightest inconvenience. If she's hungry, she screams. If she doesn't get her way, she screams. If I walk out of the room, she screams. When she wakes up, she screams. When she's trying to poop, she screams. And, it's not just the high-pitched girly scream. It's kind of a demonic, warrior battle-cry scream. I'm blaming it on teething, because god only knows how quickly that child will end up locked in the closet if this is more then temporary. (I'm kidding, people, sheesh) Anyhow, my ears aren't bleeding, yet. I guess that's a good sign.

In other news, Jared starts preschool this coming Tuesday. I am so excited for him. He is too. I'm a little nervous though, about how he'll act around the other kids. God, please let him be nice to the other kids. He usually interacts just fine with other children, but with his cousin Holden, sometimes he doesn't play so nice. I think it's just the relationship between the two, as in Jared thinks he's the boss. I'm crossing my fingers he won't say "I love pink taco". Billy and Mandi's friend Darcy taught him that one. Yeeeeahhhhh, that's gonna stop. Anyway, I'll let you all know how his first day turns out.

the wrath of Katrina

Lately I haven't been able to watch the news as much, and until yesterday, I had no idea how devastating the hurricane actually was. I have been reading some online news articles about the devestation, and it's sureal to me. New Orleans is literally under water with thousands expected to be dead. There's no power, water, or food to many of the small communities in the south, and some of the refugees are dehydrated, and sick. A one year-old baby died the other day due to heat exhaustion. Dysintary is now sitting in, in some small communities due to raw sewage and rotting corpses the hurricane has left behind. Rescuers are searching house by house for any survivors, and and to dispose of the bodies. I know there are a number of relief efforts helping in the south right now, and they are doing all they can, but I just wonder if it's enough. It's so weird to me that we have a disaster of this magnatude in our own country. It's so nieve of me to think this only happens in other places, and that we are exempt from catastrophical disasters. I think we as Americans are all reeling from this, and I just pray to God these people will be alright. I hope they can rebuild their lives, and their homes, and busineses. I hope New Orleans will once again be a lively city, full of energy and life, a city which so many people have come to love. I don't think it will ever be the same again. I have been there once, and it truely is one of America's most treasured cities. I hope the spirit of New Orleans will shine through in the end, and that one day this disaster will be but a distant memory.

Jared's homework. I think he did pretty well, considering he doesn't like to color or do art projects, and for being 3. At least he colored MOSTLY in the lines. 

I caught her mid-hop. She LOVES to dance anytime music is playing. That seems to be her new trick. She even does it on command. At nine months she now waves bye-bye, says uh-oh, and cruises all around the furniture, but not walking on her own yet. Oh, and she's now starting to throw monster tantrums if she doesn't get her way. Nice. 

Jared's doing great. He starts preschool on the 13th of this month and he's excited as hell. He's already had a "homework" assignment. Registration papers arrived in the mail a few days ago along with a picture of a tree he was instructed to color, and then put apple stickers on. He did quite well.