With this school year I do solemnly vow:

Another school year is just days away. Amonte is truly in high school now, entering the 10th grade. Peyton is starting Kindergarten (I may get electrocuted from the tears I am weeping on my keyboard) and Cade is off to preschool. Most people make New Years resolutions, I make back to school vows. These come out of my failures from prior school years. This year with 3 totally different schedules and 3 totally different schools, add in work, sports and medical issues and I'm sure my vow list will be monstrous next year. With this school year I do solemnly vow:

1. To not wake my kids up late because I was on the Internet all night.
2. To actually feed them something that resembles nutrition at the kitchen table and not in the car on the way to school.
3. To have things ready the night before...not to wake in the morning and realize I left all their laundry in the washer.
4. To actually read the calendar sent home by the school, therefore never again missing a conference, snack, me day, field trip ect.
5. I will bring them to school on the right day and not on a snow day.
6. I will allow family projects to be just that and not turn them into a craft competition with the other moms.
7. I will not feel guilty for buying a snack instead of baking it...at least I remembered it.
8. I will not send them to school in their pajamas when it is not pajama day.
9. I will instruct my children carefully not to discuss my dear friends career/life as a drag queen.
10. And lastly I will try to enjoy every moment, including the tears over homework, broken hearts and sticking my hand in the bottom of a trash filled back pack to find a permission slip.

With all my heart, a bottle of Tylenol and a quart of premade Mudslides I do solemnly vow to survive this school year with the majority of my mental faculties intact and no permanent psychological damage to my children.

Acrobatics and antaganizm

Peyton Church is a tried and true acrobat. If it can be climbed, he will find a way up it. If it can be jumped from, he's already off it. We had these straps hanging from our patio waiting for Mark to hang Ava's swing (um, it's still not up)...apparently they were just too much temptation for Peyton to handle. Only problem is he can't reach them. These is where his sisters cozy coupe comes in to the plan. Luckily he kicked her out of it before he pushed it over, climbed on top of it, grabbed a hold of the straps, kicked it out of the way and jumped. Of course he had a perfect 10 landing to the amazement of his younger brother. Cade of course wanted to try then too. Peyton willingly helped him on top of the car, held it for him while he reached for the straps, then as Cade cried because he was scared Peyton kicked the car out from under him leaving him dangling frantically in the air. Peyton then had to taunt him "jump baby katie". Poor Cades arms finally gave out and he fell to the ground. Peyton cracked up...but not for long because Cade made a quick recovery and chased him down. He may be younger and smaller but he is much stronger. And what do you ask was I doing while this was going on? Why drinking a coke and reading InStyle magazine...DUH!

Naked in the neighbors yard

My boys never wear clothes. The second they walk in the door they strip down to their undies and it's a fight to get anything back on them. It is a common site to see two small boys running around our yard in undies and crocs. I don't mind them being half naked in our yard but it is distressing when they go visit the neighbors in this state. Peyton came in the house tonight with tomatoes the neighbor had given him...while in his undies. They love to do yard work with the elderly man next door...in their undies. They hang out with the teenagers next door...in their undies. And of course if you are already half naked outside why on earth would you bother to come in the house to pee for god sake? UGG.

Doesn't she know all things are weapons?

My grandmother is 82, so I guess I should cut her some slack...but for gods sake she gave my two youngest boys potentially lethal weapons yesterday. I guess to an old lady it seemed like a sweet gift that would make 2 small boys happy. But my boys are...well they are boys. She purchased them METAL garden tools. Sharp metal garden tools that are rather large and dangerous looking. So not only are they digging and hoeing up my entire yard (which looks like crap anyway) but they are chasing each other down the driveway with hoe, shovel or rake in hand threatening to beat each other (It a little disturbing to see a small child wearing only his underwear and crocs running angrily with a shovel in hand) . These threats are frequently carried out and I have serious concerns that shovel could take an eye out. Does anyone want any gardening tools? Why does this woman hate me?

Faith, forgiveness and Linkin Park

I am my own worst enemy. I am harder on myself than any one person should be. I refuse to forgive myself for even the tiniest insignificant transgressions. I have spent most of my life consumed with guilt. Thus my relationship with God has suffered or never really even been developed. How could I possibly be worthy of his love...of his forgiveness? Six months ago I found a church where I felt comfortable and at peace...but the guilt, my unworthiness continued to hold me back. Today, was different. The music at Westwinds is always amazing and thought provoking. But today it meant more to me than it ever has in the past. It spoke to my biggest fear, what is holding me back from God, what is holding me back in my relationships. It was a song I have played at home 100's of times and love but have never delved into...until today. All I can say is thank God for Linkin Park.

"What I've Done"

In this farewell,
There’s no blood,
There’s no alibi.
‘Cause I’ve drawn regret,
From the truth,
Of a thousand lies.
So let mercy come,
And wash away…
What I’ve Done.
I’ll face myself,
To cross out what I’ve become.
Erase myself,
And let go of what I’ve done.
Put to rest,
What you thought of me.
While I clean this slate,
With the hands,
Of uncertainty.
So let mercy come,
And wash away…
What I’ve Done.
I’ll face myself,
To cross out what I’ve become.
Erase myself,
And let go of what I’ve done.
For What I’ve Done
I'll start again,
And whatever pain may come.
Today this ends,
I’m forgiving what I’ve done.
I’ll face myself,
To cross out what I’ve become.
Erase myself,
And let go of what I’ve done.
What I’ve done.
Forgiving What I’ve Done.