How we Roll

School's Out. Matalley is sad (she'd go on Saturday and Sunday if she could). Matalley received a ton of captured hearts this year, mostly for cleaning (or at least that's what she would tell me). When I asked her how come she didn't clean as well at home as she did at school, she told me it's because she doesn't get to be on 'blue' at home. So if I'm to survive the summer, I might have to succumb to a rewards chart. Her teacher next year is going to have a lot to live up to after this one

...Matalley's favorite person in the whole world right now. A few months ago, she switched from wanting to be a Mommy and a Doctor when she grows up to being a Teacher and a Mommy. Bye bye Kindergarten, Hello First Grade...sniff, sniff for me.

Grayson Dean (as Mrs. Howard called him) is not so sad. Last year he had a breakdown about leaving first grade and missing all his friends, that it would never be the same...not this year. He's embracing summer like no other. I think his teachers will miss him (maybe?).

On the last day of school it was a half-day. Per tradition, I picked up the kids to take them to lunch. Matalley finagled a way to have a friend join her (I hate it when they ask right in front of the friend and then the friend looks at you with sad puppy dog eyes like it's absolute torture if you say no) and so then Grayson wanted a friend. The mom of the friend he chose happened to be having a severe migraine and couldn't even see straight so I offered to take her other child as well (don't ask how we all fit in the van) and we went to lunch meeting a friend and her 3 kids. The noise level dropped by 90% when we left.

But now that it's officially summer, I'm enjoying our dinners on the patio, watching the imaginations thrive, and just relaxing as a family. I get to hear all the dynamics of the kids' playing...who is left out, what can be said to upset another, how they settle disagreements. It's fun and not fun...Today Grayson wanted to play bakery and Matalley wanted to play house. They were trying to get Lola to choose and when she chose bakery, Matalley had a melt down. Then they decided to play both and Grayson took one half of the playhouse (the side with the washing machine) and Matalley took the kitchen. Apparently, Grayson took all the bread and when Matalley got upset, he told her she could buy it from him for her house. Then Matalley came to me and told me that she was "ALWAYS being beat up on." I said, "Always?!?!" And she sighed, "I guess that's just what happens when you are the middle child." Last week Grayson took scissors and cut the sleeves off a sweatshirt. He looks like a hoodlum but is oh so proud of himself. I, of course, responded not the way a Mom should and got mad. So then I had to apologize because really, it's just a sweatshirt and I'm not the one wearing it. We played a game after dinner...Lola got upset that we said she was a little animal (cried because her feelings were hurt and explained to us that she was a big girl). So I laugh and try not to roll my eyes 6,431 times a day.

Miss Millie is 4 months old. She is 13lb. 6.5 ou., 24 1/4 in. long, and head circumference is 40.3 cm. That's the 50th percentile for all. I love it. She giggled for the doctor though I can't seem to get her to giggle for me (just the 2 times on the Memorial Day Weekend trip and once for Matalley at home). She smiles ALL the time and loves to watch people but she makes you work for the giggle. She also rolled from back to front this weekend. I have yet to see it but she's done it 5 times and likes her tummy. She's growing up big!