Quick Post

I know I've been a little behind in the blogging world.....running too many places lately!
Here's a quick catch up as to what we're up to:

*I'm back to work full time (and have been since Aug 15).  I miss being home with my kids, but I do feel that I'm a better mom because I know that my time in the evenings is very precious and limited that we do all sorts of fun things like riding bikes (or walking) around the block, doing puzzles, cooking,  and watching America's Got Talent.
*I'm also helping 'coach' (by coach, I mean supervise) Mock Trial at the middle school.  I was new to this role last year and learned a lot about out legal system.  It's really cool to watch these kids act out a trial case.  This will probably be my last year of helping with it, however, because I want to be able to pick M&M up from Kindergarten (don't get me started on how grown up they are.....yes, I said the 'K' word already) every day next year!!
*As if those things aren't enough, I'm a 7th Grade Leader which means I organize 7th grade teacher meetings on Wednesday afternoons and participate on a committee to help make positive decisions for the middle school.  My organization (and other people's lack of it) really drove me to take this position.  Time is valuable and I try to do things as effectively and efficiently as possible in this role.
*Dance AND Gymnastics started this week, which means that our evening time (see the first bullet) is even more limited.  The girls love it and it's physical activity, which is something important we try to stress in our house, and it exposes them to more circles of friends than just the ones at school.
*Mylie Bear is 6 months old and topping the charts at 23 pounds (had to switch her out of her infant carrier this week!) and 26 3/4 inches long.  She is about the happiest baby I have ever seen and her wide open mouth of a smile just melts my heart every time.  Over the past two weeks, she's really dominated in learning to sit up on her own.  It's not quite fully mastered, but just about.
*B has ISU season tickets again and they've had two great games resulting in (barely) victories.  The girls and I haven't been out to tailgate yet because it was raining for the UNI game and a good friend of mine got married on the evening of the Iowa game.  He's also taking a graduate class online toward his Special Education endorsement, which he hopes to have finished about a year from now.  For a guy who didn't think he'd ever get his Master's (he says I'm the main reason why it happened), he's pretty motivated to keep going and finish this next degree.  Basketball season is right around the corner.  We're all a little sad (but understanding) about the fact that we (the girls and I) won't make it to as many games as we did last year.  I can't even imagine what it's going to be like chasing an 8 month old all over  (filthy dirty, disgusting, germy) bleachers.

A couple of bonus happenings from this week:
*we cashed in our loose change and came up with $40 for a surprise dinner out tonight to Hickory Park.  We're splurging on O-Rings as appetizers and who can say 'no' to ice cream there??  I can't!!
*I'd been dreading 'pants season' this year because I hadn't worn any of my pants since before I was pregnant with Mylie.  Monday was summer weather here (90 degrees) Wednesday was Fall (62 degrees), this morning, I woke up and it was winter (35 degrees!).  Time for the pants to come out....and guess what!?!?!  They fit!!  I have lost all of the baby weight, BUT things aren't exactly in the same place as they were pre-Mylie (not to mention pre M&M...ugh!).  Those of you who are moms understand, I know!

We're going to the Des Moines Farmer's Market this Saturday for the first time.  I'm so excited!  Hopefully I will have some pictures for all of you the next time I post.  You can about imagine how busy we are (and I know you are, too).  Till then.....