Abby's room

I'd mentioned awhile back that for her 7th birthday, Abby wanted us to re-do her room. It was really more of a decorating her room in the first place because we'd never painted in there. Since she's a 7 year old girl, her room is often full of Barbie dolls and Polly Pockets and not so often is it clean.

Keep in mind that while this is Abby and Daddy's version of clean, it is Mommy's version of "looks-like-your-toy-box-exploded-in-here".

We let Abby help us paint a bit. We also wanted to let her leave her own special mark on the room, so she made these hand prints on one wall.

View from her hallway door:




View from the bathroom door



Her pink iMac



Pictures I painted for her.:

What's new in the room: paint, curtains, desk, chair, bookshelf, iMac.
Still to come: hopefully the cleaning fairy will visit, new lamp and wall decor. I like these from IKEA for near her bed.

New shoes

I love to get a bargain. To me, shopping for a deal is like a sport. So I have to share my latest good deal. Friday Abby and I went out for a mommy/daughter "date". We got ice cream, had her hair cut and went shoe shopping. Abby has always loved new shoes. We went to Payless where we got these 2 pairs. One for me and one for her. (I think you can assume the iCarly pair was not the ones I chose.) Originally our shoes were $44. After the BOGO sale and a coupon I had from Office Max (weird huh?), we spent $25. Yay! Hard for the husband to complain when it's that good of a deal.

Abby's new 'do

Just wanted to share Abby's cute new look. It's a big change and the shortest she's ever had her hair.

My little fashionista

This is what Miss Abby insisted on wearing to school today.

Back to school

This first week of school has been pretty hectic so far, but also good for the 3 of us. Evan seems to really like high school. He's taking French for his language requirement which is probably more exciting to me than him. I can't wait to be able to talk to each other en francais. Abby loves 2nd grade. I really admire her confidence and enthusiasm for school. She sees everything in a positive light. She must get that from her Daddy, because I'm always full of anxiety.

I like my classes and professors so far. I have had a ton of homework already, but yesterday I was able to do some of it (reading homework) while lounging at the pool. So that made it a little easier to deal with. I am looking forward to starting my remaining class tomorrow and meeting that professor. It's pretty exciting to think that this is the beginning of my last year as an undergrad. It is definitely a challenge for me to start off the year while hypothyroid. Anytime I sit down to reading homework, I wind up falling asleep. But I keep reminding myself that in about 2 weeks or so I'll turn the corner and start feeling like myself again. It's hard, but I'm not going to let cancer stand in my way anymore.

Anyway, some pictures of the kids from their first day!

Evan having an early morning cup of tea. He's so like Josh...they both love tea.

Miss Abby and her cool new hot pink backpack.




In front of her new school!

I think I'm ready...

Tomorrow is the first day of school for me and the kids. They are ready and maybe even excited. Well, at least the little one is. I think I'm excited about going back. It is after all, the beginning of my last year as an undergrad. It's also my 1st full time semester since I returned to school after Abby was born.

I have all of my supplies....

Staggering amount of textbooks? Yep!

Cute new school supplies? Yep!





Fun new tote bag to carry it all? Yep!

Crushing amount of student loans? You betcha!

But I'm still not sure that I feel ready. I am not really ready to give up lazy morning of snuggling and watching cartoons. I'm not ready to give up days of swimming and lounging at the pool with the kids. I'm not ready for the quiet house that comes with their return to school. Despite some of the frustrating days we've had, I will miss them A LOT.

I'm not ready to go back to class feeling hypothyroid. I don't want to have to explain to a fresh round of professors that when I fall asleep in class, "It's not that I'm bored, it's just that I don't have my thyroid and I can't help it". I'm not ready for all the things on my to-do list this fall. The start of the semester also means that I have to start preparing for my post-graduate life. Where am I going to study? What am I going to study? Can I even afford to go where I want to? Will they accept me? Eeek!

Nevertheless, I have my cute school supplies and my stack of books. So I guess that means I'm ready? Now, what am I going to wear?

Not just a cupcake, *the* cupcake

Awhile ago, my sister and I noticed this bakery for the first time in Sycamore. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It's in an older strip mall kind of tucked away. Once you open their door, you are transported to baked good heaven. Since that 1st time we sampled cupcakes from Sweet Dream Desserts, I've been back many times. I've tried the mini bread loaves, the cupcakes, the cookies, and the cinnamon roll. It was all heavenly. My favorite is the cupcakes though. Picture a Hostess chocolate cupcake, now imagine that cupcake tasting a million times better...that's a Sweet Dream cupcake.