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We have new artwork at Casa de Stitzer.  Oddly enough, I sort of liked the shaved leg!  More to follow….

Back to School

The kids have all gone back to school.  The summer flew by…faster than ever.  The kids all love their teachers and it should be a good year.  (I HOPE!! … Joey is already getting in trouble…wrestling around on the circle time carpet with his friend Carter.  I know I will get a “talking to” by Mrs. Martin soon.)  David was placed in a Kindergarten / 1st grade class this year.  He has the same teacher, Mrs. Hafer, that Owen and Madeline had for kindergarten.  I think it will be a good fit and believe he is probably smarter than most of the 1st graders as it is.  I will find out at Parent/Teacher night.  Rose got the teacher she had talked about all summer, Mrs. Erb.  Owen and Madeline both just had her, and they loved her.   The only problem is she was separated from her 2 best friends, Allison and Bella.  She seems to be doing just fine so far. 

Enjoy the pictures…. and as the GENIOUS behind the back-to-school marketing campaign the last few years for Staples would play on her iPod, or in our case, on a crappy old cd player….  “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year…..”

Rose and Annika

David and some random kid he decided to pose with (ok, I made them pose)

Joey in front of his school, Garden Road (the 5th year of this same shot)

Joey with Mrs. Martin…for our 5th and final year at Garden Road.  The best preschool program and preschool teacher EVER!

 

Medusa

Another recent self portrait.

The Preschoolers

These girls met in preschool when they were all 3.  They were 3 of 4 girls in a class with 10 boys.  I know it’s not all that long ago in the scheme of things, but for them, it’s more than half their lives.  They can’t remember NOT knowing each other.  Sadly, they all got to different schools now, but hopefully we will maintain the friendship.  It’s always good when you like the Moms too… and I do.  This was taken the other day…our last hoorah at the beach before school starts. 

From left to right, Laci, Rose and Kendall

Summer and Family

I have great nieces and nephews.  They are as wonderful as my kick-ass kids… and I can say that with all honesty as I don’t have to live with them and have to deal with all the day to day kid-krap (isn’t that krazy how I spelled krap with a K?) their parents do.   I just get to enjoy the wonders that they are.  This was a good for summer for visitors to come a-callin.  Early on we got to have Sally, Jane, Mary and Laura here with my brother Dave, and most recent, we had Ian come from Chicago with my in-laws, Barbara and Paul.  Roz and Helene were around for a week too, but we were lucky enough to go visit with them at their fun hotel…not just stay at our boring house.  I am truly grateful for a fun summer with family and friends.  What was shaping up to be one of the worst years of my life has turned around nicely.  Perhaps more on that at another time.  (Or perhaps not every aspect of my personal life need to be shared for all eternity on the internet…. and most all know the gist of things anyway)  On to the photos!   Here are just a few.  I will have to share photos of Ian’s visit later, after I can figure out how to get them off the camera.  It’s currently being held together with masking tape and doesn’t want to download.  Time for a new camera.

The usuals: Rose, David, Owen, Madeline & Joey…plus Laura, Mary, Sally & Jane

4th of July parade

Sunshine and Unicorns and Rainbows at Casa de Stitzer

I have the world’s most precious kids.  They are the cutest, funniest, smartest, kick-ass, no-kid-ever-did-anything-as-amazing-as-mine kids.  Just ask me!  They are all currently sleeping in, which is why I can write such a glowing review.  In about half an hour when I drag their butts out of bed and they all start fighting over everything, I will write another post about what a screaming mad, lunatic of a mother I am and how ready I am for school to start next week.  Here are some examples of how FABULOUS my kids are… (well, one of them anyway)

David, my middle cherub, has been a major intellect with a snooty vocabulary for most of his life.  He has recently lost his Bostonian accent which he had for a few years.  He was a master at saying car (CAH) among other words I have forgotten, like a true New Englander.   Here are a few nuggets of recent fabulousness:

while tickling him: “Mommy, my armpits are unavailable right now”

after losing at Just Dance on the Wii he turns and places his hand on his friend’s shoulder:  “Carter, it’s not all about winning or losing, it’s about having fun”

coming into the kitchen: “Mommy, would you be delighted to get me some milk?”

after walking in from the garage: “Don’t be concerned about what’s going on in the garage right now”

walking in to ask me something: “Mommy, are you available right now?”

And still one of my favorites, upon seeing a mess of goo on a wood table in the living room: “Who is responsible for this?” 

Oh, just heard a thud upstairs.  The precious ones are stirring.  I better end now on a high note while I still like them!         

Future Heisman Trophy Winner?

Is That Your Donkey? Why Yes, Yes it Is!

Rose loves to turn the camera on herself quite often. I delete most shots, but sometimes she comes up with some winners. Here's a nice shot she took a few weeks ago when I took the kids bowling. Hey lady, NICE ASS!

You Say It's Your Birthday....

Happy Birthday Andy! 44 years ago today, this guy came into the world... and the world has never been the same! Happy Birthday to my 'for better, for worse'.... I'm glad we are still we. I love you!

Mrs. L

Chloe Got Mitzvah'd!

Our recent trip to Phoenix was for our good friend Chloe's Bat-Mitzvah. She was amazing during her ceremony, and we realize she is just an amazing young lady, period. It was a good weekend filled with friends, lots of swimming and celebrating, plus a trip to Rawhide, a wild west attraction where Joey proceeded to jam his head between prison bars and get stuck. Why is it that a head will easily fit through bars going one way but not the other? He was screaming so loud they heard him inside the arena across the way where a 'shoot-em-up' show was going on. We were informed of this after the fact. (Perhaps he was screaming even louder as I calmly yanked his head back out... I certainly wasn't going to be embarrassed by having someone come rescue him...) That's my boy!

(Pictures include Mike, Susan & daughter Chloe, Marla, Scott & son Benji, Mike Strauss and Bill and Angela.)