Sorry, these are just too funny to keep to myself

Paul thoroughly enjoys taking pictures with his FP camera. When I downloaded them onto the computer I found that among the hundreds of shots of inanimate objects (you think I am exaggerating here, but there were at least 20 pictures of our garbage can), there are some pretty funny candid pics of the family.

I start with my nephew. The oldest of seven grandsons, he is the designated entertainer and he fulfills his job very well. Let's just hope he doesn't read my blog.

On the rare occasion that he lets someone else man the lens, Paul enjoys being a goofball.

I included the last shot due to its naughtiness factor. He is standing on top of the bookcase pointing his drill gun right at his cousin. Photographic proof of the lovely things boys do when left to their own devices.

Now for the best part. Ridiculous shots of me and my darling husband making faces.

Angry ones: Sad ones: And just plain goofy ones: Needless to say the proverbial apple, while not genetically related to the tree, has not fallen far.

Schedule me this

In an attempt to regain some sense of control in my life as I navigate the sea of staying at home, I decided to create a daily schedule. I studied the schedules posted on the local mom's forum by other SAHMs, and despite feeling utterly jealous at the fact that their children sleep until (gulp) EIGHT A.M., there seemed to be a calmness in the predictability of it all. And we need some calmness around here. I hoped that I could create some sanity in my mind by staring at a seemingly full calendar, even if its fullness involved nothing more than "snack", "playtime" and "nap". The initial draft has been completed and my next step is to create a visual version for Paul so that he can see what is coming up in our week. Paul is a stickler about routine and will ask every night at bedtime what we are doing the next day. The irony of these conversations is that when I was working it was the same response: "Daycare" and the guilty feelings would rush up as I worried my son was missing spending time with me. Now when I say, "I don't know, hon, whatever we want" he has a look of terror on his face. Thankfully we are able to keep him in school two days a week and I found a morning program through the local community center for two of the other days, leaving only one day of free-flowing nothingness. John, on the other hand, is much more laid back about life. While I realize that he cannot yet ask me what we are doing in a given day, he doesn't seem to mind when the schedule is altered. Today for example he fell asleep in the car on the way home for lunch. And now he is sleeping way past his normal nap time. Nothing like living with Mr. Rigid Predictability and his sidekick, Mr. Go-with-the-flow.

The first day of school

Paul at one, ready to take on the world with mommy's lunchbox.Paul at two, giddy with excitement as he is finally able to go "back daycare" after a long stint with mom at home. Paul, three years old and looking very dapper in his new shirt.Paul, four years old and ready for preschool! I think he was a bit nervous this morning as he asked me a million times if he was going to be an Orange Butterfly (the name of the Pre-K class at his center). All fears passed when he ran onto the playground and was greeted enthusiastically by his friends. "PAUL!!! WE'RE ORANGE BUTTERFLIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"