Let's Take a vote:

If you think Hayley should go to Kindergarten, raise your hand!
If you think Hayley should stay a teeny tiny baby, raise your hand!

I didn't think I would, but as the day gets closer & I say "Hayley's going to Kindergarten"... I get a little weepy. I don't think it is sadness.  I am not sad.  I don't stay-home with her, so I'm not going to miss her any differently as I do now during the day. It isn't like a part of my day will be ripped away from me.
I think the tears are of pride, of joy & anticipation.  And a little nervous. I am nervous, because my elementary school experienced... well, it sucked. (forgive the language - it could have been worse).
I fear that my daughter will have the same experience and I hope that doesn't keep me from allowing her to enjoy it.  I also hope & pray that she will be a ray of sunshine and a blessing to the teacher - as she is to me (us).  I pray the kids fall in love with her.  She is such a sweet friend.  I also hope & pray SHE isn't the mean-girl.  We witnessed a bit of it this summer and it isn't fun to see.

Tim and I decided she will not be riding the bus this year.  (We'll see how long that lasts).  Why did we make this decision?  We have a combined 25 years of school-bus riding experience.  Only 3 of those years were "okay".  It isn't like anything ever happened to me on the bus, but I remember sitting right behind the driver, so people wouldn't be mean to me.  I feared the stoners in the back seat, I feared the "popular girls/boys" in the middle & I was okay with the geeks & nerds and the driver. (I am in denial, possibly, that I WAS one of the geeky nerds?).  I also have heard 2 or 3 horror stories from friends' kids experience.
I know I know... she'll be fine.  She will actually be mad at me if I don't let her ride the bus.  We'll see.

For now, we asked for her to be in PM kindergarten.  This means Tim will drive her to school & either I will pick her up, or she could take the bus home.  (I have a sinking feeling that come the first snow fall, I will opt for the bus-ride).

But mainly - I am SO overwhelmed with pride.  I love my Hayley Anne.  She is so brilliant and beautiful.

(I love Hannah, too.  But this isn't about her today.)

And then there was one...

This story might make my parents a little bummed that I shared it with the world, but it has a good outcome and is actually funny to me.  If any of you have spent more than an hour with Hannah, you'll know it is 99% her "fault" - if fault were to be given.
My parents took H&H this weekend to the Butterfield Thresherman's Association's Annual Threshing Bee.
We went every summer when I was a kid and it was the best weekend of the summer.  SO much fun.  Very Little House on the Prairie - (only with tractors).

They have an old-fashioned village where you can churn butter, make candles, etc... Petting zoo, antique tractors, old one-room school house, hay balers, etc.

They were at the play-area and mom tells dad she has to go to the ladies room & leaves.
When she returns, she asks dad... "Where's Hannah?".
"I thought Hannah went to the bathroom with you. You always take one with you."
"No... I didn't."

They were about to split up to find her when they hear: "Attention guests, we have Hannah in the office.  She's 4 years old and she's looking for her grandma Elaine."

Want to know how i found out about this? 
When they returned, Hannah says "Mommy, when we were at the farmers' market, I couldn't find grandma and grandpa and went to the food ladies and they brought me to the office and gave me a YUMMY sucker."

I think her whole point was to tell me that she got a yummy sucker.

I turn to my mom and say...
"Elaine"
~ silence ~
"Mother"
~ silence ~
"Mother, did you loose my daughter at the Threshing Bee?" 
 
~ silence ~"Hannah, we don't have to tell mommy EVERYthing we did!".

Apparently Hannah followed my mom for a while, got distracted, & lost her. 

So she did what we have taught her to do!! (Tim & I get credit for SOMETHING good!) 

We have always told the girls if they get lost to find a "worker" or a "policeman" or else a mommy that has little kids with her.  Hannah walked up to the "food ladies" at a booth where they just bought lunch & said "I am looking for Grandma."

I can't get mad at my mom & dad because, like I said, I know Hannah.  

And, I lost Hayley at Target once.

And at Cub once.

T minus 2-pounds

What does that mean? "T Minus..."  You hear it a lot when people are counting down, right? "T minus 10, 9, 8..."

OF COURSE I had to look it up.

Side note, my friend & coworker, Noelle (HI NOELLIE!) calls me Lil' Claven.  As in Cliff Claven.  As in the mail-man on Cheers (if you need me to explain Cheers, just never mind.)... He's the one who knows random facts about random things & always feels like everyone cares to hear those facts... So, apparently I have a reputation?  Sorry.  But would you have EVER found out why they are called "Spare Ribs" if not for lil' Claven!?

So forgive my Claven moment here.

When launching a rocket or shuttle, they say "T minus 3 minutes"  the T stands for "Time"... Time stands for the moment of launch.  So that means "in 3 minutes we'll be hitting this shiny red button over here". 
I also learned that after launch it turns to "T plus..." meaning the time the rocket is in the air.  (You are welcome)

So TECHNICALLY my title today should be "W minus 2 pounds" because since Tuesday, that is the Weight I've lost! YAY ME.  (It is Thursday - 2 pounds, 2 days.  Good Bye water-weight!).

(Seriously? It took me 209 words to say "I lost 2 pounds"?)

I think my goal is to loose 100 pounds before either of my children hit 100 pounds.

But this isn't a weight-loss blog.  Nope it isn't.

And to prove this, I want to share a super fun blog/website with you. 

I think I saw this on one of Yahoo!'s top 30 stories today.  A woman lost her job, she was inspired by the movie Julie/Julia and apparently Eat, Pray, Love... anyway she was feeling blue & blah at this point in her life and wanted to do something fun.  She went on a mission to take 365 "ugly dresses" & each day convert one dress into something beautiful, lovely and wearable.  We're talking - MuMus, Old woman's house-coats, Mother-of-the Bride frocks from 1984... And she set her budget for the entire project for $365.  I am not clear if that includes the price of the garments, or just the amount she's allowed to spend on thread, beads, needles, or apparently alchohol & food as she eats out & parties each night to celebrate.  Whatever - I judge not.  (well, just a little, maybe).

http://newdressaday.wordpress.com/

She is approximately half way through her journey.  Her "Before" pictures are enough to make me a little bit ill, but the "After" pictures are awesome. Makes me want to go through the thrift store a little slower!

Enjoy her blog.  I did. 
(I tried to throw a sample/teaser photo at you, but couldn't.  I fail.)