Gotta go back, back, back to school again!

If anyone can tell me what song and movie that title comes from, you will win a treat!

The first day of school Austin got on the bus and went off to second grade.

A little while later I took Layla to school where she had gradual entry. She got to go to the cafeteria and get milk and a cookie. She looked so tiny walking up to the school with her giant back pack.

In fact, both of my kids looked tiny with their loaded up backpacks.

All in all it was a good start to school for the year. Layla got on the bus the next day with her friends and did well! She does look a little apprehensive in the picture of her getting on the bus!

Pictures

When we were in Ohio visiting my brother and his wonderful family we went to a garden. These are just some of the pictures I took. I think they are beautiful! I don't even know what any of these flowers are, I just thought they were gorgeous. The colors are striking!

Cousins

I remember when I was little going to visit my cousins. It was never a quick trip, it was always a long drive. Mom would pack up the car full of snacks and clothes. ( I don't actually remember the clothes, but I am sure they were there.) We would drive and drive and then we would get to see our cousins. It would always take a little while to get comfortable with them again, to remember that we were friends because we didn't get to see one another that often.

It is weird because now we are the aunts and uncles. I packed up the car full of food and activities and we drove and drove and drove. I watched as my kids sounded out their cousins and then started playing like crazy. It was so fun, and so weird!

We had such a great time!

Who is this?

This is Jason's Dad, Donny!
Those Crowl's sure have some strong genes!!
Does anyone know who this is?

Brillant Layla

When I took Layla for her 5 year check up the doctor asked her all kinds of questions.

Doctor: If an elephant is big, a mouse is ?

Layla: tiny

Doctor: If a fire is hot, ice is ?

Layla: liquid

The doctor wasn't too thrilled with her response, but I thought it was brilliant. What normal five year old would comprehend that ice turns to liquid when there is fire?

Stupid doctor.

Smart Layla.

Hair Cut

I have been thinking about bangs for a long time. They look so cute on other people. About once a month I pull my hair back and pull out "my bangs" and look in the mirror and analyze how I look. I haven't had bangs since I was 11 years old. I remember vividly the growing out process. Every morning my mom putting my hair up in a half pony tail, pulling the bangs back out of my face. It was a long and miserable experience.

I remember this each time I think about getting bangs.

Well, this morning, I must have forgotten. I pulled my hair back and pulled out "the bangs." I asked Jason what he thought about me cutting some bangs. He was against it. So I went into the other bathroom and, using children craft scissors, chopped my bangs. (Sorry, for those of you who are cringing at me cutting my hair with non hair scissors!) Anyway, as I was dropping the first chunk of hair in the toilet, I kind of felt sick...uhoh...can I stop now?

All in all, I am happy with the results.

The real question is how long until I go out and buy little barrettes so I can pull the bangs out of my eyes!!

Yeah! Austin is sick!!

Some of you may think I am a terrible mom, but most of you have probably been through this before:

Child is sick.

You wait and debate.

To take him to the doctor or not.

Fever high.

Fever low.

What to do?

Finally you take him in...

They do a throat culture (or look in ears) you sit there and wait...and wait...and wait...

Finally the doctor comes in and says, "It's just a virus, it will get better in a couple days."

DOH!!!

I can almost visualize all of the nurses and medical assistants coming in and singing
"It's a virus, it's a virus, it's a virus...
It's a virus, it's a virus, it's a virus....
It's a virus, it's a virus, it's a virus....
STOP wasting your copay!!!"
Well, fast forward to today....

I am sitting and waiting and waiting and thinking, "Please be sick...please be sick...please be sick!"

You may think I am terrible, but if they are really sick then maybe you will get a prescription for an antibiotic, and probably your child will be better in about 24hours!

So the doctor comes in and....



"Well, Austin, you have strep."

YEAH!!!!

The Incline

Over Memorial Day Weekend we went to a family reunion for Jason's family. It was held in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The next day we went to the local incline thing. It was amazing. I guess it was used to carry things up the mountain a long time ago. Now it is just for fun! You can even take your car up if you want to. It was a little creepy, but still pretty fun.

Layla's Birthday

Before the month of June is over, I better post Layla's birthday pictures! We had a family party and had a lot of fun. The kids got to decorate cupcakes and they also had a pinata!! It was great. And now my baby girl is 5 years old!! How does the time go so fast!?!

Happenings

Layla has started piano lessons. I was sitting beside her the other day while she was practicing and I was shocked at how tiny her hands looked on the piano keys. She is so little!

It has been three weeks now and it is official. We still like having the dog!! Anyone is welcome to come visit and meet her.

Old Pictures

This is to humor my brother Andy...These are the before pictures...you may have to really look to figure out what is going on because this is the second time Jason has finished the basement...And apparently I didn't take too many pictures while he was finishing it this time.

The flooring

These are the in progress pictures of the flooring in the basement. The hallway took longer than almost the entire rest of the rooms.

The (almost) finished basement

These are the pictures from today after Jason put the molding up in the toy room area. He has not put it up in the family room area, or in the hallway, or up the stairs, but you can see how it is going to look. I love it!! Maybe someday we will be able to afford furniture!! But probably not....

New Member of the family

This last weekend Layla and I both celebrated our birthdays. She turned 5 and I turned 30. More posts to come about those occasions.

On Saturday, as part of Layla's present we went to the Humane Society. Don't ask how Jason convinced me to do this, I must have gone nuts temporarily. We looked at all of the doggies there. There were so many. It was very sad. Most of the dogs were running around and jumping. Some were barking. Some were licking through the fences.

There was one dog who just sat quietly in the corner, not barking, not jumping, not running around. She had a sign that said her name was Abby. She had just turned 5 that week. The volunteer said that the best way to see her personality was to take her out on a walk and see how she behaved without all of the other dogs around.

When we asked to take her out they told us we needed to fill out the application first. The whole time I was filling it out I thought, I don't even want a dog!! They also wanted us to read the paper work that her previous owner filled out before we did anything else.

She was owned by a single women who traveled frequently for work and wasn't able to take care of her. Abby had lived with this woman for 4 years and 8 months, since she was able to leave her mother. The lady giving her up wrote that this had been a three year decision and she was so sad to get rid of the dog, but she just wasn't able to devote time to her.

We took her out on a walk. She was very timid around people, but wanted to see the other dogs we passed while walking.

Against my better judgment we signed the papers, paid the money and brought her home. It has been three days and I haven't regretted the decision yet. I know that it is early still, but so far, we have been very blessed.

Abby is fully housebroken. She doesn't bark, she doesn't jump, she hasn't tried to get on the furniture. She sleeps all night and lets the kids climb and lay all over her. She already is part of the family.

I will let you know if and when that changes.