August 12th-18th

 (8/12)  Work day for Dad and me, and Sarah had the herd at the house.  The middles decided they were ninjas and they needed to protect the entire neighborhood.  I didn't see any shady characters when I came home, so they must have done a good job.  Kiddos and I had a nice night.  Tuesdays always zoom by too fast. 

(8/13) Work day for Dad and I had the kiddos.  Today was a big team meeting between all care givers, social workers, and everyone involved with the girls, and we conferenced in.  Got some really tough news and I was a wreck after.  I took all that emotion and decided we all needed some retail therapy so took the herd out to terrorize Kohl's.  Oh my gosh, did we score for the big kids!  We "saved" $450!  Got everyone outfitted for school and stayed within our budget.  Huge kudos to our cashier - she was super patient with us and really worked hard to get the best deals for us.  I need to call in and thank them!  The littles are pretty adamant that they don't want to be kept in the stroller, and J kept taking off when we would stop.  I had my iPod and phone though, so let them take selfies for the trip and they had a great time!  Them staying busy freed me up to help the bigs.  We stopped for dinner and delicious (ice cream) after and then went home.  Dad came home too so we were able to talk.  Some changes coming... And yeah, a really tough, tough day.  I'll share more later.


(8/14)  Work day for me and Dad had the kids.  The teen was super frustrated with the prices all being so high for her clothes yesterday, so we decided on thrift store shopping this evening.  She scored big-time!  We got back so late that Dad had the rest of the kids in bed.  The teen had a friend in to show off all her new stuff, and then we ran her friend home before we settled in for the night. 

(8/15) Work day for Dad and me, and Kathy had the kiddos.  Dad got the teen all registered for school and the supplies purchased.  One more thing to check off our list!  Things at home went mostly smoothly, so that was good. The teen took off for a sleepover at a friend's house so it was just the four younger kiddos at home.  I had the TV all to myself tonight after they went to bed - WOOT! 


(8/16) Today we went to a back-to-school thing where they were supposedly handing out school supplies.  They ended up running out, but we scored lunch, balloon animals, and had a nice afternoon running around Snohomish with Grandma & Granddad.  When I asked the littles if they would like some 'delicious,' all the kids thought that sounded like a great idea!  We went to the Snohomish Pie Company and shared a couple of slices.  Mmm!   After we got home, the teen called and said she wanted to go.  Little late, kiddo.  We'd already been and come home while they were doing what teens do best: sleeping in!  Everyone was back home for dinner, and our younger girl talked me into a slumber party with her friend.  We agreed on our house and so her friend and her mom came over with a bazillion stuffed animals.  The teen couldn't deal and finagled another night away at a friend's.  The girls took party in slumber party to heart and were up til around midnight, and then again around 3:30a for water.  Other than lots of reminders that it was bedtime, they really did well. 


(8/17) I caught a run with Sarah before Dad left for fantasy football. The younger kiddos and I then had the place to ourselves for the day. Mid-morning we packed up our girl's friend and walked her home, then came back so the littles could play out in the yard.  The big kiddos were in and out all day, C got invited on an overnight with his friend, and our younger girl ended up at the lake with her friend for the afternoon, leaving the teen, the littles, and us for the smallest family dinner ever. 


(8/18) Work day for me and Dad has the kiddos.  C will return sometime today and our younger girl leaves for a sleepover at her friend's house.  Weeeeeee!