Remember the Song Head Over Heels by The Go-Go's?

I'm starting off with a list. Can you guess the topic?

1) The kids fell in love.
2) Jim fell in love.
3) I fell in love.
4) We all fell madly in love!...Ain't it grand?
5) Our children are temporarily responsible.
6) Everybody deserves a buddy.
7) One more fantastical reason to get up in the morning...smiling. (I hope.)
8) Temporary lapse of sanity on the part of the parents.
9) Jim and I were "the coolest parents ever" for more than five minutes.
10) Jim and I are still "the coolest parents ever" more than a week later. 


If you're not sure, Here's the Topic: 10 Reasons to Buy a Puppy 

The most popular reaction has been: "You work full time, have three kids, a husband, and now 2 dogs. What?! This wasn't enough?"
Alas, this is part of being 1/2 of a Gemini duo. We go a little crazy...and because there are two of us we either bring the other back to reality in a snap or very quickly join in the mahem!
Weeehhhhl...What can I say? It was a head over heels moment for us. 
We were bigger kids than the kids.

We were hooked.
The puppy had stolen our hearts.
He overheard us talking. His ears perked up. His head bobbed back and forth between us, following every word.
He cocked his head to the right as if to say,"I heard you...now what?"
Jim looked at me and said,"This would have never have happened if you hadn't come."
Me: Huh? I'm only talking about how cute he is. I don't want to get a dog.
Jim: He is cute. What kind of a dog is he?
Me: I'll ask.
Chloe: Daddy,  can we get the puppy?
Jim: I can't believe this. This isn't fair. I knew that I shouldn't have come here. I'm being sandbagged.
Me: No. She's just asking a question. (smiling in my mind, poker face on the outside) Come on, if you weren't thinking about it you'd just say No. You want him!

The kids saw the action and quickly scooted over. We all played. I started calling the pup Chip. The whole family began to call the pup Chip. Jim asked,"How much is he?"
...and the rest is history.

Chip is the newest addition to the family. He's a sweet tempered little guy...a Chihuahua/Jack Russel/ possibly other breeds mix. His Mom's name is Molly and Dad's name is Studley!

We walked in for fish food and walked out with a puppy!

Our euphoric puppy state won't last forever.

For now I'm loving the fact that this little guy follows our 3 yr. old lab, Lightning everywhere and that the girls have been waking early for school every morning, unprompted!! --Miracle of miracles.

Fall Slackers

The burnt umbers, blazing oranges, rusts and ruddy tones of Fall are fast approaching. The lazy days of Summer are but a fading glimmer. Afternoons spent picking mussels off of damp rocks that surface with the tide and digging our toes into the sand have been folded up safely in the corners of my mind. They are tucked away now, ready to be opened on rainy mornings. On dark, chilly, winter nights when the hope of Spring is what I need to stay warm these memories will be there.

Grace, Chloe and Addison waiting for the school bus.

September has come and gone. October warrants non-stop days and even busier nights. As much as I'd love to relish in all that is Fall I simply haven't got the time.
-Teacher
-Taxi
-Tutor
-Nurse
-Storyteller extraordinaire
-Cleaning woman of the stars...just kidding...more like of the Princesses.
-Chef on a clock...if it can't be done in 15 minutes than it doesn't happen on a school night.
-Cheerleader...of multiple activities. This year we have horseback riding, 5th grade play practice and gymnastics. Gotta keep morale high, high, high!!
-Did I mention TAXI??
...Oh, wait..I'm Super Mama.
-Lover??? ...Hmmmm. What's that word mean?! When this will ever fit into the daily grind I'll never know. If you figure it out tell me.

Addi, lending Grace sisterly advice.

Can I squeeze in WRITER, ARTIST and possibly TRAVEL AGENT?!
I'm ready for a vacation!

To think I started out so eloquently.
HA!
Isn't this how it typically works?
We have grand plans.We envision our smiling children as they participate in their favorite sports or drama clubs.
We love the idea of it all "falling into place" in Fall.
BUT.
AHA!
This is exactly the point.
IT'S ONLY AN IDEA...A NOTION>>>A SWEET FANTASY.

Chloe unwinds by playing dress-up.

I adore smiling at my girlies as they tumble, twirl and jump.
I'm a proud parent.

I also LOVE Fall...
...the smells of nightly fires.
...the crunch of leaves as they crinkle under foot.
...layering sweaters, scarves and leggings make me smile. (so cozy)
...decorating for Halloween gives me happy goosebumps!

I'm also stretched so thin that I've become transparent.
Did I mention that I'm a teacher?
Have I mentioned that I hate homework.
Now that my three kids are in school I don't ever want to assign "at home projects" to my students again.
One word: PAINFUL.
The thought of torturing another parent or child makes me wince.

There are days when no one wants to do anything.
Those are the times that I think,"but what kind of a message am I sending to my daughter? I don't want her to not go...she's on a team...other people are counting on her...we don't want her to withdraw from activities...to end up walking the streets aimlessly."
I imagine a wayward teen wandering the back roads in a daze.
Then I "check my head" and remember that:
1) Our kids are KIDS
2) Our kids are REALLY GOOD KIDS
3) I'M WAY TOO DRAMATIC sometimes.

After a long day of school we all could use a day of nothingness.
Wii be ready...it's dance time!!
Future be damned...PJ's rock!
Will our children become social slackers because Mom and Dad let them skip cheer leading this week?

Sorry Julia!...Your head turned into a wii remote.

Think not.


PS-
My incredibly successful, overachieving, brilliant, dedicated, hard working, loving husband was given the nickname "Slack" as a teenager.

PPS- He's the farthest thing from it.