Pancakes & Pajamas

I really had not put much thought into Reese's birthday party this year until about a month beforehand.  I had briefly mentioned in passing having a pancake party (pancakes are her fav!), but she had already mentioned another swim party, so when I figured I had procrastinated long enough, we decided to combine the two!

I began to worry the week of the party because the weather had been a tad cooler, and also called for rain on the weekend, but it worked out fine!  HOT!  But we'll take it!

The kids arrived in their pajamas....so cute!



































We ate pancakes first thing!




























































































Followed by a donut cake!



Guilt was getting the best of me the night before thinking about her not having a cake, but Chet reassured me it would be fine.  And it was!  One of her friends even said to Chet as he was carrying the "cake" outside, "That's so awesome!  Why can't you be my dad?!"



































After breakfast, we had a pancake relay....






















































































































































Reese nonchalantly did a pancake flip and she caught it!  So her friends started cheering for her to do it again...and caught it again :)



































Opened presents....



And rocked the photo booth!







































































































































































































































By this time, the kids were more than ready to swim!



As I sat back watching the kids swim, I thought back to when we first started having swim parties (when Reese turned 6, I think), we were so worried about who could and couldn't swim.  Now, they are avid flippers and dare devils!



































































































































































































































































We took a little break from swimming for another game....HILARIOUS!!!!
















































































































































































































































































Then back in the pool until parents arrived.






































































Such a great group of kids!  So thankful for them all!  And so thankful for our families!

























































































































































































































More birthday posts to come!

Today

I left the house this morning at 7:40am....three kids to school, one mom to Target and Hobby Lobby making phone calls along the way.  Return in time to pick one child up from preschool.  Make a quick trip home to unload Target and Hobby Lobby goodies.  Hurry back to school to pick up kindergartener and kindergartener's buddy.  Drive straight to Lindsborg to park!



It's hot!



And past lunch.

Drive 20 minutes back home.  Dine at Wendy's.  Frosties included.  Along with pop rocks!



Run a couple errands.

Finally, arrive back home....only to be summons to the front yard soccer field for a little game of mom vs. two ornery boys.  I haven't stopped sweating since Target. 

30 minutes later, it's time to pick up second grader.

Return home, again.  Play more soccer, wipe a child's butt, friend goes home, hang new decor, wipe another child's butt.

Time for football practice!



Leave practice early to run another errand.



Finally eat supper around 7:40ish....pb&j.

Kids take baths.  Reese loses a tooth!


































Kids in bed....PTL!  9:00pm....time for mama to sit on her ass!  It's the season premiere (of the final season) of one of our favorite shows.

Nearly two and half hours later, premiere is ending....oh what's that?  Cru needs to go potty.  Pretty sure storms are coming so more than likely we won't be sleeping alone.

There's always something.

But then there's always those "other" moments.....



Moments where you stop....and just breathe (I think I need a tattoo that says that ;))....




These insane, non stop days will not last forever.  Cherish them.  Live them. Never forget them.

Thank you, blog for that.

**I know you probably want to hear about something other than our crazy days, but that's probably not going to happen for a VERY long time.  I won't apologize any more for it.  This is us and how we roll....The Buchman Way.

Reese's 8 Year Pics

Sweet, innocent, beautiful {inside and out}, freckles, EYES, simple, serious, compassion fills her soul....I wish I were more like her ♥

Yesterday was a struggle.

Who am I kidding, it was hell.

The hustle and the bustle was just too much for me to handle.

Yesterday was also mine and Chet's anniversary....nine years.  We had a quiet dinner....because we were frustrated (he at me, me at me)....at 9:30pm.  As I sat there eating (my bland tetrazzini which I worked all damn day on to have ready so Chet could put it in the oven when we were at Cru's soccer practice, but preparing it involved cooking bits and pieces in between picking up Cru, lunch, dentist, picking up Reese, then back to dentist), Chet informed me that while I was gone snapping pictures of our almost eight year old....

(more to come on that and another reason we did not eat until LATE)

Cru's soccer coach walked down to our house (Cru had literally just finished practice, skipped supper, and was in the yard practicing) and awarded Cru his first patch - the first one on the team to receive one - for putting in extra work!

My heart burst!

All the bad that happened earlier in the day was forgotten; I was so happy.

Too bad the day was over and Chet was still angry with me, BUT it did help my attitude when I still had to get Reese's birthday treats ready for school the next day.

It's the little things.

Wondering about the patch system....

Cru and his teammates can earn patches (for their jerseys) when they accomplish what's listed.  It's new.  And it's brilliant!

Wondering about the dentist....the doctor, had nothing but good to report....

Dr. Yowell had nothing but good to report as well :)

Everlee did not have a check up, but she sure made her presence known....in the midst of talking (NONSTOP!), she put up her hand, like hold up, and said (in her sassiest tone), "I DO NOT swim in my underwear..........oh wait!  Yes, I do!"

Tears of laughter from the doctor.  Tears of embarrassment from mama.

I'm so thankful today is a new day!

Make it a good one!

LIFE

Oh how I'd love to someday get caught up on blogging, but I have a feeling that won't happen for a very long time! 

Life is crazy! I wouldn't trade it. Really, I wouldn't. But dang a little break would be nice! 

Cru has had one week...ONE...off from soccer since LAST SPRING!!! Yes, we signed him up, we made the commitment, but that's two practices a week for let's just say A LOT OF WEEKS! 

But he seriously LOVES every minute! He counts down the days until every practice. And he's learning a ton! He runs A LOT, however, never lacks in the energy department!

Everlee and I sweat a lot.

Between all the kids, we've spent many hours practicing and playing games up at Grant, but tonight we had a new first....

Football!

Oh my goodness! He was in HEAVEN! His focus has always been soccer and baseball, so I wasn't exactly sure what he'd think...now we are counting down the days until the next football practice!

I must note because I definitely DO NOT want to forget....

I've used A LOT of capital letters in this post!

Cru was asking questions about football earlier in the day, and he asked me if he had to wear his Chiefs helmet to practice. 

His KC Chiefs costume helmet!

I nearly died! I told him no, but we did need to get him a mouth guard.

Fast forward a few hours, Chet walked in the door to get ready for practice, "Hey, Dad! I need a lifeguard!"

No, we were not swimming!

Mouth guard....lifeguard....same thing....kind of. Not really.

One more thing before ending this random post....

Because I do not want to forget the amazing words that come out of these precious mouths!

Here is a conversation Reese and I had last week while she was taking a bath....

Reese: Why can't girls be pastors?

Me: Girls can be pastors.

Reese: Father {the priest at her school} said only men can be priests.

Me: Well, he's right....only men can be priests, but you could be a pastor at our church!

Long pause....

Reese: Welllll, I want to be the Pope!!!!

With that, set your dreams high!

Back To School

I can't believe school has started again!  We had a wonderful summer, but I can't help but think we didn't do everything I had hoped.  As fast as time is going, it'll soon be Christmas, then spring break, then the last day of school, so I won't get too upset because we'll be back to staying up late and sleeping in before we know it ;)

Reese is now in 2nd grade.  Whoa, let me say that again....2nd grade!



































She insisted on a cross body backpack this year, and could have cared less about pencils and glue, give her keychains!  She even has two that light up "in case the power goes out"!

 
































I believe her words after the first day were "BEST.DAY.EVER."!  Thankful for that! 


































What I love about her school is there is only one teacher per grade, so same kids every year, and what joy it is watching them reunite ♥



Cru-Jo is now in Kindergarten!  It's a scary thing, I know. 



When I woke him up the morning of his first day, he was quick to tell me he only slept for three minutes that night!  Followed by, "If I get tired, I'll just sleep at school."  Awesome.



































He now wears a uniform.  He had a few "issues" buttoning his pants and belt the first morning, so I was worried what would happen if he had to go to the bathroom.  So, of course, that was one of the first things I asked him when I picked him up.  He said, "I didn't even have to unbuckle my belt, I just pulled my weenie out!"  Ok, then.



































He was the most nervous; just took it all in, kind of in a trance.  Chet was in the classroom next door, helping Everlee, and when I asked Cru if I could go see how she as doing....he wrapped his arm around my leg and said not yet.
























































I slipped out a few minutes later.  After I checked on Everlee, I went back into his room.  His back was to me, he seemed to be doing fine, so I turned around and walked right back out....


































They sure make dorky uniforms look cute :)

Yes, you read that right earlier, Everlee started school as well.  Preschool.



































And yes, her backpack is bigger (definitely not brighter;)) than she is.  She picked it out at Justice....that's what happens when you have an older sister.



She also picked out her entire outfit by herself.  She told me the night before she wanted to wear the purple dress ♥



She goes two mornings a week for three hours.  She is loving it!  Listening to her tell me all about her day is indescribable.  Priceless.






That leaves me home {alone} Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  Sounds amazing, right?  The silence about killed me.  I accomplished one thing - a shower....during the day.  My time was spent looking at the clock, counting down the minutes until it was time to pick Everlee up.


































Give me a couple weeks, and T/Th will be my favorite days of the week ;)