Oh, Blog of Mine, you have not been abandoned, completely . ..

Hi, it's ME. Remember ME? I went to visit some of my favorite blogs this afternoon, and I thought, "Gosh, I hate it when I come to read a new post and there isn't one!" Then I remembered that I had a blog of my own, a highly neglected blog might I add . . . so here I am, attempting to write something interesting and exciting so that my blog doesn't feel so abandoned . . . I really don't know what is wrong with me lately, it's not a lack of things happening in my life to write about, it's just that by the time the dust settles after the kids are washed, dried, and put away for the night, I'm so darn exhausted . . . or maybe it's the wine, hmmmm, anyway. I know I still have a Utah post to write, which I thought about writing last night . . . I got as far as going to Shutterfly to find the pictures I wanted to use, and that's about it. . . I started looking through my trillions of pictures, emailing pictures to people, resorting my folders, then I didn't have any creative energy left so I just went to Myspace to stalk people instead.

Well, with that said, I still can't think of anything entertaining to write about that doesn't involve having to find pictures to go with it, because I can guarantee that will turn out the exact same way it did yesterday . . . so, on this, the 13th, count them, 13th, night of school and the 11th (because homework is not assigned on Friday) night of the homework wars, I will leave you with this letter that I received from Charming Child sometime during the first week of school (copied exactly as it was written) I hope you enjoy it! By the way, I've come up with a new slogan for Planned Parenthood, "Who needs condoms and the Pill when you can spend the day with my children?!?" (Can you tell it's been a rough night?)

Dear Mom,

This year I will put forth my ultimate best efort and take time to do things correctly I want you to be superior of me and I can be of myself.

I will also resepct you and help you around the house because you do so much for me. I will try to watch less t.v. and read more because I want to be better in reading.

I will also try to improve on math and spelling because that will help me get on the honer roll. I will also improve on takeing my time to get things right.

I will also except help and edmit things when I am wrong. That will help me become a better student. I will try hard in school and try to eat right and excrise.

I hope all of these things will make you proud of me.

Love,
Charming Child

What Time Is It?!?! Ummm . . . time for me to update!!

Well, I have been desperately trying to add "What Time Is It?" from HSM2 to my music playlist, to no avail . . . so sorry to those of you who have not heard the song eleventy gazillion times since the movie premiere last Friday, because I know you would have enjoyed hearing it here. I'll keep trying . . .

For now, I guess I should update since I seem to have fallen off of our round earth the past week . . . I've been sucked in to the abyss that is the beginning of the school year . . . no, just kidding, I've just been lazy!

I am going to work backwards and work my way to my Utah update, which means tonight I will share our family get together and of course, HSM2 premiere night.

So, Mr Egypt's uncle and cousins were visiting from Washington D.C. , as well as his cousins from Canada. I have no idea who planned for them to come on HSM2 Premiere night . . . what were they thinking? Well, it all worked out, we had an early dinner and then by the time we snapped a few pictures, everyone was ready to go . . . just in time for C.C. and I to leave for our party.

Here are a few pictures of the Egyptian men pretending to be Italian . . .

Here is the parting family shot, minus the white girl, because I'm behind the camera . . . And, guess who we had at our house? It's really not that impressive to us anymore, but we had this celebrity in our house, she's Mr. Egypt's cousin.

Here is the close-up (just in case you don't believe me!)

Okay, so now that we have the family business out of the way, do you know WHAT TIME IT IS?!?

C.C. and I, along with some friends, attended Opening Night of our favorite theatre company's showing of HSM, followed by a premiere party and a showing of HSM2 on the big theatre screen. I have to be honest, I'm not sure who was more excited, C.C. or myself. I think I was excited for the play because I think this theatre company has some of the most talented kids I have ever seen . . . .I know, I know, I know, I've said that a million times, but I really think it's true. (P.S. Charming Child starts rehearsal for Aladdin on September 18th)

The play was fabulous, as expected! Here are some pictures of C.C clearly NOT enjoying herself . . .

. . . practicing her "jazz hands" . . .

C.C. and "Taylor" . . . C.C. and "Sharpay" . . . C.C. and "Mrs. Darbus" (AKA owner extraordinaire of theatre company) . . .C.C. and "Troy and Gabriella" . . . And then, after some junk food, which by the way, believe it or not, C.C. did not even ask to have any cake or cookies, though she made up for it the next day when she ate a piece of chocolate fudge cheesecake as her one sugar item of the week . . . anyway, as I was saying . . . and then, after some junk food, it was time for this . . . How many of you had children brought to immediate hysterics with the sight of this scene, just as the music erupted?

Imagine the hysterics of your child, multiplied by about two hundred other little teeny boppers (and parents) and that is what happened in the theatre as this scene showed up on the screen. I, of course cried, because that's what I do, I have no idea why, but that's just what I do.

All in all, it was a great day and night, and early morning since we got home at 1:00 a.m! Anyone ready for HSM3?? Maybe it will take place during winter vacation at Sharpay's ski resort . . . hmmmm, I should email Disney, I could be on to something . . . but I swear, that girl needs to give up on Troy . . . are you with me on this one? For crying out loud, which is almost what I did when Gabriella got in her van and drove away and Troy turned around and walked the other direction, anyway . . . for crying out loud, Troy belongs with Gabriella little Miss Sharpay, move on already, not that I don't love you too, but move on.

First Day Recap

Well the first day of school was here, and as quick as it came it was over! The excitement of the beginning of the new school year is always so fun. Believe it or not, as a teacher, my favorite time of the year, right up there with the last week (well, I have to be honest) is the first day! The children are always so excited and enthusiastic, and trust me, we have to appreciate it while it lasts!


So, Charming Child was up at the crack of dawn this morning. She informed me lastnight that she was going to get up at 6:00 a.m. so she could relax and meditate, yes meditate, before she had to go to school (at 8:50 a.m.) Seriously, I don't know where she comes up with this stuff . . .my idea of a good morning is to get up thirty minutes before I have to leave and then meditate while waiting in the Starbucks drive-thru while Ms. (or Mr.) Barista McPerky makes my coffee!!

Upon further investigation of my annual first day of school pictures, I realized she didn't get up to meditate at all . . . she got up at 6:00 a.m. to paint her damn fingernails! After all, 5th grade is the new Freshman year and it's all about the look and the accessories, thank you very much London Tipton!!



All in all, I think the first day of 5th grade was successful, except for the fact that her prepackaged supplies weren't on her desk waiting for her . . . Apparently being the first one to turn in a check was a bad thing because they weren't ready to be organized and put the checks in a safe place . . .however, the problem has been rectified and she will have everything tomorrow.

I'll leave you with her responses to the annual first day of school interview:

1. What was your favorite part of the day? Getting to be in Mrs. R's class because she is nice and organized and fun and strict. She always makes sure everyone follows the rules and she likes teamwork. (Ummm, maybe she misunderstood the question . . . )

2. What was your least favorite part of the day? Math I guess, because I don't really have a least favorite part, but it was the only work we had to do. (Aha, there's my baby girl . . .whew, I thought for a minute I had brought home the wrong child . . . strict, teamwork, rules!!!)

3. What are you looking forward to in the 5th grade? Getting good grades, learning new stuff, and going to the State Capitol.

4. What are you not looking forward to this year? Running the mile in P.E. (She has been talking about this mile since about 3:00 this afternoon . . . damn the school district for trying to keep the kids in shape! )

5. What do you want to be when you grow up? A singer, an actress, and a journalist, but first I have to learn to spell. (And if any of you tell her about spell check, I will personally come after you, because the girl DOES need to learn to spell!)

6. What do you want to learn this year? How to read faster and long division and how to spell. (Mrs. R, I'll give you a bonus if you can teach her how to spell 'long division'!)

7. If you were the teacher, what rule would you have? No talking in class during inappropriate times. (No, seriously, am I speaking English clearly, or do I really have the wong child?)

P.S. I started C.C. on a "Less Sugar and No Processed Foods" Diet . . . I have tried damn near everything else to get her less than desireable behavior under control, so maybe a different diet will help. So far, so good . . . there has been ZERO door slams tonight, ZERO screaming fits, and NO obnoxious behavior for the sake of being obnoxious! I know, I shouldn't put my horse before my cart, or my cart before my horse, or something like that, but still, quietness, in any amount, is a beautiful thing around here!

Everybody have a great day!

Guess what day it is tomorrow. . .

. . . I'll give you some clues:

Clue #1: Three new pairs of shoes. . . .



Clue #2: New clothes hanging on annoying store hangers. (Note to Self: Buy CC new hangers.)



Clue #3: A new backpack



Clue #4: A new desk chair.



Clue #5: A special outfit that has been laying out for three days (yes, tags and all)



If you guessed that it is Charming Child's first day of school, you are absolutely correct! (Excuse me while I jump for joy . . . ) I think that both of us are ready for the school year to begin. We found out who she got for a teacher this year, and we were both very pleased. Believe it or not, CC wanted Mrs. R because she is strict, and I wanted Mrs. R because the other 5th grade teacher's room is so cluttered I was afraid I wouldn't be able to volunteer in the classroom for fear of being sucked under the piles!

You may have noticed that there was not a picture of the new school supplies for the year. Then again, it may have not even crossed your mind. Last year the principal had the brilliant idea to sell prepackaged school supplies at a flat rate per grade, and the supplies would be waiting for your child on his or her desk the first day of school. Well, let me tell you, I was the first one to have my check in the office, with a big ol' "Hat's off to you!!" in the memo section! Believe me when I say, I would have paid quadruple the price of the packaged school supplies just to forego the arguing in the Target school supply aisle! I swear, if I had to listen to, "Well, Mrs. Fourth Grade Teacher liked this kind of pencil, so even though Mrs. Fifth Grade Teacher is requesting this kind, we better get the other kind," this year, I was going to lose my ever-loving mind!! Maybe I'm just more sensitive to this type of thing since I'm a teacher, considering I usually spend the entire first week hearing, "Mrs. Last Year's Teacher made us do it this way," to which I usually calmly respond, "Well, unless you would like to spend another year with Mrs. Last Year, I suggest you humor me and learn to do it my way!"

Here's to wishing everyone a fantastic 2007-2008 school year!

P.S. I apologize if this post didn't make any sense at all, and please excuse any grammatical errors you may have found, but I am not feeling that great, however I felt I had to write something since Little Sis so nonchalantly asked me today, "Uh, so, do you still have writer's block because you haven't written anything about your trip to California yet?" To which I had to remind her that I actually took a trip to Utah, and it wasn't that I had writer's block, it's just that I haven't been feeling so swell. I guess she hasn't been able to meet her 20% of internet time at work since my last post.

I have lots of pictures and lots of excitement (yes, we made it to East High) to share from my trip to Cali . . Utah. Hopefully I will get to that this week.

Get'cha Head In the Game because We're All In This Together (turn up your sound)

So, now that the latest Harry Potter book has been out for over a week, we can get back to our regularly scheduled excitement . . . High School Musical 2 premiers in 16 days!!! Come on people, jump for joy!! If you have not had the privilege of hearing about the HSM2 premier for the past, oh I don't know, forever, please contact me and I can put you directly in touch with the expert, Charming Child! I think she knows down to the minute when the movie comes out. She's not the only one though . . . word around town is that this is a BIG DEAL! The wonderful children have no idea when they go back to school, but they sure as heck know when Zac, Ashley, and Vanessa will be making their way back to the Disney channel . . . to be replayed over and over and over for the next six months!

For those of you who have not heard about High School Musical, come on, Get'cha Head In the Game, it's the Grease of the 00's! I must admit however, although I know every single, solitary word, to every single, solitary HSM song (which I really enjoy, by the way), I have never seen the movie in its entirety. I know, I know . . . shame on me! I did go see High Musical the Concert though (because I don't have a HSM fan in my house or anything!) and it was one of the best concerts I have ever been to . . . with Avril Lavigne and Gwen Stefani tied for second, because that Avril can rock and Gwen is just awesome!!

I can't really seem to remember the point of all of this now . . . why in the world did I just write all of this HSM stuff? Hmmmmm . . . Oh well . . . .

**************************************************************************

Dear Travel Agent,

As you know, I will be flying in to Utah in a few days to attend my Sister's Bridal Shower. I am a little bit nervous about this because my blood is still thawing from the last time I went to Utah, but I am going to be brave and try it again. Please make sure you add this to my itinerary because Little Sis is just absolutely dying to experience the beauty of this event, and this weekend is all about her after all. Also, add this as well, because maybe I want to experience this one.

Finally, whatever you do, please locate East High in SLC, borrowed Home of the Wildcats, the place where HSM2 was filmed, because if my child does not get to "kiss the ground that Ashley Tisdale walked on" I may have to listen to some tantrum throwing this weekend, and frankly, I am not in the mood.

Your diligence with this matter will be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Mixed Up Me