It's Been A While....

And the masses are screaming.....Where has she gone? Why doesn't she blog?

Okay, so maybe not "masses" per sey, but a few of you none the less. My answer is quite simple...my man is home. That and the fact that the workers building new towers down the road from our house broke the main cable line, so over half of Kadena was without television or internet. Not to worry! I filled my time with Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Life is full of....well, nothing much really. We have been spending most of our time at home. Well, I have been. The kids are busy with friends and life. Al is in the midst of a school which keeps him working 6 days a week. He is home in the evenings, but by then is so exhausted we barely see the man before he crashes.

He has however had plenty of time to get me addicted to The Shield. It seems he got himself hooked on it during his last deployment and when he returned he felt the awesome need to begin renting the seasons. We are now half way through season 3. CRAZINESS! Season 4 isn't out on DVD yet, so I figure after this we'll start renting Dead Like Me. It keeps us busy.

I want to say the kids are enjoying their summer. I suppose they are, however, how many weeks can you fill with the pool and a trampoline? Boredom is beginning to set in a bit and they are anxious to get back to school. Unfortunately school is still five weeks away.

We spent this afternoon school supply shopping. At first I was going to go without the kids, but they were all so excited I couldn't very well leave them behind. So I decided to take the kids out for lunch and then head to the Foster Bookmark. That is where our adventure began.

First of all they don't have shopping carts at the Bookmark, only baskets. This is all well and good considering most people just pop in to buy a few magazines, a book, or a few office supplies. I however am readying five children for the start of the school year. Good thing I brought the kids along. Tristyn took the younger kids over to the children's reading area while Kayl and Ashton grabbed a basket each. This is precisely when the "supply tornado" overtook that poor little shop.

Black pens, blue pens, red pens, highlighters, pink erasers, cap erasers, skinny markers, fat markers, washable markers, 8-16 & 24 count crayons, 3-ring binders, pocket folders, composition books, wide rule paper, spiral notebooks, no.2 pencils, primary pencils, paints, headphones (for music class), rulers, glue, glue sticks, compasses, protractors, assignment books, and two new backpacks. WHEW!!!! The poor lady in line behind us looked as though she could've bludgeoned us to death. (I am fairly sure she only had a small book in her hand.)

$130.00 later we were trudging to the van, bags in tow. We headed home to split the supplies and fill backpacks. The kids were a buzz of energy. "I'm scared to go to 3rd grade." "Did Ashton need this in 5th grade?" "I hope my teacher is nice!" "Do we paint in kindergarten?" "When do class lists come out?" "How many more days till school?" On and on they went. I had to laugh. I know how exciting the first day of school is, but heavens, it is still so far off.

I explained to the kids that because five of them would be in school this year we had to start shopping good and early. And that just because their bags were full didn't mean they got to break out the new crayons and paper to have a little art session. With school supplies out of the way (and a few things in a reserve box if they need more), we can focus on clothes. That gives me two paychecks before the start of school. I'm getting dizzy just thinking about it!

Well, I am off. Think I'll take some time to read before I have to start supper. Better to clear my mind off all the shopping I've yet to do! Hope your summer is going by fabulously! My love to all!