Today at dinner we were discussing that tomorrow we get to go to the school open house and find out who the kid's teachers are.  Older children say, "WHAT? Already?"  "School is next week?"  (It's the midwest, we have state fair issues- we can't start school until the state fair http://www.mnstatefair.org/ is over) 4-year-old says, "I know who my teacher is already (sing it) I get to go to school at home My teacher is my mom ahuh (clap hands above your head, wink [as best as you can for a four year old] and high five across the table to mom).  I love my 4 year old.  Oh, and my youngest brother pulled through for my little guy- he got his fish a bike!  Now he can work on that summer goal :)

In an effort to do a little school clothes shopping online I stumbled upon a clothing line for girls that I love: 
http://www.romaetoska.de/kollektion_english.html
of course it is only sold at Harrod's of London and exklusiv shops in Deutschland.  Does it not scream totally me?  If only I were 14 and super duper rich.  :)  Some of it looks like a style that might not be too hard to replicate- if my daughter likes it enough maybe I can convince her to try sewing a few skirts.  finding the right colors will be the hard part.  If you happen to be interested enough to browse the romaetoska blog you might also enjoy the forcast for next summer's fashion is ....  The Circus! Ha ha ha!  It sounds way funny, and I am sure I will use that line plenty next summer, but it's actually cute clothes.

It's been a couple of weeks so I should update:
Yesterday my 4 year old swallowed a penny.  He is fine.  His brother that is 6 thinks it is hilarious that it will "pass".  Our weather has been hot and very humid the last 3 weeks, so we mostly have hidden inside and used it as a very good excuse not to do any yardwork.  I'll be making up for that this week- we have a lot of weeds to pull now and no more sweet peas because I didn't keep cutting them. 

The boys built there own tank. 
We had a few boxes worthy of the honor because we bought a new chair (from Ikea).

 We now have our wood floors in and are busy rearranging and redecorating.  Next week will be the beginning of our basement bedroom getting finished.  I have been busy shopping and returning and shopping for stuff to redo the bedrooms.  I'm pretty excited to show pictures once everything is done and in it's place.  A neighbor hit our parked car- she saw a car coming, but rather than wait to pull out of her driveway she decided to floor the gas and beat it, she was in a hurry to get to happy hour at the restaurant around the corner.  her words. Okay, not exactly her words except that she was going to happy hour at _________restaurant, and her behavior said she was in a hurry to get there.  She was very good about contacting her insurance and they are taking care of repairs today and tomorrow. 

A friend's next door neighbor just put in a new patio with fire pit and a sauna.  She isn't too excited about it.  I may offend some people, but I'm going to say it anyway.  When people drink even a little alchohol, their voices get louder and the conversation gets stupider, especially the more a person drinks.  I know those who choose to drink don't realize this is happening, but it is very obvious to those of us who are always the "designated drivers" (and not just us Mormons- I have Catholic friends and friends of other religions who think so too).  My friend who lives next door to these neighbors with a new sauna walked me up to her bedroom the other day.  When she opened the door the eye immediately goes out the window and... straight into the (rather large/tall) sauna.  Laugh or cry? She is debating what/if she should say...  Who wants to walk in their bedroom and see their neighbor wrapped in a towel with a beer?  She is hoping their new toy will lose it's sparkle...soon.  The irony?  The people living in that part of the neighborhood are very adamant that sheds are against the law in that part of town and were upset with someone new to the neighborhood putting one in. 
Here's to the good times... the annual flooding of the sandbox: