The Thurber Gang

Ella and Elise in their Kindergarten Classroom at the Ice Cream Social last night. Vivien - writing in her 'die-ra-ry' that she got for her birthday, and getting ready for PRESCHOOL! Madison with her teacher, Mrs. Lockhart. Lillian with her teacher, Mrs. Summers. It's that time again - sharpened pencils, $0.22 glue sticks at Target. . . Going through clothes, a new outfit . . . School is starting. It is unbelievable to me that Ella is starting Kindergarten. Madison will be in grade 4, Lillian in grade 2. And then maybe the most crazy of all. . . Vivien will be in Preschool. What *WILL* I do with myself? Of course, we're doing Joy School again this year, so I will be one of seven teachers and we'll rotate houses. But, on Tuesdays and Thursdays most weeks this year, I will have no children at home. I don't think I ever believed that this day would come! Ella is very excited to be going to school. I'm not ecstatic about it being full day - it will tak...

So - I've written many blog entries in my head the last couple of weeks - it's just that none of them have made it to fruition. . . Even now - I should be getting ready to go to the girl's Ice Cream Social at the school instead of typing here, but I did feel a small rant was in order. Our fridge is gone. Caputs. Warm. It happened sometime Sunday. We saved some things - we have a little cooler that plugs in. . . We're not sure what we're doing. We found an AWESOME fridge on Craigslist, absolutely perfect - - but it's 3 inches too big. Will not fit in the space provided. AUGH. So, we're still roughing it with our cooler, unsure if we are going to try to service the fridge (for the second time in 4 months) or replace it. . . AUGH. . . and the money is NOT growing on the tree we planted out back. What WILL we do???

Did you just watch that race????? I'm in Toronto with my sisters and we just saw Michael Phelps (and his **AMAZING** teammates) his 8th gold. Surpased Mark Spitz... Completey unbelievable. I'll be back home tomorrow... This weekend has been so great!

SIX FOR SIX, BABY!!!!!

Why can't normal life be on hold during the Olympics? I'm having a fantastic time watching and cheering for all of the outstanding athletes. . . Michael Phelps is going for his *SIXTH* gold of these games tonight, so I guess I better make this quick!!! We found a great deal on a used trampoline on craigslist this week, and the girls (and I, I must admit!) are having a ball playing and jumping on it. Our movie nights are going to jump (ha) to a whole new level when we can lay on the trampoline to watch a movie. . . can't wait!! Next week, probably. . . Tomorrow I'm heading to Toronto for my first ever "SISTER'S WEEKEND". . . It's going to be a blast, just me and my sissies. . . Thanks to Milo (and Mary and Ann) for making it possible for me to go by watching my kids. . . may they get all of their bad behavior out with you so that when I get home, it will be all roses!! ;-)

Madison asked to do whatever chores possible if we would let her stay awake tonight to watch Michael Phelps swim in his 400 IM. (She even wore her favorite swimming shirt) It was an AMAZING race, with Phelps smashing his own world and Olympic records. He's got his first gold medal of these Olympics - and his goal is to get seven more!! Madison's pretty sure he'll do it, and watching his preliminary and final swims today - most people are probably convinced!! The Olympics are really one of the most exciting things for me to watch. I get downright giddy - even for sports that normally I wouldn't give the time of day!! These athletes are so inspiring and just the idea of these games gets me excited! Are you watching, too??

The girls and I are enjoying a pizza night tonight after a fun and busy day with swimming, play dates and errands. I opened up the box to reveal half cheese and half vegetarian. Vivien made a HUGE disapproving face, and looked very disgusted. We were just passing out the pizza - cheese for the little girls and a veg. for me when Vivien said, (like a light was turned on) "oh - *YOU* like the yucky kind!" and then was content to eat her own piece. . . her mystery was solved.

Ella asked, "Why did Heavenly Father have to make vegetables?" with her nose wrinkled. Madison and Lillian reminded her that celery is a vegetable. And salad. And carrots. She laughed and just said, "ALRIGHT!" ha. . . I guess she's glad now that Heavenly Father made all those vegetables!!!

I just sent the girls out to pick the four tomatoes that were ready to be eaten and they were gone!!! No red tomatoes are on the vine at all. . . we searched through the foliage with no luck. Finally, Madison and Lillian got into their 'detective' roles and after a little searching, uncovered that our 4 year old neighbor ate them. Hopefully we'll get to enjoy some in a few days. . .

We are having such fun having our first ever little garden! We have grown delicious tomatoes, zucchini, squash and yummy herbs. Now, our watermelons are finally growing and they keep getting bigger and bigger!! The pictures of the smaller veggies were taken 5 days ago - and then you can see how much they have grown in the pictures taken today!! WOOHOO!! Next year, we're already planning a bigger garden and what we want to plant. The girls are quite intrigued and great helpers!