thank you!!

dear Nana and Papa,

thank you so much for leting me and Jack stay at your house, we both had a blast!I miss youll

already enough to come back!! Can't wait for EASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

luv, Gracie

Guess Who is Coming Home Today?

Gracie and Jack!

March Madness

Bracket standings at work...I am currently in second place. I picked every single sweet sixteen team! Show me the $$

Flexibility

Well, the best laid plans don't always come to fruition. On a rainy Thursday while driving to Jack's field trip in LR, my brakes on my Yukon were 'off.' We took it in on Friday morning for new brakes before we were to leave for Cape after work. New brakes turned into shot tie rods (yikes) and a badly needed front end alignment. The car was finally ready around 6:15, minus the front end alignment, due to a machine malfunction. So....no Cape on Friday night. Mom and Dad were very accommodating and agreed to meet Pete with the kids in the truck (no room for me...sniff sniff) at Blytheville. The dropoff was a success and the kids were so excited to be back on the road to Cape! Pete should be home soon. Thanks Mom and Dad! I hope my two wild ones will find a few minutes this week for quiet time?!?!

More later...D

Braggin' on Gracie

Parent teacher conference last night was nothing but great news! Gracie again brought home all As, except for that 'nagging' B+ in math, which is still AWESOME! (better than I ever did in 4thf grade math, btw). We are so proud of her hard work this year. She told me the other night that 4th grade as been her hardest year, but her favorite so far. They have the AR state benchmark exams coming up in April, and then they get to visit the Intermediate school (5th and 6th) for a day in late April. Two new schools for two kids this fall!

We are having Jacky and Mommy day today. His class took a field trip to the Arkansas Children's Theater to see a production called "Busytown," a play based on the characters and scenes from Richard Scarry books - remember Huckle the cat, Lowly Worm, etc? VERY well done. They even had a remote control pickle car that drove across the stage! We followed that with lunch at the Purple Cow (Nana's favorite spot for purple ice cream...not), and this afternoon he has his Kindergarten checkup with Dr. Sutherland. He is praying for no shots. Gracie has him all worked up about it, but I am pretty sure he is all caught up on his shots.

Pete got a golf game in yesterday, but today we have rain. Heading to Cape tomorrow after work!

Love to all...Denise

Time to bust out myself

Lest Pete be the only one accused of not being able to 'let go,' view this...these are my all-time favorite pair of jeans. They are Old Navy Boot Cut Just Below the Waist, circa 6 years ago. They have been with me throughout Jack's entire life. I finally had to retire them from the work circuit, due to holes in both knees, and the bottom of each pant leg is worn down to where the material hanging off of it is like a stirrup on each side. I have tried to replace them, both in store (not to be found any more), and on eBay. Sadly enough, the 4 pairs that I successfully bid on and received just don't fit the same. I still wear these on the weekends, cannot bear to throw them away.

Same story on the shoe, although I have this shoe on at work right now. It is an 8 year old pair from Payless. Again, cannot find a replacement, cannot bear to throw out. And yes, the sole is worn clear through to the street and you can look through it and see daylight. Repairs won't work, Shoe Goo doesn't hold.

Both of these are like old friends. I know how Pete feels...Denise

Winnie the Pooh, like you've never seen him...

Pete's parents got to see this live and in person when they were here in February, so we didn't want to leave out the rest of the family. There are Pete's "Pooh panties," as we call them. Gracie and I bought them for him as a stocking present when she was just over one year old, so he has been wearing them faithfully for nearly 10 years. Every time we fold the clean laundry we just crack up and threaten to throw them in the garbage. He gets really fired up about it and puts them right back in the drawer. I have washed them every week for 10 years. I always have this picture in my mind of him waiting at the airport for his luggage, only to find his suitcase has exploded, and what comes down the shoot is a cardboard box with his belongings, and these on top of the pile! What a Pete! Notice the waist band is barely attached to anything. And yes, the ginormous hole in the second picture is IN THE BACK.

Don't worry, I will rat myself out tomorrow...Denise

Check out that smile!

The tooth fairy is on her way...again!

Sorry it's been a while...

Gracie...continues to stay busy with her sports and keeping her grades up. The Conway public elementary school PE coaches are putting together a basketball tournament the last week of March. Gracie is playing on Cummins 4th grade girls' team. Her PE teacher used to coach basketball and football at none other than Cape Central High School, before moving here this past year! Her big news this week was giving up her recess one day to help Mrs. Lawrence staple 85 tests for her college course. Her reward? Her teacher brought her a root beer to drink at the lunch table the next day! She is currently into Nancy Drew books as her choice for reading group. Last week, she attended a three-day softball pitching clinic, and came away wanting to be a pitcher. We'll see if she gets called up this season. I have every faith in her ability, just not sure about the handling of stress. She is looking forward to one her best friends' Madison's birthday party tomorrow - restaurant dinner, movie out, (Escape to Witch Mountain)and sleepover. The movie stars one of her 'hotties' Duane THE ROCK Johnson, whom Gracie fans her face when she mentions his name. Favorite American Idol - the girl with the red hair.

Jackson...has a second loose tooth that he can bend out to a perfect 90 degree angle from his mouth. He also has a birthday party on Friday at Jump Zone, again. Seems to be the popular place for kids his age for parties. No violin this week, as Mr. Mike got bit by the flu bug. But I did figure out the chords on the piano to match his violin key, so we have been giving Twinkle concerts to Gray and Dad all week. Last weekend, he and Pete attended a how-to model train show, and Jack was fascinated. Since then, they are making plans to build their own train board and got started making plaster rocks for the scenery. I hope this is going to be housed in the workshop...

Pete...is here this week! He is kind of bummed this week. He had a major outsourcing deal going with a large company that was closing in quick; however, in true economic-times-fashion, they just brought on a new CEO who declared a NO OUTSOURCING rule. But if I know Pete, he will find another way to make up that potential revenue. That is why his bosses call him "The Monster. " He is fired up about the train with Jack, having fun coaching Gracie in her pitching, and has one of his last admin council meetings for church tonight. His term is about up, and after 10 years serving on the council, he is ready for a well-deserved break.

Me...Pete just called and said there is a package at the front door. It is my new purse! I can hardly wait to get home!

2009-2010 WCE Kindergarten Student #1

In true Denise Karl fashion, not putting up with being late for anything, Jackson Frederick Karl is the first student registered for K at Woodrow Cummins Elementary for next fall! I chatted away in line with Andrea Martin, who some of you know as Karis's mom, our former neighbor. She registered the last of her 4 girls, Lydia. We were both feeling a little sad, but accepting our fate with smiles. And then...Gracie walked by in her class line on her way to PE...and she looked so old. I will be fine...

D

Dreading Tuesday

Tuesday is only two days away. Tuesday is coming too fast. Tuesday is bothering me way more than turning 40. The thought of Tuesday brings tears to my eyes. Tuesday is the day I register my last baby for kindergarten. This is my baby who says from the back carseat "I don't have to go to kindergarten if you don't want me too." This is my Jack, getting taller every day, who bravely strikes up conversations with strangers at Walmart, much like his Papa Beach, Nana Brown, and his mother, according to Pete. This is my Jack who still won't close the door to go potty because he is scared. This is my Jack who cannot fall asleep without a story, back scratches and two songs - "Baby Mine" from Dumbo, and "Pass It On." This is my Jack who calls ME his "pride and joy." This is my Jack who tells me I could be a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. Yes Jack, I do want you to go to kindergarten! Just slowly...

Mommy

10 Random Friday Morning Thoughts

1. Gracie wore her PJs to school today. 2. Jack wore shorts and a Tshirt to school today, high of 78 degrees. 3. For all of you American Idol watchers, contestant Kris Allen is from Conway and his wife works at Acxiom. 4. I still have eaten no bread. 5. Gracie has a pitching clinic this weekend to learn how to pitch for softball. 6. Jack's best friend Sam tried to convince his parents at the dinner table the other night that Jack's middle name is Fredward. 7. My Yukon is officially paid off! 8. Pete should be home late tonight from Chicago. 9. Our playroom/guest room is set up like Walmart. 10. Isn't it great that Easter is so late this year?

Love to all...D

LOOK AT ME!

Wet Armpits

Jackson confided in me this morning that when he was doing his violin concert for his class that he had 'wet armpits' because he was so scared! Ms. Cindy told me this morning that that was the quietest her class has been all year, listening and watching Jack. They took his picture for the monthly preschool publication for the university. Check back later, I will post a picture of his missing tooth! He IS a Jack-O-Lantern today!

Pete landed safely in Chicago...D

Here's the Story, of a Lovely Lady...

My kids have discovered The Brady Bunch! Last weekend, they were flipping thru the channels and landed on TV Land, and the episode where all of the Brady kids are sick at the same time and they each have a different noise maker and the girls won't see the boy doctor and the boys won't see the girl doctor. I astounded my children by quoting verbatim everyone's lines in the episode. They think I am a genius. This prompted me to order the entire first season, all 25 episodes from the fall of 1969 on DVD. So far we have watched the first episode, the wedding (their favorite), and the one where Cindy has the lead in the school play but she can only invite 1 parent. This is the most attentive I have seen G and J in a long time!

Jackson gave a mini concert for his preschool class today, and his teacher Mr. Mike even came over for it and talked to the kids about taking violin lessons. Tonight he has his first group lesson, and Pete just called from it saying Jack's tooth just fell out! Guess the pirate treasure chest will get some use tonight.

Prayers for Pete as he heads out again tomorrow for Wisconsin for two days.

The photo is our wonderful and talented 'nanny' Miss Rose! She is just precious and we love her to death and she is fitting in great with our lifestyle and crazy schedule. She is a sophomore Occupational Therapy major at UCA.

Looking for one dollar bills...Denise

Skippyjon Jones and Loose Tooth

This week is "Read Across America" week in the public schools. Gray is joining her fellow students tomorrow, dressing up as their favorite story book characters. She is going as the chihuahua super hero Skippyjon Jones! Mask courtesy of Daddy.

Guess who has his first loose tooth?! Jack's tooth pirate is ready to put that first tooth in his treasure chest for the tooth fairy.

We actually had snow last night. Jack wanted so badly to make a snow angel. Nothing accumulated on the ground, but there was enough on the trampoline for an angel!

Time for dinner...pork loin done in the crock pot with peach preserves, garlic, onion, brown sugar, ginger, and curry powder...Denise