because it lets me post more than one photo at a time. I’ll post a link here if I move.

She was a bit timid the first couple of days; understandable since she had never been out of the house she was born in 12 weeks ago, there are two very loud, very active boys storming around the house, and Christian decided to hit her :/ (he was given a very lengthy time out). The past couple of days, though, she has really been coming out of her shell and becoming more of a family kitty cat.

As you may have guessed due to Christian’s warm welcome of the cat, that Tilly likes Oliver better. She plays with Oliver and doesn’t cower when he walks into the room. I wish I could say the same for Christian. I feel bad for Christian because it makes him sad that Tilly won’t play, but he’ll learn soon enough that she won’t like him unless he uses “gentle” words and hands around her.

She likes to cuddle on my bed while the boys are at school and the parents are at work. It makes me happy that I finally have someone to sit with while I am enjoying my alone time.

Welcome, Tilly.

Happy First Day of Fall.

The summer has (finally) ended and now we get to move into the best season of the year; Fall. I am so excited to be living in Sacramento this Fall, as I get to see the season’s changes. Unlike what I’ve seen the last 6 years living in Arizona, the leaves here are already beginning to turn and fall to the ground. The cool mornings are lasting longer and the chilly nights are starting earlier. I have so missed the seasons.

I have been spending my evenings watching the first season of Trueblood. No joke, it beats almost every other show I’ve ever watched (except Grey’s Anatomy). The plot has everything in it; romance, murder, suspense, humor. It’s just all around fantastic. Do any of you guy’s watch it?

The boys don’t know it yet, but on Thursday we are getting a kitten. She is 12 weeks old & we have named her Tilly. She is a British Short Hair (think the cat from Alice In Wonderland) and she is beautiful. Last night Julia (the boys’ mom) and I went shopping at Petco for all of her supplies and I am so excited for her to arrive. The boys know there is a “surprise” but they don’t know what it is. Christian was trying to get some information out of me yesterday and kept saying “What does it start with? A ‘C’? Kuh…Kuh…Carrr?” and I would say “I can’t tell you Christian, but you’ll like it” and would give me a look and say “What sound does it make? Vrr…Vrr…Vrrooom?” What a sweet boy. & a little too obsessed with cars. :]

The boys have been…increasingly more obnoxious lately. I don’t know if it’s from staying inside due to the cloudy skies, or the cake I made last week, or a combination of the two, but their pent up energy is getting to be just a bit too much. *sigh* I made them the most scrumptious smoothies today; even Christian, the pickiest eater, drank an entire glass.

Ingredients:

Peach Ginger Tea (made and then cooled), One sliced apple, a splash of orange juice & a liberal amount of ice. blend.

I would realllly appreciate some comments, readers. :] I see that people read this, but I don’t know whooo. So take a minute and drop a line.

I get up & take the kids to school at 8:20. School starts at 8:45. I drive home. At ll:50 I leave the house to pick up Christian. He gets out of Kindergarten at 12:15. We go home. We leave the house at 3:05 to pick up Oliver. Oliver gets out at 3:30. We go home.

My gas gauge has had a real workout already this week, and I have a feeling my bank account will be feeling it soon. I think I might mention the gas prices & how much driving is involved to the parents this weekend. :/ I don’t know.

For $3.19  a gallon I wish I didn’t have to make 3 trips a day.

However, I am love love loving my 3 hours of alone time while both boys are in school. I have decided that my daily goal will be to get to the gym a block from the house (and to which I have free access – - – another perk of this job) and workout. I did my first workout this morning and I feel very accomplished :] I also enjoy not having to worry about what the boys are doing while I’m in the shower like I did when they were home all day. I celebrated this morning by taking the time to shave my legs. Hoorah for me, right?

This Saturday is Cree’s birthday party so I’m off to the downtownage of Sacramento tonight to University Art to pick her up something (more driving).

Bizzy Buzzy day. :] leave comments. I love knowing who reads this.

Also, my wisdom teeth are coming in. On the bottom, behind my molars, my gums have gotten ridiculously swollen and painful. I am constantly biting my cheeks and a small bit of the crown of the tooth is beginning to appear through my gums. Hopefully, insurance stuff works out and I’ll be able to take them out soon. :/ I’m nervous.

OTHER than all of that, work is going well. I have finally figured our a routine/disciple system that works for Christian, but I’m still trying to figure out Oliver. They begin school again on Monday, so it should become a lot easier then. My days will then look like this:

8:45 am: drop kids off at school

12:15 pm: pick Christian up

3:30 pm: pick Oliver up

5 pm: Julia gets home

easy enough, right?

Well, enjoy this picture from the other day; the boys and I were goofing around on PhotoBooth. :]

The shortage in my posts the last three days were for one reason: I had them OFF! Yep, Friday, Saturday & Sunday were all mine and I made sure to free myself of the children the entire time.

On Saturday, Alina and I went to the California State Fair! It was a blast. We arrived around 3 and it was sweltering outside. The sun made me feel a little sick & after the first couple of rides I threw up :[ But after the sun cooled down a little, I was loving it. We went on the Scrambler, roller coasters, a million and a half spinning rides (that's hardly an exaggeration), and a tall ride that takes you up to the top and drops you down. We saw a hypnotist and a juggler and we enjoyed snow cones & cotton candy. It was a total blast and if it didn't cost so much darn money, I would go back again this next weekend.

(Did you know, that it is only 5 dollars less to get into the fair for a day than for a pass to get into Disneyland for a day?)

On Sunday I went and hung out with Marjorie, Alina, Ryan and Johna. We made a quick trip to Taco Bell and then went to Lollicup. :] Basically, Lollicup is the best thing in the world. For you North Carolinians/Arizonians/Not Sacramento-ans…Lollicup is a cafe. They serve coffe, tea & appetizers. AND: they have boba. That’s enough to win my heart.

Alas, it is Monday and I am back to another week of nannying for Christian & Oliver. My hours are 7:30-5 pm this week. Shorter than last week, but I don’t get Friday off this week. We’ll see how this goes.

Another long day of drawing & coloring & feeding & eating & arguing & time outs & walks & checkers & laundry & dishes & cleaning up after two boy tornados & swimming & fighting & scratching & pillow fights & tickling & blowing raspberries & puzzles & chess & cartoons & being loud.

Another whole day of all of that.

:] sounds good to me.

Well. We went to the pool, again. They’re getting used to me and the endearing “I’m perfect” act is wearing off. I hoped it would at least last past day 3. Alas, :[ I am now having to tell Christian 5+ times that screaming is not okay just because Oliver goes under water; or that running on the slippery deck is dangerous 3 times before they slow down...a little bit.

Oh well, I knew that after a few days I would be dealing with normal, frustrating, hilarious boys. We spent a good 2 hours at the pool and then came home for a snack. As I was handing out the Yoplait yogurt and spoons, I spotted a problem

ANTS. ANTS ARE EVERYWHERE. On the counter. On the floor. In the sink. In the garbage can. :O I was not a happy camper.

Sooo I called le madre and took her advice; don't go in the kitchen until she gets home. Okay. Passive? I can do that.

:] so now the ants are owning the kitchen and I don’t have to do anything about it.

this is a lesson I have learned today.

So, I was trying to think of an alternative. The boys kept whipping each other with their belts and I didn’t want the parents to come home to two boys who had gashes from being hit with leather belts, so I said “here *hands them each a pillow*, fight with these.”

Oops.

Um. Christian fails at pillow fights. He was probably on his feet for 2o seconds of the entire pillow fight. On the other hand, Oliver owns. Oliver took a towel and wrapped it around his waist and secured it with a belt so it would look like he was a real fighter; now that I think about it, that’s probably why he won. Christian spent most of the time on the floor whimpering or bracing himself for the next blow. That poor child.

I, of course, took pictures the entire time. :]

The fight ended abruptly when Oliver hit Christian and Christian reeled back and hit his head on the ladder of their bunk beds.

Nanny-Fail (but it was fun while it lasted).