Grounded

Definition.  Grounded.  1-to be restricted to your home.  2-to not be able to participate in certain acts.

Lauren has been grounded since Sunday.  

This happens when you bite your Mom, say naught words, and decide to conduct a "science project" in your neighbor/best friend's parents Master Bathroom while they are away and a 13 year old is babysitting your sidekick.

If only the science project didn't involve 150 Q-Tips, an entire bag of cotton balls, glitter, toothpaste (to glue the cotton balls to the mirror of course), flowing sinks and 1/3 inch of water on the floor.

Fast forward three long days for her parents confining her indoors and this morning she tells us that she kind of likes being grounded so she can play inside with her parents.  And that "it's a hard choice when you are so popular and people are knocking on the door who want to play with you". 

Clearly our approach is not working.  Next step...manual labor.

Kindergarten Picture 2015

Oh Lauren.  Will you ever know how loved you are?   

How much we love your strong-will, big words, tiny body and your sass?  

You beat to your own drum, are smarter than any child we know, and oh how we love your "fashion" as you tell us every morning when you dress yourself.  

You are fun, hard, soft, and complicated.  

And now you are in Kindergarten making your own rules.

This is sure to be a fabulous, wonderful, complicated and exciting year ahead.  

And none of us would have it any other way.  

Love you. And love that pink bow!

The Pledge

Who needs the Pledge of Allegiance when you have your very own pledge from your Kindergarten teacher to try and be good??  

Note, she left out the "not" in her pledge.  Sneaky little thing!

Slumber Party.........or not

God help us all.  Lauren has found her side-kick.  

We recently had some new neighbors move next door and they just happen to have a five year old daughter. She is tiny, mighty and Lauren's new best friend.   

So why not do a sleep-over to welcome her right? 

Engage hyper-active Mom who wants Payton's first sleep-over to be perfect. 

After all, kids remember this stuff forever right?

Let's invite her over for a full 24 hours.  And have nine meals. And snacks too!

And let's take a bath. Or three.  With face paints. And 30 small toys. And then clean up again.

And better yet.  Let's go to bed at 11:30 p.m. AFTER Mom and Dad have put you into bed three times starting at 8:00.   And don't forget to do gymnastics off of our furniture before you doze off.  

Lastly, let's get up at 6:15 a.m. and request a hot breakfast. In the garage.  On a picnic blanket!

Note to self: Being the "fun Mom" doesn't pay!

The Thomas Family Crest

The Thomas Family Crest by Lauren Thomas

A "T" for Thomas

Proper representation of our family (I think Bryon is the pink one)

A pumpkin?

Something that resembles a Lego with eyes, and a red crown.

Perfect!

Welcome to school

Need I say more?  Let the cross-infestation of small school children (and bugs) begin.

In the clear.  For now...

Shopping 101

Aunt Coni and Uncle John came into town for the Labor Day weekend.  What do you do when everything is closed but the mall???   SHOP!

So we took Lauren to the stores to get her some new underwear (to avoid the ongoing complaints of "wedgies" in her Size 4 panties).  Also, we needed some new shoes so her toe nails are no longer breaking off due to her shoes being too small.  Mother of the year yet again!

5 pairs of boyfriend-style underwear, 4 pairs of shoes, 3 dresses, and 1 massive pink head-band later, Aunt Coni and Mom are broke but Lauren finally took an interest in retail therapy (although you can't tell from the picture below).

5 going on 15 I swear!