Sisters...

You guys.  I found this when I opened up my computer.  It's a school assignment for Olivia.  The assignment was to list 4 things that happened to you in 2008, pick one and write about it.  I hadn't read this yet, but knew she was writing it.  

Seriously - my heart just filled when I read it, so I had to share.

One thing that happened to me in 2008!

By Olivia Lapinskas

In 2008 I was 4 years old. At  that time of  year my mom had a baby. It was a girl so that meant I got a baby sister! Her name was Mia. When Mia came home I got to hold her. She is a really good sister. She is fun, awesome, and hilarious. Now she got older and I and Mia are kind of best friends . And that’s one thing that happened to me in 2008! 

Summers End, Project 365 Week 33....

So, amazingly enough, summer is over around here.  The kids are back in school.  It's started raining a lot.  Carnivals and back to school shopping are over.  We are preparing for the oncoming horrors of winter.

Thursday, August 14:

Apparently, nothing going on (or everything), who remembers a week ago?  Don't worry, I make up for missing a day. :)

Friday, August 15:

End of summer carnival from summer camp.  Both girls had to have their faces painted:

The end results:

Saturday, August 16:

This is how we make grocery shopping fun!

Sunday, August 17:

Umm.  There are really no words.

Monday, August 18:

These bunnies were so content, they didn't move when I got in the car, turned it on, drove away or closed the garage door.  I think they are getting bolder and may be planning to take over the world.  Or..they are just doing this to mess with my husband.

Tuesday, August 19:

This is how I try to keep the rain away while I go for a run.  Amazingly, it worked!

Wednesday, August 20:

Our back to school photo shoot.  One was cranky.  Can you figure out which one?

Yep - this one.

After we got to daycare, I stayed with her for catching the bus.  She wanted to wait outside.

The cranky had gone away by the time she got on the bus.  Happy first day of Kindergarten, Little Love!

Last week before school started, Week 32 of Project 365...

Apparently, this was the week of Mia pictures.  Maybe I was subconsciously trying to preserve the last few moments before having two school aged kids?  Or, maybe Olivia has taken to hiding in her room with her DS, leaving Mia as my only subject.

Thursday, August 7:

This face ya'll.  The freckles kill me.

Friday, August 8:

"Mommy!  Wub my back!"

Saturday, August 9:

She was hiding from her sister and daddy at the park district, under a table.  Because yeah, my kid is running around like a maniac at the park district.

Sunday, August 10:

5K with Weight Watchers.  Of the 2 of us 'racers' that ran the whole thing, I came in second.  Whoot!

Monday, August 11:

This has been my consistent treat lately.  This kid using my furniture as a jungle gym, and displaying her underwear for all to see.

Tuesday, August 12:

Ummmm... I don't know.  But, apparently there were no pictures.

Wednesday August 13:

Post workout selfie as a created a butt-sweat butt-print on my backyard stairs.

A form of bucket list...

Today my baby had her first day of Kindergarten.  Seriously.  MY.  BABY.

I know I only have two kids.

But.

My 10 year old started a new school.  It's called "Intermediate", but really?  It's middle school.  MIDDLE. SCHOOL.

I was almost in tears after putting Mia on the bus to Kindergarten, and I was driving past Olivia's school.  I mean, seriously?  There was a little more emotional than this mommy was prepared for.

Things like this have made me wonder about this life.  I'm just another mom, out there, watching as my kids grow older, and in turn, I grow older and so does everyone around me.  It makes me wonder - what's next?

I mean, I have a pretty good idea of what happens next for my kids (puberty, heartbreak, driving, independence, college).  But, what comes next for me?  What am I doing?

My kids don't need me as much any more, which is a really good thing.  But, the things I want to do (mostly involving travel) are still not kid friendly.  But really?  Am I just here to be my kids mom, guide them into adulthood?  I think I have so much more in me.  So, in that vein, I'm making a bucket list.  No - not a 'summer' bucket list, or a 'school year' bucket list.  This is a late 30's, 40's and 50's type of bucket list.

1. T.R.A.V.E.L.  I want to travel so bad!  I want to see NEW places, places that I've only seen in pictures.  I want to try new foods, hear accents, learn different cultures.  I'm dying to go to Europe - almost anywhere and everywhere in Europe.  And Canada.  And the Tropical Islands such as the Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico.  And Hawaii.  And the entire Eastern Seaboard.  And the West Coast.  And many places in between.

2. I want to see shows.  Not movies, but theater and concerts.  Good plays, cheap concerts with good music.

3.  I'd like to find a cause.  Something I can really support.  I see my friends and the causes that they support, and I support many of those.  But my heart is in supporting women.  I want to do something to help women feel safer, be more equal with men, and not be told by a government what they can and can't do with their bodies.  

4. I want to grow into a fit, hot old lady.  I want to keep running, keep finding new exercises to keep my body strong.

5. I want to write.  I want to write better, and more often.  I'm thinking about challenging myself to find a good writing prompt for next year.  And by 'prompt', I mean weekly challenges, just like we do with photos, but to find one that will challenge my writing.  Sometimes I feel as if I hide behind my pictures and don't really practice my writing, get my feelings out, unravel my mind and emotions.

OK.  I think 5 is good for a bucket list right now.  Although, if I don't think I can cross most of these things off of a list.  These are the things I want to do more and more and more.

What would be on your bucket list?

P.s. I had a picture of mine published in this article.  It's a picture of Mia, loving the summer light coming in through the window, waiting for us to go outside.  Check it out here.

It's August already - week 31, project 365...

Seriously?  It's August already?  Good God, where did the summer go?  I went back to school shopping with my kids ($150 later - say what???), we've bought some uniform stuff for Olivia.  We've registered Mia for dance class.  It's crazy sauce.  It's August.

Thursday, July 31:

This is what your mixer will look like after 6 large boxes of instant pudding and food coloring..

Friday, August 1:

Got to have lunch with a long unseen co-worker that wore mustache shoes to work.

Saturday, August 2:

Finally, the birthday party that we made the pudding pops for.  Olivia was enjoying a pudding pop, while Mia enjoyed her hat.

Sunday, August 3:

Peace out, rainbow trout (from the Skydeck on the Sears Tower).

Monday, August 4:

Out for a run.  I'm actually more thrilled than I looked.

Tuesday, August 5:

This guy likes to be super close to me when I'm trying to do my ab challenge.  Side note, we started him on seizure meds this week.  Poor guy had cluster seizures over the weekend and into the week.  It's time.

Wednesday, August 6:

My life - laundry and work.

It feels like its been longer, project 365...

I was feeling under the gun.  Very down on myself and how bad I was, and how behind and there are so many many many things that I want, I need to write.  I'm so behind on P365, I can't even think about anything else.

Then.  I opened the old computer.

Hmmmm....

Only a week behind?

Odd.  I coulda sworn....

Well, I'll take it.  I'm better than I realized.

Thursday, July 24:

Today was Princess/Superhero day at summer camp.  We actually had to convince this one to wear her tiara with her superhero mask.  CONVINCE HER!  Then, after this day, she was wearing it everyday.

Today, I fell while running.  It was a first for me.  I hadn't fallen while running - yet.  I skinned my knee, and both palms, road rash up my arm with a bit of bruising as well.  You would not believe what a baby I was about all this.  I mean - it STUNG!  Poor me.  Pity party, party of 1.

Friday, July 25:

Tony and I got a date night thanks to some cheap baby-sitters and Groupon.  We got to see AEROSMITH!  Again.  Because, well, we've done this date before.  But, it was so fun.  And they are a great band.  And, at least I didn't have to throw down when some women were cutting in the line at the bathroom.  Look, bitches.  I've been standing in line for 20 minutes.  I know it's a long line.  GO TO THE END OF THE LINE!  Jerks.

Saturday, July 26:

Soooo, yeah.  The early morning after a late night.  Breakfast out.  Because, you're tired and it was late and you're tired and the kids are crabby and ohmygosh do we all need naps.

Sunday, July 27:

Feeling slightly more refreshed, a car picture after having dinner out with my brother and his girlfriend.

Monday, July 28:

I was surprised by some great photos taken of the girls at summer camp.  Yes, of course we bought the disc.  As soon as I get the disc, we'll be ordering prints.  *Family - tell me what you want.

Tuesday, July 29:

Tony was outside, looking at my car.  I snuck out of the house to hide from the girls, and got a hug from this guy.  So naturally, I took a picture.

Wednesday, July 30:

Remember that cheap babysitter I mentioned?  We payed her back with pudding pops (neon) for her daughters birthday.  This was my pudding pop making helper.