"Seven? Already? No Way!"

Sure, we all want our kids to grow up, get jobs and move out ASAP, right? Hmm...maybe that's a bit harsh. But it seems like they either move out too soon or they hang around and wear out their welcome. I think about when Zach and Emmy are in their 20's and how they will handle real life and all its' frustrations and obstacles. Emmy has wanted to be a teacher ever since she was in pre-k and that has not changed to this day. It started out as wanting to be in charge of a bunch of kids and has progressed to "Well, we all get the summer off". She even asked me why I can't be a teacher so I could watch her instead of her going to Girls Inc, even though she has a good time there. They get to go swimming, movies, park, Putt Putt, etc...we should all be so lucky. But I have encouraged her to stick with wanting to be one when she grows up. Where I work is right outside of Birdville ISD which happens to pay their teachers the most, with an average salary of over $45,000 a year. Anyone think that's too little? Didn't think so. Anyways...here are some pix of how we celebrated:


Zach: "You're going to strap me in where?"
Me: "I wish you hadn't asked that chief...think warm thoughts..."


Emmy: "AAIGH! Help!! How high am I anyway??"
Me: "Um...about three feet...wanna go higher?"


Emmy: "Hey man, no pictures while I'm eating! You know our family rule!"
Me: "No pictures while you're eating?"
Emmy: "That's the one."


I don't even wanna start with this one...were they sold out of Transformer cupcake cakes? Ah, who am I kidding, of course they were. But there's always plenty of Hannah Montana cupcake cakes at Kroger.


Zach: "Seriously? There's $20 in this balloon? How do I get it out?"
Me: "Easy! Just sit on it until it bites you in the butt! That's worth it isn't it?"
Zach: "Um...gimme a sec on that."

Cari and the kiddos have left for a weeklong vacation to Albequerque this morning. To be honest I'm kind of lonely right now. I did a LOT today. Did all the laundry, organized the kids' rooms and shampooed the carpet. Oh yeah, also mopped all the floors and vacuumed all the rooms too. I am wiped. Cari was supposed to call tonight but here it is, almost midnight and nothing. I have been up since 4am and am more then just a little delirious as I type this. So I will conclude by saying I don't think my kids could ever wear out their welcome. A friend of mine lives with his parents and his wife and kid all under the same roof. Of course their house is like a msnsion, so...couldn't pull that off in this house. Tomorrow we're having a family gathering at my aunt Becky's house for Grandpa's 86th birthday...also I think someone is coming home from the army. I got him THE funniest card. One of those sound effect cards when you open it. On the front is a dog and the caption:I thought this dog to bark once for each year old you are! Then you open it and it doesn't stop barking and it says: This could take a while! Ha ha ha ha. I know he will love it. Lately he doesn't say much when we get together. I guess at that age you prefer to just sit back and enjoy the conversation. I can already sense that is how I will be.