Another Year in Review because I'm the Worst Blogger Ever.

Well, hello there, somewhat familiar friend. 
It's been such a long time since we've talked. 
It's so great to see you! How are the kids? And your momma? Wonderful.
We really must make sure that we stay in touch. It has been entirely too long.

That's what I would tell you if we were to cross paths at the farmer's market.

Because, I would love to do a better job at keeping in touch with old friends. But, life is so chaotic sometimes that it's nearly impossible to do.

I have been a terrible blogger. I would promise to do a better job, but I'm afraid that my efforts would in vain. Not that I wouldn't mean well. I would. Swear it. Scout's honor. However, let's be real. I haven't blogged since last year. Chances are, it will be 2015 before you hear from me again. Just know that I will be thinking of you, dear friend. I will be wishing that we could sit down and catch-up over coffee, or spend the afternoon chatting on a porch swing while sipping sweet tea.

I would tell you that Myra has used the big kid potty for 2 days now with only one accident.

I would also tell you that I went back to work, and I love everything about my school, especially my kids. I'm only teaching one subject now because I'm at an actual middle school. I could write an entire post about the differences and the advantages of a middle school over a K-8 school. Maybe I will. Next year.

I would offer you a refill as I told you about my commute, and how exhausting it is.  I would tell you that I drive across town each day, adding an extra 40 miles to our commute (10 each way) because I literally drive past my school to take them to Gatorland. It's a daycare that is mostly teacher's kids, and it is wonderful. They have both thrived in their classrooms, but especially JC. He is such a smart kid! His teacher, Ms. Miranda, did such amazing things with him this year.

Speaking of JC, he starts kindergarten in the fall! I can't believe that time has flown so quickly. How on earth did we get here? In no time at all, he will be heading off to college. Encourage them to chase their dreams and there is a chance they will fly away. But, I hope they do. I hope they follow adventure wherever their heart takes them.

JC still loves superheroes, especially Superman. I will try to post updated room pictures soon, but with Krypto around, it's a little difficult.

That's right, we got a dog. He was JC's birthday present, but he is fully Myra's dog. He is terrified of her and lets her drag him throughout the house. She lays on top of him, pinches his mouth shut and squinches his eyes. He wags his tail the entire time. It's been a bit of a struggle since he joined our family. He was only a few months old when we got him, and house breaking has been nearly impossible. Realistically, it probably wasn't fair to get him when we did because we were never home. Those first 3 months were a nightmare, and I think that if he had chewed up one more pair of shoes, Patrick would have left. He was furious that I bought him, and he claims to hate him. However, he is always petting him, so I think it's just lip service. Krypto has chewed up numerous Imaginext superheroes, almost all of the Lincoln Logs, books, papers, ties, bras, shoes. Yes, shoes. My favorite turquoise J.Crew CeeCee ballet flats are toast thanks to Krypto. He also ate my Chi flat iron. Before you think I'm a complete slob, all of these things were well out of what should have been his reach. I thought only cats could climb. At first, he didn't sleep in his crate because we were gone so much, and I felt guilty about him being in there all night and then the majority of the day. But, he chews EVERYTHING. Seriously, the mutt chewed a hole in our couch and we walked into the living room to find green stuffing everywhere. Oh, and he got bored one day while I was in the shower and decided to chew a 5 inch chunk of wood off of our floor. After I found him standing on top of the table and then the next morning, he was on the counters, he started sleeping in his crate and spending the day in the bathroom so that he had a little bit more room to play. Thankfully, I think he is starting to behave more like a dog and less like Satan's spawn. Krypto has done amazingly well with his house-training efforts this week because we have been here to work with him. He has only had one accident, and that was when I was giving Myra her bath and Patrick missed the "I've got to potty" signs.

Speaking of "I've got to potty," Myra Mae is in the middle of Potty Training 101.  We started Monday morning, and she had 2 accidents all day. She made it all day yesterday without an accident until nap time. I was really proud of her because she peed in her diaper, but recognized it as soon as she did and took off her diaper and used her potty. Today, she hasn't had any accidents at all except for one minor poop incident which involved her running down the hallway screaming, "Poop! Poop!" as she tried to make it to the potty in time. She has used the big potty and has refused to use the training potty. She is still very skeptical about the flushing, but she complies because we bribe her with stickers, Nerds, and ice cream.

Myra loves having her toes painted, has the curliest Shirley Temple hair ever, begs for baths and always wants "Mooooooose" in her hair as soon as she is out of the water. She likes Minnie Mouse, spinach salads, couscous, and ice cream of any variety. She is talking nonstop, and is very bossy. She has a mother hen personality, and at school, she takes care of the other kids in her class.

This post has taken me 3 days, which might explain why I don't write more often. Hopefully, I will do a better job of keeping in touch, but it's highly unlikely.

At any rate, enjoy your summer! Hopefully you are spending it doing something fun.

XO
J