The Latta Family

Alexa has always been a pretty good sleeper.  When she was colicky- no matter how bad the day was, she would still go to bed easily and sleep fine.  When she was a temperamental toddler, there was  comfort knowing- she may be driving me to the bring of insanity, but she'll go to bed.  She was one of those kids that would tell me she was ready to go to bed.  What a pleasant surprise that my high maintenance, temperamental girl- was a good sleeper! Andrew was the kid that I would jolt awake to find him staring at me, when he was in early elementary school.  Or there was about a 3 month period where he slept on a pallet beside the bed, when he was about 3 years old.  When he was an infant it took me 45 minutes to get him to the sweet spot where I could lay him down and he'd stay asleep in his crib.  In the last few months, Alexa has come in to see me to tell me she's had a bad dream, more than she has in the previous 3 years- maybe even 4 years....

The other night Alexa said, as I was saying "Good night" and tucking her in to go to sleep, that she had crumbs in her bed because she ate a graham cracker in her bed earlier.  I said, "oooh- that's a bummer.  We'll wash your sheets, until then . . . have a crummy sleep!!!"  And then I laughed all the way down the hall because my jokes are so hilarious. So I just went into take her sheets off her TWIN sized bed, but first I had to remove the following items: 10 Beanie Boos (stuffed animals). 3 stuffed animals that can also be pillows 3 fleece blankets: 1 is a unicorn snuggly fleece blanket.  The other 2 are intended to be throw blankets.  (FYI- she has a comforter as well).  Please keep in mind we live in North Carolina that is having record high temperatures and it's like living in the jungle.  Granted we have a/c, but . . . 1 body pillow 2 regular bed pillows 2 journals 1 flashlight 2 bracelets 5 books 1 finger puppet 1 eraser 1 small s...

Welp, it's here.  Summer is officially over.  North Carolina is back to school tomorrow.   Alexa is super nervous as she's going to a new building with new friends (long story, but there are 2 elementary schools back to back.  For years they've been separate entities.  Now they've combined and have a primary school of K-2, and her school 3-5. She's at the "new to her" building.  With a teacher that taught her bff last year.  With several of the same specials teachers, and 13 kids she's been in school with for 4 years.  She's going to be fine.  I know she's going to be fine.  She's all kinds of worried about these new kids and new building) Anyway- to try to help her focus on the positive things, we made a list of the things we were looking forward to.  She made a list.  I made a list.  While I was working on my list- I kind of laughed to myself, because this is how I envision tomorrow going, seeing all the kids af...

This week is the week of teacher workdays- before students go back.  I would like to develop a name for this week, for all the teachers that are mom's (and dad's- but mostly mom's because we feel guilt way more than dad's).  I think I will call this week: MMGW (Massive Mom Guilt Week) This week is the worst for mom guilt.  The worst.  I'm literally on the fringe of a total meltdown because I'm feeling overwhelmed, and over stimulated, and like I was the suckiest of sucky parents today.  I almost burst into tears.  I don't cry.  Like- ever.  And I was about to be one dramatic, sobbing, fool:  Well, Kate if you feel so bad- why aren't you interacting with your child instead of blogging?!  That is an excellent question.  I gave myself 30 minutes to do something I really wanted to do.  Not clean up the kitchen, start laundry, make dinner.  Nope.  30 minutes- do something I really want- and then get it together an...

Y'all- you should just take a minute and pray for Doug.  Here's what you should pray for: continued patience with his wife.  Pray for his sanity that I don't one day tip him over the edge.  Pray one day I will treat him with the love and respect he deserves, because he somehow got tangled up with one feisty gal.  Sometimes I feel sorry for him.  I mean- he's this sincere man, with nothing but good intentions.  He's humble and kind and sweet to me, and I'm . . . devilish and pushing the man's buttons, and busting his chops.  Here's the story- and FYI- I've been laughing to myself about this since last night.  I got my haircut yesterday.  He knew that.  But when he got home, my hair was up in a pony tail because I had gone walking.  Eventually I took it out and I am pretty sure he felt like something was different- but I didn't tell him what is different.  See, I got a very subtle inverted bob.  I LOVE it.  LOVE it!...

Do any of y'all remember/know that Toby Keith song, "As Good As I Once Was?"  It's a song all about how this guy isn't a young man anymore and can't do what he used to.  I became painfully aware of that today.   Over the weekend I was trying to figure out how to spend the last 4 days of my summer.  I wanted to go out knowing- I had fun these last 4 days and got in some good quality time with my kids before we head to school, and activities, and craziness.  I remembered at the beginning of summer a lot of people did Donut Crawls- on National Donut Day.  We LOVE donuts.  LOVE.  DONUTS.  That would be a fun thing to do!  So- today we did the donut crawl.  I kicked my own rear with it.   We had 6 places initially on our list.  We cut it down to 5 and truth be told, Alexa tapped out after 3, and I tapped out after 4.  Andrew was going strong.  We started with a local favorite: Donut House.  Ooooh...

I decided to get the back to school shopping taken care of this week.  But I wanted it out of the way.  On Monday, I took Alexa to Walmart to get her school supplies.  I should have just dropped her off at the door with my debit card because that's about how much she needed me.  I pushed the cart and stood around.  I tried to show her super cool things like erasable highlighters and she sighed in exasperation at how totally ridiculous I am for showing her such frivolous things.  So then I just stood around trying to decide if I  needed  super cool things.  I restrained myself to flamingo pencils. While I watched her holding her list on her clipboard, and checking things off I became so . . .  sad?  Amazed?  Proud?  Something. I mean- she's so dang independent.  Which is great sometimes.  (Don't get me wrong- sometimes it's super annoying).  She didn't ask me where to locate the items.  To read the i...