Busy, Busy,Busy

I always hear that in a Snidely Whiplash sort of voice. Busy, busy, busy. Real life has been in the way of posting this week. I'm sure no one really wants a recounting of my week, suffice it to say that I have been occupied. Since they are worth a thousand words I'll include three thousand words worth.

County Cross Country Championships- a firm middle of the pack


Someday I'm going to make an album of all these strange nap positions.


Just because she is sweet.

Boy Humor (Be Warned)

I heard this conversation from the hallway. Dss 11 and 9 were watching some show about the Amazon, anacondas and strange jungle plants. "Hey, you know what would really be scary?" "What?" "A PENIS fly trap." Peals of laughter followed. Sigh...it is funny, but oh so crudely boy.

Git Some Learnin'

They say to surround your child with books. I'm not sure this is what they meant.


*Note the book is upside down. I obviously should have used some Little Einstein flash cards or something! My child rearing practices are sooooo retro, lol!

Out of the Closet

OK, not that closet, not that there's anything wrong with that. (If you didn't watch Seinfeld ignore that.) The cheap closet. Hi, I'm Lisa, and I'm cheap. I don't want a 12 step program though. I like being, er, thrifty. I did my kids' winter shopping this weekend. They didn't need too much, I had requests for sweatshirts and 7yo dd needed pants. My first stops were some garage sales, I found 3 pair of LL Bean cords for dd and a pair of jeans for 11yo ds (whom I have commanded to stop growing, already.) I then hit Goodwill and Salvation Army. I found a Nike sweatshirt and t-shirt for ds and two Purdue sweatshirts for dd (gray with hood as requested). I also got two Aeropostale shirts for dd. I love the hunt. The search. The careful tracking of a specific want. It's a sickness, lol, but at least no animals are harmed in my hunt.
Some people who know me think I'm a granola, prarie, wholesome mom. I use cloth diapers, I bake my own bread, I only use the dryer if people named Noah begin building arks, I can and freeze food for pity's sake. Now the secret is out. I'm not concerned with my family's health or the well being of the environment (well, it's not my sole concern), the truth is I'm just cheap. Phew, confession is good for the soul.

Summer's Over

I took down the pool. That was about as much fun as it sounds like. I hated to take it down but the leaves are starting to turn and the beans and corn are browning up. The temperatures are still in the mid 80's during the day but cool nights had brought down the water temperature considerably. At least I haven't had to face how short their long pants probably are.
The little two did have fun in the half dumped pool. I turned my back to hang up some clothes and when I turned around, this is what I found.

Even though set up and take down are sort of a pain, the amount of fun they got out of the pool was amazing. They probably swam every day that it was possible. It is also much easier to keep track of them all than at the "real" pool.

This week is shaping up much like last so I won't bore you with that. I'm taking Bonnie's advice and practicing saying no, no, no. I've noticed since I quit work though, that people assume I have tons of time. Uh, no.... see there I said it.

Back in the Saddle Again

Or maybe back on the treadmill. This week has been hectic, and all the stuff hasn't started yet. We've had 2 cross country meets (and one tomorrow), a Cub Scout meeting, a Boy Scout meeting, Kid's Klub at chuch, a dental appointment, student council meeting and Campus Life. That doesn't count pre-school, grocery shopping and the other detritus of life. Sigh... I am trying not to get too busy. I said no to football, church committees, skating party, and dance for 7yo. There are times I think we should move to the wilds of Idaho or something and never go anywhere. Not very practical. Ah well, only 158 days of school left!

No Interchangable Parts

So yesterday at church, someone made the comment concerning my 4yo. "Well sending him off to pre-school must be the same old-same old. That many kids must be like running a factory." HUH!!! Have they not met my children? Six more different personalities could not exist! Do people really believe that after two or three children personalities repeat like curly hair or brown eyes? I don't think this comment was meant in a malicious way but geesh!
For the record-
E--a classic overachiever, she could manage this household more efficiently than I
S--imaginative, sweet, sensitive and funny
C--analytical, mathmatical and honest
L--strong willed and focused
F--sweet, cuddly and BUSY
A--cute, sure of herself and constantly figuring things out

What Ranks as Best

In my attempt to turn my savages into caring, compassionate human beings we were discussing the hurricane and relief last night. I had included the kids in our sending more to the Salvation Army and in making health kits for UMCOR. I asked them what things of theirs they might want to send with a local group who is actually, physically going south. C stated that the most important thing would be to have a game boy. Not gamecube he explained, because power would be a problem. If there was a flood or fire, he'd save his game boy....uh what about his cat, his siblings, his mother???? Nope, gameboy, the rest of us could fend for ourselves. So much for compassion and caring, LOL.

First Day of Preschool

F started preschool yesterday.

He didn't like school at all last year but seemed happier about it this year. He has been bored with the other kids in school. When Mel falls asleep in the afternoon he wanders around like a lost soul. He will be attending in the afternoon so maybe I'll have a couple hours a couple times a week to get stuff done. Or maybe I'll piddle the time away with a book or the 'puter.

I wasn't around the puter much last week because of 1) a really rotten cold 2) I've been putting up the garden produce everyone has given me. I'm not sure it's a cost savings really, and I sure know it's not a time savings. Yesterday I managed to drop a sack of flour into the huge pot of boiling tomatoes I was turning into spaghetti sauce so a load of laundry, a mopping, a wall cleaning and burned arms and legs later I had spaghetti sauce. Thank the Lord I don't have to depend on my efforts to feed us, we'd all starve. The sauce turned out pretty good though. Nice and thick too, LOL!

What to Say

Number 1--I'm heartbroken for the people all over the Gulf. If I could go get those babies and bring them home I would.
Number2-- I'm furious with the idiots mixed in with all the poor victims. Why would you shoot at people trying to help
you???
Number 3--The state government reacted abysmally and what is with the feds? If the state ain't cuttin' it, take over NOW, not
after things go completely from sugar to sh*t.
Number 4--Is anybody else really irked by the news coverage? There almost seems a glee, oh goody a disaster, nothing like
a disaster to boost ratings!

I'll stop now. If you haven't given check out the links below. Nag, nag, nudge, nudge.

Serious

I was all set yesterday with a whiny post about what a mess jelly, and juice and spaghetti sauce making have wrought on my kitchen. After watching all the news from the gulf of Mexico, though, it just didn't seem that terrible. If you possibly can, make a donation to help. Here are some links or choose your own charity.

Salvation Army

Red Cross

List of Charities

Easily Amused

On Saturday L had her official party, her first one. She had several little friends over. It was a beach/pool themed party. At least this kid who wants to swim for their birthday had the forethought to be born in August (versus the winter trend here). We had a bucket of sand cake



tons of swimming, water balloons, water guns, a pinaqua ( a water pinata) and then a Little Pony Palooza.

Today we took the kids to a regional amusement park. It is still a family owned operation but pretty good size. Their unfortunate advertising campaign, however, has a really obnoxious song about "there's more than corn in Indiana". The kids had a wonderful time, eating junk, riding and re-riding, playing arcade games. F (who is 4) needed me to ride most things with him. This would explain why 1) I am his hero for letting him do all the driving in the bumper cars the 7 times we rode them and 2) I am currently sipping a really nice chardonay and considering a third glass.

Progress

We have a bathroom floor!!! Also a toilet and sink. We're darn near 20th century here! (Yes, I know it's the 21st, but considering where we were a week ago, somewhere in the 18th century, I'll settle for the 20th.) The new vinyl is down after replacing rotted floor boards and getting a new subfloor. Best of all, the kids can use their bathroom again and keep all their grubby, fingerprinty, toothpasty, unmentionable filth out of MY bathroom. I still need to get a new medicine cabinet to replace the 50's model which is rusted chrome and flourescent light tubes. I'll get a new light to go above and I need an electrician to put in a ground fault interuptor but progress is being made. Last but not least I need to go to Lowe's and get some baseboard so I won't be bored next week. Now to get some money saved to replace the green shag in the living room. One step at a time I guess.

Happy Birthday Lily

Today Miss L turns 7. SEVEN! How did that happen.


I named you after a delicate flower but Sam or Nick or someother androgynous name would have been better. You are tough, smart and unstoppable. You like animals of all kinds. I believe you still harbor hopes of getting a horse. For now you're content with dogs and cats. You are a loving sister to Mel, change diapers like a pro and are willing to play sandbox for a long time with her. You also fight your older brothers fearlessly, and anyone else (adult or not )who gets in the way of something you want. I'm hoping a little less fearlessness and a little more respect slips in somewhere. You have friends and seem well liked, but I have to admit, from what I've heard you're choreographing what you will all be playing. I have no worries about you doing whatever you want in life. I just hope no one makes the mistake of slowing down in front of you because steam train Lily is coming through!

Cross-eyed Bear

I've prided myself (ah foolish pride) on my slow aging. Vision--no bifocals here, I can run with the kids, play basketball, play tennis but.....evidently it's my hearing that is going. Last night I swore I heard dh tell S he was a cross-eyed bear. Cross-eyed bear I thought? What Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Baby Bear and Cross-eyed Bear? Ursa Strabismus? Well, never one to worry about looking foolish I squawked "Cross-eyed Bear?" He actually said S is his CROSS TO BEAR. Retiring now to call the bell-tone number!

Back to School

Here they are scrubbed, polished and clad in new underwear!


I once again proved what a geek I am by mentioning to a group of friends how sad I am that they are gone all day. It was unanimously decided that I am truly weird as they all can't wait to get their kids out the door. In an effort to avoid a day of the blues for me and boredom for F and Mel I attended the said get together with friends and went to the "big" library in that town. F ignored all attempts to get a lovely, educational book and checked out Batman comics.

The funniest comment of the day. F wanted to play castle. His instuctions to Mel were "you be the soldiers and I'll be the burger king." Burger king?? What kind of royalty is that?

Back to Reality

Dh went back to work today. The kids start school on Wednesday. (yuck, phooey, blech, blah) I was hoping to go to the reservoir or do something else fun the next two days but it is cloudy and wet today so I guess not. S and C have gone to my dad's to unload a couple of trailers of wood. At least they'll be tired tonight. Time for more coffee and hopefully an inspiration about something fun to do today.

We're Baaaack!

The most annoying yet most amusing part of the trip? Every ten minutes F stated his desire to return "to our Indiana home." (Was he channeling Jim Nabors? Trying out for his shot to sing at the Indy 500?) When we finally pulled into the driveway S said "Hey, F we're at our Indiana home!" F's response, given in a wail "I want to go baaaaccckkk!"

A good time was had by all. The zoo was one of the nicest I've ever been too. They also had a dragon exhibit which thrilled my geeky son. It was set up as though dragons were real animals, along with other animals that have dragon in their name (komodo dragon, dragon fish, sea dragons, etc.) Here are the kids posing on the dragon's treasure. You'll note they are all possessed, lol.


Here are the kids and I in front of the river outside the COSI (kid's science center which was also very cool).

And We're Off

kudos to you if you finished that title with a mental "to the rodeo". I have packed clothes, swim suits, sun block and a huge cooler of snacks. Tomorrow we leave for our, I can't really call it a vacation, so lets just say trip. For some actual reading enjoyment I urge you to read Chris' contribution to dotmoms. Her article Last but not Least probably sums up most mom's feelings who have more than a couple kids.

Imponderables

How does a child who never saw a cradle get cradle cap (at 21mo no less)?

How can children who stay lean ingest bushels, yes bushels of food daily?

How did I, a queen of denial who is sure it's all going to be all right, marry the most pessimistic human being on earth?

Why are there no hotel suites near the Toldeo Zoo, causing me to reserve two rooms, one of which will probably never be slept in?

Why am I taking the most pessimistic human being on earth with me to vacation in Toledo?

When did my life get so pathetic that my vacation consists of a zoo, a cave and a science museum? In freaking Toledo, Ohio??!! Now Toledo, Spain, then we'd be talkin'.

Summer Fun

On Monday we played!
A little food dye and cornstarch!

Proud of his muscles

The Princess on her throne


Unfortunately Tuesday and this morning I had a bad headache so hopefully they had enough fun to make it through to tomorrow.

Any Joys?

During joys and concerns at church 6yo dd held up her hand. Her joy?
L- "My brothers are going to be gone at camp all week!"
Minister- "Is that your joy?"
L- "Well duh!"

Ah, so eloquent my daughter.

Hmmm

This is the part where I'm supposed to make some dazzling or witty entry. (taps foot waiting for inspiration) { Well, we had to replace the motherboard on my washer. I hated spending $200 freaking dollars!!! but the hand wringing each load was getting tiresome. I set the boys to the task and they tied the sheets to a limb and took turns twisting. A great plan except for those *$%@ dirt stains on the one end. I had my garage sale, gave away everything that didn't sell and still have far too much stuff. I need to pick up dd from camp tonight and then deliver C and S to camp next week. And school starts in 3 weeks Wah! Wah! Wah! I hate school.} (Gives up tapping foot and admits there is nothing witty or dazzling here.)

Boooorrrriiinnngg

It never fails to amaze me how a whole chunk of the day can be wasted doing stupid errands. I left home this morning about 9:00 and drove 40 miles to retrieve dd's saxaphone. I took it in to be cleaned, etc in prep for the coming year. (Oh goody, more saxaphone concerts.) We went on to the kids' clothing resale shop where I sold some stuff and bought some shoes, a lunch bag and a dress so L would have at least one. I had taken the older boys with me and we drove cross town to a trade/sell video store. I know how they feel when they are shopping with me now. I find the whole gaming thing dull, dull, dull. They made their trades. We then drove back to our nearer town to get ds an actual hair cut. I've always cut the kids' hair, but since he's entering middle school he thought a style that doesn't rely on his constant movement to look even would be a good idea. I then had to go to the bank to cash in change (especially since I had just been all these places). An entire four hours wasted, when I could have been reading more of my book, wah!!!

Feeling hot, hot , hot!

Like the rest of the country, we are suffering from a heat wave. Yesterday the heat index was 106. Personally, I think once it's past 95 they ought to just say it's hot as h*ll and leave it at that. This morning (before it got hot, lol) I took the kids and did some errands. As a treat (for them, certainly not for me) we stopped last at the 4-H fair. This is a really rural fair, there are no rides or carnival games. We admired chicks, and pigs and goats and starter calves. Except for a slight bought of fistcuffs near the giant cabbage display, we made it out drenched in sweat but alive. We stopped at the dairy stand and I bought chocolate milkshakes for all. Mel is still clutching the cup, hoping it will somehow refill by magic. I'm off to soak in my bathwater temp pool now.

Whew!

I realize it is of no import to anyone but a mother but E recieved 8 blue ribbons (two with special merit) and 1 red (judge did not care for her use of color on her trash can). She was disappointed because she likes perfection, but I told her that a different judge on a different day might have felt differently so....MOVE ON! LOL! I took her back to church camp today. She has been asked to be a Jr. Counselor for a young girl with Down's who will be attending camp. I felt like that was quite and honor to have people place faith in her abilities.... even if she can't cover a trash can.

Blog Junk Food

Judging all day Tuesday and today so all you get is a pre-packaged blog entry :-P

You are dependable, popular, and observant. Deep and thoughtful, you are prone to moodiness. In fact, your emotions tend to influence everything you do. You are unique, creative, and expressive. You don't mind waving your freak flag every once and a while. And lucky for you, most people find your weird ways charming!

The World's Shortest Personality Test

4-H

Where have I been? In a whirling vortex of pain known as 4-H. I bet you didn't know one of those H's was for h*ll. Ok, maybe it's not that bad. I don't even have to do the projects per se, it's just there's always something more to help with or buy that we forgot. This week we covered a trash can and bulletin board, I helped her learn to make french knots, I got matting and framed a painting, bought more potting soil and decorated her flower box so she could repot her flowers, proofread a book report and bought scrapbooking stuff to make the reading bulletin board, and a bunch of other things. Oh, and sat through her making four batches of yeast rolls, to get six perfect ones. During one of the hottest, humidest stretches of summer. Why did I get blessed with a perfectionist?

What else? The air could be cut with a knife, baseball finally creaked to an end, attended a chess tournament (rather like watching paint dry), and began rooting through everyone's belongings to organize for a rummage sale. In black and white that is even a more pathetic use of time than it seemed as it crawled by. This coming week is 4-H judging so that will fill many hours with scintillating copy for the ol' blog. On the bright side, we refused to allow them to do farm animals, meaning I do not have to live at the stinking (literally) hot fairgrounds all week.

What If?

This is sort of an old piece, but it really tickled me.
If Men Could Breastfeed

Is There A Market For That?

Heard from the cheap seats...
11yo-"I'm going to be a veterinarian."
9yo - "I'm going to be a math professor at Harvard."
4yo - "I'm going to be a dragon."

No, silly, where are you going to work?

4yo - "At a castle, where else?"

Home

Neither heat nor headache nor 6 mile traffic jam will keep this mom from picking up her kid from camp.

So Much For Relaxing

Yesterday was slated to be a quiet day, but you know how that goes. Dh's sister and BIL and niece stopped in on their way home to MI. It was good to see them. I then had to run to town for some things resulting in it suddenly being 12:30. I quickly packed for dd and we left at 2:00 for her camp. She was fine with me leaving. In fact her words as I tried to kiss her were "yeah, yeah, you can go now." We got home at 5:00, I threw food at people and we made it to the ball park by 5:30. E played at 6:00 in the championship game and they won! Woo hoo! Now, as dh says, we have a $.50 cent trophy instead of the usual $.25 one. Ds played at 8:00. They were in the losers bracket but managed to pull out their second win of the season that night, so he plays again on Monday. I'm not sure how L's t-ball team did. I can't say I missed trying to squeeze in a third game at a second park. I guess I'll call her coach when she gets home to see if she's still playing. After all the baseball fun, dh decided to tear up the subfloor in the bathroom, so we are down to one bathroom again for who knows how long. And I was just getting used to being a two bathroom family, darn it!

In Bullet Points

* the festival was very fun, including too much noise, grease, noise, fun, noise, activity

* the wedding was beautiful but 19 seems very, very young

* the town fireworks were traditional, down to L sitting in the van screaming during the whole show

* we played, swam and ate on the 4th, none of which I have pics of because the *&%#$@ batteries died

* I knew it wasn't safe to let the kids have fireworks, but I am having serious doubts about dh too

* tomorrow my 6yo leaves for church camp, how come she is fine with being dropped 2 hours from home where she doesn't
know a soul, and I am the one who's feeling iffy about it?

Independence Day

Click here to read The Declaration of Independence.

A Fabulous Festival

This weekend is our little town's summer festival. It will feel even more like Mayberry than ever. Today there are all kinds of rummage sales, and the used book sale at the library (my personal favorite event.) This evening is the parade. Three of the kids are in it this year with their ball teams. Ball teams, chuches, 4-H, girl scouts, boy scouts, lot of tractors, the bank will all be there along with bands. I could be riding on the church float but decided to sit on the sidelines and let the little two collect candy. I just enjoy seeing them react. Parades are still a novelty to them. After the parade there will be a concert but my family and I will buy elephant ears and stand around visiting with friends. Saturday is full of events (oreo stacking, pedal tractor pull, family fued, etc.) We, however, will be attending a wedding in the afternoon. Let's see, Saturday night there is a rodeo. Sunday is a town wide church service, a demolition derby and fireworks. I should be quite thoroughly exhausted by Sunday night.

Summer Complaint

Gee, if it's 90 degrees, wouldn't it be great to have a 101 degree toddler clinging to you. Just for variety the toddler could periodically vomit on you so you can take a cooling shower. When that palls the effluvia could come from the other end. Yes, that would be fun!

Our Very Own

Our very own metro-sexual here. Notice the jazzy juxtaposition of tutu and Power Ranger undies (worn backward so he can see the picture)

Our very own bookends

Our very own reasons for buying a pool.

Home and Hot

Yesterday dd E came home from camp. She had a wonderful time, even though we didn't get home until about 10pm. It was hot yesterday and today it is 99 F if the bank is to be believed. It sure feels like it. I did have to take dd L to t-ball practice this morning and to a birthday party this afternoon. Other than that I've either been in the pool (though I'm afraid it looks like Shamu in a bathtub) or sitting in the lawn chair with my feet in the wading pool while Mel plays. I went to the Farmer's market this morning and bought strawberries. That and some biscuits in the freezer can combine with whipped cream for shortcakes for dinner. It's just too hot to cook.

Oh Yeah!

Hey, go make yourself feel better with this quiz. Of course it's not true, but since I walk into rooms with no idea why I went there, it stroked my ego.

Your IQ Is 140

Your Logical Intelligence is Genius Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius Your Mathematical Intelligence is Genius Your General Knowledge is Genius

A Quick and Dirty IQ Test

Getting My Head Around It

Sometimes there is a synchronicity to thoughts and conversations that come your way. I was looking at 20mo old dd today. Aside from thinking she is one of the cutest kids on earth, I was thinking how much I love this stage. You can almost see the wheels whirling in their brain. I realized when my oldest was this age her brother had been born, and by the time he reached this age my next ds had arrived. The feeling of my stomach dropping away accompanied the thought that there probably won't be any more 20mo olds. That makes me unbearably sad. I then encountered two people today who wanted to gleefully regale me with stories of their tubal ligations. (Why they should want to talk about that I don't know.) I'm feeling grief over a lack of babies and they are celebrating the end of that season of life. Now please, don't leave me snarky comments about how I should be so grateful for the ones I have, I've got my share, yada, yada. I know that and I agree, but... kids are like chocolate, just because you've had some it doesn't mean you don't want more.

Summer in Pictures

Swimming

Sunning

A Little Sandbox Time with a Cool Drink

Some Playhouse Time

A Version of a Summer Cottage

Our Sister Has Left The Building

Today was taken up with delivering E to church camp. She was thrilled to go and a cry of joy came up from her brothers that she will be gone this week. Ah, familial affection. Dh and I agreed we'd really like a week at camp for ourselves. All meals prepared, swimming and games provided, a mandatory quiet half hour at noon, and the evening finished each night with loud music, singing and dancing. Where do I sign up? Instead I'll be slogging off to help with Bible School for three hours every morning, and where am I assigned? The nursery of course. Am I really the only woman in town who likes babies and toddlers?

Chernobyl

I was hoping to post about our trips to the park this week, or getting ice cream, or the fact that the weather has been beautiful, but mostly all I can think of is my 6yo dd's meltdowns this week- nuclear, China Syndrome, Chernobyl, Three Mile Island melt downs. For no apparent reason. Five of them this week. At the rate she's going it'll be October before she swims or comes near electronics again. OK, maybe not October, but a good long while. Maybe I should rethink that corporal punishment stance? Actually, I'm sure that wouldn't help either. I've talked to her and wracked my brain, and I can't come up with any reason for her behavior. Of course there's always that little voice in the back of my head suggesting, perhaps, she'd be an angel with a better mother. Do they inject you with guilt inducing drugs when you give birth?

Play Ball

Two ball games tonight. Here is C at bat, as close as I could get .

This is L at bat in t-ball.

This is L after the game. She hit a homerun, though that is probably more a function of the other team's fielding than it is her hitting ability.

Family Reunion

We went to my father's family reunion today. He did not attend since he is currently embroiled in yet another family feud. (This is not a game show, but a pass time indulged in by family members, wherein at least two if not more people, are not speaking to one another.) It was 90 degrees, then it rained and was a temperate 88 degrees and even more humid. I did see lots of cousins who all told me I'm holding up well (huh?), and the best part of the day was watching my kids climb the same magnolia tree I climbed as a kid at "the folks' place' ie. my grandparents' farm.

Committment

I've been contemplating committment this week as have Chris
and
thicketdweller. 
My life seems to sometimes consist not of my committments but in steering my kids to become the kind of person who keeps THEIR committments. I seem to have succeeded, at least with the oldest three who are 13, 11 and 9. The younger three are works in progress. The one year old's only committment is to put her shoes away after all. I ask them if they need help or send them out the door and let them take it from there. I know some people think I push too much responsibility on my kids. I tend to think their children are whiny butts. It's all in your point of view I guess. I've been wondering if my esteem of responsibility and independence is a product of my having had older parents. My parents were children of the depression. My dad left home at 14 and my mom got a job and paid rent at 15. I left home at 18 and never went back. ( Ok, for a visit, but not to live.) Dear Lord, I don't want them living on my couch when they are 20. We'll have to see what happens. I really do think though, that making it to meetings and practices and places promised will at the worst not hurt them. Heck, it might even help. My committment is not to get them there, or see that they get everything done but to give them the skills to do it themselves. My committment is to let them know they are loved and that I would chew glass for them.

Yet

Is the pool ready yet? Is the pool ready yet? Is the pool ready yet? Is the pool ready yet?

Pool Party?

Well, I worked on the pool but it was no party. After suffering through a migraine Monday, interrupted frequently with pleas of "When are we setting up the pool?', I thought it would just be easier today to get it done. It's not an olympic in-ground but serves our needs nicely. I will say it provides alot of entertainment, I just wish we had a pool boy (preferably a bronzed, muscular pool boy) to take care of the darn thing.

It is only the third day without school and they've already taken bike rides, played tennis, bought too much candy, had involved water gun fights and woven clover jewelry. I wish they'd pace themselves. Maybe I can teach them to make margaritas, put on the Jimmy Buffett tunes and perhaps fan me with palm fronds.

Dance Recital

"Hey, my school turns into a dance club!" Words from my 4 year old ds. Last night was the girl's dance recital. It is held at the old elementary school in our town, now known as the Civic Center. His preschool is there, dance classes, and other stuff. I don't think it quite qualifies as a dance club though. No liquor, no mirror balls, no obnoxious pick ups, LOL. The girls did well and it is another thing we don't have to do this summer. Yesterday afternoon was also L's "blooming" from a Daisy to a Brownie scout. It made for a very full day.

Sisters


Former Daisy

A Hard Game's Night

Some days it's better to stay in bed, and tonight proved sometimes it would be better to keep a kid in bed. I dropped C off at his Little League game and took the girl's to dance recital practice. When I got back to the ball field, I was greeted by my bloody mouthed son with an ice bag. "Hey mom, I got hit with a throw." Uh, great? Second inning comes around, C bravely slides into third base, rips out his pants, and more blood flows down his leg. Uh, try that ice bag you've got. Fourth inning, C is batting, and gets hit really hard in the ribs with a pitch. It sounded sick, but what made it soooo much better was all the other parents asking me "Did you hear that?" Uh, YES! All the coaches and umps rushed over to him. I am proud to admit I stayed in my seat. He eventually shook it off. The best part, they didn't even win the game.

Last Day!!!

Today is the last day of school!! Woohoo! No more asking about projects, or forms, or lunches or did you bathe? Actually Friday was the last day of "school". I think they've been marking time and cleaning class rooms since then. E came home with a fistfull of awards yesterday. C also got a letter from his teacher telling him how amazing his math skills are and to keep figuring out new problems on his own. Who are these kids??? S at least continues my history of underachivement. "S has such potential, but...." LOL. Actually L's last day was yesterday. Kindergarten goes all day, every other day, here. I can't believe she'll be gone every day next year. What am I going to do all day with just two at home? Boring! Oh well, I have all summer with 7 kids (I babysit a friends daughter), that should make me look forward to school by August ;-).

This weekend will be a busy one anyway. L "blooms" up from a Daisy to a Brownie Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening the girls have their dance recital. ( I love dance, but the Moscow Ballet it isn't.) Friday evening they have recital practice and I think C has a Little League game. To celebrate tonight I'm making my "world famous" cinnamon rolls and calling it supper and they are sitting up tents in the back yard and sleeping outside.

On the renovation front, I finally planted flowers out front, sprayed all the weeds trying to retake our drive, waterproofed the deck, sanded the picnic table, and spent a small fortune at the grocery store to prepare for the locusts being home full time.

Happy Memorial Day

Memorial Day Pic--notice the patriotic hat


I have to confess, I'm some sort of manic/depressive housework/home improvement weirdo. I can go quite some time with no desire to do much here at home and then....I'm hit by some sort of frenzy and once I get started forward momentum pulls me along (at least for awhile, there's no perpetual motion afterall). Since Friday I've cleaned 4 rooms of carpet, took up a horrible carpet like substance from the upstairs hallway, painted three kids rooms, a desk and touched up all the spots where paint was chipped in the living room. I wish I knew what brought on these fits, then I could conjure one at will. I can literally go years between the desire to paint. I have now used up all the brushes, rollers and paint I had on hand so I'll have to be done awhile. I could, theoretically, still repaint the dining room (not that we dine there) and paint the outbuilding/playhouse. We'll see if I run down before I get to the store for more supplies.

Disappointment

E has been planning for 3 weeks to attend a sleepover birthday party tonight. It is one of her best friends and they were going to go to the movies and eat pizza and no doubt IM everyone they knew all night. Of course this would be the morning I found her asleep on the bathroom floor. She's throwing up and has a fever. She is disappointed she can't go (as only a 13yo can be disappointed) and I'm thinking.....three day weekend, stomach virus, six kids.....hey, this will be fun.

A Question?

So if you are one, and at the park you fall down and have blood all over your mouth, and you already have a black eye, and your mommy asks you if you've been in a bar fight....should you call CPS? The other mommies thought so.

For Six Kids My A**

So we went to the family class party Friday night. I got in the pool with my little kids because, well , they love to swim and it seemed heartless to just toss them in, since they can't swim and all. Now, I don't think I'm especially fun loving or anything, I just think the women in this town are BORING! Precisely one other mom and two dads got in the water. The rest sat on the bleachers, many making their little kids sit next to them, for an hour and a half. (No way would my kids sit there for an hour and a half.) And do you know the only thing they could find to talk about??? The size of my butt. I know this because not one, not two but three people told me how they all couldn't believe how good I looked for having ALL THOSE KIDS! Are they stupid? Bored? Really hard up for conversation? A bunch of nibby bitches?? You decide.

Baseball and Swimming and Pics, Oh My

This weekend should be tolerably entertaining. Tonight C's class is having an end of year party. We'll be swimming(inside) and grilling out. Most classes don't do this, but they have been together and had the same teacher for three years. They are all very attatched. I'm secretly sure the teacher will be thrilled to get a new group though. C and L have ball games. Saturday morning are ball pictures (which I don't buy but the other kids want group pics) and practice. That's pretty much it. Dh may take C and S to see the Star Wars movie. If it doesn't rain Sunday, I'd like to go hiking and have a "junknic". Coke, chips and cookies are too a meal!

Binge

No, not that kind! I've been on a book binge, thus the low blogging volume (also low houskeeping and cooking volume, but I digress.) I do this occasionally, I find a new author that I like, and then read everything I can get by said author. This time it's Lois Bujold books. It has been nice outside, so, I sit on the swing reading and let the kids play outside. Of course if they want to come in they have to wait until I'm done with my chapter. Yesterday, for some unknown reason, they made a pile of grass.

They then re-encated Little Boy Blue??

At least 4yo is healing and 11 yo is refraining from going around pointing and saying "A pox be upon you!"

The Chicken Pops

F, my 4yo, has the chicken pox, or chicken pops as he calls them.

L, who is 6, had them two weeks ago. Mel had the shot and got two little pox on her tummy and that was it.
I would just like to state that benadryl is a miracle drug. I'm not convinced it really stops itching or runny noses or anything else, but it does bring blissful slumber, and is so much more legal than forcing them to drink bourbon.

Easy Come, Easy Go( or how to go broke in one morning)

Pretty boring here. The weather has turned cold and rainy again. I went to the grocery store this morning -$94.00, gassed up $11.00, went to liquor store (trust me, this was necessary) $29.00, filled an Rx $10.00. $154.00-poof! I sent dh off to work to recoup our losses. What else has been going on? Tuesday we went to a minor league baseball game. The weather was still nice so it was fun. Yesterday it hailed, then turned humid. Maybe I'm not looking forward to summer after all. I also replaced screens in 4 windows. Grasshoppers insist on eating our screen, then when they make a hole my kids oblige them by making it bigger. I am now the queen of spline! I also bought some paint for ds's room. Now for it to warm up so I can open the windows and not pass out while I paint it. Tonight is dance practice, Friday is Cub Scouts and Saturday is a blur of baseball and dance performances at the local "arts festival". There will be elephant ears available though, hmm.....

Play Ball

Gee, do you think she's been to too many ball practices?


"Real" ball games start next week. L is playing T-ball, C is playing Little League and E is playing Sr. Girl's Softball. C's team is made up almost totally of 3rd graders. The league is 3-6 grade and his team is all 3rd except one 5th grader. It should be a really, really long year. E moved up to Sr. League this year, 7th -12th grade. She is half the size of the other girls. I hope no one slides into her. I guess I better get to the store this week and stock up on more antihistimines (allergies) and plenty of mosquito-be-gone.

It's Not Easy Being Green

As part of my ongoing field study of dirt, I would like to go on record as noting that neither soap nor alcohol nor dish soap can remove ground in grass stains from the feet of a four year old. I also learned that green feet are a small price to pay for the sheer joy of running through cut grass, over and over, just because it feels good.
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With the weather behaving true to form, I have gone from sitting in my winter coat Wednesday at ball practice to being sunburned and parched today.

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E is on hour 27 of a rice only weekend. (This is a social studies project, voluntary I might note.) She is not particularly pleasant. Perhaps if we were stuck with only rice to eat, I WOULD eat my young. Of course, holding true to her overachiever personality, I'm sure she'll stick it out until tomorrow at 6pm. She did pause when I suggested a chocolate rice sundae though.

Spring Again

Thankfully we've left the last few days of freezing temps behind and today was warm. All the better to sit in the yard and watch the kids (this translates into sitting in the sun and reading). I read Being Perfect by Anna Quindlen, Speed Cleaning 101 (I sped through that one, lol) and I've started Death of an Angel by Sister Carol O'Marie. I love being able to go on a reading binge. In the last few days I've also reached the top of Mt. Washmore and got in groceries (0g, you hunt, me gather!)

Date Night

It really takes so little to thrill me. Tonight, since we have no dance, baseball, softball, t-ball, play practice or scouts, dh and I are going to the Root Beer Stand. A real one where they bring your food to a tray stuck in your window. I will eat coney dogs with onions (an advantage of 18 years of marriage) and drink cold root beer from a frosty mug. It really is good in a so bad it's good kind of way. We will listen to '80's rock on the radio and generally revert to our younger selves, if only for an hour.

What's -a-doin?

Thursday night L came home from dance and t-ball practice and asked for help getting changed. She doesn't usually need help, but help I did. I noticed the unmistakable blisters of chicken pox. Oooops! I guess we exposed the under 7 crowd in town. She hasn't felt bad really, nothing benadryl and oatmeal can't fix. Now we wait to see if F gets them.
Friday I spent in reading. I got my new Elizabeth Peters book. Now the truth is out and you all know I have plebian tastes in reading material. I did drop S off for a Boy Scout camping trip. He was engaged in a riff on gazing balls in people's yards. It might be a nice respite from his monologues.
This morning I went to yoga class. I stopped afterwards and had a latte. I feel absolutely decadent. Tonight I need to attend the middle school's production of Cinderella. E has a part. I'm expecting it to be a brutal hour. I'm afraid the best thing about the musical will be the t-shirts "Cinderella is proof a pair of shoes can change your life."

Another Advantage to TOK

I was called for jury duty today. The case is 70 miles away and I would have been bussed each day. Now, I have no problem with doing my civic duty but a 7-6 day for 4 weeks is a bit more duty than I had in mind. When they asked if anyone had a reason to be deferred I raised my hand. I explained that there was no babysitter, no daycare, no relatives close by. It was either me or pull 7th grade dd out of school for a month. After the usual attempts at humor by the judge and prosecutor (Gee, that's a full time job. You must have to lease a cow.) and gasps from the room (sigh...yes, SIX) I was excused. I wanted to turn around and tell them about all my cyber-friends with LOTS more kids than me, but it seemed prudent to say thank you and scat. And so I did.

Errandsville

I went to Ft. Wayne this morning to pick up my old iMac which had been repaired. It's hard drive had been corrupted, which to me sounds like it met a floozy cell phone and lived a dissolute life, but I digress. I also stopped by the Boy Scout store to pick up a compass for ds who will be going on his first Boy Scout camp-o-ree this weekend. I hope the weather dramatically improves or it will probably be his last. We had snow on Sunday morning and now it is just damp, chilly and raining. The kids have a half day of school today so they will be home shortly. I had hoped to take them hiking at the reservoir but the weather makes that a no-go. I need to go start foccacia for dinner and I was informed this morning by several people that "We have no sweets because ___(insert name of child excepting yourself) ate them all." It'll be a good day for cookie baking I think.

Migraine

I am generally very healthy, especially for (can you tell this still bothers me? lol) my advanced maternal age. I do, however, get migraines. The past couple of days I had a doozie. Thanks to E and S who held things together here by making meals, taking sibs to T-ball, and practicing spelling together. I took what my kids refer to as "my happy pills" and am feeling better today, though with that weak, shaky feeling I hate. The weather has gone from 80 to 40 in the past 24hours. The weekend doesn't look promising. Perhaps a fire, some s'mores and a game of Euchre will pass the Saturday. Sunday is the Cub Scout Raingutter Regatta. I will go watch my sailors in an event they take as seriously as the America's Cup.

Spring Day

An altogether nice day. I'm going to get spoiled with this great weather and when it inevitably turns cold, wet and miserable again it'll seem even worse. I took my third yoga class this morning at the YMCA. I combined it with some errands so I didn't feel guilty about taking the time or the gas. I sure feel like I had a work out though.
We spent the afternoon hanging around the house doing not much. The kids got out the wagon (because as they pointed out, Mel had never even seen a wagon, let alone rode in one). They took turns pulling each other around so I didn't even have to do that.

Two Feet

That's approximately how far away from home dh was when he had an accident. Argh!!! He was turning into our drive when some 16yo kid (going too fast) passed him on the right, took out dh's tail light, then drove through our yard, narrowly missing our flagpole, porch and van. He made wonderful tire tracks through the front. Then came the two hour wait for the police. Ah, dh was in such a good mood by then. At least none of the kids were in the front yard playing. Dh now has an attractive swath of duct tape holding the light reflector in. We only paid $1000 for the car so it's not like it's worth putting $250 into repair.
The seasons are moving on. Next week starts baseball/t-ball/softball practice. Ds has a Boy Scout camporee to get ready for, dd is in a play at school that they are performing for an Arts Festival and the girls are finishing up for their dance recital at the end of next month. Before I know it I'll be complaining about heat and humidity and mosquitoes. but for today I sat in the yard and watched the 50lb of sand I put in the sand box mostly disappear. *note-most of it seems to have ended up on the laundry room floor and Mel's diapers. Seems to me that would chafe!

Back to Reality

It was a lovely week of mostly warm weather, unrushed children and little responsibility. OK, dh was still doing his best Camille imitation, but with judicious applications of sleep inducing cold medications he caused us little trouble. Saturday was warm, we went to my dad's and he took the kids 4-wheeling. Evidently he is proof that men never outgrow their need for silly toys. One would think a 78 year old man didn't need a 4-wheeler, but he thought differently. We also went to eat at a church soup supper. For those of you that don't live in a suffocatingly small community, this basically means someone else cooked, everyone I knew was there and I only had to pay if I chose to exercise that free will. Sunday was a carry in at our church for lunch. (Do you see a pattern of me avoiding cooking?) The weather was even better. All the kids except E turned up the CD player loud and jumped on the trampoline and kicked soccer balls around. E went to play putt-putt with her youth group. Dh and I sat in the swing and drank (it was for his cold, I swear). Today when the alarm went off for dh to go to work at 5:30 I tried again to think of some way we could avoid work, school, meetings, etc. etc. but the only thing I came up with was early death so onward we trudge....back to reality.

Chocolate Lava Cake

Here is the recipe for E's birthday cake. I think I got it off a can of cocoa years ago. It is really best warm, and if you put vanilla ice cream on it I hear it's even better. (I don't like ice cream, so realize that is hearsay.)


3/4 cup white sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup Cocoa Powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup milk

1/3 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1/4 cup Cocoa Powder

1 1/4 cups hot water


DIRECTIONS:

Heat oven to 350 F. Combine 3/4 cup granulated sugar, flour, 1/4 cup cocoa, baking powder and salt. Stir in milk, butter and vanilla; beat until smooth.

Pour batter into ungreased 9-inch square baking pan. Stir together remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar and remaining 1/4 cup cocoa; sprinkle mixture evenly over batter. Pour hot water over top; do not stir. This will look weird.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until center is almost set. Let stand about 15 minutes.

I always double this recipe because a 9" cake ain't gonna cut it here.

A TEEN

Yesterday I officially became a parent of a teenager. E turned 13 at 7:37pm, but we let her celebrate all day, lol. I took her and 2 of her friends on a shopping expedition. A loooonnnggg day. I'm pretty sure there wasn't a store they didn't hit. They bargain shopped though, so that was good. I made a chocolate lava cake which was a big hit. They played basketball with the neighborhood guys until about 10pm and the last I saw of them they were watching movies. Now if I can just get through the next 19 years I'll be done with teens. Hey, I ought to be good at it by then.
Today I am at a La Leche League conference in Indianapolis. You've got to love computers in hotels. Mel thinks the sight of a 'puter means it's time to nurse so here we sit. Maybe I should vary our routine a little at home? But this is my excuse to be on line. If you can't nak where can you? ;-)
A side note to Paula. I rushed out of the house without your cell number. Somehow at 5:30am this morning I was just trying to get out the door.

Spring Break

The kids are on spring break this week. Amazingly the weather has been pleasant. Sunday S had a friend over. Monday we wernt to Pizza Hut (a big deal) and a park. Tuesday we went to the Indianapolis Children's Museum. It was even better than the last time we were there. They had added new exhibits and a "dinosphere" which was very cool. Today we ran some errands, ate at Ponderosa (can you tell eating out is a big thing for us) and went bowling. The kids are outside now. It is clouding up. Tomorrow is E's birthday. I'm taking her and two of her friends shopping at the "chi-chi poo-poo" shopping mall in Fort Wayne, then they will stay the night. Friday I'm going to a La Leche League conference in Indy, Saturday is a baseball game and Sunday is a carry-in at church. I'll need a break from all this vacationing.

10,000 Steps My ...

well padded fanny. The current theory is that if people will just take 10,000 steps daily they most likely will have a healthy weight. I bought a cheap pedometer a couple weeks ago. It kept saying 12,000 or more steps daily. "This must be a piece of junk" I said to myself. "Self, you must purchase a better, more expensive pedometer." Such a pedometer was purchased on Tuesday. I could have saved my money because it says , right now, (and I"m not even in bed yet) 15,316. I must be eating alot because today was a pretty average day. How depressing, what am I going to have to walk, a marathon daily, to lose weight??? Argh! I am down another pound but that seems pretty measly. Of course, I'm conveniently having a black out about Easter candy and birthday cake.

I'm posting a link to this site because I've had so many days like that, but blessedly this was not one of them.