Lets call it a comeback.

Then & Now:

The past month has been insane. Between trying to get Jack to the pool with swim season fast approaching, which is becoming increasingly harder with DaddyP's schedule and is now almost 100% up to me to figure out, getting Sophy to gym-again-all me, and the usual weekly dance of homework, supper, laundry, dentist appointments, and attempting to get some flowers to bloom in my world, it's been slightly nutty around here. It doesn't help that I've had more migraines lately than normal. I'm thinking they are mostly sinus related, or induced--or whatever, since my upper teeth feel like they are about to pop out of my mouth at any second. At any rate, we've been nutty. Er, nuttier than normal. What has happened over the last month? Hhhmmm. PDaddy has had his busiest-on-record month. Ever. Jack broke past his 18 second mark on the 25m freestyle. This is huge. He was at 21 sec. at the end of last swim season. Sam had his first report card of the year with all A's and B's. No C's!! Whoohoo!! And Sophy completed her first backhand spring 100% by herself with no spotter. She was asked to be on the Gym's cheer squad, but we're not into all that jazz. Our gym turns out a group at Nationals every year that place in tumbling and cheer events, but we (meaning me) have no intentions of entering the world of cheering...for many, many, many years...if ever. Did I mention the cost was like $3,000 for the year? Haha. That's comical!

At present, we're waiting on the kitchen remodeling job to start. This week we are hoping to get a section of cabinets in that we had removed/rebuilt by a carpenter where we previously had a broken ice machine, circa 1972, and a trash compactor, circa 1971. That cabinet section has been removed. YAY! The new section of undercabinets will house the microwave, freeing up cabinet space, and the trash can will be housed there also behind a pullout door. Speaking of trash, we have a double bin now, for recylcing. Finally, we now have recycle pick-up with our trash. The carpenter will also be doing some other wood trim work on our cabinet doors/trim, etc. to bring the cabinets up-to-date a bit. Removing some of the trim and replacing with new. We priced replacing the cabinets, but it just seemed extravagant to replace solid wood cabinets with, hello, solid wood cabinets. Poor trees, let's give 'em a break. Anyway, so the new cabinet section will be installed next week. This coming weekend, will be removing the old countertops, at some point, and the new countertops should be here a week from tomorrow. The day after they are installed, the painter will be here to begin painting the cabinets. Once he is finished, 3 days-I believe, the tile man will come and finish the job! Oh, and Mr. Tile Man will also be tiling one of our bathrooms (the kid's Jack N Jill bathroom and vanity areas) that were previously carpeted by some person...some very, very intelligent (not!) person. And then, we'll be finished!! Free to start another project! Next up, the master bath! Hahhaa.

This week. Let's see. Tomorrow morning my mom is taking Jack and Sophy to eye appointments while I'm at school. With no days left to take off, it would be June before I could get them to the eye doctor. Sophy has been complaining horribly for about a week and a half of headaches and eye pain. Jack is due for a check-up also, so off they go.

Back to the usual week of swimming and other stuff. Is it June yet?

Be patient

Don't give up. I'm still here. I'm having a word drought. Rest assured, the flood gates will open soon. Until then, feel free to weed back through the entries of days gone by. That should keep you occupied for at least a day or two.

Kitchen Update

The kitchen remodel is rapidly taking shape. Everything has been measured, sketched, contracted, ordered, etc. Still a few last minute things to pick out, but overall, we're waiting for the big stuff to start. In the process of getting the backsplash tile ordered, we went ahead and ordered tile for the kid's bathroom and Jack/Jill areas. Carpet is currently in those areas (who carpets anything close to a bathroom? OLD PEOPLE, that's who,) and I'm very happy to be getting rid of that. While we wait on things to start arriving, PDad is installing new lighting in the kitchen. Very, very scary!

The Dark Side of Barnes and Noble

I'm afraid things got ugly tonight at Barnes and Noble. One of the clerks felt compelled to yell at my children. She and I had a discussion about the correct way to a.) treat your fellow man/child and b.) other options for relaying to children that their behavior is inappropriate and even, oh yes, c.) that it is extremely rude to scream at one's children when one is a few feet from said children attempting to correct their behavior but can't be heard because insane checker person is screaming at them. It was a very informative conversation for her...after which I rounded up my children, marched them up to her, and even though she was 4 times my age, I schooled her like she was 12 and explained again for her benefit, as well as my kids while they listened, about how we are to treat people and be treated BY people, and how it was incredibly rude to scream at anyone. I then told her, "Now. Let's try again. This time, without yelling, explain to them what you wanted them to know. Which she did. I then approached the store manager and explained the situation to him while giving him a plethora of other ways that Miss Crotchety Pants could've approached the situation. He explained that she was "a little jumpy." To which I told him, "Right. And now I'm jumpy....and when I'm jumpy, I don't feel like buying books." So then I bought a hot chocolate and left. The End.

Chicken and Dumplings

I wonder if the woman who birthed me would make me some chicken and dumplings sometime soon.

4H, piano lessons, flying tents, Crazy 8's, good drugs and such

First off, thanks to Chingon for the info/comment on the Pre v. Iphone. I appreciate it! I think the Iphone is pretty darn neat (but then again, I think electric can openers are neat,) but PDad is all for holding out a bit to see what comes of this techno war! You're right, there is always something better out there..or on the way! C, do you have a Flip video? I love it! I'm curious if you have had one and what you think. (Also, I forgot to include the link to this article about the DSi. Jack has asked for one for his birthday, but we weren't sure how to compare to what he already has. Sounds like if you have the DS lite, you should stick with it as game play is the exact same...and that's what we're interested in, after all. If you don't have an DS, it's worth it to definitely get the i for the added features. The camera stuff sounds cool. Sophy would love that.)
I've just ingested a Relpax to make my migraine go away. Any minute now, I'll feel like a normal person again. Already I feel it starting to work. Miracle drug, for sure. God bless the makers of Relpax...and may they never stop making it (or find out that it's causing my internal organs to rot.)
I just looked in the backyard and saw Sam's tent (which is a full-sized family camping tent) inflated like a balloon and slowly gliding across the yard about 6 feet off the ground. I hope Sam wasn't inside...and no, I don't think Relpax causes hallucinations. It's just pretty windy here today. Windy, ha! This is a slight puff compared to west Texas wind. I never thought I'd say thank goodness for Pine trees, but at least they buffer the wind. Speaking of Texas that is west of here, I think I'm having withdrawals. Wish we could've visited longer. The younger girl cousins are planning to get a family reunion together this summer, so I know we'll be out there before we know it. The kids had such a good time this visit. They're getting old enough to remember places and faces. Sophy is already begging to go back to eat at Underwood's.
Sophy has become a card game fiend lately. Go fish, Uno, Crazy 8's, you name it. As I type, she's trying to teach herself how to shuffle while she waits for me to play another game with her. I'm so tired of card games!
Sam recently played his first song with both hands! He is so proud of himself, and I have to say that I almost cried when he played it for me the first time. Coming from a boy that eats dirt and collects sticks and rocks, I'm happy to see that maybe one day...MAYBE ONE DAY...there will be a bit of refinement. Haha. Sam. Refinement. HAHHA! Anyway, we're planning a recital for the end of the school year. He is thoroughly excited!
The boys have both asked to join 4H, so we're looking into some things for them. Sam recently learned about the competitive skeet shooting team, and he almost had a stroke. He has to be in third grade to compete, so we're still getting info on that. He will be playing football this fall, so we'll have to see what conflicts. Jack wants to show an animal (oh, I soooo don't want any part of that...,) but we'll see. Maybe Jack can shoot skeet too!
We played hookie from church this morning. The kids were seriously over-tired from the days on the road, so we're doing laundry and relaxing. Piano Girl will be here in a bit, so I'm off to order a pizza for lunch.
PS Happy News! This is a 4 day week, and then my SIL will be here! Tea party and girl fun!!!

PS Don't buy an IPhone!

For all of you techno wizards out there, here is an interesting article! I had all but sealed the deal at Christmas time on an IPhone for PDaddy. In asking some last minute questions in an attempt to get our plan finalized, etc., PDaddy caught on to my plan and begged me to wait. He had heard that now "wasn't the time" to buy. So, being the SOOO not-caring-about-techno-gadgets type, I waited. Then this weekend, my cousin told me that she had just bought one, but that she had heard that Palm Pilot was coming out with a competitor phone that would rival the IPhone. Great, I thought, PDaddy will want one. SIGH! So, we looked it up for funnsies to compare and found this article. Nothing really pushes one over the other, well, actually it does. However, the new IPhone software that will available this summer, sounds like it will be over and above what is available now and an upgrade would be quickly inevitable if you bought now. Which means...if you get the Palm Pre, then their upgrade is imminent, I'm sure. The answer? Haha, keep waiting? Not sure! I do know, if nothing else, hold out for the new IPhone...or try the Pre. Or wait for the new Pre. Or the newer than new IPhone that will surely come after that. Pffft. I think the technology is so emerging that it would be beneficial to wait, at this point. PDaddy, for instance, continues to wait. HA! In the meantime, I'm getting an Ipod touch...with no waiting. So there.

Finally home..

Are you aware that it is closer from El Paso to California than from El Paso to Dallas?
Don't believe me? Investigate. I lie not.
We made it home tonight from a mad, and I mean M.A.D, dash across the fine state of Texas to my Granny's funeral. If you drove north or east from my house for the same amount of hours as it takes you to reach where I call "home," you would either be in Kansas or almost North Carolina, respectively. As it is, we were still in Texas when the driving was said and done. Albeit, the part of Texas that is filled with cactus, deer, lots of wind (think hurricane-and I wish I was kidding), sandstorms (O.M.G.)...amongst other things.
We had hoped to make it to my Granny in time to at least see her before she passed, but my mama called as we were on the road (about an hour or so away) that she was in the process of passing away. Several of her children and grandchildren were there. My cousin, April, who is an R.N. was able to be there in Granny's hospice room to help the family tend to her and help make those last hours more comfortable for Granny. Instead of heading to San Angelo, we went to her hometown, Brady, where our family is and where the funeral would be held and went ahead and checked in at The Roach Motel because Best Western was full to overflowing. Brady is the hub of turkey hunting at this time of year, and we were out of luck for a room at the "good" choice. And by Roach Motel, I mean. The. Roach. Motel. You know, the one with hair and food between the sheets, a hair in the coffee pot, fecal matter on the toilet, dried food on the sink counter and questionable stains on the carpet. Yes. THAT roach motel. (My mama, who hadn't slept in a NUMBER of days from helping tend to and fight my Granny in her final days, confronted the "inn keeper." Poor man. We stayed, virtually, for free. He never saw her coming. Bless his poor Middle Eastern heart. I'm sure he knew why his motherland makes women submit and wear burkas.) Where was I? Oh, yes. So, my Granny passed on, and we headed straight on to the hotel. Over the course of the last couple of days, the kids and I were able to see new faces, old faces, and faces in between. We ate at our family restaurant that was founded by my mama's aunt Pearl (the world famous, Underwood's, in Brownwood. Divine. I ate myself stupid. Sam thought he was in food Heaven, and PDaddy wept because he wasn't there. I'm sure many of you have eaten there,) saw a portion of my (atleast*) 27 first cousins and their "host" of children, showed my children the teensy house where I grew up--as well as our farm, etc. It's an absolute blur, but one thing I can't believe is how amazingly similar all my Granny's grandchildren are--even though some we haven't seen in 10-12 years, and how quickly all of the first cousins' children fell in line with each and started plotting a plan for world domination. Birds of a feather, and all that. Yeah. Sam and his cousin, Seth, need NEVER...N.E.V.E.R. spend any amount of time together. Oh my. World altering would be the words that best describe those two together.
It's so very weird to go "home" and be in Walmart and see your second cousin. To go eat at a restaurant of your second cousin. To be at the mall in town and see a man who graduated from a teensy, west Texas high school with and used to steal watermelons, most likely, with your daddy. Even stranger, are the people there. I live in Texas, but this part of the world is different. Somehow, I ended up in town with only a checkbook and a credit card that had been demagnetized. The darned thing wouldn't work anywhere. Everywhere we went, it seemed that I needed to buy something that we had forgotten, or gas, or shampoo, or dinner, or dress pants for the vistation, etc. At every turn, I was amazed at how many people/business owners, not knowing me from Adam, would know that we were in the area for a funeral (not even knowing my family) and would say, "Don't worry about it. Write a check." Strangers would find out we were in town for a funeral and inquire about who, when, where and hug you, say they were sorry, and "tell your family we said hello." As we drove in the funeral procession (in Texas all traffic stops until the procession has passed...well, at least they still do in west Texas,) we went past a tiny shack where a man was push mowing the weeds in his yard. As we pass him, I saw him standing there--lawnmower turned off--hat over his heart. As we passed a gas station, men pumping gas into their trucks---hats off of their heads and over their hearts. If that don't make you cry, nothing will. Anyway. Like I said. A different world.
So, my Granny is now safe in Heaven with the 4 children and husband she lost so very long ago--which is about as happy as you can be, I'm sure--and we'll forever smile at her last hours, and how she stayed herself right up until the very end--fighting like a tiger, physically (oy) and mentally....and verbally. You know you have a priceless grandmother, when the eulogy is given at her service and the following statement is made, "As many of you know, you either loved Mama or you didn't. On the same hand, you also know that Mama either liked you. Or she didn't. Can I get an AMEN?" to which those in attendance (a large family crowd) emphatically and enthusiastically responded in unison, "AMEN!"
God bless my Granny.

A few things

(Edited to say: Check out my new Flip! This time I sprung for the underwater case, so we'll be able to record Jack's swimming to play back and allow him to see what he can change underwater!)
1. We're all packed to head out in the morning. I maybe should've gone to school today, but if things with my Granny prolong, our visit may stretch into the weekend. I used today to get things done that HAVE to be done in order for next week to function properly. No rest for the weary. Oh, and on top of getting things in order to be gone for a few days, I also got the closets all rotated out from cold weather clothes to warm. Nice, clean closets. For like a day, I'm sure. But they're so pretty and clean.
2. Not sure when my countertops will be here. I think I get to pick out a new sink too! Hehee. Ahhh, a sink! I'm very excited to see what it will all look like when it's pulled together. I sort of wing a lot of this and make gut decisions....then I hold my breath and hope I like it. No going back now!
3. I think I'm going to use the Book Club excuse to get a Kindle! My brother has had one for a year, and I was convinced that after a time it would burst into flames and make me glad I had never bought one of the cute little things. Alas, no flames. Perhaps???
4. About Book Club, I have finished 2 chapters of the MONSTROUS book we're reading. I'm enjoying it thus far, and that is good news! Wouldn't it be horrible to be strapped to a giant, horrible book for the next 4 weeks? With any luck, it won't take me half that long to read it. But it is huge, so I can't promise anything.
5. I'm looking forward to our annual Tea Party next weekend. My SIL will be here, and we have much to discuss. Not to mention, we're past due on a day to leave the kids behind and go do fun SIL stuff together! Lets see...Toes, Tea, etc. Fun, fun!
6. Speaking of next weekend, it's the 3 day kind! Hooray!
7. I'll be out of pocket for a few. Try to control your sadness, okay?

Book Club

Book Club went great! We chose a classic! Yay! We had a very good sized group. Not too big, not too small! We're a pretty ecclectic mix of people, but we all love to read. Should be a really fun experience. Our next meeting is the last Tuesday of April, and we'll be discussing the book that I recommended this time. We'll be meeting at M's house, and she'll get to pick our next novel at that time. For my book discussion, I've planned a type of group quiz/game of sorts and a nice prize to the winner!! :-) I'm looking very forward to our next meeting! We agreed to meet throughout the summer! Squee!
My Granny is still holding her own, but she has been moved out of ICU to a private room where she can spend her remaining time with family around her. I have taken off from school Wed.-Fri. I hate for the kids to miss that much school, but I really have no choice. They'll be attending the funeral which scared them (it will be their first,) but we'll make it work somehow. DaddyP is booked here and can't undo the things that he has booked over the next couple of days. We'll be leaving on Wednesday or Thursday a.m. I'm surely taking my camera. This will be a once in a lifetime chance to photograph some folks. A. Lot. Of. Folks. Kinfolks.
We may still be out of town this weekend, but if we're home, I have a hair appointment unless I have to cancel due to PDaddy being out of pocket. He will be gone from sun up to sun down on Saturday. Busy. Busy.
Trisster. The more we talk about it, the more we're thinking about a serious Albuquerque trip this summer! Maybe Pearlie Sue and James too will come! Wouldn't that be fun?! We'll keep ya posted for sure. It'll give me a chance to get my "official" birth certificate. I think I'm the only one that can get it, but thanks for the offer. We'll figure something out, and we'll definitely coordinate our plans! :-)
I'm off to bed. It's way later than I want it to be. Our town's tornado siren went off at 4:45 this a.m., so we've been up for a lloonngg time. Yawn.

Monday News

1. Granny took a turn for three degrees south of worse this afternoon. She's in really bad shape.
2. Found out today that I may not have an official birth certificate for myself in my possession. Mrs. Ernestine told me that happened to her, and she had to go to her birthplace to get an official copy (for passport purposes.) She was born near Houston, I guess...which is not so far from here. But, uh, I was born in Albuquerque! Hey Trister, we may be coming to see you! I'll keep ya posted!
3. Ordered our countertops today!! Whheee! We're persuing 3 leads on cabinet painters, 1 of which was absolutely ridiculous! I need to pick out kitchen lighting, backsplash tile, and wallpaper for my desk area. I'm going with a cream on cream and gold accent thing. It will look better than it sounds..I hope!
4. Sophy had a super night at gym. Tonight they got to work on the springy runway. They were working on front somersaults/tucks. She was able to get a good height, tuck, and make a landing on her feet...briefly. This was their first night to work on the beam, and she did really good...and she loved it! I; however, was chewing a hole in my tongue every time she flipped on the thing.
5. I'm very excited about Book Club here tomorrow night! Our cozy group of 7 or so may have exploded into a very sizeable group. Who knew so many people out there wanted to be in a book club? I'm glad we'll have a good group, though! Fun!!!

Passports, Books, and Granny

As I type, my Granny is in the hospital in ICU and not doing very well at all. Doc said that if she didn't urinate in the next 4 hours, he'd safely say that she had less than 24 to live. They have her heart stabilized, I think, from a massive heart attack, but her kidney's and other organs aren't cooperating. I talked to her briefly this morning, and she told me she'd be better if they'd just let her go home. My mom called a bit ago to say that they had taken her off of all fluids/IV's, etc. due to the fact that she is drowning in all of her own body fluids. She needed 5 units of blood due a bleed in her stomach, but I'm not sure what the status on that is. My mom said that she is begging for water, but all they can do is swab her mouth with a giant Q-tip swabber because her body can't handle anymore fluid. Basically, I'm thinking it's like the dam that the little boy had his finger plugged up in, and then he took it out and all heck broke loose. Everything in her body has reached it's limit. Physically, she's a walking wonder due to years of severe substance (alcohol and tobacco) abuse. And by abuse, I mean, ABUSE. If she was anyone else, she'd have died young. As it is, she's mean as rip and tough as a boot. Not sure how much longer she'll be able to hold it off, though. She's not like other Granny's. Her hair was always Fire Engine red, as were her nails. She smoked like a dragon. Drank and cussed like a sailor, and hesitated not to tell you where you could get off at. No blue-haired little flower is she. But she's quite a gal.
In other news, I'm still trying to decide which book I'll submit to at Book Club Tuesday night. I'm leaning towards one that is a safe choice, but I really want to choose the other 2. Gggrr! Decisions! Depending on which directions Granny takes, we'll just have to see how the week goes.
It could get sketchy around here. PDaddy has school pics at one of his schools on Thursday and Friday, which means that he needs to be there super early to set up. Which means that, if I'm gone, he'll either have to figure out what to do with the kids, or I'll be taking them with me. We're sort of limited on help with my mom/dad being out in West Texas already, but we'll figure it out.
I'm looking into getting my ducks in a row for England, so I'm taking steps to get....(GASP)....my passport! My first EVER...haha! That's funny!
My nieces are here, so I better go see what the hub-bub is that is going on.
Back to school tomorrow!
Yay!!!
Or not.

In no particular order

Jack really enjoyed the hydrobike! We were pleasantly surprised by this state park, so we went ahead and made reservations for our annual summer camping trip with our cousins. We'll be able to ride the hydro and canoes to our heart's content!
Sophy and I were discussing the finer points of the nastiness of boys.

We had to pause on our hike for The Trio to conquer a fallen tree.

PDad's mom drove up for a quick visit. Here you see her attempting to smile while thinking, "Why am I here!?" Ha!

PDad is explaining to Sophy about the Spikey Elm. We also learned about The Devil's Walking Stick, Mayapple Trees, and other interesting factoids. He's a walking plant encyclopedia.

After the rain....

The swimming area that we'll be sure to enjoy this summer!

Our first hike on Night #1.

Sophy was pretending to be an indian scout while using a weed as her "headdress." The cabin in the background was the one we stayed in. It was built during the '30's by the CCC. Very clean, but very old!

I'm off to take Jack to swim, and then back here to huddle in the warmth of my house. Brrr, it's cold outside. Looking forward to dining with the QM gals tonight at a new place! Wish we had more pleasant weather, but oh well!

Egads!

I can't find my camera cord to post my pics from the camping trip. Ggrr! I'll keep looking. In the meantime, life goes on. I'll post some as soon as I find the cord!
Today we had lunch and a movie with friends. We saw Monsters V. Aliens...which was cute, I guess, in a weird way. The kids enjoyed it! Thanks J. and C. for spending the last day of the Hallowed Spring Break with us! We thoroughly enjoyed it!
On a funny (or sad note,) we missed my daddy's birthday supper tonight due to crossed wires. We ended up in the wrong town. Heck, we ended up in the wrong state! How's that for getting bamboozled?
After days and days of balmy, rainy weather, we're due for a serious cold snap that I hope doesn't fry my little budders. Sniff, sniff. PDaddy has a bridal tomorrow (poor gal is sure to freeze her veil off,) and I'm hoping he's finished in time so I can meet my QM gals for dinner at Cantina Loredo tomorrow night.
Oh, and have I mentioned that the Book Club is meeting this Tuesday night? (We'll miss you, J., but we'll let you know what we decide!!) I'm so very excited! We're deciding on our novel Tuesday. Sqquueeee!!
(I'm on the lookout for the computer cord tomorrow! Cabin pics coming soon!)

Home Sweet Home

We splished, we splashed, we sloshed, and we squished! We're home from "camping" (is it considered camping when you're warm and toasty in a cabin? I dunno.) Anyway, we're here! We left the campground around 11ish and made the 45 minute drive home. I think one of the best parts about this trip was that we made it home in less than an hour. Gotta love that. On the way home, we stopped in to talk to our person who is helping us with our kitchen re-do. She was out of town until tomorrow, so once she calls us, we'll have our counter tops ordered. I'll be glad to have that over with, but I'm excited all the same to be rid of the ugly colored countertops we have now. So, anyway, I'll update tonight about our trip and post a few pics.
PDaddy is outside setting up Sam's tent. He says he is sleeping out there tonight. Apparently he is still in camping mode. I'm sure he'll be alone. The eldest son of this family is not what you would call an outdoorsy type. If he can swim or ride a bike, he's fine. Fishing he loves. Hiking, playing in dirt, exploring the woods, etc....not his cup of tea by any stretch of the imagination.
It didn't take long to get everything unpacked, and now the washer is whirling and the dryer is tumbling. Thankfully I had all of the laundry washed when we left, so 2 loads oughtta be the end of it. YAY! PDad says we're grilling tonight, so I am off to make a list. I want to hit a nursery outside of town for some bedding plants for my birdbath area, so I guess I'll do that on my way to the store. Oh, my tiny seedlings that I put out Sunday are already poking their little green faces up thanks to the abundance of rain and the teensy bit of sunshine we've had this week. Shouldn't be long before my butterflies come back. I'm hoping to have a Monarch
Weighstation this year, but I really have to get on that if I'm gonna make it in time. If you have any space at all to make a weighstation, or even if you just can set aside a place to plant their host plants, it would be a wonderful thing for you to do. If I can manage to get my game together, I plan on getting a certified weighstation, but if I don't get it together, I am at least going to make a smaller (uncertifed) version. I found a place where you could order some to hand raise/set free, and I'm thinking of attempting 100 of the little guys. Wouldn't that be a sight?
Anyway, lots left to do, and Mercy, if the sun ain't shining. Gotta go!

Should be packing

We're supposed to leave at one for our camping trip, and I seriously should be packing. Instead, I'm searching/pricing vacation prices/packages to England. Haha. Rach and I have plans to book our trip in the not-so-distant future. We had hoped to go this summer, but I don't think either of schedules coincide to allow it due to other trips we've both got planned. Rach found info on the Jane Austen festival which is in September, but it's not likely that either of us could get off for the amount of time we're looking to be there with her professorizing and my teacherizing. We haven't given up on it though because I would love that awfully much, and there have been other teachers who have booked extended vacations during the school year and were allowed to travel. A bit more investigating is needed. If not, we'll just have to plan for Summer '10. Sounds sooo far away, but it would give us time to solidify our plans. So, we'll be booking soon. It's terribly exciting! TERRIBLY!
DaddyP just made it back from Walmart. PDaddy lives in the woods, so he's taking this little trip to heart and has big plans for the boys. Not sure what they'll involve, but I'm taking a book...just in case.
We'll be leaving in a bit, so I better go pack.
Splish-splash.

Monday Madness--Also Titled: The Spring Break Fun Continues

**As I type, Jack, who seems to be fully recovered (at least physically-he may be forever psychologically scarred) from the hammer attack, is lying on the coach with a bag of frozen blueberries between his legs following a bike accident on the driveway that left his manhood painfully injured. I'm awaiting a call from our pediatrician to see if she thinks I should bring him in. There is a bit of swelling going on, but these things are a mystery to me....Honestly, you'd think I'd be mentally prepared for Spring Break by now. The human spirit is a hopeful thing though. One day. One day we'll eat rainbows and poop butterflies during Spring Break. Just not this year.**
The weather man is calling for rain all the rest of the week (or basically just the days that we have booked a cabin.) Maybe he'll be wrong. Hahaa. I know. It's Spring Break, right? Of course it will rain. Probably flood. With a cyclone and munchkins. Followed by a terrible altercation with a menacing green witch with pet monkeys who will steal our dog and fly away to their horrible lair and...oh, you're still here? Sorry.
Where was I? Oh yes. Tomorrow.

Well, tomorrow (haha, I can't believe I'm actually typing this...what a terrible chance I'm taking...) we plan on leaving around noon to head to the cabin. We're set with coloring books, video games and play-doh in the event The Great Flood '09 occurs, and we're stranded indoors for 3 days. PMac will be driving up and joining us for one day/night...God Bless Her. She may want to rethink those plans. Aligning yourself with us during this specific week of the year is not only dangerous, but some might argue not very prudent. The kids are excited she'll be there, so we're hopeful that maybe she'll bring a bit of good fortune our way.
We've also stocked up on rubber boots, umbrellas, etc. Unless there is some serious electrical storm, we plan to enjoy the weather no matter what gets thrown at us. It would seem that DaddyP, aka Mr. Eagle Scout, camped quite a bit as a youngster, and he is chomping at the bit to cook all of our meals over an open campfire. Haha. I can't help but giggle. Mind you, it would probably be a good meal, if it wasn't spring break. Given the fact that it's supposed to rain a lot, I think we'll take campfire cooking items, but I'll also be taking sloppy jo fixings and a crockpot with stew makings---just to be on the safe side.
I live on safe side.
The safe side is my friend.
I own the safe side.
My middle name is Safe Side.
The kids are super ready to leave. We're taking the kids bikes, tent, lanterns, flashlights, s'mores fixings, mud boots/clothes, shovels, rope, fishing poles....we're set!
Stay tuned....

Hammers + Disease + Gardening = The Only Way We Know How to Start a Holiday Week

Perhaps I shouldn't complain. After all, despite the plethora of things that have gone wrong this the First Weekend of Spring Break, it still doesn't compare to the atrocities that we were plagued with during Spring Break '01, i.e. The Rotavirus Scurge. Yeah, I think we got off lucky.
So, while I finished up weeding the last of my beds this afternoon (really, it's like I was on crack, which I promise I am not--but you wouldn't believe the weeding, soil prep, fertilizing/edging I did today,) Sophy whacked Jack on the head with a hammer. Yeah, I know. ER doc, who had the bed side manner of an egg-sucking wildebeest, said everything was fine and sent us home. I really figured he was fine, let the record state, but how do you not take your child to the doc when he's been cracked on the head with a hammer? Ya know? So, yeah. That was interesting.
In the meantime, Sam has exploded with Fifth's Disease which he apparently caught from Jack. It's really all about the thoughtfulness around here, ya know? We share everything from hammer blows to viral infectants. We are a very close family. Anyway, yesterday while playing with cousins and visiting with PD's sis and mom, we realized that Sam's face and ears were on fire with a fine rash on his arms. Today that fine rash turned into a very prominent and ANGRY rash on his arms, trunk, tops of legs and backs of his calves (which is odd for Fifths.)
So there you it have folks. Another Spring Break for the books. It could be worse. It could certainly be worse. Not that I'm asking for it to be worse. Oh no. No, no. Uh-uh. Nope. We'll take hammers and diseases any day. ANY day. We love hammers. And viruses that don't make us puke or poop and run 104 degree temps for 8 days. Oh no. Anything but that.
Happy Hammer Diseasing!
I mean, er...Happy Spring Break!

A lovely yard and a dog who eats marbles.

Ok, she doesn't exactly EAT the marbles. She just carries them around in her mouth and spits them across the tile, so she can chase them. It will go on forever if we don't put a stop to it, but for now, it's keeping her from minding Pongo's business. I'm sure he appreciates the break.
The mowers were here when I came home from school (happy to report that this time they didn't blow a rock through our back door glass,) and it was nice surprise on such a warm, pretty day. For the past couple of months, my roses have been looking a bit poorly. I've been watering them faithfully, I 3-in-1'd them last month and waited a week before salting them. Last week prior to the 3 day deluge of rain, I put out a ton of Osmocote on all of my plants that had been wintered in. Once it rained on them, I think the combination of things from the last couple of months really paid off. They are returning to their former selves even though a couple of them are still looking a bit haggard. For the most part, they look almost as good as new. My Joseph's Coat isn't totally healed, but Joseph is sitting in a place that doesn't get much sun throughout the winter. He's just going to have to be patient and try to not get to leggy in the meantime. My Duncan rose is in the same predicament, so hopefully they'll perk up when they get some sun on them. The irises that I stole last year and the day lilies that I moved from a different spot in the year are looking very nice as well. I intend to have my hands in the dirt on a couple of occassions next week during spring break. Not sure what I'll get done, but I'll be loving it no matter what.
DaddyP is taking pics all evening, so we're in various stages of playing outside, homeworking, and getting supper going. Speaking of, I better go get on it.

Before the blackout...

I feel the all-too familiar twinges that let me know a migraine is brewing, so I'm going to keep this short while the kids play outside and DaddyP shoots a senior--not literally. Maybe I can recap yesterday/today before the blackout occurs.
We attended church with PDad's mom/stepdad yesterday in L'sport and then had lunch and visited for the afternoon while PDaddy shot some people--again, not literally. Lunch was great. PMac made brisket, potato salad, baked beans, salad, bread, cheese grits (which I think I ate entirely by myself), and a buttermilk pie. Yeah, we ate ourselves silly. It was too good. It was grey and drizzly, so we mostly stayed indoors and visitated, but PDad did manage to get his pics finished. We made it home around 5, I think, at which time I managed to do 4 loads of laundry, clean 3 bathrooms, get Sam's homework finished, and lay out clothes for Monday a.m. It was a mad dash, but I was somehow done by 9:30. Not really sure how that happened.
School was productive today, and the kids are working really well. I almost hate to have a break because we'll never get them back this way again. We are out for Spring Break next week, and they'll be permanently checked out--mentally--after that. Today was pleasantly quick, though, so I shouldn't complain about the little boogers too much. Tomorrow morning is another early day due to an awards breakfast ceremony where I have to say something touching and uplifting about a student. Great. Haha, just kidding, I really do have something touching and uplifting to say. So there.
PDaddy picked up groceries last week, and he grabbed two pre-made salads from the deli. I think I know what we'll be having for supper....along with a certain little orange pill that makes my migraine go bye-bye. We'll call that dessert.

"This Was the Best Day of My Entire Life."~Sophy

Today was a banner day! PDaddy and I got to sleep until 9:30, and the kids woke up and watched tv and ate cereal. DadP had a wedding interview mid-morning-ish, and the kids wandered around in their pj's--not at his interview. We left about 1 to head to S'port to have lunch at Jason's. It was the perfect weather for the salad bar and a bowl of tomato-basil soup. We split up after Jason's--not literally, and Sophy and I went to the Boardwalk for a bit of shopping while the guys went bowling. I found some good deals on some spring outfits for Sophy at the boardwalk and got an awesome deal on some Born sandals for her as well. We made a Target stop to pick up the Thumbelina Barbie for getting all 95's and above on her report card and few other things we needed. Our next stop was at the place where she now says she wants to live for the rest of her life. The nail salon. This isn't the nail salon I typically frequent for a pedicure, but I think I will make the switch to this place. It has recently been remodeled, and the manicurists were extremely polite and only spoke in English to us and to each other. Sophy decided prior to getting there that she wanted "sunset pink" for her nails and toes, so she set to work searching for just such as color as soon as we got there. She oooh'd and aaaahhh' over the pedicure part. That was her first go-round with a full pedicure, and she was enraptured. Le (pronounced Lay) gave her butterfly decals for her fingernails, and that pretty much admitted him into the BFF Club for the rest of eternity. Sophy informed Le that when she "got her future house, he was invited to visit for all the holidays and sit in her vibrating chair" that she was going to furnish said future house with. Sophy assured the entire staff that we would be back in a matter of days to do the process all over again.
The guys had a great time bowling. They had hoped to go fishing today, but it was so nasty and cold out that they opted for something that they could do indoors. Can't say that I blame them.
We're about to have movie night (Beverly Hills Chihuahua) and snacks, so I'm off to get something together!

Hope isn't the only thing that floats.

We've had a nice couple of days of rain. I've heard lots of complaining from folks around, but I just don't think I'll ever complain about the rain. Until you've lived in a dry, dusty place, you just can't appreciate it, I suppose. Things can always dry out, but you can't make it wet without rain. Profound, I know.
I killed another bird today with my car. If I were to be keeping a tally, that would probably be about the 12th bird that I've mowed down. I didn't mind so much the giant buzzard that clung to the luggage rack on the car's roof before clawing across our sunroof and being hurdled to certain death. It's the sweet little guys that break my heart. Today, it was a cardinal. Poor guy. Never knew what hit him. We've taken to calling our vehicle The B.K. Sigh. I'm ashamed. I'm a serious lover of birds. Serious. Borderline obsession. Apparently my obsession has turned deadly.
I left school early this afternoon to take Sophy to the doc. I noticed a very large knot behind her right ear yesterday and thought we better get it checked out. Doc says it is a lymph node (which I guess we suspected) and that it's slightly enlarged. She did bloodwork which came back normal, so I guess all is well. The kid still hasn't grown. She is still 49 inches tall and weighs 49 pounds. Maybe she'll grow one day. According to the doc's charts, she has been the same size since this same time last year. She's either going to be a petite little thing (which I can't imagine,) or we're in store for one heckuva growth spurt at some point.
We headed to the theater after the doc, and DaddyP met us all there. Jack was dying to see Race to Witch Moutain (remember Return to Witch Mountain from the 70's, hehe.) It was a good show, surprisingly. The theater was crowded, despite the continuing downpour of rain, so we left there and headed to supper. Chocolate chip pancakes for the kids, chicken and dumplings for me and DaddyP. After eating, we sloshed on over to the bookstore for hot chocolate and some book perusing/purchases. Sam got the newest Mercy Watson book, Jack chose the latest Captain Underpants and March edition of Train magazine, and Sophy bought the Magic Treehouse research guide about Egypt.
DaddyP and the boys are doing something testosterone induced of their own choosing tomorrow, and Soph and I are going to get our nails and toes done. Maybe some lunch. I'm hoping to get to the boardwalk to look for some sales, but we'll have to see how it goes.
Well, I think I'll go read in the tub. DadP is watching Drillbit Taylor. I've GOT to get outta here.

The Change O' Plan that we're famous for!

DaddyP has planned to do some BOY STUFF with his sons this weekend, so looks like the sis and I have some girl planning to do! Oh yay! What shall we do (tapping my chin and looking to the sky....) What shall we do....heehee!!

Stuff, etc.

Today rolled along like any other Monday. It's the beginning of a new six weeks, so we've got some new things lined up in class. Starting a new novel is one of my fav things, and I think my classes are going to like our upcoming one. Plus, my sixth grade classes have started an impromptu research "project" of the effects of recess on school kids and their grades, behavior, etc. Have I mentioned how much I love my sixth graders this year? They are a serious group of go-getters. L.O.V.E them!! In other school news, one of my sixth graders lost his mom last week, and he was back at school today. He's one of those kids that the other kids kind of overlook a lot, but I was so proud of how good the other students were today and how careful they were to include him in things and to give him space (at the same time) when they thought he'd need it. Overall, kids can be by far more naturally good at these things than adults. It's heartbreaking, but I think this boy has a great group of peers around him that care about him. Not to exploit any private moments, but we gave our 6th graders and teachers one night's notice to bring a handful of quarters, a dollar, whatever they could spare to donate to the family to cover bills, etc. We took up a shocking amount of money from our students (and we're a low income school.) Last week the lower grade teachers who have one of the family's kids covered a meal, and the teachers at my campus will cover a meal for the family this week. I just wish we could help make this little guys life a little easier down the road. A meal seems so inconsequential when you consider what the family has lost. Anyway. It's sad.
This is Texas Public Schools Week, or some such nonsense, so I went to the cafeteria this a.m. to have a "Muffin For Mom." Couldn't they just celebrate TPSW by giving teachers a pay raise? I'm sorry...was that out loud?
Gym went okay tonight. Sophy's new coach makes them do push ups when they complain or grumble. She learned her lesson the hard way last week, but this week she was able to keep her mouth shut and work without sharing the contents of her thoughts. Haha. Poor child. That's a hard lesson to learn. Trust me. I know whereof I speak.
The rest of the week...hhhhmm. Wedding shower, parent conference (for MY child,) parent conference (for SOMEONE ELSE'S child,) Donuts For Dad, Biscuits for Grandparents, haircut appointment for the boys, pancakes at Strawns on Friday night, hhhmmm...anything else? Can't recall.
I'm looking forward to not doing much this weekend, if memory serves. Seems like I might be forgetting something, but for now, it feels good to forget whatever it is and pretend like I'll be home all weekend to do NOTHING! I hope I'm right about that!

We hit GOLD!

Oh what a fun weekend! We had an UBERsuccessful Grand Prix, but we'll save that wonderful news for the end!
We left straight from school Friday ("we" being DaddyP, Pop, Jack, and me) and headed to my bro/sil's house in Austinish. We had a pretty uneventful trip...well, if you don't count the incident with the 18 wheeler and the ditch. We sup'd in Madisonville at Texas Burger, aaahhh, and then made the rest of the trip in good time. Friday evening we visited until pretty late and hit the hay. Saturday a.m. the kids (niece, nephew + Jack) woke up pretty early, as usual, and DaddyP made a run to the breakfast burrito (read, AUTHENTIC) joint in town that is a breakfast tradition when we visit there. You have not lived until you've had chorizo, green sauce (hot enough to melt your fillings), refried beans, cheddar, peppers, onions, eggs, and fried potatoes rolled up in a tortilla. Uh-huh! Yeah. It's good. Where was I? Oh yes, after we gorged on the burritos, SIL and I stopped in at new antique store on the square. WONDERFUL new place! Oh my, weeelll, needless to say we made some purchases, and I'm happy to report that my large purchase did fit in the car! SIL and I found a perfect cuckoo clock so very similar to the one my grandfather had all through the years that I remember. After haggling with the owner over the specifics of the clock (she got a little miffed at us, I think, haha,) we took our cuckoo back to SIL's house and gave it to Pop for his birthday. The kids were tickled pink, and it's perfect.
After wrapping up our shopping venture, we went back to order pizza for lunch. SIL had a birthday cake order to make, so we talked while I watched her create a barn/farm scene out of marshmellow fondant. I know now that I can NEVER take up the occupation of baking/decorating/pleasing people. Omg. It turned out sooo adorable. I hope she posts pics on her blog soon. It was a full barn complete with a silo, duck pond, pigs, cows, a feed sack and water pail. Cute. Cute. Cute. She's got talent, that's for sure.
So, somewhere around mid-afternoon, we headed to Longhorn Aquatics on the TU campus. Made it there with time to spare, thank goodness, because the girl's basketball state play-off games were happening (and the WHS girls AND boys missed it by one game this year!! UG!) The place was crowded. Well, it's always retardedly jammed in Austin, but moreso than normal. Once inside the swim center, we found seats right up front and in the middle of the action. Jack was in awe of the high-tech facility. Big screen scoring system, Omega touch pads, 50m pool, very nice. And we did see some big names, although we missed Dara Torres and Aaron Piersol. Sniff, sniff. I'm happy to report that in our quest for gold medal Olympian viewing, we saw Kirsty Coventry (gold medalist from Zimbabwe) beat Katie Hoff (Olympic gold medalist). We also saw Garrett Weber-Gale and Peter and Alex Vandarkay. These names surely mean nothing to you, but Jack was elated and super pumped. He was even more elated and pumped when we walked right into getting an autograph from Garrett Weber-Gale as he was leaving the swimplex. Oh yeah, Jack almost passed smooth out in the stands. Here are some pics!
This was just after shaking hands with Garrett W.G.

Waiting patiently for the autograph!

On the road

We'll be on the road tomorrow after school, headed to Austin for the Grand Prix. You can read about it here! To say that Jack is excited, would be an understatement of gargantuan proportions. I'm sad we missed seeing Dara Torres swim today, but Garrett Weber-Gale and Aaron Piersol are nothing to sneeze at. Katie Hoff, one of Jack's crazy favs, will be there too. It is our most fervent hope that we can get photos of his favs, preferrably with Jack in the photo! These are the things his dreams are made of! He was literally bouncing off of the walls tonight. I'm pretty excited myself! We'll be taking Pop with us, and my SIL and her kids will be going with us to the meet. We watched a lot of the Olympic swimming events at their house this past August while we visited, and they're looking forward to experiencing this as well. I think we'll head to Austin early afternoon on Saturday and have lunch before heading to Longhorn Aquatics. While I'm not exactly (haha) a L'horn fan, ok...I'm the EXACT opposite, I do realize that they have an over-the-top swimming program, and I'm excited for Jack to get to see their facilities. He has heard so much about Longhorn Aquatics, with it being the home base for so many of his heroes, that it will be a prize for him to get to see their turf...along with the big names he hopes to see. We know he's not ready for an away-from-home swim camp just yet, we are scouting out and listening to friends who have been through them. This could be a good place to attend one in the future, and it will be good that he has been inside the facility. So far, the best camp we've researched is at TCU, but we'll probably wait a few more years before we take that step. Rest assured, I'll have pics to share from the Prix, and hopefully, we'll have some stellar moments to share. EEK!
In other news, I think we're pretty close to making a car purchase. We're having some issues with our current ride, and we're not sure if we want to continue on and pay for the work (warranty has expired) or see what sort of trade-in (hahha, that's funny) we might get. PDaddy has considered using it strictly for his biz vehicle and purchasing a second family vehicle. Not sure which, but I think we'll probably get that ball rolling. We've got 2 in mind, and we have totally differing car priorities. We'll see!
Oh, Treasure Quest is on Discovery! Have you been watching this? OHH! I love it.

Trip Planning + Weekend Plans = You guessed it...

Sophy threw up as soon as we got to my classroom this morning. Actually she emptied it on my classroom floor, twice in the hall on the way to the restroom, and once in the teacher's bathroom. I've never seen folks moving so fast to get out of our way. Blech! The good news is that schools are geared for easy vomit removal. A little cat litter tossed on it, sweep it up, disinfectant/bleach poured on it, mop it up, Wal-lah! Good as new. I seriously need to remember that about the kitty litter when we're at home. Then again, when you're at home, it usually lands on a bed, or carpet. So, there goes that idea.
So, here we are. She's playing the Wii and is as "happy as a dead pig in the sunshine", as my sweet Ninnie used to say. She seems fine, but she can't get that yucky taste out of her mouth. She keeps saying, "I wish you'd smell my breath. This is awful." No thanks, chic. I believe ya. She asked if we could get McDonalds for lunch, so I think if she doesn't throw up again between now and then we might do it. All the way home she remarked on how wonderful life was since the boys had to stay at school.
Speaking of sunshine, it was cloudy and cold this a.m., but the sun is trying to peek out. Wish it was closer to planting time, I'd get out there and work in the dirt. This time of year I have to hold myself back from planting stuff too early, but oh how I wish. I just finished lining up some movies at Netflix. We recently joined, and I had no idea how quickly those movies would go/come. When we register for a movie, we get it the next day. When I send it back, we get a notice the next day saying they received it. Why use a movie store? We typically use Pay Per View for movies, but lately there isn't anything worth watching on. PDad and I usually try to watch a couple of a movies a month together once the kids are in bed, but I've used Netflix to get a lot of movies that the kids have never seen. Sam is dying to see Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark because he has the Wii Lego game which follows that story line. I just put it in our queu, so we'll see what he thinks of it.
I suppose I' better go find something productive to do. Hhhmmm....perhaps I'll go continue spring clothes shopping online for the kids. They've all hit a serious growth spurt, and the $$account$$ is going to take a hit from getting them all caught up on shoes, church clothes and spring clothes. I've been searching for bathing suits as I go, but the only ones I've seen so far both the boys and Soph were tacky. Lets go see what we can find...

I survived TAKS day.

I want a tshirt that says that. But only so I can soak it in gasoline and set it on fire.

If you look on the bright side of the day from Hades today, I guess one could say that supper was a bright spot. I made tacos and the fixings, and for dessert, I made a strawberry shortcake. It was tasty.

Jack survived the 4th grade writing TAKS today. He said it was "easy." I hope that means that it was "easy" and not that it was so hard he had no clue that it was not "easy." Hha. He was able to tell me about the composition topic that he had to write, but I'm not sure if he addressed the prompt or not. I guess we'll know in a few weeks.

As I type, DaddyP is working on our taxes. Fun times, people. So far he seems to be in sorting mode, so the actual insane ramblings and cursing hasn't started yet.

Sam lost a tooth at school today. "Pulled it right out of my head" in the cafeteria, he said. Sometimes I really would like to be a fly on the wall...but only sometimes.

Looking forward to going to the Austin Grand Prix this weekend. Not sure if we're all 5 going, or if we'll leave the bottom 2 with the Meem.

I've got some online shopping to do, so I better get to it.

The View from Monday

Monday should be a fun day. The day before TAKS testing is ALWAYS fun times. The truly great news is that we get to do it all over again times ten in April!! WHHHEEE!
Tomorrow night Sophy has gym. She already doesn't want to go because last week the coach was pretty tough on them, and they didn't get to spend the last 10 minutes playing on the rock wall and foam pit like they normally do. I told her that is what happens when you don't do what the coach says, and she said,"Well! I didn't know that ahead of time!" haha.
We hit Walmart this evening to replenish some things and caved and ended up buying the week's groceries while we were there. If I needed a reminder as to why we don't buy groceries at Walmart, all I have to do is look at my checkbook from today's purchase. Sheesh. At any rate, we've got meals for the week. Tomorrow is lasagna/salad/bread, Tuesday is tacos/taquitos/Mexican night, Wednesday we'll grill chicken wings and have rice pilaf and sauteed squash/zuccini, Thursday is pizza night, and Friday we'll be heading to Austin.
I've got morning duty tomorrow (aka morning doody), so I better get things ready to roll.

Cold, cold, cold.

If I could permanently move to a location that had year round temperate weather, I would do it in a heartbeat. I hate cold weather. I detest cold weather. Ug, I want it to be warm. I've got several new gardens in mind, and one that I started last year that I stopped working on about 80% of the way through. I'm ready to dig in the dirt. DIRRRRT. In the next week or so, I'm gonna start some of my early seedlings indoors. This worked out great for me last year, and I had some beautiful cutting flowers by late April. This year I hope to have a small kitchen garden, there is some work I need to do on the bed I made last year with the pond in it, we're going to add some areas to our backyard, and I've got the notion to make a sitting, secret-type garden outside of my kitchen window to attract bees, birds, and flutterflies. If it would only get warm already. The first thing I'm doing is putting marking paint to mark where the new areas are gonna go, then I'll be eradicating the grass in those areas. Once that has happened, I'll get the tiller after those areas, and then the fun stuff can commence. I'm not making ANY weekend plans in April in order to spend all my days up to my teeth in dirt. (Well, one Saturday we'll be tea partying, but other than that, no other plans. )
I've got a ton of stuff to buy at Walmart. We avoid Walmart like the plague and only buy our groceries at a "grocery" store or a small, family owned market here in town. Still, every once in a blue moon, I'm out of all the things I can only get there for a reasonable price. And today is the day. Barf.

Please don't make me eat an armadillo.

DaddyP arrived home with a great little item which we used to play a prank on the boys. Of course, we didn't video it...but oh, if we had. Oh! Lets just say it involved a can of armadillo, a piece of bologna, and the boys gagging. Oh, it was good.
DaddyP had a wedding this afternoon, but he is already home. YAY! I think we're going to order take out Mexican and continue to enjoy the fire in the fireplace that surely rivals the heat of the Netherworld. Dang, that's a fire! PMac came to visit this afternoon, and I headed off to my hair appointment. Strange thing happened at the Hair Place...uhm...Hair Lady went a bit off on a tangent and made my hair very, EXTREMELY dark. As a matter of fact, it's shockingly dark, but ya know, I actually think I like it. My hair has never been this dark before, but it's surely a different look. Now that I have more grey than my mama (and that isn't much of an exag,) it has become pertinent that I maintain my monthly hair appointments. It's a shame that someone so young has so much grey hair, but well...for the next 6 weeks, uhm...it most certainly will not be grey. HAHA! Usually I keep it to my natural color with some lighter highlights. This time around, hehe, I'm more like....Asian? Mexican? Well, with blue eyes of course.
Had a great dinner last night with a portion of the QM girls. Hit the stores and bought Jack a pair of 8.5 Sauconys and a GORGEOUS large pink patent leather bag for myself. I think it is quite possibly my favorite purse of all time!
As bad as I hate to leave the fire, I need to get the boys some supper going and let DaddyP know what he's picking up for sup.

Friday is my friend.

I am very happy that tomorrow is Friday. There are lots of reasons for that happiness. PDaddy will be home, I'm meeting some friends for dinner. After dinner, we're going to have our "hooves rasped" as one of them so eloquently put it. Depending on what time DaddyP's flight arrives, I'll either pick up the kids from my mom to take them to the airport or some other such plan. Weekend plans are sketchy right now. I have a haircut planned that may or may not happen, an alleged wedding that may be written down on the wrong calendar date, and the need to be in Shreveport for most of the day on either Saturday or Sunday. Oh, and we'd like to spend a little family time with DaddyP!
Happy Friday!

Topic Wednesday

Just kidding, no topic today. Only a minute while the kids are eating to say that DaddyP just called. I thought he was calling to chit chat about his day, but the convo went something like this, "Hey, I was just calling to see why everyone's iPhones aren't working, but I just got you. Must be nothing. Call ya later. Bye." Hhhmmm. See ya later. Dude. Perhaps he'll call back later, ha!
Not sure what he did today (thanks to his cryptic call) other than goofing off, but tomorrow will be a lot of work from sun up 'til WAY after sundown. He doesn't leave until late Friday, so he'll get to mess around most of Friday too.
I'm looking forward to dinner out with some girlfriends again Friday eve. Not a typical EVERY week habit for me, I assure you, but it's just working out this way. I believe we may have plans to take a group pedicure. Sounds like something to make this crazy week a bit better. If PDaddy's flight is in at a reasonable time, I'll get the kids before picking him up. I can't recall what time he said he'd be back. I can't recall if I pee'd today either, so that's no surprise. I wasn't even at school on Monday (but I'd have rather been there than where I was), and already this week has been something else. Or is it the 7th grade girls that have spring fever that are something else. I have morphed into Bonquiqui this week at school. Rude! You'll be happy to know that I haven't cut anyone though. There's always tomorrow.
Off to toss the kids in showers and tubs, so we can watch Idol.

Jack's Feet and Topic Tuesday

Jack came home from school today complaining of his feet hurting. I had the bright idea (HARHAR) that maybe, GASP, his shoes were too tight. After a bit of inspecting, I discovered that they were extremely tight. Like, unbelievably tight. So, we went to the mall to get him a new pair (because dang....it was bad), and we discovered that we had been cramming his size 8 foot into a size 6 shoe. Ooops.
We're listening to the WHS Lady Wildcat B'ball playoff game on the radio as I type. I feel like I'm on the movie Hoosiers...one of my fav movies of all time. From the sounds coming through the radio there is a good sized crowd there. The team has been drawing quite a crowd in the games leading up to this one, and it's a nice change to see. Our town is notorious for being fair weather fans, and I wish that the following that the team has brought in would stick around even when our teams aren't doing great. Or even better, if those sports fans would actually do something that counts like volunteering at the same school they're "fans" of. I'm not talking about at the elementary level. HAHA! Uh. No. God forbid those people that are willing to give up their evening at home with their family actually give of their time to come participate and volunteer and help out at the school during the SCHOOL DAY! GASP! Of course, the elementary has no prob with parents bringing cupcakes, Ha. But ask for parents willing to come work with the kids who need it, and all of a sudden the crowd disperses. You can forget about adults volunteering on a regular basis at the middle school/high school age. By volunteering, I'm talking about working with a kid who no one cares about or coming to check on that kid whose parents don't give a rats tooty. If only those fair weather sports fans (and even the devoted ones) would volunteer to work with a 10 year old who can't read, or write in cursive, or add/subtract/multiply/divide. Lord help us all if those bleachers full of folks so proud of themselves for attending a sporting event were to actually give a darn about bringing up our assessment scores or involving themselves in starting programs at the middle school and high school level....Where are those people? Hhhmmmm. Oh right. They're "at the game." What a difference it would make in our schools if everyone willing to watch a basketball game would donate the same amount of "support" to the side of school that is so much more important....the academic side. So, there is my soap box for the night. Gee, it was Topic Tuesday, and I didn't even know it.

Doc Update

Pediatrician:
Rash is a Fifth's Disease type (if not THE illness.) Definitely viral, but in the Fifth's category. We've dealt with that viral type before. She says the symptoms can last up to 3 weeks, so that explains why we've seen it for the amount of time we have. His arms are on fire, poor kid. She also checked out his heel which has been causing him serious limping and pain. Basically, she said it had to do with (and I spaced out a bit, so this may be sketchy) it could either be Sever's Disease (which you can google...sounds worse than it is) or tendons (?) separating due to an impending major growth spurt of his foot which would go along with the major growth spurt period that we seem to be entering into. (He is now 5 ft. tall.)
Pediatric Opthamologist:
We had actually seen this doc before when Jack scratched his eye with an eyeball full of sawdust. Anyway, doc does an entirely thorough exam (like 2.5 hours) complete with dilating and tests, etc. We got some good ideas about preventitive measures that we can do...dietary supplements, cleansing pads, warming pads, an antibiotic cream-which we had already been using, etc. He also prescribed an oral round of antibiotics for 6 weeks. Yeah. I know.
So, that was today. Now I'm fading fast because supper hasn't made it into my body yet at 9:30 p.m. Not good.

Love it

I hope the weeks continue to fly by at warp speed like they have been doing since Christmas. At this rate, it'll be June before we know it! I don't know about you folks, but I am ready for summer. I'd settle for a Good Solid Spring, though. Most of my students will be finished with classes on May 21st, since our district has opted to do the optional flexible year end that the state has offered. Even though our school calendar goes through June 5 (or is it 6th?), most will meet the requirements for early outing. YAY! I believe 2 thirds of my own children will also meet the standards....not sure about one third of them.
PDad is gone to load his equipment for this week on the semi, so I'm sitting here trying to figure what it is I should be doing. I have the laundry finished. Backpacks are ready for tomorrow. Kitchen is clean. Bathrooms are clean. For some bizarre reason, it feels like there is something I am supposed to be doing. Oh well, must not be important...yeah, right!
DaddyP will leave on Tuesday eve, so I'm glad he doesn't have anything today or tomorrow. Sophy has gym tomorrow night, but that is as far as our plans go....well, other than Jack's doc appointment tomorrow at the ped opthamologist. I'm wondering if I will have to get him in to the pediatrician on Monday as well. The rash that was almost gone has come back. I had a sub for a half day, and I really need to go to school for a bit tomorrow if for no other reason than to help set up for the baby shower we're having after school that I kind of ramrodded. Hopefully I won't have to hand that off to some poor, unsuspecting soul.
I may be MIA this week...chasing my tail. Friday I have plans with some gals and then to pick PDaddy up at the airport late. May not hear from me between now and then, but I'll try!
NOTE TO TRISTIN: I just got your note! You're right it IS Sunday! I'll be dialing your digits shortly sistah! Fid'na hollah!

At the Ball

Twue Wuv

YMCA

Grooving on the dance floor

Looking sweet!
Conga Line-One of many!

~Dancing with her prince~

She looks sad here, but she was trying to look "like a grown lady."

The Weekend

Backing up a little bit...Jack's swim clinic on Thursday night went great! He worked for 2.5 hours in the pool getting evaluated and learning some new drills and ways to tweak what he is doing. PDaddy said he worked so hard! There is no way I could've completed a fraction of what he did. I am so happy that he has found something that he can excel at and that he LOVES doing so much. It's something he'll be able to do for the rest of his life to stay in shape as well. Our pediatrician really encouraged him to keep at it the last time we saw her. She said that she sees so many young kids with sports related injuries, so she really emphasized the low-impact nature of swimming and was all for it.
In other Jack news, we did get an appointment for Monday with the pediatric opthamologist that we were on the waiting list to see. Jack has his 4th sty for this month right now, so I'm really hoping to get some answers. Someone suggested to us that it was a sign of diabetes, which I had never heard before. I'm hoping they were misinformed, although we've had a diabetes scare with Jack before...and diabetes runs in our family. We'll have answers soon, hopefully.
I had dinner out with a friend last night while the kids had a sleepover with the Meem and Pop. PDaddy had family pictures and wanted to stay home and get some editing done, so it worked out pretty good.
This morning we had a birthday party bright and early. We made it home in time to grab a little something for lunch and to find out that Sam has a fever. YAY! And it's not even a holiday! Makes me want to put the Christmas tree up or something. I'm sitting in front of the fire as I type while Sophy plans out her hairstyle for tonight's Father/Daughter Ball. She wants "lots and lots of curls." Which is easier said than done with hair as thick as her's is. PDaddy just left to pick up her wrist corsage. I think that is the only reason she wants to go; she gets to wear a flower corsage.
Tomorrow we're grilling burgers for PDaddy's stepdad's bday, and Sam will have lessons somewhere in there, I hope.
I'm off to make some hot tea and read by the fire until I'm called into hair and fingernail painting duty later on!

The Week

This week, like all 4 day weeks, has been 8 days long. PDad and I had a very serious conference with Sam's teachers this week, Jack has another sty and horrible rash covering his upper body, PDad has been slammed with photography work, on top of the normal weekly comings and goings. We're trying to get Jack in to see the eye specialist that our ped referred us to, so hopefully we'll get some answers and get him some relief. Poor kid, his eye hurts so bad today.
Heck, while we're here, lets just break it all down:
Jack
Other than the styes (sties?) and the rash, Jack is back on track (knock on wood) in school. We had a rough patch there for a couple of weeks, and he seems to be more mindful of things going on lately. The great thing about the Wii (which is only allowed on the weekends in this house), Nintendo DS (same rule), and his Ipod, we now how some awesome leverage for just such an occassion. One go 'round of taking all of the above mentioned articles away from him, and we pretty much have had him back where we wanted him. Tonight he is at the LC with PDaddy and a swim coach who is giving a swim clinic to Jack and one other swim team member. He was very excited and looking forward to it all week. He recently made it into a size 14 pair of jeans, and I'm scared to say that he already has grown into them. We'll be out of them by the end of this school year. He has, literally, sprouted since Christmas. I don't think he has ever grown this much. Or eaten this much.
Sam
Well, in order to preserve a bit of family privacy, we won't disclose the FULL extent of Sam's school issues, but we are having some. We're not really sure as to the root of his problems...other than he is 198% B.O.Y.....Ug! Otherwise, he is fine and living large. Sam recently announced that he would be joining Jack on the swim team this year, so we'll see how long that lasts once swim season starts and practices start up for 2-3 hours a night. Piano is still going good for him. He is hot and cold with his desire to play, but he knows that our deal was that he would stick with lessons for a year if he started them. Yesterday he sat down and ran through his practice book without having to be told and worked so hard. It was lovely to hear. I'd love it if it was something he stuck with forever. If only we could bury the piano in dirt, then he'd be SURE to stick with it!
Sophy
Things are good in school. God knew after the boys I'd need a break when it comes to grades and meeting with teachers. At least for this year, Sophy has it all down pat. She is so very into her grades. She wants all 100's. Haha. From one extreme to the other in this house, I tell you. We have to tell her constantly that it's OK to not make a 100 on everything. It would seem that she is something of a perfectionist when it comes to her school work. I guess it could be worse. Actually, I know it could be worse! Ha. This weekend she's going to the Father/Daughter Ball with DaddyP, and we finally have the dress, shoes, hair accessories on standby in the closet. You can bet pics will be here for your viewing pleasure ASAP! Saturday she has a birthday party and the dance that eve, and hopefully we'll get some rest time in their somewhere.
DaddyP will be out of town for most of next week, so I'm hoping the kids will get to spend some time with him this weekend.
Off to give 2 practice tests....

Conversations with Sophy

These may be more like quotes. She's full of one-liners. Can't imagine where she gets that...

"It's not called 'lipstuck', Sam. It's called LIPSTICK."

"When I grow up, I wanna be a dolphin trainer. Just like Pat Sajak."

"I really want to go to Hawaiia, but I have to wait until I get health insurance." (For the record, we have health insurance..and dental insurance.)

"I may be playing this Nintendo DS, but I'm still royalty Sam...and don't you forget it, Mister."

"Clay holds lots and lots of water. Now, sand doesn't hold so much water. Because, well, that's the reason the desert is so dry. It needs clay."

"My life is just one big roller coaster....up and down. Up and down. Up and down. It never ends."

"My favorite food is bacon. I wish I could have bacon on my birthday cake."

"I know I'm not supposed to like boys, but I did accidentally almost kiss one today. It was totally almost an accident."

"Hello! Duh. I do read my science book."

"My brothers are such a burden to my society."

"Listen, Sam. I'm telling you the truth. Cats in China DO have to eat their cat food with chopsticks. Isn't that right Mom?"

"Why doesn't anybody listen to me anymore?"

"I wish those guys knew what they were doing."

"I wish my name was Rose, and I lived in a garden with the other fairies."

"Excuse me. This is my private moment. Can you please close the door?"

The Day

Today was about 4 days long, but in middle school terms, that's about average...so I guess today was pretty normal. We've had a few days of springish weather, so the kids are starting to get twitterpated with each other. Oy. The boys are more hormonal than the girls, and that is saying something at this stage. Blech. Anyway, maybe the moon phases will change or winter will snap back where it's supposed to be or something.
Jack and DaddyP are swimming at the LC, and Sam and Sophy are somewhere being very quiet. Never a good sign, but I haven't heard anything even close to quiet all day. So I'm gonna go with it for a few more minutes before investigating. Yet again, we got our homework done before we left school, so it's all done, and we're ready for the evening. DaddyP is cooking tonight which means he'll probably stop at Chili's for ToGo. Fine with me...I've been loving their buffalo wing, bleu cheese salad thing. Hold on while I wipe the slobber off of my chin.
I've a few loads of laundry lined up before supper, so I better get on that. Otherwise we'll be running around Natchitoches in our skivvies this weekend, and frankly, I'm sure there are codes against such behavior. If not, it could be an interesting visit.

Underwear Check

Sam told me that today at school there was some question as to which second grader was missing their underwear. Hhhm. Ok. Apparently a pair was found somewhere? I think I'll ask his teacher to clarify. I hope Sam wasn't involved.

DaddyP is shooting Senior Night at a high school basketball game, and my kids are in various stages of getting their baths/showers done. The kids finished their homework before we left school, so I told them we could stop by CVS on our way home to pick up Valentines for their classes and teachers. The kids were so horrible, it's a wonder we weren't kicked out of CVS. I'd love to see the security camera video of our 14 minute store visit. Or maybe I wouldn't love to see it.

PDaddy made all the appropriate calls for our camping trip over spring break. We haven't told the kids yet, but I know they'll be excited. I'm pretty fired up myself. The place we're headed to offers canoeing, paddleboats, fishing, bike trails, etc. Can't wait!

We'll be leaving after school Friday to go to Natchitoches for the weekend! Not sure what all we have planned, but luckily, we remembered to make reservations for our nightly restaurants with it being VDay weekend. I'm excited about one part of our trip in particular and am hoping to get some good info and photos to share when we return. The place is closed for the winter, but I was able to get in touch with the proprietor who said they would do an appointment for us! More info to come.....exciiiitteed!

Monday is a holiday, but PDaddy will have to work. The kids have been invited on a movie excursion, but I'm not sure what we'll see. Uhm, it will NOT be Gran Tarino! Hehe. Btw, go see it...just leave your kids at home.

We're in for some severe weather tonight according to Mr. Weather Man.

My dogs are fighting over PDaddy's sock.

Off I go.

The end of the weekend.

Sigh. When your weekend stinks, I think you should get a do-over. Wouldn't that be nice? Or maybe like the EASY button commercial, only you'd get a DO-OVER button? That's be sweet.
Friday night was nice enough. DaddyP and I went to see Gran Tarino. You should see this movie. You really should. After the movie, we went to eat dinner where we saw Lucy Lu. Yes, Lucy Lu.
Saturday was nice enough, too. I stayed home all day and cleaned house. Sounds like a real drag, but I got so much done that I was pretty pleased with myself. I changed all of the bed sheets, cleaned all of the bathrooms, did all of the laundry, got it folded and put away, vacuumed, and cleaned out the cabinet in the master bath...which was...dang. Yikes. Bad.
Today started off sort of normal, but it pretty much stunk it up after that and ended any nice vibe I had going on. We woke up and attempted to go to church, but before we were able to get out the door, Jack was down with the migraine he woke up with. PDaddy volunteered to stay home with him, and I headed out with the other 2. I was in church for maybe 15 minutes when the headache that I woke up with turned into something out of this world. (My last few migraines have caused me to get tunnel vision AND loose hearing in my ears. Yeah, I know.) So, I ducked out of church in the middle of Congressman Louis Ghomert's visiting sermon & headed home. I spent about 5 hours off and on in the bed before I finally broke down and took the gold encrusted Relpax pill (that costs me about $80 for 3 pills) on top of the 4 Advil and 2 Tylenol I had already consumed . I woke up in time to realize I had started my period and would not be able to take any Premsyn for cramps without causing my liver to burst into flames....and we had a roller skating birthday party to attend later in the evening. Luckily, the Relpax knocked out the headache, and the cramps have stayed at bay long enough for us to hit the skating rink. I'm happy to report that DaddyP is quite the skater, and he did NOT break any bones. The kids had a blast, especially Sophy. Sophy went from being a scooter on skates to skating like a big girl tonight. She was so proud of herself.
Well, I better be off. Still things to do before I'm done today.

British Invade Texas

Not to beat a dead horse, but I know I've already commented on the Zombie and Raptor Invasions. I think they're getting better! Hahha. I don't care who you are. It's funny.

The eyes have it.

The eyes have it, but we're not sure what the eyes have...exactly. Our pediatrician prescribed us another round of Bactrim which helped clear up the funky eyes last month, but she also referred us to an opthamologist to determine the cause of the 'excessive' amount of infections he keeps having. She said it wasn't abnormal to have a sty, but she was concerned at the frequency and the amount. He cropped up his second one today. It's on the same eye as the one that cropped up yesterday. These aren't as huge as the last go 'round, so that is good news. He's complained all day of pain when he blinks, so hopefully we'll get rid of these soon and get his baby blues back to normal.
DaddyP and I are going to the movies tomorrow after school and to pick up a few things in town. I think we're going to Lowes to pick up where we left off (more on that later) with our kitchen redo. In typical me fashion, we're going in a totally different direction than we originally planned, but it's exactly the direction I wanted to go. So, there ya go!
The supper hour approacheth, so I'm off to order our Thursday night pizza!

Hump.

((Totally unrelated side note: Am I the only person who finds this funny?I'm telling you, it's got 8th grader written all over it.))
What a dirty word, eh? Hump. Whoever called it Hump Day must not have taught middle schoolers. No matter what you call it, I'm glad to have the week on the downhill slide. Let's just hope it's not a crazy downward spiral of misery and depravity that skids to a halt in a mangled and writhing heap of waste and smoldering debris. (How's that for optimisimic outlook on the rest of the week?)
I'll only be at school for a half day tomorrow in order to get Jack to the pediatrician to have his eye (which has grown yet another sty) looked at. The bright side is that I'll only be at school for a half day tomorrow. The bad news is that I'll only be at school for a half day tomorrow. It's a double-edge sword, really. Sometimes the pleasure ain't worth the pain.
Well, DaddyP and I are watchng Convoy on MGM, circa 1978. Classic. Gotta go.

Tuesday News

Tuesday was interesting all day long. School was pretty low key despite a faculty meeting at 7:15, a meeting with the principal during my conference period (haha, conference period), and an ELA meeting after school. PDaddy had a photo shoot in his office this afternoon, and he is swimming at the LC with Jack now. I decided to save the roast for tomorrow because it's supposed to be really cold tomorrow, I think, and I've got gigantic potatoes that I'm twice stuffing with ham and cheese for supper. I love twice baked potatoes. I've never made them with ham/cheese inside, but dang. They smell GOOD!
We got homework done before we left my classroom, so we are all set for American Idol tonight! Wheedoggies!

Supper Menu

Thought I'd share our supper menu for the week. (I am not one of those people who likes to cook for sport, but I am learning to not hate it quite so much.)
Monday: Bertolli Oven Baked Meal, 4 Cheese Stuffed Shells in Scampi Sauce which I am doctoring up with some Afredo cream sauce-we've never tried this before, Greek salad, and Mozerella Bread
Tuesday: Tyson Roast kit recommended by my SIL (this is the same as the stew kit that I commented on a few weeks back), green salad, green beans with tomatoes, biscuits
Wednesday-Chicken and pasta salad with cold veggies.
Thursday-Pizza night!
Friday-Eating out
PDaddy and I have been making weekly menus and shopping for those specific menus for about 2 years now. We are spending about $300 less a month! Some months we stick to it more closely than others. If we know we're going to be out of town or eating out one night, we take that $ out of our weekly grocery budget. We spend about $150 a week on groceries at the MOST, even though we go through 5 gallons of milk a week. Some weeks, we spend no more than $75. Here is how we do it:

• Monthly budget: approx. $550
• Make a menu and only buy ingredients needed
• If we're eating out, it comes out of the grocery budget...and we buy less groceries
• STOP SHOPPING AT WALMART!! We have started buying all of our groceries from Krogers or a family owned grocer here in town. When we shop at Walmart, we ALWAYS blow the budget on JUNK of many shapes and forms. Avoiding Walmart works for us, and makes us much happier people to be around.

Speaking of supper, I'm burning bread! Gotta jet!

Mr. Phelps

(We're VERY EXCITED about taking Jack to the Austin Grand Prix at TU in March to see all of his favs, including Mr. MP. In light of recent events, I'm glad he'll be able to see all of his favs swimming up close and in person.)
Well, MP, you've let us down. Luckily, we have big hearts and are willing to forgive you and hope that you do better in the future. MP, we've always (and still do) admired your swimming. Your status of role model has always paled in comparison to our REAL role models (PDad, PPop, and lots of aunts/uncles, cousins, and friends.) So, while we've not always looked to you as our role model, still, it's sad, no doubt, and a very loyal fan cried tonight when he heard your sad news, and then he prayed for you at bedtime....that you would "make better choices." I'd like to think, MP, that you taught your fan a lesson without really knowing it.
I'm happy to report that when Jack learned of Michael P's bad judgement, while upset, he was pretty adamant about the fact that there were so many swimmers who didn't make bad choices, but that he was hoping that MP would not make a bad choice again. Jack admires so many different swimmers and is a fan of a dozen or so...most of which I only vaguely know the names, but he can tell you their favorite stroke, their hometown, their fastest time at the Olympics, and who they beat to win. All in all, he took the news pretty well, but I hope that he is able see Michael P. learn a lesson from this.

A To Do List of Sorts

We had a great time visiting the fam in South of Here, Louisiana. The kids played like a pack of wild indians, and we went to a neat Cajun restaurant with a live band and a dance floor. Sophy and Cousin E. tore up the dance floor the entire evening, stopping only briefly to put a bite of food in their mouths before hitting the dance floor again to dance to one Cajun jig after another. We ate some very tasty food. The ride home was filled with pouring rain for most of the way, but we made it home in time to get the things done that can't get done during the week while I'm at work. We had a blast! Now, the kids are in bed, and we're watching Super Bowl commercials while we Tivo Wipeout. Ahhhh, Wipeout!
(Edited to say: Did you see the previews for Land of the Lost during the Super Bowl! Hello! I can't believe it! I've been telling DaddyP for years about my favorite childhood show...sleestacks, Chaca, the father and children going over the waterfall and landing in the time of dinosaurs. He thought I was nuts. Well, I am...but now he knows it's true! Remind me to tell you a story about sleestacks.)
A To Do List for the Week:

• Soph has gym tomorrow night.
• Jack needs to go swim.
• Sam will have a make-up piano day one evening this week from missing today's lesson.
• We're going camping in March, and I need to call the place we're headed to
• Call and schedule Jack's appointment ASAP with the pediatric endodontist.
• Make arrangements for our road trip at Spring Break (vomit clause intact)
• Call B&B to confirm reservations for Valentine's Day weekend in Natchitoches.