Friday, April 28, 2006

Gone!

Life in a Nutshell

I sure hope that the people who took our sons' bicycles have a real need for them. That's all I can think about them right now, because I'm mad that the bikes are gone.

But, they haven't been missed, which is weird. We just noticed it last night, and apparently the guy across the street said that his granddaughter's bike was stolen early Monday morning! So, I guess the boys won't be too upset.

Especially when they find out we'll be buying them some much-desired scooters.

:)

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Birthday (?) Weekend

Life in a Nutshell
And so, I just placed my first order with Albertsons.com, supposedly guaranteeing me at least a few extra hours this weekend to.........

1. Make 50 eggrolls for a belated First Communion Party for DS#1 and 4 other friends who will be making their First Communion this Saturday. Approximate attendance: 150 people. Glad I'm not in charge!

2. Cook a ham for same party.

3. Attend t-ball game Saturday before huge party.

4. Attend chaotic party and attempt to keep track of kiddos, especially DD#2.

5. Go to mass.

6. Attend my weekly sacrificial ritual where I run up and down an over-sized field wheezing incessantly.... you know, my soccer game!

7. Go to dinner and a "Da Vinci Code" talk given by a very important friend of mine....... no, I'm not name dropping! :)

8. Birthday? Oh yeah. I turn 34 sometime during all of this. I think it's Saturday. Yup.

So, as I'm watching my girls swing and jump and climb to ridiculous heights on the monkey bars, and see my boys join the others in a game of baseball, and as I visit with the other moms, I will thank God for my blessings and ask Him to continue to let me enjoy this time, these moments........to help me to appreciate what He has given me.

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

David and Goliath

Life in a Nutshell
As I write this, my kiddos are watching CCC's version of David and Goliath. It is a fairly harmless animated version, but with a drunken enraged king who wishes to kill the little hero David. It is for this reason that DS#1 refuses to watch it. DD#2, however, loves it, and it is she who has chosen it for their afternoon viewing pleasure.



The story in the New Catholic Picture Bible is still one of the boys' favorites. As a young girl, I don't ever remember the part where David chops off Goliath's head. Yet, that is my boys' favorite part. And so I am required to read that sentence over and over again.

"David took the giant's sword and cut off his head."

Gotta love those boys. May they have as much courage to slay the evil in this world.........

Saturday, April 22, 2006

First Game Day


...and they won! DS# 2 fielded most of the outs, since he was on first base. DD# 1 got on base her first time up, and did a great job! Posted by Picasa

Friday, April 21, 2006

Swimming in the rain.....

Life in a Nutshell

Last night I took the 4 older kids to The Hilton Suites hotel downtown to visit a very dear friend of mine who was in town for her mother-in-law's wedding. Jenn is married with 3 adorable girls, and very pregnant with their first boy! It was wonderful to see them and to meet their extended family. Jenn and I have been friends for a long time...we met when we were just 9 years old! We went to college together, roommates for the first two years. As sometimes happens with close friends, some personality conflicts developed and we drifted apart. That, and I didn't get along with her then boyfriend..... But, old friendships die hard. Out of all of my friends from college, I keep in touch with her the most. Our ties go way back before even high school, and since our parents were both involved in the same Catholic community that made life in public school almost unbearable, we share a unique history. A lot of the same stories, a lot of the same laughs, and a lot of the same struggles. Awesome to see her again.

I took the kids because they were having a pool party, and since it was raining, I thought an indoor swim-fest would be ideal. The kids had a blast. All 4 are pretty independent in the water (although DD#2, at age 3, should not be...). So, with DD#2 in a lifejacket, it was relatively easy for me. We had pizza, soaked in the hot tub (even the kids...for a bit) and chatted. Because of the wedding, there were a ton of other people Jenn had to visit with too, so as we moms are used to, our chatting was just snatches here and there as I looked after my kids, and she took pictures and visited with relatives.

At 8:15, I dragged my kids away from the pool, dried them off, and piled them into the van. They were exhausted when we got home. No complaints as we plopped them into bed....and no extra requests for band-aids from DD#2!

:)

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Note to self....

Life in a Nutshell

When it is 95 degrees at 10 a.m. and you feel the need to plop 4 pieces of ice in your coffee to prevent your own sweat from um, flavoring your delicious java....

Increase the ratio of coffee to water added.


<yawn>

Not to worry, though. It may 100 degrees today, but tomorrow it will be a high of 78....

Monday, April 17, 2006

Happy Easter!


Here we are, post-bunny-candy, pre-mass.... The best we looked all day, guaranteed. Posted by Picasa

And here is the jumpy house we rented for our humongous Easter Bash. It was 95 degrees, so all the kiddos were sporting red faces, but happy smiles. We went through 5 gallons of lemonade and 4 gallons of water.... Posted by Picasa

Thursday, April 13, 2006

A Phone Call... (Updated)

Life in a Nutshell

...at 12:20 a.m. could be a scary thing.

Unless it's your best friend's husband (you know, your best friend that is a week overdue with #6) asking you to come stay at the house until "Grandma" can get there from Fort Worth so he can get his wife to the hospital to have their baby!

DH fielded the phone call, and since I know her babies can come quickly, I ran around the house panicking for a minute until I realized that all I needed was my shoes (by the door) and my car keys (in my purse by the door). And I was off.

Lisa looked very calm, and they both hugged me as they left. "Grandma" showed up about 30 minutes later, and I went home and slept fitfully.

I know there are people suffering every minute of every day, but when your close friend is going through labor, and you know what that's like, it's hard to roll over in good conscience and sleep blissfully...

I called her house at 7:15 a.m. and talked to "Grandma" (actually Lisa's Mom) and she told me they had had the baby at 5:15 a.m. 8lbs. 9ozs.

Welcome, Maggie! (Magdalena Collette) *that's the update* :)

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Dinner conversation:

Life in a Nutshell
DS#2: (as he scoops the rice out of the pot) I don't like all this brown stuff Mom puts at the bottom....why does Mom put it in there?

DH: Mom doesn't know how to make rice without the brown stuff.

DS#2: Where does she get it?

DH: She buys it special at the store...

Me: Futon looking mighty comfy to you?

:)