Friday finally!

Will post a few pictures from the past couple of weeks. Happy belated birthday Mom! They came in for supper two Sundays ago. Was fun to hear about their trip! And then there is Lisi chewing on my favorite Croc. And a visit from my niece Laura. And a future blogger...

Some thoughts:
* I was without a washer for four days. I'm a daily laundry woman, so it drove me nuts to see dirty clothes stacking up. I was thrilled to see Mr. Sears repairman drive up yesterday. But our wallet is $170 lighter due to me allowing the lid to CRASH down and it busted a plastic piece needed for the washer to spin. Our washer is 13+ years old, but still runs well, so it was cheaper than buying another...

* Last day of regular lunch room duty yesterday. Kids were actually pretty good. Only had to grab two by their coats and haul them to the dreaded 'wall' where they stand until the bell rings. Was touching watching two F-16's fly over while I was out. A serviceman died in Iraq and his burial was about a mile away.

* One thing I never did was correct the kids when they said something wrong when they were younger. I figured soon enough they'd figure out how to talk correctly and I didn't want to miss the cute little things they said. We are about out of that stage. But yesterday when Mira walked in the house, she excitedly said, 'MOM! The leprechaun had green paint on his feet and he left 'pootfrints' all over the cubbies. Really Mom! 'Pootfrints'!!! I noticed later she said it right, but in her excitement, some consonants got confused.

* Rayna is spending the weekend with cousin Sarah and Trenton. She's beyond happy to go. But I'll miss her! Trevor and Mira may be having a sleepover with friends.

* I need to get LOTS done today, so no more posting for me!!!

Puppy puke

Ok, gross title. But does any dog people out there know what to do about carsickness in dogs? I've had to and selected to take Lisi on numerous ocassions to different places (vet, school, walk at a park). But without fail, she gets part way there and then does a big heave-ho and out comes lunch or supper or whatever the meal was beforehand. I've tried to even limit food intake before the trip and she still urps up what is there. She usually has been in her crate in the back of the van. One time I did hold her in the back seat (Duane was driving of course, not me) and she did ok, but had rumblies in the tumbly.

Anywhoo, any suggestions short of always leaving her home or leaving the house armed with towels and paper towels...

Lunch room Linda

Wow. This is the last week of my six-week T/Th stint as lunch room lady. I'm 'officially' a sub, but I was needed for an extended period. Today was just too much. The other aide was missing, so I was in the gym solo with 78 kindergarteners (give or take a couple). I frantically opened ketchup, taco sauce, water bottles, you name it). Ketchup spilled all over Jason's pants and so I had to wipe it up (which I might add was all over his zipper-area, so it was a delicate thing to do). And then the boys were fighting. He looked at me funny. I don't want him sitting here. I have to go potty now! I think I'm going to throw up. I fell off the bench and my back hurts now. (You get the picture.) All of this chaos is independent of what came during all that. A mother came in to see her daughter and she was leaning over supposidly helping her and I looked at her and realized she was in a trance/drunken stupor/stoned/having a seizure. Her eyes closed and she wasn't moving. It was actually scary. I yelled for the principal in the hall. She came and hauled her away and I never did hear what happened with her. Ick. Then it is getting close to recess time and I realize, 'hey wait a minute! I have no other aide.' I run to the office and ask, 'is anyone helping me on the playground???' No, you're on your own. Everyone else is busy. So there I was frantically releasing the tables, running to the hallway so no fights broke out, and then ushered them out the door. Only to get out there and see HUGE water puddles and kids wading in them with nothing more than sweats and tennies on. 'GET OUT OF THERE (YOU MORONS... only in my thoughts, not verbalized). So I frantically ran from one end of the blacktop to the other trying to keep kids... well simply alive and still on the playground. At one point I realized, 'I almost don't care if they get sopping wet. It is their own fault if they do.' Then the mother in me got the best of them and I put my lungs to use and really let 'em have it. Whew it felt good. And then... finally, the bell rang. Then it was only 15 more minutes with the 2nd and 3rd graders and it was luckily uneventful (except for the fact that my fine young son came in 10 minutes later than the rest, saw me and burst into tears. I guess he and another were involved in being 'mean' to another kid in class so they had to write a letter to her saying they were sorry. Oh dear. And that dear blogger-friends was another chapter of the lunchroom lady's adventures. My niece asked if I have lunch lady arms. And by the way Laura, I do NOT!!!

Posted too soon!

Now I DO have emotion and something to write about. I was just chatting with Judy. Judy is our cleaning lady. She's been here approximately every two weeks since Rayna and Trevor joined our family. I have told Duane a few times that really, I don't 'need' her anymore since since I try to keep it picked up and tidy daily. But he said no, it is fine to keep having her come. And one of the last things Sue (Duane's sister that passed away over a year ago) told me was that I should NEVER tell Duane I don't need Judy anymore. So in loving memory of her, I've kept quiet.

Anyway, Judy was chatting along this morning as she always does. In fact, I have to make myself scarce when she comes as she'd rather get caught up on our lives and tell about her own than clean. I digress. But then she was talking about someone we both know and said, 'boy I sure would like to have her life'. And so thinking I was being cordial said, 'I would too'. Then she smiles at me and said, 'but I would like to have your life too'. And I said, 'really? why?' (thinking she might say that I have a great husband or three adorable children or a comfy home or even a cute puppy). Her response??? 'You don't have to do anything!'. I just mumbled something like...'well, that's hardly true' and left before I gave her a piece of my mind. Don't DO anything??? I think all you mom's out there know we DO something. Daily. Hourly. By the minute. And for that, I am thankful that I can accomplish much by keeping the homefires burning.

And so... phhbbbbtttt to all those that think we don't 'work'!!!

Mundane musings

Does anyone else feel this way? Or maybe I just have the blahs during a winter that has no end. I was thinking when I was getting breakfast this morning that I should put something down on the blog that has happened. And then I was thinking... what??? The past week has consisted mainly (and basically only) of laundry, cleaning, cooking, baking, grocery shopping, Target shopping (sorry Lani, but I really need stuff there), bill-paying, puppy training and walking, urging children to finish homework, take showers, relay to gymnastics, read stories to, enjoy my husband's company, visit with a few friends, check e-mails... I think you get the picture.

So! Here's a post of nothing.

But then I realize, no news is good news! Crisis, health issues, sadness, raw emotions make for good blgging. But I don't want that. So in light of Martha's thoughts; for that, I am thankful.

Spring colors

I've been playing with the colors... and decided on spring. But pastels aren't my style...

Bad tooth fairy

Trevor allowed me to help pull out a tooth last night after supper. But this morning when we all woke up he showed me his little container and that the tooth fairy never came! I felt so sorry for him. I hope 'she' makes up for her mistake tonight!!!

Rats... has this happened to anyone else?