The Royal Flush

I was just watching the Tyra Banks Show. I never have watched before, and it was on when I was flipping channels...so...

I just learned that when you flush your toilet, if they did a slow motion time lapse video of it, you would see what the doctor on the show called "The Fourth of July" because of the spray from the toilet. So that means that every time you use the restroom and flush, you are literally spraying the contents of the toilet throughout the bathroom. Spraying the contents on to the surrounding things in your bathroom such as makeup brushes, toothbrushes, kleenexes, towells, etc. Ew.

I'm disgusted.

I guess the moral is that you should always close the lid before flushing.

Camping Grade

I wouldn't say it is the best vacation in the world for me. But it beats other things...I guess. I didn't have to fish. That's a plus....

So the rest of my weekend after I got back the first time from my first night camping had its ups and downs for sure. On Saturday, after Gabriel and I went in to town and did some browsing at Best Buy, I came back home and played with Gabriel by himself. I had a really good time with him. I forget how it was just to have Luke alone and all the stuff I could do with him (even though by the time he was Gabriel's age I was already PRETTY pregnant with Drew and Evan and starting to get pretty miserable....) but I LOVED spending the day and evening with him. After letting him play alone in the bathtub which is a rare treat for him with so many older brothers and getting him off to bed, I looked at the two movies that I got the other night from NetFlix. Apparently, I was the only person on the planet that didn't realize what Brokeback Mountain was about because...um...well do NOT watch it. I'll have one image in particular burned in to my retinas for a while....Believe me when I say that God and I have done a great deal of talking about this one. Mostly I have been pleading for forgiveness because it was even in my house. Ewwwww. After that fiasco, I decided to look over Sunday's worship folder in the living room because it was much cooler in there than in my room. I took my stuff out and sat down on the couch. When I felt my eyes drooping, I decided to set my cell phone as an alarm so I'd be sure to get up on time for church. I sat the cell phone up on the back edge of the couch. It was no surprise to me that I fell asleep on the couch while preparing for yesterday's worship service. In the middle of the night, I got up because I had to go to the restroom. When I went back to lay down, I went to my room. No alarm set there, so Sunday morning, I roll over and look at the clock and it said 9:22!!!! (Church starts for me at 9:15.) NOT GOOD!

I literally put clothes on, grabbed Gabriel and dressed him as I walked out the door in the first shirt and shorts I could find for him, and drove to church. I didn't brush my teeth or hair. I didn't do ANYTHING. I walked in to find the worship team already started and finished with the first verse of Our Love Is Loud. Handed Gabriel off to the nearest person (thanks, Kendall) and walked up on the stage in the middle of the song. Now, I SOUNDED terrrrrrrific! So after the set was over, I left Gabriel at the nursery and ran home to get a much needed shower. I walked back in to the church during the inviation. CRAP! I missed my cue again! So I walked up and hid behind the screen until prayer when I slipped in and sang the closing song....in a new outfit. The congregation just kept giving me these smiles like, "We know what has happened to you today..." Oh well. I'm really thankful that Kendall understood and so did other people. The night without sleep at the camp really did me over.

So after church it was off to Cracker Barrell with Dad and Jen and Gabriel. Then home to pack a few quick things and back to camp. I got there, and the kids were brown as berries but Chad was slightly pink. The moms there soon took the kids to a "beach" (more like a gravel pit with some ice cold water) while the dads stayed back and shot the breeze or pulled each other's fingers or something like that. Guys are gross.

Everything was fine and dandy until we were sitting around the fire last night with the kids completely zonked out in their respective tents. That's when I heard it. A laughing so hysterical from the woods - it was creeping me out. Everyone pretty much ignored it, so I thought maybe I was hearing things. I was half asleep, after all. Then there it was again. Finally, I couldn't take their nonchalance and I said, "Doesn't anyone hear that???" Dennis, a guy there, said, "Oh that? It's just a raccoon."

"WHAT?!?!" It had completely escaped my mind that I might encounter wildlife. I was so focused on the fact that it would be hot and dirty that I forgot about the creepy crawlies and such.

For some reason, one of the wives had bought these spotlight-like devices instead of flashlights. So her husband, Zach started shining them up in to the trees to see if we could see their beedy little eyes. I was instantly spooked. I kept shining the lights....listening....the laugh kept coming....I finally calmed down after much ridicule from the other more experienced campers....and could barely keep my eyes open, so I retired to my tent. Now if any of you heard my story regarding the toilet about a week ago, you know never to mix bleach and toilet cleaner..It burned so bad,....and I have a little trouble with coughing right now until all the meds fix me up...) So after a bout of coughing my scarred lungs up, I finally started to doze when two raccoons started fighting over food about 8 feet from my head. (Okay, the tent was separating me from it...but STILL!)

Other than the raccoons, the HEAT, and the next door neighbor who apparently stole something from a guy down the road who came with language ablaze with an explitive around each possible word in his sentences (followed by about 4 "Sorry, kids...bleepity bleepity bliggity bleeps") ----- I didn't have a horrible time. Showering is a plus though, so next time we go, I need to make sure we have that capability. I think I can catch up on the sleep this week while I'm NOT teaching school...so I can handle that.

All in all: Camping gets a B from this teacher.

I LOVE A/C

At the risk of being negative, let me just say that my first experience camping was horrific.

It was definitely short lived. I don't want to be Connie Complainer, but instead, I'll try just to stick with being Ingrid Informer. Um. I joined my husband and the boys last night at a camp site. Now, I wasn't planning on staying overnight, but once darkness fell, I knew there was noooooo way on this earth that I would find my way back to Greentown...So I opted to stay over. I settled down early (like 1 AM) on the air mattress and instantly just felt sticky. I slept for about 20 minutes until one of the people who was there decided to wake me up with some odd blurbs. I can't remember what they said, who said it, or how loud it was. I just know it was enough to begin the process. I was awake (literally) all night long. I think I got 20 minutes of sleep and just when I THINK I was dozing off, the girl from the next tent came to wake me up. Now, granted, I DID ask to be woken up by 8 so I could make it home and shower and get to the church by 10. HOWEVER, I really thought they would wake me up around 7:30. NOT 4:30!!! SO...I went to the bathroom and decided why should I wait around for people to wake up just to leave? So, I took Gabriel and I got my self on out of there. I barely made it home I was so sleepy and cold and wet. When I got home, Gabriel (who had ended up in the air mattress/sleeping bag combo with me to NOT sleep all night either) and I went straight to my bed and he slept until 9:15. I was so afraid of oversleeping dispite my alarm being set that I stayed awake...dozing in and out until 9:15 ish when I showered and headed to the church. You can imagine how lovely I looked and how angelic my voice was after soooo much sleep! :)

Anyway, I am supposed to go back up tomorrow after church and sleepover until Monday. I SINCERELY dread it. I love my husband, I love my kids, but I love my air conditioned, plummed, furniturized, refrigerated house a lot too. :) No really, I'll go. But pray that I get more sleep. We have a humongous tent. (It's literally bigger than our living room and music room combined....) That's not the problem. Just pray I can sleep. And if not, I guess I can look on the bright side and realize that at least I don't have to go to school next week! I can catch up on the rest I missed. All because I am trying to do things Chad wants. How is THAT for submission? :)


And by the way...boo to Dan and Angie for giving out the new numbers, taunting us with them...just to have us give in to the temptation and call only to get BOTH your voice mails! :) HA! Have a good weekend!

Raising Boys Part Deux

I have received several additions to my previous posts. Some of which made me cough and sputter and laugh tears. So here they are. Enjoy.

29.) Moles and aquariums don't mix.
30.) Trampolines and pools don't go well together either even if preteens think so.
31.) Rocks do not normally make it over a house when thrown. Usually they end up going through your living room window or plugging up the gutters.
32.) The control for your electric train set will make your hands go numb, if you touch your fingers to the leads.
33.) Toilet paper does melt and plug up a sink drain when water is added.
34.) Putting plastic lawn chairs in the pool to sit on makes holes in the liner.
35.) Shark hunting with a metal rod in the swimming pool also makes holes in the liner. (You don't catch many sharks either. )
36.) Eating 15-20 White Castle hamburgers in rapid succession makes you vomit.
37.) Putting a napkin that is on fire into a full trash can makes mom and dad very angry.
38.) Calling 911 and hanging up while your mom is in the shower can cause family strife. (Response time 2 minutes)
39.) Almost any toy can be used to disassemble any household item.
40.) Feminine pads can be worn around the neck. (It is really special if you have company.)
41.) A small boy can ingest deodorant, Comet cleanser, toilet water, various plants, mineral spirits, and even a dead baby toad (he didn't swallow), and suffer no ill effects whatsoever!

Trying to process

Um. yeah. I'm fried. In the past two hours I have been completely blown away that more Americans could vote for icky Taylor than George W. Every year I am disappointed with the outcome, yet I continue to watch. Idol Shmidol.

And then there is Lost. My head is reeling from that one. Too many new things! Can't.....keep...........up. Stinking Michael...I mean, I would have probably done (or attempted to do) the same thing for one of my kids, but how can you give up Jack!? And Kate?!?! Go ahead. Give 'em Sawyer, but not Jack and Kate. Hurley? I'm not that attached. And what's up with the guys at the end??? My brain hurts.

At least school is out for the kids tomorrow and that will free up some much needed brain cells. HALLELUJAH!

Raising Boys

a) For those who have grown children, this is hysterical.
b) For those who have children past this age, this is hilarious.
c) For those who have children this age, this is not funny.
d) For those who have children nearing this age, this is a warning.
e) For those who have not yet had children, this is birth control.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Things I've learned from my boys (honest and not kidding):
1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. Ft. House 4 inches deep.
2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.
3.) A 3-year old boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. Room.
5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.
8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9) A six-year old boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year-old man says they can only do it in the movies.
10.) Certain Legos will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old boy.
11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12.) Super glue is forever.
13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15.) VCR's do not eject "PB &J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.
16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.
20.) The EMTs in Greentown, IN have a 9-minute response time.
21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24.) 80% of women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
25.) 80% of men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid
26.) Mashed potatoes do not come off of walls easily.
27.) Mashed potatoes do not come off of dogs easily....at least the parts they can't lick off themselves.
28.) When a five year old tells his father this will probably make his mommy mad, he's probably correct.

Feel free to add your own in the comments!

Enough

You know when you think you have it all figured out...and then a string of events happens all in one day in every single area of your life that you had "figured out"...and then you realize, you're just at another empass? Yeah. That was my day.

No matter what, I will Praise Him. He is in control. I have to keep reminding myself that He sees the big picture...the decision made by my boss today won't make or break me as an individual. The decision made by my friend today won't make or break me as an individual. The decision made by my family member today won't do it either.

Jesus, I love You. Only You know what I need. More than all I'm worth. You are more than enough for me. More than all I need. More than all I know. M ore than all I can see. You are more than enough for me....All I have in You is more than enough. All of You is more than enough for all of me....

No man...and ESPECIALLY NOT Chad

Well....in keeping with the sermon topic of Extreme Makeover, Home Edition, today our sermon explored the idea of submission for the wife and treasuring, being considerate of your wife for the husband. Despite the urge to elbow Chad at some well-thought-out points I couldn't help but look away from Kendall as he preached when it was beginning to hit home....sitting on the front row has it's drawbacks. :) I DID, however, manage to refrain from giving him the "See?-I-HAVE-been-right-about-this" look and I DID refrain from the elbow nudge.

And it's a good thing, because when the tables turned....WHEW! Did I feel it!! I know those of you who know me can imagine my struggle with submission. It feels like I'm not getting to express my thoughts when I do submit...and I even was tested tonight with it. Isn't that just like God???? It's like He was looking down and saying, "Hey, Pete, let's see if she was listening to Kendall...let's see if our words sunk in or not."

I caught myself before it was too late tonight. We've been so busy that the house has been the last on the list for about a month - maybe more. There has been very little cleaning going on here, if you can imagine! :) And tonight when we got home from my dad's I had made the decision that we were all going to pitch in and get it straightened and cleaned. Well, apparently, Chad didn't get the memo because after being home for about 5 minutes he announced, "Welp! I'm goin' fishing." Now I wanted to say "You've been fishing almost every night this week and left me to do this junk by myself. Bathe kids, feed kids, clean up toys, laundry! I need help!" I stiffled it with a heavy sigh....making sure it was loud enough for him (and probably our neighbor, Pat, to hear as well.) Surprisingly, he DID notice the sigh and chose to ask about it. Again, this would have been a good opportunity to truly be submissive and wish him a fun time...but in my least-nagging voice, I mustered up an "I just would like some help." As he was hugging me, I realized I really needed to just stop with that. And for the most part I did.

He was only gone about an hour and fifteen minutes. So by that time, Luke had swept the whole house, I had dusted the living room and piano room, Evan had picked up some toys, Drew had avoided being seen on the couch and thus avoided chores....pretty typical really, Gabriel had picked up a few things at my prodding and coaching, Evan had helped with laundry transfer from washer to dryer, Luke had mopped the dining room, I had cleaned up the "pile" (everyone has one of those somewhere in the kitchen), I had scrubbed the toilet and the sink in the bathroom, and we had read devotions and they had scurried to bed. Now, granted, this wasn't the most thorough cleaning (especially since Luke had so much to do...for concession stand money, you see) but at least it's a start. I'll get more done this week hopefully, and HOPEFULLY, Chad will help in the pursuit of cleanliness.

After all, I heard Kendall say it today, "No man was ever nagged in to doing anything."

The ride home

So tonight on the way home from the babysitter's I was informed that Drew had broken up with his girlfriend today. Double take!! What did they just say?!?! Broke up?!! How do they even know what that means? So I asked a few questions. The conversation went something like this....

Evan: Mommy! Drew brote (broke) up with Tendal today (Kendal is the ex-girlfriend).
Me: Reeeeallllly? What happened?
Drew: Yeah. My brote up with her.
Luke: Yeah, Mommy! Kendal was...
Me: Wait a minute Luke, let Drew tell me.
Drew, what happened? Why did you break up with Kendal?
Drew: Betause she pways with Teresa all day.
Evan: Yeah. That mates him mad.
Me: Why does it upset you Drew?
Drew: Betause she needs to pway with me.
Luke: She always wants to play with Teresa and Sharon and Delaney. She never plays with Drew anymore.
Me: Were you sad, Drew?
Drew: Nope! I was mad!
Me: Well what does it mean when you break up with someone?
Luke: That you aren't boyfriend and girlfriend anymore.
Me: Well what does it mean to have a girlfriend, then?
Luke: It means you are in love!!!
Drew: It's otay. I still have Stephanie and Audwey.

3 years olds and a 5 year old should not know this stuff, should they?!?!

Season Finales

Sadly, it has come to that time of year when the only complaint I have is season finales. Not because they are bad...NO...because it will be so stinking long until we see if Merideth chooses Dr. McDreamy or VetBoy.

Wreckage

Besides the wreck that happened practically in my front yard (and for those of you who know the size of it....you're shocked that we don't have damage...) today has been pretty uneventful. The wreck DID keep Luke, Drew, and Evan glued to the window for over an hour though. I had already gone out to "check it out" and see if they needed me to call someone...so I knew it wasn't bloody. The whole front passenger side of the car was bent underneath itself though. The kids that got out - girl: crying hysterically but not hurt, boy: he kept apologizing to the girl who was driving because he said "I was messing around, and I covered up her eyes." There's an act of sheer genius. If it would have happened 10 feet further down the road, I probably would have felt it since I was sitting on the couch by the front window. Luke saw his Pappaw Tony come to the rescue (EMT) in the ambulance, and for once he wasn't coming for Luke himself!

Tonight after telling them to go to bed a million times...I was watching "Ransom" - one of the best movies of all time in my opinion. And during a commercial I realized that my kids were messing around. As I often do, I muted the TV and listened before getting ready to start in on the yelling. But I couldn't do it. When I muted the TV, I heard all three of their little voices singing "Yes Jesus loves me. Yes Jesus loves me. Yes Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so." SOMETHING I HAVE DONE must be right....right?

I promised you pictures...

THESE ARE OF LUKE (WHO STOLE THE SHOW TONIGHT, I MIGHT ADD...THE SHYNESS MAY BE RUBBING OFF...) AT PRESCHOOL GRADUATION! You've never seen a prouder row of parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.... First, we have Luke and Jillian. She's always beautiful.




This is Gabriel and Daddy...cutie, huh?




Luke and Sammy (my neice...Chad's brother's daughter)





Luke getting his diploma...it's a little far away. Sorry. Darcey, my friend is the director and his teacher...well, was. Tonight is her last night...*tear*










It was a really cute night. Luke was one of the days of the week. He also was Day 7 of the Creation story. He announced to the audience: "And then He rested." It was really cute.

He just came out of his room crying that he was going to miss preschool. We discussed this, and decided that he would see his friends from class either at church or when he got to Kindergarten. He would see his teachers because most of them go to our church, and Ms. Darcey is one of Mommy's good friends. He then moved on to missing his classroom....oh the joys of parenting!

In the past 24 hours.....

I have made 4 students cry uncontrollably. Sheesh! The end of the year for elementary kids can be emotional! It makes you feel so crappy especially when you really really like them. That may be why one cried....I think he and I have bonded....

1. D. was going to "fill in" just in case my Turtle #1 in my programs this week didn't come due to strept throat. Well, Turtle #1's mom kept sending her because she'd dope her up and the fever would go down. Well, I explained to D. that this was "JUST IN CASE" but that didn't seem to matter the night of the last concert when Turtle #1 showed up again. D. was devastated! She was bawling uncontrollably in the band room, she had 2 sisters with her from the middle school (if that gives you any indication of what THAT element added to the situation....), and she was carrying it out into the halls and front entrance of the auditorium. By the time I caught up to her it was literally a public affair. I had to calmly tell her that it wasn't Turtle #1's fault she got sick in the first place, and that Turtle #1's mom had been the one making the decisions. I knew that because I had been on the phone with her...several times in the 2 days. It got so bad, that one of the fifth grade teachers told her that if D. was her kid, she would have slapped her across the face, taken her home, and made her deal with the F in Music for missing the concert. I was slightly appalled by it...but I say slightly because I wanted to say the exact same thing...but there were many people watching me try my magic diffusing act on D.

2. Today in 2nd grade..R. was acting out...again. They were watching a video (thank the Lord...I've only shown 1 other one all school year...I thought the week of a concert was a good time to show another!) and R. could NOT stay in the spot HE picked out. I separated him and L. 3 times before he starting punching a gigantic frog that the art teacher had made for the stage...that was the last straw. Destroying school property needed to be an office issue. As I'm filling out the paperwork, R. is standing at my desk pleading and promising....."Never again....I'll stop...." Too late. I'm the bad guy. I should tell you that since November, R's mom and I have spoken on the phone several times and I've written notes (good and bad).

3. Then it's on to 1st grade...the most challenging 1st grade in the school building. I don't know how many of them aren't ADHD. J. and D. have been making some big improvements in Music. It's been a process, let me tell you. J. and I are starting to bond. I really like him and I think he really likes me. I'm pretty sure, actually....anyway, the class came in off the wall with a substitute...I knew I had to act quickly, so I gave each of them a star sticker. I told them they all got to keep their stars as long as they followed these rules: Stay in your spot. Follow the instructions on the video. Sing and dance. Easy enough? NO. Apparently not. J. was the first. I couldn't let it go. He was yelling at D. Bye bye sticker. Hello waterworks. He fell in to my arms crying. I almost teared up myself. J. has been doing so well....he just made a bad choice. I hugged him, held him close, and told him he could earn it back. He told me the rules. I knew he understood them. SOOOO 3 - 5 minutes later, all was well.

4. EXCEPT D. He was on to bigger and better things by laying on top of the Emotionally Handicapped student in the room, B. You can imagine that this was going over well....D. got a chance to earn back his sticker and did...

Now K. and the Emotionally Handicapped (B) student lost their stickers in that class as well, but there were no tears. think when I handed it to B he knew right away that it wouldn't be his forever.

Nonetheless, I hate making them cry, but they have to know how to act, too. *Sigh* 10 more days now.....

Just the facts...

1. I survived two more concerts this week. And they were a hit! That feels good!
2. My son's first t-ball game was rained out tonight....YAY...*coughs*clears throat*...I mean, POOR GUY! I WAS SOOOO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!
3. Only 11 more days of school left! HOOOOOOORAY!
4. I just listed 7 lots/items on eBay! Pray for the best!
5. We just enrolled in NetFlix. We got our first two movies tonight, but I was so busy with eBay, that I didn't get to watch them yet...maybe tomorrow.
6. Luke graduates from preschool tomorrow! Expect pictures!

BUSY BUSY!

What a week...what a week... Pray for me this week so that I might not go insane.

Monday: Big rehearsal with those involved in the program that night from 9 am - noon. Concert that night at 7.
Tuesday: Big rehearsal with those involved in the program that night from 9 am - noon. Concert that night at 7.
Wednesday: Luke's first t-ball game.
Thursday: Luke graduates from preschool.
Friday: Open as of right now..but that will change
Saturday: Chad wants me to go to some show...I haven't decided if I really want to yet...Maybe.

LAST NIGHT: I went to see Peter Heck and Friends...it was a benefit for the Crisis Pregnancy Center. Raised over $4000 for the cause. That's great! It was hilarious! Peter is so much bigger than Greentown. I don't look for him to be here forever. Peter Heck for President! We'll see. There was a couple of guys there (hence the "and friends" part of the event's title) who were helping with the evening. John Branyan was REALLY funny! If you ever have a chance to go see him, do it! He had me crying! He's a profesional comedian. The other professional was somebody with the last name Kaye. I didn't get in to him as much. But there were parts that were funny. He did a great Jack Nicholson and Mr. T. Then Nate Beals also helped Peter out! He had a great segment called Bachelor Cooking.

Last night after we went to the show, we took the kids to Long John Silvers. They had a blast being pirates. Even Gabriel was in to it. He was throwing out "args" all over the place. For a kid that doesn't talk a whole lot, anything that is recognizable makes Mommy's day! Here are some pics!

Evan and Luke as pirates...


Gabriel on his candle sniffing binge. He seems to get high from them...he walks around the house with them until we see him and take them away...then he screams.


Drew and Gabriel as pirates...


Gabriel: "ARRRRGGG"




Hope you enjoyed the pics!
Have a great week~!

OLD FRIENDS...wait! If you were in chorale, go back and sing that title ala Bill Gaither! :)

A girl came to visit me today that I haven't talked to in a long time. It was really nice. I have to admit, at the height of our friendship, I was doing some pretty awful things in my life. I was not right with God. I was so far from being right with God......

She has seen me do some things that I so deeply regret. But I was able to talk about my beliefs with her - despite it. Don't get me wrong, I didn't "win her over" or get in to a deep discussion. But church came up, some issues came up including divorce, infidelity, betrayal, judgmental people, and some other things. We discussed them all. It was good to be able to let her know my life has changed and I am happy it changed.

Maybe I set the ball in motion for her. I don't know. Pray for her. And if I don't mention it in a few days, ask me if I have contacted her again and if I have asked her to go to church with me. Hold me accountable, please!

I can tell, she's right on the edge...

LOST completely blew my mind!

What the heck?!?!

I never liked Anna Lucia, but jeez~! We have to kill her? And then what's-her-face-psycho-chick-Hurley's-girl??? She was weird, but let's not off her! So is Michael a bad guy now? I think he had to do it in some sort of deal with the others for Walt. That's the only way it could happen like this....

And the previews for next week?!?! CRAZY~! I love Echo! He can't die! He's my fave! Seriously! Let's not kill the people on the island, you're working with a limited cast size as it is. Well, at least Sayid, Jack, and Locke are okay. Really could care less about Sawyer...and whoa that was some scene with Anna Lucia, huh? So primal and raw with the drums and stuff...whew!

I don't get Henry's appeal to Locke either saying that Locke was one of the good ones... I bet the cliff hanger this season is insane....This episode felt like one already. I'm glad there are a few more until the season finale!

I don't know if I can wait for a week....hurry up Wednesday, May 10! CRAP! Luke has his first t-ball game. Surely it will be over by then, right???? Let's start praying now that it is.

2.5 hours of my life that I'll never get back

Two words: CONCESSION STAND *sigh*

Well...it wasn't ALL bad (besides the insane amount of time there...I literally thought I'd be in and out in an hour. Um, no.) I worked with one of my better friends from high school whom I don't see much, so that was a plus. The people working weren't bad. One lady used to go to my church. Chad was working the fried foods and other assorted processed-cheese-topped dishes. I was manning one of the windows. At one point I was nearly in tears laughing at myself... Here's the story.

I guy that I was friends with in high school has 3 kids now (2 are twins). One of the twins came to the window and said she would like a large coke, but Mike was not there to pay yet. So after trying to stall her unsuccessfully, I finally decided that there would be little harm in going ahead and asking the high schooler in charge of drinks to go ahead and make it. She sat the large coke in front of me, but back inside the window far enough that the girl could not take it until I moved it forward. It took quite a while for Mike to come to the window. His kids had been to my window an endless amount of times. I think this was supper, and I'm sure they got whatever they wanted when they were up there, but I didn't just want to hand over a drink when I hadn't even seen him come around the corner. The little girl kept saying he had gotten stopped to talk to a friend, and knowing Mike, this was absolutely true. He's a great guy who doesn't know a stranger.

My son, Luke, had gotten bored sitting with his cousin Sammy and her friend Lily, and he had begged me to come help. Knowing how much Luke loves to please, I knew that he would be a good runner for the things he could reach, and he listens pretty well when the other boys are not there to distract him. I often have taken him to school functions with me, where he is a perfect gentleman. He was running around helping Chad get things to cook, delivering bags of popcorn to me and Cherie (other friend at the other window)....keeping really busy, actually.

In the mean time, there waits Mike's daughter. Still no Mike. As I'm talking to her to try to keep her on a different subject so she forgets why she is there, apparently I have forgotten, too, because when I thought I was picking up my free diet coke for working there, I had actually picked up her coke. They were sitting right beside each other. I took a drink and thought, "What's wrong with this? My teeth feel fuzzy." (I HATE regular Coke because of that fuzzy-toothed feeling...) Then it hits me. I've taken a drink of her coke. CRAP! So I put it on the counter behind me and say to Luke that he can have that one while I try to contain my laughter so the little girl won't realize what has happened. I'm in the process of telling the high schooler that I'm going to need another coke. When I turn around to hand the girl her new coke because her soon-to-be stepmom (I think) is ready to pay I realize that the stepmom has the new one but the girl is drinking one as well. The mom sees this, too. She says, "Oh wait. This is not hers." Luke chimes in with, "I gave her this one sitting on the counter." Well, now I can hardly contain myself. The mom is trying to give me the new one back so her daughter won't be drinking what she is assuming is my son's drink. I'm trying to convince her that it really is no big deal and that she should take the new one, all the while, tears are rolling down my cheeks. I know that lady thinks I'm a basket case. Luke was so confused.

Well..that was the highlight. If you found it funny, then good...if it's coming across as one of those "you-had-to-be-theres" then sorry you are still reading, cause that's all I got. :)

T-Ball and Fishing...It's that time of year!

I am not really looking forward to tomorrow evening. Those of you who know me know that I loathe baseball. I hate each and every aspect of it. I've even gone to Luke's t-ball practices thinking it would be better if it were my kid out there...well, it's not. Sadly, I will be spending the first of what I fear will be many in a concession stand tomorrow night. Yuck. Yickety-yuck, actually. Oh well...maybe when I see him play it will be better...you know the pointless games where they don't keep score and "everybody wins."

Change of subject before it gets really dark...T-ball brings it out in me...and every other form of baseball/softball...just ask my husband.

It's fishing season, which means very little Chad. The good thing is that the older boys are getting to the point where they want to go and he wants to take them. That's nice. Several nights in the past two weeks, I have been able to "bond" with one or two at a time. It makes me think how close parents with two kids or less should be with their children. Sometimes because of the sheer number of them, I don't feel like I bond well with them. I rarely get the quality time that I want to with them. We're pretty busy (which should slow down significantly in about a month) and when we are home, it's like the kids compete for Mommy and Daddy's attention. It can be pretty overwhelming. I do a lot of cooking with someone sitting on my much-needed counter space. I do a lot of laundry with Gabriel trying to put things in the dryer before they are washed. I do a lot of dusting with...well, um...ok. I don't do a lot of dusting.... I clean a lot of toilet seats while giving other "chores" out to the kids. They do a lot. Probably more than many kids. They do laundry. They take out trash. They dust the house. They even sweep their room. Train 'em early, that's my motto!

I am getting better. Believe it or not, I really am not as busy as I once was. Even with the added work from the church and now 4 kids, I feel like I have more time to do some of the things I like to do now...which lately seems to be getting on the computer and blogging or checking ebay... :) Looking back, moving to the elementary position, although it was hard, was one of the best things I have ever done for my family. Chad isn't nearly as stressed. I see more of my kids, I have more time to read the Bible and get in to my walk with Christ. It's nice, I have to say...and when I was offered the high school position again a couple of weeks ago, I have to admit I felt pulled in both directions, but I am content with my decision. God knows what is best, and I think He lead me here.