Captured Moments at Disney

How long does it take?

When will I get to update this blog? There's so much to say...from our family disney trip, to Michael's big accomplishment (riding the bike without training wheels), to Allison's big day (the hair cut), and Rick's blossoming adolescent personality..to opening the pool, and Matt's company family day and the first camp weekend of the year...and, of course, work! I guess it'll come, with some pictures to go along..but it's going slow!

Recent Adventures...really just ramblings about the last few days...

Where does the time go? It was just yesterday that I was rambling on about the suprise party! But, I realize that that was 4 days ago! The suprise party was a huge success! While Rick enjoyed some quite time in the whirlpool and entertained himself with NickTV, about 20 of his closest friends and family filed into the house and prepared for the moment where he, a very relaxed, and well-groomed Rick, came through the door to roars and singing and such...for him.. "Happy Birthday, Rick!", "Suprise!", etc. FINALLY! I got him! Finally, I was able to keep something a secret from him...and so did his friends! A bunch of sixth grade boys actually snickered around the class for two days...knowing what was going to happen on Wednesday evening...and never said a word! Now, that's impressive in of itself! After a few hours of football and lazer tag, burgers and hotdogs, and oreo cake, it was over. My oldest son is 12, the party is over, and now....we move on....
On, to Thursday...wheeling and dealing with the neighbor about who takes and picks up for cheerleading practice..(I'm at work, and Matt is going out with his friends who have come to town from...Colorado, or somewhere out there). I'm glad about that, because he will bring home dinner for me and I don't have to cook!...so Thursday is a complete wash...so busy there's nothing to tell about because I was probably just too tired to notice what was happening...
On, to Friday..a delightful day at the gym...that place where I get away from it all and relax...so what do I see in the mirror in front of me as I tread on? MOM! Coming in to tour the gym..she and dad really need a more regular exercise program...so this must be the day! I see her take the tour and join, all while I spend 55 minutes on the tread...my personal best for the week! I watch her check out the CYBEX machines...and then...I hold back the chuckle and look around to see who is watching her...she's on the upper arm press machine...gracefully trying to see how it works...but because she's on it BACKWARDS, it doesn't seem to be working for her~~ very nice elderly woman redirects her into the right direction...thank you Jesus! I'll be glad when she has her appointment with the trainer...it seems that she will benefit even more than I had imagined!
Friday was just a wonderful day..and then...the kids come running inside from the bus! Big smiles because it's Friday, and Michael jumps around and giggles...because that's just what he does anyway! The mad rush begins...up to change clothes, off to dippin dots for a special treat...we were supposed to get the boys haircuts, but Matt planned on doing that Saturday, so we settled for dippin dots! I had no idea how expensive that "treat" would be...we each got dippin dots, two small and two medium..$16!!!! Oh My Sweet Jesus! The suprise of the day for sure! So, from there, to Dominos Pizza to get our pizza, off to the Book Fair, then into the school gym with the pizza, popcorn, etc. for movie night. Obviously, novices of movie night..we have a blanket for the floor, but no fancy pillows like the other adults have..the gym floor was not very nice to me, but it was so fun to socialize with our friends while the kids dance around the gym. Think the day is winding down? Not a chance! Allison's friend Julia has frantically tried to call while we're at movie night, so at 9PM, I'm off to meet her mom half way to send Allison with her for the night...finally, to bed...
Saturday comes very early @ 5AM...I have to work. The day goes well until about 4ish...the girls see at the very moment I feel it....IT has come! That very ugly stomach bug that we have lovingly called IT...IT has traveled around the hospital, through schools, daycares, etc. over the last several weeks...our family has been so fortunate not to meet IT...the wonderful ice cream cake and chicken tenders were gone! Just like that...and IT was here. Not sure which was greener...me or the scrubs I was wearing..and the demand was given while Bernie dons her gloves, rolls her eyes, and gets out the cavi wipes.....take your beeper and your phone, slide them across the floor, and back away...NOW...GO HOME...we don't want IT here any more...and they were smiling because they knew what IT was going to do to me...and IT did....the rest of the evening...Matt, who is usually quite brave, kindly and quietly gathered his pillow, the sleeping bag, and set up camp in the den..(which was party time for him)...Darth lives on!
Sunday, sweet Sunday...IT is trying to move on....the kids are all fine...and Matt has left me to go to work. The kids have gone to visit with their dad for a while..IT is still here. Happy Birthday, Dad. Sorry I can't make it to your party...no one wants IT!

Wacky Wednesday.....

So, you can the problem...as I didn't even realize that it was only Wednesday, so Thursday must be re-lived tomorrow!

Thirsty Thursday

Last night, I was determined to take a deep breath, get a good nights sleep, sure that I would wake up this morning with a smile and a much better outlook on things that sent me soaring yesterday. Well, I did sleep well, thanks to the ambien that sent me into the fog that I was longing for. I arose from a very hard sleep to "Michael, you can't wear those pants to school". "I don't know where my pants are", followed by all searching for his pants...but they were all dirty because he hadn't sent them down for washing...then I realize....today is Rick's birthday! My sweet little boy, who I pushed in the swing hours a day while making very silly sounds and throwing my body into craziness resulted in sweet chuckles on every swing...is 12! I sprang up to find him...to make sure someone has told him "Happy Birthday"...and I had to tell him, too. So, then back to finding pants for Michael. Here comes Allison, dressed in her winter boots, dirty (or stained, not sure) pants, and sweat shirt...while we expect a 70 degree day.

There's no time for concern, because the bus is just minutes away. So, off they go, Dirty Pants Allison, Any Pants Michael, and Smily Pants Birthday Rick. I just laughed to my self and realized that if these are the things I have to worry about, it's going to be a good day..

Then I remember what got me so pi@$$ed off the evening before. CHANGE! Rick's induction into the Beta Club for Friday has now been changed to Monday..now that I have re-arranged my work schedule to attend Friday, and it's too late to re-arrange for Monday. Allison's cheer team has announced a CHANGE in the summer class schedules, end of the year party, etc. Michael's MD appointment went well, so he is my no-change comfort zone for the day. Oh, but we did CHANGE our mind at the last minute about Rick's birthday present...from my thoughts of a couple of movie passes to getting him the bow and arrow for hunting...which means a CHANGE in the family wallet of a few hundered dollars.

If I am to move on through the day where I have so much to do (that to come), I have to deal with my response to CHANGE. What would make me feel better? I sent a very matter-of-fact email to the teacher who CHANGED the Beta Club Ceremony day explaining my unhappiness, agreed to DEAL with cheer club changes, and put all the dirty pants that I could find in Michael and Allison's drawers in the wash...

Now that the immediate tasks are under control, I can make Rick's oreo dirt cake that has come to be his birthday tradition, clean up the areas of the house that may be seen by the guests coming to Rick's suprise birthday party this evening, go over his party over and over again, to make sure I haven't forgotten anything. Take a pool water sample to the pool store, and stop by the gym for a tread on the mill.

I am THIRSTY! Thirsty for taking last minute CHANGE in stride, relaxing and enjoying the day, taking it slow. Thirsty for more hours in the day, more off days in the week, and more time for loving, listening to, and laughing with my family. THIRSTY for restructuring myself back to the healthy, strong, normal weighted woman that is somewhere in here. THIRSTY for time with friends, old and new...to just relax and be.

Is this why I am so uptight about CHANGE? Is it not the CHANGES that are the problem, but the reaction to them. I am known for last minute fun, being able to restructure my day on a whim; definetly not a planner unless necessary. So, what's the problem? CHANGES that do not negatively affect me are fine...but otherwise, they are bad!

For now, I will quench my thirst with a big bottle of water. But, the empty moments, though sometimes needed, will be less useless, and filled with things to quench the thirst that water can't fix. I know at least one of you will hold me to it!