IT'S A BOY!

Isaac got a haircut! He wanted it cut like dad's but since dad has NO hair, we talked him into getting it cut like Zack's!! No more comments about having all girls!

WWFS??

WWFS? What Would Flylady Say?

I have been on my kids to clean up their rooms. I told them I was NOT going to do it. I have given up too many weekends to digging out their rooms. So the other night Zack came screaming into my room about there being a mouse under his bed. He said he didn't know what it was so he pulled on, what he would find out, was the mouse's tail! Yes, he freaked! Jim had to go in and lift up the mattresses so he could see under the bed and sure enough there was a mouse!! Mind you it was DEAD (not yet stiff tho') and it was caught in a TRAP!! So even though you can see the piles of crap in the boy's room, here's a picture!! ;)

Though we didn't see them do it, we are sure that one of our cats got a good laugh out of bringing in this thing from somewhere outside!

The next day we were visited by the biggest moth like critter I've seen. I've seen huge dragonflies and butterflies but not one of these. It was at least 3 inches across just sitting there. It too was encouraged to flitter about our house by our wonderful feline friends. Our cats must really love us, they are constantly showering us with gifts!

Our backyard must have heard me talking about how I love open fields of wild flowers, because it has begun to transform itself into such a thing. Minus the wildflowers! I guess it didn't hear the part about my allergies either. Before I left for the Trace Adkins concert I had spent several days watering the grass in the back, hoping it would come back to life from the dead, dried up, stickery, weedy looking patch we call our yard. I was gone from Friday to Monday and when I went back there on Tuesday, there were patches of "grass" (???) over 12 inches tall! The only thing was that it wasn't green, it was more like a wheat field! I asked Jim if they watered my plants and flowers and the "grass" and he said "I think Zack might of"!!!! WHAT?!?!?! Am I the ONLY one who can water the lawn and plants? The sprinklers are broken so I've been standing out there with the hose almost everyday (never can remember if we're odd or even on watering days). Several of my plants and flowers were dehydrated (to say the least). Thankfully most have recovered. I even have peas, strawberries and zucchini growing. My zinnias are starting to grow too, won't be long until they are bursting with color. Only 2 of my daisies have survived! They are my favorite, I may have to try again.

Monterey with the 4th grade

The day after Mother's Day (also the day I got home from my trip) I chaperoned the 4th grade trip to Monterey. We left at 6am on charter buses. It was great that so many parents could go because it made it so that we only had 3 kids in each group. I (obviously) had Zack, his friend Mark and a boy named Joshua. Joshua drove me crazy! As I've said before, I usually don't sleep the night before a trip and this trip was no different so I looked forward to a little early morning siesta on the way to Monterey....but Zack and Mark took the front seat and Joshua jumped into the seat next to me. He talked and tapped on me the entire time! He asked me if we were there yet 4 times before we even hit Madera!!! I think my relationship with God grew that day, as I was constantly calling on Him to HELP me with Joshua. We stopped at Casa De Fruita for breakfast (which we were to bring ourselves) and a bathroom break. Joshua didn't bring anything for breakfast. He badgered me for my one little muffin that I brought and the banana that Zack brought! Then he was thirsty and wanted to drink my water!! At least he was able to use the bathroom by himself. The Peacocks were out and roaming.

Zack and Mark

When we got back on the bus from Casa De Fruita, Zack said he wanted to sit with me!! (see....prayer works!!) (and no, Zack didn't know I was going crazy w/Joshua)

Monterey had such beautiful flowers, I was totally coveting them for my own measly little dried up garden.

We walked the Path Of History, checking out all the historical sites along the way.

The San Carlos Cathedral is the only Presidio chapel remaining in California. It was closed due to retrofit and conservation (that's what the sign said), but you could still see the bells behind all the construction. But I of course just have a picture of the building next to it with a docent type lady walking out to share her wealth of Mission history information.

Bird Attack up on the looking deck....dropping bird bombs as we all ran away!

Tiny Hermit Crabs scattered across the rocks not realizing what or who was coming...

Zack and Chase

Overall it was a good trip. Zack sat with me on the way home and we both got in a good snooze. Unfortunately there were many Hermit Crab casualties, as several kids tried to sneak them onto the bus tied in bags of water.....no air! When it finally clicked that the crabs needed air, the kids put their heads together and decided to stuff the poor crabs into water bottles....filled with bottled water....and still no way for the crabs to get air because they were stuck floating in the non salt water! Some crabs were thrown back towards the water....from some 20+ feet up! Most of the other parents and even teachers just shrugged it off as no big deal! How sad! It was good to get home!

Trace!

I hardly ever sleep before we go on a trip. Usually because I am the one who packs for everybody and I'm up all night trying to find matching shoes, sweatshirts, sunglasses, clothes, toothbrushes, entertainment etc... This time I only had myself to get ready but I was leaving everybody so I sill had things to get in order. Jade was leaving for Disneyland around 5am, and I went to bed after she left. I slept for about an hour and got up to get myself showered and out the door. The train station was more crowded than expected but I made it through the line and was the last suitcase to load, all others had to ride with their owners. As we start to walk out towards the train, I noticed that something wasn't right with my right foot, something felt weird. I pulled over to check it out and found that my shoe (my favorite shoes) had decided that this would be the time to fall apart. My suitcase had just passed by and been loaded on the train and I had a 2 inch flip flop style sandal that was now doing some serious flipping and flopping. I had to drag my foot onto the train. Up about 4-5 rows were some older grandparents who were riding with their 3-4 year old grandson. I say older because our parents are grandparents and they don't talk as loud as these ones did. I thought about moving but the though of having to drag my foot past all the rows of people made me decide to try my headphones instead. Even with my headphones in and the volume turned up all the way, I could still hear them talking CONSTANTLY and LOUDLY. To make matters worse, they couldn't understand a lot of what their grandson was saying so they made really loud guesses and kept telling him how they couldn't understand him and he would repeat it and they'd guess again etc.... OH MY GOSH!!!!

I did enjoy a nice 45 minute nap. I will probably be hard of hearing earlier in my life now, due to having the volume on my headphones turned up for so long....to try to block out their voices...and I will ride the train with my grandkids and talk really loud!!

I had fun people watching. I watched a movie, read a little and like I said, I took a little nap too.

After a 3+ hour train ride, my cousin Lorna picked me up in Sacramento and we climbed into her 1965 Convertible Mustang and headed for the Konocti Resort up in Clearlake/Kelseyville. Even with my hair pulled up and back, my hair had knots whipped into the ends as we drove "topless" (lol!) but I didn't mind. The view from Lorna's car compared with my Big Suburban was quite different and I found myself just staring out into the beauty of it, taking in the trees and birds, especially the Hawks, and the different scenery.

I took a few pictures just by holding up my camera...

Lorna bought me a cowboy hat.

We ate dinner at the pre-show BBQ, good food. There was an opening act. A cover band of sorts. I can't remember who they were. I didn't care for them.

BUT THEN....
TRACE ADKINS!!!

When the lights are down low

And you nibble on my neck

I can't be held responsible

For what might happen next

No telling what I'll do

When I get you in my hands

With a woman like you

I'm a dangerous man

Yeah I'm a dangerous man

The week before the concert my cousin actually talked to Trace on the phone, when the radio station was interviewing him. They told Trace that one of his fans was with them and that she had a question for him....which she didn't....but she asked him if he would sing Dangerous Man to her at the concert in Konocti. So when it was time for him to sing Dangerous Man, he told everybody that it was for Lorna in Folsom. She screamed (a lot) and ran up to the stage where Trace looked right at her and kissed her fingers!! It was too funny, she was so excited she was telling everyone "Hi I'm Lorna, Trace sang Dangerous Man to me...Lorna".
It was a lot of fun. We went to the "after" party but I was so tired from only sleeping an hour and 45 minutes in the last 36 hours that I headed back to the room, I called home and went to sleep.
The next morning we drove "topless" back to Sacramento. We had lunch with my cousin Grace (Lorna's daughter) and her boyfriend Eric at On the Border. I ordered a simple bean and cheese burrito and they brought me huge plate with a burrito that would of fed 1/2 my family! Good to see Grace and her cute/cool new haircut and get to meet the guy she might marry! :)
Lorna had made plans for us Saturday night but was keeping it a surprise. We relaxed at her apartment for a little while and then her friend Allen came and picked us up. We drove to Dixon, who was having their Country Fair and went to the Fair. Turns out Jo Dee Messina was performing there that night and we had tickets!! Very cool surprise!!
While we were going through the exhibits I got a phone call from home. Naissa's ear had been hurting and Jim didn't know what to do, whether he should take her to the emergency room or what. It was Saturday night and the walk in clinics were closed. Naissa was in pain and crying a lot. He took her to Children's Hospital where the doctor found there was a tear in her ear drum. He said her ear was not infected but it was caused from an injury. Turns out that Isaac had slammed her into a shopping cart earlier and that's when her ear started hurting. Hmmmm.....

It all worked out and Jim did fine and I got to see Jo Dee Messina and I even bought myself a shirt that says "My Give A Damn's Busted"!!

My train left Sacramento at 6:35am and I was home by 9:45am, just in time for Mother's Day. The ride home was the best. I watched another movie and read a little and got a few calls wishing me a Happy Mother's Day! I had purposely sat next to a young mom with 2 little ones, thinking that I wouldn't miss my stop because they would keep me from sleeping through it. But they were amazing, they were quiet and sweet and yes, they did talk and they did play and eat but the mom was so in tune to them that she met their needs before they even voiced them. I was so impressed.....and jealous!! lol!!

I'm thinking of taking the train somewhere....it doesn't really matter where....I'll just get back on and come back after I get there....just so I can relax! It was only $45 round trip! It cost me about $110 to fill my gas tank up last week so that seems like a cheap way to get some ME time! lol!

I'm on my way...

I'm on my way...

almost.

After I finish packing and get a couple hours of sleep,

make sure that Jade gets out the door for Disneyland

and Zack to school....

then I'll be on my way.

Got that anxious-excited feeling,

probably because I'm traveling by myself without my kids.

It could be because I got summoned for jury duty....

"insert bad word here"!!

Oh well!

I'll worry about that later,

because tomorrow I'm going to see Trace Adkins!!

=^..^=

2 more days!!

One of those days

Today was one of those days.
The kind of day where you just can't take anymore in.
You can't cope with anyone changing your schedule or any other detail for that matter.
You can't handle things not working out or being late or not being able to find two shoes that match or even fit, or kids whining that they are hungry when you already fed them but they didn't want what you served them.
You can't deal with oblivious people who don't even notice that they have stopped in front of you and are now blocking your view of your daughter's performance.
You can't pretend to care about those things you don't care about.
Today was one of those days.

Sick kids. Second day home from school. Can't get the nose to dry up or the wheezing/barking cough to stop. Love them but it changes what I can get done from something to nothing.
Dentist appointments all around, get this kid from that school and that kid from this school and somehow get there on time. No A/C. Hot. Stuffy. Hard to breathe. Sweat beading up. Why did we have four kids go in at the same time again?
Tae Kwon Do immediately after. Tantrum in the car. Shirt has stuff on it. Why didn't I wash it? How could I know it was dirty when it has spent the last week under your bed?
Drop other child at school to get ready for band performance. Doesn't have Red band shirt. Call dad. Can't find it anywhere. Promises made that WILL be broken. Go home get dad. NO RED SHIRT. Get a call from child. Need Red shirt in 5 minutes. Crazy laughter heard coming out our mouths as strands of our hair fade to gray. Grab substitute shirts. Get everyone back in car, drive back to school. Find child, give choice of shirts, child takes one and leaves. Never changes. WTF? End up spending money on hot dogs, to shut kids up and to not look like bad parents who don't feed their kids. Cell phone rings. Jim walks away. Water spills. Kids run wild. Noses run wild. Get extra napkins. Smallest child hiding. Smallest child didn't say he had to use the bathroom. Smallest child has runny carrot and ??? poop running down legs. Jim tightens face and grabs smallest child's hand. Use water bottles to wash child down before wrapping him in picnic blanket. Smallest child taken to car. No clothes but Jade's shirts and an old diaper in glove compartment. Mom drags remaining kids through open house classes, nodding yea, yea, uh-huh, that's nice, anything else? okay let's go. Back to the car, see Jim carrying smallest child. Wishing to God that child is not naked underneath that big shirt. He's not. (previously mentioned diaper was put on) Get in car head home. Stress of the next few tomorrows starts seeping in. before even done stressing about today.

All you who are weary and burdened....come to ME (says the LORD) and I will give you rest.
(Matthew 11:28)

Here I come Lord....here I come.

I GOT MY GAME ON!!

THREE MORE DAYS!!
I've decided to take Amtrak to Sacramento to meet my cousin Lorna, instead of renting a car for triple the cost. Lorna and I are going to see Trace Adkins at the Konocti Resort in Northern California. I am so looking forward to this trip! Lorna actually got to talk to Trace on the phone thanks to her local country radio station.
"Hello Lorna" he said in his deep and sexy voice.
Can you imagine?

School Carnival

School Carnivals....gotta love 'em. We've been going to the kid's school carnivals since the Spring of 1996. 4 different schools. Each one has been one extreme or the other. Big Huge Production with almost too much to do....or 5 little game booths set up on wobbly card tables and a cake walk. This one was somewhere in between, with many things for the little kids to do but us bigger kids just got to watch. I did do the cake walk with Naissa and Isaac once and there was a man who bought a ticket for his dog and his dog won! Naissa and Isaac didn't want to play anymore after that! Jim worked the Guitar Hero Booth and was there the entire carnival! Oh Yes, He Rocks! Zack worked the Treasure Dig booth, where kids 7 and under could dig for dinosaur eggs with mini dinosaurs in them. Naissa and Isaac loved the big slide and climbing thing. They had a lot of laughs with some of Naissa's Kindergarten friends. My mom, Leesha and Jade came for a while as did Jim's mom and dad. We all enjoy some good kettle korn. :) Oh yea!

What's a carnival without the Goldfish booth?? In past years our kids played this game and would be given coupons for free fish when they won, but not here......here they handed you a cup with a fish in it right on the spot!! What kid doesn't want to win a fish? What parent really wants to take home a stupid fish that they will have to flush within the next 2 days because it was found by their child floating belly up?? Some how our kids got through the line and we went home with 4 goldfish....though they weren't gold at all, they were kinda clear with a red spot near their eyes....rather ugly if you ask me. Within hours one of the fish had died.....then another. Jim went to Walmart and bought 10 for a buck to try to make our kids cheer up. It has been less than 2 days and we have 4 fish left!!! STUPID STUPID GOLDFISH BOOTH!!!! I didn't want to have to have the "why are you flushing my fish down the toilet" talk with Naissa and Isaac. So Jim put them all in a Ziploc bag and threw them in the trash! HA!! Maybe we'll be FISH-FREE by tomorrow!! One can only hope.