sticky fingers

I had to invest in a few fly strips due to the thousands we have at the moment. I went all out and bought the big sticks. The label clearly says "keep out of reach of children". Apparently I didn't keep far enough out of reach. Sis grabbed it with both hands. No wonder they can't get loose. Its like cement. We have scrubbed her poor hands until they are sore. But, its finally gone. I think. All it took was a bottle of nail polish remover :)

We spent some time in the closet last night, just like everyone else, I'm sure. Sis and Little man slept through most of it and Speck dozed off and on with the dog. Not sure why she was in there and I was in the hall...Sis decided to wait til time to go back to their beds before she woke up. So thankful all is ok.

Got a bill for our air conditoner yesterday. Guess it could have been worse. But I think it could have been better. They didn't have to do as much as they originally thought but we never got a good answer either. It is working great now and that's what I'm trying to think about.

picture update

Saturday night was "the" cookout. 104 total. 58 kids & 46 kids. WOW! I didn't get to visit a lot due to a very clingy 2 year old but enjoyed the few minutes I got ;) Can you believe I didn't pick up a camera? I think I was on my way to get it at one point but got side tracked and didn't make it. Can't imagine how that happened! We had 10 over night guests. Mostly family. Have I ever mentioned it is a GOOD thing we don't live close?! Hubby got the outside cleaned up and put back together and I had the inside going pretty good. Good enough I was looking forward to a nap with sis. Then our sweet realtor called and asked if I would be willing to show the house @ 3. So I called mom & she came over to help with a marathon cleaning spree and an afternoon of piddling til they were finished. No news. Speck was worn out after a trip up the hill to watch a bb game with some buddies and sis was ready for bed early. Little man could have gone all night after getting a nap in the car with dad while they were spending the day together. Think I might possibly get fired from a few duties...the tooth fairy forgot to come last night! I still need that nap.

good morning, ummmm, afternoon

I finallly got to work last night. And it was in L & D. Have I mentioned that I really, really like my job?! Its a good thing I can't have any more babies :) Got home and crawled in bed around 10 & it seemed like just seconds when someone started BEATING on my front door. I jumped out of bed and stood there kind of stunned. It took a minute for me to get my bearings and throw on some clothes. It was the air conditioning people. Ours has been out for about a week. Thank goodness its been fairly cool. I think I looked like a crazy person. I might have even scared him!

Sis went back to school today after being sick. She thought it was what she wanted to do until it came time for me to leave.

Speck is wanting a leopard gecko. I did a little research. Its not sounding like a good pet for us. They require heating lamps that have to be turned on and off to keep it between 80-90'. They eat mealworms. But before you give them the worms they (the worms) have to be rolled in vitamin filled powder. How entertaining does that sound? I AM NOT rolling worms in powder to feed them to a lizard. I am a mean mommy!!

They make my heart smile

my kiddos. To say I love them doesn't even begin to describe it. They are rotten, onery, wild, occasionally disobedient, and try my patience fairly often. But in the same breath they make me so proud and put a smile on my face everyday. Speck surprised me yesterday. He's a lot more grown up than I give him credit for. Little man isn't so little any more. And Sis, oh my. I am counting the days til summer. I have plans. They will be ready to get rid of me by the time school comes back around :)

We had an exciting day yesterday. Sis made her 4th trip to the dr. in 10 days. Ear infection is now "full blown" (as if there is any other kind?) Started her 4th different antibiotic. And added an ear drop. While we were there the school called and Little man lost a cap. A quick phone call to a friend who grabbed him from school and met me in the parking lot on the highway so I could make a turn around trip back to town! Got him all glued together and back home to let sis nap before baseball. One more friend to the rescue so Speck didn't have to ride the bus. Thank you all for saving my kids! They really appreciated it. That was our second trip to the dentist in the last few days. Speck split one of his last week eating a waffle. ( I may have said that in another post...if so, just ignore me)

They both played a great baseball game last night. Don't really like it when they are at the same time but I guess thats part of having 2 of them. Speck has been in a bit of a slump. But we had a talk on the way and I had a few words of "motherly" wisdom & gave some unsolicited advice. He said, mom that won't work. But then he got a hit. Hmmm, maybe I do know something. Dad was trying to pry and figure out our conversation. But we decided it didn't concern him. I was just so happy for him. He was smiling from ear to ear.

Praying for friends who are facing a rough time. A mother who loves her son so much it hurts. A family facing change.

Weekend wrap up

I think I'm glad last weekend has come and gone. It was entirely too cold for 2 baseball games Friday night and Sat. afternoon wasn't a whole lot better. Sis is STILL sick. We spent all day Sunday at the Urgent Care clinic with her. The tube is out of her right ear and it is infected again. She screamed so bad Sat. night I thought we were going to have to go to the ER. Little man & his big brother got a terrarium for their lizards and added a few crawdids & worms. O.MY.WORD. does it ever stink. & they opened it in the laundry room. We are still trying to get the smell out. Before they added the worms to the mix they put them in the barrel of the BB gun and shot them out. Apparently they "flip" really good! Its never boring around here :)

rounding the corner

So sisters temp went up to 104.2 Wed evening and I panicked. All I could think about was last year and our hospital stay and that we were on the way again. But she has made it since last night without fever. And you can tell she is feeling better. She is back to her two year old rotten little self ;) Screaming at her brothers and tearing up everything she can get into.

Those two brothers of hers caught a snake last night and brought it in the house. They got in a small bit of trouble for that one. Nothing that left an impression I'm sure.

I was reminded this week how much I take for granted. Things that I just expect will be there tomorrow, unchanged. I have to start doing a better job.

all the little things

I really want to complain today. But I won't. I will just simply explain what is happening around here and go on and be so thankful for the many things with which we are blessed.
1. Sis is still running fever. Off to the dr again in a minute. We have been up since 2 am. And I am supposed to work tonight. Which means she can't go to school tomorrow either. Thats what I get for wanting to go to work, right?
2. The air conditioner is out for the second time this week. They are thinking there is a hole in one of the lines. There has been talk of tearing out sheetrock to get to it.
3. The cable has been hit and miss for a week or so and now doesn't work at all. Not that we sit and watch it too much but up in the middle of the night rocking a sick baby, it would be nice. They are coming tomorrow. Between 3-5.
4. hubby says I have "pillow regulations" at bedtime. I just have a particular one that is mine.
5. Before she got sick we were talking about moving sis to a big girl bed.
6. The kids are adjusting fairly well to the closer quarters of a smaller vehicle with no entertainment. They actuallly sort of enjoy playing games with each other.


Its just one week. All will pass soon. And it could be SOOOOO much worse. Really I am thankful to get to deal with all of it. There are so many people that would take this anyday.

I think my age is showing

This will be as short as possible to catch up on the last 2 weeks! Something is wrong with my computer, operator error I am sure, but it will not let me upload pics right now so here we go...



I had been complaining about my suburban and the gas mileage and the fact that I just didn't like it anyway. I was tired of driving one. With the exception of those brief few months I had the Sequoia, I have had a suburban for the last 10 years. I looked at several things, drove a few of them and decided on a 4 runner. It is smaller than the suburban and doesn't have all the bells & whistles but it has whats necessary. And thats exactly what I was after. I love it. I really love the fact it costs 1/2 to fill it up but goes almost just as far :)



I got to share Mother's day with Speck. He turned 10. How in the world are we already into double digits? UGH!! He had a few (12) boys over Friday night. Surprisingly there were no major incidents. The only loss was a piece of tupperware used to house a few reptiles! I got to listen to several very interesting conversations. One of the scariest was the fact they will be getting driving permits in 4 years. O. MY. WORD. They already have plans. The girlfriend discussions were pretty cute too, at least for now.



My mother in law came up Saturday with my neice and nephew to visit. We went to the nursery and bought plants for my back porch. I prefer the artificial kind. The ones that don't require care but she didn't agree. And she has a pretty green thumb. Needless to say she shopped, I paid then she planted. Now I have to water them EVERY STINKING DAY! We'll see how long they last. She kept telling me I couldn't kill them. Apparently she doesn't know me that well.



We got to make a run to the walk in clinic at 8 this morning. Sis didn't sleep at all last night. She ran fever and cried forever. I figured it was her ears but I was so hoping to be wrong. No luck, her tubes are working their way out and she has another infection. Yippee.



I read an entire novel. And I don't even like to read. But it was a good love story ;)



I haven't worked in 3 weeks. They just haven't needed me. Good I guess. But I'm kinda missing it. Maybe this week they will be busy. Did I just say that?!