This and That (After the Break)

I took a blog-break this week. I had something to do every morning that had me avoiding my computer. Wednesday morning I met a good friend for coffee. I am always amazed at the sheer number of subjects we can cover in a 2 hour period. We ordered our coffee from Starbucks, and two hours later, I still had half a cup left. This differs from my usual practice of finishing my cup between the drive-through and my house. I'm repeating a theme that I have visited in the blog many times before, but having a friend of this caliber is a true blessing in life. I met her on the steps of Little One's preschool 10 years ago, and we have been on the same wavelength ever since. When I have exciting news, I call her. When I have devastating news, I call her. And everything in between. I can always count on a kind, honest and supportive ear. We may not live near each anymore, but I always feel close to her nevertheless.

Last night, I came in from Little One's softball practice about 9:30. We had gone there straight from The Boy's game, so there was still dinner, bath and homework to do. I was tired and grumpy and pretty sure that I was going to miss my beloved Project Runway. The light on the answering machine was flashing , so I pushed play. I wished I hadn't. On it was a voice reminding me that I had volunteered to distribute art projects to all of the lower school rooms in the morning. Now I had volunteered for this months ago...and isn't that what always happens? You say yes long in advance and then ask yourself "What was I thinking?" Anyway, I psyched myself into "positive mode", and a very nice co-volunteer and myself miraculously completed the project in a couple of hours.

I started a new workout routine this week. After taking a few months off due to the heart issues, I decided it was time to start back. I pulled out one of my old Cindy Crawford videos which was always guaranteed to bring results in a few weeks. I started it on Tuesday morning, proud of myself for getting through part of it. It had always been difficult, so I had cut myself a bit of slack. By Wednesday morning, I was in pain. I could barely walk up the stairs to wake the kids for school. Each step was torture. I gave myself a day off, but this morning after the volunteer duty, I was determined to try it again. I made it a little longer this time, but not without some major groaning. As you get older, your head tells you you can do anything you want, but your body sometimes disagrees. I'm hoping I will eventually accomplish the whole tape...

The Boy is spending the night with a friend tonight. Little One and BFF are upstairs doing each other's hair. The Husband has put in the most violent movie he owns, so I'm content on this Friday night to retire to the bedroom and watch the episode of Project Runway that I missed...

Thank goodness the weekend is here...

Now I Need You. Now I Don't....

In answer to all of the questions I got all weekend long about The Boy's middle school dance...no drama. I know, very disappointing. A bit of a let-down. I suppose after the first one, the bloom is off the rose, as it were. The Husband did the big "pick up" Friday night. I decided this might be a little "cooler" for The Boy since The Husband does not ask probing questions about the dance...he just makes inappropriate jokes which later reveal themselves in inappropriate circumstances. Anyway, a friend was getting a ride home with The Boy, and rather than subject them to mom's 20 questions, I was proud of myself for handing over this duty.

As I heard him come though the door, I ran with my camera, hoping to get a few shots since he had not been in the mood for it before he left. "No Mom!" he huffed at me. But then, a small smile appeared, and I took my opportunity. He refused to smile (so not cool), but I got my picture. I started in with the questions, but it was obvious he was tired and anxious to get this over with. "The girl's wore high-heeled shoes and I danced with .......(insert the name of 6 girls)." Then he pulled out his computer and logged on to his fantasy baseball draft. I looked at The Husband, who had also logged on to this draft...and he shrugged his shoulders. "Not much to tell." That was it? I waited all night for that? "I'm tired, mom." Well ok, it had been a busy week. basketball tournament, baseball practice every day, several exams...I guess he had the right to be tired. So I hushed, because I remember not wanting to play the 20 question game with my mom either. Sometimes you're tired...or sometimes it is just nobody's business...either way, I felt a little of a let down...

Little one was ready to take up the slack. She had been researching dogs all night long and had narrowed down her favorites to around 894...and she NEEDED me to take a look at all of them...

I guess this is how it goes. You get older, and you need mom a little less and less. I have been down this road a few times before, but it is different with girls. They still wanted to talk....and talk,,,,and talk......I guess I just thought I would have a little longer with The Boy...

The next morning, he woke up early to get ready for a baseball game. I was on my way out the door. "You'll be at the game, right mom?" I nodded. "Good". ..............Ok, I can deal with that. I'm not one for a lot of conversation anyway. Just a little hint every now and then that I'm still needed...

Sunday was the Tike's big birthday bash. 4 years old. He was adorable, precious...and well-behaved. Enough to make a Noni really, really proud. As I started to leave the party, he grabbed my leg and whispered "NOOO. You can't go yet! I need you to stay!".............Through teary eyes, I agreed to hang and play play dough a bit longer. The cycle of life, I suppose...one needs you less, and one needs you more.....

So until tomorrow, when only those with an obsessive love of fashion need bother. Tomorrow's blog will be a rough draft for a fashion article...so for many of you...see you Wednesday....

Monday is an Awful Way to Spend 1/7 of your Life. Steven Wright

Friday afternoon was such a relief. Little One was finished with all of her tests for the week, and had ended them on a high note with an A on her Wordly Wise test. Bouyed by her achievement, she was ready to ride the coat tails of this accomplishment all weekend. To everything she asked for, she added, "Cause you know , I made an A on my test". Now I let that ride for extra dessert and late bedtime, but eventually, I had to draw the line. After having The Boy home sick all week with the flu, I was just not in the mood for the requisite Friday night sleepover...not even the "A on my test" could change my mind...



The Boy seemed so much better Friday. He had even convinced The Husband that he would be fine for playing in a travel baseball game on Saturday morning. I had my doubts about his, but I kept my over-protective-mom-mouth shut. Until Friday came and I happened to feel his forehead for the 876th time this week. Uh oh. Warm. He looked at me with pleading eyes, but I reached for the thermometer. 101. I knew what was coming. I announced to The Husband that he had a fever. The Boy exclaimed that it was "hardly anything" and he was fine. The Husband looked from his face to my face...and he made the following cowardly statement. "Listen to mom. We'll do whatever she says." ...Now, do not be fooled into thinking this was supportive. This was The Husband not being the "bad guy". This is the role he likes to play. The Boy stomped upstairs, angry at mom and the world...and not feeling so great either. I just stared at The Husband. "What???" he said. "So you think he should play tomorrow...after being sick a week and still with fever?" ....."I didn't say that."........Here is the thing. I do not reward sickness. Really, I don't. In our house, if you don't have fever or vomiting, you are pretty much going to school. In fact, Big Sister and The Senior will swear that I occasionally sent them on their deathbeds. But that isn't true either. They just didn't like the rule that stated "If you stay home, there is no phone time and you must stay in bed"......But back to the point. The Boy had no business doing anything except resting over the weekend. And that was that. I climbed the stairs and went to tell him that I was sorry...and being The Boy, he said "I guess that means I don't have to go to church on Sunday either, huh?".....even with fever, he is the great negotiator.



Saturday morning it was pouring down rain...we all slept late, and The Boy got up fever-free. Now they will never admit it, but Boy and Husband were both happy to be in the bed instead of on the ball field that morning.



Sunday morning, I got up to get ready for church, and I decided that The Boy should probably stay in one more day. I told The Husband that I would take Little One and go alone...and he grunted in agreement. The funny thing about The Husband is that he is somehow always able to make me feel like he is doing me a favor by sleeping late. It is an amazing gift he has....



So that's it for today. Everyone is back in school today. The house seems very quiet without The Boy here. But I'll trade a quiet house for a healthy Boy any day....until tomorrow....

Weekend Update

It was a long weekend, but that's a good thing, right? The Boy had a big "spend the night" to go to Friday night, so Little One and I dropped him off that afternoon. I strongly suggested that he be sure and get some sleep, because he had 2 baseball games to play Saturday evening. He left me with a hug and kiss and a mild assurance that he would do it. As he ran into the house greeting his friends, I had my doubts, but I crossed my fingers.

Little One was disappointed because the BFF had prior commitments...as did the 2 other friends she invited to spend the night. She was stuck with mom and dad for the night. So the three of us headed to one of our favorite little dinner places and had a nice meal...granted it was quiet meal, because The Boy is usually the talkative one at our table, but it was nice. And when we got home, I reminded Little One that she could play Webkinz on the computer to her little heart's content because The Boy wasn't here to fight her for the computer. So after hours of Disney Channel and Webkinz, she went to bed happy, even commenting on how it had been a 'cozy' evening.

I headed over to pick The Boy up the next morning, and one glance was worth a thousand words...he had had a "TERRIFIC" time, but had only gotten about 4 hours of sleep. The whole way home, he regaled me with stories from the previous night. Sleep had been impossible due to many reasons...but he assured me he wasn't tired. However, after a second breakfast at home, he headed upstairs, turned on his fan, and slept for 3 hours. I do believe this was the first time since he was 2 years old that he actually "took a nap".

That afternoon we headed to yet another baseball game. The Boy was a bit lethargic, but managed to play pretty well, even getting one of the game winning hits. As we drove home near midnight, his emotional comments gave him away, because at some point, lack of sleep catches up with all of us...even a 12 year old boy.

The next morning I headed to church by myself. I rarely do this, but do you ever have those mornings when you just don't feel like urging everyone else along? The Boy was attending the Braves game...a previous commitment that he was looking forward to...and he was being picked up before church was over. Little One was suspiciously not up yet, which means she was laying in bed hoping I would decide to stay home. The Husband was awake, but pretending not to be, and when I offered to go alone, he quickly agreed and turned back over to sleep. So I went alone and enjoyed the peace of listening to the sermon without having to constantly quiet the kids, keep showing them my watch...and tell The Husband to put the blackberry away...

The afternoon started out well. The Boy was at the game, The Husband had headed to another game, and Little One was out playing with BFF in the neighborhood. I was left on my own to switch back and forth between the Braves game and Food Network, where I learned how to cook Chicken a L'Orange for under $10. Unfortunately, halfway through the show, I got the dreaded call...This call is entitled: The Sisters Are Having A Fight and Mom is About To Be Put in the Middle". The jist of this fight is that Big Sister had lent (lent is a very loose term here) the Hannah Montanna movie that she had rented from Blockbuster to The Senior. The Senior had sworn on her life that she would return it in time...and big surprise...she had not done it. Now, the problem here was that Big Sis and SIL could not rent a movie until that one was returned. This had lead to the Big Sis calling and texting The Senior 543,000 times...and the Senior had done what she normally does under these circumstances...turned off her phone...SO, Mom was forced to intervene....calming down the Big Sis....lecturing The Senior on responsibility(who always responds to this by saying "I make straight A's and raise a child for Heaven's sake")...and I remind them both that I wish I had a sister to argue with...The funniest part of this is when The Little One asks me when I hang up "Ok, so whose fault is it REALLY?"...The Little One is all about the blame game...

So that's about it...all in all a good weekend. I had actually pre-written this morning's blog after a small tiff with The Husband Saturday morning. But you know, it was the kind of thing that seemed funny and appropriate at the time, but kind of petty this morning...

So until tomorrow, when the week begins on a busy, but optimistic note....

"The Only Reason We Ask People How Their Weekend Was Is So We Can Tell Them About Our Own."

It was a good, summer weekend. When I signed off Friday, we headed down to Atlanta for the big game of the baseball tournament. This was the one they really wanted to win...but they didn't. After holding the lead all game, things fell apart in the last inning, and they lost. They brought The Boy in to pitch in the middle of the free-fall, but it wasn't his day. He did his best, but his best didn't do it. It was a quiet walk to the car. I tried to hug him, but wanted to be left alone. Little One was having one of the player's sisters over to spend the night, so that was a distraction.


The Husband decided we would have a nice meal at the place of our first date on the way home. The kids had little to zero interest in that history, but I kind of liked it. I replicated what I ordered on our first date, and low and behold, The Husband remembered. "Is that really what you want or are you just reliving history?" Both, I answered. He rolled his eyes a little, but he also smiled.


The next day, we headed back to play our final game of the season for the travel ball team. Thank goodness we won and everyone played well. A great way to close out the season. And then 11 boys, 5 sisters and 15 adults headed to ESPN Zone to eat and play video games. It was surprisingly un-chaotic and fun. It was kind of like the last day of school. Even though most of the boys will play All Stars together starting next week, some would not, so there were good byes to be said. All in all, good fun...and then The Husband and I had a stroke of luck. One of the moms on the team invited The Boy and Little One to come and spend the night with her Boy and Little one. Now this is a mom that I love and fully trust, so not only did it mean we would have a free night...but also a non-worrying free night (and all you parents out there will fully understand that).


So The Husband and I headed home in a quiet car and debated what we should do with our free evening. I surprised him by suggesting that we go see the Gwinnett Braves since he had tickets. I could tell he was pleasantly surprised, probably fearing a request for some chick-flick or romantic dinner. It was a beautiful evening for MORE baseball and we had a good time. Topped it off with wings at Fridays on our way home...and it just doesn't get better than that.


Sunday, The Husband surprised me with an offer to pick up the kids...thus leaving me with a basically free day. It was heaven. I cleaned up, which took a surprisingly small amount of time since I had no little voices to interrupt me. I did the big grocery trip for the week...and then I headed to TJ Maxx for...well, I wasn't sure what. But I came away with some Swell purchases:


1) turquoise one piece swimsuit that I can race the kids in...


2) Spoon rest that matches the dishes that my mother-in-law had at the house...this gave me an inordinate amount of joy...


3) 2 gorgeous strapless dresses, one turquoise and one beige...each $19.99...such a Steal (The Boy loves it when I say that....The Husband thinks my perspective on Steals is skewed when it comes to cute clothes...)


4) Anne Klein T-strap wedges in python print...oh my goodness are they gorgeous...and you guessed it....a steal.


5) Lotion from the French Line of Roc which I love...and lastly,


6) Two journals with vintage french prints on the front...one will have to go to Big Sister since she graciously did The Boy's laundry for me (no washer at Grandma's House)


It was a great shopping day...and then the kiddies came home all happy because THEY had had fun too.


All in all , a great weekend. So until tomorrow when I get closer and closer to changing my blog address to cestlaviegirl.blogspot.com.....this will happen on Thursday! Please note that once it changes, you won't be able to find me at the old address!



A few quick shout-outs:... to beloved niece, who made me laugh with her description of her coffee preference after reading Friday's blog...an assurance to brother-in-law that I will keep him posted on All Stars.... a reminder that Big Sister is selling her terrific jewelry at thelittlejewelrybox.blogspot.com...a congratulations to The Rebel on her "move"...and a big thank you to the family for a lovely weekend...

So until tomorrow, when the talk turns to power struggles and the sock drawer...

Thunderstorms, April Fool's and Baseball

It rained and hailed here all night. There is nothing better than sleeping during a thunderstorm like that. Well, the only thing better is waking up and thinking it is time to get up and then realizing that it is only 3:15. Nothing gives me more joy. On the flip side, there is nothing worse than waking up at 6:28 (when you have to get up at 6:30) and feeling like it is 3:15...


My daughter had been discussing April Fool's Day for several days. She kept asking what day it was and telling me that she had a great plan. (Hasn't yet grasped the whole concept, has she?) So yesterday afternoon while I am cooking dinner, she literally creeps into the kitchen with a silly look on her face. She goes into the refrigerator and pulls out the ketchup. She then goes into the laundry room and closes the door. I began to suspect that this was The Big Plan. Suddenly, she opens the door and comes out with a glob of ketchup running down her leg and said "Mom, I've cut my leg really bad. It hurts." Well, I had to play along, so I cringed and said "Oh no! We need to get to the hospital! You need stitches!." Of course instead of protesting, she grinned and said "Ok." Now at this point, my son, who was sprawled in a chair watching TV looks over and says, "Come on Gab. I think we all know that you have ketchup running down your leg. Either lick it off or be quiet." But he could not quell her fun. "I fooled you didn't I mom?" I wish I could hear how this little tidbit will be re-told at school today.

My son said his teacher played a joke on his science class. Instead of the normal multiple choice questions on Thursday's test, they would be required to write 3 page essays. Matt did not see the humor in this one. "I only studied for multiple choice questions." Now what this means, I do not even want to know.

This weekend my son has another travel ball tournament. These are always a lot of fun. We are playing in a little town about 30 minutes from here. Last tournament, Gabrielle and I had to drive up separately because she had softball practice. Now I have an absolutely non-existent sense of direction, so even though Tony had printed out directions for me, I knew that it would be a challenge. I took 2 wrong turns along the way and had to call him twice to get straightened out. When I finally made it to the little town, (which is made up of about 4 streets) I still couldn't find it. Somehow, we ended up in what could best be described as the "rough" part of town. By now, it was minutes away from game time and I was feeling frustrated . I spotted a group of young men huddled in the middle of the road. They looked a bit menacing, but I held my breath and rolled down my window. "Excuse me..," I began. They turned around and looked at me and started towards the car. "Yo Mamma..you be looking fine today...whatcha need from me?..." Well at his point, I quickly rolled up the window and waved a very friendly "thanks but I've got it figured out" wave. Gabrielle began to laugh out loud and said "Yo what?" Thankfully, an older man who had witnessed the whole thing ran over and told me to follow him. He lead me straight to the park (which was about 30 yards away) and we made it in time for the start.

I'll be riding with Tony and Matt this weekend, so no worries about directions. Of course, I won't get the compliments either. My friend Lisa has decided to get lost on purpose so she can experience the little ego boost too. Best of luck to her.

So until tomorrow, when I'll be looking forward to the big weekend...