Weekend in Review

I made it home this afternoon with time to spare before the bus pulled up. It was one of those afternoons that my kids walked in one door and out another in route to find friends and fun. I am more than ok with that today because I am beyond tired and I'm fighting off a raging cold. I am not feeling the least bit guilt ridden for sitting on the couch in my housecoat (cuter than it sounds and way comfortable) blogging while I am watching Oprah interview Whitney Houston. Sure I should be fitting in a run, but my nose is running like a sieve, and there are loads of laundry to tackle, but then again there are still closets filled with clean clothes. The way I assess the situation...I'll be much more productive tomorrow if I rest today.

Fall ball started yesterday. T Bone was anxious to don the catcher's gear and get in on a little action behind home plate. He did great despite the fact that he is usually the star third baseman. He moved up to the minors and despite the fact that it's still baseball...it's a whole different game. Miss Bit more than made up for her month long hiatus from the concession stand. I didn't balk too loudly though because she has been eating like a baby bird the past 2 weeks feeling the effects of a tummy virus and then double ear infections. I just pray that we are all healthy in time for our trip south to the Happiest Place on Earth!

And speaking of prayers...we made it to church yesterday for the first time after a longer than intended break from the BIG house. I'll save just how long for the confessional. It was good to be back. Father T.'s sermon was inspiring and thought provoking as always. Miss Bit lit up like a Christmas tree when she heard him belting it out during the processional. Then she melted into a puddle during mass. That often happens to her because she always thinks of her Nanny when we are in church, but yesterday she was crying for the nun in the pew in front of us. I surmised that her wheelchair was the culprit, but Miss Bit confessed, "I just feel so bad for her because she's all alone." They made a connection during the sign of peace and as mass ended they shared a special smile. Now I am certain she'll beam every time she sees the sister the same way that she radiates when she sees Father T.

I explained that nuns don't have families, as in husbands and children, because they are married with God just like the priest. She was completely satisfied with that explanation. T Bone, on the other hand, questioned, "What happens if the nun accidentally gets children?" Quickly I let him know that wasn't possible, but he persisted and I'm not proud, but I shut the conversation down. I wasn't sure if he was talking about immaculate conception or broken vows of chastity, but I was ill-prepared to tackle either topic.

And speaking of vows...we watched I Love You, Man this weekend and we laughed and laughed. My 18 year old cousin suggested it and was persistent enough despite my skepticism. I'm sorry to GiGi that I didn't have faith in her taste. It's just that she has some pink hair and plenty of piercings and she loves Hello Kitty and she wears shorts that just barely cover her behind and she is constantly on her i phone texting and there just didn't seem to be any possible way that we could think the same jokes are funny. I really owe her an apology because I picked Surveillance for our movie night Saturday lured by its description...twisted and disturbing...and it was, sadly, both and bad. Then I badly burnt what was left of the popcorn. It's a good thing we were still full from our takeout Chinese. GiGi came for a weekend at the Inn, but she didn't get any home cooking or laundry service. She just moved from another city on the lake for college and she needed a break from the dorms.

And speaking of college....T Bone went to his first EVER Badger football game Saturday. Go Bucky! It was a glorious day and a GREAT game. He had very much fun and I'm glad he finally got to experience it. When he was a baby and we still had our season tickets, I used to fantasize about taking him to a game dressed all in Badger red. Who was I kidding?! Heck the hubby and I couldn't even get to a game back then, and then we got rid of our tickets all together. Saturday, though, it was boy bonding at its best.

And speaking of bonding...the girls did the same. We went for iced coffees and Orangina and sweet treats and then we strolled along the breakwater where we had a blast people watching. When we came home, we did some beauty treatments. Miss Bit now has purple and blue nails and hair that is soft as silk after her deep conditioning mask.

The whole family bonded over bbq and football at my brother and sil-to-be's last night. We used to gather for Sunday dinner almost every week at my Mom's. We pretty much have kept that tradition, but now my Dad and step mother are often joining us around the table. At first, that seemed odd, but now it is comforting.

In the Silence I Hear...

The trickle trickle of the water as it free flows from the fountain on the counter...the soothing singing of wind chimes hanging from a branch beside my bedroom window...the sound of my lungs inhaling and exhaling the air that I breathe...the pitter patter and pounce of paws chasing each other throughout the house during a feline frenzy of hide and go seek...the soothing sound of the fan's blades as they rhythmically rotate...the predictable tick tock of time passing as the second hand makes it's way through the day moment by moment...the dull humming of the refrigerator...the whirring sound of the ingenious wings of the morning dove as she takes flight...the chawing, incessant chirping the chipmunks make from their perches throughout the yard...the squeak of the back yard swing as the wind whisks through it and sends it sailing...the distant bark of a neighbor's dog sounding off to passers by...the rumble and squeal of the school bus as it makes it rounds getting nearer and nearer to my home...the laughter of children anxiously making plans for the weekend with friends as they disembark and head up the drive way ready for freedom...the ba bum ba bum ba bum of my heart beating...reminding me that, yes indeed, I am alive.

A Moment of Silence Please

As I made my way into to the office today, I passed over the same bridge that I cross numerous times a week, but it was different. It was flanked on either side by flags flying freely in the morning breeze. It was a sea of stars and stripes. I lost my breath for a moment and I held back tears as it first hit me that today is September 11th.

How can it be that I listened to portions of multiple local and national broadcasts this morning and I heard not one mention of today's significance? Have we already forgotten? Become complacent? Convinced ourselves that we are immune once again?

Today I don't want to hear a single mention about health care reform. I don't want to hear a word about the collapse of Lehman nearly a year ago and the ensuing freefall of world markets. I don't want to hear nary a whisper about the decline of the dollar or Cash for Clunkers or any other stimulus sham.

Eight years ago today thousands of innocent people were executed for crimes they didn't even commit all in the name of this jihad that has only grown stronger and this hatred that has only become more dangerous. It is important that we don't forget their sacrifice and remember what is truly important to us as individuals and citizens of this nation.

Time for Bed

It has been a weekend long on fun. I'm not complaining...I'm just beat. So is my family. I just tucked my girl in and took a quick shower. In the 3 minutes I spent pampering myself, she was out cold and snoring. That is the definition of tuckered out. My hubby gets Dad of the Year tonite cuz' after working all day he took T Bone to the Brewer's game. I know that he would much prefer to be on the couch beside me right now, and unfortunately when he gets home, I'll be in bed.

The beautiful weekend was spent swimming (the pool party did last the duration of the weekend), golfing, bbqing and spending quality time with family. Seriously, Miss Bit spent so much time swimming in the last 3 days that even her instructor noticed the impressive improvements from last week's lesson. When the cousins come to town, my kids have too much fun and do not get enough sleep. I can relate. My demise this weekend was staying up until the wee hours talking with my Aunt. All the sudden I happened to look at the clock and realized that it was 5:00 in the morning. We were not only catching up and having fun, but solving world and family problems too. After 4 hours of sleep, I had no choice, but to hit the ground running. We had been entertained all weekend and it was finally our turn to host. I truly think our world would be a much happier place if every weekend lasted for 3 days.

Today was a day to cross things off the 'to do' list and then to couch it. Tomorrow it is back on track at least for 2 weeks cuz' then we leave for la la land...Disney here we come!

Today I Am Grateful For...

• Peanut is good as new and Tigger is as good as ever.
• Making it through our first week back to school. Getting back into the routine of early mornings and decent bedtimes is always a challenge, but I, for one, welcome the return of a schedule to our days and nights.
• That being said...I am thankful that it is Friday and that we have a long, holiday weekend to look forward to.
• It is supposed to be in the high 70s and sunny for the duration and that is THE ideal forecast for the only plans on our calendar...a pool party that just may last all weekend long.
• Multiple challenging workouts this week.
• Fall is around the corner and it is my favorite time of year. The leaves of a maple I spied this week were burnt beautiful orange and I was called to make soup (chicken enchilada) and bake bran muffins.
• My Dad made us an entire meal on the grill the other night. Every one should try butternut squash hot off the grill with a maple pecan compound butter, and my Dad's homemade sauce that is perfect slathered over ribs.
• We have started to plan our upcoming trip to Disney and I am getting very excited for our vacation...V-E-R-Y! I am thankful for The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.
• I had a relaxing and delicious dinner out with my soon-to-be sil this week. We lingered over our seafood and wine like ladies with nothing better to do.
• I didn't see the bird whose downy feathers littered my lawn meet its demise.
• Pat Conroy has a new novel out. It will be coming my way soon. I also just bought my own copy of The Shack since I couldn't renew the library copy again. I have been in a reading slump.
• Aunt Jess coming to babysit this week so me and my hubby could go to school orientation. I love getting to see who is in my kid's classrooms maybe more than they do.
• Getting to bed early tonight since I haven't been sleeping well this week. I'm playing Farmville in my sleep all night long, but tonight I'm sure I'm going to sleep like a baby because I'm letting my fields lay fallow until tomorrow.

Second Day Not The Same as the First

What a difference a day makes!

This morning Lil Bit came into our room with her crazy version of bed head and the very first words out of her mouth were, "I don't want to go to school today!" The reason for her K5 mutiny was that her outfit was just not beautiful enough.

I finally convinced her to either wear what WE had picked out or go naked when she sauntered into my bathroom to get her hair done and it all came undone. I wasn't putting her pony tails in right. I didn't have the right bands. I just wasn't making her look beautiful. Yes, there is that word again!

I finally convinced her to either wear her hair the way I fixed it or have it all cut off when she announced she was going on a fast and there would be no breakfast. Not pancakes. Not cinnamon buns. She agreed to eat some frosting with a side of fresh berries (better than nothing) and I considered it a victory. Pick your battles we always say.

The bus came and I was trying to contain the feeling that I had just won the lottery. "I'll see you in 7 hours little loves!" I shut the side door and raced out the garage door so thankful for the opportunity to work off my frustrations at the Y.

You know what? What a difference an hour makes!

First Day

First day of school...first day of freedom. It pretty much went off without a hitch. My girl woke on her own and came in with a smile on her face for an early morning cuddle with me, my hubby and Tigger. She was excited to get dressed in her 'beautiful' new outfit and did so with nary a complaint. She liked the hairstyle I gave her (big ponytail with headband) on the very first try, and that almost never happens ever.

I came downstairs to find T Bone already dressed in his new skater shirt (apparently he's reinventing himself for 3rd grade - new year, new image) hard at work on his chores. His virtual chores that is. He was logged on at Facebook harvesting his crops, planting new seedlings and milking his cows. While at the in laws for a couple days last week, he got hooked on Farmville so my mil opened him up his very own Facebook account. Yes, I am now friends with my 8 year old son on the Internet and I am a fellow farmer. The way I see it is that if baseball or now skateboarding don't work out for him, he can always acquire some acres and live of the fruit of the land.

After a warm, nutritious breakfast served by my June Cleaver personality, we headed outside for the obligatory first day of school photos. I always take one of the kids (T Bone, Lil Bit and our friend and fellow third grader, Miss O) with their outrageously over stuffed back packs cuz' you know it may take a village to raise a child, and it also takes an entire Walmart back to school department to educate them! Because I seriously was worried about them being able to haul their supplies to class, I decided to drive them. Me and every other parent in the district. Seriously, we had to park illegally just to get a spot within a half a mile!

T Bone and Miss O went on their merry, mature ways the minute we got into school and it took all my mite, but I strongly resisted the overwhelming urge to run after him and give him a hug. Even I know how detrimental that would have been to his cool factor! Miss Bit and I made our way to the gym where she was to meet her teacher. She was quiet as a mouse so I knew she was nervous. One of her little friends approached her and said, "Lil Bit I have missed you so much!" Then she went in for the hug and my girl acted as if she had just seen Medusa. She was paralyzed...turned to stone.

Finally Mrs. D. came to greet Miss Bit and she seemed to relax a little. It didn't matter how many times I told her what a wonderful person Mrs. D. was, she had to see and feel it for herself. I kissed her good bye and I left and do you know what? I didn't shed a single tear and neither did my girl!

I got to my van and I was all like 'What's wrong with me for not crying like a baby in my coffee?" But I just didn't feel it. I felt proud and at peace and very pleased. And I am not going to apologize for that!

My Baby...my babies...are growing up, and into two amazing individuals and that is to be celebrated, extolled, embraced. I also have no trouble with alone time to take a 5 miler, shower in silence, shop all by myself and countless other things I did just for little old me today.

Now that being said, I did start listening with one ear for the bus at 3:30. When the bus finally stopped in front of our house at a little after 4:00, I had already gone to the door 3 times. I have missed time to myself, but I did miss my kids today too.