Wild Weekend Rides

Hi everyone.

Well, as predicted, the weekend was fun, but HOT!!!

The kids all had a great time at the theme park. The twins were roller coaster monsters, and wanted to go on all the coasters all the time. If it looked dangerous or vomit-inducing, they wanted to ride it.

Their cousins weren't so big on the roller coaster idea, but the twins eventually wore them down.

The Princess did pretty well until mid-afternoon, and then she faded fast. Hot and wilted would be an understatement, but we found some air conditioning, continued to wet her down throughout the day, and after a short nap inside, she bounced back and was ready for the rest of the night.

The adults were exhausted, sweaty, and overall grossed out by the sticky, slimy, grimy day (or at least I was), but we survived and got everybody home in one piece.

Hubby's family had to leave early on Sunday, and we were sad to see them go, but we still had lots of fun. The boys went swimming with a friend yesterday afternoon, then we all (us and the friend's family) had pizza, and practiced t-ball that evening at the park.

They had a good time, went to bed as soon as we came home and got baths, and slept in this morning. YAY!!!

And today we've got to get to the t-ball field early because they have team pictures before OUR LAST GAME OF THE SEASON!!!!

I am SOOOO excited!!!

I know they had a great time playing this year, but I have to say I'm glad it's over . . . at least for a little while. The summer is getting hotter, and I am getting older, and I appreciate being inside with air conditioning during the hottest part of the day.

But I'm sure we'll find plenty to keep us busy for the next 6 or 7 weeks until school starts again.

And now I need to go get the Princess some breakfast. I hope you all have a good week.

Later.

Long, Hot Summer

Hello, all.

Hope you had a great week, and are ready to kick off the weekend. I'll be picking up around the house today and washing bedding in preparation for family visiting later today.

And I'm also gonna try to get some writing done, but somehow I don't think it's gonna happen. It's going to be a really busy day.

The boys played t-ball last night and won their game. It was HOT!!!!! VERY, VERY HOT!!!

I was ready to just call the game and find an air conditioner. But the boys played through and won. They were hot and thirsty, but seemed mostly unaffected by the heat. Lucky. I felt like I was melting.

We have one more game, and that's it for the season. There's the possibility they'll be playing again in the fall, but we'll have to see.

And that's it for us. Tomorrow we're off to the theme park for a scorcher, and hopefully we'll be able to find ways to keep cool throughout the day. I know it will be fun, but very hot.

Have fun this weekend and stay safe.

Later.

Our Day

Good morning, y'all.

Well, I'm tired. I stayed up half the night reading a book, which was great, but now I'm exhausted.

It was the new Janet Evanovich book, which I gotta say was totally hilarious, but it's definitely not for everyone. The language can be a problem for some people, though not me. My dad forgot more cuss words than I'll ever know, and he sprinkled them liberally into his everday conversations.

Overall, it was just a super funny book and I really liked it.

But now I'm barely able to keep my eyes open.

Plus I have my five year olds are desperate for something to do. Apparently the mini pool, sprinkler, bikes, toys, sidewalk art supplies, and every other activity in our house aren't enough to entertain them anymore.

Before he left for work, Hubby set them on the task of cleaning their room before their cousins come for a visit on Friday. He told them their room has to be clean by the end of the day, and has to stay that way, if they want to ride rollercoasters this weekend.

It's a pretty powerful motivator.

So we'll be cleaning, and I'll be trying to get some writing done, although with all three kids in the house, it's almost impossible. But we'll see.

Hope the rest of your week goes well.

Later.

Pushing Buttons

Hey y'all.

Hope your weekend was fabulous. Ours was pretty groovy. My brother and sister-in-law took the twins for the weekend, May God Have Mercy On Them, and Hubby and I got to hang out in relative peace and quiet with the Princess.

It was a good weekend all around. Got to watch Hubby's little cousin play in a softball tournament, even though it felt like 1,000 degrees outside. But it was great to see them and we were glad we went.

Yesterday we spent the day hanging out together and being lazy, which was also nice.

All in all, I'd say things have been pretty good for us.

But there was this thing I saw on the Internet the other day that really got me hot under the collar (not that it takes much).

A woman in New York is on a crusade against junk food in her children's school. She doesn't believe the kids should be getting sweets or anything not "healthy" for class parties, birthday celebrations in class, or any other time.

And while I respect her commitment to making sure her own children establish healthy eating habits that will lead to, hopefully, good health throughout their lives, her insistence that ALL children need saving from junk food by eliminating it entirely from their daily environment is ridiculous to me.

My sons and daughter are active little kids.

My sons have NEVER been chubby, and I've got the baby pictures and family members stories to back it up.

I can't keep weight on them.

I actually had a nutritionist tell me when one of the twins was in the hospital (for a problem completely unrelated to his weight) that I should start adding more fat to his diet, and give him more carbs when possible because he needed them.

The Princess was a fluffy baby with the chubby cheeks, roley-poley arms and legs, and heavy as all get out. She's also been off the chart on her height since her two month check-up. She's almost as tall as some 4 year olds I've met, and she'll turn 2 in September.

And as soon as she could walk, that extra flab melted away . . . or at least redistributed to make her look like an active, lean little girl.

SO from my perspective, I don't buy this woman's argument that it's necessary to ban all junk food from schools, including special events like class parties and birthdays.

I understand the need for, and expect to find, healthy food options in the cafeteria for school lunches. That is an absolute necessity, and I don't believe that should be compromised for any reason.

But the fight against childhood obesity begins at home, by getting parents to turn off the TV, put away the video games (unless it's Wii Fit and you're doing it together), and start getting kids involved in fat burning activities.

Otherwise (IMO) this woman is just barking up the wrong tree.

Anyway, so sorry to go off on my little (long) rant. I hope you all have a good week, and I'll check back with you Wednesday.

Later.

The Love of the Game

Good Morning.

I'm a little late getting to the blog today. The kiddos are already on the fast track to getting on my last nerve and I have a feeling today is going to be a long, hard test of my patience.

But on a happy note, the boys' t-ball team won both of their games this week. They played well, and are getting better at fielding with every game.

They are kind of funny. Twin A has a better grasp of fielding, and is doing better at stopping the ball and making plays. Twin B is a better hitter so far, and seems to be making doubles and RBI's more frequently.

Both boys seem to love the game and I keep waiting for the day when they tell me they're tired of playing.

But according to my husband, he never outgrew his love of playing. I know that if he could find an adult softball league close by, and our kids weren't such a handful right now, he'd be playing for sure. So he isn't convinced they will ever want to stop.

I guess we'll just have to see.

We'll be going to another tournament this weekend, but not for us this time. It's for hubby's little cousin, a darling girl who I just adore, who is playing fast-pitch softball. I'm pretty sure she's 10, although she may have turned 11 this year (I'm so sorry I don't remember, sweetie!!!), and I hear she's a pretty great player.

I can't wait to see her in action, although the heat is really gonna stink.

Oh, well.

So I guess that's it for us. I hope everyone has a great weekend, and I'll be back online Monday.

Later.

Catching Up

Good morning, everyone.

We are still recovering from the weekend . . . or at least, I am.

The boys have t-ball on the brain, and they've been "practicing" every day. And most of the time when they practice, they want me with them and they insist on playing during the hottest part of the day.

Apparently they are immune to heat.

I am not.

Ten minutes in the heat and the energy is sucked right out of me.

So they spend their time throwing, batting, and attempting to field the ball. No one wants to field and they both want to bat the whole time. Not the best situation.

On another note . . . well, there's not really anything else. Hubby is working and really enjoys his new job. His older brother and their family might be coming to stay with us for a couple of days next weekend.

I'm really excited about that. They are super laid back, although I will still need to get the house clean again (and this is my quirk, not anyone else's insistence, unless you count my brother), we can cook out on the grill, and I think they want to go to the local theme park which will be fun for everyone.

I am writing when I can, but the children are quite restless and make it difficult to get anything done.

And that's about it. We have a game tonight, another tomorrow, and one or two next week. Then there's the slim possibility of another tournament in July. We'll see if that happens or not.

SO I guess that's all. More on Friday.

Later.

Hey everyone.

Man, am I tired. We ran ourselves ragged this weekend, and I am beat.

The t-ball tournament went okay. The boys played well, but we were going up against teams with 6 and 7 year olds, and most of our team is 4 and 5 year olds. It did not bode well for our little guys.

Of the 4 games, we won 1. Everyone got trophies for participation, so the twins couldn't have been happier, regardless of whether they were 1st place or 4th.

But it was hot, humid, and pretty much sucked the energy out of hubby and I. Neither of us are quite recovered, and the coming week looks to be a busy one.

The twins are really coming around to the fundamentals of the game, and even after playing two games in the sweltering heat, they still came home to "practice" with their uncle, and then their daddy after my family left.

We'll see just how long this love of the game lasts. It might be no more than a passing fancy, and in another year they'll be on to another activity.

But until then, we have another make up day of baseball camp and 4 more games before the season is over.

I hope you all have a great week. Ours is gonna be another chaotic one.

Later.

Hello all.

Sorry my post is late today. We've had a busy week, and the weekend is shaping up to be just as crazy.

The in-laws had a good time watching the twins play t-ball, which they won their game, and we had a nice meal afterward. Of course the kids were hyped up, and a little difficult to control, but they had Mimi and Papa Max cracking up in the car on the ride home.

This morning Dear Hubby and Father-In-Law got coffee and donuts, which the kids loved (the donuts, not the coffee), Hubby got going to work, and the in-laws got on their way to Dallas for the weekend.

Hope they have a great trip.

The twins just ate another donut for "lunch" and I threw them out the door, onto the trampoline, to work off some of that sugar.

And I am taking a short break while the Princess is resting to rest myself. We have a busy weekend ahead . . . a t-ball tournament all day Saturday and Sunday afternoon, and I need all the help I can get.

I have a list of errands to take care of this afternoon, so I'd better get started. Hope you all have a great weekend. Stay safe and have fun.

Later.

Mission: Impossible

Good morning, folks.

It's Wednesday and it feels like the last few days have flown by. I've been trying to keep an eye on overly hyper kiddos while picking up around the house and doing laundry in preparation of hubby's parents coming for a quick visit.

The problem has been those previously mentioned kids.

They do not appreciate the concept of clean. I pick up, they find a new way to make a mess in the same spot. I swear I've cleaned the same four foot area of our living room 15 times in the past two days.

Now, most people would say, "Duh! Just keep them out of that area."

But the problem is that I've tried. I sent them outside while I worked. I came back out to the yard with holes dug all around the trampoline.

Hubby was not happy.

I put them in their room. Came back to check on them and they had drawn all over each other and their t-shirts with magic markers.

Mommy was not happy.

Sat them in front of the TV to watch a movie (which is also the "area" I've so desperately been trying to clean up). They dirtied faster than I could clean.

How . . . you might ask.

In ways I never really thought about before.

Snacks are an obvious problem.

But I was picking up clothes that had been discarded on their way through the living room to the bathroom for their baths the night before. They ran, shorts wiggled off legs, shirts flew into the air, socks, underwear, and everything landed in a trail from the back door to the bathroom.

I got everything to the laundry room and came back to the living room where the twins were supposed to be sitting quietly watching a movie.

And they were . . . buck-naked.

All their clothes scattered . . . again . . . all over the living room floor.

After twenty minutes of threats and hair-pulling (mine, not theirs, although I probably should have tried that) I got them back into their clothes.

Went to start a load of laundry.

Returned.

The twins are in the play-yard with their sister and everyone is having a marvelous time throwing toys out onto the floor.

This has gone on for two days. Perfectly reasonable choices for snacks have been crushed to dust on the hardwood floors. Toys that I put away in the toy box mysteriously reappearing within a few minutes. Sending them outside only to have a trail of mud through my kitchen, to the cabinet for a glass, to the fridge for a drink, and back out the door again.

So I want it stated for the record that I really have TRIED to clean the house. It may not be a sparkling example from Good Housekeeping, but I have fought a long, hard battle. But I am outnumbered, 3 to 1, and the odds are against me getting everything finished before my in-laws arrive.

But having raised 4 boys, including a set of twins, I think my mother-in-law has a pretty good understanding of the challenges I face. She probably even has a few pointers for keeping the kids out of trouble while I get work done.

Like . . . wait until their first day of college before you attempt to keep your house clean.

Have a great week.

Later.

Get Cleaning

Good morning all.

It's a lovely Monday, and I hope your weekend was wonderful.

Mine certainly was. The hubby and twins made it back from Arkansas with no visible signs of injury, and the Princess and I had a wonderful time. I didn't get nearly as much writing done as I wanted to, but it was nice hanging with my daughter.

And this morning begins a busy week for us.

Mimi and Papa Max are coming to visit on Thursday, which means I have a good reason to start cleaning the house. It usually takes an act of God to motivate me to clean, and I think a visit from the in-laws is a pretty good reason to get off my lazy bum and get cleaning.

The boys play t-ball Thursday night, and then they have a tournament all day Saturday and possibly Sunday afternoon, if they make it that far. It's a double-elimination tournament, so we'll see how they do.

And now I need to get busy. Cleaning, writing, and kiddos are going to keep me busy for the rest of the week.

Check back with you on Wednesday.

Later.

Fishing Trip

Hello, all.

It's Friday. Yippee!!!

Actually, I have extra reasons to be excited about this weekend. Hubby took the boys on a fishing weekend in Arkansas with one of our best friends.

YAY!!!

It's just me and the Princess until Sunday night. I can't believe how excited I am about this.

It really didn't dawn on me until yesterday that the afore mentioned fishing weekend was this weekend.

Hubby and our Arkansas friend, Paul, have been trying to get together to take the boys fishing for over a year. But schedules kept shifting, other activities popping up, and life just interfered.

And we've been so busy with t-ball and other activities, I just didn't get that it was time for the trip.

Now, I have to say, the mom in me is TOTALLY freaking out. What if they drown? What if they get bitten by a snake? What if they get bitten by a spider? Kidnapped? Run over? Broken bones? A nasty cut that gets infected?

I could work myself up into a full-blown panic. But I have prayed every hour, on the hour, threatened my husband within an inch of his life to keep an eye on them, and threatened the boys themselves to listen to their Daddy and Paul, and do everything they are told.

We'll see how that goes.

So the Princess and I will be playing, eating lots of sugar, and working on my manuscript. Well, she'll just watch me type and try to push a key every now and then.

And hopefully it will be a safe and happy weekend for everyone. Hope your weekend is safe and happy, too.

Later.

Good morning, everyone.

It's Wednesday and it's been super busy the last two days. Baseball camp, t-ball games, and playing outside have worn me out.

The boys have loved camp, but the last day has been rescheduled. We got a down pour last night, and the field is a muddy mess.

So that means the game tonight will probably be rescheduled too.

They have won the last two games, including a game against their "rival" team. Both boys have been doing very well, and they are totally into t-ball and baseball right now.

The Princess is getting a little tired of all the baseball stuff, but she's hanging in there.

I'm getting a little tired of it myself. This week we've gone to practice, come home to "play" baseball, taken a nap (YES!!!), get up and play some more baseball, and then get ready for our game. They've played their game well, and then come home after the game to play more baseball.

I'm ready for them to get sick of t-ball. I'm sick of t-ball.

Well, not really sick of it, just worn out this week.

And I'm tired, so I'll post more on Friday.

Later.

Howdy.

Wow. I am beat, and it's only Monday morning. Well, it's actually closer to noon, but you get the idea.

We had a super busy weekend, and we've started the week off with a bang, too.

We started Baseball Camp this morning, and even though it was hot, it was also fun. The boys did well, paid attention, and said they are ready to go back tomorrow.

I'm taking that as a good sign.

Tonight we have a t-ball game, and two more this week. One might be rained out, but we'll have to see. The weather is talking down pour, so the make up game may not get made up yet.

So I am trying to get the boys uniforms clean, the Princess is taking a nap because she went to bed late and I got her up way too early to get ready to go watch the twins at camp, and I've gotta fit paying the bills in sometime between this post, lunch, laundry, and getting ready and leaving for t-ball.

Busy, busy, busy.

So I'll post Wednesday on how everything is going . . . if I survive.

Later.