Hello, all.

It's Friday!!! Yay!!!

I'm working on the laundry, the boys are out of school and watching movies, and the Princess is running around the house looking for attention.

We're headed to Mom's for the weekend. The boys want to Trick-or-Treat there, I get to help my sister-in-law with adorable little Hudson, and Hubby will be working at the farm with my brother.

So I have a ton of stuff to pack for the trip: costumes, clothes, etc.

Hopefully the boys will entertain themselves and their sister while I work, and then we'll be off.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween.

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY today to my friend, Holly!!!

Later.

Warning: A Rant in Progress

Hey.

Well, t-ball is over. The last game did not go well.

We did lose, which wasn't the problem.

We lost badly, as in, very unsportsman-like on the part of, not the kids, but the parents.

There were a handful of adults who complained to the umps about the scorekeeping, several of the calls, and were frankly getting hysterical about how the kids were playing.

They are little kids. Most of them are up early so their parents can get to work, they are in school and/or daycare all day, and then they are rushed to the t-ball field for the 6pm games, and expected to fully concentrate on the game? Come on.

It was a very cold evening, the Princess refused to keep her jacket on (she thought it was funny to take it off and make me put it back on) so I used that as an excuse to leave the stands.

It was just getting to the point that I was embarrassed by the yelling and carrying on.

Now, I want to make it very clear that I love all our little guys on the team. And I really, really like their parents. I think we've had a fantastic season, and a fantastic group of people this year. Hands down.

But this game, they were just over the top. I was unhappy with the way the other team acted on Saturday, and then our people turned around and acted the same way, or worse. Not cool.

I wanted our team to win just as much as everyone else. It would have been wonderful to go an entire season undefeated. We ended up being 8-1 and we were locked for 1st place anyway. So personally, I think one loss isn't the end of the world. The kids did a great job, they are improving by leaps and bounds every day, and the spring season is going to be fabulous to watch.

But we've got to bring the outrageous anger down a notch. Some days, it is just not our game. Some days, it is. But the adults need to keep it together for the kids. Watching their parents come unglued on the officials, the coaches, or the other team isn't setting the example I want my boys to follow.

So my rant is over now. Please continue on with your day, and have a wonderful rest of the week.

Later.

Hey, everybody.

Well, we had a super busy weekend. The first event to kick off our mad dash around the state was two t-ball games on Saturday morning.

First of all, it was quite chilly. We had the boys in long-johns and long sleeved shirs, plus hoodies while they played. The Princess had thermal jammies, jeans, a long sleeved shirt, hoodie, plus a lighter coat.

Second, it was muddy. The field hadn't dried enough from the soaking it got on Thursday. And twenty-something little boys from the two teams had way more fun throwing themselves down in the mud than playing the game. And the Princess was determined to drop herself into as much of the mud outside the field as she could find.

Third, our team played well, we won both games, but for some reason there was some sort of situation during the first game that came up from a dead ball play, an out for one of our players, and another of our players going back to third base after he thought he scored.

This situation went from bad to worse because the other team kept complaining to the ump (one coach in particular) about how our player at 3rd should have been called out, too.

The ump said no, dead ball (whatever that means), the kid gets to go back to his base, our other player was already out, end of discussion.

But the other team's coach would not let it go.

So the ump tossed him from the game and refused to let him back on the field until the start of the next game.

Our team was a little shocked by the whole thing. Or at least I was. I didn't see the problem. The kid who should have been out was out, the kid who should have gone back to 3rd base went, no one on the other team ever tagged him in an attempt to make a play so there was no reason to insist the player at 3rd should be out, too.

And all this happened in front of both sets of kids and their parents. It just seemed completely ridiculous to me. If the coach had an issue, it needed to be discussed privately, or after the game, but not in a huge scene in front of the children.

For all I know, the other coach had a legit complaint, and I just didn't know the rules well enough to get it.

BUT NOT IN FRONT OF THE KIDS!

Today is supposed to be the last game until the spring season. Hopefully it will be a good game. With no arguing.

If we win, we'll go undefeated for the fall season. But even if we don't, the kids will still have a good time.

That's all for now.

Later.

Hello, all.

Woohoo, it's Friday!

I would love to say I'm looking forward to a nice, relaxing weekend at home with my family, but that's not really the case. This weekend is going to be go-go-go for everybody.

Today is going to be me fighting The Princess for writing time, followed by picking the boys up from school and running to pick up gifts for my sister-in-law's baby shower on Sunday.

Tomorrow is t-ball, a writer's meeting, and a trip to Mom's house, where I am so happy I get to see my little nephew again. Oh, yeah . . . and my brother and sister-in-law.

Sunday is two baby showers, more time with baby Hudson, and scrambling like crazy to meet my word count goals for those two days.

The Princess has decided that naps are no longer necessary, which is making for long days for Mommy. Especially when trying to write. The minute she hears the click of the keyboard, she assumes it's party time, and crawls into my lap (on top of the computer), and demands her turn slapping at the keys.

And when I put her down, she throws herself on the floor and has a tantrum worthy of an Academy Award.

So this should be a very interesting weekend, seeing if I can get everything done.

Hope your weekend goes well. Everyone stay safe.

Later.

Hola!

It's the middle of the week. Duh. Y'all know that already.

I'm very tired today. The kids are feeling better. Their team won the t-ball game on Monday, we play again tomorrow, and two make up games on Saturday morning. I also have my writer's group meeting on Saturday afternoon.

Then we're headed to Mom's Saturday night, and going to my sister-in-law's baby shower on Sunday afternoon. Two of them, actually.

We have a busy couple of weeks ahead, and need to keep our family as healthy as possible to handle the frantic pace we're expecting.

Not to mention I'm trying to finish my manuscript in the next 6 days. So I've been channelling the Little Engine That Could . . . I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!

Hope the rest of your week goes well, and I'll check back with you on Friday.

Later.

Hello.

Well, we are coming off an excellent anniversary weekend, and have landed straight in . . .

Disaster.

Hubby and I enjoyed our time alone, we picked the kids up, and had a pretty good evening hearing about their wonderful adventures with Mimi and Papa Max.

We got everyone in the bath, teeth brushed, and tucked in for the night.

Then about 1am, one of the twins crawled into our bed, crying.

"I don't feel good, Mommy." Cough, cough, cough. "I'm hot." Like a blazing inferno.

Uh, oh.

When we picked the kids up, Mimi warned us that they all seemed to have a slight tickle in their throats. We discussed symptoms and decided that allergies were the likely culprit.

We didn't think too much about it, and the children played all evening with friends. Everyone seemed fine.

But the wee morning hours rolled by with my son alternating between coughing, crying, and laying on top of me in the bed with fever-reducer in his system and a cold rag plastered to his forehead.

Hubby was smart enough (or perhaps a little chicken) to get out of the room and take refuge in the guest bed. However, his reprieve was short lived as the other two kids ended up in bed with him.

So what started out as a fabulous weekend at home with my husband transformed into a long, stress-filled night in the end.

The alone-time with Hubby was amazing. Having one son home from school and unable to play t-ball tonight with his team, while his little sister does her best to pick, pull, and harrass, has not made for the start of a good week.

But hopefully things will get better.

Have a great week, and everyone stay healthy.

Later.

Howdy, folks!

Hope you had a wonderful week, and have plans for a wonderful weekend, too.

I got a late start on my blog this morning because I slept in today. And the reason I slept in is because I had no kids waking me up with a running leap to the midsection. And the reason I had no kids is because they are with their grandparents for the next two days.

THANK YOU MIMI AND PAPA MAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, I don't think there are words to truly describe how grateful I am to have this little bit of alone-time with my husband.

He's running a few errands this morning, and giving me the chance to catch up on my blog writing, and my blog reading (there are some interesting debates going on in the publishing world, but I won't bore you with that right now), and I'm hoping to get a little writing done before we go out this afternoon.

I have a mushy romance movie from Netflix on my coffee table, waiting to be watched, and we might even go walking at the lake, or head for the Botanical Gardens, or . . . the possibilities are endless.

So I'd better go. Enjoy your weekend. I intend to enjoy mine!

Later.

Hi everyone.

I hope your week has been going well. I'm having the hardest time getting going this morning. I thought I got enough sleep last night, but I am dragging today. I can't seem to wake up and get moving.

The boys are off to school, and one of the twins has a field trip today. He was very excited.

The Princess is feeling fine, and hasn't been sick since Monday morning. She's been wandering around the house, playing with all her brothers' toys, and having a great time.

I've spent the last couple of days working on laundry, and today I'm going to take some time to work on my manuscript.

If I can wake up enough to concentrate.

Looks like I'll have to hook up a Diet Coke I.V. to make it through the day.

Later.

Hey.

I would say good morning, but it's getting close to noon here.

The morning has been insanely busy with cleaning and laundry, and oh, yeah . . . the Princess puking all over her brothers' room this morning.

Talk about a foul, nasty way to start the day.

She was just fine before she threw up, and has been fine since then.

Her brothers were completely furious, and no amount of telling them they have thrown up way more times than her, and in way worse places than on the floor (like our bed), would appease their righteous anger.

So she has spent the morning drinking Sprite, eating crackers, dry waffles, and dry toast, and following me around the house while I clean.

No more vomiting, although she took great pleasure in prying the lid off her sippy cup and dumping the remaining contents down the front of her shirt. Thank goodness the cup was almost empty.

That is why I think this was just a little bit of an upset stomach, and not a full blown flu bug, because she seems to be having a great time today.

So I guess I'll get on with the rest of my day, and hope it doesn't involve cleaning up any more puke.

Later.

Hey y'all.

Oh, my gosh. I am dead on my feet. The Princess was wide awake at 4:00am, and has not been back to sleep since. Which means I've been up since 4am and have not been back to sleep since.

And this is after falling asleep past midnight, for me. She went to bed at her normal time. I really tried to fall asleep, went to bed around 10:30pm, but I just couldn't get there.

And then she woke up at 4 in the morning!!!!! I tried in vain to get her to go back to sleep, but it was no use. I ended up getting smacked in the face a couple of times with a flailing hand, and one well-placed foot in the mouth had me out of the bed by 6am.

Anyone who knows me even a teeny-tiny bit knows I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON!!!

I think the sunrise is evil, not beautiful. I prefer to crawl out from under a mountain of blankets and pillows to the bright, happy sunshine of mid-morning.

So saying I have been in a grumpy mood for the last few hours if a bit of an understatement.

But the boys are off to school, and with any luck, I can get the girl to take a nice long nap this morning. And I will be joining her.

Hope you all have a great weekend that involves plenty of rest. That's what I'm hoping for!

Later.

Hey everyone.

So sorry I forgot to post yesterday. My brain has been scrambled for the last week, and the blog completely slipped my mind.

Sorry again.

Well, I wish I had lots of exciting things to report, but there's not really anything going on. I'm working on a manuscript and rushing to get through the first draft so I can get on the edits before submitting.

My critique partner is doing the Book In A Week challenge, and though I didn't sign up with her, we are privately competing to see who can meet and/or exceed their daily word count. That's probably been the biggest thing I've had going on this week.

And the Princess is doing her best to make sure I don't meet my daily goal. Naps are a thing of beauty in our house, and she has become very selective about when she's in the mood for one.

This afternoon I have to take all three kids for check-ups and shots, and I am not looking forward to it. They need the check up, but I hate that they have to get shots. I know they're necessary, and I have to remind myself the whole time they are in the doctor's office.

And that's it for now. I'm off to get my word count in, and wishing the cleaning fairy would pop by my house for a quick clean up.

Later.

Good morning, everyone.

I'm trying my best to be happy and cheerful when in reality I am completely wiped out. The cold is mostly gone, I still have a slight cough, but the Princess continues to keep me awake at night, and I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever get enough sleep.

We had a really good weekend, and with the weather starting to cool off, it's been an ideal time hanging outside with the kids. But at night, the Little Miss has been feeling frisky and refuses to go to bed.

Once the crazy part of getting her to sleep is accomplished, the joy doesn't last because she's been waking up and crawling into bed with us or roaming the house ALL NIGHT LONG. She doesn't just go back to sleep once she's in our bed, either. Hubby sleeps through it all because he's just lucky that way, but I wake up for every cry, twist, turn, and flailing limb.

I know this is just one of the many joys of parenthood, and this too, shall pass, but it's been so nice having enough sleep most nights, I'm getting kind of cranky with all the disrupted rest.

Anyway, we have another busy week planned, so it's time to get on with it. I hope you all have a great week yourselves.

Later.

Recovering

Ughh.

I am SO glad it's Friday. I've been battling a cold for the last two days. I've barely moved off the couch or out of my bed in an effort to get rid of the stupid thing.

Of course, her Majesty hasn't been making it easy, but I think the worst of it has passed.

And I owe a huge round of applause to my hubby for being such a trooper while I've been out of commission. The kids haven't been easy to handle, and the house has gotten a tiny bit messy *cough, cough* but it's a small price to pay for having the chance to get some rest and fight off these nasty germs attacking my body.

Plus I got the chance to re-watch a bunch of my favorite Burn Notice episodes (although I love them all, it's so hard to choose the favorites), so all in all it wasn't the worst way to recuperate. More like the best! (Yeah, I know, watching this show is an addiction. I need help.)

So tonight the twins are going to their school carnival, and tomorrow they have a birthday party to attend. Hopefully I'll feel well enough to go to Tulsa for a writer's meeting, but we'll have to see. The rest of the weekend will probably be spent cleaning up the disaster zone we've created over the last couple of days.

I hope you all enjoy your weekend. And I hope I feel better to enjoy mine.

Later.