Monday, October 31, 2016

Happy All Hallow's Eve

I have walked a whole lot this evening with some ghouls and goblins and one robot to look for candy and exciting yard decorations. My feet are crying for mercy and wondering what they did to deserve such abuse. The boy came out with quite the loot haul, so let the brushing begin!



Gotta love the permagrins on those faces. I think they all had a good time at their various events . Now it is time to crash and sleep off this Monday.

Night all.
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Sunday, October 30, 2016

I'm wiped

We had Fall Fest and Trunk or Treat at our church tonight. I may have developed thermos button induced carpal tunnel syndrome from pouring out cups of lemonade for two hours. That and I may not ever be unsticky. We had a great turnout, probably our biggest yet, and it was a nice evening. I am ready to Motrin up and hit the hay. I am done.

Hope you all have a pleasant rest of your evening.

Night all.


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Saturday, October 29, 2016

Slobber and Spectacles

I worked childcare this morning for an event at church. Saturdays are hard to get people to work, so I scrubbed up and went in. Lucky for me, I got to play with a baby all morning. A cute little slobbering bundle of love who was as busy as he could be. He fought sleep and was not about to give up. Busy little guy made laps around the classroom batting a waffle block around like a little kitten. When it came time for his bottle, he let his guard down just long enough to mess up his chances to stay awake. Took his last sip of bottle and I popped that pacifier tright in. Zzzzzzz...... Probably messed up his normal sleep cycle, but that's okay. Something about holding a bay sure lowers one's blood pressure.

A good way to raise the BP back up again is to go to one of those one hour eyeglass places in the mall. With one child trying on every frame in the place and the other unable to commit to a frame, I about lost my ever loving mind. Meanwhile, outside of the store, two teens were running having shoplifted and a mall cop was chasing them on a segueway. No chance of picking frames out with all that entertainment going on...but a decision was finally made.

Thank goodness.

Night all.


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Friday, October 28, 2016

Game Over

Our last regular season high school football game was tonight and we won...yay!!! It got quite exciting what with the absolutely psycho football moms that were located right next to us. Between the constant profanity right in my son's ear to the hatred spewed towards everyone, I was honestly ashamed of our own players' moms. Not all of them. Just the ones near us. Then they yelled at the band for not playing enough, so the band director had to have a little come to Jesus meeting with them. So they talked trash about her for a while. Then the band would play and they would yell at them to stop. Ugh. Well, the band sounded great. Their show was wonderful and I was really proud of all the work they did. Plus it was extra fun because both school's bands were in their Halloween costumes. It was great to watch them. They are currently partying in the band room for their annual Halloween bash. Our grade was asked to bring savory items, so I made snack mix and mummy dogs:



As hard as I worked, I totally forgot to take a post bake picture. They looked about the same, but just a little bit browner and puffier. I hope thet high schoolers don't fancy themselves too old to each mummy dogs. Who knows.

At this point, I don't care too much. I'm wiped.

Night all.
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Thursday, October 27, 2016

Felt Fanatic

I have been deep in hat construction today.  Now, I will admit that I cheat a bit and start with a plain, cheap toboggan and make it into something with felt and fun.  I am making the boy a robot hat for his costume.  I am making another hat.  It is quite funny.  It involves a lot of pastries...made of felt.  Hopefully it will brighten a day and give a few laughs...and be the coolest hat ever seen with, uh, pastry on it.  I need to add the finishing touches tonight since tomorrow is the last regular season football game for the high school and I'm going to watch the band of course.  And the game, I guess.  Someday I will show some pictures of the pastry hat.  For now, it is an anonymous gift.  

Sleep tight everybody.

Night all.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

A short one

Secondary school girls are the worst. That time of life is the worst as well. Lots of tears from a girl tonight. I'm exhausted. There isn't much time to say a whole lot, because I am crafting my son's robot costume and there is a lot of sewing to be done. Oh well...did it to myself as I do every year. I'll post some pictures when it is complete.

Just pray that I can survive this time of life without being put in a home. Jeepers.

Night all.


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Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Pumpkin Heads

It has been a busy Tuesday, but they always are. The exciting thing is that BOOK FAIR is at school this week. I love the book fair as much or more than my children do. At my elementary school growing up, we would have book fair and an author come also. Syd Hoff, my favorite author of childhood picture books, come to our school. They also had a dinner another night where you could eat and hear him talk and win sketches he did while he talked. My dad won one and still has it.



At our book fair this year, the new music teacher had a Fall themed 1st grade musical to accompany the book fair. I can say with all honesty that it was about the cutest thing I have ever seen. They sang and danced and he sang and danced. It was excellent. After we left, I dropped the kids off and went to buy some pumpkins for carving. As of right now, they are hard at work carving while the hub is preparing the seeds for roasting. They mean business around here. I'd put a picture up, but my iPad is uncooperative. I'll put some up tomorrow.

I need to go scrub pumpkin guts off the table and pull a triangle eye out of the dog's mouth. Such a glamorous life I lead.

Night all.



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Monday, October 24, 2016

Targeting crazies

After I almost barfed during The Walking Dead and tossed and turned all night, Monday morning seemed to come quickly and mercifully for once. I pounded down a bunch of coffee and dragged the girls out of bed. The boy usually pops up quickly. The kids were dropped off at school and I went to Kroger to buy some dinner makings to put in the crock pot, but ended up sitting in the car for 25 minutes listening to Entertainment Weekly Radio's discussion of TWD's season premiere. No life does this girl have. Eventually the soup fixings were purchased, soup was made and laundry was washed. Break time came when I got to have my every two month's therapy session, aka, I got a haircut. Girls, you know what I mean. She was a welcome sight as I had reached the mod version of Roger Daltrey(The Who)look.



Thankfully, she corrected the problem...though I love Roger. I always have.

This evening I took the girls to Target to get the makings for their Halloween costumes. I swear I think they lost their minds in there...dancing in the aisles and wearing costume accessories. Those kids are crazy. Bless 'em.

Tomorrow is going to be a big day...the book fair is at school. Bed time.

Night all.
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Sunday, October 23, 2016

Gettin' crafty

I had a little burst of energy after a busy day at work(the bishop visited today and it always adds to the stress level of staff). We rolled out cake balls yesterday and put them in the freezer to firm up for dipping later. We put a few sticks in them to make cake pops. After work time was designated dipping and decorating time. I may have gotten a little too into decorating them. I didn't have as much as I wish I had to use, but we made do with what we had.









Ghoulish cake pops. And ghoulish cake balls:



They were well received and I am glad. Now it is time to rest.

After I watch The Walking Dead premiere. I started watching it late and am very early into the series, but I somehow managed to watch the season finale last year. Waiting to see who Lucille beats down.

Night all.
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Saturday, October 22, 2016

Wellll...that was neat

Middle school soccer tournament started today and it got interesting. While G was playing her first game, I was on the other side of the county watching the boy play in his game where the opposing coach was told he'd be sent to his car if he didn't shut up. The boy score a beautiful goal in the upper 90 from the half line. One other boy scored and then other team did as well, so we came away with a win. The hub and G were on the other side of the county. First game ended in a tie with an unfortunate goal scored in the last 30 seconds. Later on in the day, they played another team that really should have been beatable. A spectator on the sideline argued, civilly, that the ref had made a very poor call against my daughter. The ref was at an angle where he couldn't really see clearly, but he called her using hands out of the box. The man stated his opinion and the ref kicked him out of the game. No reason for that. No profanity, threats or violence were used. At halftime, he came back to talk about the first half and what had happened. He planned to leave as soon as the second half started. The refs contacted the tournament head who walked over to my husband, flanked by the two refs, and told him he needed to remove the guy or forfeit the game. They said that all the parents had signed an agreement to basically not hassle the refs. My husband told them that the man was not a parent of a team member, but it fell on deaf ears. After all was resolved the ref chose to give every call to the other team who threw elbows like confetti on New Years. Nice. Take it out on the kids...that seems appropriate.

Ugh. The oldest and I just finished rolling cake balls and have them in the freezer to get ready to dip. Her best friends since age 4 are having her over to their birthday party tomorrow. She already gave them their gifts and felt like she needed to do something to take to the party. What 16 year old boys don't like to eat, so we are attempting to make creepy cake pops. I'll post a picture tomorrow if they turn out.

I'm wiped.

Night all.

Middle school soccer season is over tomorrow and only club season remains. I'll stop talking about it soon. Or at least I will tone it down a bit. I hope.


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Friday, October 21, 2016

Holy crudoly

This is short because I need to take about a bottle's worth of ibuprofen and head to bed. I worked the concession stand for the football game tonight. Apparently the cheese hater is the go to girl for chili cheese dogs and nachos. Take that, whoever. It is always a grand time of people watching and trying to avoid those in the stand who think they are the innovators of all things stadium food. I got yelled at for putting chili and cheese in the wrong order on the nachos. I got called out for not distributing the cheese in the appropriate pattern. I got asked if I needed directions on how to use a ladle for hot chocolate. "Have you ever used one before, honey?". Really? All by the same person. After I spoke to our band boosters president about the amount of bail money he had on hand if I needed help, I spoke up for myself a bit. Things got apocalyptic when the 5th or 6th batch of hot chocolate ran out. A guy called me a damn fool for not wanting to microwave a styrofoam cup of chocolate for him. Carcinogens be damned. He wanted his chocolate. By the end, I could have sold that last cup for at least $10. They were begging for it.

Good times.

I'm going to bed.

Night all.


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Thursday, October 20, 2016

Day is done

This was a crazy day and I am glad it has concluded peacefully. G's last middle school game of the regular season ended with a 4-1 win. She and the hub raced back at breakneck speed to get to school in time for her band concert. I love band concert days. They are super fun and remind me so much of my youth band experiences. Her band director, Mr. Jordan, is just top notch and they are so fortunate to have him...and he's as cute as a button to boot. We stayed and talked to all of the high school band directors in attendance and then went for dinner. This afternoon is a blur, but it was successful.

I'm ready for bed.

Night all.


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Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Prepping for the 'morrow

If ever a day was designed to completely drive me insane, tomorrow is that day. Two meetings, three immediately after school activities, a soccer game, a band concert and multiple pickup lines...all of this happening after 2:45. It is going to be an interesting juggling act. I may be curled up in a ball in the floor boards of the car by the time the day is over. Until that time, I am sitting here trying to map out tomorrow's schedule and steeling myself to watch this blasted debate. I may have to get a trashcan with several grocery bags in it in case I get sick...and it may happen. Jeepers.




Night all...I'll try to sleep.
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Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Ima Boosterin'

I'm currently in the band room at school waiting for the band booster meeting to begin. Hoop-Dee-doo. The hub got saddled with helping the kids with math homework. Let's be clear...they don't want my help in that subject area. At all. So I am sitting here waiting to hear what exciting things are afoot in the band program for the rest of the semester. Hopefully not much. I'm worn out from all the fun this semester.

I conduct my very first interview tomorrow and I am nervous. Say a prayer that I don't scare this very qualified candidate away with my idiot self. We need her.

Meeting is starting.

Night all.


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Monday, October 17, 2016

Won't sleep tonight

I have a child who is in a rut. Friend issues. Teachers who call her by the wrong name constantly and then get upset when she corrects them. The only one of her instrument chosen for an ensemble. And she is almost a teenager. Too much to to handle on a Monday night. She's now in bed and ready to sleep off the rest of the day. I will be laying in bed worrying about what tomorrow will hold for her and how to advise her on grumpy, bossy friends and how to let her understand how she has musical talent that she needs to nurture and how she'll make a name for herself and people will remember her name soon enough. It is one of those "let's just live on a big farm away from other humans" kind of night. Ugh. Tomorrow is another day.

Night all.


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Sunday, October 16, 2016

What a difference

It's been a pretty good day overall. Con't complain except to say that it is the official last day of Fall Break and that stinks. The alarm clock is going to sound horrible tomorrow for sure. We have had a nice time though, I will say. Work was fine and there were no issues. One little baby was upset and off their schedule from traveling, but otherwise the kids were fine. We had one get a haircut and, good grief, what a difference a haircut makes. They go from baby to grown up little person in the matter of a few snips. Can't get over it. G had a late afternoon game that ended in a win. She played a hard team, but the girls fought hard and won2-0. Poor S is still fighting her sinus infection, so coughing and facial pain are still her nemesis at this point. It's sinus time in East Tennessee.

I'm going to go do a backpack check for the boy and make sure everyone has what they need for tomorrow before I settle in for the evening. I'm ready for some snoozing.

Night all.


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Saturday, October 15, 2016

Last Mow of the Season(I hope)

It was a beautiful day today, although I could've taken about 10 degrees off the temperature, so we decided we needed to be somewhat productive. We had ball games off and on all day, so I had to slip in a little yard work in our tiny breaks. I really hope this lawn mowing will be the last of the season. Everything is so dry...I felt like I was mowing through the dust bowl. A mask should have been on my face, but oops. The boy played a group of teams that we have never been fond of. They don't understand the rules and the parents say horrible things about the children. It's a game, people, a game. I walked away so as not to get in a fight with someone. Sad really. All soccer this weekend and then all soccer next weekend. Lots of games...I need to load up on end of the season sunscreen.

Tomorrow brings with it another work day and another busy evening. School starts up again after fall break and Monday will be rough. We'll just savor the time together while we can.

Night all.


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Friday, October 14, 2016

Football frenzy

It was another football Friday and we were there in the thick of things with all our favorite football crazies.  We were of course there for the band and stayed for the show that was the football fans.  We were behind the mom famous for her cowbell collection and ability to ring said bells with great gusto.    I have known her, not well, for several years.  Her son is on the ball team, but I remember him winning the elementary school spelling bee with the word "casserole".  Now he is a big guy who could break you in half.  We played another county's team and it was very contentious.  Lots of screaming and "Deliverance" references...you know, classy behavior.  We are home now and ready for bed.  Hope I can get that cowbell sound out of my head.

Night all.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Winding Down

Fall Break is close to over and it makes me sad. It has been a fun one, but it has flown by quickly. G, the hub and I lined the fields for the middle school soccer game this morning. It was all in vain, because the irrigation system was tampered with and the fields were like soup. We ended up cancelling the game. We got outside and enjoyed the morning, so that was nice. The boy returned home from a sleepover and was absolutely exhausted. He skipped dinner and was in bed before 8pm. S went to the mountains with friends and returned home to go to urgent care. Sinus infection. Welcome to East Tennessee. Tomorrow is a high school football game . Should be a fun one. The two schools bothe have Queen themed halftime shows. We are excited to watch. We are party animals. Woo hoo.

The oldest daughter has come in to watch a show with me. I will jump at that opportunity.

Night all.


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Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Funny boys

I took the boy and his best friend to a movie today. We saw Middle School: Worst Years of My Life. It was quite cute with a terribly sad little twist that I wasn't expecting. We all laughed and enjoyed it quite a bit, so it was a good choice and a good day. The boy was invited to spend the night afterwards, so we went home to pack him a bag. Every once in a while, someone gets a little too tired and sleeps a little too hard and may have a bit extra moisture in their bed in the morning. Heck, if I sneeze too hard, I could wet my pants, so I cannot throw stones. He decided to pack some special provisions just in case he felt unsure about his chances in the night. We were trying to keep it secret so he wouldn't be embarrassed. He brought it right up to his friend, S. S understood and had experienced the same issue from time to time. He said, "One time I wet the bed at a sleepover. I was afraid to tell him I had done it. I saw what happened when his sister knocked down his Lego set, so I kept quiet. He had anger issues." I laughed so hard. To hear that come out of a 10 year old's mouth just tickled me. Our boy is lucky to have such a good buddy...two peas in a pod.

I'm now showered and pj'ed and ready for bed.

Night all.


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Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Unclaimed what?

Today our family took an adventure to the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, AL. They buy unclaimed baggage from airlines and other places, clean the contents up and sell them in a big store front. It was an interesting place. Honestly I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was a fun adventure to have. S found some sort of weird charger thing for her plugged in devices. The hub found two pairs of sunglasses. I found a Virginia Tech sweatshirt and Messi jersey for the boy. G found a pair of wedges that made her at least 4 inches taller than I was and I nixed those. I saw an ankle getting ready to be broken. I figure that the store was about 40% airline finds and 60% store closeout deals. I cannot imagine that someone lost baggage containing 50+ pairs of designer boot socks. But then it takes all kinds. It was a fun trip to see what all they had. They did have a little black soprano ukulele, but it was overpriced and needed restringing.

Tomorrow we go get G's chipped tooth fixed. She was getting off of a trampoline and someone landed bottom first on her face. Tooth=chipped. Sigh.

Night all.


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Monday, October 10, 2016

Wowee wow wow

I am not a shopper by nature, so when we decided to take a day trip to Ikea, well, I was skeptical.   I haven't been so overwhelmed in a long time.  All these Swedish furniture and decorating delights in a massive complex.  I was looking for a futon, which I did not find one to my taste, but I found 72 other pieces of furniture I wanted.  And 95 other kitchen things I wanted...and 58 textiles.  I came out of there with a magnet strip to organize my scissors and seeing tools, 2 IKEA big blue bags and some Christmas trays.  S got a desk and some other things.  The IKEA people know how to organize a store...good grief.  I'm exhausted.  I'm going to bed.

Night all.

Sunday, October 9, 2016

A Quick One

The debate is on and I am going to have to watch it. This is the first election in a long time that I have watched every debate so far. I weep for our country. I feel that the rest of the world has a big bag of popcorn and is sitting in the recliner laughing at us. Just praying that our country will be okay.

I'm going to go watch and take a Tums or two.

Night all.


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Saturday, October 8, 2016

Productive I guess

This was the first Saturday in a long time that we did not have a child playing in a soccer game, so we decided to be productive. I purchased so Cruze Farm buttermilk yesterday, so I began the morning with butermilk pancakes and girls with full tummies. The hub is not a big breakfast eater, especially when it comes to pancakes, so her feasted on coffee and English muffins. We snuck over to the high school and watched the girls' team play their first playoff game. It was tough, but they pulled out a 1-0 win and advanced. We picked up the boy from a sleepover where he claimed he had gotten six hours of sleep. This statement was questioned fairly quickly when he sat down on the couch and immediately conked out. For a good three hours. G and I cleaned the kitchen and breakfast room and she decorated the downstairs for Fall/Halloween. Mums were gotten and planted. The Hokies won their game. The Vols lost in double overtime. That's about all I know. Now the hub and I are watching Big Bang Theory and I am trying to figure out how to get the water out of my ear from my shower. We are party animals.

Night all.


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Friday, October 7, 2016

Fall Break Finally

After a pretty brutally busy week, we are relishing the fact that we are now in Fall Break week. We had a week several years ago and then, for some reason, we got a Th, Fr off and that was it. I don't think a group of kids needed a break more than these did. It was a pretty decent Friday for them all. The boy got a 100 on his test, so he was pleased. S aced her civics test for AP Gov't. And in the same government vein, G had to run for president of her Current Events class against a classmate. They had to debate on some current event issues. She ended up winning and was so proud of herself. Got right up there and argued her case.

Now we are just ready for S to be home from playing at the football game. They will all be sleeping in for sure.

Night all.


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Thursday, October 6, 2016

Uber carpooler

Thursday is shaping up to be the hellish day of the week in my books. Nothing bad, just more activities than I can accommodate as one person. I regret that I did not reset the whojibobbit on my car to see how many miles I actually drove between the hours of 1:45pm and 8pm. I started to get a little loopy in there. I did get to see most of the middle school girls' game which was nice. G was in goal the first half and out in the field the second half. She even got to score a beautiful goal...and I got to see it. It was a nice mom moment. S is currently in the southern part of the county at the Knox County Marching Band Exhibition. They get to play their show and see all the shows that the other high schools are doing. It is band geek Dollywood. I love it.

I'm going to get the two youngest to bed and get ready for The Blacklist. I may not make it through the whole thing without snoozing.

Night all.


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Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Waiting for the Heroes

I'm currently in my office at work, doing some actual work prep for Sunday, and watching the live streaming of the veterans coming back from their Honor Air flight to Washington DC.  Our oldest is playing with the band to welcome them home.  It is always a moving experience to watch them arrive.  Some are stunned; some are beaming; some are crying.  I am so very grateful to this service that is provided to these brave men and women who have fought to keep our country safe.  And to tell the truth, I sure am proud of these kids who take the time to go to the airport and welcome them home.  It is a good thing for them to experience.  Gonna go watch and cry now.

Night all.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Undefeated

After G had her soccer practice, we blew out of the sports complex and hoofed it over to the high school to watch the girls' soccer team play. One of the girls broke the school record for most goals in a season. It was 31 and she tied and beat it tonight. They won 4-0...finished with a 15-0-1 season. We arrived home to a messy house and a vice presidential debate. I watched the presidential debate in its entirety, but have had trouble being as devoted with this one. I just can't do it. Go ahead and judge. I get it.

Going to go spend a little time with my exhausted husband. He's had a hard day.

Night all.


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Monday, October 3, 2016

Scout tweets

Scout meeting Monday is always crazy. This one did not disappoint. At all. When the leader walks in with candy, you know things will go awry. The oldest and I sat and watched the boys not so slowly lose focus and go crazy and the leader not so slowly unravel. One conversation started about snake bites and venom and how to get it out. The boys were discussing whether or not to suck it out. As you can imagine, the conversation degraded quickly. The boys were very serious about solving this problem. The parents were rolling on the floor. It really just got crazier after that. We were all exhausted from just spectating. I'm ready for bed. It ended with the discussion of trying to cut a cactus open to get water in the desert and a boy interrupted with, "Hey, I know something...my friend has a pet skunk." The other boys looked at him like he had a third eye. It was madness.

Night all.


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Sunday, October 2, 2016

I need a prompt

Friends and neighbors, I have writer's block. I know that my posts have become dull and basically a run down of the day in the blandest terms possible. We don't get to Pizza Inn much, my cousin in the bite suit hasn't visited in years and no one has had any contraband moonshine at a family event recently. My time is spent mostly in school car lines, church and the soccer field. There are plenty of things to write about when in those places, but I need more. So, I may be consulting a few sites to give me some writing prompts. That way I can write about something of substance.

But let me tell you right now: if a clown shows up in the car line or a fight breaks out on the sideline of the soccer game, I will be the first to report it.

Night all.


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Saturday, October 1, 2016

Tiny post

It has been a long and busy day. Soccer and shopping and playing ball games in the driveway and worrying while a teenager is gone to be a Guinea pig in a haunted corn maze. G chipped a tooth today so, like her mother, she will be seeing the dentist on Monday. Boring mouths up until this point and then cracked and chipped and broken all over the place. Hopefully repairs will happen soon.

I'm going to et ready for bed and conk out. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day.

Night all.


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