First sunburns of the new year

The kids had been slated to play in a soccer tourney today that mercifully got cancelled. If it hadn't been, we would just be finishing our last game for the evening. Since they didn't have constant play all weekend, their coach called a practice this morning. The hub took the kids and I worked on trying to find our bedroom floor post consignment sale. They came back hot and sweaty and tired. I thought their red faces were from exertion, but nay nay, they were the first burns of the year. Thankfully we have what seems to be a year's supply of aloe and the kids' crimson faces have all been slathered. They did have some down time to go play soccer with their cousin and watch their uncle brew beer. Science and phys ed in one day. And on the weekend. Nice.

I am turning in early since the dreaded "Springing Forward" happens in the night. While the longer evenings will be nice eventually, I hate losing an hour. Oh well. C'est la vie.

Oh and by the way, please send a postcard or note to this address. There needs to be a mailbag day on this blog and my kids need to get some cards from a pen pal. Please don't let the P.O. Box purchase be in vain. Please.



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If you can't say anything nice....

Same story, different day. I worked the consignment sale this morning and have now completed my shift obligations that I signed up for to get my extra earnings. We are currently in the car on the way to see some professional magicians perform. My daughter, G, has taken magic lessons from a dear friend of ours who is a professional magician and he may be able to introduce us to some of the super duper guys tonight. This is very exciting and all of our tummies are a little swirly with anticipation. But before we get there, I need to rant for one litle bit.

As I was waiting to help another customer, I got thrown into a conversation about educationa and children with special needs and learning differences and high IQ's and labels and all that business. I have been involved in a conversation on this topic with at least two of these people before and knew better than to engage. I knew. Shame on me. So a mom of a "gifted" child and a mom of a "learning difference" child were trading war stories. One is having to jump through hoops to get help for her child while the other cannot get enough challenging work for her child. The LD child's mom left. The other mom said, "What makes me mad is that my child will be a tax payer and contribute to corporate America. They will make our economy better. That woman's child will just be a drain on everybody and be nothing but a laborer. LD kids. A waste." Now as a mom of a child who is both extrememly smart and has the added bonus of dyslexia(and we have had to be on top of things to get her the help and confidence she needs), I just about lost my mind. God was standing behind of me holding me back and had struck me dumb and it is a good thing. I turned and went back to my job. I don't care if your child is a genius, has mental challenges, has learning differences, has emotional problems....they all deserve a chance. Whether that means they fix your HVAC or your bank statement...plumb in your bathroom or design the new bathroom for you, they deserve respect and grace and kindness in this world. No child is a waste. Shame on you. Shame.

I will now go to my happy place, have some dinner and get my socks knocked off with some fabulous magic.


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Happy unsnow day

We got a snow day today. Some places in town got some respectable snow and ice. We got a bit, but not enough to do anything in that was fun. It was mostly just slushy rain and yuck. I worked the consignment sale as usual. The hub dropped me off and left me there to work until I got kicked out.  Not really.  He dropped me off and said, "Stay until you need to leave.  I've got the kids."  Nice!  I eventually had to come home and do my motherly duties, but I did have fun while I was there. Before the sale began, I helped straighten up the doll baby area. It was an effort born out of  my love for the Picky Chick and her sale, because some baby dolls really creep me out. I just don't know what the makers are thinking when they design some of them. They just are the stuff nightmares are made out of I think. This Cabbage Patch doll was odd and reminded me of someone...which was even odder:



I mean, what up with the blue streaky hair? Don't get it. But this next one took the cake for me. It sat up on its shelf looking as though it was mocking all of us who were bargain hunting:



Curse you evil toothy baby! Its eyes remind me of the alien baby that the lady gave birth to on the original "V" television show back in the '80's:



If I'm still scarred from having to watch that during rained out middle school gym class, you can ride that crazy train with me. Sorry I had to put that up, but it was necessary.

Time to get a hair scrubbin' and catch up on some z's if that is possible tonight. I should've never googled that blasted baby. Night all.
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Insomnia, get thee away fromst me-eth

I hate insomnia...although honestly I don't know of many people who just embrace it with an all encompassing love. Last night I flipped and flopped until I just finally turned on the TV and watched a movie. Yes I know that the TV just stimulates the brain and makes it even harder to go to sleep, but I wasn't making any progress laying there in the dark getting spooked by the weird sound I heard outside. I did watch "The King's Speech" which I have always wanted to see and just haven't. It was wonderful and Colin Firth certainly deserved his Oscar. But his performance did not send me into sleep land. My friend has some essential oils ordered for me that she swears by for sleep and relaxation. I am willing to try anything at this point. If I didn't have to get up and yield to nature's call, I would drink Sleepytime tea before bed. Melatonin is useless. So I will catch up on my deep thoughts and ruminations whilst listening to the hub breathe and the two youngers talk in their sleep. Maybe that will eventually put me to sleep as well. Peer pressure sleep style. It could work.


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The tooth is OUT!

The boy has struggled for a few weeks with one of his top front teeth. It has been hanging by a root that must be stronger than Hercules himself. He has worked on that thing and it is a flippin' miracle that he hasn't gotten the flu or the stomach crud or worse with his hand in his mouth all the time. That tooth has been twisted and turned and pulled and pushed. Nothing. I feel for the boy, but frankly we are sick of hearing about that tooth. So tonight he got some floss(for the the third night in a row)and started trying to saw the thing out. The the hub crossed the ends and showed him how to try and pop the thing out. Nothing. Finally, we heard a cry from upstairs "It's OUT!". We got upstairs and found that it was indeed out. The problem was that it came out with such force that it flew to an unknown destination. So here we were with our cell phone flashlights crawling on the floor looking for the blasted tooth. "That thing is going to hurt if someone steps on it!". "What will the Fairy do if we don't find it?". All good questions. Then suddenly, I spotted something white with a red end. There it was. Thank goodness! It is now on his dresser awaiting Tooth Fairy transport. Let's hope she finds it.


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Back to the grindstone

School started back today, friends, after two weeks of frozen, snowy, slothy fun. Based on how I received them at pickup, I imagine they will sleep well tonight. I know I will. Currently I am sitting at an elementary school while G has her practice for honors choir. The Daisy Scout meeting next to me is quite lively. They had a police officer as part of their meeting today, so we know they won't get too out of hand. I am fighting hard the urge to lay down in the hallway here and take a nap. That, I imagine, is frowned upon...especially in a public school building. They probably frown upon people squatting in the hallway. I have my earphones on and am blasting the wild sounds of Bob Newhart so I won't hear the choir practice. I want it to be a surprise when we see their performance. Tha Daisies are now coming out of their meeting. Apparently it was police and pajamas night with the Daisies. They are hyped up with the leavings of Girl Scout cookies on their mouths. One dad looked like he might make a run for it as his child ran out of the meeting, jumped on the wall and bounced off like a pinball. That should be a great ride home.

The kids are coming out for their bathroom break. I'm going to sneak a hug and then get back to Bob. Have a good evening.


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It's over

Today has been a whirlwind for sure. G's choir group had their fundraiser luncheon and performance today. It was so nice. We had more people show up than we thought would. The kids have a grade A group, but the weather has made promotion of their program nearly impossible. The kids were so proud to help serve and care for the patrons of their lunch and took ownership of the whole thing. Their program was excellent! My child sang her song and made it through quite nicely in spite of her shoddy accompanist(me). I brought a bit of the islands to her song with my ukulele when I started playing the thing the right way. Sausage fingers here got a bit fumbly and nervous. Okay, I was terrified and about to throw up, but G sang beautifully and cleaned up my mess. Her friends played lovely piano and violin and reocrder pieces and sang lovely songs. It was great and now it is over. Thank goodness.

On a different note, I ask you to pray for a family we know. One of their members is struggling in the hospital and we just pray for total and complete healing and strength for the family. It is a scary time for them and we hope for the best.

I'm going to get comfy and watch, yes I am, Downton Abbey. Night all.


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