The last blog

Well, this is the last required blog homework post.  I have to say it was a bit of a struggle getting into the habit, but now I might miss it.  Where else can I place all of my inane observations?  Usually when I speak them, people don't necessarily care to hear them.  On a brighter note, we are all packed and ready to go camping this weekend.  The kids have way too much in their little suitcases and the five pound dog has an inordinate amount of junk considering his size.  I am packed too.  Margaritas, beer, crown, ice, check, check, check.  I love summer!

Garage Sale

God bless my neighbors for willingly selling my excess junk in their garage sale this weekend.  The kids had a great time gathering stuff (with only a few moments where the youngest wasn't willing to part with her treasures).  If I had to say yes you can keep the princess phone one more time I think I would have had to pull my hair out.

Then there was my newly appointed first grader who kept saying, "Wow, we are going to get rich selling that table for 300 cents!"  I had to smile since one of their last lessons in kindergarten was the money unit.  Three dollars or 300 cents, tomato, tomoto, potato, pototo!

I won't mention the sulking going on with my ten year old as he acted like any chores were beneath his royal self.  I have to remember that he probably gets his "tude" from his mom...bless their hearts.

I am officially sick

So I had the super eager and thorough P.A. during my office visit today.  I love it when they are fresh out of school and know more than their patients.  I have been on this roller coaster for years and at least once a year I have a cold that turns into asthmatic bronchitis.  So to me, if I am actually sick enough to go to the doctor, please believe me that I know the routine.

But no, we had to go through the lung x-rays to rule out pneumonia, cha-ching, then I got to sit through a breathing treatment, that actually helped, and then...wait for it...you guessed it, asthmatic bronchitis.  Thank you for my antibiotic and no thank you to the steroids.  I did not wish to pay $240 for them and I have my trusty inhaler if it gets really bad.

Mom Guilt...Again

There is a cardinal rule that all mothers must follow:  Mom's aren't allowed to be sick.  I have to remind myself that at some point in my life, I will miss the effect that my illnesses can have on others.  Eventually, wanting to stay in bed will not affect anyone but my own lazy self.

So pull it together, taxi kids to their play dates, throw in a little homework, the grocery store and proceed to push through.  As my lawyer is fond of advising, I will continue to deny, deny, deny!  Besides, I don't have time for this, its the first day of my kids' summer vacation!

In the meantime, I will plot my revenge for when they have kids of their own and are feeling poorly...bless their hearts.

I, Robot

As I comment on all of the blogs, I look forward to proving that I am not a robot.  I don't know exactly how deciphering blurry and strange letters proves that but by God I feel like I have accomplished something when the computer accepts my attempt.  Especially when occasionally it takes more than one try.  I often find myself just going through the motions so to be reminded that I am not a robot, genuinely makes me happy.

I may be a lot of things, but thankfully that list does not include robot.

How Dare I Sleep

I have been having several Mommy guilt moments lately.  I feel like I am failing in all things and forgetting to take a moment and breathe.  The latest failure, or pseudo-failure, was at 3:00 this morning.  My six year old son comes into my room and accusingly asks, "Didn't you hear me coughing?"

Why no, I was asleep.  Thanks for waking me up for the news flash.

Bless his heart.

Calm before the storm

I think my favorite part of the day is the nanosecond I have before all the kids wake up.  Sometimes, it feels like I have the house to myself and I can look out the window and see the birds or the sun rising without being interrupted.  It is alone time with the added benefit of reflection time.  No interruptions and a chance to gear myself up mentally for the day.

And now it is time to start...so today I am very thankful for coffee.

Spirit Award

I was shocked to discover an email in my Avila mail box yesterday proclaiming my winning of an Avila Spirit Award.  As I sat there and created various slogans for the accompanying t-shirt and/or bumper sticker, my favorite being, "I won a spirit award and all I have to show for it is this crappy shirt".  I was thankful that the actual award is a crappy cup, not a crappy t-shirt.

Since I am neither spirited nor an exemplary Avila student I couldn't possibly understand why this great honor was bestowed on me.  Then, after drinking a couple margaritas, I reached an epiphany.  They meant to award me a "Spirits" award and offered a free cup for my enjoyment of the beverage of choice.

I love my school!  Cheers!

Neighbors don't love me for my lawn

It is the annual garage sale in our neighborhood.  I have learned the hard way not to take my kids with me when I go because they get so caught up in the blatant consumerism that they spend their money on anything just to do it.  At least I hope that is why they buy so much junk, I will cling to the belief that they are too young to be practicing in retail therapy...

The good news is I found a new "used" bike for my middle son who usually is stuck with his big brother's hand me downs.  It is so great to see him barely get home from school and already be terrorizing the neighborhood speeding all around.  I love being known as "that troublesome neighbor".

Remember When

Remember when new shoes could make you run faster?  Remember when a mom's kiss was all it took to make a boo-boo better?  Remember when the sound of the ice cream truck had you racing outside with as much change as you could carry?  Remember when going to bed was a let down because it meant you had to sleep? I miss that.  Who says ignorance isn't bliss?

As I enter the dreaded middle age, my remembrances are less exciting.  Remember when gas was under a dollar?  Remember when I didn't care if I left the lights on?  Remember when I could walk across the floor of my house barefoot and not get Legos embedded in the bottom of them?

Life is all about the moments we remember.  We are the sum of all of our beliefs.  I would not be who I am today if my life hadn't started out with the absolute conviction that new shoes made me run faster.  I hope we all have those moments and realize that we can only get where we are going by travelling through them.