Life On The Planet

Has Anyone Seen Tiger's Water Shoes?

I bought them a month ago in a futile attempt at organization. I was determined that I would not procrastinate in regards to getting ready for camp, and this is my reward. It's really gonna chap me if I have to go back to Wal-Mart to spend another $4.88. That's a gallon of gas!

In any case, he's off to camp tomorrow. Or rather, we are off to camp tomorrow. Just me, Sal and Tiger  - together with 50,000 of our favorite ticks. Ew! Pass the Repel.

I have one more place to look, and then I guess it's off to Wal-Mart. Next time, I'm just gonna procrastinate. It seems to work for me.

Queen for the Day

I was Queen for the Day. I had a crown and everything. On my special day, everything was supposed to go my way. Of course, it did.

Well, The C.F.O. had to work, but that was completely not his fault. Unfortunately though, that meant that I had to take the kids to church on my own. We had to get there early for a special event. I was in charge of blowing up the helium balloons, and on my special day, when I get to do what I want, I really wanted to suck down a little helium and do my Minnie Mouse impersonation. However, that would not have been a good example for my children, so I didn't. (It's a sad state of affairs when you have to act like a mother on Mother's Day.)

After we got home from church, I took a nap. Someone woke me up to ask if he could ride his bike, but I am sure he just forgot it was my special day. That same someone drank the carbonated, caffeinated beverage that I got for myself as a special treat on my special day. In all fairness, he did offer it to me after he took a swig (UCK!), but considering good health practices, I opted not to drink after someone who has a putrid, festering cold.

The storm last night left us without power for a few hours. Needless to say, the UNO game, the tennis shoes, the door hanger, the bowling ball and the flashlight (a preteen tornado survival kit) did not get picked up last night. Since we were in a hurry this morning, they didn't get picked up then, either. Evidently we are still hurrying, because all of that stuff still hasn't been picked up. It will be picked up shortly, I am sure, as today is my special day and no one would expect me to pick it up. I do have a crown, you know.

The crown is part of the theme for the day...Flowers. I am the "Queen of Flowers." Everything has been very flowery today. My children enjoy picking a theme for my special day each year. The year before last, the theme was slugs. There were slug posters, slug cards, slugs on the floor, slugs on the walls and (naturally enough) a Pin-the-Tail-On-the-Slug game. The theme arose from an unfortunate incident which occurred during a slug infestation that happened shortly before my special day that year. I stepped on a slug (in my own kitchen, thank you very much) and slid for a mile. The children were highly amused.

I think you will understand when I say I preferred this year's theme.

Yes, it has been a special day. A day filled with squabbles and messes and noise and ear aches and hacking coughs. It was my special day....A Mother's Day.

Oddly enough, it didn't seem all that different from any other day.

But I'm keeping the crown.

Happy Mother's Day!

Drawer Dilemma

You may remember my desk. It's still relatively clean. (Really! Ask Aussie Kim!) At least, the top of the desk is clean. The drawer, however...

Stop yer naggin'. I'm getting to it.

Now, I found a drawer organizer I like, but before I spend $12.79 of The C.F.O.'s hard earned money, I'd love to hear your ideas.

Help. Please.

Whirling, Whirling

Is it April? It's April, isn't it? How can possibly be April? Eh? April's almost over? You have got to be kidding me!

Ellen at Fun Learning invited me to write about my homeschooling highlights of last week. Hmm. Let's see, what was last week? Did we learn anything? I'm sure we must have. Certainly we learned something! But as far as highlights go, I'm not sure there was one - unless it was the frantic pace of our lives this month, as seen through a haze of Benadryl.

That seems to be the theme of our lives, lately. Worky, work, Busy-Bee. Time goes whirling on by, and I'm hanging on, flappin' in the wind. Part of that is a result of over scheduling activities. I have made the executive decision to do less next year and have taken steps to ensure that happens. Given up telling people yes for Lent left me feeling empowered! Part of the recent craziness is just do to the time of year. Everything is blooming, and outdoor activities and sneezes abound.

Whatever the reason, I am putting myself in timeout for five minutes now to visit a new site called Out My Back Door. It belongs to my internet buddy who was transplanted to Louisiana. She takes great delight in taunting me with photos of home! (Just kidding!) I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. If you've never been to Louisiana, just consider it a field trip!

Alrighty, then. Time out is over. Back to the whirl!

In Which I Whine About the Weather

Low tonight, 38 degrees.

Wind chill, 33.

Possible snow showers.

It's the middle April.

Ugh!

The Down-Side of Warmer Weather

The mop bucket defrosted.

(Yes, that is solid ice. Oops. Did I leave that out?)

I guess this means I have to mop. Rats.

It was nice while it lasted.

Homesick

I'm not home sick, even though I am skipping Church today. I have felt all week that I've been fighting off The C.F.O.'s Man Flu. That, however, is not why my rear end is still in pajamas. The real reason is that yesterday, when I should have been preparing for today, I was playing hookey with Tiger, Butterfly and Dirt Dude (Aussie Kim's youngest) at Alvin & The Chipmunks. After last week's chaos, maybe I needed a day off.

The older two have a Superbowl party tonight for the youth group, and I have to bring the desserts. Therefore, while the rest of my family is (hopefully) praying for my depraved church-skipping soul, I am making Peanut Butter Cookies, Chocolate Eclair Cake, and Disappearing Marshmallow Brownies. They should be good, but what I really want is some King Cake. Not that excuse for one you can get at Kroger's. I want a Meche's King Cake, baked fresh the same day you eat it. I want one with chocolate filling, lemon filling or raspberry filling. One of each wouldn't be bad. Oh, and I forgot Bavarian Creme.

I also want to spend Mardi Gras at The Hayleys' house. They live in a small town just north of my parents, and the parade passes right in front of their house. It's really nice to walk down their driveway and catch a few goodies in my laundry basket with the target on it (a sure way to get float riders to throw something substantial to you). We'd spend the day with beads hanging around our necks, with the kids playing in the yard and with forks shoveling food into our mouths.

I think one of the reasons I was so unproductive yesterday was that I am just plain homesick. Woe is me.

After a teensy bit of nagging on my part, Summer at Mom Is Teaching put up a post about Mardi Gras, and it's a good one. Go read it, and be homesick with me. 

Enough of the whining, already! I'm off to the kitchen. While I'm baking, feel free to throw me a comment, Mister! Happy Mardi Gras!

Stuff To Do

I tried to post earlier, but the evil computer would not let me. It's a conspiracy, man.

It was probably for the best. I'm in the middle of Girl Scout cookies, Pine Wood Derby cars, and theatrical stage performance preparations. Over scheduling myself with kid's activities is a genetic condition I inherited from my mother.

So, while I sit here whining about all of the stuff I have to get done today and tomorrow, you guys can look at these links. Thank goodness someone had time to post today!

There's blood-on-the-kitchen-floor at Day by Day Homeschooling. (Possible alternate title: Evil Cat Strikes Again.)

Speaking of emergencies, Mom Is Teaching has a few good links for teaching kids how to handle them.

A Hippie With a Mini-Van asks the question, "Where's your nose?" in response to a query on unschooling.

It would appear that I am not the only one Blogger hates. So, there.

Now you've got stuff to do, too. Not content with over scheduling myself, I've taken to filling your calendars. It's a sign of love.

Someone didn't get the message.

I'm on hold with the bank, listening to muzak. It's been fifteen minutes.

I don't think they read my post about staying on schedule.

Maybe I should send them a memo. Or, maybe I should just hang up.

Decisions, decisions...

Pilates, Photos & Laundry

Y'all remember my friend Michelle. The one who got her REAR END FILMED in Pilates last week? Well, we ran into each other last night at church. We were taking pictures for the church directory. Our photo, the one that is going in the directory, was not the best photo of the family we've ever taken, but it was the only one The Tiger had his mouth closed in. Ever seen Calvin's school pictures in Calvin & Hobbes? That's The Tiger.

Anyway, Michelle and her family were after us and we got to talking. "You going to Pilates tomorrow?" she asked in a slightly snotty tone.

"Yeah," I said, not in the least bit defensively. It's not my fault if a girl doesn't check her messages, after all. "How 'bout you?"

"Oh, yeah," she said. "I'll be there."

LIAR! That rat stood me up. I bet she's at home laughing, thinking she's got the best of me. However, I should be the one laughing because NO ONE FILMED MY REAR END and I get to eat extras at Thanksgiving. We're going to Aussie Kim's and I'm taking Yams (A.K.A. Sweet Potatoes, you know, the kind with lots of sugar and marshmallows), bread and Disappearing Marshmallow Brownies. I plan on eating two of everything. Maybe three. I got Pre-Thanksgiving Pilates points. The sky's the limit.

So, I got up and went to Pilates, Salamander played basketball and the younger two swam. Really, they just piddled around, but I'm calling it P.E.

Now, for my sins, I have to go and tackle Mount Laundronous. If you don't hear from me again in 24 hours, please call 911, 'cause I'll be buried under an avalanche of sweaty gym socks and chlorinated towels. Death by laundry is slow and painful, and it doesn't smell good either.