Our new old swing set...

I just read Jen's quote of the day on her blog and laughed outloud because it pretty much describes the saga of our swing set. We bought a really big, nice metal set a few weeks ago at TRU. I hate TRU and hated the idea of buying it there...and I really wanted a wooden set, so I was happy to have a something, but I wasn't overly excited about our purchase.

A couple of days later Chris' co-worker offered us his wooden set for free. I was so, so excited! So, we rented a truck and borrowed a neighbor and off they went to bring it home. Well, it was a nightmare and they were only able to get the swing part of the set home. The climbing tower and slide were too heavy to move and too bolted and nailed together to diassemble. At first, I was disappointed and kinda mad.

But, now that it's up and I'm watching the kids swing way high and even the older girls can have so much fun on it, I'm thrilled. Even not having the tower is good cause it is an old set and pretty slivery, so I think I would have been twitchy over the kids running their hands along the wood and getting punctured.

We may build a tower this summer, depending on how finances look and how long it looks like we'll be stuck in our house. So, not getting what I wanted did, indeed turn out to be a stroke of luck!

First Holy Communion

Well, it's finally done. She was gorgeous and it was a very special Mass. I was shocked at myself for tearing up when she came down the aisle! Other than being bothered by her veil for the entire Mass, everything went great.

Her party was great fun for everyone...even if it was only 39 degrees (on April 26th, thankyouverymuch). I was able to schedule and plan everything out, so it really wasn't too stressful for me at all. I have to scrub her dress today, though. She squirted clementine juice down the front and then managed to get a few other spots and splashes here and there, too. I'm hoping cold water and fels nafta will get the spots out. She supposed to wear her dress and veil again on May 25 for Corpus Christi, so I'd like it to be clean without having to dry clean it yet!

Cresting the hill...almost...

Today is the final prep day for the party on Saturday. Now, of course, because this is Minnesota it's now supposed to stay under 50 degrees and be all wet and muddy with possibly more rain. So glad we busted our butts to get the swings and trampoline up in time. Grrr....

The house is just about done. Today is the day for cleaning and decluttering the kitchen and for making the food that can be made in advance. Then, it's all down hill from there. We'll have to get up early tomorrow to get Zay ready for her big day and I am stressed a bit about my littles sitting through a long Mass, but it is what it is.

I hope she has a great day. I still remember my First Holy Communion day...I hope her day is memorable, too. She's pretty darned excited! OK, off to get ready for our morning grocery run. I meant to go last night, but I was just wiped and needed a little down time. It's fun shopping, so I think Carina and Dominic will do fine with it. Big shopping with them is a no-no, but party shopping...should be OK. Wish me luck!

Phrasing...sometimes I think it's all in the phrasing....

So, Zélie's FHC is on Saturday. We had the practice last night and we were told/shown that only 2 adults can sit with the First Communicant. Well, of course Zay wants Daddy and Mommy and that's what she should have, right? So, I emailed my mom and SIL to let them know that between my two brothers and my mom and my SIL they were all to have charge of Dominic (Carina is fine and won't be any trouble). It could well take that many adults to keep him in check.

So, SIL emails back and says that she'll have her hands full with my nephew, who's one, so she'll do her best. Huh? Now, she knows that I email her with info for both her and my brother...do I need to clarify that I wasn't speaking to her alone? Just as I wasn't speaking to my mom alone? And...what precisely am I supposed to do? Leave my daughter on one of the biggest days of her childhood cause 4 adults couldn't work it out with a 3 year old? I'm confused.

I'm sure she didn't mean anything more than "We'll work it out between us, but I'm usually pretty busy with Luke." Right?

I'm sure the fact that I'm annoyed that only parents get to sit with Zay is contributing to my general annoyance at the comment, but could you try and make it EASIER on me for a change maybe? Anyone?

My 5 things...

I'm not totally sure that I can come up with 5 things that would be remotely interesting, but I will try:

1- I can touch my nose with the tip of my tongue

2- I was not allowed to get my ears pierced until I was 17 1/2.

3- My baby brother knocked out one of my front teeth with a hairbrush when he was about 1. This injury resulted in me losing 1 1/2 permanent teeth.

4- A montage of photos of me ran behind the credits of the local news in San Diego one evening. I was about 4 and our neighbor was a reporter of the station who was also an amateur photographer.

5- I am very, very worm-phobic. I've gotten better over the last 10 years, but an earthworm poking it's head up (or its butt) when I'm gardening can still send me shivering into the house.

HAH! I did it. Not sure how interesting it is, but I don't think many of you know this stuff.

Joining the peeve-fest...

OK, my turn to list some pet peeves. These are current things that are bugging me more than I think they would bug someone else (read as: a normal person).

1- The listing of XXX rated shows on my on-screen satellite guide. If I don't subscribe to that garbage, I sure as heck don't want my kids reading it as they scroll around trying to find Cartoon Network.

2- Those who feel it necessary to correct others behavior, especially in public, when the behavior is not wrong, or dangerous, or hurtful, but just different than what the corrector is used to. Don't tell someone to "settle down" when they're excited about something and making their excitement known, don't look askance at a large family of a different culture boisterously enjoying their dinner at the local family Mexican restaurant. It's rude, it's ignorant and I won't put up with it.

3- Being dismissed or having my thoughts or feelings on a subject dismissed when I mention that I'm Catholic. I'm not some drooling idiot blindly following rules that I don't understand. Don't treat me like one.

4- Those stoplights on the on-ramps in Minnesota. Stupid. I find they only contribute to the general inability of drivers to merge into oncoming traffic or allow others to merge.

5- People who tell me that they "don't have time" to spend on the 'net or email as if I must have so much more free time than they do. WHATEVER!

I think those are the current items that will send me over the edge. I haven't included the standard cell phone beefs, etc. What I wonder about those is: Who are these people? Everyone I know is irked beyond measure by bad cell phone etiquette, so who are these cretins walking around chatting away on their Bluetooth??

It's all about the sunshine...

I'm finding myself at one with the mud being tracked all over my house. (Remind me I said this in another few days when I'm finding myself at WAR with the mud being tracked all over my house.) It's a small price to pay for the warmth of the sun and dancing shadows of skeletal trees on the not-yet-green lawn and the laughter (ok, the screaming shrieks) of the kids playing outside.

The last three days have been full of bike riding and driveway chalking and playhouse climbing and the summer-like shouts of "CAR!" all up and down the street. I love it. I need it.

In a few short days the new swing set will be up and probably even the new trampoline. AAAHHHH! Busy, tired, sweaty kids. What could be better?

Well, I'm off to a late morning shower so we can get our chores done and hit one of the local parks. For anyone reading this and cursing me for my beautiful weather, I was where you are a week ago. It's coming...if you're in the northern hemisphere (sorry, Shel!), it's coming.

He's got wheels...

Dominic got training wheels on his big boy bike today and he spent over an hour pedaling up and down the street. Killian did the honors and installed the wheels for his baby brother...how cool is that?...and also walked along side him encouraging him and giving him pointers. At one point he told Dominic that his legs would get stronger and stronger, so Dominic would mutter to himself as he pedaled, "I'm really getting stronger." It was so freakin' cute!

I can't believe my last baby is riding his bike already! It's just crazy!!

Watched Primetime last night...

I'd heard of Randy Pausch and what was happening to him and to his family, I'd even seen snips from his "Last Lecture," but I was so moved last night by him and by his wife. What AMAZING parents!! I have to go and listen to his lecture when I have the time. I want to try and listen all in one sitting. Hmmm...wonder if I could find an MP3 of it?? THAT would be perfect.

Even the bits and pieces of his lecture and the sound bites of his way of living, his way of BEING were inspiring to me. His wife...more so. From what I could see, from what she said, from how she behaved, she really is a wife and mom to emulate and not cause she's such a great housekeeper or so soft spoken or efficient or even kind and patient. It's because she is or is truly striving, and succeeding wonderfully from what I could tell, in putting her husband's needs and her children's needs before her own, but not in martyr-like fashion. She is doing it because to do that actually meets her needs so much more perfectly. I really felt that she wasn't trying to set an example or convey a message to other wives and mothers, but she was just living her life the best she can...on purpose.

I really admire that. It takes such a strong will and so much energy, but it's really what we're ALL supposed to be doing. What she is doing, how she is living is really not remarkable and because of that it's all the more inspiring.

Oooo...look at my pretty new blog!

Thanks, Shel! Maybe this will give me hope for spring. It's a long way off right now 'round here.

OK, for real this time...

TODAY I'm going to hit the gym. Really, I am. I'm all dressed and everything. Watching Biggest Loser last night was really motivating. I think I needed an extra push. This eternal winter we're suffering through really has messed with my mojo. My eating is pretty much on track, but I MUST get back into the cardio/weights regime I was in. I know I can do it, so I need to just do it. Now, if I could just move Jillian into my house for a few weeks, I'd be rockin' in no time.

I also must brag on my oldest child. He had been expressing great interest in creating computer graphics, so Chris installed Photoshop on my PC for him. He's been drawing and animating like a mad man since this weekend. He's really good! I'm impressed with his ability to find and follow tutorials and his sticktoitivness. Maybe he'll follow in his uncle's footsteps and be sought after web designer type dude?

I'm going to try and get the Littles to the zoo this week. It's been since before Valentine's Day since we've been and they just NEED to get out and about. Hmmm...perhaps we WILL actually crack 40 degrees today and I can take them to a playground for a bit. They have six months worth of energy to burn and I'd prefer they burn it far from our home and yard!!

ETA: Wow! That workout went way better than I thought it would. My heart rate stayed right in the middle of the cardio zone except for when I maxed out on purpose. I was nervous about having lost a lot of fitness. My legs are a bit rubbery, but not too bad considering! Totally set the right tone for the day, I think! YAY!

Getting back in the exercise groove...

First, an update on Carina's appt. It went as expected, so we should be getting a call in the next few days to schedule her surgery. It's a same day surgery, so that will be nice for a change. Doctor said that recovery time is about a week, so not too bad considering the ginormous plate and huge screws they're taking out of her bone!!

Now, for me. I was all set to FINALLY hit the gym this morning and then I remembered my appt for an estimate for an egress window. CRAP! So, I will MAKE myself go this afternoon. I know once I go, it'll get the ball rolling and I have co-op duty in the childcare on Friday, so I have to go then anyway. I really have to get back in the swing of exercising almost everyday. It's just better all around for my mood, my appearance, my schedule in general. It seems that if I start the day getting that done, it's easier to stay on task through the lunch hour and I feel so much more on top of stuff and free to do the fun things I like to do with the kids later in the day.

Happy Tuesday!!!

Pins, plates and hips...

We're off to Gillette this morning for Carina's orthopedic check-up. I'm expecting to be given the go ahead to schedule her surgery to remove all the hardware from her little leg. Our orthopod is back from his Australian sabbatical...we missed him! He's chief of staff of the children's specialty hospital and he's just completely awesome.

I'm hoping to be able to schedule her for June, after the kids are out of school. That will make it easier on Chris since he'll stay home with the other three kids that day. I really hope that this surgery will be the last in the family for a very, very long time. We're SO over the surgery thing around here.

You're very nice, but I never want to see you again...

Think I could get away with saying this to the very lovely, sweet, earnest young Jehovah's Witness that I've met with for 3 (or is it 4) weeks? I truly admire the commitment and courage of the various missionaries that go door to door. I also am always interested in learning about others' beliefs straight from the people that hold them, so I have invited missionaries of several faiths inside when they stop by my home.

But...I'm done now. I made it quite clear before I agreed to meet with this young woman that I was Catholic and was going to stay Catholic, so any hope of converting me was for nought. I also expressed my understanding that I would not be converting her either, but I'd love to hear more about her church and share my own beliefs. Well, we've done that. The conversation hasn't been all that interesting since it usually goes something like this:

Her: Let's read *insert some scripture passage here*.

Me: Reading said passage aloud.

Her: So, what do you think of that?

Me: I think it's great. It's scripture.

Her: So, you see how we won't be going to heaven when we die, but rather, earth will return to the state it was in before The Fall and those that are left will live here in harmony and peace.

Me: No, I don't see how that follows from this passage. I believe...

Her: Oh, OK. *onto next passage*

No discussion, no explanation. Kinda boring actually. I have learned some things about her beliefs, so I feel like I'm leaving richer than I came, but I'm done now. I just can't figure out a way to say so.

I'm sure it'll be fine and really, anything is better than having to be stuck at home waiting to read scripture to her!

Friendship...

I am so blessed. I have A TON of truly wonderful friends. A lot of days it just doesn't seem that way because almost all of my friends live far away from me. I get to "talk" to them several times a day, but we don't get to go out and hang out be together the way I wish we could. Some of these friends I've never even laid eyes on, but they are still the epitome of what a friend should be.

I don't think very many people have real life experts to turn to at the drop of a hat. I'm serious. If you've got a problem, I have a friend who will drop everything (almost) and be able to help you with their own wisdom or knowledge of the issue. I wouldn't be the person I am today without these friends. You all know who you are and I want you to know that I love you and appreciate you everyday!

PS Happy Birthday, Michelle Marie Martin!

As promised...

I know you've all been on the edge of your seat waiting to hear more about my trip to the library. Come on...admit it. Well, I will end the suspense. I rented my first book! I've never done it before, but I so desperately wanted to read A Thousand Splendid Suns after enjoying The Kite Runner so much and I just refuse to pay $25+ for a hardback when I don't even LIKE hardbacks.

So, brought my borrowed treasure home on Saturday afternoon and I'm about half done. It's just as great as The Kite Runner...maybe better. It's hard to tell yet. It's a different time period than Kite Runner which makes it so very interesting. In case you don't know, these books take place, at least in large part, in Afghanistan. They tell stories of normal people in extraordinary times. Best kind of book, IMO.

I love, love, love having a great book to get lost in...even when I'm crazy busy. So, I'm content. Now, I'm off to fill orders and stock new product...