Twenty Two Years..........

Twenty-two years ago, life changed for my family. In the blink of an eye, someone chose to exercise their agency by breaking several laws, and it forever infringed upon ours.

I had come home from work, pretty sick from sun-stroke (I think). My phone rang a few hours later. It was my mother. She asked me if I was too sick to go with her to the hospital because my father had been in an accident while riding his motorcycle. She came to get me because the DR was helping his sister move.

There are events in life which make such a momentous change that they are forever branded. Life dates from that moment. This was, for my family, that moment. It took many, many years for us to not refer to everything as either "before the accident" or "after the accident".

Twenty-two years, and there are many times I curse my excellent memory, because I see with all too vivid colors and hear with too loud of volume the sights and sounds of the hours spent in the emergency room. Waiting. I see my brother, the Artist, coming at me through the doors and sinking into my arms. I hear my voice trying to remain calm while trying to locate the DR. I see my mom sitting next to me as we try to absorb what the medical personnel are trying to tell us. I see and hear the police officer giving us details of the accident. I see neighbors asking me where my baby is, and what food he needs. I forgot for a while that I had a child. I felt guilt about that for a long time.

I see our good family friend, Dr Phil Roberts, sitting down with us after the surgery. Severe head injury, hemorrhaging, possible stroke. Not the greatest odds of making it through the night. Dad's wishes to be an organ donor. Please someone- wake me from the nightmare caused by an unlicensed, 16 year old with a record of such behavior. There was little we could do, so we went home in the very early morning hours to my mother's house to get some rest. We stayed there that night, and in the morning, I flew next door to get my 8 month old son and hug him oh so tight.

My First Grade teacher brought us the helmet which had landed in her yard. She was traumatised. My baby sister went to WA to live with Favorite Aunt for a while, which ended up in a call from social services, because, you know, we didn't have any other stress in our lives. We had to go to court twice while the judge tried very hard to really stick it to the driver. Since my father didn't die, $2,000.oo was the most they could do.

My son learned to walk in the halls of the hospital. He went trick or treating to the nurses stations. For a few years, he called the hospital "Grandpa's House". I ran into one of my good friends, Todd, from high school at the rehab center, his father had a stroke and was put in the room next to my dad's. Todd had been one of the responding officers to the accident, but didn't know it was my dad. They had never thought my dad would live to make it to the hospital.

My dad's coma was rated a 2. If you don't know, comas were ranked in severity from a 15 being the lightest to a 1- the deepest. He was in a deep coma for over 6 weeks. He didn't get to come home from the hospital for almost 6 months. He is legally blind, mentally handicapped, and the stroke caused him to lose the use of the left side of his body so he is physically handicapped as well.

He was 43. My age now.

He was very smart- he went to college to study physics. He was very physically active. He played softball-both city league and church, he played basketball- both city league and church. He was a referee and umpire and taught both. He coached multiple teams. He golfed and had recently embraced the concept of being a grandpa. He had two married daughters, two sons-in-law, two grandsons, and four children still at home, 17, 13, 10, and the youngest was turning 6. My parents had just had their 25th wedding anniversary two days before.

There have been many medical issues and emergencies over the years, always something. Last weekend, someone asked me how my dad was. Almost like there could possibly be a change. Other than being worse- there will not be a change. He fought back out of being confined to a wheelchair but the day will come when he will have to be back in it.

I hope we are stronger because of this. I hope we are each earning the rewards that come from this trial. It will really stink if we don't, since we have to go through it anyway. I am often amazed at my mother because she can always find someone whose shoes she does not want to walk in, while there are a great many who wouldn't want to wear hers. My sister in law- Tiff, gets major kudos for being such a trouper and helping so much with dad's care.

Twenty-two years.

Brief Warning

Tomorrow's post is keeping it real. If you want cheerful and happy- you might want to skip it.

Welcome Welcome Sabbath Morning

This morning, my body told me it was time to wake up well before the alarm was set to go off. It thinks it is a school day.

It looks like it is going to be a beautiful day. My yard is freshly mowed as of yesterday and my flowers are blooming. There isn't a cloud to be seen.

Early Mornings are peaceful.






And then the patients wake up.

Dear Mom-

Happy Anniversary- you are amazing.

What is it about the last day of school?

I realize that life very seldom goes according to plan, but for some reason the last day of school seems to take it to a whole new level. Last year, for instance, we had the shirt causing security alarms problem, the nearly forgotten baked beans which were so kind as to decorate my shirt and house with ketchup, and a host of other incidents.

This year, Middle's friend who always has a last day party- DID NOT, Oldest was sick and we couldn't go to our nephew's graduation (the DR still went, though), and when I showed up at the school to take the annual Last Day pictures, I found that Middle had invited 9 girls to go the waterslide with her. And I would drive them all. She did graciously consider that I wouldn't be too excited to pay for them, so she announced that they had to bring money. Holy Kamoly Girl! For the record, we do NOT own a 15 passenger vehicle.

Look out Middle School- here they come

The DR was supposedly leaving early to take care of work stuff, so when Outpatient called to ask me to send something out, I told him he was too late, only to have the DR call me back over an hour later (after I had tried to call him FIVE times) and tell me he hadn't left yet. Good thing, because the computer he was supposed to be taking to the hospital (aka- the I T guys) was still sitting in my house. As was the graduation card and check for our nephew. That is- by the way, still here. He did get the computer and stuff for Outpatient and finally headed out around noon. So much for his early start. And due to his inability to answer his phone or call me back in a timely manner, I will now have to mail the grad card.

I did get all the errands that I needed to do- so yeah for me on that one.

School gets out. I have tried to find a number for the waterslide- no can do- so after about 20 or so calls back and forth, we are down to 6 girls. We picked every one up, drove to the waterslide. It opens tomorrow. Great. So, we drove to the Rec center. They are not open because they are getting ready for grad night. Lovely. I forgot to mention that the wind has blown fairly hard all day, but it is at least warm.

We head to K-Mrt- buy a slip and slide, waterballons and snacks and head back to our house- home of sickie boy. We had spent over an hour just at that point. Jeesh- tons of fun? Well- the girls did manage to have a good time, although it felt like a hurricane came to take up residency, blowing over glass pop bottles partially filled with pop that shattered on the cement, blew the snacks, clothes, and towels everywhere, and finished off with tipping over a gas can that then leaked all over. I finally decided they had enough of a good time and took them all home around 4:30- some of them had graduation to go to and other things, but I couldn't let the rest of them hang out in the house, and it was crazy weather outside.

Maybe we will try again, when we have nothing planned. Maybe it will go more smoothly.

Diagnosis-Pneumonia

pneumonia, right lung- really? So, we left the office with four prescriptions- antibiotic, steroid, inhaler, and cough syrup.

Oldest is down by 10 pounds. And, officially out of school for the rest of the year. Thankful that his teachers just excused him from all assignments that were done this week.


Okay, Grandma B- all caught up- Happy?

Ain't no Flu bug like the one he got

Tuesday- Oldest sick as sick. Call the school to excuse him again.

Go help with Middle's class for field day, I was a herding parent, which meant that I moved from event to event with the kids, made sure they all made it and behaved themselves. Middle has some obnoxious kids in her class, that is for sure. Her teams were kicking rear and taking names in everything.



Then I hurried back home to check on Oldest, rotate wash, back to school for Youngest's Quiz bowl. Pretty funny. We didn't study at all and she answered a couple of really tough ones. She was super nervous because she knew she didn't study. I was kind of glad she didn't go on to the finals so I could go home. Is that bad?

Headed to the Oldest's school to get his yearbook (he wanted it that day). Talked to his math teacher, and one of the secretaries who both informed me that strep with strikingly similar symptoms was going around. I figured that whatever it might be, the poor boy has now been sick since Saturday and a visit to the doctor was most certainly in order.

Spent the rest of the afternoon planting flowers and garden stuff which we bought on mother's day weekend. Yes, I have been rather busy, and snow doesn't help with getting those things done. Girls got home from school and you would have thought it was summer. They wanted to run through the sprinklers, have a water balloon fight, and a tea party. So, I let them. See that? That is me saying yes. Make a note of it.

Later that night, the DR asked what everyone had eaten for dinner (this was while we were watching the finale of the Biggest Loser). I laughed and told him the girls had cookies and chocolate milk. Oldest had cup of soup. He could eat whatever he wanted. I made some serious wife points there, I tell ya. It is all good, we all survived the laid back night and the patients were shocked to see me actually watch the television.

Monday, Monday

Oldest definitely very sick. Spent much quality time in the bathroom from about 1:30 am until 4:00 am. Poor guy. Called the school, emailed several of his teachers. The teachers emailed me back saying that he would be excused from any assignments this week. Good thing, since even if I went and got the work, he couldn't hold his head up to do them. He didn't move from the couch all day. Tried to keep him drinking plenty of fluids. Killer flu bug, I think.

Took his temp- 103. When he was two, he had a seizure caused by a fever spike, so we are pretty careful with him and fevers. Medicate him, he sleeps. Throws up at about 1:00 am again. Weird. All day, he is sick, but only gets nauseous in the middle of the night.

Monday was the medal awards for the Youngest. She didn't care which color, just as long as she got one. They had a list of about 18 things covering everything from reading, spelling, attendance, behavior, etc. They earned a gold medal if they accomplished 16 or more, a silver if 15, a bronze if 14. I knew she had at least 13- but I wasn't sure exactly how many because not all were things that crossed over into home. The DR and I went, he must have asked me three times if I was sure she got a medal. I could only say I was pretty sure. Her class only had one Bronze. Uh oh. Then there were only a few silver. Getting a tad nervous that maybe she hadn't told me right. But, she did earn the Gold Medal.

This is the girl that came home week one, read Little House in the Big Woods, dressed up as Laura Ingalls, and went to school to report on it, and her teachers had no clue what she was doing. Seems they hadn't bothered to familiarize themselves with the reading requirements. Ha! Funnier to me was when they told ME that. Nothing like confessing your fails to the parents of your students :)

Bike Trip 2010- Part Four

Sunday morning started bright and early with a phone call at 7:00 to let me know that Oldest had thrown up. Even more Lovely.



Packed up and cleaned up the house, hugged everybody because even though most of us live in Small Town (or tiny burg down the road) we hardly ever see each other. Hit the road, checked on Oldest, just sleeping it out on the couch. Middle was staying with a friend, so she was doing fine, Youngest went to church with cousin Rach.

Returned home, rounded up girlie patients, provided nursing care for Oldest. Exhausted. Bring on the last week of school.

Bike Trip 2010- Part Three

Saturday was our bike ride, dinner out, and swim in the hot springs. We ate breakfast at the house, and then headed to the same trail we rode last year, only we joined it at the point where we got off of it last year. We again had a pretty strong headwind, which at times made it feel like we were riding stationary bikes. To be honest, this bike ride isn't what most people would consider a "ride", there are a few who can and have ridden more hard core, but for us wimps, we usually pick a downhill trail :) We also end up at yard sales- hysterical- but that is the main reason we have a driver following us- so he can carry our purchases (haha)

We missed the last weekend of soccer games. Since Oldest had messed up his knee, he wasn't playing, but Middle had two games and phoned in the report, won both and scored a goal.

We went to a sort of chuckwagon type dinner. It was an experience none of us will forget, but not for any reason you might expect. We totally provided our own entertainment and the highlight of said entertainment was when Whitey roped and brought Les down to the ground. We laughed so hard and wished soo bad that we had it on tape. It was totally unexpected and you would have thought we were drunk we laughed so hard. Les tried to pay Whitey back, but missed and dropped the rope and ran like a chicken! (it is a little loud- sorry)

Some of us then went to swim at the hot springs pool, followed by the required stop at DQ. We bemoaned the fact that is was indeed Saturday night instead of Friday night, and we had to head home in the morning. While in the changing room, I received a text to let me know the Oldest was not feeling well, mild flu like symptoms, but was fine. Lovely.

Bike Trip 2010- Part Two

Friday Morning, we started our day slow and relaxed. Which, of course, led me to believe that the day would continue in that way. Not exactly, but it was all good. We wanted to hike to Hanging Lake- no such luck. It was closed until August. Hum. Undeterred, the more adventurous amongst us wanted to hike up to a place where there had been a huge fire, and many forest fire fighters had lost their lives. Can't remember the name, and no one to ask right now.


It was steep. And twisty. And I am sooooo not in shape. And, again, not a fan of heights, so after getting pretty near the top, there had been a rest bench area a little way back down, so I told the DR I would wait for him there. I sat for a bit, drinking my water, looking at the view of the Colorado River and the highway, the fire scars, and then I lay down on the bench which was barely long enough for my body, the very base of my head, and I could rest my heals with my knees straight up in the air. It was only as wide as my shoulders, so not too big of a resting spot. I closed my eyes, and was dive bombed by a humming bird :). Scared the dickens out of me. I relaxed and the next thing I knew, I very nearly fell completely asleep. Up there on my perch. Ha!

We headed back down the trail, and headed off to eat and shop. Last year, we had shopped a lot at Aspen, this year we did downtown Glenwood. Another couple joined us at that point. We have a lot of fun, that is for sure.


Friday night, we had too much dinner and snacks, as per usual. We had the dinner assignment along with another couple and we made way too much food, but it was yumm.

If you are wondering, I did pretty good with my points.

Bike Trip 2010- Part One

This is the third bike trip we have been on since I started this here blog. We got the Master Bedroom this trip, after 8 years :) Last year, we were in the same house, but our room assignment was the air mattress in the Movie Room. Both mattresses leaked. We shared a bathroom with another couple (by coincidence, I think we have shared a bathroom with them three times) Thankfully, the door did shut, and lock though. To say that the master bedroom is a step up would be a major understatement. I soaked in the giant tub, there is a really nice steam shower with three heads (rain shower head in the middle)two sinks, a private deck, huge closet, and a king sized bed. Yes, please. I would love this assignment again. But, we take turns and so it will be awhile before we get it again.

Lots of things have been different so far. One of the long-time couples didn't make it. Another later add-on didn't make it. One of the original couples won't be here until tonight. Our biking day is being put off until tomorrow. And for the first time, we came to the same place two years in a row. We have had a rough start, with one couple spending some quality time at the hospital yesterday before being able to travel here, another has an undiagnosed, incredibly severe skin rash. So, all in all, very different than in years past.

Hope you all have a good day. We are heading out soon to hike to a lake, I think they said. It is either that or shopping.

Very Quick update

I have no time- the DR and I are supposed to be leaving at 10:00 in the morning for our annual bike trip. Tell me again why I think I can leave town at this time of year? It is ALWAYS such a headache- and this year is worse than ever, due in large part to last weekend away and last minute patient care changes.

My desktop's virus software expired recently, I was going to update it Friday and ran out of time. Now, it is too late. Hope our friendly IT guys can save it. (NO COMMENTS- OUTPATIENT) Oldest strained his knee again- so he is off it for a couple of weeks, no more soccer for him. Found out about multiple school assignments and tests that will occur tomorrow and Friday- of course! It is nuts. I say every year, not going next time. The DR veto's me. But I really mean it. We are about the only ones with younger kids and it is nuts this time of year.

Field trip was good. Sunny and very warm. Spent a lot of time yesterday working on my inlaws' yard. Tons of laundry still to do. Taking Oldest to see a physical therapist after school, then his homework, youngest's soccer game and multiplication final test review. Pack. More yard work if at all possible because we are way behind.

I will repent and post more detail on our adventures but it might be a while.

Soccer Saturday

Middle and Oldest had two games a piece on Saturday out in the big city vicinity. Oldest played up north at 10:30, while Middle played at 12:30 down south. Then, as luck would have it, they both played at 4:30, but at opposite ends of the valleys. So, we borrowed a vehicle, the DR took Oldest to his first game, and I took Middle to hers. Both ended up with wins. We had lots of support from family and friends- thanks guys! It made the patients feel really happy.

The DR and I then switched patients, and he went with Middle to her game and I took Oldest to his. Middle's game was 7-0 by half time, so the goalie wanted to play out, and Middle took the opportunity to try her hand at goalie. Game ended up 13-0, with Middle not hardly having to do anything. (I would think that would be boring). Oldest's game was not quite like that. They played an undefeated team, and for a minute, it looked to be a blood bath, with 4 goals scored against them in about the first 10 minutes. Fortunately, they found a tourniquet :) and stopped the blood flow for most of the rest of the game. They weren't able to score any, but they only allowed one more goal against which didn't happen until the last couple of minutes.

The DR, Oldest, and Youngest took Sophie and headed home with a friend while Middle and I stayed out because her school grade is headed out here Monday morning for a field trip- and we figured, why not just stay out and then drive home on Monday instead of going back and forth.

Thanks to Grandma L, Grandpa L, Grandma B, Aunt Smash, X, S, Addie, Ava Grace, and Katers for coming to watch the games- and a super special thanks to Mickie, Matt and Ty- you are awesome!

End of an Era

Yesterday, Outpatient's best Friend since Fourth Grade married his high school sweetheart. It was a whole lot of memories, and with Outpatient as Best Man, and Kaylen as Maid of Honor, a bit weird. We weren't at the sealing, which was sort of odd too, because it really felt like I was missing the wedding of one of my family. That was pretty sad after all these years, but I am trying to not be bummed about it any more.

I spent the day cleaning my house to prep for company that I was totally not expecting. Outpatient, in true Looney Bin form, called me Thursday night right before he got into town to see if a friend and his girl friend could stay at the house. Then he showed up after the sealing with another would-be guest. Ironically enough, the regular inmates of the Bin were headed out of town right after the reception for soccer games so the house was available- just not exactly ready for company at all. So the patients and I scurried around and cleaned the house up.

So- Bo is married. Bo and Kla will be living in CougarTown instead of Bo living downstairs. The boys haven't had much time together since their missions. They won't likely be playing hockey or soccer together any more. Weird.

Best of our love and wishes Bo. We have loved watching you grow into a great young man. (not that you will likely see this :) ) Wish we could have been there for the sealing.

Too Much Fun!

We had such a fun activity for Activity Day! We are starting to work on learning to be good babysitters. We started out with covering basic good information on what things to know and do. I have handed out questionnaires to several of the young moms in our ward, but since many have not got them back to me yet, we will go over those another time. After we went over some basic rules and ideas, then we had a couple of fun and crazy activities.

I went and bought a package of preemie baby diapers, and gathered up Middle and Youngest's Bitty Baby twins and various diaper changing supplies. I also bought a few bottles of baby food. I was really nice and bought applesauce so it wouldn't be too yucky. We had the girls divide into two teams and pick numbers to see who would be doing what. Two girls each sat down with two of the dolls and then we blindfolded them and they raced to see who could change both babies diapers the best and fastest. It was so funny to watch!

Then came the baby feeding challenge. Two girls wore kitchen towels (not big enough, as it turned out) for bibs and their partners were blindfolded and had to feed them all the food. Lots of laughter and applesauce all over my kitchen. The girls liked it so much, they all wanted a turn, so I had to promise them we would do it again another day. It was funner than I even had hoped it would turn out.

Food For Thought

Yesterday I posted this as my status on Facebook-

Relationships are like bank accounts. If you keep taking out more than you put in, eventually your account will be closed.

Tender Mercies amongst the Minefields in May

There is an interesting phrase in blogland- Keeping it Real. I know I don't keep it as real as I could, because it would often be such a downer, and far too personal about other people in my life. So I edit my life. Or avoid posting all together.

May is a tough month to get through. There are plenty of happy things like birthdays of loved ones, but there are also some tough, less than fun memories. In May, my Grandma A. finally succumbed to cancer. In May, I suffered my first miscarriage shortly before what would have been my first "Mother's Day". In May, my Grandma F suffered a stroke, which ended her life two months later. In May, my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. In May, 22 years ago, my father was hit head on by a car while riding his motorcycle. This led to days of wondering if he would live, weeks of wondering if he would ever wake from the comma, then months of what will he regain in his abilities, then the years of hard stress and trauma of his head-injured state and all that comes with it- most often with little to no support from extended family and friends. He is hard. His life is hard.

May is full of busy, extra things to finish off the school year. May is Mother's Day. I am not a very big fan. I spent quite a few years dreading it. This year, I got a new dress. I picked it out and bought it because the DR was always too busy to go with me to look. We went and bought the flowers and plants for the yard and garden. I sat through two disastrous soccer games, made all the more frustrating because- AYSO is supposed to be even teams- never is, and for Oldest, his teammates from the neighboring town who are not supposed to be playing AYSO are and they put it first over Comp. Pretty hard to get better if you never practice. Then the DR sent me to the bookstore to buy myself a gift from my children. He had spent the morning cooking a Mother's day breakfast with the bishopric that I didn't get to even eat, and mowing, aerating, and fertilizing the yard. I picked up a little plaque and had them wrap it so that was not done by me. The DR didn't get my dress wrapped, but I wanted to wear it to church, so I did. However, I did remember something that I purchased a while ago when it was on sale, and pulled it out so he could have the patients wrap it up for them to give to me. It is pretty tough to pretend lots of excitement and joy under the circumstances, especially when you hear your son ask his sister what it is. But, I do love them. Willow Tree figurines. I bought them two years ago and had different plans for them. I remembered their existence Sunday morning.

My day was less than stellar beginning with patient contention while trying to get ready for church. I did enjoy the talks at church, because the first one was the awesome anti-perfect mother talk given by our home teacher who is a single man who has never been married with children. His was almost as good as one the DR gave years ago. I had a really good conversation with a sister whose husband died tragically almost three years ago, and who recently married, divorced, and then re-married one of the single fathers in our ward. We talked about her step children and how their mother had called that morning, upset because they weren't with her on Mother's day. It was good to talk with her. I know her life has been so tough the last several years and that she has such a good heart. I hope they are able to get through the tough times and make it as a family this time.

After church, I saw I missed a call, and assuming it was from Outpatient, was surprised to hear Happy Mother's Day wishes from Dalton instead :). I tried to relax and read, but my body wanted to relax all the way to sleep :). The DR got back from his meetings, and he started to make dinner so we could take it up to his brother's house. I helped him, even though he kept trying to shoo me away. Cooking is therapeutic for me. I only oversaw Oldest make his first ever cookies from scratch. My beloved Outpatient called. He is doing well. I tried to call my mom- no answer. The DR tried to call his mom. Every way possible. No answer. Off we went to dinner and had a lot of good food, talked about their Missionary Mother's Day call.

My mood and emotions were getting better. Then the DR had me open my "gifts". I had seriously forgotten how awesome those figurines are. As I unwrapped the main box, the words held my attention. As did the smiling faces of my three local patients.

Wow.

Then I pulled out the individual boxes.

A blessing of PEACE-

LOVE, everlasting and true-

JOY frees the spirit.

A reminder that I need to try harder to be better at these three things.

And, Joy truly does free the spirit.

P.S. just so you know, the DR is usually really good about taking care of special days. Most of the time, I am pretty spoiled.

Sure sign it is Spring-

Some people can tell by the weather.

Some people can tell by the flowers.



Some people can tell by the activities.

My family can tell by my shedding.


(This is ONLY the hair collected by my hands- I did not clean out my brush, or clean up the floor, or counter, or drain. Just one brush through with the brush, and this was all hanging at the end of my hair that was still attached to my head. Who needs a dog that sheds when they can do it themselves.)

Middle asked me to please stop brushing my hair because it was getting everywhere. I don't know what she is complaining about. I am the one who has to sweep and vacuum the bathroom every time I even walk in there.

Cleaning Down Memory Lane/ Cinco De Mayo

So- I did end up with a cold, most likely due to exposure to the lovely psychotic weather I have had the pleasure of sitting out in. By the way- can anyone explain WHY soccer is NEVER canceled unless there is literally lightning on the field? Every other sport gets cancelled for such lovely weather.

Anyway- so I have been slowly working my way through rooms, doing those ugly spring cleaning chores that are always such a joy :P - like cleaning blinds, and the nooks and crannies with toothpicks and cotton swabs. You know- those chores that should have been done with way more frequency than they have been. Today, I had a flash back to living in Oregon. Two other moms and I formed a Cleaning Club. One day a week, we went to one of our homes and spent an hour or two helping each other do whatever chores were requested. I hadn't lived in my house for very long, and I only had Outpatient at the time and he was in school all day- so I didn't have too many jobs that I really needed done, but it was just fun to spend that time together, and serving each other. As I was putting my kitchen sink blinds back up- I remembered cleaning all the blinds in Valerie's house. We took them all outside on her patio, and they were a pain- the skinny metal blades that wanted to bend if you looked at them :).

I don't remember what we did at Kay's house, so it must have been less traumatic- haha. I do remember cleaning all of the panelled doors at my house before I moved, and scouring the three bathrooms. Good memories with great friends whom I luckily get to see every once in a great while.

I also experienced celebrating Cinco De Mayo for the first time while living there. Today is a busy day at the Looney Bin- so it will be rather short and sweet- Tacos will have to suffice, and this time Mike isn't around to douse the DR's taco in hot sauce only to be dissappointed at the total lack of reaction :) The DR has toasted his tastebuds when it comes to hot stuff, so he didn't even notice.

Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Happy Bloggy Birthday

Two Years-

May Birthdays & Anniversaries

Happy Day to:

MY BLOG

Colton :)

Corey

Matt and Mickie

Adam

Mom L
Joshua
Madeline
Raineer
Wyatt

Mark & Marianne

Madison

Nathan
Tommy

Carey

Mom and Dad A.

Kennadee

Wet, Wild, and Wacky weekend (not to mention COLD)

Five Soccer games, fifteen weather changes (at least). I would like to point out that I am a hockey mom, and until 6 years ago, our rink was outside and I have sat through way colder soccer games than hockey.

Friday, the DR and I took Oldest to play soccer a few hours drive away. The weather was incredibly frightful during the first half, hard wind and blowing snow. Not fun. The other team had won the coin toss and elected to play into the wind the first half- which would have been smart-EXCEPT- at halftime, the snow stopped, the wind stopped and the sun came out- not enough to really be warm, but totally tolerable. AND-- THEY WON!!! Yeah!
It was fun to watch them be successful and to execute. We had a yummy mexican dinner with my favorite mango salsa (I tried the steak quesidilla- wow!)

Saturday, we started with soccer team pictures for Youngest, then a freezing cold game that started at 10:00. We then had games for Middle at 2:00, and the wind and snow/rain was in full effect. Well, up until the game started, then the clouds parted and the sun came out. Then when the game was over, the clouds came back, the wind blew. Oldest and the DR were across town at a different park so Oldest could play his game. He actually got his whole game in during the brief break in the weather. I must mention that my throat had begun to hurt by this point. Middle then played another game and the weather was not as kind as game one, but it wasn't as nasty as it had been either.
We finally headed home around 6:30 pm, and it started to rain pretty hard again.

Seriously bi-polar and we need to get the weather on some major meds.

As for scores- don't even want to know on Youngest. It was bad. Bad enough that the other team let us put another player on the field. Middle (game one) and Oldest lost 2-1. Middle's team shouldn't have but that team's goalie saved their bacon- tons and tons of shots dead on, and Oldest's team is making a lot of progress- thanks in great part to Coach Gary. Middle's team won their second game- not sure if it was 5 or more to 1. It was too cold and the B team was playing right behind us so I watched some of that and paced to keep warmer. My frozen fingers managed to take 119 pictures. :) Most of which are not worth keeping.

And- lastly- the DR was finally released as EQ president. Nearly a month with two major callings, but who's counting. Outpatient made it safely to Montana, and the inpatients just realized he isn't going to be home at all for the summer. Sad faces all around.