I am just the driver

Last Monday, Ellie missed her softball game because I read an email wrong.  Tom was a little frustrated that she missed and so he told me to send him the week's schedule.  This is what I sent him:

Tuesday

Ellie - Softball Game - 6:00

*Ellie will have to miss swim practice and Activity Days

Wednesday

Ellie - Swim Practice (will have to take her to beginner class at 4:45-5:30)

Jack - Preschool Graduation - need to be there at 6, starts at 6:30

*Jack has a game, but he will have to miss

Thursday

Holly - Hair Appointment - 3:00

Ellie - Swim Practice - 5:15-6

Jack - T-ball game - 6:30

Friday

Ellie - Swim Pictures 4:30

Ellie - Softball Tournament 6pm

Family - Krew's birthday party  6-8

*Ellie will have to miss swim practice and party

Saturday

Ellie - Swim Meet all day

Ellie - Dean's birthday party 3-8

Sunday

Family - Church 9-12

Ellie - practice for musical number 4:15

Jack - Colton's birthday party 3-6

As you can see, this past week we had scheduling conflicts most days. Softball and t-ball were supposed to be over by now, but we have had so many rain-outs that the season keeps getting extended.  It is driving me crazy!

Some highlights of the week, Ellie was awarded the game ball on Monday.  This is something she has desperately wanted ever since the first game. I was so happy for her.

Jack had his preschool graduation on Wednesday.  He looked so adorable in his little cap and gown.  They pair you up with high school students and he has had the same "buddies" for the last two years.  His buddy, Sarah, could not stop crying and she wrote Jack the sweetest letter in his scrapbook.

Miss Vivian

Jack and Miss Sarah

Keepin' it real on our 13th anniversary

Yesterday, Tom and I celebrated our 13th anniversary, but after the events of last night, I am pretty sure 13 truly is an unlucky number. 

I went to school for 1st & 2nd period. During 1st period, I got a call from someone saying they picked up my dog on the street and could I come get her.  I knew our electric fence no longer worked because our lawn guys cut it, but Kali hadn't figured it out yet...until that morning.  So, I rushed home after 2nd period to pick up my wet, muddy, hairy dog and bring her home. I couldn't put her in the back yard because she had snapped several boards in half and would just escape again so I locked her in the garage and Tom and I left for the movies.

We enjoyed the movie (Pitch Perfect 2), went to a nice lunch at Papadeux (where Tom and I ate the night he proposed), and even had time for a nap before having to pick up the kids.

I went and picked up the boys and took them grocery shopping.  When I got back, Tom started complaining about not feeling well.  Shortly after, he was locked in the bathroom violently throwing up.  Ellie and Jack were both complaining about their stomachs at this point so I put them to bed with vomit buckets.  Sam woke up crying at 9 and I went in there to find him and everything in his crib covered in vomit.  Tom was still dying in the bathroom so I grabbed Sam, gave him a quick bath, and stripped his bed.  Then, Sam went back to bed, but was up vomiting again within 20 minutes.  I stripped his bed again, did another bath, and this time put him on the floor in my rood with a bunch of blankets.  I repeated this process a few more times throughout the night all while Tom was still out of commission. Poor Tom, I don't think I have ever seen his so sick.

The good news is that Ellie and Jack never actually started vomiting so I only had to do three loads of vomit laundry.  Also, Sam woke up happy and acting like his old (or new in the past two weeks) self.

So, our 13th anniversary was not the most romantic of anniversaries, but probably the most real.

I refuse to even title this

I'm not even going to title this post "Weekend Recap" since that is pretty much all I have write about these days.  I am at the point in the school year where all week days are a blur and I just live for the weekends.  Last week was a rainy week so all games and practices were cancelled. Friday was a fun day for Jack, though, because it was Kindergarten Round-Up at the elementary school he will be attending next year.  Unfortunately, I had to work, but his awesome Aunt Sabrina took him along with her and Naomi.  Jack had a blast and now he won't stop asking when he can start kindergarten.

Saturday was finally sunny and dry enough that games could go on as usual.  Tom took Ellie to her first swim meet and I took Jack to his t-ball game.  I had Sam with me, but he was perfectly behaved.  I have a theory about Sam.  He somehow knows we are leaving him behind when we go on the cruise so he has decided to become the most adorable, funny, well-behaved child to make me feel guilty.  Seriously, though, he has not had any of his epic tantrums for two weeks now and he has suddenly become easy to take places.  He is acting cuddly and cute and funny.  Dang that kid.

Yesterday was church and my first Sunday as Nursery Leader.  Sam, who normally hates nursery and screams bloody murder at the thought of even walking in there, was happily playing and perfectly behaved (of course he was).  I think I am really going to love being in Nursery on Sundays, aside from the one little boy who vomits whenever he cries.

Today is Tom and my 13th anniversary. We are both taking 1/2 days from school so we can acknowledge it in some way. Even if that way is just a matinee and lunch.  When you have three little ones and every evening is booked with obligations, you take what you can get!

Weekend recap: A few tears, some ball games, and Mother's Day

This weekend went by so fast!  I took a half day from school on Friday so I could go to the doctor for my yearly checkup.  I was thinking it would be fast and I would have the rest of the afternoon to nap or read until the kids got home.  I was really looking forward to that alone-time, but when it came time for my bloodwork, the girl was unable to find a vein.  She tried twice and then told me that I would have to go to a walk-in clinic 30 minutes away to get my blood work done.  Ok, I had been up since 5am and I hadn't had anything to eat since 7 the night before.  I am just putting that out there to explain why I went a little crazy.  I don't behave well when I am hungry.  So, I told the girl that I wanted someone else to try because I don't want to drive all that way. She said no and took me to check out.  I was so mad and frustrated that I had tears in my eyes and I was trying not to full-on cry.  The lady at the front desk noticed and took me into the manger's office. I pretty much verbally-vomited all over them and they agreed to try again with a different girl.  So, I was poked three more times to no avail and then I had to drive to that other clinic anyway.  The lady at the lab drew 4 vials of blood in less than a minute and she just shook her head at my 5 other stick marks.  I am going to find a new general practitioner. I went to him because he is in my neighborhood, but what good is that convenience if they make me drive anyway? And I never got my nap!

That night, Jack had a t-ball game.  Tom stayed home with Sam and Ellie and I was able to actually watch Jack play without any distractions.  It was awesome!  My parents came to watch and Jack was so excited to have them there!

Saturday morning, we all went to watch Ellie play.  Tom kept tabs on Sam and Jack as they played near the field and, once again, I was able to really watch the game.  I love having Tom around!  Ellie's team still hasn't won a game, but Ellie looked good.

In the afternoon, we all went over to Mark and Rosie's to celebrate Naomi's birthday.  It was fun to swim and hang out with family, but we left early because we were all tired and cranky. OK, I was tired and cranky.

Sunday morning, Tom woke up early to make me pancakes and eggs.  He was a little unsure of himself because he hadn't cooked breakfast in years, but it turned out great!  Then, after church, he took the kids to his mom's house while I stayed home and took a much-needed 3 hour nap.  Any day that I don't have to cook or clean AND I get a nap is a win in my book.

Weekend recap

First things first...as of Saturday night, track season is officially over! Whoohoo! My life is about to get so much easier! I was thinking this weekend as I was juggling two games, softball pictures, and two birthday parties, that none of it would really be that difficult to handle all by myself if only Sam didn't resist it all so much. My Sam is such a homebody and a boy of routine and structure. He does not like to be surrounded by people he does not know. So, when I am trying to sit and enjoy watching Ellie or Jack's games, I am contending with a toddler screaming, "Go hoooooommmmme," at the top of his lungs. I am sure next year it will be easier because he will be old enough to reason with...or at least bribe.

Before all the screaming

Friday, Ellie had swim practice and Jack had a t-ball game. Tom finished his track meet and showed up just in time to see Jack get up to bat. I decided to take Sam home and put him to bed since t-ball is usually just Jack playing with his hat in the outfield and not paying any attention at all to the game. Once I got home, I started getting all these texts from Tom about how good Jack looked and how much he had improved. Apparently, he was catching everything that went his way. I couldn't believe Jack was actually putting some effort into it the one time I wasn't there. To top it off, he was awarded the game ball at the end of the game! Jack came home just bursting with pride. I was sad to have missed it, but so excited for him.

Jack showing off his game ball

Saturday, Tom left for the region meet and I had to have the kids at the baseball fields by 8:30 for softball pictures and then Ellie's game. Ellie played fairly well, but her team continued their losing streak (they did tie one game previously). After her game, I tried to go watch Kolby play for a bit, but Sam was so over it that he would not stop screaming so we had to leave.

My niece, Olivia, at her carnival-themed party

The kids both had birthday parties in the afternoon. I dropped Ellie off at Olivia's carnival party and then took Jack to his best friend Luke's party. Luke is my old babysitter's son and Jack has missed him so much. Not a week goes by that Jack doesn't mention him. So, I was thrilled to hear she was coming back into town and throwing Luke a party at her parent's house.

Luke and Jack...reunited again

Sunday was church and then nothing but laziness for the rest of the day. Ellie and I cuddled up on the recliner and binge-watched old episodes of America's Next Top Model.

#sundaybest