I'm Running Away

I'm taking off.
It was either this or the Funny Farm.

I'll see you when I get back.

I'm still here. But my sanity is not.

I've had several nice comments and emails from friends in the blogosphere (and in real life) asking if I have fallen off the face of the earth.
Not really, but if I don't find my way through this mountain of work you may have to form a search party.
Did someone say Party? That sounds like fun. But there's no time to party because it's the end of the month.

I'm a WAHM (Work at home Mom). Last year I started a small business doing various computer related tasks for other small businesses. I've always looked for something that I could do from home so I am still available to my children. This job/company just sort of "happened". But I am so grateful. I love what I do. I love helping people. I love setting my own schedule. And I love working because it keeps my brain from turning to mush.

That being said, the end of each month never fails to bog me down. There are many tasks and responsibilities that just HAVE to be done at the end of the month and there aren't enough hours in the day (or night, for that matter!).

Something has to give. Unfortunately it usually ends up being my blog. So if you don't see me around, just check your calendar. If the month is coming to a close then I am probably holed up in my office working like a mad woman!
But, rest assured that I am still reading YOUR blog. You make me laugh. You help me relax. You give my tired brain something different to think about.

So thank you for your comments and thank you for missing me!
I assure you, I am still here. I'm afraid that somewhere along the way my sanity seems to have disappeared. But don't worry. I'll be back at the beginning of next month. With or without my sanity!

Wet Paint!

We've lived in our home for just a little over 10 years. KJ built our home (and many of the homes around ours) and I love it! We went through hundreds of house plans before we finally found our dream home. Then we redesigned several areas of that plan to fit our specific needs. We love our neighborhood and the surrounding areas and are very happy here.
But after 10 years and with 5 kids it was in desperate need of a paint job! So KJ busted out the spackle and went to work.


I'm really happy that he's painting. I'm NOT so happy that he used our bed sheet for a drop cloth.

We have several areas to paint (family room, hallway, kitchen...and whatever else strikes my fancy), so I'll keep you posted!

Thought for today:

"Lord, You May Wash Me on the Gentle Cycle, But Please Don't Put Me Through the Wringer and Hang Me Out to Dry."
(from Rachel Anne at Blog Sanctuary)

Breakfast of Champions

Top Ramen
(a.k.a. Curly Noodle Soup)

Wicked

My sister and I went to WICKED on Friday night. It was fantastic! Actually the whole evening was fantastic!
We had dinner at PF Chang's in Salt Lake. The food was delicious!
We laughed our heads off and made inside jokes that no one else understands.

We visited with the waiter/busboy who took our picture. "Say queso!" that's what he told us! (No clue who he is. Very friendly though. Told us about his wife. Probably worried that we might get our hopes up.)


(See that big group in the booth behind us? They were also going to see Wicked.)

Once we arrived at the theatre we bought some candy at the little snack place. They were advertised as "Chocolate Toffee Caramel Bites" or something to that effect. Vennesa called them "Rich Mans Milk Duds" which is pretty much what they were. Pricey, but yummy. We got to our seats and realized we had a perfect view of the stage thanks to Peterson Tix(a.k.a. my neighbors).


I really don't know how to describe the show. I was totally enthralled! My favorite was Donna Vivino who played Elphaba. She was amazing! Gave me chills! Every once in a while I had to reach up with my hand and shut my mouth because my jaw was hanging open.
I've loved the music from wicked for a few years now, and seeing it done live did NOT disappoint! The whole night was awesome. And there's no one I would have rather gone with than my sister! Love ya sis!

P.S. I'm pretty sure she won the limbo contest.

Itty Bitty Hoops

Not to be outdone by her brothers, the Princess has decided to play basketball. Itty Bitty Hoops they call it. Her Dad and her uncle are the coaches.
She's learning how to shoot.
And how NOT to stand directly under the basket after your shot goes in.
"C'mon girls! You've gotta keep your head in the game!"
It's a fast-paced game, I tell ya! The only problem is.....
Everybody gets a chance to play. "You're pulling me out, coach?"
It's hard to wait your turn.
Really hard.
Really, really, hard.

W.T.H. ?

My oldest plays 14U. That means all the boys are 14 or under. Now, I don't know if you can see this, but this kid (in red) on the other team has a serious BEARD!? What.The.Heck? The kid is only 14 for pete's sake! (I wish I could have gotten a closer shot but I didn't want to be obvious. Click on the photo anyway and you can see it!) We were all amazed. Most of the Dad's were secretly impressed.


Baseball Quote of the day:
You gotta be a man to play baseball for a living, but you gotta have a lot of little boy in you, too. ~Roy Campanella

Between Games

This is what you do between baseball games in St. George:
We had several other baseball families staying at the condos near us, so even in between games all the kids were having a great time.The boys caught 8 lizards of various shapes and sizes.
My 4 yr old was really excited to tell me about the one he caught by the tail. It got away. It's tail didn't. (I believe that's called "a reptile dysfunction".)

Anyway, when they took all the lizards over to show the other parents they seem to have lost a lizard in Heidi's condo. Shhhhh....don't tell Heidi.


Baseball Quote of the day:
Baseball was made for kids, and grown-ups only screw it up. ~Bob Lemon

It's gonna be good!

Counting down the days!

HOME RUN!

This is son #1. He's 14 and has been playing comp baseball for 4 years. As the boys get older their games get more exciting. It's really fun to watch these boys play ball.


But what I REALLY like is watching him pitch! It's a little nerve wracking (makes his dad an absolute basket case) but it's so fun to watch!


In their last game of the tournament, son #1 hit a HOME RUN! Right over the center filed fence! It.was.AWESOME. Then he pitched the last couple innings of the game. We had been down but we came back to win, so he got a "save".
I was one proud mom! (He looks pretty proud too!)


Baseball Quote of the day:
The pitcher has to find out if the hitter is timid. And if the hitter is timid, he has to remind the hitter he's timid.
~Don Drysdale, quoted in New York Times, 9 July 1979

Grandparents & Slushies

My kids spend a LOT of time at the ball park. We really like the parks that have a playgound close by. When there's not a playground you've got to make your own fun.
This handy little area at one of the parks became known as "the arts and crafts table". It was right by the bleachers so we could keep an eye on the kids and several families had crayons and paper that were shared by all. It was a hit!

Of course, if Grandma & Grandpa happen to stop by the park then they can usually be convinced to spring for a slushie.
They're the best! (Grandparents I mean...and slushies too.)
Quick! Put your money away Grandpa or they'll happily spend it for you!


Baseball Quote of the day:
A critic once characterized baseball as six minutes of action crammed into two-and-one-half hours. ~Ray Fitzgerald, in Boston Glove, 1970

I.am.so.excited!

I.can't.wait!

Sand Dune Boone

While in St George son's #1 & #3 each played a 4 games. Now 8 games in a weekend seems like a lot! But this year was actually a walk in the park for us because normally we would have had 12 games. But son #2 broke his arm back in February. No games for him until he gets his cast off.

So lets start with son #3. We call him Sand Dune Boone. Just Sand Dune for short. (Remind me to tell you that story another time.)Sand Dune is a lefty at school and at dinner time, but he's a "righty" in sports. When he was little I tried to convince KJ that the kid was a lefty, but he didn't believe me. I think he's kicking himself now. But either way, Sand Dune is one tough player. Just look at that concentration!
He got on base and is listening to his coach.
Sends him to second.
Made it to 3rd and he's heading home.....
....SAFE!!!!


Baseball Quote of the day:
I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby

Fimmin' Suity

After much delay...I continue with the family vacation saga...
Immediately upon arrival at the condo in St. George the big people were pestered by the little people with an incessant request to go to the pool.
Side trip (side trips are my specialty): Sometimes in our family "going swimming" is referred to as "goin' fimmin' suity". This stems from my childhood. One of my sisters couldn't pronounce "swimming suit" and the term Fimmin' Suity was born.
Since I was prepared with a few good books to keep me occupied, and plenty of pasty white skin in need of some sunshine, I was happy to oblige. (I'm not real big on wearing a fimmin' suity. But I can sit in a lounge chair and read a book like nobody's business!)
So they swam.
...and swam
...and cannon-balled
...and played under the waterfall
to their heart's content!