The Things Kids Say

So the kids and I are sitting at the table at lunch. Braeden mentions something about not calling anyone in the house fat, and that he'd never say that.

I agreed and said that it wasn't nice to call anyone fat, and that he shouldn't.

This is how the following conversation ensued (name has been changed to protect the true identity of spoken individual):

B: Well, remember that time when Kaelynn called "Timmy" fat?

Me: Yes, but let's hush now.

K: "Timmy" is fat. He has a really big tummy. (all said while nodding at me)

Me: That's not nice. We don't talk like that about other people.

B: Well... (pause) He is really kind of round.

Children for Sale .... 2 For 1

That's right! Come and get 'em!

It's one of those days. It all started when the youngest got up to use the potty at 12:35am. I had just been slumbering for a little over an hour at this point, so I was groggy. When she came in an hour later to use the potty again, I was even more groggy and irritated. At this point I realized that I was having an 'attack', or at least showing the signs of one starting. Fantastic! This is how I love to spend time in the middle of the night.

So, I dozed and woke on what seemed to be an hourly basis throughout the night. All the while I had that awful sensation in my gut; that something was not sitting well, that mild 'on fire' feeling, knowing full well that eventually it would land me in the bathroom.

Finally at 6am, it woke me and I spent the next hour in the bathroom, all the while scanning for something to use in the event that I needed to hork. I was not feeling well, and of course the children graced us with their wide-eyed, ready to start the day expressions by 7:10 in the morning. I layed back down in the bed, my stomach rolling and I dozed for a bit until Mike let me know that he was leaving for work and that the kids were at the kitchen table having breakfast. I knew I couldn't just leave them there, so I had to suck it up and supervise.

No sooner were the cereal bowls empty that I led them back up the stairs to find activities to busy themselves with in their rooms. While I found my way back into my bed, under the covers, with my nose buried in a book.

I only had to get up to check on the loud bang, or find out why one was shrieking, or to put a stop the bickering about 307 times, but who's counting?

Finally at noon I headed down stairs to make lunch. Buttered noodles with grated parmesan cheese - I got compliments that it was "the best food ever!", which was nice, but not enough to stop me from wanting to lock them up in the closet, bound and gagged until their father returns home from work.

Don't get me wrong, I love them dearly. But when I'm functioning on minimal sleep, and dealing with a very off stomach -- a little cooperation would go a long way.

Heartache

As always, Cubs fans are experiencing heartache.

I had a short cry last night .... out of frustration and for the sheer pain of being put through this. Traveling to Cincinnati to cheer them on just a week ago, to turn around and have a stake driven through my heart.

The Diamondbacks took all 3 games to advance to the NLDS. They are that much closer to the World Series.

But for the Cubs, and all of us loyal fans....we're back to hoping for Next Year and trying to nurse our wounds.

Cubby Blue, Baby!

2007 National League Central Division Champs! You got it, baby ... the Cubs are in the playoffs!

I'm excited and hopeful and scared .... and well, if you're a fellow Cubs fan, you too probably know these emotions very well.

We had a chance at the series back in 2003 .... I remember this season distinctly. It was going so well, we just had to make it to the Series and then, just as quickly, it turned and we lost.

The dreaded curse, and Bartman, and a goat and blah blah blah. I remember about a year later, Mike and I were watching a documentary about that season. I couldn't watch...it was like pouring salt into an open wound. All the pain was quickly returning, I was angry and depressed, so I had to stop watching.

I've already teared up twice now; once was during the game a couple weeks ago where they came back in the 9th inning to win the game. It was a huge win for them, and the players were so excited -- I teared up and said to Mike that if they make the Series, I'll cry for sure.

Then last night in the car by myself, a song is on the radio about wanting something and going after it, and all that -- I find myself with tears in my eyes again, thinking about how it's speaking about the Cubs.

I know, pathetic to get emotional about a baseball game - but this is MY team. A team that my family has loved and supported for years, a team I have grown to adore. And while the team has changed -- players have come and gone -- I still bleed Cubby blue and my heart aches as we say "Next Year".

I pray that THIS year is the Next Year we've been speaking about. 2007, baby....this is it!

Totally Pawsome!

My son has been in kindergarten just shy of a month now. He's needed to turn his card to yellow a few times, and just last week, he had to turn to red. This warranted the second phone call home this school year.

It wasn't that he his misbehaved so badly that he needed to turn his card to red, it was that he talked out of turn (didn't raise his hand) and when the teacher asked him to turn his card to yellow, he wouldn't. He didn't want to, and was upset that he needed to. She explained that if he didn't turn it to yellow like she asked, then he'd have to turn to red, which upset him even further so that he stuck his tongue out at her.

Needless to say, the next day he was instructed to go to school, and to apologize for misbehaving AND for sticking his tongue out at his teacher. He did this, and was behaved enough that he came home that next day with a Pawsome card.

Being a Wildcat (school mascot), this was their way of using 'paw' and 'awesome' together.

He did well the rest of the week, and imagine my surprise today when he came home with TWO Pawsome cards in his backpack.

I just hope he can continue to improve and keep enjoying school. Despite flipping cards or having the teacher call home, he's always very anxious and excited to go back to school the next day. And when the weekend rolls around, he's asking when it's time to go to school again. I know that won't last forever, but it's nice now!

Hey Chicago.....Whaddya Say

The Chicago Cubs won again today!

This time 8-0 over the Pirates, to sweep the series.

And, Milwaukee lost to Atlanta putting us up 3.5 games in the lead. Let me tell you, it's quite a sight to see Cubs fans doing the tomahawk chop! They were stoked as the scoreboard changed and Atlanta took the lead, and then won the game.

The "Magic Number" is now at 4.

Milwaukee plays tomorrow, and the Cubs have a day off for traveling. It's off to Florida for a 3 games series, and we could potentially clench the division as early as Wednesday.

GO CUBBIES!!!!!

Baseball, you bet!

'Tis that time of the season when it gets down to the nitty gritty. Last night's game was freakin' awesome! One of those edge-of-your-seat-chew-all-your-nails-off types. It's not everyday you see your favorite team come back in the 9th inning to score 3 runs and win the game. Truly unbelievable.

Tonight wasn't such good luck. It was a disappointing game, and with Milwaukee's win, both teams are now tied for first place in the central division.

There's still time - and I've still got plenty of hope for my Cubbies.

I swear, though....I will cry tears of happiness and joy if they make it to the Series. As it was last night, I teared up at how amazing they played and how pumped they were when they won.

Goooooooo Cubbbiiiiieessssssssss!!!!

And PS .... Aramis Ramirez is totally hot. What I wouldn't do for one night with that man. ;)

Sputterings and Mutterings

It's been quite awhile since I've written. I find that many evenings I'm too tired to conjure up anything worth reading.

I've been the general manager for 4 whole weeks now. Hardly seems like it's been that long, but I've made it through 2 payrolls. This past Friday I had to do the entire payroll myself and I was extremely nervous about it. Apparently I wasn't giving myself enough credit because it all went extremely smoothly and all the payroll checks printed and I have happy employees. The old general manager is out of town in California now, and my bosses are actually out of the country on an anniversary trip in Italy. I'm flying solo with only brief communication by cell phone or text messages to the old GM. She still needs to go over sales tax with me, which needs to be done by the 20th of this month.

Other than that, the other big happenings in the household was the start of two things for the kids. B started kindergarten, and 5 days in I got my first phone call home from the teacher. His friend down the street rides the same bus, and they are in the same class together as well. Apparently they are like Frick and Frack, getting into some trouble together. They've been separated both in class, and on the bus, along with flipping cards to yellow while in class. (sigh) They are FIVE! (though, B would interrupt and say, "I'm five and a HALF!") K started ballet class at our community rec center. She's gone two times now, and is just adorable as she prances along. It runs for 11 weeks, so she'll be busy doing that every Saturday until the middle of November.

So - that is that - just keeping busy and watching the weeks fly by.