Recent Outing

My good and patient friend Jennifer invites me to a lot of things.  I usually have a ton of excuses (usually the stress of handling the children on my own or the expense of such and such) as to why it’s not feasible at that particular time. 

She hasn’t given up on me and we managed to do a few fun things this year.  The first being a viewing of an awesome production of The Wizard of Oz at her local high school and the second being a trip to Parc Safari in Hemmingford, Quebec.  I shocked her by agreeing to go. 

We had amazing weather that day and I think the kids had fun.  Mine are super spoiled, so they expect the sun, the moon and the stars.  It’s not my idea of a good time sans kids, but hey I got out of the house and spent a nice day with four lovely gals.

Here’s a slideshow from that day.  Sorry about all of the boring animal photos mixed in between.  I am so not an animal person.  Having them stick their long scary heads into the car and not pulling them back out promptly, scared the hell out of me.

 

First Cook-Out of The Year

Not last Saturday, but the Saturday before that, we had some awesome weather. It was 84 and stayed warm long into the night. Our friends Matt and Lisa invited us over for a cook-out and a campfire.

The kids ran around and played baseball, tv tag and hide-and-go-seek. Later they roasted marshmallows and we made s’mores. What a great excuse to buy chocolate bars.

It was a great night and I hope we have a few more like it before summer officially begins.

 

Spontaneity

They say spontaneity can be a good thing.  Tell that to a control freak.

Tuesday started out normal.  Kids went to school.  Dan and I went to work.  I did some errands after work and then came home.  The kids got home.  Got them snacks.  I called Rebecca back.  Talked until Dan got home.  Got on the laptop to get my daily dose of celebrity gossip.  Then the phone rang.  Keep in mind that I had been gone every day or evening since the prior Wednesday.  I was so hoping for an easy evening at home.

It was Chris, Dan’s cousin and hunting buddy from Ohio.  He was only up for one day/night on business.  Dan’s other friend and coworker Matt invited Chris to dinner, so Chris called Dan and basically said we were invited too.  No other details.  Dan got off the phone and told me and I lost my friggen mind.

Matt’s wife Lisa is a teacher and had worked all day as well.  I was livid.  Can you imagine what Lisa must have thought when Matt told her that he had invited Chris to dinner without any notice?  I know I would have freaked.  Also, I knew damn well we hadn’t been invited because neither Matt nor Lisa had called us directly.  I figured Chris was using us to get a ride to Peru (he drove a tractor trailer). 

After a lot of shouting, Dan called Matt on his cell and sure enough Matt hadn’t banked on us coming, but said come on over, blah, blah.  After a lot of debate, I called Lisa to get the scoop.  She didn’t know about us coming either until Matt got home and told her.  She insisted that it was fine, don’t worry, etc. 

By that time Dan had told the girls that we were going and of course they wanted to go because they like playing with Matt and Lisa’s son Ryan.  I was still unhappy about imposing, etc., but I didn’t want to make everyone miserable.  I made sure that we didn’t arrive empty-handed (dessert, italian bread, and of course – beer).

It’s a good thing that I’m not any bigger because it was a tight squeeze between the two booster seats in the back. 

I ate too much, but it was a nice evening.  The men talked hunting, the kids played and Lisa and I got a chance to catch up.

Maybe next time we will all have a few days notice 🙂

 

Wordless Wednesday – Tiny Dancers

Ashley with her best friend Emma (Rebecca’s beautiful doll).

 

Overscheduled & Overwhelmed

There has been no let up these past few days.  I need a break dear Lord!

Last Friday, Ashley invited me to her school for a Mother’s Day Tea.  I left work early and drove to her school.  They had pictures for us and cookies and iced tea.  Lemonade for the kiddos.  They also had made cards and handprint poems.  We also got to choose carnations to take home.  It was nice for the most part.  I want to remember that instead of the meltdown that inevitably occured at one point.  I will do my best to forget that part.

Saturday we had to attend a graduation party an hour from home.  We rushed around and got everyone ready.  After dropping the kids off at my mother-in-law’s house, we headed out. 

I was dreading it a little bit because it was Dan’s friend and I wouldn’t know many people.  I shouldn’t have worried.  I have the gift of gab and got along fine.  We played volleyball.  That was on Saturday and I still feel like I was run over by something.  I have bruises all over my arms.  Those damn volleyballs are hard.  Whatever happened to Nerf anyway?  It was really fun though.  I’m way too competitive for my own good.  I broke a nail, a vein and I got grass stains all over my jeans.  Now I know why old people just sit on the sidelines and watch 🙂  Just like drinking, it’s fun today, but hellish tomorrow.

Sunday was Mother’s Day.  I guess this day does not apply to me.  I think there should be a day called Wives’ Day.  I always get the s@#t end of the stick.  Sounds selfish, but read on. 

Instead of taking it easy, relaxing and doing what I want, I had to run around and clean and scrub so that I could have my parents over.  Then I was supposed to go with Dan to see his mom and grandma.  I said no way, no how.  I made him take the kids away.  Did I finally have some time to myself?  You bet.  What did I do?  I did laundry, dishes, spring cleaning and rearranged the basement.  The same damn thing I did last year.  Maybe I’ll get to relax on Mother’s Day when I have grandchildren.

 

Wordless Wednesday – Friend or Foe?

  Jennifer and Jolene – 1986

Note the lovely hairstyle I’m sporting and the way I have my shirt tucked in.  So fabulous.  Jennifer’s glasses are sexy too.

See how she’s digging her nails into my arm?  That’s basically what she and I did – fight and torture one another.  I’m glad we stopped doing that.  She no longer has her defense mechanisms (glasses and braces).  I might be able to walk away without a scratch these days 🙂 

What do you say Jennifer, “Do you wanna die?” (Just kidding y’all, it’s an inside joke.)