bright side

Because I'm not a complete complainer/killjoy/family-disser, I've compiled a list of stuff I loved about this past weekend (I'm starting with Friday, though, to make it more impressive):

1. Getting my car unloaded of all the books & pillows & games I've scored at Goodwill for my classroom
2. Girlfriend movie night at the luxurious [read: They serve delectable food and cocktails right to you IN YOUR SEAT] Living Room Theater.
3. Girlfriend bar visit at the uber-hip (I wish Blogger could do an umlaut; it makes words so much cooler) Teardrop Lounge
4. Sunny drive to my parents' house
5. Super fun time at the Go-Kart track with kids & Dad & cousins - Mason & I had to be rescued by the monitor dude after wiping out
6. Cheesy Oscar Meyer hot dogs for dinner. Shhhh, don't tell Whole Foods!
7. Starbucks run with my sister; seeing darling barista boy
8. Not-too-rainy drive home
9. Kind family who offered to jump start my dead battery at the ferry (story to follow)
10. Fabulous new Skechers walking shoes, on clearance with extra discount

I realize it is rather lame to have a picture of my new shoes rather than my family or friends. But aren't they really cute? I know they will help me get some actual exercise this summer, before my heart stages a major protest that will totally disrupt my trip to Europe. And my tattoo plans.

'twas a good year

More good stuff at Wordless Wednesday

sick day

Even though I've been up since before dawn with one kid lamenting his insomnia ("Rocky {our cat} is bugging me and Mario {his hamster} keeps turning, turning, turning and I can't get back to sleep! AND IT'S 4:32!") and the other coughing until she threw up (numerous times), I'm feeling rather sunny. Luckily, my school is late start and I don't teach until 11 am so I will hang out with my barfy daughter this morning, doing the slow & easy fun stuff you get to do on sick days.

1. wear pajamas and slippers (at least until 9:15 for me)
2. color
3. watch kids' PBS
4. eat graham crackers
5. drink blueberry tea from tiny cups
6. color
7. nap on the couch
8. play card games (or if I'm unlucky, succumb to the pleading for "Pretty Pretty Princess")
9. color
10. follow raindrop paths on the window
11. build a chair & pillow fort
12. read magazines (Real Simple for mom, Ranger Rick for the 7-year old - unless there is an article on the Kratt brothers, then we share)
13. lots of snuggling

Read more Thursday Thirteeners here.

are you ready for some football?

Or, are we ready for me to mentally check out from meaningful family duties, sundays 11-8, for 16 weeks?

TO DO TODAY:

• shower (even though it disrupts the lucky "no-shower-on-game-day" pattern for my Cowboys, but it's a new coach so we'll see)
• figure out tasteful yet team-supportive outfit
• church (because God is kinder to my 'boys when I worship Him first...Ha.)
• lunch with friend (she needs my support more than the Seahawks this afternoon)
• football
• some laundry
• football
• more laundry
• call Dad before Cowboys game (so I can read Harry Potter to kids during halftime - see, I'm not all bad!)
• dinner (focus on family for 15 minutes...focus on family for 15 minutes...)
• football
• post-game wrap-ups and highlights
• back rub for kind & loving primary caretaker

Oh, I'm so excited!

kind of like hell, but with marshmallows

I love my family, and so I camp with them. Here are the things I rather like about the situation, and things that make me want to stab everyone nearby.

like:

• meandering conversations with best friends (we always go with them; takes the total hell feeling away...)
• no housekeeping required
• lots of wine
• kids happy & nice to each other (probably because of lots of wine and no housekeeping for adults)
• cute wildlife like chipmunks and deer
• grazing from our bags of camp food all day long
• lots of wine (did i say that already?)
• spying neighbors don't actually know me
• indulging in craptacular gossip magazines
• quality time with family (that's not actually last, even though it looks like it...don't judge)

stab everyone:

• not-so-cute wildlife, like bread-stealing birds and blood-sucking mosquitoes
• frickin' cold water in bathrooms
• no Starbucks within walking distance
• Lord of the Flies mentality developing in children after six hours of closeness and no supervision (see "lots of wine")
• imagining every forest noise is a Jason-like axe murderer
• other people's horrific parenting on display

Look at that, more pros than cons. Plus the wine counts for two, so bonus! I guess I'll go again, but only where there are yurts and a nearby coffee shop. And lots of People magazines to share...and maybe a nanny.