Best Mother's Day Yet!

I had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. Our neighbors called early Saturday afternoon and offered us 2 Indians tickets for Matt and John to go to the game. We accepted. Later Matt came to me and said why don't you go? I said oh alright. I wasn't sure about going because the weather was wet and on the cool side. I packed up a bunch of warm clothes for us to wear. We didn't tell John until I was just about ready to leave. He was super excited. We had the best time. We kept score and stayed until the top of the 8th inning. I know I shouldn't be but I was shocked at the prices of drinks and food there. We bought a $5 Gatorade which we enjoyed greatly. Since John hasn't had any pop this was great.

On Sunday I got McDonald's for Matt and I for breakfast. At nap time I worked with John and James at catching and throwing the ball. John was doing really great at throwing and wasn't bad at catching although he was very nervous about getting one in the eye. James did good for a little guy. He would have issues throwing it straight when he had a big wind up. James had t-ball practice in the evening. The coach had roses for each of the players to give to their moms. It was really sweet.

We have been running so much and I've been staying up later than normal because of the Cavs and its finally catching up with us. My patience is on a low level and now I know why - I have a cold. It started yesterday as a scratchy throat that just didn't go away. John woke up fevered - I don't know the exact number because I couldn't find the thermometer but I knew he was warm and he was up super early. After he had some Tylenol he went back to sleep. His appetite is a little off too. I gave him some Motrin around noon to help with his headache and achy body. I hope this cold goes away as fast as it came. James is finishing up antibiotics for his stye so hopefully that will keep him from getting it. Tommy is still teething so I expect him to get it. I'm not sure about Patrick. So today was dealt with how to entertain everyone when we can't go anywhere. We did a craft project which the boys helped a little but I did most of the work. I then found some balloons and blew them up. That is fun except Tommy is trying to bite it.

Funny story - that happened to Matt and not me. John was talking about Babe Ruth. He is in the Backyard Baseball game and that is all John ever plays now. Matt said John you know he is Catholic. John was suprised. He then went on to tell Matt how he is not Catholic anymore. He explained last year he went to St. Mary Magdalene but now he goes to Royalview.

Oh the fun I have

Yesterday was a great day with the kids. We worked on a little craft project for Mother's Day for Matt's mom and had a blast playing outside. It was fun and hectic in the afternoon getting through dinner, watching LBJ accept his MVP award and then getting dressed for soccer and taking John to baseball practice. John had a great scrimmage offensively. He had a double and an infield single. Defensively he forgot a few things when playing shortstop and third base but he had a great time. The soccer game was pretty good. John scored 2 goals and James showed up. On Sunday a stye started forming on James right eye again. So between that hurting when he blinks and being sleepy because the game started at 7pm he wandered on the field until the ball would almost hit him and then he would kick it. One time he wasn't paying attention when they were throwing the ball in and he got hit in the eye - the one that has the stye.

Today I decided to take him to the doctors. The good news is we got an antibiotic. The doctor suggested if he continues to get them to take him to the eye doctor. He said it could be like a blocked tear duct that might need opened. Problem is I can't remember which eye he has been getting them in. So then we dropped off his prescription and I found out that Tommy was napping. So we stopped at home so I could get Patrick and Tommy's milk cups. We then went to the school so I could vote then off to Wendy's for lunch. I was brave enough to have everyone eat in the restaurant instead of getting it to go. Lunch went well until I realized the helpful Patrick throwing everything else decided to include his sippy cup. I have more cups so I wasn't about to fish it out. We came home and then went outside. That is when I pulled out the receipt from the post office. We mailed my mom's mother's day card / package. I saw on the receipt the zip code was for my Grandmother's town and not my mom's. Luckily I was able to call the post office and get it corrected. We played outside until nap time. Patrick was disappointed he didn't get to watch his shows but they had fun.

Yesterday's good news was I got my resume up to date so when I go back out in the workforce I'm good to go. I talked with the company Pfizer set me up with for over an hour on my cell phone. I then checked to see how close I was to using up my minutes - not very close but I'm over on my text messages. I told Matt text messages are cheaper than cell phone minutes. I know why I went over - I signed up for Cavs notices and they were texting me a ton of times so I stopped that.

I'm pretty beat. I hope we don't have the make up soccer game - the coach was unsure and was to call us. Its 3:23pm - no call yet. Got to love the unorganized.

The kids are redecorating

This week has been filled with crayons coloring my walls and wall paper border being ripped off the wall. If that doesn't make you want to scream when Tommy is excited he screams and it is so piercing. Ahhhh!

We are about to enter a busy busy week. We have some sort of sport activity every night unless rain cancels it.

Being team mom pays off. Last night at the Reverse Raffle I won the basket I put together for the team! We had a really good time. It was a new experience as I never went to one of those before. Its like going to big lottery scratch off party when they are calling the numbers.

Tommy is in the mix of everything. He is really climbing furniture and if he can't do it he sure tries too. He is climbing up on the chairs in the kitchen so food left on the table is no longer safe. I'm sure if I left my cooked pizza crusts he would bite into those like Patrick did.

John is totally addicted to Wii and backyard baseball. His teacher has been having the class write a sentence and draw a picture almost weekly. 2 out of the last 3 weeks have been about Wii. Good thing the kid works up a sweat when he plays!

In our weekly trip to Target we also had our trip to the bathroom. Patrick instigated this trip. James then decided he had to go too. James is in one stall and I'm in the other with Patrick. James ends up locking himself in the stall and crawls out underneath. Luckily I got the door unlocked with my key.

James had a fun week with unlocking and locking doors. Besides Target, he unlocked my front screen door when the other boys and I were in the backyard playing and ran around to the back. Then yesterday he shut our big back door on the porch and locked it. Luckily we have a spare key hidden on the porch.

We made it to Friday!

Well this was a pretty good week. The kids were good at times and they were kids at times.

The Pokemon Mystery-
One of John's friends gave him Pokemon cards awhile ago. Then this week another friend and John traded Pokemon cards. Well on Tuesday I was looking at them and then my sister in law came to watch the kids so I could go to the dentist. The next day John was looking for his cards. I plead ignorant and say I don't know what you did with him. We looked all week but couldn't find them. Fast forward to today - laundry day. The wash just finished the permanent press clothes and I found the Pokemon cards. Apparently I put them in my jeans pocket for safe keeping. Oops. The funny thing was I was feeling kind of guilty about not finding them but then I saw they cost $3.99 a pack at Target! It is $15 a case - which I think is a way better deal but I was thinking there was no way I was going to buy them just because. Now I might have to purchase a case and hide some of the packets and give them out as rewards.

Team Mom -
For some reason I felt guilty and sorry for the coach that no one had stepped up to be team mom for John's baseball team so I volunteered. I also came up with the idea of the teams basket for the raffle. I thought we could take advantage of the Lake County Captains 4 for $44 ticket deal and this year you can purchase parking in the gold lot right outside the stadium. The coach loved the idea. I have a connection is the Captains that could get me the tickets for free if I write a note. Now my dilemma is do I get the free tickets and then use the money for Captains cash to spend at the game or just get the $5 per family and buy the tickets and parking. I'm still thinking.

James was player of the game at soccer last night! He was so cute when the coach announced it was him he put his fist in his air and waved it a little. It was so cute! I wish I could have got a picture of it. The coach forgot the certificate but hopefully he will remember on Saturday at our next game.

John was warming up playing catch with the head coach's son. Apparently a ball went off of John's glove and it hit him in the eye. I wasn't watching at this point and was like oh dear. My sister and another mom said they would watch the boys so I could check on John. I was a little afraid because I don't want to be overprotective - like if you kid is on the football field and takes a big hit. I reluctantly went on the field but me just talking to him helped calm him down. He then was a little gun shy about any ball thrown or coming towards him. I told him its ok its part of the game. Right now his eye isn't too bruised when you look at it but he says and I believe him that it hurts if he squints to hard.

Ok I just wrote the letter and emailed it to my friend with the Captains. I think I will just give everyone's money back, put $5 in the basket for parking and then I'm only out $7.30 for the basket and ribbon. I know it may help a lot of families who's budget is tight like ours. Speaking of the basket - Pat Catan's was the last stop on our tour of errands this morning. So I found a cute little red, white and blue basket, styrofoam filler, a special made baseball ribbon to tie on the basket and plastic thingys to hold the tickets. So there was a line about 3 or 4 people and I was going to be last in line when the one worker said I can take the next person in line. I hurriedly made James move so I could turn the stroller around and get to the service counter. There was another lady coming over too as she was just ahead of me in the other line. She was a bit shocked that I went in front of her - she even said "that lady cut in front of me". I said a prayer of thanks for her letting me cut in line. I had to get out of that store I was waiting for James to say "I have to pee" and Patrick was already saying that. It was almost 10:30 and we needed to get home to get lunch on the table. For the record she was older (senior citizen) and I'm thinking she didn't have a tight schedule like me.

Poor Tommy fell while we were waiting for the bus. At first when he fell I thought he scraped his knee a bit. So I was comforting him and he continued to cry on my shoulder. Then I pulled him back and realized he was bleeding from his nose. After I got that all cleaned up he looks like he lost a boxing match. His nose is scratched up and so is his upper lip.

Ok the Pokemon free laundry is done in the dryer - time to skiddaddle!

The week begins

Today is the first day of what I'm sure at times will feel like a long week. Matt is out of town on business. The good news is that tomorrow I will have a little break as I have to sign John and James up for swimming lessons and in the evening I have a dentist appointment so I have help at those times. I think Wednesday we will get tickets for the Captains game on Friday. I would do it tomorrow but I lost James' Lil Skipper club card and they are mailing me another one so I'm guessing I'll get it in tomorrow's mail. Thursday will be quite interesting - John has baseball practice at 5:30 and then he and James have a soccer game at 7pm. I'm hoping a milk jug will work in the van as a urine collector should James have to go potty at the baseball practice. I have a little potty but this could be less messy. It was suggested that I use an Aunt Jemima bottle but I don't have an empty one of those yet.

I have the kids fed and bathed. Now we have to wait for 7pm - I have to drop off raffle tickets for the baseball league. They are looking for a "team mom" for our baseball team. I'm sure I could do it but they are having a cookie dough sale and a Chinese auction basket each team has to provide for a fundraising event. I'm nervous that I would have to pick up everyone's dough and with the kids that is tough especially if Matt has to go out of town again. I'm not looking forward to hauling the kids out just so we can drop off 5 tickets and money.

The kids are watching Sandlot. The kids in the movie swear here and there. We just watched the one part where the kids says "Oh shit". Luckily John says "Oh shoot" when repeating this line.

At church this weekend James let one rip to which he exclaimed "that's my gas!" He was not whispering this announcement either. I thought it was hilarious.

Tommy is mad at me because I took a crayon away from him. Patrick has really enjoyed coloring lately. I think it has to do with James' class we go to on Wednesdays. Tommy doesn't mind coloring either but he also like to teeth on it as well.

Matt recently found out our local pizza joint is on Twitter. They have specials that they announce or twitter. I have been on the fence about joining Twitter because I really don't have the need but now I'm interested in seeing what their deals are.

Easter Fun!

We had a great Easter. Late Thursday morning my parents arrived. I was so tired that I was hoping they were coming earlier in the morning when they did. I survived the morning by taking the kids to Target and doing everything possible to keep theirs and my mind off our company's arrival. It was such a nice day on Thursday everyone went to Paige's soccer game. All the kids had fun. Matt and I were able to sneak away after the game to go sign our taxes which is right up the street from the soccer field. Friday my mom and I did my grocery shopping for the week. It was busy and going ok - then we ran into a lady she used to work with at the Library and talked for over a half an hour. By the time we got to Aldi's it was super busy. We colored eggs before lunch. I should have used the vinegar/water combo but I really can't stand the smell and I didn't want Patrick to drink it like John did his first year of coloring eggs. Needless to say the egg color look just alright using water only. After lunch my mom and I headed back out to BJ's so I could get the month supply of diaper needs. After nap time it was the Indians Home Opener! My parents went to Good Friday Services then over to my sisters. We ordered pizza. Nothing like being regulars where they are probably punching in my order before I have even finished telling them what I want. I placed my order and then received a call back from the girl who took my order. She said the guys in the kitchen say you usually want your order for 5:30. I said yes that is true but today I do not have to go to church. Matt thought that was funny but made me feel embarrassed at the same time. Maybe I should start having him call in the order. After dinner and baths I had the kids put stickers on the eggs to make them a little prettier. It didn't help much! On Saturday morning we went over to my sisters for an Easter Egg hunt and brunch. The kids had a really good time despite the cold. James enjoyed being one of the "big" kids as he was allowed to be in Cater's room and play with the "little legos". We came home and napped and prepared for our Easter feast. It was basically heat and serve so it was pretty low key. Everyone seemed to have their fill. The boys then enjoyed Grandma giving them a bath. Easter morning came and it worked out that John James and Patrick came downstairs at the same time. We were able to have them all use the bathroom and enter the kitchen together. They enjoyed the toys and candy that the Easter Bunny left. Church was long - we arrived around 9 (it was 9:30 mass) so we could get a seat and then by the time we got in the car it was 10:40! We stopped by Grandma and Grandpa Keough's to have a quick visit. It turned out quicker than we thought because the kids were antsy about getting home and getting more sugar and I was thinking lunch. My parents came home from Lori's left just before 1pm. Then I spent the afternoon relaxing, getting the boys sheets changed and everything back to normal.

I'm trying to keep Spring Break fun and exciting. Hopefully the weather weather will cooperate. Today we had to take Patrick to the doctors. He has had a stye for a few days and when I looked at it this morning it looked like it was turning into a pimple like James had. When I pulled back his bottom eyelid I saw something black on the other side of his stye. The doctor said it was probably a blood blister that formed from Patrick rubbing his eyes. He gave me a prescription for eyedrops. We dropped the prescription off and headed to the mall. We did our normal play, shop, eat, play routine. On the way home James said he had to go to the bathroom. I was going to take them before we went home but I was ready to leave. I used my extra potty chair that I have in the trunk of the van and lined it with old diapers so he could go. He did his business in the back of Walgreens parking lot in the van. We picked up our prescription and home we came! The best part was the garbage truck hadn't come to our house yet so I was able to ditch the very wet diapers in the trash can.

Tomorrow I might go to the zoo or the Farmpark - we will have to see. Wednesday James has school at 10am so we'll have to figure something out for before and after. Thursday my friend from high school is coming over with her childeren. She has a son who is 4 and a daughter who is 4 months old. She is going to have her 3rd child near the end of November. On Friday - the best weather day of the week I'm not sure what we'll do. I have to meet my virtual boss at 1pm in Mayfield so we are kind of limited to staying close to home. It would be neat if we could go to our first Captains game on Wednesday night - if only the weather will cooperate.

John's Birthday (and the mystery party)

I think John had a good day today. We started the celebration last night with cake in case John and James had a soccer game but the weather was bad enough that it was canceled. John was cute last night letting me know where to put all the presents like it was Christmas or something. He also was telling me how early he was going to wake up. I highly encouraged him to sleep in so he could have an enjoyable day without being too tired. James and Tommy were up at 5:30 and John soon there after. John was very happy about his Wii game, Backyard Baseball. He let me play it - I guess so he could see how you play it. I was awful and he caught on very quickly with the help of a few pointers from me reading the manual.

Tonight we had more cake and he wanted to play more of the Wii game. So I sent the kids down with Matt so I could clean up all the cake crumbs. Tommy was having separation issues so after I vacuumed I took a quick shower. While I was in there the boy down the street knocked on the door with his mother asking what time she should pick him up. Apparently John was talking about celebrating his birthday today while at the bus stop and this is where it gets gray - either John invited him over at 7 or the kid invited himself over - which he has done before. The other boy who waits for the bus didn't come over so who the heck knows what happened. The boy brought John a gift. I feel so bad the mother went out to get him a gift. I called to apologize for the misunderstanding. She said she was surprised that I didn't say anything to her but thought maybe now the kids are getting older that John wanted to do the inviting. I told her if we are having a party we would be sure to send out invitations. We instructed John if anyone asks if he is having a party it is ok to say with my family or I have to ask my mom. This is when my saying comes in "sometimes you just have to laugh" although its tough because I'm embarrassed.