Heading South

We're heading back to the old "home town" (how do you really know what your home town is when you've moved serveral times??). Going to Amarillo for the weekend to visit our neighbors. The hubby and our neighbor have a "Hurst Street Open" every year. It's a "golf tournament", complete with a traveling trophy (with a Coors Light can on it), that the guys from our old street have. I, of course, will be hanging out with my old neighbors, enjoying a few drinks and eating at a few favorite restaurants! Nancy is even arranging a "girls day", having a friend come over to do pedicures at the house for us and our daughters. Sounds relaxing....I'm ready!

Saftey First!

We drove an hour southwest last night for a double header. I had half the team with me...and my hubby wonders why I can't hear my cell phone ring with 5 girls and the radio blaring. Anyway.....we were at the top of the 3rd inning when the lightening started. We finished that half, then the umps called the game. It got nasty....we all stood in the dugout for a bit before running for the car. Never got rain (at that time, but drove thru it on the way home), but lightening and horrible winds. Last week a 13 year old girl in the Denver area was warming up for a game and was struck by lightening. She's in serious condition, last I heard. Thanks umps, for putting our kids' saftey first!

The Body Ball

About 3 months ago I purchased a body ball. You know, one of those "exercise balls" that are so popular now. I wanted to start working on my abs...especially my lower abs, what I call my "baby fat" (even tho my babies are almost 16 and 13). If there is one thing I really hate about my body (ok, there are really 2 things), it's my abs.
So far I haven't seen a change in my abs.....the darn ball hasn't done a thing. Do you suppose it would help if I took it out of the box and blew it up??

It's a Mom Thing (I guess)

Last night Ashley went to a concert with a bunch of her friends in Denver. We talked about how she'd get home past her curfew due to the concert not even starting until 9:00 and the hour or so drive it would take to get back home. Her dad and I were okay with that.
I went to bed at 10:30.....I tossed and turned, I kept looking at the clock. When it was finally about midnight, she called to let us know the concert was over and they were going to grab some food and head home. I tossed and turned some more....I thought of all the horrible things that could happen to a group of kids on the way home. I felt sick to my stomach. I listened to my husband snore and wonder how he could sleep. At 2:00 a.m. she walked in the door, let us know she was home and went to bed. I laid there, relieved she was home, safe and sound. Why couldn't I sleep? Once again, the hubby was snoring away. I'm not sure what time I fell asleep, I suppose once the knots left my stomach and I quit thinking of horrible things, afterall, she was upstairs in her room. I do have to say, 6:00 a.m. came awfully quick!
Do Mom's ever get over that feeling when their children go off with a bunch of their friends? Do dad's always just snore away? I guess my only consolation is that some day (far in the future I hope!), my kids will have kids of their own and they'll know what it feels like. Afterall, they think I'm a total idiot now!

Roughing It

We came home from a weekend of camping on Sunday afternoon. I know a lot of people who do not camp, they hate all that goes with camping. I have to say, we have a new 5th wheel and it wasn't like camping at all! It's not real camping when you have 2 TV's, a DVD/CD/radio with surround sound, two rocker recliner, a pull out sofa sleeper, enough cabinets in the whole thing that you can't remember where you put stuff, a shower you can actually move around in, a real, porcelain toilet and a California king sized bed! Plus A/C and heat if we need it.
We did however cook outside....no sense in camping if you don't cook hot dogs over an open fire or make s'mores.
We also took our boat with and headed to the lake for the day on Saturday. Our friends that went with us brought their jet skies. First time we've taken the boat out and never had a problem. It was a great day....nice and hot, out on the water having fun! I even drove Lori's jet ski.....and liked it!
My only problem with the weekend is that it went too fast. We all had a good time....well, except maybe the oldest daughter, who protests any type of family outing. I know she can't wait to graduate and get outta here to college. She has a couple years to wait on that, so she's better enjoy these family things while she can!
Anyone else been "roughing it" lately??

Dedicated Mom (that's me!)

This weekend Morgan had a softball tournament in Brighton....about an hours drive south from here. Eric had to go to NE for his uncles visitation, so I was the only adult, dragging 4 girls to a tournament. No biggie, I do that a lot. Two of Morgan's friends wanted to go, and of course her big sister, they thought we might be going camping, with all I packed in the Durango. Well, you have to have lawn chairs, coolers with water and food, blankets in case it gets cool, umbrellas in case of rain and I was the only smart one to bring an actual coat. Then of course there was Morgan's ball bag and my own "softball bag" with all the neccessities you need for a long day at the ball park.

The girls looked great their first game,which started at 12:30,....should have won it, but it ended up a tie. Morgan pitched the whole game, she did pretty darn good. Since the next game wasn't until 5:00, I ran to Wendy's and got a bunch of the girls some food, then we sat in the sun and enjoyed the day. The 2nd game was a bit hard. Morgan had to pitch again (since our other pitcher was OOT), and by the 2nd inning she was walking so many she got frustrated and had to step off the mound. They brought in Jill, who doesn't normally pitch, but wants to....she did fine, got us though the game. Morgan did redeem herself by catching a "shoe string". We lost, 8 to 5. The last game wasn't until 8:00. It rained before the game started, but it blew through pretty quickly. The girls were all reeved up to go again and Morgan pitched pretty well. We were ahead, then behind. Luckily we were the home team. At last bats, the other team walked one of our girls, then Beth hit a beauty to the outfield, bringing in Megan, and getting to 3rd. Morgan then hit another beauty, bringing in Beth and getting to 2nd. Jordan hit, bringing in Morgan and getting to 2nd herself, then Breanna wrapped up the game with a gorgeous hit to bring in Jordan for the winning run. What a way to end the evening!!!

Yesterday we drove all the way back to Brighton (left at 7:30 a.m.) for the end of the tournament....only to find out they decided to cancel it. Oh, I forgot to mention that it rained through the last inning of the game, and pretty much all night. It was raining on our way to the ball field. But the coach had called and they said it was still on. They were wrong. So about half the team went to Village Inn and ate, then we headed back home. All that ball playing (or driving anyway) exhausted me (did I mention we didn't get home Sat. until 11:00 and I stayed up to wash Morgan's uniform??), and I took a 3 hour nap!

I just hope when Morgan grows up, she'll remember these times and say "thanks Mom...you're the best!" Is that too much to ask?

Nutt'n much

I seriously need a life. I seem to just live through my kids, and it's much worse in the summer. Not that it's a bad thing, but some days, the only people I speak to are teens.
We bought the oldest a car. She still doesn't have her license yet (19th of next month!), so even though she's driving me around, I still have to go with her.
The youngest has decided to sign up for everything this summer. An enrichment program at school, volleyball camps (3 so far), jr. golf at the country club and softball. I can't keep up, she makes me tired.
The only time I've talked to adults lately is at work. Here I am, preaching to them about losing weight, and all the resources we have to do so, then I go to Dairy Queen and get a peacan mudslide. Sheesh, how backwards is that!?! I need something new and exciting in my life to get me wanting to have fun again, I just haven't figured out what that is yet! Maybe clothes?? Mine seem to be a bit snug. Grrrrrrr!

Who's Tired?

Ashley wouldn't get up and go work out with me this morning. Claimed she was too tired. Geez, what a baby.
Wednesday night I barely got any sleep, Maggie paced constantly, her nails clicking on the wood floors. Come to find out, she wasn't feeling well. Chester growled and barked off and on, until about midnight, something must have been moving outside (maybe a raccoon or something). I got up at midnight to let Maggie out. She's got arthritis and hip dysplacia, so she takes a minute to get back into the house, Chester ran out the door while I was waiting on her and disappeared into the night. So I'm outside in my pj's trying to find him. I had to work Thursday, and we looked at cars and so on and so forth, so I never had time for a nap or anything. Last night Chester slept, thankfully. I did take him to work with me, figured he wasn't staying home and sleeping all day if I couldn't. But Maggie must have still not been feeling well....she paced again. Ashley woke me up at 11:45 when she got home (she's supposed to), I got up about 1:00 and let Maggie out (and Chester, on his tie out), also cleaned up her accident (didn't get up soon enough I guess), Morgan got home from babysitting at 2:45, so she woke me to let me know she was home, got up again at 3:00 and let Maggie out, and again at 6:00 to let her out. Just as I climbed back in bed, Libbie starts scratching at the basement door, she wants out, so I let her out and put her outside, then go back to bed and tell Eric to let them in when he leaves for work. I put the baby gate up in our doorway so Libbie doesn't try to get in bed with me, so what does *she* do??? Sits by the gate and whines. UGH! Then they all started barking at something. I finally got up at 7:15. And Ashley tells me she's too tired to work out? Ha! I'm taking a nap this afternoon, and NO ONE (or no dog) better mess with me!