YAY

     I talked to Elmer this morning.  He calls me "memaw".  So, I said - "memaw loves you" .  And he said "memaw wuvs me".  Well, he has that right.  Ruth called me to confirm the exchange for this weekend.  He was in a good mood and willing to talk.  With him- it's always hit and miss.  Sometimes he'll chat your ear off and sometimes he won't even take the phone.  I got lucky today.  2 more days and that little boy will be in his daddy's my arms.  Ok, so daddy will get him first.  He's going with me this trip to get the sweet boy.  All he's been able to talk about for days is missing the baby.  We went and got him a bike for Christmas.  A big boy bike.  Ok, it's not really "big" because he's not that tall yet but it is one of the 12 inch 2 wheelers with training wheels.  He peels out with his tricycle all the time.  And he really loves to take "walks" with his bike.  We walk - he rides.  I got Halloween cake mix and we'll bake some cupcakes while he's here this time.  I really should find my Halloween decorations and get them up before he comes huh?  Eh, maybe next year.  Most of them are breakable and I don't know as I want them in pieces.  ; )  We'll do something with him Halloweeny....(yeah, so it's not a word but y'all know what I meant).  Do I sound like a total doting grandma?  I am!  I miss him when he's not here.  He's little arms hugging on me and the way he climbs on my lap when he gets tired to snuggle.  


     In other good news.... Hurricane got a job and found a trailer.  He's going to put a small trailer on the property down at his address (we have 3 addresses for the property).  He was down there yesterday cleaning up a bit and starting to rake stuff up.  There's a lady that has a pull behind trailer for $500.  H went to look at it and it was in good structural shape.  He said he would have had to clean it - his actual words were "lots of bleach mom" and replace the carpet but like I told him - a carpet remnant from like Home Depot or Lowes and he could have gotten new carpet for it at a good price.  Anyhow, we're looking into things like that and then he's going to start building a house on his little piece of property.  Or he'll buy a modular and put it up.  I'm fairly excited by this turn of events too if you can't tell.  Having him close enough to visit but not living with me.  


     Well, back to my game.  My Rangers game is on and I'm an addict.  I totally admit it. 2 hour and 13 minute delay for rain tonight.  This is the 4th game of the series and 3 of them have been affected by rain.  Almost a 2 hour rain delay in game one.  Game 2 postponed due to expected weather.  And now tonight.  The Rangers choked in a large way last night.  Tonight's game is in the 10th inning and tied up. Game 2 went into extra innings before Nelson Cruz hit a walk off home run in the bottom of the 11th.  This game is going into extra innings too so I've got to be eyes glued to the tv.  Sorry folks.  Hope everyone has a great night!  

parenting choices

     Things with Elmer are going fairly smoothly since mediation.  We had him for 18 days in Sept.  That may be a first.  She is working well with IC.  To help matters out, Ice Cube got a new job that doesn't pay tips.  His child support will come straight out of his check every week and go straight to her card.  In TX, you can get what is basically a debit card and have your support put right to it.  His child support is really reasonable and he has no reason why he can't keep it current or paid in advance.  He knows how it is to grow up in a household where there is no dad and no support.  I am so very proud of him for stepping up and not acting like his sperm donor.  He is a parent.  And I'm glad that she's letting him be a parent. I don't know what they'll do in a couple of years when he starts kindergarten but for now, all is well.  4 AM came really really early this morning when IC had to get up and start his new job.  I wait at home like an over-anxious mother hen worrying about how it's going, if he likes it, etc...  The boys got clearance from Vix and Cal to put a house in another spot on the property.  Not sure which one will be the first to get the money/financing together to take the spot that already has electrical and water run to it but it's in a race now.  ; ) Hurricane thinks that he'll be the first one to do it.  Personally, I'd like to see all of them settle down close.  That way they can stay as close as they are now and their kids will grow up with the sense of family that my kids lost in the divorce.  


    My kids don't know most of their cousins.  Well, they don't know any of the cousins from SD's mom's daughters.  One of SD's sisters on his mom's side has 4 kids.  The other has 3.  7 cousins that the kids only know even the names of maybe 2 or 3.  They haven't seen these kids in more years than they can remember and they're not really fond of the 2 from that side that they do know.  The younger of the 2 is 13 and has already been arrested multiple times.  Now, my kids aren't angels.  They're not perfect by any stretch of the imagination.  They're inventive and they've found their fair share of trouble.  But at 13, their only worries were girls, sports, and not being bored.  And avoiding boredom didn't mean committing various misdemeanors and felonies or running the streets till 4 AM.  


     But what's more important is that we have the chance to change that with this generation.  My grandchildren can grow up together.  They can be close and go to school together.  They can have the closeness with their cousins that my kids never got to have.  Wishful thinking?  Maybe.  But even old people are allowed to dream.  I've spent the last 13 years trying to break cycles.   Cycles of neglect and abandonment.  SD was abandoned and neglected by his so-called father, and he did his kids the same way.  Ice Cube is breaking that cycle and I have faith that the rest of the boys will follow that with their children too.  Unfortunately, Tara married a man who parents or rather doesn't parent like her daddy.  So, I failed there.  But I think the boys are making better choices.   Or I hope so at least.  


     Well, off here to clean and get things done.  Elmer comes back in a few weeks.  More time with our sweet boy.  On another pleasant note, I've been on the phone with my mom 3 times so far today planning her visit.  Or trying to.  Trying to coordinate between her schedule, plan tickets, Ruth's schedule and financial obligations. Y'all think good thoughts for me please.  This might be an interesting time trying to pull this off.  Hope everyone has a great day!

the calm

     before the storm.  I feel like things are just going too well.  The boys have been getting along.  Hurricane was able to drop everything to help his brother out when the bike broke down.  B has been working out on his pitching at night and either Ice Cube or Little Man have taken time to go help him.  They've hung out, watched movies together and played video games together.  No bickering, no nit picking, no talking smack about each other's women. 


     Well, I got that sentence typed before the tides began to change.  I went to the school to drop B up some lunch.  I guess IC got a call from Ruth.  Seems that her car payment is past due and she was calling him for help with it.  Either she takes the bank x amount of dollars by today or they repo her car.  Places don't like to take cars back.  So I think someone should probably call them and help her out.  Seriously, she made a double payment less than a week ago.  She can make another one in less than 2 weeks and be caught up.  They will usually work with you under those circumstances.  And her mom- the one that said "move to Austin, I'll buy you this and give you that and you won't have to work because I'll pay all your bills" - yeah.  Told her "tough"  Of course it took longer than I predicted before her mom threw her to the wolves but it happened.  That poor child has jumped thru hoops for years trying to live up to her mom's always changing standards.  Can you tell that I'm not a big fan of her mom?  Never have been.  I've watched her cry over stuff her mom has/hasn't done way too many times.  


    Additionally, I blew a belt in a tire on the way home.  Lovely.  I've been on the phone looking for a tire.  Finding one is easy.  Finding one I can afford- not so easy.  Oh and for those who might wonder, I took B left-overs from dinner last night for lunch.  We had sloppy joes so I made him a couple and wrapped them in foil and took them up there.  Not as healthy as I normally like but it's running towards the end of the month and I'm running low on some of my standard lunch stuff.  


     Well, glad I had a couple of days of peace before the clouds came back.  It's those times of peace that fortify us for the stormy days that come.  So today's advice to you:  Hold tight to those perfect moments.  No matter how small that time might be- grab it and treasure it and hang on for dear life.  You never know when the next storm or tragedy might be.  I have some good memories of times with Tara.  I take them out and remember what used to be.  The walks, the jamming to music in the car, talks we had.  All times that won't come back. Times that I won't have a chance to repeat.  She's taken her life down a different path and it's not one that we could travel together.  I hold tight to those times that we had.  And I do it with the boys too.  Because nothing in life is guaranteed.  You never know when something might happen.  It could be a fight with your teen (and believe me - those come with predictable regularity) and they're not being very loving or actually downright hateful.  You'll have that trip to the store when they gave you the gossip to remember that you're not always the hated bad guy.  Or the movie night when they were leaning up against your chair and just spending time with you to help you remember that you're not always going to be avoided like an english essay.  Or God forbid, you could lose someone important to you - those memories might be all you have to hold on to.  Nanny and I figured it out with the house.  Yesterday was the twins real birthday.  And I asked her how she was.  She said (and this is a sentiment that I have firmly believed in for years) "I didn't get any housework done this evening cause the twins were here.  I figure I can enjoy them while they're here and ignore the house or I can try to clean while they're here and be mad the whole time.  I'll clean up after they leave."  I clean while the kids are playing/in school/ at work (now)/ or busy doing their own thing.  And admittedly, it's easier to take this stance now that they're older and gone to school.  And for me- because I'm a SAHM.  But it was my motto during summers when the kids were home too.  They'd go out to play and I'd run thru the house cleaning like a mad woman.  I have a girlfriend that always stacks her dinner dishes in the sink after dinner and does them in the mornings.  She said - after dinner is my time to enjoy my husband and kids.  I'll do the dishes after they go to bed or in the morning.  Her kids are all gone to college now.  She has plenty of time to do the dishes now.  


    Hope y'all have a great day!

a view from the other side

     A friend of mine sent me an email this morning directing me to a couple of sites.  One written by a bio-mom, the other written in response and disputing the posts by a bonus mom.  My friend commented that they were so vastly different that she didn't know which to believe.  Here's the thing- the "truth" is probably somewhere in the middle.  But then I started thinking about how my ex, SD, would write about things like our divorce and what's happened....  Having read his fb posts and emails over the years I thought it would be interesting to write a post from his view point.  One which is vastly different than mine.  In the interest of y'all being able to actually read said post- I'll put his views in actual sentences with capital letters and punctuation and leave out some of the vulgarity that is so prevalent in his writings...

     My marriage sucked.  All she cared about was the kids. She never wanted to go to the bar with me and all she ever did was complain about my drinking.  I was gone over-the-road for weeks at a time.  A man has to have a chance to unwind when he comes home from a couple of hard weeks work right?  But nooooo - all she wanted to do was harp on me about spending time with the kids.  Hey, I told her that if she wanted to go out with me to find herself a babysitter.  What else did she want?  So, who's fault was it when I found myself a more understanding woman?  Hers - right?  It sucks that I was having some fun in my truck with my married co-worker when the wife and kids stopped by but hey - that's life right?  I told her that Dawn  was going to leave her husband of the last month and I was going to go home with Dawn instead of her and the kids.  She must not have cared.  She told me that she was going to go ahead with the plans to move to TX with the kids.  Worked for me.  We went down to the attorney's office a few days later and I signed off on the papers for her to take the kids and leave state.  I agreed to pay a ridiculous amount of child support but Dawn soon talked me out of sending so much of our money to her.  

     Amy moved to TX on August 3rd early in the morning.  By that afternoon, Dawn and her kids were moved in and we were living as one big happy family.  I called Amy a few times for the road but that witch called Dawn and told her that I was calling her and it caused a huge fight between Dawn and I.  I quit doing that - it wasn't worth it.  I kept meaning to call the kids but life was so busy when I'd be home off the road.  Dawn didn't like me to make runs by myself so she came with me a lot.  Dawn did send the kids $15 each and a card for Christmas.  I told her just to go ahead and sign all our names on it.  I didn't think anyone would care since Amy had always signed all the cards to the kids in the past.  I just can't figure out why the kids disliked Dawn so much.  I tried to call the kids a few days after Christmas to see if they got my card and money.  They were nasty and rude!  No respect what-so-ever.  They had no right to treat me that way.  I know I hadn't talked to them since August but I was busy.  It's only been a few months.  

     Since the kids never called me back after Christmas, Dawn and I filed suit for visitation in June.  Amy is so unreasonable!  She wanted to know where I was going to put the kids and her attorney asked how I would transport them?  There's only 5 of them plus Dawn's 2.  We have a pick-up.  The kids can ride in back.  I really didn't think Amy would show up for court but she did.  She only brought 3 of the kids to town with her and she's totally turned my kids against me.  They keep asking me why I didn't invite them to my wedding and why I haven't called.  I didn't invite them because Amy wouldn't have let them come.  Well, no- I didn't ask her about it.  I don't want to talk to the witch!  Tara was pretty upset that Dawns kids were in the wedding and she wasn't even invited.  I told her to get over it.  It's over and done with now.  Hurricane is more mad that we took a cruise without them.  I wish Dawn wouldn't have told my kids about the cruise!  All it did was get the kids mouthing off.  B is too much of a mama's boy.  All he does it whine.  I took them to the game room, gave him 50 cents and he threw a temper tantrum over not getting more money.  I told him enough was enough and picked him up and whipped his tail.  Amy has obviously spoiled them.  When I whipped that tail, both Tara and Hurricane got disrespectful with me and my wife.  I don't have to take that from those kids.  I told Amy just take them.  I have phone visitation, I'll talk to them later after they've had a chance to calm down.  They were so rude, they didn't even call me before they got back on the plane.  

    Phone visits didn't go well.  The kids were distracted and didn't talk much.  They were rude and refused to talk to Dawn or my step-kids.  At different times both of the older kids were so disrespectful, I just hung up on them.  After a while, I just quit calling.  Amy finally sent me a letter telling me that the kids weren't going to "wait on my calls anymore".  I don't know what she's making a big deal about.  If I call- I do.  If I don't - it's not like they talked much anyhow.  Things went along quietly for the next few years.  I kept waiting on the kids to call me but by now, Amy has alienated them to the point that they hate me.  I was a great dad.  She's turned my kids against me. I thought they would come looking for me after they turned 18, but all of them but the youngest is 18 now and none of them has come around.  My only contact with them has been via my fb page and they were so disrespectful that I blocked them.  They actually accused me of not caring - of not being there for them.  The 3 older boys were all nasty and told me to quit talking about their mom.  I can't help it she's a b*tch and has turned my kids against me.  If they weren't so brainwashed they'd be able to see the truth.  I ended up blocking them all and telling them that I was done with them.  She's ruined my relationship with my kids.  Amy brainwashed them and turned them against me.  I love my kids though and I'll always love them.

    Here are a few of his fb posts to show how he thinks.....

tired of dealing with brain wash ppl,try to talk but u get others button n n dont know shit but what there told,n than lies added,wtf s going on with folks everyone turning into drama queens guess its the life ppl like well final thought let em live it but keep to urselfs,noone wants to b part of it

well if they had a mother with a brain they wouldnt b the way they r

 it just sucks for me cause i do love my kids n would love to be part of their lifes but their brain washed from their mother

     It really does come down to how you look at it.  He doesn't see his drug charges as a problem.  He doesn't think that not calling for years at a time as having any effect on his relationship with his kids.  He didn't think that the kids catching him in bed with his married co-worker was an issue.  It's all in how you look at it.  Funny how that works isn't it? And when the kids tried to talk to him online about why he didn't call or use his visitation or whatever, he blocked them.  And that's the way it's stood since March.  No word - no attempts at contact.  He crawled back under his rock and forgot that they existed yet again. Well, except when he gets drunk (which is frequently) and then it's more drunken whining about pity poor him.  He just can't figure out why they get upset when he doesn't call more than every 5-7 years.  I can't figure it out either- can you?  

the weekend

     So did y'all have a good weekend?   We were out of reach all weekend.  We went out to a friend's house both days and there is no cell service out there at all. Funny - they have DSL but no cell.  I have great cell service but no decent internet.  My cell phone (minus 3G) gets better net than what you get from Hughesnet.  If anyone ever sees a commercial for that - laugh.  Dial up might be faster.  I'm really tempted to get dial up for a month just to see.  


     I got out of here this weekend.  It was just too quiet here once Elmer went to mom's.  Luckily, there was a family (adopted family at least) get together at Colby's aunt and uncle's house.  We had a bunch of family and friends over there. A big spaghetti dinner on Saturday and everyone went to church and then for a cookout yesterday.  The kids rode 4 wheelers, shot pool, jumped on the trampoline and just hung out.  We watched the Rangers play and some assorted stupid football games.  Aunt and Uncle are certified officers of the court and ex-cops who have a no nonsense way of addressing things with the kids but are so much fun to hang around, that the kids all love to hang with them.  The twins were in heaven chasing after the big kids all weekend.  And the big kids were good with the twins.  They did a twin/teen pair up for pool games.  They let the twins play games on their cell phones (didn't have to worry about the twins making calls since there's no cell service out there).  Uncle even went out and threw with B for a bit.  


     It was not only a good distraction.  It was a good renewing experience.  I needed the chance to sit and renew.  A chance to not have people blowing my phone up needing me all weekend.  A break from cleaning house (although I'm paying for that today).  Elmer would have loved being with us this weekend.  He would have loved all the people and running with the kids.  


    Yesterday.... what a day.  Who of us doesn't remember where we were when we heard the news.  Nanny asked B if he remembered.  He said either at school or at basketball.  He was in school.  I was volunteering in his class that day.  He, Little Man and Ice Cube were all in elementary school.  Another teacher called his teacher out into the hall.  The news spread like wildfire.  And I pulled mine out of school and we went home and stayed glued to the tv.  I grabbed the kids from the elementary - my 3 and my neighbors 2.  She went to the high school and grabbed the older 3 (my 2 and her oldest).  Those days of doubt.  Of worrying.  Her hubby works for a defense contractor (well, ex-hubby now).  The worry of an attack on his facility was something that was of major concern.  We, as a nation, prayed together.  We bonded together.  We came together as one. We appreciated our families and told people that we loved them.  And yesterday, I spent the day with my boys remembering that no matter how they irk me sometimes - I love them deeply.  And that won't change.  Ever....


   (As for B thinking he might have been at a basketball game on 9/11 - he was playing basketball when the space shuttle crashed over TX.  The crash rattled the building he was playing in....)


Hope y'all have a great week!

I will never buy another Ford

     So, Ford took most of the money I had left today.  And then they tried to milk more money out of me.  The manager sent me a very scary email telling me that he had taken pictures of the damage to the front end, wheels, and bad tire and that my car was unsafe to drive.  I couldn't open the pictures on my phone so I started freaking.  I didn't know what he might have found that was wrong under there.  So, I called.  And the 'lets milk you for more money if we can sucker you out of it jerk' supervisor told me that he found some problems with my car.  So I asked what they were. (my thoughts that I was smart polite enough not to say in the black)   And he said that he had found some things that made my car unsafe to drive.  And my heart stopped.  And I asked what.  And the first thing he told me was that my radiator support was bent.  Huh?  Was he serious?  Ok.  So, I told him  that I knew that.  And asked him what else he found.  And he told me that I was missing a dust boot.  WTH? My mechanic told me that and it's not a "safety hazard"   I told him that I knew that too.  It's a dust boot idiot.  And the 3rd thing he found?  I had a bad tire.  I knew that too and let him know that I already knew it.  My next stop was getting it replaced. Now of course he tried the hard sell with me.  He couldn't "in good conscience" let me drive out of there with my car in such "unsafe" shape.  Yeah, I drove a block over and did what I had intended in the first place.  I put a new tire on the car.  ooooohhhhhhh.  Hard wasn't it.  And it only cost me $83 instead of the $156 that Ford wanted.  And the I stopped by the mechanics and talked to him about the other stuff.  The radiator bracket- it's on there.  It's holding the radiator up.  The bend - not that bad.  It's still doing it's job.  The dust cover?  Yeah - it needs to be replaced.  Will it cause my car to fall apart or wreck?  Nope.  Is it a safety hazard?  Nope.  Just something that should be done.  That is why I hate dealerships.  They try to milk more money out of you.  The fuel pump?  I was quoted 345 for the fuel pump in november.  The same fuel pump is now 387.  So I asked.  Is it a different fuel pump?  Nope!  Same one.  They just raise the price every month apparently so they can steal more money to make up for all their recalls and design flaws.   UGH!


     So, today .... The day from hades.  I spent from 8-3 dealing with car issues. Ford - apparently had my car done before lunch but no one bothered to let me know.  So when I called at 12:15 for an update- the whole service dept was gone for lunch.  So I had to sit around and wait another HOUR till they came back from lunch so someone could let me know it was done.  Then I spent a grand fixing things on my fix or repair daily piece of junk car today and a grand is a LOT of money.  I finally got home at 3:30.  I was still unloading the car as Little Man pulled in.  And he was with his boss with a drink in hand.  And let me say this now.  I.  Do.  Not.  Drink.  Maybe a glass of wine a few times a year.  I cannot do processed sugar.  Or I'd drink a he** of a lot more wine believe me! But my child is 18.  And while I know that he's out drinking beer with his buddies, I could do without the evidence of such idiocy being shoved in my face at 3:30 on a bad day.  He's lucky I didn't slap his boss.   So, the first words out of his mouth were?  Of course they weren't "hi mom".  They were:  Can I borrow your car?  Has he lost his bloody mind?  Of course you're not laying a finger on my car when you're standing there with a drink in hand you monster!  I just paid a grand on the piece of junk today!  But I was a good mom and I responded with one word.  Can you guess what it was?  Right!  NO.  And let's just say that in LM's eyes .... I won the MOTY award with that word.  Not.  He was ... Shall we say - just a bit upset with me.  Now, anyone want to guess how much I care about his opinion of me?  Ha.  Good thing parenting isn't a popularity contest.  I'd come in last.  So, after he pouted and sulked and basically acted like a 2 year old for a bit, he decided that he'd better go away before I tossed his clothes out in the yard go amuse himself someplace where I didn't have to look at him for a few and went out and cut firewood.  He's not stupid.  Just 18.  His friend Chaz came by shortly after that and he ended up leaving and going to wherever tonight's party is.  As it's not here- that works fine for me.  


     Thank goodness B was human tonight.  He might have saved my sanity night.  First off - he started baseball today.  I am so thrilled that he is playing again!  I was so happy to pull out that $1200 worth of baseball gear last night, clean it up and get it ready to go!  Hey, it was hard on me to have $1200 holding up his bed.  ;)  Now, we still have the ankle issue to deal with.  I don't know if the ortho will be able to piece him together enough to play out the season or if he'll have to miss a few weeks to take care of this or if he'll end up missing the whole season.  But he's on the field with a glove and the coaches love him.  And I feel great knowing that I didn't waste all that money on gear.  Of course, I'm not sure how happy Vix is with this turn of events since I called her last night with a list of things that he needs from the Kelley store there in town.  We have to replace his helmet, his batting gloves and get him a 2nd pair of sliding shorts.  But she didn't seem too upset.  Anyhow, after I told LM no to taking the car and he threw B up in my face telling me that if B asked - I'd give it to him (which is true because B wouldn't ask me to take it if he were drinking ... oh maybe because he doesn't DRINK) - I told B not to mention borrowing the car until after LM got picked up tonight.  And B didn't.  Nor did he complain about dinner.  And then he let me borrow his laptop to play on so I could go watch tv in my room.  And yes, I did let him borrow the car.  He drove it 4 miles up the road to Toni's house where they are hanging out tonight.  And Toni's mom is home.  No drinking.  And he also didn't complain about practice tomorrow on a Sat morning.  And he didn't complain about practice today.  And he only whined a little mentioned once that he was hurting from doing some ab work outs today.  And yes folks.  I am obsessed with baseball.  That kid is good.  Seriously.  Like the kids on the team are already telling him he's going to play varsity.  Like the coach told him how impressed he was with his knowledge of the game.  As in at the age of 12, I had high school coaches asking me if I would consider moving into 5A school districts for him to play for them.  As in he won the pitching skills championship at the World series when he was 12 -GOOD.   And I hope he plays all the way thru high school.  Will he ever play the pros?  No.  His body won't take it I'm sure.  But he can letter in high school.  He can put a baseball on his class ring.  I can wear my shirt and go cheer for him.  Hopefully.  And I'm going to be positive here and hope that he can get healthy enough to play.  


    Anyhow.  I'm sorry I didn't post yesterday.  I was an idiot unthinking type person and moved a piece of furniture because I was too impatient to wait for the boys.  Can you say bad move?  Yeah!  I paid.  I couldn't cook last night.  Sent B to the diner to pick up burgers for dinner and went to bed early.  So, I didn't get a post up.  Sorry!  Hope y'all have a great weekend!  

The bad blogger is back

     I'm baaaaaack!  I'd love to tell you that it's better than before but truthfully, it will probably still be the same old drivel.  


     Saturday night went as planned.  B went bowling with Toni.  Several kids came over and hung out quietly.  And I mean quietly.  Curt brought the guitar over and humored me.  It was peaceful and relaxing.  And then they left and I went to bed.   I slept for hours and hours.  And Sunday, I was a vegetable.  I watched the boob tube and slept all day long.  Yesterday, I finally started feeling better.  I had to spend the day finding the house from a weekend of me being worthless sick.  I spent the day doing laundry and finding the house and then went to bed early.  So - my blogging has been non-existent. Sorry.  I was dying.   Ok, really not but I sure felt like I could.  


     Now on to the news.  Randi (the girl) and her roommate, Cass, are coming this weekend.  Ruth is on here way here now with Elmer and will be back on Friday for dinner.  Hurricane and Donna were supposed to come this weekend too but I don't expect to see them.  H. copped an attitude about Randi and Cass coming down.  Now, was this attitude because Donna gave him an attitude about it?  I don't know.  What I do know is he was totally disrespectful and rude.  He told me that I "wasn't his parent", that I needed to "learn my place", and several other equally rude things.  For whatever reason, he thinks that he can do what he wants, when he wants, talk to whoever he wants, however he wants and be totally disrespectful and rude and then try to call it "honesty".  Well, when he started his 2 hour barrage of insults last night, I just tried to agree with him.  When he got upset about the girls coming, I apologized.  That wasn't good enough.  He wanted to fight.  He thinks he's above the rules.  He tells me to "act like a parent" and then when I tell him he can't do something or talk to me with disrespect, then he tells me that I'm "not his mom".  A friend of mine asked me today if he acts that way with Vix?  He wouldn't dare.  He lives under her roof.  She feeds him, gives him gas money, and Vix and Cal have made his car payment for years.  So, basically they've bought his good behavior towards them.  Since I see no reason why I should hand him any more money when he lives rent free and he's already getting so much from Vix and Cal.  He gets so much money from Vix and Cal that any time the other kids need something, well, we don't even ask.  I mean, when B had a fund raiser, I called.  But anything else, we manage.  The relationship between Vix and Cal and the rest of the kids has been damaged by all this.  They are sure that Vix and Cal don't care for them as much as they do for Hurricane.  A myth that Hurricane loves to encourage.  Yes, it's a myth.  But when things happen like yesterday when Hurricane says that he's "special and he's the only one that Cal said could hunt here on the property", well, yet another brick goes up in the wall.  Or when Hurricane comes down here (while I was at the fair) and tears the property up with his truck out back showing his tail and then goes back and tries to blame it on Little Man and B and their friends and Cal calls/texts LM with false accusations - well another brick goes up in that wall.  Next question that I see coming?  Have I talked to Vix and/or Cal about any of this?  Yes.  Vix and I have spoken.  And she does damage control as best she can.  Cal?  Well he has a blind spot where Hurricane is concerned.  And with Cal's health issues, Vix shelters him from a lot of this.  LM tries to tell Cal the truth, but he doesn't always listen.  He doesn't see that Hurricane is trying to damage Cal's relationship with his brothers.  Why?  Jealousy.  All of his little stupid things come from jealousy.  He's jealous of his brothers.  And those insecurities that he has with himself, no one else can help him with.  Again, a path he has to walk for himself and find his own way.  Until he learns to love himself, he'll never trust that anyone else loves him.  And until he stops equating money with love, he'll be lost.  


     Well, already long story longer.... Hurricane is not coming for the holidays.  I'm torn.  I love my son.  He's my oldest boy.  I miss the young man he was before he started down this path that he's on.  Before he equated money with family and respect.  Before he got too big for his britches.  But, I don't want to deal with drama and jealousy.  I don't want a holiday ruined because Hurricane wants to hurt his brothers and make himself feel better about himself by telling his brothers that he's more important to their god-parents than they are.  By him coming down here and doing damage so that he can run back and tell Cal that the boys committed damage that he actually did - just to cause more problems. His last message said he was still going to come down here but he just wouldn't see me.  Which means he's not coming to this house.  Camping back on the property maybe.  No idea.  Hope he has a license.  Those illegal tickets are a big deal.  One of LM's friends got one and it was over $1600.  


     Well, for now, must go.  I have to go get diapers and wipes and other necessities.  Ruth and Elmer will be here in a few hours.  I'm looking forward to their visit.  Yes, their visit.  Y'all have a great day.  

Life with Boys

     So, a friend of mine was talking today about her step-son.  He doesn't like to do much besides play video games and watch TV.  That brought back lots of memories.  That wasn't a problem I had with my boys when they were young.  


    My boys were good at inventing trouble games to play.  They came up with one called "Roller Coaster".  This involved putting one of the smaller 2 boys in a laundry basket while Hurricane swung the basket around in the air.  This game ended badly when the side of the laundry basket broke and B went flying thru the air and went head first into the refrigerator.  That little mishap experiment cost B a trip to the ER and 4 staples in the head.  


     Then there were the indoor baseball games they created.  They were at least good smart enough to use a soft ball.  AFTER they put the harder one thru the wall.  That little adventure also taught them how to patch holes in the dry wall.  


    And let us not forget when they learned how to build.  The neighbor guy was kind enough to build them a vert ramp.  They dismantled it and turned it into a ramp/slide that was so tall, they were climbing up onto the shed roof to get to the top of it so that they could slide down it.  On a toddler teeter totter.  Yep.  Those are my kids.  


   Then Hurricane learned to drive.  And he was smoking in my car.  Another big no-no.  And he dropped his cigarette and leaned down to get it.  With B in the front seat.  And no seat belt.  Another set of brain dead forbidden actions broken rules.  And B's poor head - paid once again.  6 butterfly bandages to fix that one.  (by this point and time - I carried butterfly bandages in my purse).  


    I've lived thru 2 emergency appendectomy surgeries, 10 eye surgeries, broken bones, Ice Cube has had stitches in his head twice (thanks Little Man), several other sets of stitches, 3 knee surgeries (Ice Cube thanks to Hurricane tackling him in a backyard football game - yet another broken rule), shoulder surgery for a torn rotator cuff (B), 2 wrist surgeries (Little Man - breaking the rules yet again) and countless other trips both to the ER and the pediatrician.  


    And people wonder why I don't freak out over girlfriend issues or a punch thrown here and there?  Such is life with boys.  I'm usually just happy if there's no blood or anything broken involved.  Whether broken involves something about in my house or one of them.  


    Welcome to Amy's World!  

they're finally back to work/school!

     Life around here has been hectic.  Little Man and B were both home sick Monday and Tuesday.  B had an ear infection with it in his throat too and he was starting with the bronchitis cough.  LM had an absolutely horrid case of bronchitis. They were both seriously ill.   Thankfully, after 5 hours spent Monday at the Dr. and pharmacy and a couple of days of antibiotics they're back to their normal jerky bratty healthy selves.  LM back at work today.  He's got to go to one town (1 1/2 hrs away) then drive to another town (over an hr away from the first one), pick up a truck and then deliver it to the metroplex (over 2 1/2 hrs from town 2).  He's going to spend the whole day riding in a truck and getting paid $10/hour for it.  B went back to school today.  Toni's mom and step-dad are divorcing and in typical small town fashion, everyone knows about it and everyone wants to talk to her about it.  She's upset.  Understandably so as she and mom had to move (closer to us and still in the same school district but still...).  So, Toni has been spending a lot of time here with B while mom is at work.  This is all fine with me.  They are very sweet together and they have a vow of no .... well, none of that stuff.  


     In other news, LM and Jo ended their very short relationship.  I think it was less than 2 weeks that they actually "dated" or were "in a relationship".  Jo spent a lot of time here both before they were actually "dating" and then while they were.  Now, Jo is a nice girl.  She was respectful.  She is not however - clean.  We found things like dirty diapers (from her 1 year old) under LM's bed.  I also spent too much time cleaning up after her child when the baby was here.  She doesn't feed the baby - she just puts it all on the baby's tray and puts too much food down at once.  It's too many things for the baby to choose from and she ends up throwing a bunch of food.  This was irritating - in a large way.  So, were the 1/2 empty Dr. Pepper cans in the fridge (going flat) and the glasses left lying around my house.  Yes, I am anal.  I don't have a lot of nice stuff.  Most of what  I have I have been given.  But, I do have a few antiques that came from either bio-mom or my parents.  A rocking chair that my grandparents rocked my dad in that my dad rocked me in and we have rocked my children in. A dry sink that stores the china that my bio-mom gave me.  China that we've never used but was her mothers.  An old roll top desk that was my bio-mom's dads.  And an original ethan allen that came to me from my parents.  I get really irritated when people put drinks on any of these things. 


   In other news, I was asked to write a couple of articles about youth sports and parental involvement.  Will these articles ever see the light of day as in actually being published?  I don't know.  I know it was an honor to be asked!  I spent 7 years volunteering for the baseball board for a very large baseball association in the metroplex.  We enrolled about 700 kids in spring and about 500 in the fall ages 3-18.  I had 4 boys playing and they sponsored the boys in return for my time.  I met a lot of people and have seen everything from overly involved parents trying to relive their childhoods thru their kids, to great parents who were supportive and donated time and money to the kids, to parents who thought that sports were merely an unpaid babysitter.  I've seen parents who were nothing but supportive and parents who were horrid to the kids.  I've seen parents corner an umpire (15 year old kid umpiring a game of 7-8 year olds) and threaten the umpire over a call.  I stepped in on that one and had some dad's (and a mom) most unhappy with me.  I had some great experiences with my boys with them in sports.  I miss it and sure hope that B gets to play ball this year with the high school.  


     Well, Jim is bringing his truck over today.  Ice Cube is off work.  We're going to get some firewood together and stacked so that I have wood for the fireplace for this winter.  Y'all have a great day!

Real Quick

~ I passed my home inspection with flying colors.  She loved me.  Said she loves all the improvements that we've made on the house.  Improvements = fixing the water damage.  


~  Little Man is on his way to pick up Ice Cube and Elmer.  The details of why are not my story to share.  This is all part of the same issues that started in August.  What I can say is IC will be coming here to stay for a bit.  At this point, it looks as though they are going to be civil in regards to Elmer.  


~  We have had no end of storms the last few days.  Several tornados have touched down around here but no damage to my house or property.  


~  Car trouble on the trip.  Trouble with the cadaladic (so spelled wrong) converter.  Hurricane is riding in to the rescue.  LM is all agitated and frustrated and calling me in a horrid mood being totally disrespectful.  I'm trying to not over-react and turn it into a battle of words or wills because for 1 - I know that he was already aggravated over the situation with IC before he left and worried about his brother and 2 - I can only imagine how upset I would be if the car had broken down on me.  So, I know that I am not who he's mad at and I'm just the one he feels safest venting at.  Now, that doesn't mean that I won't have something to say about the attitude.  But it will be along the lines of:  "I realize that you were pi**ed about the car earlier and frustrated about everything that happened but screaming in my ear when I'm 100 miles away doesn't really accomplish anything.  All it does is cause more problems and get other people upset. "  


  Now, because I want to make your day.  The kids did NOT write this song.  It is an actual song that was originally written and performed by Pat Daley.  I ended up with 21 kids in my living room on Saturday night.  I really thought that with all the storms, that I would get a kid free night.  When the kids started showing up - my 2 weren't even at home.  I had 2 show up.  Then a group of 3.  Then 2 more.  All while LM was off with his gf and B was at his girlfriends house.  I'm popular I guess.  At one point of the night, there were 21 kids here and I ended up with 8 staying the night.  One of the kids asked me:  "how do you put up with us Ms Amy?  There's a lot of people here".   I reminded them that eventually, they'd all be gone and then I'd be sitting home alone on Saturday nights bored and lonely.  So, I might as well enjoy them while they're here.  

B with Colby's gf on his lap and one of my varsity football guys

More of them on the floor

Piled on the couch.  Who says a couch can only hold 3?  Mine had 7 on it.  

I could have opened my own boot store

Colby and Curtis.  And before you ask about the shirt- remember folks... this is TX.  I'm still running my AC.

 After more than an hour of trying to get a video to post.  I quit!  I have to help B get this project done before he goes in to the dr tomorrow.  We find out if he has surgery tomorrow afternoon.  Fingers crossed plz!  

Perfection

     Last night was one of those perfect nights in life.  


     I was a bit upset about being at a football game last night when my Rangers were on their way to make history.  The Rangers started as the Washington Senators.  Then 39 years ago, they moved the team to TX and changed the name to the Texas Rangers.  In the 50 years that the team has existed, never did they make it out of the first round of the play-offs.  And this is football country.  The Rangers could be leading their division and you're lucky if they got space in the paper for an article after each game.  And if something had happened that relates to the Cowgirls Cowboys--- then the Rangers wouldn't get any coverage at all.  But with the Cowgirlsboys  playing worse than most high school 5A teams right now, everyone is jumping on the Rangers bandwagon.  (btw:  as I sit here typing this, we're in a tornado warning...  pretty cool huh?).  I'm a Rangers fan going way back and I love the coverage they're finally getting from the news around here.  They were even announcing the score last night and doing updates during our high school football game.  That's amazing!  For those of you who are from the north, I'll try to explain this short and sweet.  Football is not a game here in Texas.  Especially not high school football.  It is a religion.  People attend the football games on Friday nights like they do church on Sunday.  It really is that big of deal.  Parents, grandparents, and other family attend the pep rallies at the school.  There's even a whole website dedicated to East Texas football.  People from the opposing teams start talking smack before the games are played.  It updates scores and does all kinds of fun stuff.  


     So, why was last night perfection?  Well, I tried to talk Colby into letting me miss his game.  He told me no and I'm glad he did.  (Hey, can't blame a girl for trying can you?)  Everyone around me was doing the same thing I was - keeping track of the Rangers score on cell phones.  We were still cheering for our boys.  I sit with Colby's nanny, mom, step-dad, aunt, uncle, the twins, and some other cousin of nanny's.  There are also 2 other people that go every week and sit with us but I'm not sure how they're related.  His aunts parents were there last night too.  His girlfriend and her mom were there too and her mom sat with us. And Colby showed off.  He scored the first 2 touch downs of the game.  The first was a 63 yard touchdown that he broke 4 tackles to score.  By the end of the game, Colby had scored 4 out of the teams 6 TD's and the kids had won 42-14. They're already getting ready for next weeks game and the message boards are showing it.  So, high school game - big win!  I was so proud of him watching him play his heart out.  I'm really glad I was there to see it.  He ran for 190 yards last night.  


     The Rangers - spanked the Yankees.  That gives them the 4 games they need to go to the World Series.  (Game 1 is Weds night).  I give credit to the Yankees.  They were very gracious about the Rangers in the post game interviews.  They talked about how well the Rangers played.  Took responsibility for their mistakes and were great role models for all the kids who were watching (well, all except Nick Swisher who was really rude about Cliff Lee but the rest of the team were really wonderful).  The Rangers, played like champions.  Colby Lewis was the starting pitcher and he held the Yankees to (I believe) 2 hits.  And I had the game on DVR.  The kids all kept asking me why I was watching the game when we got home when I already knew who won.  "Because after years of having season tickets and watching them lose- this is their moment of glory and knowing the score isn't the same as actually seeing it."  So, I came home and changed (because being hugged by many sweaty boys after 3 hours of football leaves ones clothes a smelly mess) and then sat down to enjoy some ball.  And watch my team in their moment of glory.  And to give you a good laugh.  I called Hurricane after the Rangers won (because y'all know my boys are HUGE Yankee fans).  He didn't even say "Hi" when he answered.  He just picked up the phone and said:  "Yea, I know.  Hell's going to freeze over next."  And then we chatted while I told him - maybe but the Rangers are still heading to the World Series.  


    And to make the night even better...  While I watched the game, the kids wandered in and out of the house.  People stopped by and visited and then left. Kids wandered in and out of here till around 1.  (Yes, I realize that's late but the football game didn't end till almost 11 and remember - big win = excited varsity players and girlfriends.)  So, the sweaty boys who had hugged me on the field showed up and hugged me again once they had changed and done their post game thing.  And they talked.  The defensive lineman friend of Little Man's had to find out if I saw him sack the other teams quarterback.  (Yes, I was watching).  Colby wanted to know which of his 4 runs I thought was the best.  Another player was talking about one of the plays that he was in.  And they mostly stay outside (bonfire pit) or in the boys bedrooms but they'd come in and chat with me a bit and give me a hug and then wander off to do the kid thing.  And although they were respectful of me watching my Rangers, I don't think that there was a 5 minute span in that 2 hours that I didn't have a kid in here at some point talking to me.  They wanted attention.  Did I watch?  Did I see?  What did I think?  I'm proud of them.  They played well.  They're good kids.  (And the train of kids has continued tonight even though my 2 boys aren't home, I've had 7 kids stop by here sit and visit for a few and then leave again.)  


   This, my friends, is perfection in my life.  

Anyone who wants to have a child never had a teen......

     First off, a big thanks to ms Minnie who totally sat with me on the phone last night and kept me from bawling like a big baby.  She talked some logic and sense into me at a time when I was feeling totally emotional.  Things have not changed over-night.

    Y'all might remember a few months ago that Ice Cube was going thru a rough patch.  He has some ongoing legal issues that aren't mine to discuss but aren't going to go away.   Back when this all started, I took out a loan to help pay his attorney.  Deal was (supposed to be at least) that he would get a job and make the loan payments.  As y'all might imagine, I'm still making the loan payments.  Between the loan payments and their cell bills... Recap here:  When Ruth was 9 months pregnant, they moved to her moms.  At which point and time, her cell was in her dad's name.  He shut it down with her 9 months pregnant and home alone all the time and no home phone.  IC called me in a panic and swore that they'd pay her cell bill if I'd add her to my plan.  Now, this should have only been $20/month and I agreed.  Of course, now the baby is 15 months old so the cell has been on for 16 months and they have paid it ... ready for this?  TWICE.  The month that she got drunk and lost her cell and we had to do an insurance claim that I told them I couldn't afford- yep, never saw that $50 either.  Now, if the bills would stay at $20/month, that would be one thing.  But the last 2 months, their combined bill was $70.  So between loan and cells?  I'm taking $200 a month out of my budget to pay for his stuff.  Meanwhile, Ruth lost his drivers license and SS card wallet so he can't even apply for jobs. Or so I'm told.  Now folks, I'm on a restricted income.  I barely make ends meet without this.  To put it bluntly, I'm drowning right now.  If it weren't for Little Man, we'd be under already.  I had a talk at IC yesterday.  Yes, I said AT.  Because I spoke, he heard only what he wanted to hear and then of course picked a fight putting words into my mouth and is going to now use Elmer as a pawn telling me that we (no one in our family) will be permitted to see the baby again.  He wants the phones turned off (because he obviously is not mature enough to realize that the bill has to be paid till the end of contract even if its turned off) and that we're all dead to him.  Of course, this is all my punishment for asking him to grow up and get a job and take responsibility for his own actions.  He didn't much care for the fact that I told him that I would save and print all his hatred and save every birthday and Christmas card for the baby until he turned 18 as well as putting all money that I would have spent into savings bonds and then make sure that he got them after he was of age. So he intends to use his son as a pawn to try and manipulate the situation.  Part of it is he is jealous of how much Elmer loves me.  They were horrid while I was there last.  Taking Elmer to her dad's house for his crazy room mate to keep rather than letting me keep him even.  All because he comes running to me.  Of course that might have to do with the fact that when he gets up in the morning, I actually get up WITH him instead of sleeping while he plays.  And I don't get up and grouch.  I get up and smile at him.   But when they don't go to bed till 5 in the morning, they don't much feel like smiling at 8.  So, does anyone out there have any idea if TX has Grandparents rights?  Is there anything I can do to be able to see the baby?

     And please don't insult me and ask me to not pay my bills to pay the bills of an adult who isn't acting like one.  

     In other news, I spent the night last night having chest pains.  Yeah, I know- not good.  But typical for when my blood pressure goes off.  And we all know why my blood pressure would have been off last night don't we?  Don't worry.  I swore a long time ago that I wouldn't die until B turned 18. I am stubborn enough to maintain my health until then too.  ;)  Minnie told me last night that my kids grew up with a survivor.  That they knew right from wrong and were making their own choices, no matter how poor I might find those choices.  She's right.  I tend to want to protect them from themselves.  And IC, he'll pay dearly for what he's doing right now.  He has chosen to let Ruth's family who has thrown them to the wolves time and time again be the only family that Elmer has.  Ruth's dad was so mad at her for getting pregnant that Elmer was 4 months old before her dad would acknowledge him.  Her mom, has a very active life and sees him about ever 3 months at most.  She loves him dearly but she has a full time job and a boyfriend and a very active social life.  Both of her parents have cut them off and tossed them out before where they were calling me for money, help, food.  I sent food constantly while they lived with her mom.  There was many a time that they kids were doing without while they lived with her.  So throwing out the only person who has consistently been on their side and been there for them?  Not real smart.   And should the time come when IC and Ruth might break up - that would leave him with no one on his side.  Yeah, y'all don't need to remind me that I'd be there.  I know it.  But there has been damage done to the trust between us if nothing else.  His mouth crossed some lines and he said somethings that are unforgivable.  


     Now on to better things.  My Rangers won the ALDS (American League Division Series).  This is the first time in the 38 year team history that they have made it thru the first round of the play-offs.  They were the last major league team to do so.  They start the ALCS (American League Championship Series) on Friday where they play the Yankees (I don't EVEN want to hear it Ms Minnie) for the change to go to the World Series.  Now, my good friend, Ms Minnie, is a Yankees fan.  Its ok.  I forgive her.  ;)  My rotten no taste in baseball teams boys are Yankees fans too.  Now, personally, I think that they Yankees have 27 World Series Championship rings that they bought won, it's way past time for the Rangers to have a shot at this.  Right?  Why do the Yankees need #28? Well, game one of this very important series is Friday night.  Yeah.  Friday night.  Colby's football night.  Thank Goodness for DVR.  I asked Colby if he'd notice if I didn't show up tomorrow night.  He was totally offended with me and said "Well, hell yea!"  So tomorrow, I will be DVRing the game and totally cussing anyone who dares to tell me the score before I get home to watch it.  Which Colby's game?  2 hours from here tomorrow.  So we won't get home till hours after the game is over.  Do you think he'd notice if I just took a small tv with me and watched the game there?  OK OK I jest!  I know that watching one of "my" kids play is more important than a professional baseball game.  I have to have some fun in life right?  B and his girlfriend will be making the drive with Nanny and I to go watch the game.  Colby's gf is riding with her parents who are making the drive.  




   I'll be good and try to post before I have to get ready for the pep rally at 1 tomorrow.  Hope y'all had a great day!
       

the check list....

~  Out to breakfast with Nanny - check


~  trip to the office to settle some high school drama with an ex bf throwing a fit and threatening B and Colby over Colby's new gf - check


~  Pick up B and try to get him a Dr's appt - check


~  Call for propane delivery - check


~  Cancel my Dr's appt cause it clashed with the pep assembly (yeah I know I'm bad!) - check


~  Hair cut and groceries - check


~  Throw all the frozen and fridge stuff randomly in their places so I can run out the door take care of the next errand - check  


~  meet up with Nanny and the rest of the gang for lunch - check


~  Finish putting groceries away - check


~  Dishwasher started, counters cleaned - check


~  Laundry taken care of - check


~  Dressed and ready to show my happy face at the pep assembly - check


~  House ready for the invasion of teens that will probably happen this weekend... well, not quite but it's getting there.  ;)




Good luck to the Pirates and my "extra" kids who play for the team!  Now, I'm off here to go give myself a migraine cheer for the football players at the pep assembly.  Hope y'all have a great Friday night!

Randomness

     So, on the Hurricane front.  Actually, I did mail his ID.  I stuck it in the mail yesterday.  He should have it today or tomorrow.  I didn't stick a note or anything else in it.  He hasn't tried to call, nor has he had Donna try to call for him like he's done in the past.  It's well past time for that child to grow up and learn some responsibility.  He still has Vix and Cal bailing him out on a regular basis but there's nothing I can do about that.  He thinks he's all grown up but he's still living with someone, pays no bills, and really has no responsibility.  But, this "worthless" mom is done listening to it.    


     B got his grade card today.  5 A's, 2 B's (an 88 and an 89) and a C.  I will say that I'm not thrilled with the C but I'll live with it since the next lowest grade he had was an 88.  I did tell him that the C he had needed to come up in the next grading period and he said ok.  So, fingers crossed that he applies himself enough to pull it up.  I'm really proud of him actually.  He had a high B in English (which involves way more reading than he can do well with his eyes) and an A in Spanish.  My mom said he'd needed to stay home more but I'm thinking that so long as his grades stay where they are (with the exception of the one that needs to come up) and his behavior is still good, than this is working.  


     I got a text message from B yesterday.  He had stayed after school to watch Colby's football practice.  Now, this works for me.  This brings B to the attention of the coaches and will help them know who he is when baseball season comes around and its time for try-outs.  The text message said that he and Colby wanted to know what I was making for dinner.  So, that was my clue that I was feeding people last night.  So, we had spaghetti and meatballs and I threw a loaf of garlic bread in the machine to bake.  I was most popular with the kids who stopped thru here last night.  And spaghetti is such an easy thing to throw together.  Such a cheap bribe for the hugs it gets me.  *read with the humor intended as I get the hugs whether I cook or not*


     I got the rest of the back hallway finally painted today.  I didn't get a lot done yesterday.  I spent the day in a lot of pain.  This decrepit old lady really took a beating walking the 4,728 miles fair on Tuesday.  I don't know where these kids get the energy.  I had B, Little Man, and Colby.  As well as B and Colby's girlfriends and one of his cousins all walking with me.  As soon as I find my camera, I'll get it hooked up to a computer and get the pictures up.  I was thanked repeatedly by the kids who were with me.  They were all really good while we were there.  And I believe a good time was had by all.  


     Now, the 2nd post season game for the Rangers is about to start.  This is the first time that the Rangers have made it to the post-season in 11 years.  They won their first post-season game yesterday after 9 straight losses.  Cliff Lee threw a beast of a game and led the Rangers to a 5-1 victory.  This is post-season play time in a household where the mommy is a baseball addict fan.  If my children are lucky, I'll feed them tonight but in all reality, they'll probably get fed leftovers since I'll be obsessed watching the baseball game.  Well, the first pitch is about to be thrown out.  But, a quick shout out to Roy Halladay from yesterday's game (he plays for Philadelphia not the Rangers).  Halladay pitched the first no hitter in post season play since 1956.  So congrats Doc!  Now it's time to.....


PLAY BALL!  

Ups and Downs

     What a weekend.  I'm so happy to be home!  But as much as I enjoyed seeing Hurricane and Ice Cube this weekend- I think it might have been better for me to get a few down days before the invasion visit.  I jest folks - I jest!  It was mostly a good weekend.  IC spent the better part of several days mad at me for asking him a question.  God forbid- I actually acted like a mother and questioned something that I had heard.  It was a rumor.  It was addressed as such.  And I believe that its mostly a matter of who he's hanging out with.  If you're friends with someone who has a reputation - that reputation will spill over onto you.  But how dare I question anything that he says or does?  On the plus side- both IC and H get along with Colby.  Colby and IC had a blast together Saturday night.  They laughed and joked and carried on like fools 2 kids having a blast.  It was good to see him having a good time.  It had been a while since I had seen that side of him.  So much of the time when I was in Old Town this last visit, he was upset or mad.  Ruth is gone a lot.  And not just for work.  She spends a ton of time hanging out with her dad.  So many nights when I was in town, IC was home with the baby while she was out with her dad.  It works for them.  And really, I don't care what they do if they're happy.  If that's what works for them..... it's sure not my place to change it.  


     Saturday night I got my yard cleaned up a bit more.  B and I drug a bunch of brush up from one of the trees that we lost in a storm.  I turned 5# of hamburger into sloppy joes and let the boys invite some friends over.  The normal crowd mostly.  B's 1st gf came over with another young lady that both she and B are both friends with.  I ended up with a yard full of kids including one with a guitar.  No one argued, no one acted up and I only had one (Colby) end up crashing here.  I have a bunch of kids telling me to hurry up and get those pictures off my camera and up online.  I haven't found my camera cord yet from my last trip back to the metroplex.  shhhhhh - don't tell anyone!  The brush - all gone.  From that tree.  We took one down yesterday that needs cut up.  The boys are going to cut me up some wood next weekend.  That's good cause my firewood supply is sadly depleted from last year.  How do I get my boys to go out there and do hard manual labor you ask?  I ask Colby to help me do something and when he says yes- the 3 boys get out there to do it and I get to kick back and watch.  Good plan yes?  


     So, both Hurricane and Ice Cube like Colby.  I mentioned that IC and Colby hung out like long lost brothers Sat night.  However, both of them act like they're jealous of Colby too.  I guess they better get over it.  Nanny introduced me to her MIL last night.  Told her MIL that "this is Ms Amy.  She and I are raising 3 boys together (LM, B, and Colby)".  Sunday morning the older boys got up and polished off a box of cereal.  When the 2 younger boys and Colby rolled out of bed then they wanted to go to the cafe for breakfast.  That sounded like a good idea to me!  I had nothing but cereal here.  We invited the 2 older boys to go with, but they wanted "to go hunting".  And I wasn't going to stay home just because they didn't want to go.  So LM, B and I jumped into Colby's truck and off we went.  They went hunting and then left the shotguns propped up against the house and came inside.  I'm less than thrilled about that.  


    So, good and bad this weekend.  But mostly good.  I got a tree taken down that's been worrying me.  I can get the top on the chicken pen now.  I got a ton of brush out of the back yard cleaned up.  I had a boatload of kids here Saturday night and everyone behaved.  The boys cleaned up after the party without me begging, pleading or screaming.  And I had a good weekend with the boys.  Now off to do the ONE thing still left from the party Sat night.  My kitchen floor.  Ugh.  Was no use mopping it yesterday with the boys doing yard work and coming in and out and the 2 older boys still here so .... today's headache.  Hope y'all had a great weekend!

Fair Time

      What a day!  I got up this morning, cleaned the kitchen, started the laundry, and straightened up a bit.  Then I woke Little Man who luckily unfortunately had the day off.  I took my car to the mechanic and got it looked at before heading back to Old Town, Went and got a new tire on the back where I had a bad one, took LM to the junk yard to look for some smaller rims for his car, went and got my B-12 shot, and then went to that big awful store and picked up B's prescriptions and picked up a few things that LM was gonna need while I was out of town.  Then back home to pack and go nuts.  Hanging with the boys now watching stuff on the DVR until they go to church.  


     I'm going to miss my boys.  They may drive me bats from time to time but I wouldn't know what to do without them.  And I'm going to really hate being gone right now with B coming down with something.  I took him to the doc yesterday and they diagnosed him with a sinus infection.  Sounds mild enough right?  They stuck him on antibiotics.  He should be fine right?  Theoretically at least?  Yeah, this is my kid who spent most of the first year of his life in the hospital.  So, even though its been 10 years since he got sick enough to end up in the hospital, I'm still worried.  I took all his meds to Nanny and she'll stay on him about taking them.  I took care of signing notes with the school and his doc for her to be able to deal with things too.  


     Well, apparently I will miss them much more than they will miss me.  Tonight they have gone to church and now they're over at a girls house.  It is really obvious that they won't miss me at all.  Eh such is life with teenagers.  Girls are much more interesting to teenage boys than spending time with mom.  Good thing I'm not one of those insecure type parents that needs my kids to spend every spare minute with me or that gets jealous of their other interests.  I'd spend my whole life upset if I were.  Instead, I'll take the time to watch a bit of my game in peace and I finished up my packing and I've got some time to play on line.  And in an hour, the boys will come thru the door like a tornado eating everything that they see and leaving a path of destruction behind them.  ;)  


    Hope everyone had a great day!