Hopeless Romantic

I had some great pix I was going to blog about today... but I got side-tracked (no shock there) and started to read some blogs.

This is one of the best... and I couldn't stop reading until I got to the end of her love story!
http://thepioneerwoman.com/

I love her recipes too... so Tony loves me to read this blog especially!

Swinging Saturdays...

We had our first practice at 8:30 this morning... that would be A.M.!!! What was the coach thinking? Scheduling it that early on a SATURDAY... for Pete Sake!

He was thinking... about his next practice from 10 to 11:30. Then he started to get hungry... but had to rush to the next game (that I was at by 11:10). So, leaving the game at 1:45 p.m. he rushes to pick up a game shirt and run through a drive-thru for lunch.

Then he drops me off for ... snack duty (my LEAST favorite part of my "mom duties" for baseball season) from 2:30 - 4:30. While I'm there (HATING life because it is FLIPPING FREEZING), he'll go do batting practice with one of his teams.

When he's done there... he'll come back over to the field for our final game of the day. When that game is finally over, my WORLD'S BEST SISTER will take ALL 4funboys to her house to spend the night! Is she amazing or what? Yes, we know we're blessed!

By that time it will be about 7:30 and ... He's thinking... date night, alone with my wife...no kids!

And I'll be thinking... That was some SWINGING SATURDAY! And ... please be tired too!

I know he's already thinking... date... because last night I went up to go to bed and I found a bubble bath with the most wonderful smelling candles he'd just bought (in the most beautiful basket!); and he says ... "I want you to rest now, this is so you won't be too tired for our date tomorrow night."

so... I guess 12 hours of baseball is as good as it gets on a Saturday- as long as we have a great date afterwards!

Size Matters

My parents have the greatest Easter egg hunt around! All the eggs are filled with money, and in our "ultra competitive" family... it's not about the $$$ (necessarily)-- it's all about finding the "golden egg."

Since some (mostly mine) of the "grand children" have been "too disappointed" in the last couple of years with not finding the golden egg--- this year a special egg was made for each child with their name on it with $.

So as to not "disappoint the big kids," our parents made up eggs to do a hunt for my cousins and I. After the kids did their egg hunt, we had a separate egg hunt for the "adults only." You've never seen so many 27 to 39 year-olds in such a hurry to pick up plastic eggs! What a site! This year was even better because my aunt AND my mother made up "Golden Eggs" with $100 inside! So here we have... both winners! Tony found my aunt's egg, Matt found my mom's.

The most competitive people on the planet... each a winner... each with $100 eggs...

To which my darling says, "Yeah, but mines bigger than yours!" And Matt fires back, "size doesn't matter."

... hmmmm.... boys, boys --- and it was all down-hill from there! We're still laughing!

Pretty in Pink...

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Originally uploaded by rmac4444

Here's a color we don't see much of in the Mac house... but I got away with it for Easter yesterday! It reminds me too much of pepto bismol, but the boys had fun running around saying "real men wear pink."

We had a great day... and I always enjoy making memories with family.

Easter Vacation

Yeah.... Easter vacation is finally here! School for me and the kids is over for at least 10 days (and after staying up last night until 2a.m. helping Kyle finish his 5th grade state report... I'm VERY excited about no homework, no flippin' school projects, and no getting up early for school! The idea of relaxing for a while is just fantastic... OH, wait.... I don't have time for that! Easter vacation means Easter at my house in 2 1/2 days, with dozens of people at my house. uuuhhhh OOOO. It's unbelievable what will need to transpire within the next 48 hours. I'm not just talking about the cooking, cleaning, decorating.... that kind of stuff. No, that would be too easy. I'm talking about major remodeling jobs that will need to be finished, just so we can get to the yards to hunt eggs! Not to mention the remodeling jobs that need to be finished so that there's actually room for people to sit and eat! AHHH, yes... I'm very excited about Easter vacation... starting Monday morning... when I'll certainly still be in bed until noon! But... I'M sooooo excited to finally be getting some of these things done. Nothing like being inspired by a few house guests!

fell in LOVE today...again!

I was running in between baseball fields tonight, which I really do love, and I ran into 2 boys that are my friend's kids. They needed some help finding a bathroom so I took then on an "adventure" while their dad helped coach. Talk about laughs...

Sammy is 3, and he just came back from moving to Africa with his family. He's the youngest of 4 of the MOST AMAZING kids on the planet. His older brother is one of my boys best buds, and Tony has coached with his dad the last couple of years. I grew up with his mom and uncle, like a lot of my friends... but this kid, this kid is SO special! He's the kind of kid that warms you from the inside out, and you pray that your own kids are just like him... AND HE'S ONLY 3!

Sammy... he is one of the those "I could just squeeze you, wanna eat you, hug you, love you kids" that makes you wish you still had a baby in the house! He told me he'd pack me up in his suitcase when he moves back to Africa in 7 weeks to show me a "real" adventure (which I can't think about them leaving right now), and I'm thinking... the kid's a GENIUS and I love his idea!

Yep... fell in love again with that kiddo tonight... all on my adventure to the potty (in which he became very frustrated with me "cuz I didn't wanna come see the "most ditscuzztingest boy side potty in the Wurrld"... but I told him I'd take his WURD for it because he was a great world traveler. )! I'm so glad I didn't miss my 27th day in a row of baseball tonight, because I'd have missed falling in love again!

Kids are truly God's way of reminded us about the good things in life!

enough already...

Dear Boys,

sometimes... too much playing around...
is just too much!

And... you should know, mommy will be grouchy until Easter is over. SO... STOP ALREADY!

Where Did the Weekend Go?

With only 7 days until Easter... I'm wondering where my weekend went???? Oh, yeah... 9-12 baseball, 1-4 baseball, 6-8 BVG... home to make my "hunny-do" for Sunday.

We finally got Kyle moved downstairs into his new room, but by the time we repainted, sanded, and moved the funiture... the day was gone! Yikes. But, it will all get done; and all that really matters is that we'll all be together for the holiday... YEAH, Right! There's always this week... if I could just cancel baseball for just this week....

Guilty Again...

One of my all time favorite girls from last year told me last week that her 'mom' is "very sick again because her body doesn't like the chemo that the doctor is making her take." WOW, I said, "I guess you need extra hugs today." To which she said, "no, we're OK. She's used to it."

The next day... another student's dad died on the way to the hospital. He was shot the night before from 2 gunshot wounds fired when he answered his front door.

The amazing thing... these kids just come to school the next day... as if it's just another day-- because in their world, it's just another day. It's not a novelty to have this kind of drama unfold in their lives, it's all they've ever known. I was struck yesterday by the fact that they don't even know to expect something different, something better for themselves... UNBELIEVABLE.

And then I go home across town to my relatively 'perfect life'... and feel very guilty that I'm as blessed as I am-- and pray I'll be more thankful and content for all that I'm blessed with!

No Headaches!

I am especially tired today because we've been running at a ridiculous pace... and in anticipation of tonights chaos I left work a few minutes early in hopes of cramming in one more thing. But, Tony beat me home... and the house is totally cleaned, the laundry's done, he hired a guy to work on finishing remodeling the boys new rooms (and they'll move in this weekend!), and...

I fell in love all over again... so no headaches tonight!

But I'll share this email anyway... just because I laughed !!!


God said, "Adam, I Want you to do Something for Me." Adam said, "Gladly, Lord, what do You Want me to do?" God said, "Go down Into that valley." Adam said, "What's a Valley?" God explained it to Him. Then God said, "Cross the river."Adam said, "What's a River?" God explained that To him, and then said, "Go over to the hill...." Adam said, "What is a Hill?" So, God explained to Adam what a hill was. He told Adam, "On The other side of the Hill you will find a Cave." Adam said, "What's a Cave?" After God explained, He said, "In the cave You will find a woman." Adam said, "What's a Woman?" So God explained That to him, too. Then, God said, "I Want you toReproduce." Adam said, "How do I do that?" God first said (under His breath), "Geez....." And then, just like Everything else,
God Explained that to Adam, as well. So, Adam goes down Into the valley, Across the river, and Over the hill, into the Cave, and finds the Woman. Then, in about five Minutes,
he was back. God, His patience Wearing thin, said Angrily, "What is itNow?" And Adam said.... * * (YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THIS!!!!!!)** ***


"What's a headache?"

Ha....

blast from the past...

It officially started today... we're into the full swing of baseball season - which we all LOVE, LOVE, love!. But, all 4 boys are playing on M.C. teams, which is the private school I grew up going to. I usually hate going back there... the bad memories are always easier to remember than the good ones. I don't know why, because I have been blessed with some really awesome friendships that have lasted 25 years, and fun memories that I truly cherish. We only talked about the good ones tonight... so that was fun - sorta.

It was really wierd being there tonight because the boys were playing on the same fields I played on as a kid, with kids of friends I grew up with. Like... freaky weird! Tony is coaching the 7 year-old-team with his roommate from college... which just happens to be the first guy I ever held hands with (relax, I was like 12). We laughed about his "sweating hands" at dinner tonight, while his wife talked about her first kiss... another guy Tony coaches with that was my first love... in kindergarten... who's son is now best buds with my oldest. It's funny... but weird! There's some great life-lessons there boys... and when your 25... I'll get to explaining why you should never do anything that you don't want your X and your spouse to talk about later!

The coach tonight was the best man at our wedding, and his wife and I went to school from kindergarten through college. During practice I sat with my best-friend from high-school... we were both in each other's weddings... and now our boys are best friends in kindergarten; so they had to be on the same team.

Both of these gals love going down memory lane... I just don't get it! Not that I don't have good memories too, I really do. It's just that I don't want to remember too much, or too often. High school wasn't that great the first time through, I certainly don't want to relive it...not during every game and practice! I was quiet on the way home... trying not to think too much, remember too much.... Tony thinks having that much 'history' is the greatest thing ever... and the boys LOVE talking about mommy's old friends and the fun stories they hear about me when I was their age. Well, some memories feel more like baggage... and I'd just as soon not pick it up again.

Anyway... 5 practices down this week so far... 7 more to go...+ a game! And, it's gonna be fun!

Didn't I already pass 5th grade?

I love doing stuff with my boys... except those dumb school projects (K-1 projects are ok... chicken adventures and all). But am I the only one who hates doing state reports, mission displays, whale dioramas... and science fair projects? URGg. I have 17 baseball practices and games scheduled in the next 5 days alone... so doing 'projects for open house' won't be a high priority at the Mac house. (Which means we'll show up at open house and I'll hear "and she's a teacher." To which I'll say... 'his daddy did this one with with him.'

Yes, Mrs. BR... but you should see him hit a ball!

Here's "chicken" after another Kinder adventure at our house. He's worn out too - but mommy did the journaling this time... so no potty shots. They all liked daddy's bathroom adventure better... even Mrs. O. --

Planting buddies

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Originally uploaded by rmac4444

Caden's fly away friend.

party time

I'm always up for a party...

WHAT is that?

This... this is what I did today- and believe me... it wasn't on the to-do-list.

Well, it's not what I 'actually' did today... but isn't a picture worth a 1000 words?

This is Caden's Kinder class mascot. Each kid takes chicken home for a night to journal about a special adventure. The ONE night my ever-so-funny husband helped with the homework, and this is what we get (and now you know why I get to do it all --except math. I only teach 1st grade and I'm not 'smarter than a fifth grader- especially with math.)

Anyway, before 'this teacher' could edit her darling's paper... daddy glued the picture down and wrote some 'terribly funny' adventure. urggg.

How embarrassing is that? I'll tell... I thought the teacher would be livid... but she loved it, and the boys are still laughing, and... it's perfect for me today. Because... today, with only 14 days until we host Easter... I was going through pictures and found this. Instead of doing the 37 things that I should have been doing... because I'm the world's worst procrastinator.

And this, this photo pretty much sums up what I got done today! Why was I doing this? Because there's so much to do... I don't know where to begin. And... I guess I work better under pressure. So, me and chicken (when he's finished of course)... we're just going to stop making 'to-do-lists' - and maybe go play golf!

Tuesday Traffic

I woke up thinking: March 4... only 19 days to get everything done before Easter. So, I had a plan- my handy dandy list that drives Tony crazy. I was going to start on the yards and begin working on putting my scrapbooking stuff away (or at least out of sight), and then...

And then, my darling reminds me that today is my day to work in Caden's class... in 10 minutes. Great... I enjoy doing it, but... it's not on my list today! So instead of doing ANYTHING on my list, not one ^%*%$* thing that I had planned to do on 'my list'...I did this:

• 9:30 - 11:00 Caden's Class
• 11:00- 12:00 Lunch with Colton (I had dates with the other 3 boys on Saturday... and ran out of time to have our "date" Great idea, nearly impossible to make it work)
• 12:15 Drop off Colton
• 12:30 Pick up Caden
• 12:45 Meet Tony for paperwork
• 1:15 Lunch with Caden
• 2-3 Shoe shopping for Caden, pick up stuff for dinner
• 3:00 Pick up kids, run home... change and get snacks for practices.
• 4:00 Drop off Josh at field 1 for practice
• 4:30 Drop of Kyle and AJ at high school field 2 for baseball practice with their dad
• 5:00 Pick up CP at BVG from rehearsal
• 5:30 pick up Josh back at field 1
• 6:00 Drop off back over at Field 2
• 6:30 Make Dinner
• 7-8 Pick up for CP
• Home to put kids in bed
• 9:00 Drop off twins
• 9:30 Run to store for school tomorrow
• 10:00 Wave good night to Tony
• 11:00 Make new list
• 11:30 Blog about why I need to stick to my lists or my plans are going to drive me nuts!
• 12:00 'think about going to bed' so I can get up in time for work tomorrow... to repeat today. (But, because my mind is racing with all the things to 'put on my list' for tomorrow, it will be a while before I actually go to bed... so I'll read in bed... and regret it in the a.m.)

And Tony wonders how I go through a $125 in gas every week... daaaaahhh.

I know mom... "It's only for a season" ---- but it's just starting, and I really am excited about the games... it's just putting it all together that I'm not too sure about.

SO... I need to rethink my plan... OR not make one... so I don't get frustrated that it didn't work out...

hhhmmmmmm????

Monday Maniac

I love Mondays because I get to recover from going crazy over the weekend... usually. Except for days like today, when I try to do a zillion things (without a list or a plan); and so I actually don't complete a darn thing!


There are a literally a zillion things I should have done, could have done, would have done... but instead; I don't know what the heck I did! How frustrating is that?


In less than 20 days, I'm having Easter at our house and I'm already starting to stress out. The list of things to do is overwhelming... and I really need to make a list. Tony HATES my "lists" because it just emphasizes (again) how differently we view what is important. It's amazing how differently we see things. Who cares if the boys rooms are finished? ME! Who cares if the new fence is painted? Tony! (Hon, just get the fence 'up' so people can't see into our yard!) Who cares if the the house is perfect? Me, b.c. we need to make it look Eastery! Who cares if the yard is perfect? Tony, b.c. that's where we'll hunt all the eggs!

Well... First I need a list. Then I need a Plan. Then I need a lot of help!

But... it's all worth it... because a few weeks after that-- we'll have 7 different class swim parties, 7 different baseball team parties, and and endless summer of fun... so it's all good-
assuming we don't kill each other in the process.

We do love a challenge...