ALL STARS

Today TMAC got chosen to be the all-star coach for our #2 son's league! That's only a big deal because you have to apply, and then get voted in by all the families and other coaches, and the board of directors who eat, sleep, and drink baseball - literally (most of whom think they should be the one to get the position). AJ is happy that his dad got picked because he loves him to be his coach, but Tony is REALLY excited because he was worried he might not get it since we don't have the best record!

Me... While I'm very proud of him, and I understand it's great to be validated.... I'm sorta thinking... But I thought the season was almost over???

Blooming... good days!

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Originally uploaded by rmac4444

I love my blooms after a few rain drops... and if you look VERY closely... you can see BAD MAMA'S fabulous advice about keeping the snails away. Yes, siree... those would be white egg shells that I crumbled up after making Pioneer Womans fantastic omelets for Memorial Day Breakfast!

The boys wiped out the entire dish before I could try it, so I'm assuming it was good. They topped it off by eating Cinnamon Buns from a recipe I got from Crazy Mom with 4 boys!

For lunch... we had Martha Stewarts Mac and Cheese. Let me just say -- that cost a pretty penny to make! Holy cow. My hubby also told me that Pioneer Woman's Mac and Cheese thing was better... so if you like hot, try it.

For dessert I made some chocolate thing in my crock pot from Ramblings of a Crazy woman (which I loved because it was really easy), and I also made some peanut butter butterscotch treats from Wendy's recipes too.

I was on a roll... and now you should see the mess "THEY" had to clean up! woooohhh. Apparently it was worth it... because my boys are loving this bloggin' thing mommy does!

NOW... I just need to figure out how to fit in a bathing suit for the summer... and still read all the cool blogs with recipes.

Cleaning...

We're doing a little spring cleaning... and were sent this:
https://emp.ucsd.edu/swf/screenclean.swf

VERY helpful!

rainy days

I LOVE, love, love California because I'm not much for rain; but we've been doing baseball 7 days a week for 9 weeks now without a break! However, today... our games and practices all got rained out!!!!!! I decided today (just for today though- tomorrow I'll be praying for sun so I can lay out by the pool)... today I've officially decided that I love rainy days!

I stayed in bed until 1:30; at which point I moved from my bed to my bubble bath!

AHHHHHHH...

Yep... I'm thinking rainy days are "all that!"

Beaut-eee-ful

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Originally uploaded by rmac4444

Here was our last sunset in Hawaii a few months ago... that I ever so enjoyed!

Today I was thinking about how much I need to remember the beautiful things God uses to remind us how little we are in control of things.

But... I like control, I like order, I like having my own way.

And then I like to laugh because instead... God gave me 4 boys.

It really is a beautiful thing... soemtimes though, I just wish it wasn't so LOUD.

To School, or Not to THAT School???

Last night was open house for the boys, and I usually love to go; but last night I only went by sheer force of will because I'm just so tired. But we went, and I was disappointed in having made the effort because most of the work on display for the night was more "parent displays" than work "my boys had done." I've mentioned before my 'love' of parent projects, and am admittedly biased against them. But last night was ridiculous! You should have seen some of the work that some of these parents did! WOW, it was amazing, incredible... over the top in the extreme (And 'we' would definitely not be in that group). Let's see, there was the science fair projects "we did"- and the Whale diorama "we did" - and the Farmers community "we did"... etc-- some of the stuff displayed was truly amazing... but let's face it-- I can assure you that 99% of what we saw at open house was NOT done by 8,9 and 10 year olds! Weather displays with little pullys that drop dry ice in containers to show fog... ummm- it was REALLY cool, but... when the kids aren't even allowed to touch the stuff, pretty good indication that he wasn't allowed to participate in completing most of the project.

Either way, Tony and I oohed, and ahhhed at all the appropriate times... and patted them on the backs and told them all how proud we are of how hard they've worked this year... and then Kyle, in all his infinite wisdom- says : "Mom, that was just like a show the teachers have to put on. It's more like a competition for the parents to see who did the most work and spent the most money on all the projects they made us do throughout the year.

(Yep.... entirely too smart for his own good - that one!)

We helped a little on these projects, but I've told all the boys..."I've already had the opportunity to learn all this stuff, and I love you too much to rob you of the opportunity to experience this fantastic educational experience... so it's up to you to earn the grade you want because we're not doing it for you! (Which is code for "I already passed 3,4,5 grade - now it's your turn because I didn't much care for it the first time I had to do it- and I'm certainly not going to do it again. You're on your own kid")

Anyway... I will say this for Open House - what it REALLY means is:

School is almost done and Summer Vacation will be here in 12 day!!!!!!!!! YEAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Toof-less

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Originally uploaded by rmac4444

After weeks, and weeks... and then a few more annoying weeks... of wiggling and tugging... it FINALLY came out!

And fortunately for Caden, "Nana's toof - fairy" was around for the grand event... and being the baby of the "grand babies"... that very "lucky toof" got him $36!

SO... I'm considering how good I'd look without a few teeth myself! (OK, it was a fleeting thought because I'm a little to vain for that)

But sheesh... I could get some cute flip flops for $36!

I don't remember that same tooth fairy giving me big bucks like that when I lost my toofies! But is he cute or what!

Mother's Day

AJ shared his cooties with Caden and his beloved mother... so we spent the day in bed. But we're better today, so it's all good. I got some much needed rest, and the boys got to just "hang out with dad."

Only 17 teaching days left for this year, so I'll be rushing around like a maniac getting the yards ready for 7 team parties, and 6 class parties! OY! But, it's so much fun to see the kids all crazy and excited. It's also a BIG motivation to get a few of those things on the "to-do" lists actually get crossed off. The hard part will be in deciding which projects to tackle first, and which ones I'll be ok with not getting done... because the reality is... there's NO way we'll have time to do it all.

The most important party we'll be hosting is the the twins 8th grade graduation party. I want it to be really nice for them because they are the best niece and nephew we could have!

Go Royals

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Originally uploaded by rmac4444

Yesterday we had to pick up AJ and bring him home from school because he got sick. Not long after that, I got a voicemail saying not to "be alarmed when I saw Colton after school with a black eye because he'd had an accident at recess." Then, about 15 minutes before school was let out, "Einstein" decided to practice his swing in class and apparently misjudged how much room he needed, because he stabbed himself with his pencil and needed to go get stiches in his hand. (Not to worry, his hand was still numb so he was able to go straight to the field and play in his baseball game.)

Yep... today it's funny- yesterday... not so much.

AJ stayed home from school today (which, unlike his brothers, he NEVER does) in hopes that he'd be well enough to play in "the big game" tonight. He loves the game, but more importantly, he didn't want to let his team down! They were going into tonight's game with the same record as the other team (who is fairly good, but we'd already won them earlier in the season.)

We "were" in 1st place, and without AJ and his catcher, we didn't have much of a chance of winning tonight. BUT, AJ dragged himself to the field (against my better judgement), just in time to throw-up before the game. I took him home, and within about 45 minutes we drove back to the field because we were only down by 1 run. He was convinced that he felt good enough to "end the game for his team."

AJ ran to the field and struck out their clean-up batter, but coach daddy pulled him right away... he was just too sick. I was happy that daddy did that (even with some mad fans in the stands), and even more proud of my son because it really was all about "doing it for the team."

I love winning, I love seeing my boys do well... but more importantly- I love to see those moments when my son's character shines! He's talented yet humble, uplifting and encouraging, and tonight... he showed everyone that he knows what dedication is.

We ended up losing, but I was so proud of my son because he learned tonight that even if you lose, he still felt pretty good about doing his best! And his daddy... oh was he proud of his son!

Mother's Day Gift

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Originally uploaded by rmac4444

I might want one of these!

Party shoes

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Originally uploaded by rmac4444

After a mere 647 different pictures of various shoe shots... my hubby and I decided that this is THE one! (How sweet is he for humoring me)

These shoes are THE BOMB (as my boys would day)!

When my husband and I go to The Grand Wailea in Hawaii for New Year's Eve... I get all giddy because that means I get to go to one of my favorite shoe stores! Tony bought these shoes for me (and I felt guilty for at least a nano-second because they were very expensive) and after I got after him for spending way too much $, I threw my arms around his neck and kissed the bajeebers out of him because they are absolutely gorgeousssssss... and I love, love them... I mean, I love HIM for never, ever telling me no when it comes to shoes. Any wonder why I married him?

My camera doesn't do the shoes justice, so you'll have to just take my word for it.

Is that Red?

Yes... That would be red... and No, I obviously haven't had time to fix it yet. But, since I had a few consecutive hours without baseball today... and I was thinking about this:

http://themcmommychronicles.blogspot.com/2008/05/calling-all-party-people.html

So I thought I'd go in my closet and check out red party shoes... because there are a lot of different shades of red!
and since we're here in my closet (which used to be my oldest son's bedroom a few months ago)... here's some more shoes that I love.

and in the other corner of the room we have some more red ones too... and room for jeans.

Now... my boys and I debated today about the notion that one can have too many jeans. I tried to explain that girls have their slim jeans, their fat jeans, and their "I want to get back into these jeans"... to which my boys replied... Mom- they look all the same to us! Hmph-

My boys are well versed in the fact that girls can never, ever, ever ... have too many shoes! I'm thinking their wives will love me for that.

Now look closely... Do you see it? Do you see that poor empty space there in the middle? Begging to be filled... and loved... like the others?

AHHHHHHH I was so excited because I'm committed to not buying any more shoes until I have room for them. That means I'd have to throw some away- and I just can't bring myself to part with any of them. Thinking I was finally all done, and trying to decide if I wanted to get some heels or sandals, I went down stairs and discovered several shoes that needed to be put away. DARN... I guess I won't be getting a new pair of shoes tomorrow after all!

But... I think I know which pair of party shoes I'm choosing for McMommy tomorrow!

gas hogs

Because I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off... I haven't had much time for blogging and I've missed it! I haven't had nearly enough laughs from Jen... or enough advice from the boy mommy bloggers - but oh have I had fun watching the boys play ball! Only 19 more days of teaching at school too- so I'm looking forward to doing all the things I haven't had time to do! Yippee. (like getting my hair done! - yep, still waiting on that!)

We've been too busy going from one game to the next... and loving every minute of it - until we have to go to the gas station to pay over $4 per gallon! Is that ridiculous or what!!! Since I have to fill up the Excursion every week at the tune of $130, and Tony has to fill up the Tahoe at least 2 or 3 times a week at $105 a pop - we've been trying to be really good about not doing any more driving than we absolutely have to.

Too bad we both have cars that only get about 10 miles to the gallon. However, we didn't have too many choices in vehicles that would accommodate 4 car seats - and now we have to consider the fact that we usually have at least a couple of extra kids with us whenever we go anywhere, so there's no chance of down sizing cars to try and get better gas mileage. All we can do is hope that gas doesn't go up to $5 a gallon. urggggg, can you imagine?

so much for that tax refund we're all supposed to get- they might as well give it to a gas station and save us the trouble of handing over the money!