Checking In

OK, it's time for the colored chicks to be evicted from top post. It doesn't even really feel like we had Easter this year. We did eventually go to dinner with some family, but there were no egg hunts or anything like that. The Easter Bunny hid Ethan's "basket" (which was a huge white plastic mixing bowl for those who read the previous post) in the house so the chocolate wouldn't melt in the sun. The "bunny" had to hide it while Ethan was at Sunday School, since Dad had to work a 12 HOUR DAY ON EASTER!! Don't get me started on that again. You see, we have absolutely nowhere to hide anything in some shade right now. We have no bushes or trees (update to follow) or fencing or anything. We are just wide open for the world to see. That is... until...

A few days ago we got some trees. Ethan and I had been discussing trees for a few weeks. We kept seeing these really cool purple ones everywhere. We decided that we want a purple tree. Well, when we brought it up to Glen, he had the same thought. Cool, purple tree it is. Fast forward a week or so and Jerry comes to town. If there's one word for him, it's giving. He is forever doing things for other people. Well, he bought us some trees. They are the cutest little things. I have no idea how long it will be before they actually shade anything, but once they grown some, we will have a fantastic yard. I don't remember the real names, but there is the purple one out front, along with a white one (it's green now, but has white blossoms at some point). A Fire Maple (I think) will be what I see out the kitchen window - gorgeous! I forget what the other one is in the backyard. A Dogwood is along the side of the house that is in clear view from the street. That side of the house is open to where the church parking lot is, so it will be nice to have some privacy if the curtains are open on a Sunday. They have a LOT of parishioners. The tree above this paragraph is the red one out the back window. Thank you, Jerry!

At last! My room downstairs is painted. Now we just need to carpet it and trim the baseboards, closet doors and window. Then we need to get going on the middle and guest rooms. We have company coming this summer (YAY Tracie!!! [and family!!!]). Ethan keeps asking when are we going to get the pool table. I wish I knew. I just keep telling him "soon" but that doesn't do much to appease him.
We're going to another Tiger Cubs meeting tonight to check out the local pack. We went to one last week, but this one is closer and I think more people from his class might go. His best bud will be there, so I have a feeling that may make the decision of which pack to join.
His class had a field trip today to the local library. I wasn't sure what time they went, but since this is the view from the back yard, I can tell you they were there from 1:30-2:30.

I think that's all for now. OK, WAKE UP!! Wipe the drool from your chin and leave me a comment if you so desire.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail . . .

Hopping down the bunny trail, hippity, hoppity, Easter's on it's way.
Although you would never know it here. Glen has to WORK on Easter! Now, honestly, would YOU want a delivery on Easter?! Give me a break. They are asking people to please take delivery and people are saying "No, thanks!" So much for a "family friendly" company. If anyone wants to boycott Lowe's, you'll get no argument from me! I hope he has a short day. So Ethan and I will try to find the eggs that the Bunny will hide, and probably try to finish painting my room in the basement. Whoop-de-doo!!

Apparently, this is what it looks like when a hen eats Froot Loops.

So, my workshop is starting to really look like a room. It has gone from
this:
to this:

Ethan helped a little, but he didn't last too long.

Some may think the yellow is a bit bright, but it really looks good. On all of those home improvement shows they always preach "Don't be afraid of color!" so I decided to jump right in. Remember, it's a basement, so the brightness will be a good thing!
Spring break is almost over, it went by pretty fast. I'll do a recap of that next time. For now I need to go get a basket for tomorrow since I can't find the box buried downstairs that has the one's we've saved. Just what we need, another blue, orange and green plastic basket. Maybe I'll find something more creative that is actually useful. I do need a new kitchen colander. The garbage can in the hall bathroom is kind of small, we could replace that. Hmmm... I guess you'll have to tune in next time to see.
Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel.

Calgon, take me away!

As I write this, the boys are playing Battlefront in the living room. Not the "usual" boys I refer to, though. Ethan has his friend over for a sleep-over. I am exhausted. They are actually really good boys, for the most part. But put any six year olds together for too long, and the mood goes from happy, to silly, then comes crazy, until they start to bicker a little, then we get to irritable. Luckily, Glen came home in time to play with them for a while before bed - about another hour. Now peace has been restored in the galaxy. If they could just agree on which board game to play or which movie to watch, or even what flavor milkshake they want, it would help. But, of course, that can't happen. Hopefully tomorrow won't be as windy as today so we can play a little baseball.
Speaking of which, I took a few shots at practice on Saturday. They practice twice a week, games start in May.

The coach had him holding the bat really high up (see above), and he wasn't doing so hot, so when the coach let him hold it as he normally does, he did much better.


As you can see, is is a bit taller than most (he's on the far left), so the coach has to raise the tee for him, when he remembers. It is really frustrating for Ethan, because he swings either right above it, or if he swings low, he hits the tee from the awkward angle. It's almost like golf!
So far, he really likes it. He would just rather be pitched to. I keep telling him "next year!" It's nice that his best friend is on the same team.

Where did the week go?

If you find a few days somewhere, they're mine. I seem to have lost at least 2 this week. I know we lost an hour on Saturday/Sunday, but where are the rest of them? Anyhoo....
I had the house to myself tonight. Ethan had his first sleep over at his friend Aaron's house. They were quite excited and were telling everyone at school today. They are on the same tee-ball team (which starts tomorrow, I'll be sure to take pictures) so that will be nice. They both love Sponge Bob and Star Wars, but I guess almost every 6 year old boy does.
Glen and I were thinking we might catch a late movie since he worked the late shift today. That is supposed to be 10:30am to 7pm. Any guesses on what time he walked through the door? 9:00, you guess. No. Try again. 9:30? Nope. OK - I'll tell you. He walked through the door at 10:54pm. Yes, that's almost 11:00. And he is scheduled to work tomorrow (today?) at 6am (writing these things in the middle of the night gets my wording confusing). Well, his boss is so generously "letting him" come in at 7:30. I think there is a law about how many hours they have to allow between shifts, anyway. Isn't there? Well, if there isn't, there should be. So, needless to say, we didn't catch a movie. Maybe next year! The last movie I saw at a theater was Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (or is it Charlie & the Chocolate Factory?).

So this afternoon I had some time to play with some old photos.

In case you can't read it, it says that this is Judy's friend Karla's bird. We went to her daughter's birthday party a few summers ago with a water slide and balloon artist. Hey, wait a minute, that's where I got pink eye. That was nasty!

As Ethan always reminds me, Max and Oski are together in heaven. Now he says that they are entertaining Natalie.

OK, it's 2am and my computer just said it's scheduled to automatically shut down. I guess I should, too. I'll try to post some tee-ball pictures this weekend.

Yesterday was great.

We had beautiful weather and played in the park. Quite a change from today (which is actually Sunday, just really late since I'm a night owl).

Yes, Judy, I guess Spring is tornado season, but since there aren't usually any in this area, we weren't quite ready for them. It is very rare that the schools close for weather. It has to be REALLY bad. Ethan did have Monday off 3 weeks ago after the big storm, but they have to make it up at the end of the year, so he doesn't really get extra time off. I tried to explain that to him when on that Tuesday he suggested that maybe he shouldn't go to school for a few more days while things settle down.

Note to Mother Nature

WHAT IS UP WITH YOU? 3 weeks ago tonight you give us a tornado that did over $100 million in damages. The store that Glen works at is still working on repairing the roof. So what do you do tonight? Send us another storm, hit his building again, this time with lightening that starts a fire (with approximately 200 customers still inside), an air conditioning unit falls down from the ceiling - luckily nobody was hurt - and the rain comes pouring in. Supposedly Springfield is never hit with tornados. The one back in March was the worst in almost 30 years. Now we are somehow getting pounded right and left! This isn't fair. I am a California girl. I am not used to this craziness. Give me a few more seasons to get assimilated to this weather. Everyone warned us about WINTER, not Spring. Winter was a piece of cake. I'm not liking Spring so much. Yesterday evening we were at the park down the street playing baseball! The weather was gorgeous. 24 hours later we are in the basement hoping the power doesn't go out since we still don't have the back up sump pump (don't get me started on that!). The town's alarm got stuck on so we weren't sure when it was really safe. Not that we can really even hear it. If the door is open (which it shouldn't be in those conditions!) we can, but once it's shut, forget it. Hence, the 2 weather radios we have. The news finally made an announcement that the alarm was stuck on, but the warnings had passed.
I had to shut down the computer for most of the evening so I haven't gone through the park pictures yet. I'll post a few later. In the meantime, here's another quiz. What kind of pizza are you?

Cheese Pizza

Traditional and comforting. You focus on living a quality life. You're not easily impressed with novelty. Yet, you easily impress others.

What's Your Pizza Personality?

OK - so cheese pizza is my favorite. Actually, EXTRA cheese is even better. Great, now I'm hungry.

PS - I had to upgrade (or would it be downgrade) to red. Between the crazy weather and losing an hour of sleep, I think it is definitely warranted.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS REMINDER!

Remember to set your clocks 1 HOUR AHEAD before going to bed tonight (Saturday).
I hate losing an hour of sleep, but it will be nice having the sun for a little bit longer in the evening.