DEJA VU

18 years ago we had an unfortunate July 4th incident with Son A (Michael).  After a sparkler accidentally found his cornea and scratched it, we had an ER trip and some pain, but a happy boy the next morning.  What are the chances of that happening again?  

Fast forward to this past weekend and Son B (Andrew) was happily playing with a stick, fighting invisible bad guys, when he ran in the back door crying.  I knew enough from our last incident that an ER trip was in our future, so................

Where else does one enjoy spending a Friday night?  Honestly, its a pretty interesting place to people watch.  We got some great care, had a good night's sleep, sported an eye patch and glasses all weekend to keep out the light - and today he's good as new!

These boys are two peas in a pod (other than one being blessed with artistic talent and one, not so much).  

SPRING BREAK Florida

We were definitely the parents in the minority not allowing our daughter to head to Mexico for Spring Break.  So instead, she found the only other friend (Matti - who became Andrew's new best friend) who had such horrid parents as us and we all headed to Longboat Key Florida for a much needed bit of warm weather.  Problem was, for the first few days of the trip St. Louis had higher temps than sunny Florida - which was rainy and windy for the start of the trip.  

Things worked out just fine though.  Four days in the hot, Florida sun got the girls their much desired TANS

                                                             JOLLY COUSIN TIME
                                                    (Caroline & Andrew livin' the life)

                                                             COUPLE TIME

                                                            


                                                                    DAD TIME

                                              
                                           AQUARIUM TIME (evil sharks in background)
                

BEN TIME

                                                       TODD WITHOUT HIS I-PHONE

Even though "College Boy" couldn't make it, it was fun to have most of us together for an entire week.

If You Had an Extra $1,500 ....

What would you choose to spend it on?  A fun, warm getaway maybe?  Or some new furniture?  Or how about kidney stone surgery for your dog.  Oh yes, that's what I would choose.  Seriously, the cost of things in the dog health care world is worse than the people world.  We've already had x-rays and blood work to prepare for surgery day (tomorrow) and part of the special surgery package is sending the stones off to the University of Minnesota to be analyzed so we can figure out what special food she needs so this doesn't happen again.  So for the next two weeks I get to have a dog recovering from surgery with one of those cone things around her neck and I don't get a warm vacation or new furniture.  Good thing she is warm and cuddly!

Totally Random Post

My darling daughter likes to come home from school and make herself a nest on the couch to do her homework/text/catch up on American Idol.  Inside the nest today was hummus and carrots; dirty socks; a laptop; a backpack and assorted books; car keys - well you get the idea.  The nest was unoccupied as I was setting up MODERN FAMILY (Not a repeat tonight!!!) to record and I vowed to not clean it up as I normally do (nice mom that I am).  Daughter did not handle it well when I asked her to tidy up nest as she was heading out the door to a high school basketball game.  I held my ground.  I have reclaimed the couch!

My oldest boy is having an adventure - surfing, ALONE, in California.  I put my foot down, many times - but eventually caved.  He did master Italy last year, although not alone.  So, rental car and hotel, rented surfboard and purchased wet suit, he is having the spring break he wanted.  He's much like his mom who every once in a while needs a bit of alone time.

My little one - still so innocent and soooo sweet.  The other day we dropped off donations at the Shriner's Childrens' Hospital - unused Happy Meal toys and new books.  The kind man behind the counter wondered if Andrew might want a totally cool multi color light up sword.  Uh, yeah?  Even though these are very similar to the Made in China glow swords we succumb to every year on vacation that usually break by the end of the night, still - what boy can resist?  As we're back in the car he thoughtfully said, "Mom, I guess that's karma.  We did something nice for them and they did something nice for us."  How does he know what karma is?

I continue to be the work week widow of a man who travels the country - last week from Alaska to Seattle to El Paso with a cab that caught on fire somewhere in between.  We should downsize our house because he's here less than he's away.  He works hard and I am grateful.

As enthralling as this "random" post is, my Panera you pick two is now eaten and a brand new Modern Family is queued up waiting.  Thanks for passing the time!!

Hello Winter!

I don't mind winter too much.  Actually kind of enjoy it.  I've discovered I like to run when its cold out.  I like being at home and working on projects.  I don't mind the getting dark early.  What I do have a problem with is running errands in single digit temperatures with wind chills below freezing.  My day started with the garage door stubbornly opening about 7/8 of the way - making me a prisoner of my house unless I could figure out a way to get the car out.  When the McDonald's diet coke is calling you its a powerful motivator.

 After a few minutes on a ladder with a bungee cord,  I rigged up a solution.  We stayed tucked in the rest of the day, finally stashing all of Christmas away and not home schooling because when its your birthday and your 8, what would you choose?

Tonight, in the dark, empty streets I ventured out.    I did the Target, Qdoba (free salad), Walgreen's & grocery store circuit - topping it off with a visit to Petco for crickets and vitamins for Michael's gecko (a Christmas present from his girlfriend).  Her name is Belle (the gecko, not the girlfriend - that's Kirstin).  And Belle finally pooped today - am I really worrying about why the gecko hasn't pooped?  Yes, it was a little concerning.  All is well in that department.

The forecast is calling for even colder temperatures (yippee!!) but with my heated seats and remote start I think I will survive.   Hope its warmer wherever you are!

A New Year, A New Age

2010 46 2010 46 2010 46 2010 46 2010 46
So along with the world turning 2010, I get to turn a year older too - 46 sounds a lot better than 2010, but seriously - we're looking at 50 in the not too distant future. If there were a magic fountain of youth pill, I might be getting interested about now. I know I will get old, but I'm not feeling it yet, and I count that as a blessing every day. Having a functioning body and my health are true gifts. I don't need earrings, or clothes or a new camera (well, I kind of need a camera since I've lost mine) - a working, pain free body is the best gift of all.

We've become a fit family here at home. Sometime in 2009 my beloved decided it was time, once and for all, to drop a few pounds - 50 to be exact. He looks great and feels great. He runs, does the elliptical, shops for pants in normal stores. We don't run together, but I've developed a love of running - not too far - but I get it now, why people do it. Michael is on the cross country team at Maryville, Madeline runs all over the tennis court and Andrew is following in her footsteps with his Tuesday tennis with some home school buddies.

And because I can't think of anyway to segue into my daughter getting to play princess for a night with her beau Dan, but many of you have asked to see her pix - I'm including her night at the Veiled Prophet ball - a strange tradition in St. Louis Society, of which we're not a part but she's got the right connections and had a fun night.

Back From Hiatus

Life is just too dang crazy. Between Facebook, e-mail, regular mail, DVR, reading other people's blogs - my blog got a little ignored during the last few months. So, mainly because my friend Kelly Bishop isn't on Facebook (hint, hint) I shall try to jump back on the bandwagon. I think the last time I posted, it was the thick of summer. So, (a quick recap) we had a great time at the beach, everyone's back in school (Michael - junior in college, Madeline a senior in HS and 2nd grader Andrew), Todd still works in Chicago A LOT, but we make the most of our weekends together, I had a somewhat successful garden (if you like tomatoes) and a small amount of green peppers (4) and my dear dad celebrated his 81st b-day last night. I am so grateful for my parents and know how lucky and blessed we are to have them present in our lives.

After a very casual pizza and wing party at Gma's, the Jolly family took off for what can only be billed as the hayride from hell (at least to Michael and Madeline). What we thought would be an hour long venture into the woods ending in a bonfire, was more of a 10 minute ride capped off by 45 minutes of historical narration on the 2nd governor of Missouri (Frederick Bates, in case you were wondering). The hayride went to the Bates home where we were disembarked and listened to interesting (for the first 5 minutes) info on funeral practices in the early 1800's. Doesn't that sound fun? The big kids had the giggles so bad I had to pretend I didn't know them. Rarely, though, are the 5 of us together and it was fun to be out in the crisp, fall air as a family.