Family First

It's official -- the JJ's have officially pissed me off! I guess that's not too hard to do but I've been trying really hard to keep my cool. See, JJ stands for our code word for this so-called church and "men of God" we are having a community controversy with. JJ stands for the followers "Jim Jonesers." Get it. They drank the punch, the jungle juice and so now they are with "the others." Anywho, it's really getting old. These people are psychotic. We had signs made up to protest and the one that was down at the park for our neighborhood yesterday mysteriously came up missing this morning. OK, if you are supposed to be Bible-toting Christians, why would you steal from a neighborhood park of which you are not a part of our community. The pastor said the "olive branch" that he extended to us has now be rescinded -- ewwww we're so scared you freakin' old pervert. I am so tired of people, I guess all people in general, who use the Bible to their advantage in whatever situation they see fit. It is a disgusting display of an overly big ego from an aged and decrepit old man. Things have been crazy this past week. I'm actually going to do billing today which I haven't done in over a month. I feel sorry for my friend since I haven't gotten any of her billing done and this is what she counts on for an income. Sorry for the rant but evidently our signs are getting under the man's skin and he wants them down. Sorry Charlie -- they are on private property and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it. There's this thing called an Amendment and we have the right to express ourselves and use our freedom of speech to make our point also. You aren't the only who can quote the Bible when needed. So drink some more punch you old FART!!! Haw yew doin'??

YUMMY: Doesn't that look delish? Chicken Bacon Sami from Pioneer Woman is the best. And all the boys in my life love it too. Thinking this and some fresh veggies with dip would be a good supper -- need something quick and not too complicated on practice nights. Visit her website for the ingredients. It's yum!

Crazy baseball games, batting practice and birthday parties all day Saturday. Brent worked overtime all week and 14 hours Saturday but he made it to Liam's game Saturday night. Me and the boys left our house at 9:15am to go to Target and pick up birthday presents for friends and between all the activities, parties, practice and games we didn't make it home until 9:45 pm. I was sooo exhausted and so was Brent from working. He really enjoyed Liam's game. It was the first one I watched and I felt like throwing up. I get so nervous for him so I probably won't be going to any until Brent has to go out of town on business at the end of the month. I think he feeds off my nervousness because he said he could feel me staring at him and being scared for him. Two kids got hurt (hit by the ball) at this game and at his first game the pitcher on the other team got hit in the leg by the biggest and hardest hitter on our team and he went out in an ambulance. I believe he broke his shin bone (or whatever bone that's actually called) so Liam is so little and with absolutely no meat on him I'm just afraid if he gets hit by one of these big oafs he'll suffer the same fate. Poor little man. Brent took him and bought him a two hundred dollar bat and a new pitching machine. YUP, we already had both but he thinks he'll do better with the bat Liam wanted in the first place. Whatever. Liam's team is the Astros so I bought Brent all this Astros stuff to wear to Liam's games and I bought red shirts for us and a red hat for Liam to support Ian's team. I know, I know, Dave wouldn't agree with those unneedy purchases but sometimes you just have to show you care and support them. I bought what I thought was the cutest baseball ring at Gaudie & Co. the other day but my friends and Brent said it was the ugliest thing they had ever seen. Brent asked how much it was but I wasn't about to confess so he said "if you paid more than what it cost to get it out of a gumball machine you got screwed." I responded with "move the decimal over and now you know." WTF> it was pretty funny. I love my ring and they can laugh if they want, it's beautiful. Or whatever.

Sunday we really enjoyed our day together. Ian stayed the night with my neighbor and her kids after Hunter's skating party so the morning was really quiet because Liam slept pretty late. We drank coffee out on the porch and watched the sun come up. Still exhausted from all the action this weekend. We took about 5 boys down to the baseball park at the end of the road to play baseball. I didn't really play, I just picked up all the foul balls. But they had to try out the new pitching machine and bat and then before we (the adults) were ready to go the kids were whining because they were hot, hungry, thirsty. We even skipped our class and boiled some spicy shrimp. They were so good with a cold coronas. Needless to say, Ian went to his grandparents for awhile then he came in and took a shower and went straight to bed. It was after 11 before I had everything cleaned and back in its original place and backpacks ready for school. The alarm going off at 5:20 this morning was way too early for me. Brent's getting ready for his trip to North Carolina and then he'll be going to Atlanta after that. Not sure when that trip will be, but hopefully before school gets out, and not the last few days when I'll need help with end of the year parties. But his birthday is in June so I definitely need to be thinking/planning. It just seems like this other stuff is taking up way too much of my time, and my family's time. Time to get back to what matters - them. If the neighborhood goes up in flames, I'll say I told you so as we back out the driveway to head out of town. Liam seems to be worried because we don't like what we're hearing about the future of the school district with all the low-income section 8 housing and apartments that are going up in the future so I visited several schools and got packets and tuition information. I told Liam he may end up in Catholic school and he was not happy but I told him it's only if all this comes to fruition. I went to Catholic school for 9 years, wore uniforms and prayed and went to mass and guess what? I'm still alive and probably a better person for it. The future holds the answers. I can only pray for the boys' sake that it doesn't end up like I think it will. That land in Fannett is looking better and better. After school today we have two practices at the same time in different locations and a meeting. Wonder how I'm going to pull this off? Busy, busy. Any advice, just let me hear it. Ciao for now.

Did ya miss me??

Sorry for the absence, I guess life happens when we least expect it.

Hope everyone's Easter was great and family-oriented. We had a nice day and the boys loved playing at their uncle's house all day. It felt good to get away and forget about the daily grind, even though the boys had to go back to school on Monday. What's up with that? We have always had the Monday after Easter off, except for this year. I really missed that. It's been so long that I think I actually forgot about blogging. Too many things going on that interrupt my daily life and keeping us very busy. Two boys in baseball is just about killing me. Different practices on different days in different locations now and then CCD two nights a week along with trying to fight this horrible situation going on in our small community. It is taking up all my time. I haven't done any billing in almost two weeks and it was spring break before that so I need to get off my ass and get some work done. Hopefully we are making progress with our campaign but who knows --- it is way too detailed and boring to go into right now. Needless to say we have personally met and became friends with all of our neighbors and over 85 people came to our meeting last week. In the midst of all this and the legal decisions we've all had to make, we made a unanimous decision to form a neighborhood/community association and try and revive some of the things the community voted on and did in the 50's, 60's and 70's. I think this could be a good thing if we decide to stay here, but Brent went and looked at four acres in Labelle and then me and Brent went and looked at two houses on Thursday when he was off work. He won't compromise on the land with acreage, so hell, for all I know we may be renting a beach cabin if we cannot stop this and have to move sooner than we planned. We already decided to not talk about building anymore until we know what's going to happen in our area. He is working so much overtime and with practices and games I'm going to be really busy and then he's scheduled to go to Atlanta, South Carolina and Colorado for training so that's going to be real fun -- being a married single mom again.

On a better note, Ian's first game was yesterday and he did really well. I was kind of nervous for him but that kid seems to take it all in stride. His coach was really impressed with him and so far he seems to really like it. Liam's first game is tomorrow night and I really want to go with him and Brent but we have a neighborhood meeting so one of us has to go to that to give our updates -- too much activity. Ian has practice too so I guess I really need to start relying on the crockpot and quick fix meals and doing some meal planning and casseroles (as much as Brent doesn't like them) because he'll be working and we usually bring him supper too. Geez Louise!! Anywho, haven't caught up on any of my blogs lately. Seem to be really disappointed in humanity lately and very critical of religions that condemn people, communities, or other religions. As a Catholic we have a set pattern to our mass and it leaves really no room for deviation except during the homily where the priest can try to make you understand the reading from the Gospel and how to incorporate God's words and wisdom into your everyday life. In all my years of being a Catholic, I have never heard a priest speak to the parishioners condemning other religions, people in the community, the community itself or for that matter, anyone outside of our religion. However, we witnessed first-hand a preacher (I guess he's supposed to be a man of God however he was far from it) condemn our community and told his congregation that because of our controversy and not wanting to help with his "vision" we would be sentenced to "Hell." Ummm, what you old, old freak???? I have never witnessed a man use the Bible for his own gain, to twist the words to accomodate his "vision", to use the Bible as an evil tool. It was ghastly, just disgusting. Because we (the whole community) do not agree with his "vision" in our small area, we will suffer and be sentenced to the pits of hell according to your Bible. I wanted sooo badly to go off but Brent said he's heard it millions of time. I just get so upset because as a strong, confident, intelligent woman, I would never let a man/preacher/priest tell my children which race, religion, community to condemn. I thought we were all equal in Christ's eyes. I thought that's how everyone feels. Whatever. I told my neighbors this church has some kind of hypnotic hold on its congregation. You know, now we just refer to him as "Jim Jones" and that the congregation "drank the punch." They were dying laughing when I made that inference but its really weird. Anyway, don't drink the jungle juice if you are offered any... we didn't and we were actually offered punch. My sister, Tricia, said "don't forget because you get all thirsty and parched and take the punch and drink it and then next thing you know you're missing." I laughed because I do forget easily and if I would have been thirsty at the time, hell who knows where I'd be right now! So, have a great week and enjoy this spring air. It's been beautiful here. Try and take time to enjoy the small stuff. I know I've been trying to do that lately even though all faith in humanity has just about diminished. It's really sad to see evil at work. Ciao!

Hillary's Comin' To Town

I won't say I told you so, I'll type it. I Told You So ... Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is coming to town!

I told you she'd do it since Obama was here on Thursday and our primary is Tuesday, March 4th, she'll be at our regional airport on Monday which just happens to be around the corner from my humble abode so me and a few friends will be staking out our spot early to get a good glimpse and maybe be able to partake in the rally. Who knows? I may even go buy her book and let her sign it for me. I respect her as a powerful woman, but as President? Eh, I'm not there yet but then again anything is better than McCain. She'll be representing our country against countries where women aren't even allowed to look a man in the eye so I'm just a little worried about how they will respond and respect her in those circumstances -- just a mere eight months until the deciding factor and that's a lot of time to think about my vote and the impact it will have on me, my family and my children. MMM

The last few days have been busy with Brent working so much and having to shuttle kids from one practice to another to here and there and fit in feeding the little heathens somewhere in there and then collapsing at the end of very, very long days!

So, today was really busy too. Brent had to work overtime like he's been doing all week so we laid around and then bounced on over to the skating party for the cutest little girl who is an absolute doll! As we were leaving the party I ran into my neighbor who wanted Ian to stay and keep skating with her kids and then take him over to their house to play -- who was I to say no? After all, Liam and I were headed to Academy to get all new baseball gear. They are both doing really well and I love the part of picking out all the clothes and new cleats and little matching belts and practice clothes. Liam was like "it's just baseball pants" and I was like "but y'all look sooo cute in them I could just scream!" Anywho, we were in there for like two hours and Brent was home by the time we got home and Ian's still playing at my neighbors. It's kind of nice not listening to them fight all the time. Brent's taking them to the monster truck show tomorrow so I'm kind of excited about that. I'll have all afternoon to myself so me and Tricia are planning on Barnes & Noble and some much needed alone mommy time. Our classes are going great, but I still have not completed my homework from two weeks ago -- I'll squeak by again this week and then we won't meet for two weeks because of spring break and Easter so I'll catch up then. Who said procrastinators do not have PLANS! I have big plans -- to do it later. OK that was funny.

It was sooo beautiful today. It was about 74 degrees, sunny, warm, blue skies and everyone was getting along and Ian just came home and told me he got to play in the new sand pile the entire time. Give that kid a sand pile, some toys, a shovel and he'll stay busy until dark. Add in a dirt bike, ramps and a four-wheeler and you won't hear from him for days -- unless he gets hungry. Sooo temperamental and yet so easy to please.

Hop on over to Pioneer Woman Cooks to see her latest recipe. http://www.thepioneerwomancooks.com/

Going to try it tomorrow night for dessert so I guess I need to make a trip to the grocery store which has been few and far between this week that's for sure. Going to get back on schedule next week and it's our last full week of school and baseball before spring break. Yeah for me. Can't wait to sleep late. Ciao Bella!

Does This LOOK familiar??

To explain the picture, see the last paragraph. I was going to add it to that paragraph but they are so hilarious I wanted to make sure you could see them right off the bat. I don't know about y'all, but this looks awfully familiar at my house. As we like to say in our house, he TALKS more than I do, but I NAG more than he does!

OK, she is too cute. Is she dyed PINK?!?!

This morning we went and signed up both little dudes for baseball. WTF were we thinking??? They really want to play but this will be the first year both of them will be in the same league at the same time. Liam has always played soccer, since he was 7, and Ian played t-ball with the Y last year which was really easy. So we're trying to gear up for this. Santa brought them new bats, gloves, some super duper "special" bat (whatever), and a pitching machine to try and get them up to par so they've been hitting balls all day. Whatever, I'm bored with that.

So, we went to Academy to get Ian some new shoes. He wants some like his friend down the street that don't actually tie. They look like they tie but they don't. Again, whatever! So, we're looking and we find the exact ones (that don't actually TIE) and I go down the line of shoes telling Ian "Sweetie, look at all these. This one doesn't tie, this one doesn't tie, and neither does this one so just pick which one you want." So he picks out the one he wants and we're looking for his size. About that time Brent shows up from out of the shadows because I have no idea where the hell he has been the entire time and he said "I thought he wanted the ones that don't really tie" to which I said "umm, yeah, we just picked some out. All these are like that." He was like "OK, are you really that stupid?" I was like "Wha? Wha?" Well, he proceeds to show me that all the shoes are tied like that with their little laces nicely tucked away inside. We just started cracking up. I never thought about that, they all looked the same. OOPS. Sorry Ian, I made a faux-pas. Pick out a different pair ................ which took another half-hour. GEEZ Louise! I hate Academy.

Better go help out with dinner. Brent's grilling steaks on the barbie and I feel the urge to .... nag. Yup, I have an overabundance of nagging built up and I must release it. You know, like that feeling when you have an overabundance of gas-- same thing -- you have to release it or you're bound to blow at the most inopportune time. I like to try and nag when everything is relatively calm so that we don't get too overstimulated. I'll let you know how it turns out. Ciao bella!!