So, football season is upon us. Everyone close to me knows that this causes me added stress. Billy coaches our 2 nine year old boys on a team. He is gone every night for 2 weeks and then 3 nights a week once school starts. Games are on Saturdays. Now, my 5 yr. old is also playing. Ugh. I love the games and my kids playing sports, but it is so draining and time consuming. Plus, my daughter does dance on Tuesday nights as well.

I know, I know. I/We are crazy.

Other news: My van got fixed around July 11th. A week later the air conditioner went out. I got it fixed and a week later it went out again. I love van!

The summer was good. Way too short. I have to start work again on Monday. Back to the SPED kids and my school yr. routine. The week after that all the kids start school. It is always a hectic time of yr. for me. Getting back into the morning routines....eat, get dressed, get stuff together, get in car (on time), take everyone where they need to go, then myself. Super fun!

On a lighter note....we did get to go to Vegas in May, St. Louis in July, and a float trip last weekend. All of these trips were just me and Billy. Well deserved and very fun!

Our float trips (this was the 3rd annual) are the most adult fun I have ever had. We all laugh so hard our sides hurt for days. Our friend actually pulled a muscle laughing so hard.

That is all for now. Talk at ya later.

Say What?

OK. So, I find out it is going to cost us $2000 to fix my very old minivan that only cost us $2500 to buy over a year ago. Hmmmmm.................let me think. NO WAY!

Apparently, something called the head gasket blew in the engine. That is a really bad thing.

Just so you all don't worry that a mother of 5 doesn't have a vehicle.....Billy has a Ford F150 and a little blue Ford Escort. So, ironically the truck, that Billy is often caught calling 'his', is now for my use until we figure out what to do.

We do have a friend that is a mechanic trying to figure out a better solution. Such as a whole new engine, which is apparently cheaper than just a head gasket.? Sure, OK, whatever. Someone just please give me some solution so I don't feel so helpless.

Because of the van situation I went ahead and threw myself a 'pity party'. I am very good at organizing these sorts of things. I wake up cranky and immediately decide I am disgustingly fat, ugly, and very stupid. Then I make everything I do 10 times harder than it should be all day.
I think of everything bad that has ever happened to me, relay all of these things to my dear ever listening family and friends, and eat non stop all day long.

No one else ever comes to my pity parties. I wonder why?

Just another Monday morning

Here we go....Wake up get dressed, get kids that are already up breakfast, get other kids up and moving. OK...the count down to when summer school starts (this is optional not needed). It is 7:50am, we need to leave here in 30 minutes. Are lunches made, are you fully dressed, teeth brushed, hair down (we have some Alfalfa issues), gone to the bathroom, etc....?

Rush, rush, rush....OK everybody in the van. Is everybody buckled? Do you have everything? Here we go. What is that? Choke-cough. Oh my gosh! Where is that smoke coming from? I will just drive a little further and see if it stops. No, no it is getting worse. And we turn around. I call Billy. "So, apparently there is something wrong with the van." He asks, "What?"

"Well, there is smoke...and NOW the check engine light has come on," I say very calmly as I usually do. "OK", he says," Where are you?"

And here it comes....almost....yes the breakdown. "Well now I am going back home bec. the smoke has engulfed the car and we are all about to pass out. I can't believe this is happening, of course it is happening to me. What doesn't happen to me? Now the kids will miss a day of school (see there are prizes and gifts for attending) and they are upset about it. I have no car today. Did you leave the truck keys at home? NO...GREAT! THAT IS HELPFUL. I had so much to do today. Nothing can ever be easy. Calm down? Calm down? Seriously? Fine bye."

He calls back about 20 minutes later. "Have you calmed down?" he asks frighteningly.
"Yes, I am fine."
"I am going to come home early so we can take the van to get looked at and you can take the truck to the baseball game. OK?"
"OK. Thanks baby."
"Um...Were you really upset about the van, or the fact that your two toughest kids will now be home with you all day?"

The nerve really. To ask a mom that question. I love my kids equally. I enjoy them!

"I am upset about the van."
"Uh huh....more or less than the kids staying home?"
Seriously, I am going to hurt him.

So, all I am saying is welcome to my world. Where anything and everything can and will happen.

Taking the plunge

So, after months and months of reading Katie Roose's blogs....I decided to create my own. I am new at this so bare with me.