P.S.

I know I said I was going to stay away for a while, but I forgot two very important things that I keep forgetting to tell the grandparents and aunties on the phone--

Cinderella was asked to join NJHS (National Junior Honor Society) and we are proud of her. 

And--

Cinderella made it into the journalism class where next year she will write a newsletter about her school every month, and work on the year book.  She can't wait.  She qualified with her written work, her grades, her attitude, and her citizenship, and we think it's great she's able to have the opportunity.  Go Cinderella! 

And that's all.

(Except that Snow White and Sleeping Beauty are pretty swell, too, in case they feel a little left out of this post.  In fact, how about a picture of them sleeping with their cute new eye covers?  Adorable, no?  I think it is so funny, and cute, that they sleep with them every night.)

The Post Where I Don't Say Much And Promise To Do the Same For A Bit

I had hoped to post a few more things before heading to Minnesota--but it's not going to happen.  I have spent the few days since all of our company left either in bed (aaah, the joys of chronic pain) or gathering medical and financial information for my upcoming "vacation".   You seriously would not believe the amount of forms I have been filling out.  The bad news for my siblings: if I know of any medical problem you have, including alcohol and street drug use, the Mayo clinic now knows about it, too.  The good news: they don't know your names--just "Brother A or Sister B" AND since I sent in some of my forms a couple of weeks ago, my appointment on Thursday morning is now at 7:00 a.m. instead of at 6:30.  Phew.  Maybe I'll actually get a shower in that morning now. 

Anyway, so hopefully when I get back, I'll post about our adventures with my sister and her family, our adventures with Grandma B, and the adventures of my spectacular visit to the famed Mayo Clinic where I was healed of all ailments, got a suntan, rested and rejuvenated, and lost 10 pounds to boot. (Or something like that.  You never know what could happen.)  :)

See you in a couple of weeks...

Beauty and the Beast

Why is there not a little 'add video' icon on my blogger drafting a post thing-a-ma-jig anymore?  I cannot figure out how to add video.  Maybe I have to post it somewhere else, and link it?  I have no idea.  So, until then, these pictures of Cinderella will have to do.  Unfortunately, they are pictures from my camera, and the ones on her camera are better--but I can't find it.  At any rate, she played the Milkmaid in the village scenes, and a plate in the castle scenes.  She loved it, and did a great job.   It was a good experience for her.

A Quick Thought

If you decide to go shopping with your three daughters who are teen and pre-teen age, take ear plugs with you.  The music in those teenage stores is awfully loud and irritating. 

(Yes, I'm old, thank you very much.  And now if you'll excuse me, I must go drink my warm milk, and shuffle off to bed.)

April Fools

So....the last time I went to my Headache doctor, he said he was really sorry he didn't help me, and even more sorry he had run out of ideas or ways to help me.  He is convinced there is a reason I have daily headaches, and that someone would know the answer.  Trouble is, who would that be?  He didn't know.  He couldn't begin to guess, but his top choices would be a rheumatologist, an endocrinologist, a hematologist, an infectious disease specialist, a cardiologist, a vascular specialist, or an otolaryngologist--to name a few.  Sounds fun, right?

He suggested I start looking around for these specialists, and begin making appointments to investigate.  He was fully aware of the headache (pun intended, he said) that looking into all of these doctors and appointments could be, so suggested I head to the Mayo Clinic or the Cleveland Clinic instead.  That way, I, and my records, stay in one place, and all of these doctors come to me.  Which does sound a bit easier, but still overwhelming (in the logistics, financial, and physical kinds of ways). 

I put off the making of the appointment.  I have a friend who keeps badgering me to make the appointment already (and offered to help with some of that financial stuff).  I have an aunt and uncle who offered me a ride.  I have a husband who is incredibly supportive and would like for me to feel better.  And I finally called.  The first time I talked to neurology, and they thought maybe they could get me in by June or July.  Then someone else said sometime in the fall.  And then when I kept feeling like I needed to call for more information again one day, I got an appointment for April 1st.

My friend is meeting me there (and taking care of the hotel, flight, food, car, and fun--thanks!) for the first half of my appointment (I'll be there for 4-14 business days) and I will stay with another dear friend the second half of my appointment.  It will be good.  In some ways I am dreading it, in others I am looking forward to it.  I think I have run the gamut of emotions.  My main thought: 'Really?  The Mayo Clinic?  Me?  Weird.'  That, and: 'How can it be possible to fill out this many forms for one stinking appointment?'   

Snow White said, "Won't it be funny if you get there and they say, 'You don't really have an appointment--April Fool's!'?"

But, I don't think that would be funny.  At all.  I think it will be funny if I get there and they say, 'You are a fool.  Just stop wearing jeans and your headache will go away.  Now, Happy April, enjoy your foolish day!'  Or something equally ridiculous and simple.  I'm not holding my breath for that, though.  But, it will be nice if they can figure something out.  Anything.  Let's pray they can!

St. Patrick's Day

So....where have I been?!  I can't believe it's been a week.  Long story made short:  my sister decided to come visit with her four kids, my mother-in-law is coming, and then I'm going on a short trip I'm preparing for--story about that soon.  Busy, busy. 

So, for St. Patty's Day we decided to do something super delicious and frightfully appetizing, and colored the dough for Pigs in a Blanket green.  King said he didn't think you could make those things less appealing.  The kids loved them, though, and then my sister and I snuck out of the house for a real St. Patrick's Day treat, a mint Oreo shake from Dairy Queen.  Yum-o.

About this St. Patrick's Day thing--why did I bother to change clothes after I was already dressed in something I realized was not green?  Who's going to pinch me?  Just King, and he doesn't care what I'm wearing--he pinches my bum all the time.  Am I a Scrooge, or what?  

Okay, I'm off to make cute baby hairbows and install hardware on my kitchen cabinets.  I love projects when visitors come.  (Especially when they do most of the work.) ;) 

Coming soon--videos of Beauty and the Beast, the Spring Choir Concerts, and the low-down on the next treatment plans for my stupid head.  (And by stupid head, I mean my unrelenting hurting head, not the kind of stupid head I am when I ask the girls to brush their teeth AND their hair in the same hour.  Horrid.)

True Sorrow

Overheard in the car today:

"I could not even imagine life without lip gloss.  How terrible for her," lamented Sleeping Beauty.

Yes.  Life is really rough for some people, isn't it?
 

No One...da da da da...

Cinderella is rehearsing for the middle school's Spring Musical.  Somehow, I got roped into helping make costumes for it.  (And so did two of my friends!)  Eight French Peasant hats, three candle costumes, and gloves and footwear for the Beast.  Not to mention somehow figuring out how to turn a hoop skirt into a teapot costume--that we tackle tomorrow night at dress rehearsal.  Fun stuff.  

Yep, you guessed it, Beauty and the Beast.  Cinderella is a Villager with a singing solo--the Milkmaid.  She sings, "Bonjour, Bonjour, How is your wife?" (Only she says 'life' instead of 'wife' because there are only five boys in the play--Beast, Gaston, Gaston's sidekick, Belle's Father, and Lumiere, so she's singing to a girl...anyway...)  And she sings another part, "These grapes look good," or something.  She is also a plate in the castle, and is pretty excited.

And, can I just say, Beauty and the Beast songs are so much better stuck in your head than Annie ones.  Although, why must it be a song I don't know the words to?

"No one fights like Gaston,

No one...(blanks)...like Gaston,

No one's hair is incredibly thick as Gaston's,

No one..la da da da da da...manly. 

Um...da..la..da da da da da dunly..

"Every last inch of me's covered with hair."

No one da da da da, no one la da da da...

All day long I am singing it.  I even sat sewing at the school today while I listened to the song, and I still got nothin'.  It's driving me crazy. 

The kids are doing a great job, though.  They know the song.  The play is a huge undertaking for a middle school choir, but I think they'll pull it off.  (7:00 Friday and Saturday and her school--and at just $5 adult/$3 kids, it's a pretty good deal for a date/family night!)  And the set looks awesome.  (Speaking of manly, my manly hubby helped build it.)  We're anxious for all of the kids to show off their hard work and just be done with it already.  Bring on the weekend.  Soon, please!

Serving Time

We have a little rule in our family, when it comes to being on time for church.  If you make us late, you get time out.  For every one minute your actions or negligence cause us to be late, you receive ten minutes of quiet time out on Sunday afternoon.  It works pretty well, and we've had the rule for ages. 

This morning, I earned 120 minutes of time out.  (Apparently, I should take sleeping pills (1/2 of one) before 10:00 p.m., or I can't wake up.)  I've served some of my time out, and am heading back to bed shortly, so I should take care of it. 

Others in the household had a harder time serving their required time.  Like the one who got 300 hours.  Luckily, King took pity on her, and let her count 1 minute of piano practice for two minutes of time out.  But, she couldn't stand playing piano that long, and is bothered we're actually making her sit around for so long--without a book.  Sad. 

I would actually take her time out minutes from her, (if I could be guaranteed no interruptions--true time out) if I weren't so bugged at her.  But, I'd like to see her suffer today. 

I guess I need more time out for having a bad, unforgiving attitude.  Darn.  I think I'll get right to that...

Mistakes Last Forever Sometimes

 *Did I say that my next posts would be informative?  Have you read this blog long?  If not, I really hope you didn't believe me.  My posts are rarely informative.  Sarcastic, snarky, random, ironic, whiny, rambling, babbling--sure, but not really informative.  So, now that we've got that out of the way, let's carry on, shall we?*

King made a grave mistake last month.  He was being helpful, and probably doing the right thing when it comes to parenting and husbandly duties, but he will regret it for many, many years.  I don't think he thought before he acted, and he certainly didn't take into account the ramifications.  I'd feel sorry for him if I weren't so thrilled.

King helped the girls with their science fair projects this year.  Up until this year, I have taken the role of "parent helper" when it came to this science project thing. Sure, they do the real work.  But, I take pictures, help come up with ideas, charts, tables, displays, and am chief editor when it comes to the reports.  But, not this year.  King took over, and while it was mostly necessary because of my chronic pain and I don't like when my condition takes parts of life from me, I will say that this was one thing I was a bit relieved to miss this year.

So, why was it a mistake for King?  This year, for the first time, all three girls received 1st place ribbons at Science Fair.  And Snow White won the school Science Fair, sending her to the Regionals.  So, you see the problem for him?  It would not be practical to go back to our normal plan of having Mom- the 'blundering science fool', helping when we could have Dad- the 'King of science and all things experimental' helping out. Poor guy.

And, lucky me.  I cannot accurately express to you how much I dislike the whole Science Fair Project thing.  Just knowing that next time it rolls around the girls will want Dad and not Mom to help puts a little spring in my step. Joy in my heart.  Sunshine on my shoulder.  Who says the best things in life aren't free?  :)

The Best

I've been thinking today that I have the best family ever.  Not only is my husband the best, and my girls, but I have a great extended family with lots of kind, smart, giving people.  They are all such great examples to me.  I'm lucky enough to talk to my sisters a few times a week, and they even call me back when all I want to do is complain.  They are the best. 

In fact, just days after I wrote this Random post, guess what showed up at my doorstep?  A box full of an assortment of hot chocolate.  Peppermint hot chocolate. That's right, my littlest sister, who hasn't had an easy life the last few months, took time out of her day to search out and send me some treats.  Yum.  And so nice.  Definitely not needed, but it brightened my day, and every day I've had hot chocolate since.

And I have fabulous friends.  The best.  So, anyway, I've just been thinking today that I am so lucky.  Blessed, actually.

That's all.  --New, informative posts coming up soon...hopefully.--