Z..............

Jacqui the Dolphin Lover has challenged me to come up with 10 "Z" words and explain why I picked those words.
In Shakespeare's King Lear "Z" is used as an insult.
"Thou whoreson zed! Thou unnecessary letter!" (II.ii), intonating that Z is a useless letter, an afterthought.

Here at the Zoo we find "Z" to be a much more valuable symbol. Beautiful even. It can easily be flourished in any typeset or can be left in nice straight lines.
I tend to use a European "Z" with a line at midstaff to distinguish it from a sideways "N". (at least on practice balls.)

Having a last name starting with "Z" is handy too. On any alphabetical list, I can easily find us. You don't have to write your whole name on belongings. When the coach picks up an errant ball with a "Z" on it, he know exactly which child it belongs to. Monogramed stuff is easy to find. The "Z's" never get snapped up.

Obviously word number one is...

Zoo.
We really have our own Zoo here. Sure, it's chaos with 4 boys (plus one visiting boy) running around all day long but we do have some things in common with real zoos. We have the same goals: education, conservation, respectful care, and recreation. We strive to learn about our place in the world and to respect all the living things around us. We do our best to be good stewards of the gifts that are given to us. We do our best to provide an environment that is stimulating, caring, comforting, and educational. And...like modern zoos, we do all this without iron bars. (Though they might come in handy some days.)

2. Zany
We're kind of silly and foolish here. ZooDad and I have a sick and twisted sense of humor and we love every moment of it.

3. Zoom
On the go. All. The. Time. For "home" schoolers, we don't stay at home much. We do a lot of van-schooling, porch-schooling, forest-schooling, and waiting room-schooling. It also describes the motion of at least 2 of the Zoo Children. They lack any kind of speed control and only have two settings: on and off.

4. Zaftig
That's me all over. Look it up. It's a good word.

5. Zig-zag
It's appropriate that the word that describes the lovely "Z" shape, had so many "z's" in it. Non-linear motion. Not following a straight path. A path with sharp bends and turns.In other words, Life. The trick in enjoying life is how smoothly you navigate these sharp turns. Do you just barrel along right over them, not deviating from your straight path? Do you worry and watch, anticipating the turn and consumed with staying on course? Or do you just ride and along and wait to see what pops up around the bend?

6. Zest
An enjoyment or excitement. Do I even have to explain this one? I often tell people that if they even need time to relax and just to have fun, to just come on over. You can't stay sad here. You can't be bored here. And it never...ever...quiet.

7. Zealous
I'm one of those people who goes overboard in just about everything. From making a birthday cake to knitting a pair of socks, I can't just do something "a little." Not only to I have to do it "all out," but I am driven to get it done. For me the destination is just as important as the journey.

8.Zing
A lively and energetic quality. It's funny that most "Z" words are related to movement and energy. Maybe by taking on a "Z" as your label, you bring in some of the energy that is implied by the letter. That might explain the boys, who are playing "launch your brother like a rocket" in the living room as I type this.

9. Zebu
Because I am a biologist by training, we sing it the correct way.
"Zebu! This is a song about a boy...a song about a little boy and his Zebus...a song about a little boy and his 3 Zebus... the little boy who had a sick Zebu, a sad Zebu, and a mute Zebu. and also a hippo."

10. Zenith
The pinnacle. The highest point.That's what we strive for. Not the highest point that anyone can attain, but the highest point that we can attain individually. My own personal zenith. If you don't try to do your very best, your personal best, not a "best" based on anyone else's abilities....then what are you doing in life?

So, reader, do you have a letter that is important to you? Leave a comment if you plan to do your own "Important letter." Or if you haven't found your letter yet, I can give you one to think about. Even though I know, that Z is the best letter out there.
ZooMom is the Zippiest.
z00t

Sittin' and knittin'

We had four more days of school. All went well with my boys. Nephew is starting to realize that we work hard, every day. And that 90% is not acceptable.
This is a new concept for him. We'll see if he can handle it or if he'll decide it's time to go back to public school.
Here's what Max the Cat did every day during school time.*

Notice the proximity of the chair and bookbag. The cat is lucky he doesn't get stomped on.

*Except for a brief protest in which he sat on J's math workbook and refused to budge and eventually started howling at anyone trying to force him to move. The cat has issues.

In the afternoons, the boys and I trimmed the hedges, pulled weeds, and moved mulch. We've also made acquaintance with a seemingly homeless kitten who may be joining the zoo if it turns out he is actually homeless. In general, I worked my tail off in hope that I would be so exhausted at bedtime that I could just fall asleep.
That plan has failed thus far.

Today, I slept in, lounged around with the boys, watched the Discovery Channel and knitted. We went by the yarn store and picked up more sock yarn, including the ugliest yarn I have ever seen. (Lime , navy, and grey striped Trekking XXL

Now for the knitting.
I started a new project from Mason-Dixon Knitting: the tailgate rug.

I know it doesn't look like much but I did cut and wind that rag ball today. I just have to cut and wind the other fabric. I'll use all of that yarn and another 2 cones for the whole rug.
Well...so much for more pictures. Blogger is acting up.

Instead, I'm going to finish my sleep inducing beverage, pop in my earbuds, and try to get to sleep before 1am and not wake up until 7 am. That's my goal anyway.

I forgot to post the knitting.

If I'm going to annoy people, I need to make sure I get all the pet-peeves.

I have knitting pictures that I am too lazy to post my knit blog. So lucky y'all...you get to see them here.

Here's M's socks. Let's see. It's a slipped stitch pattern on a basic sock. French heel, round toe. Done with Denim Sockatta that I picked up very cheap. M wears them as soon as they are clean and happened to have them on today.

I'm currently working on dishcloths and another pair of socks for J. I'm not loving his pattern though so I am doing that passive aggressive thing. I knit a few rows and then start reading a book.

A teaser

Dy wanted pictures.
Things aren't quite finished yet, but here's a teaser or two.

We use these manipulatives a lot more when they are right out where we can see them. I'm planning to make some cute labels for these jars using that mountain of scrapbook supplies I have stored upstairs.

These board are on hooks and are reversible. Dry erase boards on one side and chalk boards on the other. Those 3M adhesive strips are a gift from God. (I am thankful for all gifts, great and small.) That is not the home of that basket. It is just the current resting spot. ZooDad picked that particular basket up while out on his last combat mission.

Here's what Max the Cat does during school time. Please note that this is right out in the open where he could easily be stepped on by any or all of the 5 boys or myself. The cat has a death wish or the cat has just lost all sense of fear.

I had almost stepped on his little cat head prior to this picture. He didn't even open his eyes. Can cats get shell shock?

Haters

Beware, this is all rant. Don't let it bother you.

I just don't get haters. You know those people who for some reason live their life just to make other miserable.
I just don't understand it.
I understand not liking someone or something. I dislike lots of stuff.
But I don't go around slamming these people.
I generally just try to ignore what displeases me and if I can't ignore it.... well, I figure that's my problem to deal with.
Every now and then I vent. But when I'm venting, I know that the issue is really mine to deal with.

I got slammed a few weeks ago. It was a total blindside.
Really.
I read how this person had pigeon-holed me and it was vitriolic. I had no idea I could make people vitriolic. I've got power I never even realized. (BTW, this slam was in no way connected to any online community. This was a rank stranger.)

I spent some time (about 10 minutes) wondering what the heck I was doing that annoyed this person more so than the other thousands of people doing the same thing.
I finally decided that I really didn't care what this person thought of me. Just as I am sure that this person doesn't care what I think of them.
I could lambast and belittle this person, but there's no need. We're all entitled to an opinion.
You can sit back and steam over people who disagree with you of you can say, "Wow. Who knew that bothered you so much."

See, it's all good.

Who knew, I bothered you so much. I was just doing my thing. Feel free to do yours. You don't bother me. Don't allow me to bother you.
Don't give me that power.

Day 1 finished 179 more to go.

This is supposed to be a homeschool blog, so I guess I'll have to start actually talking about the homeschool part.

Today was "official-day-one-marked-on-the-attendance-form-that-is-sent-to-the-county."

Day one went by fairly smoothly. All kids were educated, fed, dressed, and loved on a bit.
We started at 9am, finished about 2:30 and that included lunch and a recess period to play Mario Mix DDR.
J is loving the new Wordly Wise 3000 book. He's a word-o-phile. He loves language. It's hard to explain just what this kid is like. He writes spontaneously and reads voraciously and he makes puns.
Today, we went by Barnes and Noble's once the day was done and picked out a few books. I grabbed the kids Illustrated version of Eats, Shoots and Leaves and J spent the rest of the evening guffawing over the pages and explaining them to his 7-year-old brother.
"Don't you get it? The Panda eats, shoots and then leaves. Instead of eats shoots and leaves. Commas really DO make a difference."

Once the big kids were done with their heavy workload, A and I did Singapore Math, Hooked on Phonics, Explode the Code, Handwriting without Tears, and started his very first FIAR book: Lentil.
Lentil is a great book to read when you don't have 4 boys and 3 harmonicas in the house. If you do happen to have any number of harmonicas in your house, it's a bad idea to even take that book off the shelf. I should have read a nice calming book like The Raft. Instead I had kids trying to see if they could suck on lemons and still blow a harmonica.

And it's just day one. Tomorrow will prove even more exciting. We're having our monthly support group board meeting at Chuck E Cheese's. Are you feeling my joy?


ZooMom---She walked on her head, a little higher than usual.

Spray paint

I am so amazed at what you can do with a couple of cans of spray paint and some knick knacks. Serious. Spray paint is fabulous and it comes in some many new colors.

I've bee busy decorating the dining/school room today. It's getting there. So far I have hung new curtains, moved furniture, pulled in the new canning cabinets and loaded the boys school books in there until I get the new book shelf comes in, organized the highboy, put up some little shelves, loaded manipulatives in cute jars. Put daily art supplies in cute painted buckets that are hanging from a coat hook rack, hung the chalk/dry erase boards, and done absolutely no lesson planning.

LOL

Tomorrow is "school."

On a mission

I'm converting the dining room to a school room/dining room.

That doesn't sound like much but it is. I just moved all the furniture around and I ordered a new short 60 inch long book case to take the place of my buffet. Next month I will start my quest for an new table and chairs. My current furniture is Duncan Phyfe style stuff from the 1920's. It's great for occasional use but not for wiggly boys every day.

The low book case will be painted to match the walls and so will a canning cabinet that I had squirreled away in the utility room. It's just going to be a frilly school room.

I bought some spray paint to match my cornice fabric and some metals buckets to paint and use for storage. And some new organizers for the highboy shelves that will store manipulatives and art supplies.

Some wooden letters to paint and put along the wall for motivation. An old time looking world map complete with sea monsters. A couple of shelved to paint to match the wall to hold the buckets. And my greatest find... panels that have predrilled holes. They are 14x14 and have dry erase board on one side and chalk board on the other. With hooks to mount them. So cute.

When I finally finish the transformation, I'll post pictures.
Won't be anywhere near ready for Monday's re-start but hey...the local middle school started while the workers were still painting ....why can't I?
I really want that giant number two pencil from pottery narn kids. I may have to just make my own.

ZooMom....is motivated! Woohoo.

It was a day

Guess what I did today?
nothing

Guess where I went today?
Nowhere

Guess how many trips I managed to get scheduled?
Not a dang one...but I tried.

Guess how much laundry I did?
Not one item.

Guess How much knitting I did?
not one stitch.

Guess how many lessons I planned?
not one.

I didn't exercise.
I didn't read.
I didn't so anything productive or fun.
What a wasted day.
But I sure needed the rest.


ZooMom, well rested and now quite bored.

Because my business is everyone's business

"Are they all yours?"
"All but one."
"Are you sure?"

I had to pause. That was a new one. Not the "Are you sure?" I've had that one before with a different comment.

"Yes, I'm sure. One of them is my nephew." I wanted to add that I knew that I had a lot of kids but that I was confident that I had not forgotten a pregnancy.

One day I was asked if the younger two, the two who are separated by only 2 years, were twins.
"No," I responded, "They 2 years and 2 weeks apart."
The woman then looked at the two boys who are similar in size and appearance and wrinkled up her face. "Are you sure? They look like twins."
I told her that I very distinctly remembered being pregnant twice to get those two. She still wasn't convinced when she walked away.

"Your boys sure all look alike. Does their Daddy have blue eyes?"
"No, actually, my husband has dark brown eyes."
"Well, you can tell they have the same Daddy because they sure look all alike."
"They do have the same Daddy...my husband."
She kind of hemmed and hawed after that comment because she realized what she had been insinuating.

"WOW! All are those children YOURS!" As I entered an elevator with a man whose child was attempting to scale the walls. I don't mean figuratively.
After looking around to make sure I hadn't picked up the extra number of children needed to actually cause someone to make that sort of comment, I told the man that yes, these four children were in fact mine. While "monkey" child repeatedly failed in his attempts to climb the stainless steel covered walls, my four stood watching curiously and quietly. We've been riding the elevator at the hospital twice a week for almost 3 years now. We've gone over elevator behavior and curtsey extensively. And I reinforce it when needed.
"I don't think I could handle four boys. Just the one boy is enough for us." said the man with a smug smile on his face, though what he was feeling smug about, I'm not sure.
I really wanted to say, "Yes, I could only handle your one kid too." But instead I smiled and gave the boys the look that said "Just in case you didn't know, there is no climbing up the elevator walls. Do not not get any ideas of trying."

"No girls? Aren't you going to have a girl?" Asked the old man with a little pity in his voice.
"No girls, I guess God gave me all boys for a reason."
"Well you should have a girl. I wouldn't trade a million dollars for my little girl."
Now I get these comments all the time. Each dumb person only says it once. But my boys get to hear each and every one of them. I don't ever want them thinking that I feel bad because they are all boys.
So I looked that man in the eye and said very directly, "I wouldn't trade a million dollars for ANY of my boys."
I felt bad for a split second for being harsh with an old man but then I saw my two oldest boys smile in pride.

An older woman stood watching us with a wistful smile as we unloaded two full grocery carts. As I finally paid for this mountain of food, she leaned over to me and said, "I have four grown boys. No one ever realizes how lucky we are."
"Aren't we though? I'm almost embarrassed to be so blessed."
What good boys," she said as she walked away, "Y'all take care of your Mamma, now."
"We will," said the oldest three as the puffed out their little proud chests and continued to move full bags to the buggies.

Be thankful for all your blessings. No matter the number or gender.

ZooMom, Queen of the Zoo and quite a lot

Six degrees of Kevin Bacon

Oddly enough I'm only three degrees removed from Kevin Bacon. Yes, that's right me and Kevin Bacon are practically fast friends.

My dear Husband (first degree) went to high school with Diane Lane (second degree) who starred in My Dog Skip with Kevin Bacon. (third degree)

And if we are splitting hairs, I'm even closer because I once slept in the same bed that Kevin Cosner slept in (In the early 90's this was a big freaking deal. "Kevin Cosner sat on this toilet. Kevin Cosner ate from this fork. Kevin Cosner put in head on this pillow." It was a funny weekend.)
and Kevin Cosner was in JFK with Kevin Bacon.
That's two degrees.

So dear readers,
do a little research. How close are you to Mr Bacon? Because Kevin is connected to everybody and you don't even have to go back to Noah.

Zoomom...she's shared Kevin Cosner's bed

It went like this

Last Saturday, I noticed an itchy, painful place on my side. I chalked it up to an irritable waistband on the junk shorts I was wearing while painting my kitchen cabinets. (Saturday was day three of that job.)

From there on it went something like this.

Sunday: Hey this spot feels even worse. What the heck? Did I get cleaning fluid on it? Maybe that Bam! is caustic to my skin?

Monday: Ok...Weird...The itchy painful spot is bigger. Now it runs from my waist band to bra line in a 2 inch swatch. But I don't see anything.

Tuesday: Ow, ow, ow, ow...rash. Oh man. This really hurts. It's like it was burned. I'm not even a pain wimp. I had one kid with pitocin and no pain meds. I should be able to handle a little rash thing. Gosh, I am so tired. Why do I feel so tired?

Wednesday: Worse than yesterday. Ok, that's it. I'm going to the doctor even though I feel stupid making an appointment for an itchy, painful rash. I was so tired I took a nap today and yesterday. I am not a nap person. This can't be related to the rash and the terrible pain around it.

Thursday: Don't touch it. Don't touch me. Oh this hurts. As soon as MIL arrives, I'm going to the doctor...if he laughs at me I'm going to be so mad.
MIL arrives and looks at the rash as says...."Hey, that looks like shingles."

Shingles!
Shingles is an old people thing. I'm not old. So I do a little research before my doctor's appointment.

Chicken pox? check that one
compromised immune system from a list of causes including stress? Ha, ha,ha, we've got stress in spades around here.
The pictures were pretty scary but they looked similar to what I was wearing.

The doctor agreed and I started a topical ointment and some horse-size anti-viral pills. Yesterday, I noticed that the larger area wasn't as painful. The rash is slowly getting better I don't cringe if something brushes up against me. And I can knit again.

What amazes me is how such a small area could be so debilitating. Some older people get shingles all over one side of their body. I've often heard about older people with bad episodes just losing the will to live.
I can understand that.

Bad stuff

This just about sums it up

I snagged this from Blue Star Chronicles. (Blue star as in Service Flags not Blue star of Israel)
It pretty much sums up things. Or course, you can replace "Palestine" with Hamas, Al Qaida, Hezbollah, Iraqi Insurrection, et al.

Updates from the Zoo

Random Stuff

Mississippi is more humid than here. I didn't know that was possible. Even at 101, it feels better here than 93 in Hattiesburg.

Adjoining rooms are worth double the money.

A 40 acre zoo (including a park and parking lot) is not really a zoo..even if you have a tiger.

520 miles, one way with 4 kids through 3 states is a long, long, long time in the van with just one adult.

In 100 weather the bolts that hold together the outdoor play structures at McDonald's get hot enough to cause second degree burns

Small pools in the South are too warm to swim in by the end of July.

After 4 days, you can get sick of eating out and crave just a simple sandwich at home.

If you have a service member in you family, you need to know the Army Emergency Response number for the Red Cross. If a family member dies while they are deployed, they are the only people that can contact the member's unit to confirm the death and get permission for that family member to go home for the funeral.

520 miles one way with 4 kids through 3 states isn't any better with 2 adults.

I can not knit in the car. It makes me car sick.

Cracker Barrel restaurants are wonderful for families on the road.

A solid black dress, with hose at an outdoor funeral in the south...in July is really hot.

You can be sad enough not to care how hot it is.

If you leave an old car in the driveway for a month and you don't crank it even once...the battery might just give up the ghost.

Batteries aren't that bad to replace.

Driving 520 miles with just one adult is very lonely. People doing so tend to call their loved ones at home on a hourly basis.

ZooMom is agreeing with Burt Bacharach..."I hope I don't get hit in the rear again."

Talladega Boy

S has become obsessed with how the car works. He's even turned into a mini backseat driver at the wise old age of three.

It's raining Momma. Turn on your rain flippers.
The light is green. You can go Momma.
Hey Momma, your spinning wheel is turning. (My ADD brain starts singing "What comes up...must come down.")
Did you put on your "clinkers?" You're tunring...you should put on your clinkers, you know.

And while I am greatly appreciative to have such a highly verbal and curious child...I could do without the constant advice from the middle seat.
Gentle requests for a little quiet tend to fall on deaf ears. Loud requests for just a little quiet please get me about 5 seconds of peace.

The boy has an agenda. He plans to do all of ZooDad's constructive driving advice while he is gone.

Not only that...the boy is making plans to drive too.
Yesterday, we all exited the van after a monumental grocery shopping expedition ... all except S. He climbed into the driver's seat and refused to leave as the older boys unloaded a beastly amount of groceries. I finally retrieved him from the seat with much yelling and tears with him howling, "I just want to push all the buttons."

Later that evening, I got in the van to run an errand, forgetting that car-obsessed child had been working the driver's area like a madman. My seat was in the wrong position, the wipers were going (both front and back), my blinkers were on, and the lights were dimmed down completely.
Thankfully, you can't mess with the stereo system when the power is off.
Car boy. In 13 years, I'm going to have some trouble.

Speaking of cars...on our trip to Mississippi we passed the Talladega speedway. It's right there on I-20 in Alabama.
Now I don't follow NASCAR but I know enough to recognize the drivers and a few tracks. I'm probably going to make some fan cringe in sheer horror, but the first thought I had when I saw the track was...."Hey, that looks just like the racetrack in the movie Cars."
I also noted that the condition on the track was far superior to the condition of that portion of I-20 but that's not saying much.
I've been on clay roads with better conditions.

Zoo mom is pulling in to the pit for new tires.

I can't believe it

I forgot to post cake pictures.

Geesh...and I didn't even wax poetically about the birthdays of the smallest boys in the zoo.
Oh well, A had a birthday. He's a big boy 5 now. S had a birthday two weeks later. He's a not-quite-ready-to-be-a-big-boy 3.

We had a Spongebob and Gary themed party. I'm particularly tickled with the Gary cake. I just freehanded both of them.

As you can tell from this picture, one of the boys is extremely excited about being a whole year older. Oh yes sir-ree. He's been telling everyone he meets that he is now 5 years old. Even the people who were at his party and have been told several times before.

He just wants to make sure that no one forgets.
Five.

Yes, I'm procrastinating. The van is clean. I have new brakes. The DVD players are fully functional. The toys and swim stuff has been packed and laundry is clean but neither folded nor packed. I still have a lot to do. (sigh)

When I get home, I'll tell you about our hamster healing miracle. It's really amazing once you get past the gross factor. The boys are thrilled. They've been holding a hamster death watch for the past couple of weeks.

Enjoy y'alls weekend. I sure will.

Butterflies

7:08 and I am up again, showered, dressed, breakfasted, and waiting to wake the minions of Hades from their slumber. (The boys do not like to be awakened early.)

I have nervous/excited butterflies.

This time tomorrow, we'll be pulling out of the driveway for our 520 mile (according to mapquest) road trip. Now 520 miles seems daunting enough but I plan to do it with 4 boys ages 10, 7, 5, and 3...with me as the only adult.

I am crazy. That's all I can say.

ZooDad said he had a couple days of and I was crazy and desperate enough to pile us all on in the van so we could see him again.

things that I have on my mind.

What if I get sick? Sick on the road is bad enough. Sick on the road with 4 kids and you are the only adult will take some orchestrating.

What if I get a flat? I can change a tire. I have done it. But keeping 4 little ones safe on the side of the interstate while doing so adds a new challenge to the formula.

What if we get lost? Well, I don't get lost really. I'm one of those map fiends. But sometimes I do end up taking the wrong turn, it usually doesn't bother me but I have to worry about it anyway.

What if I lose a child somehow? Big time worry. Yesterday, we got an amber alert for a girl taken from a rest station. Note to self: take all boys into the restrooms with me and keep them under close observation at all times. No matter how much the other restroom women glare at me.

What if the van breaks down? It shouldn't but it could. Call insurance, arrange for a tow and then cry like crazy I guess. Get a rental and get back on schedule.

sigh

Tonight's agenda: No zyrtec no matter how bad my allergies are. Finish all trip preparations by 10 pm then an hour of the History Channel while drinking a beer.
Then hopefully 8 hours of sleep.

Cross your fingers for me.

Can't sleep

Yes, it's 2:35 am and I am up. I can't sleep. I haven't really slept in 3 weeks. I wonder why.

We're taking off tomorrow. We are driving 500 miles to visit ZooDad for a couple of days and then driving 500 miles back.
We're that desperate.

I'm behind on everything. I won't have time to get books ready for out used curriculum sale. (Though I really need too.) I haven't done any lesson plans for the upcoming year. I have ordered all the new books though and only one order is outstanding.
I haven't even sketched out a plan for the co-op class I'm teaching. The plans that are due August 3rd.
My house is a mess with scattered toys and a mound of laundry to fold.

Today, I have to take the van back to the shop to correct the problem they created yesterday during my routine maintenance. Oh yes, I am cussing up a blue streak in my head over that. I have to get the boys up at 7 am so we can be there when the shop opens.
Then we have 4 hours at the hospital for therapy. Yes....FOUR hours. My laptop battery won't last that long but I'm going to take a few things to try to do some planning.
When we finally get home, I have to clean out the van and start packing.
I have to install the new DVD players. (8 hours, 4 boys, one mom....the DVD is going to be a necessity.)
I have to get all the pets set up for my sister who has graciously agreed to handle the house for me.
I have to clean my house so I don't come home to chaos and loose my mind entirely. (too late)

And am I getting a good nights sleep so I can awaken at 6:30 all bright eyed and bushy tailed, rearing to start my very busy day......nope. I'm up at 2 am after tossing and turning for 3 hours.

Let me count my blessings so I can sleep a bit:
1. My hubby is still in county and can call me every night (I have the $155 cell phone bill to prove that.)
2. The sunflowers that set off my allergies are just as beautiful in the vase outside on my deck table as they were on my kitchen table.
3. The mound of laundry is clean thanks to my nice new washer and dryer.
4. None of the pets have died of old age yet and my sister is happy to come take care of them while we are gone.
5. I found a car DVD player with 2 screens for only slightly more than ZooDad's cell phone bill.
6. I got birthday money and bought a cool knitting book.
7. We have enough money to travel to see ZooDad without worrying about finances and we can stop and explore without feeling guilty.
8. We're all healthy.
9. ZooDad got body armor and a helmet that fits.
10. My van should be a quick, free fix.

See all is not gloom and doom. Maybe I can catch a little sleep before the alarm sounds.

Night y'all.

A meme I liked

Awaking..........after a couple of the boys
Missing..........my soldier
Drinking.........too much pool water
Reading..........The Out-of-sync child has fun
Writing..........lesson plans
Sending..........care packages to ZooDad
Hearing..........Star Wars blasters
Weathering.......a sunburn
Bouncing..........too many scheduled activities
Breakfasting.....grits with butter and salt
Dressing.........in loose, cool clothes (sunburn)
Praying.......... for patience and peace
Ironing..........some curtains I just washed
Flushing......... no toys anymore. It makes quite a mess
Measuring........a space to put the microwave
Cleaning.........the food pantry
Wondering........what time we should leave to get to the fireworks on post.
Reunioning.......not for some time. ZooDad will get one week of leave
Telephoning......Mississippi
Eating...........a picnic under the stars
Watching.........the boys work together to clear a video game
Sleeping.........poorly and waking often

Give him 20 years and he'll be in the majors

Look at that ball fly.
Here's baby S. He'll be three next week or so. Three.
He substituted on A's t-ball team for 4 and 5 year olds and he wasn't even close to being the least talented on the team. In fact, he stayed on task and hustled on every hit.

Everyday there commented on how the boy seemed to love baseball.
In his own words: "I hit the ball and I run and run. I catch the ball, I throw to the base." He's got the major points down pat.