Too bad your daddy's not a doctor.

Looks like we disappeared for the summer...actually we were just so busy that I stopped writing to make time for chauffering to sporting events, starting up a new business (and trying to keep up with work demands of the Big Guy) and keeping all of you busy enough that you didn't cause serious harm to each other. I think I was fairly successful, although too tide up to comment about it. 

The last week has brought a bit of fear and adrenaline to my poor old heart. Tuesday night the Boo was playing football...learning to take down all the big dudes when he was thrown down by someone who didn't like the skinny one getting in his way. Seeing the red white and blue laid out on the field I just knew...I felt it in my bones...and then I saw the arm raise up and it confirmed in my mind that it was Boodle. You came out, rested with the medic and looked like you needed to stay off the field...but wait...I thought for sure I heard daddy calling you from the line, but was sure that he wouldn't be doing that...but you grabbed your helmet and ran (a bit off kilter if you ask me) to your position. I wanted to call you back, but by then you were on the ground again and then hauled out of the game for the night with a mild concussion. It lasted close to 48 hours and inside my heart I never wanted to let you leave the house again. You had other plans...back on the field, knocking down the big guys and getting more aggressive by the moment. 

Fast forward to the next Thursday (last night). I was sitting in a meeting with the new OIS principal and see that Migli's soccer coach has called...I knew that couldn't be good. Sure enough Migs had gone down on the soccer field, twisted her knee and had to be carried off the field. Coach N had to run to the football field to get daddy cuz neither of us were answering our phones. Dear old dad...always in ripe form...drove his truck right down on the field to pick you up! Today you are on crutches and we will probably have to reschedule basketball tryouts for you, cancel your soccer games and find a fill in for babysitting (or have a few extra kids here tomorrow night!). Bummer on the timing...but hoping for a quick recovery.

And not one to be left out...Ju Ju came home with a big bubble on his top lip! Well...in all honesty it may have been "growing" for a long time. It started out looking like a bitty bump or bite, but not very noticeable. Last night it was way beyond noticeable. We slaved it, hot packed it and finally poked it. Yep, you can call me Dr. Abbott (even though Donie was always hoping I'd be called Mrs. Dr. Abbott). We thought social services might turn up from all the screaming, but we finally talked you into it and even though you didn't want to admit it...it did feel better and you actually liked trying to get stuff out of it (eewww). You came to me this morning all proud with a white thing on the end of your finger...eeww again....this time with no tears and a lip that looked a whole lot better.

I am hoping for a healing weekend with no more surprise injuries...here's to staying safe!

Carillon Beach.

We had such a great time in Florida. You guys were amazing on the trip down and back (even the crabs did well)!  We are so lucky to have such happy and well behaved kids. How many people commented on what great kids you are and how nice it is to be around you?? Pretty much every where we went...it's been that way since you were born. I could take credit here and say it's because I am such a great mom...but really you are all great kids who care about others and want to have fun. It was fun having Gramma with us and she enjoyed all of you immensely (she didn't even mind the noise or the occasional fight...see you're not perfect). Thank you for indulging me and cruising around looking for the elusive dolphins...what a fun day (the geo-caching was a bonus). Grammer and Great were so excited to see you and had such fun playing games with you and taking you for ice cream...we will all cherish those memories. 

Uncovering the Sugar.

Sure you look all cute snuggled up with the furry cat (although he looks a bit possessed), but that was moments before you started bouncing off the couch. No really, you run in circles around the living room and kitchen and well, the whole house and if there happens to be a couch, table or chair...some times even a person...you just have to take that route-up on couch, bounce bouncing to the end and huge jump off, circle around for another go, over to the chair, roll over the top, flip off and on the go again. So some times it takes me by surprise when you say things that are so sweet they bring a tear to my eye. Today you needed to make notes for your weekend news at school and I thought for sure you would only think to write about Daddy's birthday yesterday when we went Geocaching. Instead you told me you would write about that, but when you were laying in bed thinking about it, you wanted to write about how you got to spend all day Friday at Donies and then got to have dinner with Gramma-you felt so lucky to have seen two Grandmas in one day. And when we were talking about our spring break trip to Florida, you couldn't understand why everyone was so excited for the beach and the pools, you said you just wanted to be there to spend time inside with Grammer and Great. Tough exterior...sugar sweet inside!

OK, Who did it?

I spent an hour this morning searching for the fat Jaspy cat. I looked outside, in the garage, in the basement...I started the shower (which always brings him around), and I pleaded with the little calico to, "Pleeeeaaase, tell me where your brother is." Little did I know, she was trying to show me. She cried by the window (and tears welled in my eyes as I thought Jasp had gotten left out over night) and leaped into my arms when I thought I heard her brother meow. When I finally figured out she was acting crazy, I took a better look...she was ready to pounce on something. Something white and furry sticking out of the ottoman. Yep, someone closed him in there to "keep him safe" (and from being accosted by another Wild One for use as a bed time companion) while preparing for bed. That same someone forgot that he had hidden Jaspy for safe keeping...snuggled in with the girl kitty, slept soundly all night, got up and went to school. Opps. All is well and when I got home today Darby was all snuggled up in the ottoman...which I had accidently left open.

Take a Break...You Deserve It.

You guys have all been working so hard. Between Academy Awards, book reports, challenge packets and keeping up with your regular homework we haven't been within a mile of your scheduled bedtime. I am proud of all you have accomplished and the fact that you have done such a great job...without too much hassle from the old farts in the family. Spring break is only 3 weeks away...I can't wait to dig in the sand and splash in the water with you. We all deserve a break and what better place than Florida?!

A Good Life without You?

What can I say..."I love when you make messes that I trip on in the dark"..."Please say really mean things to your brother...and keep saying them over and over until he cries or turns into the tiny Incredible Hulk"..."Do you think you could pee all over the toilet, floor and wall so that I have something to clean while you are at school today?"..."Would you mind hitting your sister so that I could get a little entertainment out of you trying to kill each other?"  Hmmm...I will think about it. Thought about it...nope, doesn't work. But here is the funny thing...even when I ask you NOT to do these things or God forbid ask you to fix the problem when you do one of these things...hold on this is good...wait...I STILL LOVE YOU, I STILL LIKE YOU, I STILL WANT TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU, SNUGGLE WITH YOU AND WILL ALWAYS BEG FOR HUGS! OK, just had to get that off my chest. I will always feel this way...and when you grow up and have babies I will sit back and try not to smirk when you try to get this same point across to them.

Memories.

Why are your memories so subjective? They don't see to work at certain times of the day, but are stellar at other times during the day. You don't remember to finish (or start) your homework, flush the toilet, turn off the lights, put your dishes in the dishwasher or throw your clothes down. But what amazes me is how sharp your memory is 3 minutes before we have to walk out the door. In a burst of clarity you remember that you need lunch money, it's library day, you need a swim suit for gym, a poster board for a project, a treat for your class. Funny how that works. You remember all the details of the adult story I told my friend...while you were supposed to be playing in the basement and you seem to retain all the information from family vacations that I don't even remember taking, but you don't remember that I asked you to have your room clean by the end of the weekend or that you were grounded from electronics for two days. I guess I should count my blessings that you never, ever forget to give me hugs and tell me that you love me.