"hernia surgery was a success......X's 5......"

We were up at 5:00 am this morning. Checked into the hospital at 6:00 am. It was a long day today. She was nervous about the IV's. Not at all about the surgery......but freaked out about the IV's.

She got thru it. They let me go down to surgery prep with her. So I made her laugh. She said NO PICTURES...........................(well I talked her into a few)..........

When surgery was over the surgeon came out to talk to us while she was in recovery. She told us all went well but instead of the two hernias, she found 5! Five holes in her abdominal walls......she said that was very unusual for someone as young as her........and repaired them all. She will have a 2" scar above her belly button and the other one is hidden in her belly button. Hopefully it will alliviate all of the pain she has been in for the last several months........... She is home now. She should be resting but has had LOTS of company. I finally just shoo-ed the last of them out and now she is resting on the couch. In her comfy little nest. She hasn't complained much about pain......but she may have overdone today and I hope she has a good nights sleep. We all need it. And I hope she isn't too sore tomorrow. The Dr. said she is out of commission for sports etc for 6 weeks! No lifting, no weight training, sports of any kind.....or vaccuming..........ha ha.....she was a trooper today......I will give her pain meds and hope we all sleep well................she has a frankenstein patch on her stomach........

She has her little "area"...............propped up on the couch like a princess.....cell phone (of coarse), magazines, book, water, juice, blankets (I gave her a new Spongebob one today, lol), snacks, word search, remote control, and her mommy waiting on her hand and foot. :) I came home and made her, her favorite homemade soup, homemade bread and homemade strawberry jam.....................she is set.

The house is quiet. All company gone. Tyler is staying the night at grandma and grandpas. I'm ready to go take a warm shower and crawl in bed................................

"Happy Fathers Day....and the championship game"

We spent Father's Day in Canby at the championship game of a baseball tournament.........And they won!!!
The boys played great. The last game was at 6 pm on Sunday......Game went into extra innings.....nail biter............our last at bat. 2 outs. Runners on 2nd and 3rd......and we scored!! Game Over...... All the boys got medals..................and bragging rights (we played the other West Albany team that has been undefeated, so it was a sweet win)..................

Here are the champions......................................

It also seems so weird to be cheering for the "Bulldogs"................................I'm from the South Side...............................

"relay for life......."

We had such a great night last night. We participated in Relay for Life cancer walk last night. It was held at West Albany High School. This is the 4th year Nicole and I have done it together. I guess that makes it a tradition.... Teresa and Paige joined us this year for their 1st time. We had a great time. We walked for 5 HOURS!!!!!!!!! Nicole and Teresa ran a mile and a half and I happily pushed Paige in her stroller. We took about an hour break and walked non-stop............................for 5 hours. Such a great cause. And we know so many people touched by the ugly "C" word. So this was for them..............................................

Nicole walked most of the time but also found time to play football and hacky-sac with some of her friends. I saw tons of people I know. And some old aquaintences that was so great to see and catch up with.

This was our booth. So festive and fun.........................

Teresa finally got tired and decided to sit in Paiges stroller. She couldn't get anyone to push her so we decided it was time to pack it up and head home.

Beautiful sunset. Hundreds of people walking. Great evening.

We finally left about 11:15 pm...............

The luminaries were quite moving..............they lined the entire track.......as we walked (we figured probably 15 miles total) we looked at them and they were all decorated with remembrance and stickers and dates........very moving.

Next year we decided to have a booth and want all of our friends to join us.........So mark your calenders for next year and get some good walking shoes cause you are all invited.............

"date night.............."

Friday night my husband took me out on a date.......................That's right.....a DATE.....
Been so long since we have done that! Was very needed and enjoyable. And totally his idea. Lot's of props for that.
We went to dinner and a movie. So funny......so that's what people do...
I had a really crazy, busy week like usual.....
So Friday after work I came home and changed into jeans, flip flops and a baggy sweatshirt. Oh, so cozy and comfortable. And very comforting to have no pressure, low key time with someone who knows me so well and loves me anyways......The kids stayed home and probably fought with each other. They were both still alive when I got home.
We went to Corino's. My favorite. All I need is a glass of wine...............bread.........and a salad that I didn't have to prepare for myself........Enjoyable.................................
The most shocking part of our date was that the movie we went to see was "Sex and The City". Totally hubby's idea too. Really????? I love that he made such a big effort. Movie was great. Dinner was great. Hubby was great. Why can't I have little slices of this on a regular basis? We need to work on that.......
When we went to the theater to buy our tickets I told the guy 2 tickets for Sex and The City. Hubby took the tickets and we walked inside. The guy ran after hubby and said "Sir, sir........I'm so sorry.............I gave you the wrong tickets............I'm sure you didn't want to see Sex and The City". I about peed my pants. Here is big, strong hubby going to see the most girly, chick flick..........hahahahahhahahahah...............So I piped up and said to the guy "No he doesn't really want to see it..but I do.... and he's with me". Hilarious.......................and he did think the movie was ok.................laughed out loud several times. I loved the movie........
And last night both kids had game at the same time. So we had to split up. I went to Nicole's basketball game and hubby went to Tyler's baseball game. Bummer for the boys that it started to rain!!!! And word on the street is hubby was holdin' an umbrella over princess KELA so she wouldn't get wet. And something about feeding her grapes!!!!!! hahahhahahah (Kela,, I so called you out...............) The story I heard was that YOU were holding the umbrella, feeding HIM grapes............
And hubby and I have started another "date" night tradition. We go to bed and watch LOST. (Which BFF thinks is totally code for something else.....really....we are watching TV). We never watched it when the series was on (we must have been living under a rock). But last month we started the series from the very beginning. Love it. It's our little alone time in bed after the kids are tucked in and supposed to be sleeping. I love it and it's like a great movie that never ends. We have 5 more seasons to watch!!
And this week has been so busy too. Kids, work, school, sports, graduation...........And our neighborhood garage sale is this weekend.......I was going to try and round some stuff up tonight, but had a glass of wine instead......................
And I skipped the gym tonight. Nicole had a basketball game in Eugene and got home too late. The last 3 nights we have been going at 9 pm. Getting home too late...........
Is it Friday yet???
Ok.....hubbys is telling me it's time to come to bed and watch LOST.
Peace out...............................

"exercise keeps me sane......."

Well.................semi-sane.......................
Because I could really be a little crazy right now if I didn't go to the gym and work out my stress.
Baseball game rainouts have been ridiculous. Glad it rained today because I would have missed the game :(
Hope it rains tomorrow because I work until 7:00 and don't want to miss tomorrows game.
And my memory card on my camera (old one, not new one) went wacky about 4 pictures into Tyler's last game. Took tons of GREAT pics only for the memory card to wipe them all out :(

And I bribed Tyler to go to Bridgeport with me on Saturday. He hates shopping. So I told him I would take him to McDonalds for a sausage biscuit with cheese for breakfast on our way out of town. Big treat for him since we never eat out. And he has probably NEVER had a breakfast sandwich from McDonalds.....................in his life...........................
We pull in at 10:25.

They stop serving breakfast at 10:00.................Really????????????? So I have a starving boy in the backseat complaining he is STARVING!!! I had a granola bar in my purse. Will have to hold him over. I told him I would take him to California Pizza Kitchen at Bridgeport for lunch as SOON as we got there. But...............(I needed to make a really quick stop) after I stopped in Salem at beauty supply house for some product for work.....................ummmmmm.................they moved locations (I learned as I pulled into the empty parking lot and empty building)......Really???????? Not doin' so good.

And Bridgeport seemed like it took FOREVER to get there! And it started raining...

So we pull in and of coarse it's packed. I drive around the parking lot once and nowhere to park. Decide we can walk how ever far we need to..................just get the hell out of the car and EAT.

Ahhhhhhhhh........................lady pulled out right in front of the restaurant...............things are looking up :)

Lunch was great. Visiting with my son and playing tic-tac-toe on the menu was lovely. Rain stopped. Went to my favorite store (can you see it in the background?? MAC!!)

And we walked around. And went to the candy store. And the bookstore. Tyler loved the two- story book store. We were going to see a movie but I decided I wasn't going to sit thru or spend the money on Iron Man 2. So I bribed him at the bookstore.........we each got 2 books for less then I would have spent on a movie. And I let him sit on the furniture in stores and read while I browsed. ha ha!

Now these girls aren't sane. They found a crimper curling iron in the drawer and had a blast. I have some hysterical video of them doing cheerleading cheers with this fabulous hair. eye-yi-yi.

So I could let the stress of life get to me...................or try and let it go..........................

And exercise like a maniac to help me let it go.

When I left my sunroof open and we had a monsoon rain storm and I had an inch of standing water in my car...........................I just laughed and let it go......it's only water.

Memory card on camera erasing all my pics????? There will be other games.

McDonalds promise of breakfast sandwich un-fufilled? Not healthy anyways.

Game rainouts? Will wait for sun to come out so I can enjoy the outdoors....

More serious issues............won't go into that................but am trying to let the stress/burdons of others.....................go.......................

Divorce seems to be in the air with people around me................................I'm going to stop breathing......................................well.........maybe not...........but need to not worry about things I can't control...........

So I will continue to go to the gym with my lovely daughter.

So proud of her. She is running her first 5k on Saturday :)

Try and not worry about things I can't control.

"family wedding......"

Today we went to a family wedding. Got some great pics of my own family! :)
Amazing how much Nicole and I look alike. I see it more as she gets older......fortunately or unfortunately she acts a lot like me too!! Depends on who you ask if that's a good thing......

Wedding was beautiful.................hard to believe my little cousin Cory is old enough to get married (that means I'm getting OLD!).............food was awesome....(when my aunts, mom and cousin are involved the food is always AMAZING!!) So I told my Aunt Michelle, and mom, and cousin and anyone else that would listen, that for my 40th (2 years away!) birthday......I wanted the wedding decor replicated. Everything. Tableclothes. Centerpieces (where so fabulous....looked like cakes on cake plates but were made out of flowers). Candy Bar. Chairs with gorgeous bows. Oh..........and I'm going to add my own flair with a tiarra.......I'm dead serious. If I don't plan my own party...it ain't gonna happen (as per mother's day, birthdays, etc). I love these kids. Nicole, Gunner, Drake, Tyler. I have seen the boys more this week then in the last 6 monthes.....and I love it!!!!!

Me and the hubby...........we make the most beautiful kids ever..................(a few weeks ago I had a frightening, very quick fleeting thought "maybe we should have another baby".......holy cow............it was a brief second. I'm over it. LeRoy laughed and said "I would cry............and we can't afford the ones we have now." Then I laughed cause when I told my BFF about my fleeting thought, and I told her word for word what LeRoy would say. And I was 100% right. To the word...........we have been married too long....ha ha! (going on 19 years in September).

I love that we think everything is funny. Really...........everything.

(and I had to laugh outloud this week at my son...I was driving him home from school and when we were turning on our street Tyler said "mom, that guy on the sidewalk was staring at you as we drove by......you are a 'dude magnet'."............omg..............dying.....................so funny........)

And hell has officially frozen over!!!!!

Been awhile since this has happened! 3 of us sisters together......was so much fun. I was the smart one and stopped at 2 margharita's and went home by 8:00 pm. Sound like the other two took it as an opportunity.........bahahahahhaha.......................

Donna............all I'm gonna say is "have you seen the movie "The Hangover"...hahahhahahah

So glad we all got together 3 times this week!!!!! Lets have a great summer with the kids and each other....Love ya.....

"take me out to the ballgame............."

Last week of softball..........2 more games left... we play tomorrow and Friday and it's over....
We played Lebanon tonight at Lebanon High School. I knew my nephew was playing as well (at the high school). So glad I got a chance to run over to their field and watch a few innings.
Nicole's team lost :(
Gunners team won :)
Not sure of the scores. Was too busy taking pictures. And being silly with my nephew Drake.
This is one of the best pictures ever of Nicole and Gunner. So grown up. So good looking! When we were sitting in the stands at Gunners game my brother in law Mark said "can you believe we are both sitting at high school games and our kids are old enough to play? God we are old". ha ha! Ahhhhhh........rare occasion that we are all together!! My sister Donna, Me, Drake, Nicole and Gunner..................so funny we ALL were wearing red.....and were rivals......South Albany vs. Lebanon.

Nicole was annoyed that I was taking pictures. Just fuels the fire and makes me take more. bahahahhaahha. My nephew Drake is one of the most charming, hilarious kids I know. We must be related. He makes me laugh. And he is so darn handsome.

He has an awesome shiner with stitches. You should see the other guy. I heard he pulled his dad out of a bar fight..................just what I heard. lol......(maybe a baseball injury, but I like my story better).

Here's my girl ready to bat. She is #1

She had a great hit and got on base. After that I'm not sure what happened because I was too busy taking pictures. And hanging out with my peep Drake......

The varsity girls lost. Drake and I hustled over (actually made LeRoy drive us) over to the other field where Gunner was playing. So weird because I know all of the kids on the SA team because they are all Nicoles friends. We got there in time to see Gunner bat. I'm sticking with the story that he had a hit. His dad said it wasn't so. And I'm cracking up because in this picture you can see the dust from the ball in the catchers glove. Sorry buddy....

So I'm sitting in the bleachers at the boys game. On the Lebanon side, in my SA Rebels sweatshirt. (thank goodness we were all wearing red so I wasn't so obvious!). I here "Hi Missy". I look around and it's the boys from the South Side dugout! Not sure how they saw me from that far away but I love it. After the game the kids from south came over and talked to Nicole (she got there right as the game was over!) and gave us hugs. :)

Cutest kids ever. Really...........they are...............(we were missing Tyler because he was in Albany at baseball practice). LeRoy was there too, but he doesn't participate in the picture antics!

Was so fun to all be together. Even if it was a short time. Drake makes me laugh. I love that kid. My nephews are such great kids. Want to see them more often. Maybe this summer. We are so blessed with our silly children......makes me smile...............