Another long weekend?

Mom tagged me, so I added an entry on my other blog.  I have a vacation day Friday, so it was a very short week.  Good thing, too, since it sucked so greatly.  Worst week I've had since busy season, and it was only 3 days!

Anyway, I have a day off to myself.  Kevin will be at work and the girls will be in summer school.  Our yard looks like a jungle.  I call it "native Missouri prairie grasses" but it needs mowed.  It was sunny and bright and beautiful all day today...while I sat at work.  Tomorrow?  When I'm home?  When I could mow?  Thunderstorms and rain all day.  Blech.

Prayers to my hotrod brother please.  No details, since I don't know any, and he's supposedly fine, but send up a prayer to a hot shot who needs a dose of Slow-Me-Down.

Goodnight, dear friends.

Rain

Rain, rain, rain.

Rain, rain, rain.

Mamma always taught me to "never curse the rain."  How about breaking that poem out now, mom?  I could use it.

We went to a nearby town this evening, and almost didn't make it home as water was getting farther and farther across the road. At one point, there was barely a car's width to get through.  Thank goodness we made it without turning around and adding 10+ miles to the trip, finding another route.

Rain, rain, rain.

Rain, rain, rain.

My floorboard in the car is wet, due to some type of leakage when it rains.  My hair is in a constant state of half-wet/mostly-frizzy.  My dogs stink (more than usual) and there are muddy footprints on my floor (kid AND dog.)  I am suffering from sunshine deficiency, and I need to go to the store for a can of Bitch-B-Gone.

'Nuff said.

::added later::

P.S. My power has gone off 4 times, for 5-30 seconds each time.  It's not "storming" and the wind is not blowing.  Poor computers.  Poor Kevin, missing something on the history channel.

Holiday weekend, Day 3

Today, we had a lazy morning, then packed a cooler and a picnic lunch, and headed to historic Lexington, MO.  We visited the courthouse, which still has a canon ball in one of the pillars.

There were other photo ops, like a miniature statue of Liberty, which Steven enjoyed, and tried to pose the same.

Natalie read some history on the sign outside.

The we arrived a the Battle of Lexington site, and waited patiently for our tour.

We toured the Oliver Anderson house, which is way cool and full of interesting history.

By the time the tour was over, everyone was starved, so we decided to have our picnic lunch.  I thought I had packed too much food, but we were all about 2 hours past hungry, so the food went quickly.

After lunch, we went up to the battlefield, and as we stopped at each marker, Kevin would read the significance to us.

My favorite picture of the day is this one, which has nothing to do with history...just family:

It was a successful trip, even though SOME people missed a LOT of natural beauty by playing with a cell phone.

Text messages.  SHEESH!  And she wonders why I won't let her have her own cell phone.

Anyway, the day was another success.  I needed this weekend so badly, and I'm glad it's turning out so well.  What will tomorrow bring?

Holiday weekend, Day 2

Day two has been great, as well.  We got Grammy's room put together just in time.  There is some more trim work and touch up to do, but it's coming along nicely.

When they arrived, the girls ran out to greet them, and Monica had Grammy in a bear hug before she could get out of the car!

Steven is getting so big.  He's recently lost a tooth, making for a great smile:

Soon we all decided to go to Fun House Pizza for lunch.  The games were as much enjoyed as the pizza.  Steven had so much fun with air hockey:

Then Susan and the girls played a game or three:

The Simpson's pinball game was fun.  (I had to play this one, myself!)

And even Kevin got in on the arcade action!

Yup. This is turning into an awesome holiday weekend, and it's only half over!

By the way, don't tell Grammy that I told you, but I beat her at Rummy this afternoon.  I beat her pretty often.  I mean, really, Kevin and I have been married almost 12 years, and I've won TWICE now.  Stand in awe of me.

Holiday weekend, day 1

We started the day by emptying the guest room (AKA Grammy's room) in preperation for painting.

Imagine our surprise when Mom and Dad stopped by on their way out of town on the bike!  All of the bedroom contents were filling our living room.  What a mess!  Good thing they're family.

We went to the store to get paint and groceries, and we saw a Kellogg's truck and trailer out in front of WalMart.  The girls and I had to check it out.

In the trailer was a boat ride simulator.  They had so much fun, trying to get that boat to go where they wanted it.  There was a course to follow, going under Kellogg's signs and such, but they wound up going in circles, instead.

 

It tossed them around and followed the motion of waves.  It was way cool, and they both had a turn at driving.

Then we came home and started painting.  It's a pale green with dark green trim.  We even found an inexpensive bed-in-a-bag that matches nicely.  It's amazing how much a coat of cheap paint can change a room.

Even if you DO have to make a huge mess to get there.

Finally, to give him his fair due, who could stay mad at this face?

Even if he DOES shed all over the place and chase cats when we let him outside.

I can't wait to see what the rest of my weekend brings.  Kevin's Mom (Grammy) and sister (Susan) and nephew (Steven) are on the way up as we speak. 

Commuting 'N Long Weekends 'N Stuff

I got off early today, and I don't have to return until Tuesday!  WOOOHOOOO!  I'm extremely happy with this situation.  I've become a bit burned out, and I need a break. 

I have said many times how much I love my commute.  I live in the country and work in the city, so I get to see lots of interesting things that others don't see.  For instance, in the city I might see something like this:

A car with a can of Red Bull on top!  The "Red Bull gives you wings" thing is overrated.  This car wasn't going very fast.

In the country, you are likely to be slowed down by this sight:

Yeah, I wasn't going very fast at this point:

And it's not easy to find a place to pass on country roads.

It's all worth it, though, when I see beautiful countryside, down by the river:

And, just for kicks and giggles; how could you stay mad at this face?

Even when her barking and running and playing is getting annoying.  We love you, Lucy.

Just stuff

My pictures are still not fixed.  I'll give it one more day, then I'm going to quit paying for AOL.  Oh.  Wait.  I'm NOT paying.  *sigh*  If I go to all the trouble to be witty and charming in the comments of my images, I want my thousands of readers to enjoy.  OK, I want both readers to see them.

I refuse to bash my own flesh and blood in a public forum, so I'll give the short version.  Brett and I had it out for the last time.  I expect certain things, he feels entitled to certain things.  I gave an ultimatum, he called my bluff.  I told him to move out (a week early.)  He is now living at his Dad's.  My stress level has dropped a TON in the past 2 days, but I still feel like a rotten mother for it.

I saw him tonight, to give him some of his stuff.  I told him I love him.  I DO love him, and he needs to know and remember that.  I see this as a fresh start for him, and hope he takes full advantage.  He didn't graduate.  There is one chance for him to make it up in the next few weeks.  I pray he takes the opportunity.  It is ridiculous to let 1/2 credit keep you from getting a diploma, but he did. *sigh*

I love and miss him.  It's the best plan for now, though.  I get to be the fun, weekend parent.  A place to visit.  A place to chill on a day off.  I'm ready for that change, after 18 years of being "the heavy."

On Sunday night, we got to see Venus through Natalie's telescope.  Totally cool.  I didn't think her cheap-o telescope would do that well, but it did, and I'm glad I got to share it with Kevin and the girls.

I have worked my butt off over the past few days.  I finished working on the "rec room," a cool place for the girls to chill.  They have a love seat, a sofa, a coffee table, a desk and chair, and a TV with dish hooked up.  They are excited and happy, and it's fun to do stuff for them when they are so appreciative.  OK, it wasn't fun to do for them WHILE I was running cable over a drop-ceiling with 1" clearance, but afterwards, I realized it was cool.

Well, I'm off to cheer for Blake on American Idol.  Yes, I DO know that I'm lame.  You don't have to point it out.  What else am I going to do with my evening?  Domestic work?  HA!  I think not.