My girls are freaking famous!

Okay, not really. But they DID sing the National Anthem at the Astros vs. Rangers game last night with a church children's choir, and ROCKED IT! They had to walk all the way across the stadium to center field in Minute Maid park. Charlotte said it was scary. They were all very obedient and well-behaved and sang their hearts out. The best part was hearing the giant cheer that went up from the crowd when they were finished. What little rock stars.

On the flip side, Gabe has started telling me that he doesn't love me anymore every time he gets upset. Little jerk. He did get his cast off, though:

You may notice his right eye is a little black - he caught a frisbee with it on Sunday. Andy was afraid the doctor would think we were beating him. If that guy heard the way Gabe is talking to me, he may think we ought to.

Other than that, there is no news. Oh yes there is: I had a grownup girl sleepover with my friends! Well, our kids were their, too, but who cares? It was pretty much just like being a teenager: we ate junk food and drank soda and stayed up until 4am talking, and then we were grumpy the next morning when we had to wake up :) I loved it.

The Summer Youth Musical is kicking off next week, and since I don't have anything nice to say about it, I'll stop here.

FOR MARY ARLENE - JUST THINKING OF YOU!!!!

Liz and I made a playlist for you. We were gonna send a care package, but this is free :) ENJOY!

Where the (*#$&%9* IS THAT (*$#&*ING CROW:?!?!?

Welp, Gotta clean now.

Pththththtfffft.

I feel like crap. See the time stamp? 5am. Still awake. Blah blah blah.

The kids have been alternately making me laugh and making me crazy. Gabe is, in my opinion, slowly adjusting to his cast sitch. He totally acts like he is blaming me for it, and that is just rude. It's a misery to be around, too.

We are mostly bored. No swimming. One more week.

I am just waiting and waiting for the crow to leave, but it's sitting tight. So miserable.

That's it, really. Just keeping myself updated. Tomorrow we got some playmates coming, which is good, and I may even shower.

First Cast

Gabe fell yesterday while playing on the McDonald's playland. He cried mighty hard and long about his arm hurting, and then he wouldn't use it for the rest of the day. He wouldn't use it when he woke up today either, so off to get an x-ray.

It is awesome that nothing is broken. However, his elbow is sprained, and in order to protect the ligaments from further injury, he has to be casted for 2 weeks. You can see by his face how he felt about that. He is slightly happier now with some signatures to show, but he is pretty bummed.

No swimming. That's what I keep thinking. No swimming for 2 weeks. Something of a death knell to those words. Y'all pray.

Where's my picture of a crow when I need it!? *&%^$!

That's about all there is to say, peeps.

Grumble grumble

I feel grumpy. I'm supposed to be cleaning, which is probably why I feel grumpy, but I am frustrated that my cell phone has next to zero reception in my house so I keep missing calls and texts and whatnot. Grrr.

I have the kids watching "Rock A Doodle" while I fold clothes. I remember watching this as a kid, but apparently I didn't remember much because everything seems brand new. Except the Grand Duke of Owls. I remember his mouth munching on things clear as day. Creepy.

We are all tired. We are all a little bored. Apparently one week of summer is all it takes.

"She gots da sweet teef!" and "Dying to death."

Today we made cupcakes in order to use up some leftover icing. No really, that was the sole motivation.  Anyways. I suggested to the kids that we should share them with the Pabsts (or possibly they suggested it to me). However it happened, Claire nodded to me knowingly as we packed them up and said, 'Cuz you know how Liz is." Gabe chimed in enthusiastically, "Yeah! She gots da sweet teef!" Indeed she does. Sweet teef run in the family.

On the much less enthusiastic walk home seeing as how the Pabsts weren't there, Charlotte was bemoaning a cut on the sole of her foot that either suddenly appeared or started hurting, I don't know which. She told me, "It's bad, but not as bad as the cut on my head, or else I would be screaming and crying and dying to death." "Oh, well, I'm glad it isn't," I replied, "We can't have any dying to death." She responded, "It's just an expression, Mom. I didn't mean it literally."

Thank heavens she cleared that up. Now maybe I can direct her over to Hollywood to help the A-listers out with this term since I promise I heard a Kardashian say that her head was "literally exploding." Messy.

First Day of Summer

Let's just redefine that right now, because my geeky little kids refuse to call it summer until June 21. Fine, whatev, that's the first official day of summer according to the solar system. But the HIGHER authority, namely me, says it is when school is out and it is hotter than a two-dollar pistol outside. So, that is today.

And how are we spending it? Gabe is on a playdate with his buddy, and of course I feel a little sad that he's big enough to go off and play without me. Charlotte will have a playdate later in the afternoon. Claire and I will do something fun, but we don't know what yet. In the meantime, we cleaned out their desks in preparation for summer. They've come a very, VERY long way, my little packrats. They didn't cry or fuss one little bit about tossing out all sorts of trash. They were actually excited about it. That is mighty progress, my friends. They both hoard things (like the time Claire kept all the real dyed Easter eggs until we found them in the summer.)

After working hard tidying up the living room, they asked to relax. So they are watching some tv. I'll get up some lunch and then maybe even fold some clothes. Maybe. Looking doubtful.

I don't know if I mentioned that Charlotte is in a medical study for kids with unexplained tummyaches. It is a research study, so we don't get any feedback or medical help or anything like that, BUT she does get paid! By the end of the study, she will have $150. Whoa, right? Today she told me she is seriously considering buying a Kindle with it, after paying tithing. Now I am seriously considering going in on half of that thing so I can use it, too. We talked about having to buy each book and how much they cost. She was down with it. Plus, there is a library lending feature about to come out. Awesomely awesome. We'll see how she decides when the study is over in about 2 months. But I like it. A lot.

Congratulations Charlotte!

Guess what?! Charlotte was awarded the Principle's Award today at school!  Each teacher picks one girl and one boy who is outstanding in various ways - could be citizenship or most improved academically or something like that. Char was awarded for Outstanding Work Skills.  AWESOME!  Here's a picture:

I know it is blurry - my phone is crappy like that.  It is particularly special because the little boy she received it with is her very good friend James. They've been in the same class since kindergarten, and he has Asperger's syndrome. They always take good care of each other and help each other. He came to her baptism last October and has been a true friend to her. It was touching for them to share the honor today.

She was also on the All A Honor Roll!  Go girl!!  I'm very proud of all her hard work and dedication!!! Here's another blurry picture of her receiving the Honor Roll award: