Misc.

I don't post for a week, and then two posts in one day. It's feast or famine, here. I've felt completely overwhelmed this week with a sick kid, the stupid PTA and their stupid box tops that I'm in charge of, soccer in the howling, freezing winds, and a lot of other things that I can't think of right now, but you can bet that they're equally annoying. My house looks like a bomb went off in it and half my kitchen appliances have been removed to make way for the new ones. Some of which aren't even here yet. Mitch just told me we're having his entire family for dinner tomorrow night. I hope they like whatever they're getting on my non-existent appliances. I've heard you can poach salmon in the dishwasher! Whatever, I'm so happy that my girl isn't going to be permanently deaf that nothing is bad news right now. Except our retirement accounts, but isn't everybody's? I can just be grateful that we tend to put most of our eggs in the real estate basket. Oh, wait... Also, I have a huge mosquito bite right in the middle of my forhead that looks like a mutant boil. So, so pretty. Ramble much?

Henry has actually become quite the little soccer player. Only, he's a foot taller than all the other kids, so I guess he isn't "little". This is the first season he's ever played a sport where he wasn't daydreaming in the outfield. Snack is still his favorite, though, and he still cries harder than the kids he accidentally kicks (out of guilt). He's also loving school this year, which makes me want to piss myself with happiness after last year. He's even started riding the bus again. Sometimes, I spy on him at recess when I come to pick up the girls from kindergarten. I'm amazed that he's running around in a pack of boys, pushing each other and having fun.

Grace spent the week at school without her other half, and has done amazingly well. The bully hasn't bothered her at all. Nana had the wonderful idea that since Grace had such a gentle nature, she should look into the bully's eyes the next time he pulled something with her, put her hand on his arm, and say, "Please stop that. I don't like it." She did it last Friday, and not only did the bully stop AND apologize, but now she has him sharpening her pencils. Oy.

Jack is at the age where he thinks we suck, and we force him to be respectful or we'll take his bedroom door, so that's been fun for me. I just carry around a screwdriver and do really embarrassing things, daring him to mouth off at me. There's a new kid at his school who is apparently giving him a run for his money in the academics department, and Jack's actually been cracking his books this year. He's also taken Henry under his wing and teaching him the Ways of the Tightwad.

Olivia just walks around saying, "I can't hear you." Before anyone has even said anything.