Maria the Marriage Therapist

Yesterday morning Dan and I were discussing something in tense tones. I don't remember what it was and we weren't really arguing so much as picking at each other about it. Maria, overhearing us, walked into where we were and said, "Hey guys! Why don't you try working together?" She then turned around and walked out.

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Yee-Ha Yippie-Yy-Yo

This weekend was the Kiawanis Club's annual Clarksville rodeo. We missed it last year, so we decided to take the kids this year. Anne, Jason and Joey were in town, so they came with us. The gates opened at 6 p.m., but the rodeo didn't start until 8 p.m. Way past my kids' bedtimes, but what the heck.

Truthfully, the kids were great and had a blast. They even understood when the horse won and when the cowboy won during the bronc riding. There was a scary moment when a horse flipped onto a cowboy and we said a quick prayer. (I think Luke may be a priest one day -- if he can learn to stop beating people up and pulling his sister's hair. Oh, and the ear-piercing scream thing... that would never work up there on the altar.) Lots of drama, but the cowboy was okay and walked out of the arena.

Anne and Joey, Sam, Luke and I made it until around 9:15 before we made our exit. Jack and Maria stayed behind with Dan and Jason, who apparently entered them into the find-your-shoes-in-a-pile contest and a chase-the-chicken contest. Darn the luck, they didn't win either one. (I would have killed Dan, had one of those kids brought a chicken home!)

Hard core rodeoers that they are, Jack, Maria, Dan and Jason all waltzed in around 11:15 p.m. Jack and Maria were covered in dust, hay, stray chicken feathers and who-knows-what. Quick showers, jammies and to bed and all was well.

Cowboy Luke (that's what we have to call him now) was ready to go back to the rodeo on Saturday, but we decided one night was enough this time.

Girly Time

Now that Jack's in school ALL DAY every day, Maria and I are getting some girl time in while The Little Boys nap.

Today we did toes. Glitter polish (courtesy of Gran) and little pink butterfly stickers (which took quite some time picking out). Aren't they cute?

Oh, and we can't forget the yummy chocolate milk consumed while being pampered!

Frightening

We had a very frightening experience yesterday afternoon. (Yes, believe it or not, it was more frightening than attempting mass.)

Despite the heat, I was giving the Little Boys haircuts on the patio. Jack was in his spot under the pine trees muddying up his school uniform. (WHY do they have to have white shirts?!?) Maria was in the house, so I tracked her down and told her she had to come outside. "It's too hot!!!" she said. It was hot, so I told her she could stay inside, but had to stay by the back door so I could keep an eye on her.

I started with Luke (who was EXCELLENT, by the way. Of course, that's probably because he wanted to avoid being cut up like last time). Maria stood at the back door opening and closing, opening and closing and occasionally making a comment.

Then it got suspiciously quiet. Jack was caked in mud so I sent him in to change while I checked on Maria. I hollered for her and received no response (not that I ever do). I hollered again and counted, telling her if she didn't answer she'd be in timeout at 3. Nothing. I started to panic as I searched the house. Couldn't find her. Screaming her name as loud as I could (which wasn't loud because I've been hoarse the last few days) I kept searching. I opened the door to the garage and heard a muffled, "I can't get out." SHE WAS IN THE VAN. The doors are kiddie locked.

Thank God she was only in there for a very, very short time. It is HOT here - 100's. I was in tears as I told her NEVER to get into a car without me. She told me she was getting a sucker for Sam. (We keep suckers in the car for bribes and the boys usually get suckers at the barber shop. The boys were getting haircuts, hence the need for suckers.) Very sweet of her, but I was FREAKED OUT.

Kids are amazing, aren't they? Before having children I never experienced the range of emotions I do these days.

The Letter of the Day...

...is H
Now, let's think of some words that begin with the letter H. Hmmmm. How about HAIRRAISING...
HELLISH...
HORRENDOUS...
HOPELESS...

Do you need to ask how mass went this morning?

As I'm dragging The Other Three out the door, the Deacon (who held to door open wide for us) said, "You've attended mass when you've made it through the consecration." Whew! Barely made it.

Sheesh. Wonderful Ms. Sharon was even there helping entertain the kids. Truthfully, Maria was an angel. The boys... not quite. Now, Sam was tired. Mass was in the middle of what should be his occasional morning nap. Still... WE WERE AT THE SCHOOL. There were LOTS of children there. Why were mine the only ones who couldn't keep quiet and still?

Thankfully, I didn't hear any snorting or other boy-like noises coming from Jack's row, where he sat with his class. Of course, I just may have missed it while Luke wrangling in the back.

Off we go!

Say a prayer... wish us luck... get out the Tylenol. We're going to mass!

Today is the Feast of the Assumption and Jack's school is having a mass at 10 a.m. All are welcome (at least, until they see us coming!) Jack will sit with a 4th grade buddy and his class. I'm planning to sneak in and sit at the back with The Other Three.

Sweet Sharon, church nursery coordinator and catholic school mother, offered to help me during mass today when she found out we'd be there. Why would she think I'd need help? Oh, that's right. She sat behind us on Saturday night (before we disgracefully removed ourselves to the narthex).