If you read any of the thrifty couponing blogs, today’s story is that through coupons and sales, you can get practically free Nyquil. But not just any Nyquil, the NEW flavor of nyquil.

Vanilla swirl? Really? Like it’s not going to still taste like throat burning disgusting just because you put some vanilla flavoring in it?

I just gagged thinking about it.

John told me that he loves me more than anyone else in the whole universe.
“Even more than Luke Sykwalker?” I asked.
“Yep. It goes #1-Mom, #2-Dad, #3-Luke Sykwalker, and #4-General Grievus” (I have no idea how to spell that one, so Star Wars fan, please forgive my ignorance).

* Did I sign all of the papers for school – times 5? Why do I have to do this for each kid – why can’t they have it all online?
*What time was I supposed to listen for that contest?
* Does everyone have a lunch?
* I need to schedule doctors’ appointments. Three years is probably a bit long to go between “yearly” visits. And one kid needs two more fillings, and is it time to call the orthodontist?
* What is that odd smell in that kid’s room?
* Why is it so hard to work in even 1/2 hour of exercise?
* Sugar–why do I need you so much? Why can’t I give you up?
* Does everyone have PE Clothes?
* I hate calling businesses and begging for free stuff. I’d much rather send an email or a letter, but sometimes they don’t respond unless you actually call them. And I’m a chicken, and I don’t want to call them.
* The toilets need cleaning. So do the showers.
* And the floors.
* Are there really people out there who manage family scripture study together every day? I would like to meet them .
* I need to fold the laundry. Do dishes. Cook. What are we going to have for dinner?
* Things actually do seem better when I do my hair and have makeup on.
* I need more volunteers for the Hawk Walk.
* I need to have a training for my volunteer time in the classroom?
* Insurance quotes. Try insuring a 16 year old boy. He doesn’t even drive. He doesn’t have a car, but he still needs insurance. Need I say more?
* And why am I so excited to go to the grocery store for a stock up run? I must be mental.
* What is wrong with this stupid printer? Must it jam every single time I use it?
* Jillian Michaels. Does she not know that jumping jacks reveal my weakened bladder control?
* I must be losing my mind. Who knew that switching from playing F and G to playing E and F on handbells would be so difficult? It’s a test of my hand/eye coordination, and telling my brain to be flexible.
* I really just want to sit and read MockingJay. Only I should have reread the second book because I don’t remember half of these characters.
* I need a haircut.
* Fundraisers? Classroom volunteer? Me? Yup.
* A stone hit my windshield a few weeks ago. Then I went through the car wash. I’m now the proud parent of a big old crack. AND a chip.
* Homework can be completely and utterly brutal. I don’t know if I can do 39 more weeks of this. All five kids talking to me at once, everyone needed a piece of me and there just wasn’t enough of me to go around. And then there’s the new powerschool. Could they really be missing assignments?
* Today is piano lesson day. Do not forget to send a check. Again.
*I promised them birthday parties. I’d better get on that.
* Peaches. Mom, would you like to come over and bottle my peaches for me?

Cole is playing this song

And while he’s playing, he likes to listen to THE JON SCHMIDT playing the same song. Only Jon’s piano and our piano are not exactly tuned to each other.

It all started when Ryan got himself a new key fob for locking and unlocking the suburban. His had stopped working. His new one is super sensitive and he’s constantly making the car alarm go off, and locking the car from inside his pocket.

I went out yesterday with the girls to get them to band by 7 am (the JOY OF MY LIFE, let me tell you). The window to the suburban was down, so I threw my purse onto the passenger seat and tossed my keys over to the middle console thing. Then when Natalie tried to open the car door, she can’t, because it’s locked. I reached through the window to open the door, but it wouldn’t open. I tried pushing the button to unlock, but that wouldn’t work, either. You must unlock with the key fob, or it thinks you are trying to break in. But my key fob was way over there where I had tossed it and I COULDN’T reach it! Without completely climbing through the window, I couldn’t see a way to reach it.

(I just have to insert a MONK reference here, for those of you who watch Monk…”if it doesn’t reach? Call Warren Beach.”)

Enter the tongs. I use tongs for all kind of reaching in my kitchen. Seriously. Can’t reach that cookie sheet? Get the tongs. You dropped something behind the dryer? Get the tongs. So, I had Natalie go and get the tongs from the kitchen, and I was able to reach in, grab my keys, push the unlock button, and carry on.

I was feeling all proud of myself in handling this tricky, although annoying situation. I told my husband about it, and he said, “Why didn’t you just manually switch the unlock switch?”

Um…. I forgot?

Batman is currently saving my children from boredom.

We got John the Lego batman game for his birthday, and the kids have been playing it CONSTANTLY since. Well, except when I tell them that the Wii needs a rest. And for the most part they are getting along while playing. So, if they get 20 hours of playing from this one game, I consider it a good investment.

Of course, tomorrow the long weekend is over and Batman will have to go back inside his case and rest so that we can all do our homework.

John is now seven. I can’t believe it. I’m still in shock. How can my BABY (and try as he might to overcome that title, he will always be my baby) be that old? In first grade, no less?

That little 5 pound four ounce tiny runt of a kid has sure grown up.

Well, they tell me it’s true. Now he’s a running, jumping, soccer playing, star wars obsessed boy.

Not one to get shorted out of ONE moment of birthday fun, he came into my room at about 5:50 am and said, “Mom, you need to get up and make me breakfast in bed.”
Ugh.
So, we all got up, made him breakfast, and even brought him his presents in bed. Hey, dad was out of town and there was no party planned for the day, so why not? He was thrilled with his lego star wars stormtrooper set, Lego Batman Wii game, and Galactic Heros star wars figuring. He was not too thrilled with the new pajamas, although he did wear them that night. He was more concerned with how MANY presents there would be rather than is they were awesome presents.

He was the special birthday boy at school, played with his Star Wars guys all afternoon, and we even went out to Iceberg for dinner. He got himself a free birthday shake, but was so full from his kids’ meal and ice cream that we put the whole thing in the freezer. There will surely be a party later.

Happy Birthday, John. I’m glad you are my baby! He may be stubborn and he may be a little spoiled, but he makes our lives fuller and richer and we can’t imagine what we’d do without him!

Oh, how I love that boy!

‘Life may not be the party we hoped for… but while we are here we might as well dance!’