What can I do next, Mom?

My girls have never really done chores. I know that makes me a terrible mom, but it is just easier to do things myself. Macy has helped clean up her room before, but that’s it. They don’t get an allowance, and don't have assigned chores.

That being said…Sunday, while I enjoying my Mother’s Day nap and Bobby was napping also, the girls were playing in Macy’s room. We learn later that they ripped a hole in the screen on Macy’s window, and threw things out onto the driveway. Toys, a roll of toilet paper, paper, you name it was on the driveway. At least one of them hadn’t fallen through…I shudder to think about that.
(Macy’s theory of what happened to the screen...”While I was sleeping, someone came in my room and ripped a hole in the screen. When I woke up, the hole was there!)

Bobby’s “lecture” to them apparently didn’t work, because they were giggling about in the car. So last night, when Macy got home, I told the girls they had to do chores. I said they were going to start doing chores once a week. Last night’s chores would help “pay” for the screen. They were unbelievable—they helped me clean the coffee table, clean the kitchen, Macy vacuumed the living room and her bedroom, Kaylin vacuumed the hallway and her bedroom, they hung up clothes, picked up toys, put books on the bookshelf, made their bed…all without a single word of complaint. They’d finish one job, come to me and ask, “What can I do now?” They didn’t fight with each other, they didn’t argue with me, it was like heaven on earth.

When they got ready for bed, they wanted to keep doing chores. Kaylin wanted to make her bed, so after she was in bed and tucked in, we pulled the covers nice and neat around her bed. Macy made a list of things she was going to do at grandma’s for chores…after she played for a little bit, of course. They made a list of different chores they can do each day. THEY made the list—not me. Wednesday’s Macy wants to clean the garage—I vetoed that idea.

It was the sweetest thing I’ve seen from them in a long time. I’m sure the newness of doing chores will wear off, but it sure was nice while it lasted.

Open House and PTO

Hopefully all the mother's had a wonderful day yesterday!! Mine was nice; if only my kids had stopped fighting for five minutes for me to enjoy it.

Tonight was Open House at Macy's new school. She and her friend Paige led us through the building and showing everything off. She is definitely not nervous about changing schools!! She is ready to go NOW. The school is a definate improvement over the one we are at now--much newer, nicer, bigger. It seems like a nice place. She already seemed at home there, which makes me feel better.

The PTO meeting was afterwards. The PTO meetings at her old school lasted 15-20 minutes, tops. In, out, little discussion. Everything was already decided for you and you just nodded your head. Not so at her new school. Typed agendas, detailed budget analysis, votes on every item on the proposed budget. My head was swimming!! The meeting was an hour and a half--they said they are usually only an hour (?!?! only an hour!!?!?) but tonight's was longer. Goodness!!! Can't wait. :)

Green Grasshoppers Part II

I didn't have my camera Tuesday night, so last night I took pictures of the Green Grasshoppers.
Kaylin hitting... she keep straightening out her arms, but finally got a good hit.

Running to first...look at that smile!

Look at me, Mom! I made it to first base!

Macy hitting...she nailed it the first time

Macy running to first...

She said, "Mom! Don't forget to take my picture too!"

Macy and her friend Jessica waiting for the ball to come...

Macy's best friends--Kaylee, Jessica and Paige

Kaylin didn't put the glove on her head last night, but did take a rest on 2nd base.


No games until next week.

In one hour I get a 15-minute chair massage for Teacher Appreciation Week. I'm very excited!!!

The Green Grasshoppers!

Last night was the girls first t-ball game. We weren't going to do t-ball this year because it was $100 a kid (yikes!) and Macy really didn't like it last year. One of Bobby's firefighters has 4 kids, and he for sure couldn't afford $400 for t-ball. So he developed a new t-ball league that only costs $5. I figured that was something we could handle. :) It blossomed to 250 kids, which he was not expecting.

The girls are on a team together, along with 3 of Macy's best friends: Jessica, Paige and Kaylee. Macy's so shy that she wouldn't have gone out on the field if those girls weren't with her. There are 16 kids on their team.

The deal with this league is it is extremely uncompetitive--every kid gets to bat, there are no outs, so they basically hit the ball and run the bases.

Kaylin was cute--she grinned ear-to-ear the whole time she was at bat, and then didn't want to stop at first base but kept going. Then when the other team was at bat, she was sitting on her ball glove. Then she was putting it on her head and turning around in a circle. At one point Bobby picked her up under his arm and carried her to the back of the field.

Macy was very serious--hit the ball hard, ran the bases hard, and worked hard to get the ball when the other team was at bat.

For $10 total, it will be worth it. They have 8 games total.

I hate allergies...

Never used to have a problem with allergies until we lived in Chilli and there was a big tree with white blossoms in our front yard. In the spring that tree would get me every year. Now, we have another one of those trees in our front yard. Happens every year still.

I have no voice today. I feel fine, except my eyes are a little itchy. It's actually kind of nice not having a voice; the kids leave you alone. I have an excuse not to answer them.

I usually lose my voice at least twice a school year; a student I've had for three years pointed out to me this is the first time this year. Maybe next year I won't lose my voice at all...

Charity Basketball game...

Last night the fire department played against the police department in a charity basketball game. The trash talking has been going on for quite some time, coming from both sides.

Some celebrities were in attendance--those of you who follow the Tigers football team will recognize this star:


And I'm sure this full-ride Tigers football star really appreciates this picture:

And the tip-off between the two football players:

Can you block out with him next to you, Bobby?

The police department's "secret weapon" was a former New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneer's football player. Bobby was lucky enough to have to guard him most of the night. He said later there's never been a player he hasn't been able to budge, until him. He was a solid 300+ pounds. He just stood under the basket and they'd pass to him, and he'd score.

It was a fun night, although I think the cards were stacked toward the police department. They ended up winning by 2, and it came down to a final shot by the fire department.

Even with Bobby's broken finger from last week, he played very well. For the record, this is his second injury in the last few months playing basketball. Dare I suggest he's getting too old to keep playing competitively? Love you honey. :)

Scary storm last night...

Massive storms ripped through the area last night. The girls had spent the night with Mom and Dad, and Bobby was at the fire station, so I was home alone. When I went to bed, I called Bobby and told him to call me if I needed to go to the basement. That's the advantage of a having a firefighter as a husband!

I woke up around 2:15, with wind absolutley pounding the window right next to my bed. I went to the living room to watch the news, and I had left the living room windows up a little. The whole house sounded like a train was coming through. I closed the windows, and laid on the couch and waited for the storm to die down. The dogs were highly unconcerned; I'm glad we have two laid-back dogs and not ones that freak out in this kind of weather. I surveyed our area this morning, and the only real problem is the swing is knocked over.

Talked to my mom this morning, and the girls and my dad slept through the whole thing! Some of the neighborhoods in my school district were hit pretty hard, so a bunch of kids are gone today. I have two right now in my 3rd hour!! Houses are ripped apart, houses ripped off the foundation, walls are missing, etc. Pretty scary pictures. Our house appears to be built very well, and for that I am thankful. A lot of those houses that are destroyed are newer, and that makes me wonder about the level of construction.

They are saying it was hurricane level winds that came through, not necessarily a tornado. Funny to think about, considering we are MILES away from a body of water!