General Update and A Parental Check List For Next Weeks Soccer Marathon

Before school started we spent a day in Baltimore. This was a sloppy second for the kids as we had planned on going to Busch Gardens but we had to call the 'game' on account of rain. We spent time at the Harbor, had seafood, went the the National Aquarium, and did a drive by of Charm City Cakes (for those of your familiar with Ace of Cakes).




Shopping for school necessities and supplies is becoming as expensive an event as Christmas! Thank goodness we have a great Outlet Mall in nearby Leesburg! My Dad was definitely right - it costs a lot to keep kids in shoes!

'N' and 'A' looked great for their first day back at school (3rd and 5th grade respectively). I still have one more year to hang out with 'Z' as his 5th b-day isn't until October - he is looking forward to the start of preschool and is the envy of his big bro and sis as he is still allowed to sleep in!



My friend and I went to a slammin' rally for McCain and my girl - Sarah Palin. I LOVE her - and so, by extension - I think that McCain is pretty okay too. I have much to say on the topic of our upcoming election and the suitability of the primary candidates - but that song and dance will have to wait for another post. (better photos coming soon)


Next week during our three hour stint at the soccer field I will bring the following:
1. A beach umbrella for shade
2. A cooler filled with ice, fruit, and many COLD drinks
3. Chairs for all five family members
4. Sunblock
5. A blanket to spread on the ground
6. Lunch
(I would add a battery operated fan but such a purchase would break my new goal of only buying things that are on my 'need' list)
Next week I will not:
1. Let my self nor any of my children get a sunburn
2. Have nothing to sit on but a blanket
3. Have nothing to drink but HOT water by the second hour
4. Mooch a chair off of my neighbors
5. Have three hungry, hot and tired kids

Flesh Eating Bacteria Strikes Again!

Over the summer my Dad contracted a case of cellulitis. If you do not care to read the oh-so-scholarly wikipedia article I have provided as a link, know that it is an infection of the deep subcutaneous tissue of the skin caused by an invading bacteria. This is a condition that is treated quite seriously as if it goes untreated it can turn into Flesh Eating Bacteria! After several trips to the doctor, and the emergency room, I am pleased to report that my Dad recovered 100%.

Fast forward to last week, which was the first week of school for the kids. 'A' got a nasty looking spider bite behind her ear. Gradually, it began to bother her and after a few days her complaints of discomfort increased and the bite became raised, lumpy, (and pretty gross) so I took her into the doc. Though the bite looked awful, the doc (and the three others who were brought in to confer over her condition) was very concerned over a slightly reddened circle that was spreading around the bite, onto her neck and face. (This reddening was not present when I sent her to school that morning.) And what was the diagnosis? Cellulitis by spider bite!

Now she is on heavy antibiotics and is feeling fine. Poor girl!Let no one say that the Thornton's are not doing their part to wage war against Flesh Eating Bacteria!

What Did I Do Today?

-Woke up at 6:30 to get the kids ready and out the door by 7:20
-Made 10 PTA posters for the Reflections Program to advertise an upcoming open house that I am in charge of
-Strategically placed said posters around the school
-Could not leave the school due to a fire drill that forced me and Z outside for 20 mins
-Went to the gym
-Made some returns to Target
-Met with my counterpart and planned two months of cub scout den meetings
-Homework with kids
-Piano practicing with kids
-Coached A's soccer team
-Coached N's soccer team
-Went to Back to School Night

(oh yeah, and made breakfast, scoured the kitchen, packed lunches, entertained Z, made more lunches, entertained Z some more, moped the floors, did a few loads of laundry, made dinner, put kids to bed......)

WHEW! Maybe I will run for V.P. of the United States in my spare time!

A Conversation With My Kids At The Local Target

N: You know that disgusting thing that people do to make babies?
Me: (glancing around to see if anyone overheard) Ummmmm - yes??????
N: I hate that. Especially the part about the shower.
Me: What part about the shower?
N: You know - the disgusting part.
Me: Um - I think that you might be a little bit confused. Let's talk about this when we get home - okay?
N: I am not confused! I just hate the part about the shower!
A: You are confused! You don't do it in a shower. You do it on a bed!
Me: Okay - let's keep our voices down and discuss this at home okay?
N: Fine but I will still hate the shower part. You know. When you get naked and take a baby shower.


Parental Note: Confusion was cleared up at home - where patrons of Target were no longer within hearing distance.

Happy Birthday Sista!

Yesterday was my little sister's B-Day. Can I simply say that she is one of my very best friends and likely one of the most fantabulous people on the planet? She is a stellar example of how to live life with energy - the girl knows how to have fun. She is a terrific Mom and a wonderful human being. The world is truly a better place because she is in it. I can't express in words how much I love spending time with her. In my dream life we would live next door to each other and have a grown-up girl sleepover at least once a month! Thanks B - for being a great example to me! Love You!

*Do I earn any points for having neglected a b-day phone call with this extra special blog entry?

Sha-Na-Na-Na

Sha-Na-Na-Na
Hey-Hey-Hey
GOODBYE!!

I am normally not one to post pictures of myself, but I have to share.

This is me 'BEFORE'. Note the teeth.

A large gap, as shown here is known as a DIASTEMA. This has been my dental cross to bear for the past 34 years. Admittedly, I was not overly burdened by this cosmetic issue until my later years - when I became more vain.

Below you see me 'AFTER'. (In addition to admiring my new smile, please note the fab strand of ginormous pearls that the Hub just gave to lucky me - he hand selected them on his recent trip to China.)

So - good luck to these 2 offspring! I suppose that we will have to budget in some $$$$ for the issues that I have likely created for them and their developing ego's!

Homicidal Heritage

Whilst enjoying the final week of our vacation at my parents cabin in Big Cottonwood Canyon the following conversation took place between 'N' and my Mom.  

N: Have you ever been fishing Grandma?

G:  A few times.

N: Did you ever take kids fishing?

G: Oh!  One time I was camping with Heather and some of her friends and we were by a stream when a big truck pulled up and dumped a TON of fish into the water.  Then the truck drove off and we didn't have any fishing poles so Heather jumped into the water and started grabbing the fish with her hands and throwing them up on the bank of the river so I grabbed a big rock and started hitting them on the head with the rock to kill them!

N: (in horror) You killed the girls?!?

G: (confused) I didn't know if they were boy fish or girl fish.....

N: (in a scared whisper) You killed the campers?

Did I mention that 'N' disables his listening skills when the answers to his question are longer than one or two words?

Did I mention that my Mom's exploits are just as hilarious as 'N's?