1-2-3-4...1-2-3-4...C-L-E-M-S-O-N

You know you're a Clemsongirl when even your lint trap is SOLID ORANGE!

Can I get a GO TIGERS!?

Minis' Parties x 2!

This Saturday I had both the minis' birthday parties at the house. Of course if poured rain for days before and the day of the parties. Sigh...moved everything inside and made a run to the craft store on Friday for some last minute projects.

Foam letters spelling out the boys' names. I thought it was stupid cute. Jack and Ryan said

it was really, really weird. But they are boys...what do they know!?

Ryan's theme was "Ryan-a-saurus' Dinosaur Dig" from 5-7p with pizza.

Cowboy Jack had a Wild West Round Up from 10-12 noon.

This was my uber-polite way to say, don't drag your wet mess into my house!

Jack's favors were little tin buckets with pony vinyl decals (set 4/$12) and were filled with plastic cowboys and Native Americans. Super cute and really inexpensive!

The shirts. Ahhh, the shirts. I had so much fun "designing" them.

They are forever referred to as The Clemsongirl Tee...in my honor of course!

You can't search for them online, but you can special order them here for $18.

More fabulous tees that I designed! Seriously, can you imagine the possibilities?!

Erupted the volcano, cause that's how I roll.

I'm exhausted. More later, pinky swear!

An Elephant Never Forgets

I have been quite busy this week, both good busy with work and prepping for birthday parties, but also yucky busy with Jack's minor foot injury.

He fell in a bounce house at a friend's party. (For the record? Coach was in charge of them and I was working...but, I digress) and when I got home from work I took him to the children's hospital. He had a sprained ankle and had fractured a bone on the top of his foot. No cast, amen. He had a wheelchair on Monday, crutches on Tuesday and by Wednesday was insisting that he was going to cram that swollen little foot into his sneaker. He said, "I don't like people looking at me because I am hurt. I want them to look at me because I am smart." Huh. Sure enough, he hobbled around on it for another day and by yesterday afternoon was running around. Children are resilient.

Saturday is going to be a big day at the Casa de Chaos. This is the first year that the minis have requested separate birthday parties. (Their birthdays are only 10 days apart) I agreed to that and we are having them both here, one in the morning and one in the evening. Of course, Coach is out of town on a baseball trip so it's The Mommy Show. But, you already knew that, right?! Last night I baked 48 cupcakes and made a plaster volcano...sheesh!

More on the parties once they are done and I have recovered. The good news is that I am taking them to the beach next Friday for some rest and relaxation!

Have I mentioned that it's been pouring rain all week and the parties will have to be moved inside my itty bitty little house? Figures...

Hair

Taking the children to Catechism at church.

They are both sporting faux-hawks courtesy of the hair dresser.

Wonder what Sister Mary Elizabeth is going to think...

Mother Knows Best

The following message is brought to you by my Mother. A retired school teacher with the heart of a perfectionist.

"Lucy, (she calls me Lucy) Read your blog today. Couple things you need to know. I couldn't help it, I had to tell you."


1. "a lot" NOT "alot"
2. "Coach and I" not "Coach and me"

No word of a lie, she ended the call with, "I'm just saying."

Yes, Tahoe Girl...

...there is a Coach.

When we lived in Tennessee, we had been in our house for about 2 years when an elderly neighbor stopped by to say hello and love on the minis. Ryan was 2 and a half and Jack was 6 months old. I was mowing the lawn with Jack in a Snugli (cause I freaking rock!) and Ryan was drawing with chalk on the sidewalk.

She patted me gently and asked how I was doing. "Fine, fine. " I said. "It's not so bad, they are both really good sleepers, and they both nap."

She looked at me funny and asked, "Is it difficult to be such a young widow?"

Huh?

Oooohhhhh, I get it. Coach is never home and she thinks I am a real widow, not just a baseball widow.

I assured her that my husband was alive and well, and that he just works alot (read: every damn day), but he really is living here with the children and I. She had never even seen his car!

Well, I guess she wasn't the only one who wonders if I am a widow or just a baseball widow...

Click here to read this post from my friend Tahoe Girl...and then leave a comment if you have seen/know the "real" Coach. Just so we're all clear that he's not imaginary!

hee hee

8

Ryan turned 8 today, which is both exciting and appalling at the same time. We ate lunch at Taco Mac and he thought he was hot stuff because he got to drink soda. I thought I was hot stuff because I was wearing flip flops, but it's not my day, right?

Yes, the orange Crocs were a birthday gift. Jack was furiously jealous, but he is getting some in 9 short days on HIS birthday. Sheesh. Love them.

The minis are on the same baseball team this year and had a game today. We played our buddies Tate and Toby. Ryan made a triple play...by complete accident. Caught a pop fly (which was equally surprising to him and me!) then tagged a runner. Touched second base and 3 outs. Of course, it's all down hill from there...

Could a child be more excited about underwear? Truly, boxer briefs are what inspired that smile. He other exciting gift was a Science Encyclopedia. He just may be a geek like his mom...who knew?

Ah... Legos. Bleh. I hate them. The children love them. It's all fair on your birthday.

Liar Liar

Liar, Liar. Lounge pants on fire. I promised a good post today, but I just can't manage it. Worked all day, had a closing and the minis had baseball practice. Here's a wardrobe update instead. (Can you really call clothes from Old Navy a "wardrobe"? hmmm...me thinketh notsomuch!)

Practice tonight. 60 and sunny. And no, those are NOT magic pants. They are "lounge pants", which are basically another type of pajama pant I like to call clothes...sue me.

Game tomorrow afternoon. 70 and sunny. I'm thinking flip flops!

Thanks for Noticing

I have been informed that today's post was boring and commonplace.

I promise to step it up for Friday...on which day I have a closing, which is always fun!

To Do/Ta Dah!

Late last night I was feeling a little overwhelmed by the To Do list swirling in my over caffeinated head. Busted out some lime green paper and got all printed up. Somehow, when that list is typed up it seems more manageable. Plus? I LURVE striking through those items one at a time. Oooh, the power!

This is what's on it for today:

aCharge eKey
a10a Ashlie @ Seven Hills
aClean out van
aHVAC fax re: Lake Park
aGroceries (bread, yogurt, trash bags, snacks)
aDinner in crock pot in morning
Bake cookies for Friday
aCall re: mag cancel
aDeposit checks
aCall Connie- POA, walk through 10a, 2 checks, storm door
aArrange key for Michelle Friday 12noon, remove lock box,
Clothes for Friday
Baseball clothes Friday 6p
aPhotocopy checks for MHS x 2
Party plans confirmed, (pine straw, pics, posters, volcano, R favors)
Aimee- return book, PTA check (ink cartridge?)

Seriously? How random is all of that?

The lime green really pulls it together though...

Tricked

Guess I should have worn green pajamas last night because I got a little St. Patrick's Day tricked today.

Coach took the children to school this morning a little after 7am. He has a late game tonight, so he told me he was going to come home after dropping our little Leprechauns off. He smiled at me and kissed me saying, "See you in a few minutes."

Lucky me! What a fabulous morning. Luck of the Irish-Italians...

I ran upstairs and took a shower. Dried my hair and slicked on a little cherry bomb lip gloss.

Turned the radio off and went down the hall to find him.

He was sound asleep on the guest bed snoring.

Is that the St. Patrick's Day version of a pinch or what?

Sigh...

Erin Go Bragh (also sometimes: Erin Go Braugh) is the Anglicization of a Gaelic phrase used to express allegiance to Ireland. It is most often translated as "Ireland Forever",[1] and pronounced /ˌɛrɪn gə ˈbrɔː/.

Go Ahead, Make My Day

I came home from work and stripped off my dress and tights and boots and lip gloss. I collapsed on the sofa, parenting from there.

Now I am sitting in front of my computer, feeling like I should blog for you. I know I am supposed to be the funny one, making you laugh at the antics of my life, but..

I am stressed. Overwhelmed. Sad. Insecure. Angry. Disappointed. Confounded. Frustrated. Tired. Feeling very beaten down. And kicked while I am down here. Right in my girly bits.

Being a grown up is really hard. Life is not a walk in the park. Money grows not on trees. People don't always do the right thing. Being a wife, mother, friend, daughter, and wage earner sucks sometimes. Today, I really just want to crawl back into the bed and be done. Alas, there are 2 little cherubs (ha!) demanding dinner and baths and books and my love. Of which they will get at least 3 of 4. Kidding. Maybe.

So, it's your turn.

Make me laugh. Put a smile on my sad little face.

Just this once.

No-Sun Day

Coach's games got rained out effective 10am today. He went to Mass on Saturday evening when that game was rained out.

So, he'll be home any minute and there's no chance I'll be blogging on the first day he's off in 84,000.

TTFN!

Frick

Influenza: Type B.

Frick.
Frick.
Frick.

The minis...not me. Yet.

Rain

You know I love when it rains here in Atlanta. We have been in a drought and under such severe water restrictions for over 2 years, it's like a sigh of relief when the Heavens opens and pour down.

Except today.

The minis are supposed to have baseball practice tonight and a game Saturday. Coach has a 3 game series. Which are all going to be jacked up and rearranged because of the rain.

Oh, wait...

I was invited to a birthday party tonight for a friend that's turning 40 (holy crap, 40!?).

If Coach's games get cancelled maybe I can go. Can't get a sitter since Jack is home sick, but...surely I can leave him with his Daddy.

Woo hoo.

Rain, rain, rain.

Whatever it takes.

Equivalent

Last night I did the domestic equivalent of bitch slapping the Casa de Chaos. It's almost up to par.

Amen for that.

What are you doing today?

Pressure

The pressure in my life has taken up residence in my head. Which may possibly explode if I can't get this house back in order.

Two weeks of the back injury debacle and things got a little disorderly. I have no fewer than 84,000 loads of clean, folded laundry waiting to be put away.

2 of the 3 bathrooms are stage whispering for a good scrubbing and there are stacks of books in each and every room which need to be reshelved.

Tonight when the minis go to bed, I am making this house my bitch.

Look out Casa de Chaos. You're in for it.

It's Basically Free

The Pink Clutch is cleaning out her studio to make room for new finds...

and everything is so drastically reduced, it's practically free!

I'd post all the photos here, but truly? What's the fun in that?!

How cute is this?! I so need one for my beach trip...in less than a month! It would also be super cute as a teacher gift at the end of the school year tied up with a trashy beach novel!

She also has some really cute monogrammed flip flops (of which I am a proud owner!) and some with Lilly buttons. I adore the slippers, especially the ones with the golf bag on them.

The wine glasses, well, those are just darling...

What's your favorite thing? Search around here and tell me your favorite thing. I happen to have an "in" with her and I'll pick someone and send you a happy...

Leave me a comment and tell me what you love!

I'll choose someone on Wednesday night! But stay away from my chair cover...hee hee

PT is Not for Wusses

Went to physical therapy and was deemed "compliant"...which is hilarious.

I am the least compliant person I know.

Unless there's a copay involved, then I am all business.

Busted

This morning at Mass I totally caught Coach checking out a tall blond. He claims she was looking at him, but all I saw was him, gazing at her and then he got all sheepish and blushed when I called him on it.

She was cute enough.

Then she stood up and was about 84,00 months pregnant. I laughed out loud. In Mass.

Later in the parking lot we saw her getting into her Non-monogrammed minivan...with her husband...and their 6 (six!) children. With one on the way.

hahahahahaha

Coach was checking out a pregnant breeder.

YMCA

Took the minis to the YMCA today to swim. Afterwards, I showered them up in the family locker room and got them into clean clothes and checked them into the Kid Play Area. It's the "most awesome" because they can climb the rock wall, play basketball, play Wii, and about 84,000 other things I have no interest in. All under the supervision of the YMCA employees while I get my workout on. Presumably.

I stood in the shower in the Ladies' Locker Room (aka the Poor Girls' Spa; sauna, whirlpool, steam room and showers! Delightful!) and spent forever lotioning and pampering. Then I dried my hair and straightened it without little children pulling on my leg and pestering me and yelling at eachother. It was downright lovely. Got dressed and was so relaxed. Walked down and checked the children out of the play area.

We walked to the monogrammed minivan and got buckled in. Put on the Junie B. Jones book on CD for them in the back and was enjoying the sunshine.

I was so proud of myself. Public library? Check. Children taken to Y for physical activity and bonding with Mommy? Check.

Then I was thinking, "Wow. I feel great. That shower was a great reward for my long, hard workout. Good girl."

Just about then I remembered.

I didn't work out. I just dropped them in child watch and showered.

Oh, well. Tomorrow is another day...right, Scarlett?

ACC Basketball Tournament Tickets

My BFF's sister has scored some ACC basketball tournament tickets that she is willing to sell at face value. I don't usually post things like this on my blog, but these are some seriously fabulous tickets, and you know I love you enough to share! Plus? They are playing at the Georgia Dome...so, you, me and a latte...it's in your future!

Two tickets for all six sessions. The tickets are in Section 134, Row 18, Seats 13-14.

That's the lower level. They were $812 total (including a $20 processing fee).

Here's a link to the seating chart.

http://www.gadome.com/events/2009_accmensbasketball.html

If you're truly interested, shoot me (no pun intended) an email at clemsongirlandthecoach@yahoo.com

Hot Tickets. Cause that's how I roll.

Physical Therapy

What does one wear to Physical Therapy? Not sure, but this is what I am sporting.

My black tee is slightly different from Clemson, but it's so old I can't find it online anymore!

Wish me luck...maybe they'll recommend a massage?!

Golden Arches

Hey Dad? You probably don't want to read this. It vaguely references my girly bits...same to my uncles...forewarned is forearmed.

Duly noted.

This morning I had an appointment with the Doc regarding my back. It's still all jacked up and she's referred me for physical therapy, which I start tomorrow. She raised her eyebrows and scolded me for the Venti Starbucks I had, but when I told her it was tea, she backed off. Good move, Doc.

After I left her office, fully poked and prodded and sore, I stopped at McDonald's on the way to a home inspection. I really needed a Diet Coke, seeing that aforementioned Venti Chai Tea was gone, and I needed to use the ladies room.

Upon visiting said ladies room I was surprised to observe that General Krotendorfer had arrived a day earlier than I had expected. I had no purse and the only ahem, feminine supplies I have are in the Stow and Go under the monogrammed minivan seats. Of course with my back all jacked up, I certainly can't be moving the seats and getting under there, so I had to come up with Plan B.

No one else was in the ladies room and there was no dispenser. Of freaking course. So, I had no choice but to go to the old 7th grade game plan and use some toilet tissue to "get me through" until the inspection was over.

I reached for the dispenser and it was mounted so low to the wall and the paper was running low. I saw that I would have to reach my hand up inside the dispenser to reach the paper. Super. Except I can't bend down with this back situation. So...

I had to get down on my KNEES on the floor of the McDonald's ladies room and manage that. At which time I am certain I was exposed to MRSA or some other such nastiness. The toilet paper was one ply and resembled low grit sandpaper at best. Which is, well, not a good choice for my (or anyone's!) girly bits. But, alas, I had no choice.

Situation resolved, if temporarily and I stand up and walk to the sink to wash my hands...and arms...and elbows from being on the ground. Ewwww.

As I am washing my hands the door opens and another customer walks in. She is well, past the age of menstruation and even if she wasn't, I wouldn't have asked her to reach into her fanny pack and dig through the cigarettes to lend a girl anything anyway. She was, um, not so fit and looked a little distressed.

She held open the door to the hallway and called out;

"Hey Red! Give me that there book. I really gotta go." Red, who is presumably her husband, (the matching fanny packs gave it away) handed her a novel and she walked into the stall.

For the love of God, McDonald's is starting to become like WalMart...another place I just can't handle.

Oh, and the Diet Coke? Totally incorrect ratio of syrup to fizz

Sigh.

The Last Horizon

Jack is 5 and doing just fine in Kindergarten.

Last night for the bazillionth time, he told me he was going to read me a book. This never has actually happened. He gets frustrated and makes me read it, which is alright with me. His 7 year old brother hardly ever lets me read to him, so I really savor it!

I snuggled up in the quilt with him and ...

He read it! I was thrilled and delighted and hung on every single sounded-out word. He stumbled on lots of them and was befuddled by words like "soon" and "caution", but I helped him with those and hit lit up like a Christmas tree. He was so proud of himself and kept looking at me out of the corner of his little blue eye.

I was so excited and got to thinking, this is really the final frontier for me as a parent.

What? He's only 5!

I know, but the way I see it, (and forgive me for sounding like an after school special) if you can read, you can do anything! Except fix a washing machine apparently, but I digress. Truly, I am a reader. I love reading. I love books and magazines and short stories and poems and cereal boxes. I love to read anything I can get my hands on. I get the chills at the library. Love, love, love to read.

Ryan has always been a reader. He is like his Mama. I have to tell him each night to turn off the light and get some sleep. He, too is a book whore. Devours them. Nonfiction especially.

I hope that reading me Digger Man last night was foreshadowing of the love of reading to come for Jack. Because truly, if you can read...there isn't anything in life you can't figure out.

Oh, and for the record? When he finished reading that sweet little story to me? He smiled and looked up at me in his little jammies, all clean and shiny from the bath, smelling like bubblegum lotion.

And he burped. Just as loud as can be, and collapsed into a fit of giggles.

He may be a reader, but he is still a boy.

Monday Musings

We did get snow yesterday, but luckily no Snow Day. I know, I know. All of you Mommies love a Snow Day, except me (and Skinny). I spent the entire weekend solo parenting and I was delighted to kiss them good bye and wish them a great day at school today. The fact that they love school is a big plus for me. I also loved school so I totally understand. I still get that feeling when I walk into a public library. It's a rush like; "Oooh, there's so much in here that I don't know yet!" Absolutely exhilarating.

Ahhh, I am starting to have some relief with my back debacle. I think the Carrabba's take out last night may have helped! We killed the last of the gift cards leftover from Christmas, but it was worth it! Even have a mess of leftovers for lunch. Also, the muscle relaxers? Little pieces of Heaven. I go back to the Doc on Thursday and we'll discuss physical therapy then. Sounds delightful to me! An hour of someone asking me how I feel and trying to make me feel better? Hello? What Mommy wouldn't want that!?

Hopefully, something entertaining will happen today when I actually leave the house. Plus, there is a strong possibility I may have to go to WalMart (bleh!) and that ALWAYS leads to a funny story. Always. SuperT doesn't have my ink cartridge...so...

Smooch!