Life Is Good

Finishing the Beach House: Rewarding
Deep conversations with my hubby last night: Enlightening
Exercising twice today: Energizing
Taking kids to the movies and sleeping through the entire thing: Refreshing
Bumping into hubby's ex-girlfriend: Satisfying!!
Signing up for the 1/2 Marathon: TERRIFYING!

My Life

I am Exhausted!


Heidi asked what's been going on, the picture sums it up for me. Year round I work 3 part time jobs that all allow me to work whenever I want to (mostly at night after everyone is in bed!). BUT, this is the one week a year I have to work to complete a project by a deadline. I am busy getting the beach house ready for renters which entails a lot of shopping (blech), cleaning (blech), laundry (blech), making beds (blech) and even ironing (BLECH!!). I am packing dishes, organizing storage closets, cleaning out the garage, moving furniture, painting, gardening, you name it! It is tons of work in a very short window. Think of it as moving with only 5 days notice. Simply put, my body is not used to 12 hour days of this type of work! It is an exhausting process!

So there you have it, why I am too tired to type, e-mail, update, etc. my head is spinning with to do lists and the thought of more cleaning. Plus I still have my usual commitments that take a lot of time, classroom parties, household chores (BLECH!), kids classes, etc. etc. etc. I'll be back to normal on Sunday!

This is how a dinner starts at the Michell's



This is how a dinner ends at the Michell's




Never, NEVER, NEVER leave your car behind at the Michell's

My Zig Zag Day

This was my day.
HB to FV
FV to Fashion Island
Fashion Island to Balboa Peninsula
Balboa Peninsula to HB
HB to Irvine
Irvine to Tustin

When I got to Tustin at 5pm we were at the oral surgeon's office. We waited until 6 to be seen at which point I was told YUP...it's gotta come out...tonight! YIKES! I'll spare you the details, except we came home one tooth and a whole lotta cash lighter. We didn't get home until 8:30. LONG DAY!

Dylan did great! He is going to be in pain tomorrow but for me, the worst is over! He is thrilled about his 3-4 days of a soft diet!

He said a prayer that the tooth fairy would still come even though this one was "yanked out"! I am sure she will be visiting that brave boy.

Oh, and I would feel like a bad Mom if I didn't mention that Megan had her tooth fixed today too and when we finally got her to bed at 9pm she said the little tooth was so sore, "every part of my body is hurting". She was really just needing a little attention and sleep but she will still get a "soft diet" tomorrow. I am a pushover!

Oral Fixation

So speaking of DNA (Baker Family), I am fed up with mine. Jon got to give the kids all the cute things like being ticklish on the tushy (don't try it ladies, he's mine!), the crooked pinky, blonde hair and blue eyes. My children got the short end of the stick from me...they are genetically predisposed to weak enamel. Our teeth are so weak it is ridiculous. Dylan had to have silver crowns on all his molars when he was 4 because the decay was so rapid and porcelain was not strong enough (YES! WE DO BRUSH AND FLOSS!!). Megan has it a bit better than him. She has only had small "weak spots" that we have treated early on with porcelain. We had been successful with that treatment so far.

In November we had our FIRST visit to the dentist that didn't leave me feeling like I had been punched in the stomach. Both kids had no cavities, no new weak spots and other than the obvious spacing issues, things looked great. Today, not so fortunate.

Dylan has an abscessed tooth. It is so infected that there is a big bloody blister on his gum. Apparently he had told Jon about this but wasn't complaining about pain so he just thought it was from a cancer sore like D had said. I felt like a big dummy for not having noticed the boil inside my kids mouth. UGH! So he referred me to an oral surgeon and said it needs to come out ASAP! I have heard about what infections in the mouth can do so I will not put this off.

So Megan lost one of her fillings and it needs to be replaced. I felt like strangling the doctor. Those fillings are less than a year old. Why do I have to pay to redo his work? Isn't there a warranty? So tomorrow I get to take her to replace that, then walk over to the oral surgeon's office and show them Dylan's mouth so we can get a rush appointment.

Now you know how we will be spending our stimulus package!

By the way, of all the disabilities, disorders, diseases and deformities my children could have, I am certainly counting my blessings that this is what we were given.

God

Good
-God
= 0

Saw this on a Church sign today. Liked it.

Dear Kristi...

...STOP IT! I do NOT like Yanni! Stop playing his awful music in my ear every time I answer the phone. I can hear you giggling in the background. I do not find this behavior funny.

Dear Heidi...

...don't redirect people from Facebook to your BLOG and have the most recent post be from 5 days ago. You need new material lady!

Worth A Try

On Diane's blog I did not have to do a "word verification" to leave a comment. I did a little research and found out that you can disable the "word verification" part of the comments page. It says having it on there reduces SPAM. I am going to take my chances and go without for a while. Let's see how much SPAM I get.

John and Kate!

For the past few months my obsession has been watching John and Kate Plus 8 marathons on Monday nights. John and Kate are my age, and they have 8 kids. A set of twins and a set of six (I can't spell the technical word!). I enjoy watching the chaos that is their life. But it is good chaos! Their kids are adorable. Kate is very organized (a trait I admire), John is very sarcastic (is this starting to sound like my home?) They wear everything on their sleeves. Sometimes they argue, sometimes they are stressed beyond words, sometimes they are just going through the motions, sometimes they are having tons of fun! Whatever it is they are experiencing on that episode, it helps me start my week off feeling like "I CAN DO THIS!". This strange, scary, challenging, exciting, wonderful thing they call motherhood is a blessing. Seriously, when you need a reality check, turn on this show. Your life will seem like a cake walk!

RIDICULOUS!

Another random thought...you should NOT have to get in line at 6:20 AM to buy tickets to your daughter's ballet and tap recitals. I am 7th in line. They don't go on sale until 11am. Come by and say hi, give me a break from this insanity!

Randomness

Here are some random thoughts from this month:

Call me a prude but I don't think high school students should sing "Sledgehammer" at their recital. Especially in a church. That is just wrong.

My son did awesome at the speech meet. He got 49/50 from both judges and made all the adults cry. Thanks again to Dr. Don for judging. No, he was not D's judge.

The Boards need to approve the lease so the school can put some money into fixing the air conditioning. It is ridiculously hot in those rooms.

Open House is not for the faint of heart.

Summer is coming and I am not bathing suit ready.

My run is coming and I am not ready.

Our critters keep dying. My son said "Mom, it's like all you can keep alive are the big animals like the dogs and the kids". Megan is sad her caterpillars did not turn into butterflies.

Classic moment: Jon walks in after buying himself a new fancy pair of flip flops. Megan looks down and says "Curtis has some like those. But his are cooler because they have a rainbow on them". Jon does not want his fashion compared to Curtis. His ego was bruised!

Glen Ivy the day before Mother's Day was a perfect treat.

Playing baseball with my son on Mother's Day was a dream come true! Maybe he will learn to love the sport after all.

Megan making me limp toast for breakfast on Mother's Day was sweet. Not delicious but sweet.

My husband is wonderful.

That's all for now.

Music

I am not a good singer, I do not have a musical ear, yet sometimes music truly speaks to me. Those that know me know that I am a true sucker for Disco and anything from the movie Grease. Yet despite my conservative exterior, it is ROCK that really makes me feel!

These two songs really spoke to me before I was a Christian. Even now I have days where these songs speak to me.

"Bring Me To Life"

how can you see into my eyes like open doors
leading you down into my core
where I’ve become so numb without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
until you find it there and lead it back home

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can’t wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can’t wake up)
before I come undone
(Save me)
save me from the nothing I’ve become

now that I know what I’m without
you can't just leave me
breathe into me and make me real
bring me to life

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can’t wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can’t wake up)
before I come undone
(Save me)
save me from the nothing I’ve become

Bring me to life
(I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside)
Bring me to life

frozen inside without your touch without your love darling only you are the life among the dead

all this time I can't believe I couldn't see
kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
I’ve been sleeping a thousand years it seems
got to open my eyes to everything
without a thought without a voice without a soul
don't let me die here
there must be something more
bring me to life

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can’t wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can’t wake up)
before I come undone
(Save me)
save me from the nothing I’ve become

(Bring me to life)
I’ve been living a lie, there’s nothing inside
(Bring me to life)


"Savin' Me"
Prison gates won't open up for me
On these hands and knees I'm crawlin'
Oh, I reach for you
Well I'm terrified of these four walls
These iron bars can't hold my soul in
All I need is you
Come please I'm callin'
And oh I scream for you
Hurry I'm fallin', I'm fallin'

[Chorus:]
Show me what it's like
To be the last one standing
And teach me wrong from right
And I'll show you what I can be
Say it for me
Say it to me
And I'll leave this life behind me
Say it if it's worth saving me

Heaven's gates won't open up for me
With these broken wings I'm fallin'
And all I see is you
These city walls ain't got no love for me
I'm on the ledge of the eighteenth story
And oh I scream for you
Come please I'm callin'
And all I need from you
Hurry I'm fallin', I'm fallin'

[Chorus]

Hurry I'm fallin'

All I need is you
Come please I'm callin'
And oh, I scream for you
Hurry I'm fallin', I'm fallin', I'm fallin'

[Chorus]

Hurry I'm fallin'

I would probably be on my feet if either of these songs were sung during a service. I probably need to go to overdrive for this dream to come true!


Today I told myself I wouldn't stop running until the next song ended. I was in pain. I was tired. I was hot. Yet I ran on...for 13 minutes! That Skynard song is so ridiculously long! I think God put it in that exact spot in my I-pod to keep me going, even when I desperately wanted to stop!

Jon and I have a song that still makes me melt...can we have this Moondance? My children were born to two of my favorite songs (synchronicity or Divine intervention?)

There is no mood that a good disco song can't fix. There is no rock song loud enough. I love me a good love song.

Music is amazing. I just wish I was gifted enough to appreciate it better!!!

15 minutes...

...until Mother's Day is over. I am finishing the day alone, on the computer, with a glass of red wine. I am out of popcorn. I guess it was almost a perfect Mother's Day!

Mother's Day

Just a reminder of how much we might miss with our kids if we are wrapped up in the day, our chores, ourselves and the World! Have a great Mother's Day to all my Mommy Friends!

Just for this morning, I am
going to step over the laundry,
and pick you up and take you to the park to
play.

Just for this morning, I will
leave the dishes in the sink,
and let you teach me how to put that puzzle
of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will
unplug the telephone and
keep the computer off, and sit with you in the
backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will
not yell once, not even a
tiny grumble when
you scream and whine for the ice
cream truck, and I will buy you one if
he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won't
worry about what you are
going to be when you grow up, or second guess
every decision I have made
where you are concerned

Just for this afternoon, I will let
you help me bake cookies, and I won't
stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon, I will take
us to McDonald's and buy us both a
Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold
you in my arms and tell you a story
about how you were born and how
much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let
you splash in the tub and
not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let
you stay up late while we sit on the
porch and count all the stars.


Just for this evening, I will
snuggle beside you for hours,
and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening when I run
my finger through your hair
as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God
has given me the greatest gift ever
given.

I will think about the mothers
And fathers who are searching
for their missing children,
the mothers and fathers who are
visiting their children's graves
instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and
fathers who are in hospital rooms watching
their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't
handle it anymore.

And when I kiss you good night I
will hold you a little tighter, a
little longer. It is then, that I will
thank God for you, and ask
him for nothing, except one more day.............

Dr. Don

A quick "Shout Out" to Dr. Don for being a wonderful, selfless guy! He has volunteered to judge the ACSI speech meet for me. This means instead of judging another grade level, I get to be in the room coaching and watching Dylan during his speech! I am especially grateful since last week I found out my husband could not even video the speech. I was heart broken to miss Dylan's big event. Now, I am leaping with joy!

THANK YOU DON!!!!

Mr. & Mrs. Templeton

When your fans in the back of the house give you a standing ovation, it would be nice if you would turn around after putting your mic's away so that you can SEE THEY ARE GIVING YOU A STANDING OVATION!!!

So I have to settle for telling you on a blog that you did awesome! I think Kristi is now a Journey fan!