Bang and Splash, etc.

It's hard to think when you have a sinus headache. This one's a doozy.

Friday we entertained our friends the Frankes, and my cousing Sky. It was the day after Sky's 20th birthday, so I made her some lovely yellow cupcakes with chocolate icing. I was so pleased that she finally came to see me!! We talked and played with the kids and ordered pizza and had lots of fun.

Saturday, we all wore 4th of July clothes, and this year it happened that they all included red shirts. Pretty funny, when I finally noticed. We soaked chicken legs in teriaki sauce and laughed at the rain. Okay, maybe I was the only one who found the rainy weather hilarious. We grilled during an afternoon break, and I decided that we should invite our neighbors over for watermelon and fireworks, since they are particularly fond of both. Plus, they've come over to do fireworks with us the last two years in the front yard. It's kind of sweet. All the neighbors come to sit on their porches and watch, because I'm big on fountains (no craning of the neck involved). It makes me feel like I've stepped into a different decade.

Not this year. What happened was this: Just as we started shooting off our first Roman Candle, our neighbor, Danny, cam our on his porch, quite drunk. Danny is a cop. Danny announced to Josh that fireworks are illeagal in Warrenton City Limits. At first, I have to admit that I was wondering why he didn't tell us the last three years. Josh was really shaken, though. He morphed into his moody, cranky, silent self. Eventually, he was so morose that he drove the neighbors home. I knew that he was embarassed at having been "caught" doing something he wouldn't have done if he had known there was a rule against it, and I know that he was disappointed. But I don't approve of the scenes in public thing. We talked about it later, though, and as soon as he realized that I was totally open to shooting the fireworks off at his mom's place sometime (they aren't in city limits) he snapped right out of it. He even appologized. Drama over.

Sunday, my dear friend Jenn came over, and we finally met her husband! He is super nice, and we love him already. What a great family they are! We all had a very happy and comfortable time. I'm already looking forward to being together again sometime before the summer is out.

Today, Grant had his first swimming lesson. He was great, and I was a spaz. I forgot his towel, and I forgot to pack him undergarments to go home in. He was pretty excited, and showed up in his bathing suit. I was under the impression that Abbie and I would be at the play area just beyond the fence, so I brought a book. It turns out that the mommies stay in the pool area, so I spent the whole time wrestling a jealous Abbie away from the water. I was still able to observe, though, that Grant did a wonderful job following directions. I was relieved. He has a tendency to not listen because he's too busy enjoying himself. About three or four minutes before lessons were over, Abbie's arm fell through the strappy pool furniture and she hit her nose on the only metal part on the whole chair. At first I was able to convince her it wasn't so bad, but later she said, "Uh-oh." and I looked down to see blood on my ancle. We were still mopping her up when Grant's lesson finished. In the changing room, I convinced Grant to wear one of Abbie's swim diapers home, which he did. First, we played for 15 minutes at the little park. Abbie didn't re-bloody her nose, so that was a success.

Ever since we've been home, though, they've been SO cranky! And it's no fun for me, either, because I'm feeling under the weather today. (Not that I'd be having a blast if I weren't.) I think it might be just too much sugar yesterday. I have sugartummy. Or something. And I sinus headache. I don't know if I'm actually coming down with something and only time will tell. In the meantime, I'm trying to control my kids, which I'm about to declare a lost cause. I'm pretty much done. Not angry. Not tearing my hair out. Just done.

I think I need a nap. I'm not actually big on them. I can't sleep in the day time. If, by some strange occurence, I do fall asleep during the day, I wake up feeling funny. My ears feel runny and my head usually aches. I wonder why that is. What is the difference, really? Well, today I wouldn't be losing anything if I didn't feel perky when I got up.

But I'm not in a bad mood. A little sluggish, maybe, but not bad.

I have to go. A double fit is brewing behind me. We have officially run out of time. Hope your fouth was a happy one.