Bye Bye Bunny

This morning a tiny baby bunny rabbit living in the jungle of weeds/shrub rose bushes next to our garage met its maker. I spied a neighborhood cat in the yard this morning peering into the flowers (I mean overgrown weeds) very carefully, tail a-twitching. My first thought was, oh yay -- that cat is probably watching a mouse -- hope he gets it! Yes, it's true I do have a very big fear of mice. Maybe there are no mice in the summer -- who knows? I guess the cat was being neighborly as it dropped the dead baby bunny at the bottom of the stairs as a little gift for me before I went to work! Anyway, I just about stepped on that baby bunny on the way to the garage. I gave a little scream and ran back in the house to alert the Rickster so he could dispose of it before he and Maddy went out to the car. Evidently, he didn't get that accomplished before she saw it. It didn't scare her or freak her out at all. She just wondered . . . how did that cat kill the bunny (maybe scared it to death??).

So, this evening we had a little funeral for the bunny. Maddy donated one of her shoe boxes to lay the bunny to rest . . . and she's a little attached to her shoe boxes lately --we make leprechaun houses out of them (that's another story). We took her Webkinz bunny and Webkinz mouse along with us so that they could also pay their respects, said a prayer and buried the little bunny under the Russian sage.

Sick in the Summer

Isn't summer about the worst time to be sick . . . well, I guess maybe Christmas would be worse. Poor little Maddy has a nasty summer virus which came with a very high fever and sore throat. It started a couple days ago and finally today, the fever is gone, but her throat still hurts. Being the sometimes neurotic mother that I am, I ran her to the doc yesterday because I thought she had strep throat. Evidently not -- as the strep test came back negative. She has just been so worn out and not eating much as her throat hurts. I can tell she's starting to feel a bit better as she asked for a McD's happy meal today and was able to eat some fries.

And the Rickster had to go in for an upper GI yesterday. Evidently they give you some pretty good drugs ahead of time for that procedure. He came home in the best mood, remembers nothing of the test which involved swallowing a camera and had the nicest, longest nap yesterday afternoon. Am not sure what all the results of that test mean, as I am not a doctor and do not play one on TV! But, the docs are still trying to figure out his blood work issues before rescheduling the new hip, so we will wait and see.

Me vs. Laundry

Is anyone else out there feeling a tad bit overwhelmed with laundry lately??? Ayiyi -- it seems that I am either: (a) constantly doing laundry; (b) folding clothes or have baskets full of clean clothes to fold; or (c) trying to put the clean stuff away. And, it seems like we have an awful lot of laundry for not that many people. I'm blaming it on summertime -- pool time = more wet towels and swimsuits. Hot, humid weather (and it's here now, believe me) = more changes of clothes and then there's the work clothes and "other clothes" -- something always either needs to be washed or ironed --[does anybody iron anymore?] ugh! Here it is getting late on Sunday evening, and I'm taking a little bloggy break before folding a couple baskets of clean clothes. Then the baskets will sit around for a day or two before it gets put away . . . which may not happen until I need the baskets for more dirty clothes. Such fun! Ok, break over -- back to the laundry. More exciting posts to follow --- stay tuned.

Dear Pool Moms and Dads,

How are you? Say, you're looking fab in your swimsuit and cover-up! I know you were at the pool so that your kids could enjoy it on such a hot day which is a super good idea!! I had the very same plan! And here's another suggestion --- watch and/or (and I know this is a shocking thought) -- play with your kid at the pool! I like kids, I really do . . . or I wouldn't have had 3 myself. But, I really don't want to watch and play with your kid. I have my own little darling to keep an eye on, and I want to play with her. Oh sure, I'll play a little and encourage your child who keeps telling me to "watch this" and "throw that to me", but wouldn't YOU rather be the one having fun at the pool with YOUR kid!

And hey, you parents [Moms] standing there in the big pool, is a little splashing going to make you disappear or wreck your "do??" I can so relate as I have about the worst hair imaginable. If it gets wet -- watch out -- it's scary!! So, guess what -- I wear a hat at the pool and hide it (yes, I am brilliant, aren't I!). I am sorry that Maddy splashed you a little bit when she was practicing her swimming!! But excuse me, if you don't expect to get a little wet, get out of the pool. And please don't give my sweet girl a dirty look for splashing a teensy bit of water. She's doing what you're supposed to do in a swimming pool . . . swimming!!! Listen, when I got wacked on the side of the head with a pool diving stick thingy that was flying a bit erratically, did I get all pissy with the little girl that did it???? No, I did not. It didn't hurt, it just surprised me and she didn't mean to hit me with it (at least I don't think she did). Her Mom apologized up and down and I told her to forget about it, it was no big deal at all. So, the lesson to be learned today is -- have fun at the pool, expect to get wet and wear a hat if needed!! That's all now, let's go enjoy some lovely pool time, shall we!!

An Ode to Mr. Tennis

Update -- well, he didn't have the surgery after all -- little issue with his blood work, so he will be re-scheduling it at some point in the future. Thank you all for your prayers and concern.

On Tuesday, July 1st, my sweet hub a/k/a Mr. Tennis, will become somewhat of a bionic man. Yep, that's right .. . he's having right hip replacement surgery. He's such a great guy and wonderful father -- I hate for him to have been in such pain from that darn bad hip! He told me last week that he's "excited" (yes, he said excited) about the surgery. Wow -- you know he's been feeling bad to be excited about having his hip replaced. It's actually been really bothering him for at least the last four years.

Up until recently, just the last year or so, he ignored it and kept up with his tennis, golf, gardening and household projects. But, it became too painful and he quit playing tennis and golf --his fav sports. And, the pain and discomfort has kept him from doing some of the fun stuff with the fam. He can't wait to feel better so that he can go bike-riding on the bicycle built for two with Maddy, take her swimming again or for a walk, teach the boys how to do home-improvement projects. He's really young to have a hip replaced, but he has a congenital problem contributing to it along with degenerative arthritis. We're looking forward to a speedy recovery! Here's some photos of the great guy in our house that we call Mr. Tennis!! And isn't he handsome!?!! If you're so inclined, please say a prayer for him and send all healing thoughts our way. Love you honey -- feel better soon!



Showing Maddy how to ride a pony at the zoo! Look at what a little bug she was then!

Cboo's Sweet Ride

Oh no -- I've been out-voted by the guys in the family! Cboo (son #2, a senior in college) has been lobbying for some type of motor scooter for quite some time. With the price of gas so high, his arguments have evidently swayed his Dad to his side. So, that is Cboo with his sweet new ride. It gets 100 miles per gallon! Do you believe that??? And it holds 3 gallons of gasoline. I don't even want to think about how many mpg the SUV he was driving gets or how much it takes to fill that tank!! Anyway, he's vowed to take a class, get his motorcycle license and restrict his driving to daytime hours. When they were talking about it, I thought they meant one of those cute little motorized bicycles (duh me -- like a 20-yr old would ride a motorized bike???) not something this big!! Keep your fingers crossed for safe riding.

Girl Stuff!

Maddy and I had so much fun last night! We went and had Mom/daughter pedi's!! She's been wanting her toes painted and I suck at toenail painting. So, we decided to try a small shop and see if they could fit us in. Yes!! I had a pedicure and really needed one. And am I the only one? Does anyone else feel a little weird when your feet are being scrubbed and sanded down and you just about start laughing because your tootsies are so ticklish?? :) Maddy just had her toenails and fingernails painted -- and felt very pampered and glamorous! She didn't quite get why she needed to be careful with her fingers and toes afterward, but I think hers turned out fabulous. Isn't it fun to be a girl!!