This weather has me on the verge of being dangerously bored. Please go away rain!

It’s that time, we have two, three if you count me, birthdays coming up this month. “I need ideas for gifts”. I hate this statement. I bust my ass coming up with gift ideas for my kids. To have to think of gifts for other people to buy my kids drives me effing batty. I know people only want to give gifts that the kids need or want, but I don’t have the time to go over every gift and look at the ratings, order it online and then wrap it for other people. And even if I did, I don’t want to do it. I spend a lot of time picking out gifts for other people all the time and if I’m having a problem, I look online for ideas. I don’t rely on someone else for ideas without trying really hard to find something on my own. And I give a gift receipt so they can return it if they don’t like it.

So for those questions that are coming, and I know they are since I’ve already had it twice today: no electronic toys, even learning toys. I promise we don’t need them nor will we use them. We like books, books that are level 3.2 on the back for Goose and two years and up for the baby. We like pretend, which means costumes. We like puzzles as in 100 piece puzzles. Maybe a cool t-shirt. Maybe a family membership to the symphony this year or tickets to a football game. Tuition for a mommy and me class. We have no room for anything more, and I hate for the kids to receive so much when we are already so blessed.

As for me, I want new bookshelves, so money is always a good option!

My dear priest came to pray with me before the wedding. I think Lance told him I was stressed!

Our vows and lasso

Our wedding party, notice no flower girl, I got so much shit for this.

We took most pictures before the ceremony and our smiles are much different after the ceremony.

Mr. and Mrs. Lance Zierlein

I love this picture, not sure why. My favorite picture of me and Lance is of us praying for Our Lady’s intercession; I can’t find it. Who thinks I haven’t gone crazy this week looking for it?!

I was finally able to scan some pictures from our wedding to share. I don’t really feel old, but then I realize that my wedding pictures have to be scanned because the photographer used actual film and well, I feel slightly dated. This week was supposed to be the perfect week and has turned out less than that. We have Goose’s eye problem, Squirt’s nose acting up more than usual and crappy weather. But this is what life is all about. It’s not always movies, massages and romantic dinners. Not when you have a family. And there is nothing I would rather have than my family. The family I have because I married a guy named Lance. A guy I heard on the radio and decided I needed to meet. The guy who sent me an email the night we met and has been with me since then.

Was it love at first sight? No, I just thought he was hot and funny and different from what I had had. Someone worth taking a chance on, a chance to look forward and not back. Life isn’t always easy for us, but there is no one else I would rather share life’s joys and frustrations with than Lance. I never thought any guy could measure up to what I wanted. I remember somebody telling me to pray that my St. Joseph would come my way. I prayed and waited. And waited and waited. Then prayed some more. He was so worth the wait. I guess after a week like this, which wasn’t terribly bad just not what we expected and extremely worrisome with Goose, at the end of the day, I am happy to fall into bed with you, Lance. Thank you for being my St. Joseph, thank you for my children, thank you for still missing our lost ones and grieving when I can’t do it and thank you for the love and care you give me. I love you so very much.

Squirt is obsessed with cars, has been for years and is now passing on that love to the little boys. Today, I had to take everyone to the doctor with me and all I heard the entire time I was driving was “look, a Honda”, “there’s a Chevy”, “a Cadillac” and so on. Squirt is so proud of himself for teaching his brothers how to recognize cars.

He started slow teaching them about sports cars. Ferraris, Porsches and Bugattis. The boys are even learning where these cars are made. Of course, it drives him crazy when the kids come home telling him that they saw four Ferraris AND a Bugatti. (I don’t even know what that damn car looks like!) When I asked him why he gets so upset when they think they see a certain car, he just said that he wants them to be accurate. I can’t say I blame him. Hopefully, they will all realize that a sports car is not in any of their futures until they are buying it themselves.

The reception staff heard about Goose’s eye problem (and our extra guest) and sent him some cookies!

We always return to the Houstonian to have the same meal we served at our reception. Really, it was good that Goose was along for the hotel stay so he could capture this picture of us in the ballroom!

Things don’t always work out the way we plan. I know this about life, but still get disappointed when things don’t go the way I want. Today is my wedding anniversary. The day I committed myself to the man I love. Forever. We spent a few days at the Houstonian, the hotel where our wedding reception was held. We had appointments for an afternoon at the spa at 1:30 today. The babysitter arrived at 12:30 so we wouldn’t be late. Afterwards we were going to the Faberge exhibit, then to Little Bigs for a quick dinner.

It didn’t matter. Goose’s eye has not improved in five days despite being on medicine since Sunday night. I talked to the pediatrician who informed me that he had been prescribed the wrong dose of medicine so we needed to up the amount. BUT he still wanted Goose to see an opthamologist immediately. At the same time, my mom was trying to get out of the house. She didn’t get very far because it seemed like her battery was dead. We charged it, but then it just completely stopped before she got anywhere. Bye-bye spa, Hello waiting room, hello drive out to Kingwood to get mom to her side of town.

I was just commenting on spending time alone with each child and how great that is. I think Goose’s special time is up after the past few days. I’m kidding, sort of. The only free time we had from Goose was at our anniversary dinner last night. He agreed to stay home as long as we picked him up afterwards.

In the end we can always reschedule our day at the spa. We had to make sure there weren’t any problems developing with Goose’s vision. With kids plans change all the time. At least Lance and I spent the day together even if it was at the doctor’s office. In sickness and in health, right.

Goose has an eye infection that doesn’t seem to be getting any better. He is very uncomfortable and has already made a trip to the ER on Sunday due to this. He is very upset by his appearance and it breaks my heart. He wears sunglasses all day and won’t look at himself in the mirror. He has managed to tag along at our Houstonian getaway. Not too much of a CB! Please keep him your prayers for a speedy recovery. Thank you!

For Today…June 27, 2010

Outside my window…it’s summer, and we are enjoying every minute. It is so very hot and humid in Houston right now, but I love being able to spend time with all the kids. And the kids love being outside despite the weather. Which means I am spending a lot of time outside!

I am listening to…Everclear.

I am wearing…green shorts and a blue shirt with flip flops.

I am wondering…why all Catholics don’t go to church on a regular basis. I know it sounds judgemental, but it drives me crazy. And makes me sad. It makes me wonder how many people are just Cultural Catholics and those that try to practice their faith. Like me, who now needs to get to confession for being a judgemental witch.

From the kitchen…I’m doing pretty good on getting real meals on the table. We are happy about that around here. I also made a blueberry coffee cake last week. So good and so easy. It was gone in a day.

On keeping home…it’s time for a deep clean. I’ve been putting it off, but no more. Wednesday is the day.

To be fit and happy…I have a sick kid, which means I am not working out this week.

I am thankful for…my mom and dad who are making the next days at the Houstonian possible for me and Lance to celebrate our anniversary. Thank you so much guys!!!

I am praying for…my little boy who has a massive eye infection. We’re not sure what it is, but it is not getting better. We’re off to the ER soon to get some answers, I hope.

To live the liturgy…We had Super Saints last week and had a blast. We saw some old friends and the boys talked about Jesus’ unending love for them all week. I am noticing that Goose is so interested in the Eucharist now. I am trying so hard to say the right things about this so he doesn’t wake up one day and say, “I never knew that”, like I did.

From the learning rooms…still looking for that Globe pen. I have even offered a money reward, but so far nothing. My mom bought Goose the globe a couple of Christmases ago and was iffy about it. This has turned out to be a great gift for the entire family. We’re still reading and exploring ideas we find in our stories. Last week, we learned about the Unicorn Tapestries in a Magic Tree House book, then looked them up online. We found out where they were made and where they now hang. Goose is anxious to see them in person. Maybe in a few years.

One of my favorite things…spending alone time with each boy. They so deserve time alone, which isn’t always easy.

A few plans for the rest of the week…

• a quick (hopefully) trip to the ER
• the Houstonian to celebrate our anniversary for a few days
• spa day on my anniversary and Faberge exhibit at the museum
• lunch
• Austin for the 4th, assuming I have healthy kids

No pictures to share just yet…will have lots of wedding pictures on my anniversary!

It’s Saturday which means there is birthday party for the kids. I’m a fan of weekday birthday parties. This works for us because we have some summer birthdays. It cuts back on the amount of people that come to the party and most important, husbands don’t have to go. Let’s be real, NO HUSBAND wants to attend a children’s birthday party. Maybe their own kid, but it stops there. During football season, I don’t want to go to birthday parties either. I will never understand the dads at parties while their favorite college team is playing. Moms don’t need dads with them, it’s just something they bitch about until the dads agree to tag along.

Today was going to be different. ALL the kids are going to the party because it’s a swim party and there is a bouncy castle. There is no way I can watch all the kids with that much going on today. I figured I was safe asking Lance to come since it’s summertime, and I have never asked him before now. WRONG. The USA plays at 1:00 today. Guess who is going to the party alone? I understand, but since I don’t like soccer, today’s game doesn’t matter to me. I know, I must the be the only person who doesn’t care about soccer right now. Lance even compared his desire to see the USA play to me watching TX-OU. Right. He can watch the game, but I’m not buying that comparison. It’s not like he keeps up with soccer except every two years.