Rain, rain go away

I will know by 7 a.m. tomorrow if the rain is going to ruin all of our outdoor plans for Saturday (including X-man's beloved T-ball practice at 9 a.m. and going to cheer on Big J's soccer team at 11:30 a.m.).

And it's hard, particularly when you're all excited for your fun-filled weekend.

As it is, since the forecast is for thunderstorms, we set up the four person tent in X-man's room. He and MacTroll are currently reading library books on it as they camp out indoors.

I guess if Saturday goes south, I'll be at the gym bright and early.

Working for the weekend

We had a great weekend. 

On Friday night, MacTroll got home early from his trip to Cali. Early enough that X-man was still awake, so we got to hang out and do lots of family hugs. 

Then on Saturday, we got up early and headed off to Clinton Lake. X-man played in the sand with his buds from CARE, including the Lemonade family.  X-man had nothing but hugs and kisses for Mealyworm. And both Bug and X-man enjoyed jumping on T-Dad. See.

Then later that night, I cooked an awesome recipe for chicken fried rice from Weight Watchers. I think it might become a staple in my house. Lots of brown rice and vegetables. Low points (6) for the sheer amount of food you get to eat. 

But points were accounted for on Saturday, so I could use some Flex points Saturday night with my fellow mom friends. We went out to the mini putt course and then out to Applebee's at 10 p.m. for drinks. I had saved up enough points for a mudslide, while the others downed their fruity margaritas and martinis. 

Then this morning, we decided to go to the park with X-man and had a special treat. Dad Rogers was driving Curious J through our neighborhood to see excavators. So we got to say good morning to them. Then Quigs and her brood showed up at the park too. It was 71 degrees, breezy and full sun. So it was too nice NOT to be outside.

This afternoon, I volunteered with Quigs at Swann School for their art fair. It was very fun. They had various food booths. X-man partook in the grilled hotdog, which was giant. Then after the classic rock band finished (yes, X-man did some of his signature dancing). Quigs and I prettied ourselves up into a zebra and an elephant to help with the school's production of "The Lion King." The play was directed by Libbygirl. So, Quigs and I were doing our best to dance with Timone and Pumba and hit all of our marks. And seriously, it was a lot of fun.

All the kids were amazing. You can catch some of our CARE members hanging out in Libbygirl's classroom on youtube.

We got home to find our backdoor wide open. Apparently, we'd failed to shut it properly and it blew open. I quickly counted and we were missing a cat. Sweet Nyssa had disappeared. Joel searched upstairs and I looked in the basement, then we both went outside. He searched around house, and I scanned the open field. 

When I got back inside, he was feeding the rest of the cats, and she still wasn't showing up (a sure sign she had disappeared). Then I walked upstairs and opened the linen closet. She was standing there very sweetly and relieved that I'd found her. 

Silly kitten.

Working for the Weekend

Mactroll, X-man and I had a superb weekend. 

Friday kicked off with a baseball game. It's not that we're huge Illini fans (we're not at all), but I do appreciate going to sporting events and watching the games regardless of who is playing, and X-man has been showing some interest in sports. 

The whole way to the game he kept saying, "bazz-ball." It was a long walk with me carrying him from the parking lot at Assembly Hall to the Stadium (would have been fine if he would have walked) but I think he was a little apprehensive being in a new place. Plus, MacTroll was on his iPhone doing whatever it is he does when he is able to save the technical world from home the whole way, so I was on my own. 

Libbygirl and Lightning McColin had beaten us there, but had chosen awesome seats on the third base line right behind home plate. So we could see each of the Illini players come out of the dugout and warm up before they went to bat.

X-man LOVED the music. And out of every "batter theme song" he apparently was most happy to hear Ludacris.

There were pretzels, a very messy hot dog, popcorn, drinks and good friends. All the stuff that baseball should be made of. Plus, families were free on Friday! Woot. I think we'll see about scheduling another game like that next year.

Then on Saturday, we got up and went to check out the garden. X-man got to watch his friend The Boy and his Mom, Fearless Freak, do some Tae Kwon Do at Meadowbrook. We also discovered the CARE garden is actually growing something besides weeds. Hooray for beans, basil, sweet corn, sunflowers and peppers. 

After nap, we went to Prairie Fields park and met new friends Susan and Haley, who were having a good time going up and down the play equipment and chatting about the Wiggles, big girl beds, tantrums, adapting toddler scheduling, etc. 

That evening while MacTroll went off with Radioactive Freak and friends to see the movie Iron Man. I stayed home with X-man and we watched Cars. Then he got carried up to bed at 7:20 p.m. and was completely asleep by 7:40 p.m. It was a nice quiet, early to bed night.

Today we slept in until 7 a.m. We went grocery shopping, looked around Target for a replacement patio table and went home to play in the sandbox. I went out on the hunt for a table during nap and found one at the Ace Hardware at Windsor at the Crossing. I tried Wal-mart first, since Target had been a bust that morning, but apparently normal people have large 6-10 person tables outside. I don't have that kind of room on my patio. I have room for a four person circular table... and it can't be glass. Why you ask? Because once upon a time Rogers' poor glass patio table got lifted up in a strong Savoy gust and was thrown into my fence at the old house. MacTroll and I only had to replace a 74 cent piece of wood in the fence. Rogers had to buy a whole new table and pick shattered glass out of her lawn for a long time. 

I settled on black metal with holes in it to let the wind pass through. And, of course, now MacTroll and I are thinking, "Maybe our four okay chairs could be replaced with four new nice chairs..." Sigh. I hate money. 

Anyway, we washed my car today, and X-man's car. We took a walk around the duck pond. We had grilled Italian sausage with bell peppers and onions and tomatoes on top of whole wheat penne for supper. And X-man got his bath and I curled up in my bed. 

Productive, filled with group family time and I'm happy to report absolutely no Hellish tantrums. An occasional normal protest. But no hitting or screaming or biting. Hooray!