Back in the Saddle

We're back! Well, after a quick (three hour ride) to Champaign, IL for a baseball tournament and back home again, things are beginning to return to normal. The kids went back to school this morning (and I did a little happy jig) not that Spring break wasn't enjoyable and all, but they wore me out! Just a taste of what's to come this summer, oy vey~ it's gonna be a L-O-N-G summer! Unfortunately, I did not get any pictures this weekend, in my haste to get everything packed etc., I forgot our camera, duh. It never fails! I am always the mom sitting there twiddling her thumbs while the other moms are snapping away photos, documenting their children's accomplishments. According to our records, my boys were born, had first birthdays, first days of school, one or two holidays, and a birthday here and there sprinkled in for good luck,...that's about it! I hope their little brain's have recorded important moments, because they sure won't have photos to look back on to remember. I'll be going to "Mommy Kodak Hell" I'm sure! Actually,..the games didn't go very well for my son's team, they lost every single game, so maybe he'll be grateful that I didn't document it afterall. The "hightlight" of the trip as far as the boys were concerned was the free breakfast buffet at the hotel, oh, and the free popcorn and pop in the evening! My husband's and my favorite part of the trip was making a discovery at the local Walmart store. After freezing our arses off at the first game Friday evening (temperature was about 27 degrees with 25 mph wind, brrrrr-freezing!) we bought these really ingenious seat cushions called, appropriately, "Lava Buns". It's like this huge heating pad, with an insert that you throw in the microwave oven for three minutes to heat up, and then you put it back in the cushion. It stays warm for six, count 'em, 1-2-3-4-5-6.. hours! The Lava Buns cushion cost approximately $20.00. Having a warm hiney sure is more comfortable than having an icy one, those metal benches are torture, but this sure made them more tolerable. Here is what the cushion looks like, and no, I'm not getting paid to say this stuff, although, if they'd like to thank me for this product endorsement, I wouldn't refuse it! :o)

I may be using this pad again today, we have another game this afternoon. It's raining right now and the forecast is for thunderstorms, so there's a good chance the game will be rescheduled. Between my two sons, our schedules for the next few months are just crazy, we have baseball games and practices nearly every day of the week and double headers every Saturday. My husband and I will be dividing our time between the two, as many of their games are being played at the same time, which is a bummer. I hate to miss any of them, but it can't be helped. We get kind of overwhelmed sometimes with so many things happening at once between school, sports, work, family obligations, etc. I am thankful that I have two healthy kids who are able to participate in all these activities, and most of the time it's alot of fun. I know that all too fast these days will be over and my hubby and I will be staring at each other saying we are bored, so I do try to live in the moment and enjoy while I can.

Well, I am off to walk on my treadmill! Part of my new plan to honor my own needs, which I sometimes let fall by the wayside. I have figured out recently that I am a huge "people pleaser", and many times I put the needs of others ahead of my own. Sometimes this is a noble endeavor, but many times it really zaps my own energy, leaving me feeling like tired wet noodle. Caring for myself a little more will enable me to be more caring to others. Not rocket science, I know, but it's taken me a long time to figure this one out! (NASA is not knocking my door down just yet!)

Hope you all have a wonderful Monday! (That's as "wonderful" as a Monday can be, I should say!)