From Twilight Fever to Post- Twilight Flu

Okay, so it may seem that we've dropped off the face of the earth. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Tod's dad, sister, two bothers and their significant others and children were all here for a Thanksgiving get together. We ate two twenty pound turkeys, 5 pies, 10 lbs of mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, cranberries, a gallon of gravy, and rolls. Whew! A LOT of work! I was up at 3 in the morning to get everything done, but it was a fun day for everyone and we ate till we were sick. As a sort of a thank-you-to-myself gift, the women went to see Twilight again. Any excuse will do right? So we got there and the theater was about half full. We sat down on the edge, three seats from the closest people. As the previews began, two men and a lady filed into our row. Why? There was half a theater full of empty seats, but they had to squeeze into our row like pieces in a human Tetris puzzle. This now puts me next to- we'll call him Joe-
Apparently Joe had been coerced into coming to the movie...not sure of his relationship to the girl, but I think he was the odd man out. The movie starts and Joe howls like a monkey. I glare at him and mutter under my breath (of course in the theater seats his ear was 6 inches away) "If you ruin this for me, so help me I'll stick my elbow in your teeth!"
So Joe piped down. He scaled down his attack on my pleasure to a non- vocal approach. Cough, hack, cough, cough, snarkle. Every other minute through the entire movie. And that wasn't all. He took over the armrest and further violated my personal space by spreading his legs and flopping his knee on my leg. Who is this guy Joe? Where is his date? Do I have "snuggle me" written on my forehead?
The movie ends and I'm irritated. Joe distracted me and I didn't get to soak in all the love.
As if that wasn't gift enough from Joe, he also blessed me with the influenza. Blast you Joe!
So that is how I've spent the last week...
Along with the other delightful symptoms, I haven't had a voice for three days. This is a change the kids pretend they feel sorry about, but I can see in their eyes that they are secretly enjoying it. So here I sit, still coughing and aching and cursing Joe for ruining my week. For now, I'm camped out in my recliner, drugged and watching the world pass me by. I'll let you know when all is well again, and if you see Joe, give him a big thank-you elbow in the teeth for me!

Twilight Fever

When I first picked up these books over a year ago, I had no idea what kind of craziness it would become. If I need a little pick-me-up, I can re-read the books and I am full of silly teenage romance. What more does a 30 something mom of 5 need to stay sane? Naturally I had to be there for the midnight release of Twilight. I'm no idiot though. I have read too many books and seen too many movies to have major expectations, but I LOVED it. Taking it for what it was, enjoying the love story, and inserting my little memories from the book, it was perfect. Even though it was 2:30am when we got out, I would have stayed for another showing if I could. It didn't even bother me that we were surrounded by the teeny-bopper crowd (and gay sidekicks), they treated us like any other girls. We were all girls, united in one cause- paying homage to the Cullens and our new-found love for vampires. Am I sounding pathetic yet? So if you haven't seen it yet, go. If you are still fighting the urge to jump on the bandwagon, jump!

Stupid Criminals

Okay, maybe this is only funny to me because I am a Lindner by marriage...

First, how many of you have ever met anyone named Lindner outside of our family? No, me either. Last night we were watching the news and they did this little bit at the end about a man from South Carolina. You know, the "stupid criminal" pieces? So this guy robs a convenience store and makes his getaway with $140 and a pack of cigarettes. Then his car breaks down and he flags down a taxi. The taxi driver didn't know how to get where the man needed to go, so he pulls over at a convenience store to get directions. That's right, the SAME convenience store that the man had just robbed. Only the delay in the taxi had given the police enough time to get on the scene. So he basically gets out of the taxi and into the cruiser.

Yeah, its funny/ironic, but the punchline? Yup, his name is Lindner. Johnny Lindner to be exact. No, we don't know him, but it is still funny. And even better, the reporter struggled throughout the story to pronounce his name. I guess they have never met a Lindner before either! (As a funny side-note, I went to paste his picture here on the blog and it was labelled "Lindler".

Perfect.

A reason to celebrate

So we woke up this morning hoping for the best. I am prepared to begin the Church marathon, just like any other week but my throat is finally sore and the "crud" in my head has reached critical mass. I say "finally" because the little girls have been this way for days and I know my close proximity to them means that my turn is coming. Tod wakes up and we compare notes- he's sick too- today is a sick day (We refuse to infect the entire ward).
Unfortunately this isn't just any day, it's Anna's birthday.
Anna is the last child in our family to celebrate her birthday in the calendar year, so it has been a long time coming for her. She had two simple gift requests- probably because she knows that they always get two gifts- she asked for a tea set and a Barbie head (you know, a bust of Barbie for practising your knot tying ;)) So I did my motherly job and delivered. I also failed to deliver. Wrong tea set, but the Barbie head was acceptable. This is Anna, you know. She is actually turning 45 this year, but someone failed to inform the rest of the world. I had been feeling bad all week that she wasn't having a party since it was on a Sunday, so I had planned a family tea party. We had tiny sandwiches and cookies, and apple juice for our "tea". I even let them use the teacups from my china. The boys even helped with the preparations. It was a smashing success! She kept telling me over and over again- "Thank you for a wonderful birthday!" this is an amazing compliment coming from Anna!

Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and grated chocolate on top were tonight's finale. So now I'm in my recliner, head, back and throat aching. The special day is over and it was exactly what she hoped for- thank goodness. Some things must be suffered through in order to be enjoyed. Secretly, I think even the boys are hoping for a birthday tea party...nah.

Myopia Madness

So it's that time of year...the time when we get eye exams. This year, Emma fulfilled her destiny and failed her eye test at school. So here are the results: Aaron needed double his previous prescription and Emma's were just as bad as his. If there is a silver lining to the kids' need for glasses it is seeing their reaction right after they get new ones- to hear how excited they are to see the fine details of things they haven't seen in a long time. I can't relate, but I am glad to see them enjoy the world. Oh, and the not silver lining...no vision insurance means that this new enjoyment comes with a hefty price tag- Aaron picked the most expensive pair he could find. Guess what Aaron?! Merry Christmas!

America...A Reason to Celebrate

My dad, our family's veteran

I just wanted to let everyone know about the annual Veteran's Program put on by Rusk Elementary. It is a HUGE production at the CAF hanger, every student is involved. Hundreds of local veterans and their families show up every year and it is a very special occasion for them. The are even given a gift and then they 'picnic under the planes' with the students- a free lunch sponsered by HEB. If your are, know, or happen upon a veteran, please let them know about it, we want to honor them!

10:30, Monday, November 10 at the CAF hanger- everyone is welcome, see you there!

Our scary clan- ready for trunk-or-treat. Emma as Sleeping Beauty, Josh as Prince Caspian, Anna as Snow White, Aaron as Ben 10, and Leah as Cinderella.

I love trunk-or-treat. It is a parent's dream come true. All the candy the kids think they need, and the limited space to keep us comfortable. Except for the fully grown women using their purses as trick-or-treat bags...what is that? And not to mention, I refuse to give candy to anyone who is taller than me! My favorite part of the night by far was Leah's impromptu 'candy corn dance' which I will share...Warning! This video may not be appropriate for all viewers, and no, I didn't teach her that!

This blog serves primarily as our family updates page, so most of the time, it is pretty business-like. There are times though, that I just want to talk like myself- not like the family representative.
Sometimes on a Sunday afternoon, when the rush for church is over and the ravenous herd has been satiated, I have these odd little introspective moments. A few minutes when all is quiet and I can hear the little voice of hope that lives deep inside my cynical heart. I talk big- I like people to think that I am tough- sturdy, focused and calm. To be honest, my mind is swimming. It's like looking at a stadium full of fans at a football game- a million things, stories, thoughts happening at once. I suppose it is easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer weight of it all, I know that I would excuse anyone in my own place. I think we all want to be everything. We are encouraged to do so much that we think we HAVE to do so much. I want to make birthday cakes and sew Halloween costumes, volunteer at the school, keep the perfect house, cook wonderful meals, not spend too much, do service, visit a friend, call my sister, read my scriptures, go to bed earlier, run and exercise more, worry less, and, and, and........are you as overwhelmed as I am?
So here is my little bit of revalation. No one loves my husband as much as I do. No one loves my kids as much as I do. The things I want for these 6 people could virtually be endless and they would deserve every one of them. In this thing, I am perfect. The visiting teaching message this past month was special to me. (To sum it up as it pertains to me) The world is full of tough women. It has enough of these ambitious, over-achieving mothers who when their children are raised can't remember a single distinct detail of their childhoods.
Sitting on my couch on this Sunday afternoon I had this moment of perfect clarity. I like Fall. Spring is supposed to be hopeful, but Fall is more like me- grateful for what I have, I am rich today in all the things that matter. It is getting colder outside, but inside you wouldn't ever know it. In here, the complete and total devotion of my family, their willingness to forgive all my short-comings is all the hope I need.
So I did make the Halloween costumes, and I'll still cook dinner, but there are clothes and toys on the floor. Who cares, they don't bite!

Seriously....tagged?

Obviously there has either been a whole lot going on around here, or very little. The blog has gone over a month without attention. The boys have had birthdays, and there have been some fun days, and not so fun days in there as well. I'll definitely post the birthdays pictures soon. Who makes this 'tagging' stuff up? Not to mention, no one really cares about what is happening in my tiny, insignificant life. To satisfy my beloved sister though, however delayed this may be, here it is.

A list of fives
10 years ago I...

1. Was finished with my first year of motherhood.
2. Weighed significantly less!
3. Went to homemaking meeting and was actually EXCITED about making the crafts.
4. Lived in an 1100 square foot trailer in Hobbs, and it was wonderful.
5. Was the only one in my family married, or with children.


Things I'm really into right now...

1. Reading- like always, everything in sight. Twilight, The Hunger Games, and biographies of Mary Queen of Scots.
2. Music- like always! Muse, Erasure (old habits die hard), Michael Buble, Sara Bareilles, and (ugh) thanks to my children, a healthy dose of Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers.
3. Running- now lift your bottom jaw back up into position, I'm what they call a Clydesdale!
4. Making things- Christmas gifts and little surprises for later!
5. Reading body language. Don't laugh, it's science! Plus I spot when my kids are lying or plotting from a mile away.


Things I would do if I were a millionaire...

Now this list is definitely pointless because Tod would be standing guard over the stash like a junkyard dog! But if I had my say,

1. Pay off our house.
2 Pay someone to fix all the little crappy things that are wrong with our house.
3. Take my kids to Disneyland.
4. Travel all over the world, especially Scotland, Germany and the exotic eastern coast of America.
5.Walk around in a crowded place, look for the most bedraggled mother I could find and give her a little relief- a gift certificate for a spa day, or maybe just a little cash.


Five places I have lived...

1. Las Cruces, NM
2. Mountain Home, ID
3. Las Cruces...again
4. Hobbs, NM
5. Midland, TX


Five places I have worked...

1. Las Cruces Orthopedic Associates- archival
2. Las Cruces Orthopedic Associates- insurance claims and collections
3. Las Cruces Orthopedic Associates- reception
4. Las Cruces Orthopedic Associates- cashier and billing clerk (are you laughing yet? I was movin' on up!)
5. Lindner, Inc. - steadfast mother of five.


I tag... Danielle, Judy, Jae, Anna and Amy. Go ahead and answer! I'd love to learn your deep, dark secrets

Emma is 7!

Thursday was Emma's 7th birthday and we celebrated in typical Lindner style- just the 7 of us! I think this is my favorite way, since I could happily commit us all to hermitude. I don't mean to say that I don't like people, (I don't like a LOT of people) but my most comfortable place is here with my husband and kids.

Since I had a doctor's appointment in Odessa that morning, it was a mad dash to get Anna and Leah to their second babysitter of the morning (big thanks to both!) and McDonalds for the obligatory "Happy" Meal and lunch at school. She was so happy to see me...probably because of the "happy" meal, it made the whole morning rush worthwhile. Whatever it takes to give her a "happy" birthday. I digress. I suppose the icing on the cake was when I stopped suddenly at a light and her special request cake flew across Edward (the new Nissan Armada) and met a frosty end in it's box. We had our very own "cake wreck" (a great blog, by the way). I smeared the icing back on in a pitiful attempt at salvaging the cake (and saving myself the work of baking!). See pictures to fully appreciate the shame. It just goes to show you that it doesn't matter what the cake looks like as long as you cover it with "kiddie crap" (one of Dad's favorite sayings).

The birthday girl got High School Musical Sing it, which made for a weird afternoon of karyoke. We aren't really performers in this family, we mostly just like to sit back and make fun of them!

Since our family is so spread out, our birthdays tend to be also. Emma got birthday clothes from Grammy to wear to school and church this week, then the microphone of humiliation on her birthday, and Saturday a little more from her friends.

We had a few families over for a barbecue to celebrate again. Good food and lots of it, good friends and still getting the kids to bed at a decent hour. I'd say it was a success!

I may have used parentheses somewhat liberally...(you think?)

Read at your own risk: major update to follow!

Now that I have forcefully shoved three of my beloved children unwillingly back into school, I have had some time to download pictures, do some laundry, and realize how calm life can be...NOT!

But it is definitely time to put a few more events down for our adoring family and friends!

After coming back from Hobbs, we had a few short days till the Newey's came to Midland for a little before school shopping. Always fun to shop-till-you-drop and laugh till you wet your pants. Mika and I have a friendship that I have never found anywhere else- we understand each other so well and relate in such a fun way that we can't be in the same room without laughing. Our kids can go a year without seeing each other and are like peas and carrots again the minute they are back together. We miss them daily and wish they could have followed us here! Maybe Paul is looking to make a little change?

A short week later we were off for Wisconsin. I hate driving. We travel with more gadgets and entertainment that any three families and that's no joke. Three DVD players (five if you count the two in the two laptops we took) Nintendo DS's, gameboys, books, magazines, toys, and did I mention unlimited text messaging? Still, I guess I should've brought something for the kids! It always seems to take forever. We stayed in Kansas day one, and went on to Wisconsin in time for dinner on day two. So nice to get there.

For those of you who have never been there, I will attempt to describe it. Picture something out of a Norman Rockwell picture.

Little houses, over a hundred years old framed by lush, green yards and flowers that grow without invitation or tending.

Towns are small, but there is a bar on every corner. And bars aren't just for drinking, they are for family dinners, wedding receptions and sometimes bowling! The rolling hills are dotted by little two-story farm houses that peek out from between seas of corn and soybeans. Big red barns, silos and battered green tractors complete the picture. Doesn't that sound fabulous?

We are always treated to great meals and fun days with our family there. No matter how long we stay it never seems to be long enough. We pack a lot into a short amount of time- Cousins, Aunts and Uncles, the zoo in Madison, Land's End shopping, Cartoons in Grandma's bed, Rural Route 1 popcorn (and store!), Euchre, The fish fry at the Tower (also a bar! See?) Bowling and pizza at the Tower (bowling too!) Cobb corn roast (town named Cobb...hmmm.) and baseball game and fair, and eating as many times as possible at Culver's, Grab-a Cone, and did I mention shopping? We really packed it in!

Madison has this great little zoo- just enough to see and leave while you can still walk out, and also FREE! The kids took a ride on the carousel, and Grandpa couldn't resist jumping on too.

It is such a sad thing when it's time to leave. Not only do we hate to say goodbye, but there is the impending weight of the drive home. We stopped in Des Moines to see Tod's mom for a couple days, and it was a nice break in the drive. Tod and I even got to go on a date- we went to see the new Batman movie (a little unsettling, not terribly romantic). When we were driving home we had a blow-out on the interstate in Oklahoma (yet another car problem), and limped home.

The car trouble prompted some serious thinking- time to get a newer car. The ten-year-old model is wearing down and not as reliable as it used to be. We did a lot of Internet shopping and research and finally settled on this:

You like? Same size inside as the Suburban, but a little shorter and better on gas mileage! I wish I could say I could go get in Edward (aah, Edward. The car sparkles in the sun- it seemed like the right name!) and drive somewhere, but he is trapped at the dealership waiting for a new radio. So we are stuck with a little Cadillac crossover for a loaner. It stinks, never buy one! Too crowded! Not to mention, after all this vacation and car buying, we are flat broke, so no travelling for a while, but come on over for Emma's birthday and I'll take you for a ride!

Updates

Has it really been a month? How easy it is to put my blogging on the back burner- we have been in and out of the house, out of the state, out of the time-zone. I think maybe the easiest way to organize all the chaos is to go trip-by-trip.
At the end of July, we made a quick trip to Hobbs. It is always such a great time to see old friends, especially the Neweys. Mika is like my sister. we got such a workout with all the aerobic laughter. I don't think we stopped laughing even in our sleep.
Mika was throwing a Twilight party with our mutual friend June. It was a blast! We ate mushroom ravioli, drank Coke, and even had cheesecake for dessert. Then we hid out in the kitchen while some of the women battled ( and I mean BATTLED) out the question of the night- Edward or Jacob? I'm so glad it's settled now! Then we helped everyone make T-shirts, which was a lot of work, but it was fun to see everyone's personality come out in their shirts. Mine says bite me. Anyone surprised by that?
The kids spent the whole day playing in the backyard on the HUGE inflatable water slide. We may need one.
Paul was SO sweet to babysit all nine of our kids- what a brave man!
The next day we went to see The Water Horse, and then hit the pool. The kids loved the slides and different water toys. I am so glad I remembered the sunscreen, because judging by my burn, they would have fried! It was a very uncomfortable drive home.

Cuteness for a cause

Emma and her friend Madeleine have been planning for weeks to donate their hair to Locks of Love, and the day has finally arrived. At the last minute, Anna decided to get in on the fun. They took turns getting their ponytails cut off, hair washed ( which they loved) and cut and styled. It was their first time with a real hairdresser. What a fun experience it turned out to be! Emma was especially excited to share it with Madeleine. They are already talking about growing it out again so that they can donate another time.

Some pictures

Sam and Carly, the newest additions to our petting zoo Adam, Zach, Josh, Emma and Leah cooling off
Paul, Mika and "the chop"

Okay, Obviously I ran out of room...

Our travels

Okay, I can finally sit down and document the last week's events. We went to Bastrop to surprise mom with a visit. It took a while to get there, we got to Sonic for lunch right behind a scout troop-waited in the drive-through for an hour! Then we had our first potty emergency for Leah. It sounds tacky, but I was really pleased to see that she had the skill to go on the ground beside the Suburban. She loved "peeing on the floor" (more like gravel and mesquite) so much that we had to stop frequently for false alarms.
When we finally got there though, it was a great surprise. Mom was thrilled to tears! We did have to go do some grocery shopping that night though.
Sunday we went to church in Bastrop, which is always great because we can really fill up a row! Grammy was so proud! After church Catherine and her kids came over for a visit, and we got to meet baby Maj-Les (pronounced Mylees) for the first time. She is a beautiful, good natured baby and it was a blast to hold her and love on her! The zipline became the attraction once again. It was my turn and it was unavoidable. I had put it off as long as I could, and so at this point in the post, I must recount one of the more embarrassing moments of my life. I dont have many fears, but I am afraid of heights. The zipline is a good twenty feet in the air at the start. I climbed up the ladder and my poor brother-in-law helped me into the harness. We counted to three, and then counted to three again. Then counted again. The kids cheered and Jared tryed to hype me up ( which may have brought out my ugly side) and we counted again, and I clutched the rail. Finally after counting again, Jared gave me a nudge (which he denies ;)) and just like that, I was off. It was over as quickly as it began. I hit the brake at the end and my legs flew up in the air. I drifted back to the bottom to a stop. It wasn't until then that I realized I had been screaming, because at that point it turned into a wail. I was bawling like a toddler. I scolded everyone within earshot for making me do it. I nearly vomited. So shameful.
The kids played in the dirtpile and then took a wild and wet bubble bath in Grammy's whirlpool tub.
Monday we saw Wall-E, which was cute. Grammy fell asleep in the middle of it but woke up when Leah had to go to the bathroom. After the movie we went to the best burger dive in the world, The Road House, and fought the flys for our supper. Anna developed a major allergic reaction to something, and we had to make an emergency run to HEB for benadryl to cure the hives.
Tuesday we went to Catherine's house in Round Rock. After stopping at Sams for Grammy's camera and lunch, we went to IKEA- which was more fun than usual because Leah is finally tall enough, and potty trained, and could go into Smalland with the other kids.Then we went to admire Jared's houses in person. We could move in tomorrow-Beautiful! Leah christened the driveway with her blood when she tripped and cut open her chin, which prompted another emergency run- this time to CVS for steri-strips. Then we went swimming in Catherine's clubhouse pool which is a great family pool, as the deepest part is only 4' 6". The kids all had a great time and hated to leave... except for Anna of course.
Wednesday meant going home, after a stop in Fredricksburg for peaches and cider, and several stops for "peeing on the floor".
Thursday we had a moment of insanity and brought 2 gerbils home from Petsmart. They are called Sam and Carly.
Friday we went to Hobbs for the fourth. We celebrated with Tod's two brothers there, and their families. His sister Lisa came down from Albuquerque and we got a rare opportunity to play with her kids too. My best friend from Hobbs, Mika Newey, came over with her family and it was a wild night. Everyone rode the four-wheelers and played in the water. We ate burgers and watched the fireworks. Tod's brothers set off some of their own, but we halted by a visit from the fuzz! Apparently there is a burn ban in Lea county too? We got home at 2 in the morning.
It was an amazing and emotional experience to see so many people that we love so much. There is just something so fulfilling about watching the kids play with their cousins. It is too easy to forget how much your parents have to offer. It is nice that my dad keeps giving me bear hugs and calling me his little girl. It is fun to go shopping and giggle with my mom.
Even though it was a fast week, it passed all to quickly. Now all I have to look forward to is laundry!

Takin' a ride...on the potty train

Finally! Leah celebrated her third birthday on Father's day. It was not only a milestone, but a deadline of sorts. I have been trying to potty train her for a year. We decided that it was time to draw the line...no more sippy cups, no more diapers, no more...baby. So Leah got her choice of underwear and we got serious. I won't say that it is perfect, but we are almost there. Like so many other moments in motherhood, this one is bittersweet too. It means I am officially out of the baby business. According to Leah, "I'm not a baby. I drink big girl cups, I pee the potty, I brush my teeth, that I can do." Yes you can, baby, yes you can. "I'm not a baby."

It's so true. What do I do now that the years of being completely devoted to my babies are over? I guess now I have to turn some minute part of my focus back to myself. I am forced to stop rocking back and forth even when I'm not holding a child. I will have to relax when I hear a baby cry, because more than likely, its not going to be my own. I am now willing to pick up any baby, whether I really know their parents or not. It's scary but still so exciting. Happy Birthday Leah!

Miracles do happen

This week was a fun week for the boys. For over a year they have been asking for a Nintendo DS. Most people know what this is- a portable video game system. Needless to say, it isn't cheap and Santa has yet to come through. The boys have been saving their money and we have been talking about ways for them to get to their goal. I explained that when you are a good person and you do the things you are supposed to do, good things happen. If you do more than you're expected, you can make your own miracles. Thursday there was a mysterious package on the doorstep when we got home from the store. I whipped out my phone and caught it all...

The joy of summer

It is finally here- summer, and the bliss that comes with it. No obligations, no practices or games, no early morning starts, no lunches to pack. We can wake up when we want, eat when we want, go where we want, play in the water, have Wii tournaments, etc. It has been a great week so far! I love this calm and the fun of watching the kids work out their disagreements and interact in the way that only siblings can. It makes me remember all the summers I spent as a kid in Idaho. We have such great memories! I was talking to my dad about the way we were raised tonight and he was saying that there are things he regrets- being too strict. I feel so bad that he would worry about that. We got to do such amazing things. I rode in a tank, sat in a helicopter and an F-16, and shot a machine gun. I raced sailboats and rode mountain bikes in Moab with Hans Ray. I rode and wrecked motorcycles before the age of 10. We had Smartie olympics and made salads with weeds. We searched for Oregon Trail artifacts, survived a tornado in a tent and camped on the trampoline more nights than we slept in our beds. If anyone asked I think we would have said we had a normal childhood. I think looking back I can now say that we had an exceptional childhood. We didn't just grow up, we were raised. We were taught and loved. I know that my kid's stories will be different, but I hope that someday they will look back and tell people that they were raised to be exceptional people.

A night at the ballpark

Here come the fireworks!

Leah loves all you can drink!

I am so over this baseball thing!
Can I just watch the game?

So Glamorous!

Tonight we had our yearly company picnic. Every year we go to a Midland Rockhound's game and enjoy a really great picnic before- barbecue, hamburgers & hot-dogs, all you can eat and drink everything...my kind of party. It is a long night for the girls, who don't really get baseball and frankly have had enough from the little league season to last them a very long time. The game was exciting though. I took one or more kids twice to the souvenir store (didn't buy anything) twice to the bathroom, twice to buy drinks and cotton candy, twice to get ice cream, and I guess that's it! We got free ice cream, but with the temp at the ballpark at 106, it didn't even make it back to the seats. The poor boys and I were covered in ice-cream soup. To add an extra dynamic to the situation, there was a stiff wind blowing in the twenties. At one point it was creating a sort of chocolate mist that would make any mother cringe. Can you say Tide-to-go? Needless to say it went straight into the trash! Keeping Anna calm and Leah in her seat was a challenge, but when the post- game fireworks started, they were in heaven. I think this year Leah actually looked at them with thrill instead of fright. She was in awe- it was so fun to listen to her comments on the stars and sparklies.