Spring has Sprung (for now)

In Wisconsin, we can never really safely say Spring is here because about that time, we'll get one of those surprise snow showers that melt within hours -- but are a nuisance nonetheless. But I'll go out on a limb and say I think it's here to stay.

You know it's spring in Wisconsin when:

... I actually get the urge (gasp!) to exercise -- running, walking, biking, golfing -- anything outdoors to smell the fresh air and feel the sunshine!

... You see blue jays, orioles and cardinals -- in your backyard and the ball diamonds on TV.

... You see someone wearing shorts -- and they're not playing sports. (It helps when people are returning from spring break in warm places like Mexico so they can show off their tan!)

... Even though temps start out in the 30s, we can pop a few windows open in the morning when we leave for work because we know it will warm up later. (Though we're still a bit nervous if these new windows will withstand some kitty pressure against the screen. Let's hope so.)

... The fourth quarter of school is under way. That means the oldest -- suffering from an acute case of senior-itis -- has to keep his mind in the game for a successful high school transcript. And the other two, well, they better kick it in high gear, too!

... Garage sale signs start popping up. The sale I do with Carter's sitter is this weekend. I still am finding things to price -- and expect I'll find a whole lot more to go when I continue my massive de-cluttering project between now and graduation.

... Soccer season is here. Carter had his first practice tonight and his first game is Saturday. He did not play in the fall because he had football, but it appears he hasn't lost his touch. We got his schedule today, too. All of his games will be at 2 p.m. so that will shoot our Saturdays. Good thing he's worth it.

... The days are longer -- in more ways than one. It's lighter out longer and the days seem longer at work because my major deadline is looming. I guess I'm grateful the worst part of this project will be over by summer. Don't get me wrong. I like spring well enough -- and do hope it's here to stay -- but I wouldn't want to give up summer for anything.

Let's keep springing towards summer -- and enjoy ourselves every bounce along the way!

Weekend Wrap

Lent: Now that Lent is over, Carter can go back to playing his video games. He ended up playing only 12 times in the 40 days, which wasn't so bad considering most times were when friends were over. So $3 (reflecting a quarter each time) will go into the Sunday School offering next week. I didn't keep tabs on my Lenten pledge. Basically, I tried to exercise 30 minutes or go 2 miles, whichever came first, each day. On days when I did nothing, I tried to make it up the next day, going 4 miles. That worked out a few times since the weather has been nicer. I'm guessing I should throw $3 in the offering next week, too!

Golf fever: I didn't get to watch the Masters as much as I'd hoped this weekend but it was enough to heighten my golf fever. The problem with watching the Masters and then going out to golf for the first time of the season is that you've seen so much good golf, you expect to do the same. Doesn't happen that way. I wonder if I'm the only one who got a small bit of pleasure out of seeing Tiger hit a tree. Don't get me wrong. I like Tiger, but as Hubby so aptly put it: "I can never say I golf like Tiger but now I can say Tiger golfs like me!"

Countdown: We just realized Casey's graduation party is a mere 2 months away already. Yikes! I have a list a mile long of things to get done around the house. That doesn't bode well for an undomestic goddess like me so I'm begging forgiveness in advance for my crank-ittude! It might get a little stressful (if I let it, right?).

How sweet it is: It's my own fault, but there is way too much sugar in the house right now! I brought some to work but other people brought in their leftovers, too, or items they got in their baskets they don't like (Peeps, etc.). So I can't escape it. I'm looking for some willpower if anyone's got any to spare...

Kick it up: This week will be a busy one as soccer season starts. Carter will have practice Tuesday and Thursday, with his first game Saturday already. This is where we re-learn about time management -- how to get homework done on practice nights without a fight or stress meltdown (where does he get that from?). Looking forward to seeing our little kicker in action. We may have to ban head-butts, though, if he's wearing glasses!

Following the Bunny Trail

In my family, we have a tradition of holding a massive outdoor egg hunt every Easter. We have geographical boundaries but no limits on the age of participants or the amount of candy they can claim. This year, since we just gathered Up North a few weeks ago, we decided not to bring everyone together for the event.

Not wanting Carter to miss out on the thrill of the hunt, I (er, the Easter Bunny that is) created a scavenger hunt for him. The Bunny was worried the clues might be too obscure, but Carter being logical-minded creative-thinker Carter figured them out.

What he first thought was his basket was easy to find. It was sitting on the ledge of our new bay window in the living room. There was some Easter grass, gum and a note inside that read:

That was too easy!
We've just begun!
Put your thinking cap on.
Here's clue no. 1:

You gave me up
But Lent is done.
Turn me on
To start this fun.

Since Carter had given up video games for Lent, he knew right away he should go down into the TV room in the basement where his gaming systems are. There he found a new Nintendo DS game -- and Clue #2:

This is where
we draw the line:
Usually green
either Celtic or pine.

I mentioned recently Carter likes draw (in chalk) an outline of a Boston Celtics basketball court by the hoop outside. Last week, he ran out of sidewalk chalk so next to the hoop was a new box of chalk and Clue #3:

You've stored clothes in here
since before you were 6.
Take a peek again
just for kicks.

Right away he said, "I bet it's cleats in my closet!" Well, he was partially right. He had a new soccer ball in his closet since he's using a No. 5 ball this year and needed one. He already has cleats that fit so I don't know why he thought he was getting new ones. He was plenty happy with the ball and Clue #4:

Call us your peeps.
Call us your fan.
Put us in here
And watch us expand.

Yup, we're the weird type of people who microwave marshmallow Peeps to watch them expand to the point of prairie chicken size -- but not quite exploding. So that was an easy clue. Carter found some Peeps (the very last package at Wal-Mart I might add) in the microwave (not turned on) and his final clue:

Our hunt is coming
down to the wire.
If you want your basket,
you gotta look higher.

Well he certainly took his hunt to all places high in the house. For awhile I thought he'd go outside because he thought the word "wire" was part of the clue. (The Bunny didn't plan it that way.) Eventually he found his basket on his top bunk -- hidden under posters that had fallen off the wall, landing in a new home in the unused part of the bed.

His basket had a card in it from Mommy and Daddy and he questioned that right away. "How did that get in there? Did you see the Easter Bunny when he was hiding my basket?" Quick on my feet (as most lying parents are) I said I put the card in there last night so the Easter Bunny would know which basket was Carter's.

The more I thought about it, though, I am puzzled that Carter still believes in the Easter Bunny but questions the existence of Santa. Whatever. I'm just glad it worked out and he had fun with it.

The rest of the day was uneventful: church, shopping, watching (Masters), walking (sunny and 50s again!), baking ("Easter cookies" with pastel M&M's for the big boys) and eating dinner at Jim's parents' house. Now it's time to brush all the sugar off my teeth and tuck in my little bunny.

Blessed Easter to you all!

Should It Stay or Should It Go?

Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
And if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know...
-- The Clash (1981)

I was thinking of this catchy '80s tune by The Clash today. I was facing a closet full of toys and games that featured many prime candidates for the garage sale. Should it stay? Or should it go?

I didn't want to be solely responsible -- though I knew there were plenty of entertainment items I hadn't seen Carter entertain himself with in years. So while Daddy and I were out hunting down the last Easter treats at the store, Carter went through the game room closet and decided what should stay and go.

I had asked him to put everything in a pile in the middle of the floor and I'd take care of dusting it and pricing it. I guess he wasn't keen on touching games with dust or cobwebs on them because when I opened the closet, everything that should go was marked with an X on a sticky note. And we wonder why we can't find a Post-It note when we need one.

I found a few more things to add to the "go" pile. Ended up taking two loads over to the babysitter's since she is already setting up (behind the closed doors) for next weekend's sale. We hope the weather will be as nice as today: 50s and sunny. Awesome!

By the time I got done with price-tagging and doing Saturday cleaning, it was midafternoon. I called my neighbor across the street. "Have you put any miles on your legs yet today?" I asked. Luckily she hadn't. (The walk always goes quicker when you've got someone to talk to.) So we did our 3-mile route -- in short sleeves I might add!

It was so nice, we planned to grill tonight. We even exchanged out propane tank so we'd be set for the season. I had assumed it was empty and that was why our grill didn't work when we tried it a few weeks ago. I was wrong.

I think it has something to do with the fact that it's 10 years old and the igniter (which I've duct-taped into place the past 2 summers) doesn't want to work anymore. Could it be gas grills aren't meant to last 10 years? All I know is if we get a new one, it better come already assembled. I recall about 8 million parts that had to go together for this one. Hubby claims he's blocked out that experience from his memory. I can't say I blame him!

The Reset Button

We've had computer problems at home on and off for about a year now. I shouldn't say computer -- more specifically, Internet connection issues. Sometimes we can hop on a Web site in a second and other times, more often than not, it can take minutes. Since hubby and I aren't the patient sort, this has been a pain.

Since I typically know a computer inside and out, hubby was sure I'd fix it or find someone who can. I couldn't find a solution. I've tried everything but call for help. Oh yes, that was an option. But just like some guys don't ask for directions, Robyn does not pick up the phone and call the Geek Squad. (Did I mention I have issues?) So that has gotten us nowhere, of course.

The baseball season opened this week and Jim is very excited because he signed up for some online service that allows him to listen to games live on the computer. Well, that would work for most people, but not us and our stinkin' computer. Let's just say when he tried to tune into the Reds game the other night, a little Hell broke loose and I was smart enough to hide in the corner like a puppy that did something wrong. Or, in my case, didn't do something.

I heard him talk to the Geek Squad and felt good in a selfish way that they didn't have the answer anyway. So Jim decided to hunt around and eventually found a place where he could just reset all of our Internet settings back to the way they were on day one when we got the computer 2 1/2 years ago. Bingo! That worked! I applaud him for fixing it but, two days later, am still cowering in the corner because I know I deserve a talking to.

Too bad we can't just hit the "reset" button in life and erase all the bad decisions and actions. If you knew you could, how would you act differently? I have a feeling (well, I know) I wouldn't be very responsible. Just think about it. No consequences!

We have a casino gambling game on our computer that gives a player $5,000 to start. If you lose it, you're done. Well once I found out we can reset the player (and their bank account) at any time, I found myself at the high-stakes poker table betting on Texas Hold 'em hands like there was no tomorrow! And there wasn't.

Hmmm... A reset button to set things right. No consequences. Sounds good, but somehow I think that in the end, it will all catch up with us. (Just like a well-deserved lecture!)

First Communion

Holy week became even more special this year because the fifth graders at our church (and their families) shared a Passover meal and received their first communion tonight as part of the Maundy Thursday service.

The Seder Meal is more of an educational experience than anything else. Narrators take us through a typical Passover meal, where we learn the symbolism of certain foods and try them. Matzah (bread that tastes like soda crackers) was a bigger hit with the kids than some of the rest. We learned a little Hebrew, too, which isn't so easy to say out loud -- especially after multiple cups of wine (well, grape juice for some of us).

Before the church service began, Carter was a bit nervous about doing the right thing when we took communion. He's always gone up with me to be blessed, but maybe hasn't paid attention. That wasn't his main concern, though. "What if I don't like the wine?" (You know him and his aversion to drinking medicine!) I told him just to take a sip then. He didn't have to drink it all if he didn't like it. That seemed to work fine.

It was pretty neat to kneel next to him and do that together. This certainly will change our church-going experiences going forward. It will be even more special as we share our faith and watch our boy continue his transition to adulthood.

No rush.

Beyond Our Control

We arranged to leave work early today so we could get to the middle son's school for an open house/teacher conference. Since we had never set foot inside the "alternative" school, it was important for us to be there to check out this mysterious learning environment.

Unfortunately, when we got there (right at 5 when it was scheduled to start), there was a note taped to the door that said, "Due to circumstances beyond our control, the open house is postponed until next Wednesday."

Circumstances beyond our control? Hmm. Wonder what that could be. We certainly spent a few minutes speculating with some creative ideas. But we doubt it was anything so dramatic. And frankly, does it matter? If it was out of their control, it certainly is out of ours, too. Just like most things in life, right?

Right now I have two uncles recovering in hospitals from heart surgery and a stroke. What happens next is certainly beyond our control, but that doesn't stop me from praying for a speedy (and uneventful) recovery for them both.

This week, a woman who worked at our company (in our Cincinnati office) passed away. She was younger than me and had just been in for a routine foot surgery. During recovery -- at home -- she developed a blood clot and died. That whole situation is beyond our control, but I am praying God will provide comfort for her family and the co-workers who knew her best.

In the last day or two at work, I have latched onto some stress I can't seem to release. Right now I am trying to determine what part of this I really can control and what is simply beyond. I imagine when this headache goes away that means I've figured it out.

I recall my mother's struggle to teach us kids some common sense. She tried to lead by example but you know the old saying about leading a horse to water... She just couldn't make us have common sense. That part of the equation was beyond her control.

In our refrigerator we have taken to labeling our water bottles with a Sharpee so we can reuse them a few times before recycling. D for Dad, M for Mom, C for Carter. The point of labeling them should be obvious. My name, my bottle. But there's that common sense thing again...

This morning, Daddy mentioned how he got up during the night because he was thirsty after eating salty pizza for supper. But when he got to the fridge, something was missing. So, he asked, "Has anyone seen my water bottle?" Carter responds, "Oh, the one with the D on it? That's in my room by my bed."

Ahh, yes. Sometimes things are beyond our control... including the ability to hold back an eye roll and a laugh.