welp we moved in...

finally got closed on the house, and "Senior and Jugms moving company" had to go to work...and my Lord, we are still working!!!. Digging through boxes, finding things that have been packed up for 18 months....*Sigh*  But, it is a blessing to be in a place that is all our own......

I think the biggest thing for me is opening the boxes that held all the pictures, Senior has started putting them up on the walls, and its really beginning to feel like home around here.

its been a flurry of  activity all last week with the different service technicians coming in to connect stuff...like the Internet, TV Satellite, and now the gas company is here installing the tank for the gas fireplace and checking all the connections for us.
things though have began to calm down and we are getting back into our groove of daily life. This is the view from my new kitchen window: 

 

 Jack the Cat, who at first was not so sure about the place, has finally relaxed and loves his new digs and all the space he has to roam now... 

 

Now begins the daunting task of cleaning out my father in laws trailer that we called home for the past year and a half. We are trying to downsize the furniture that is in there, donate some stuff, sell some stuff and clean the place up.  One of our neighbors has offered to come by and paint the exterior for us, and I tell ya what, it needs it.

In other news..Little league is here, and NW is excited to be back behind the plate catching, not sure where ND will end up , but being that he is  a lefty he did quite well at 1st. I just hope they continue to love the sport like they do now. I want them to enjoy what they do and have fun at it.. 

-JUGM

i am here...

much to the dismay of some, I am still here..sorry to disappoint!

Now with Spring in full gear we have tons to do around the estate. Garden has been plowed and planted. Baby chicks are growing, and I have since acquired a baby "Jersey Giant" Rooster. I googled them..they get up to 15 pounds.  Senior is in the planning stage of building another coop for him and the black austrolops we got a few weeks ago.

With the start of spring, that also means "baseball". We got lucky and both boys were placed on the same team. Practice started this week, and so far all the kids look really good and ready to play.

Well that is kind of the news for now..  Like I said, it is Spring, and we are all busy, busy busy. So don't fret over my lack of post...afterall I can't be like some folks who sit in front the monitor in their tightie whities hitting the "refresh" button 24/7 while chasing prescription drugs with a bottle of Mad Dog 20/20  and dreaming of a blissful three cherries on the local slot machine...wouldn't that be the life!

See ya on the flip side!

Aww Boys!



Being the only girl in the house, I can completely relate to this video, which comes from "Americas Funniest Home Videos".

 Our two boys find wearing sports cups intriguing. Shopping with them to get one was nothing short of a hilarious fiasco. When ND ( who is the family comedian) grabbed an adult size, and was flaunting it around, trying to keep a straight face was anything but easy.

 I left the explaining of "size does matter" up to Senior.

 

Then it is not enough that they beat on the poor thing like a drum, but the norm in the dugout is to show theirs off to each other..

 

Been Busy

I really am still here. Things have been busy: Baseball, working on the wedding shower, my parents health issues, and working with Senior and our company ( spring is our busiest season).

Just stay tuned please......

- JUGM

The Weekend..

Friday the kids were out of school. We ran errands and did some housework. Once done NW opened the linen closet door and found Jack the Cat hiding. You just got to love the big boy.

Saturday had us busy with Senior umpiring the first little league game, and then our game followed. .. We had it won in the 4th inning, but certain kids (not mine) decided to give up. And then there was the poor officiating. I hate this league, because they make the coaches of the other teams umpire..most have no clue. 
Last night, we decided to burn the remaining wood we had in the pit...the evening was nice, and the full moon was rising. Made for a very relaxing time.

This morning is bright and sunny, but windy. Rain is in the forecast later tonight and all day tomorrow. A real soaker. My Kitchen is a mess-one child wanted french toast, the other was happy with a bowl of cereal. It is funny how brothers can be so much alike, but also so very different.

My radishes are growing. But nothing from my carrots. It has been over a month and only two or three have sprouted. So, I think I am going to get some tomato plants or bush cucumbers.  Not sure which yet. ND loves tomatoes, but so does the mockingbirds.. And then there is Libby, who thinks the little round things growing on the plant is a  tennis ball. *SIGH*

Friday I picked up a slab of ribs, and last night smothered them in olive oil and seasonings...soon Senior will have the smoker going, and the glorious smell of hickory wood and pork will consume the back yard and neighborhood.
I am off here now, to possibly head out the door for some cheap cat food and veggie plants, we are having a stray cat problem and setting a trap tonight.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and have a very blessed Sunday....

-JUGM

The Joy of Boys...

Baseball game did not go well for the little Orioles, after winning Tuesday 22-13, we lost last night 12-7.  A big bummer and it made for some unhappy coaches.
I was the official score keeper,  and I swear if one more parent asked me what the score was while a play was happening I was going to unleash the kracken.... 

Today in the aftermath of last nights loss,  school is out for a planning day. chaos is running wild in the house.  The craziness of what makes a boy a "boy" abounds.. 
Would I have it any other way? Some days, it is nice to have every thing quiet. But today, I enjoy the laughter. I enjoy all the noises of what come with having kids. I am happy knowing that our boys are smart, and healthy. Life is so simple, and carefree to them, thinking of that led me to this poem, not sure who actually wrote it as it was not credited to anyone, but I liked it and thought I would share:

 

Little Boys
Little boys come in all shapes and sizes, Shy and adventurous,

full of surprises, With misshapen halos and mischievous grins,

Small dirty faces, and sweet, sticky chins.

They'll keep you so busy,

and yet all the while Nothing can brighten the world like their smile.

And no greater treasure has brought homes more joy

Than a curious, active, and lovable boy!

 

 

-JUGM

The Weekend....

Since probably Thursday evening, we have been under cloud cover with the occasional cold rain shower. And just enough of a breeze to bite right through you.
We have also been out at baseball practice since Thursday night as well. This new coach is a former marine he is  young, and  hungry for a great team. He has three assistants and has tagged them with areas to help the kids in..Senior is the batting coach, and a nice man named 'M" is the pitching coach...he is working with NW in that position
Yesterday  morning the league held a baseball clinic, It was again cold, drizzly, and that same annoying breeze. But it did not stop our two from wanting to attend. So we all bundled up.

I think the boys desire to play was reinforced Friday night when we watched the Olympic Opening Ceremony.
Since then they have been virtually plastered to the action. They especially like all the freestyle skiing, Ski Jumping and etc... 
They've asked how much training you have to do for those sports...I tell them the athletes train an entire life time, just for this moment. I explain the dedication they have to strive to be the best at their sport. And I  told them they only way they could become that good is practice, practice and more practice.
Despite it being held in Russia, and any controversies the press is starting, you have to respect the sacrifice made by the athelets and their families, and the punishment their bodies take just for this one moment.

Then there is  that blooming "Thank you Mom"  commercial from P &G..They have a few of them airing but this one makes me tear up the most:
Click here to watch

Currently our boys love baseball. Senior and I both give them the choice to play..When I was four my parents through me in to piano lessons..for the next 16 years it was shoved down my throat. When I asked to play volleyball..I was denied. I swore that I would never do that to my kids. And I remind ND and NW every day that if they are not having fun any more, and it is something they do not like then just tell me.
But, they can't do it on a bad day of ball. No, they have to tell me on a good day.   :  )  

Baseball..An Update

As luck would have it, the call came right at the rush hour in our house, cleaning up from dinner, trying to get the boys out of the door for early evening dentist appointment...  When it rang, I did jump and rushed to look at the caller ID.
No one I recognized so this must be it, I answered and looked over to the dinner table with a thumbs up. Senior smiled.

His name is Coach C, and NW was his first pick, but he saw that NW had a brother..and took him as well.  ( what a great guy!, I  like him  all ready)  I was very grateful that he picked both, and thanked him repeatedly for doing so.
And yes, as all can guess Senior is going to assist.

So they are going to be "Orioles" and not a team with any sort of royal blue colors, we have drawers full of royal blue ball socks, and belts.
We had to explain to ND what the Orioles were , he kept insisting that it was actually the "Oreos"  lol
Then Senior showed them pictures of the Baltimore Orioles, and of the most famous one : Mr. Cal Ripken Jr. 

So all is right in our world for now, Tonight is a meet and greet with the team, and tomorrow is the first practice. Saturday is a league clinic with the local high school baseball team ..which I think is great, the little kids look up to the bigger ones, and it is a learning experience for all involved.

That Time of Year Again

 

It is that time of year again. That time to play America's Game. Little league try outs were this past Friday night and the draft was last night. Now I sit by the phone, like a teenage girl waiting for a boy to call. We wait for the manager of what ever team that has drafted our boys to call. Both  are in the minor division this season, and for logistical reasons we requested that they be on the same team. Try outs went well, But NWs was a bit better, and we know of two teams who have him as their number one pick. ND also did well, but he needs work on catching pop flies. So tick tock goes the clock, and every time the phone rings, I jump.... 

 

Saturday, while, Senior was working on his rocket stove, NW and I got out in the back yard, and cleaned out my raised beds. Then we turned the soil, and put in some radishes and carrot seeds.

The one little plant is cabbage, that NW brought home from school as a project.

By this time of year the freezes are not as harsh, and should we get one, I will just cover the boxes with a tarp.

 

 

I was also  playing with my camera, and caught this pick of Jack the Cat sitting up in the "Crows Nest" of his cat tree.  That is his place of solitude when he wants to escape the wrath of Libby and the kids... 

 



 



 



Sunday Wake Up

The dogs woke me up whining to go out. I stumbled out of bed, checked on the sleeping children. let Libby out of her kennel, and went to the back door..  Opened it..

I forgot  to disarm the home alarm system.
All Heck broke out on this quiet Sunday morning...
I ran back to the keypad to turn it off.
Saw Senior standing there shaking his head, hands on hips.
Kids slept through it.
Alarm company called to verify....

Later this morning while I was cleaning up the breakfast dishes Senior said : " You just had to set the alarm off at 7am"

ME:  "yup! It was a test"
Senior: "a test ? "
ME: " Yup ! You know crime never sleeps, need to make sure the family is prepared"
Senior: " OMG, But did you have to do it at 7am" ?
ME: " Yup! that bad guys aren't in bed! "
Senior: " OMG"

Kids last ball game for this season is today.. yay!  Happy Sunday!

-JUGM

A Chance to Take a Breath

Is it just me or did the past week just fly by? I got so busy with things around the house. Now it is Sunday early afternoon, just finished the last cup of coffee for the day, and we will soon be off to a make up baseball practice for NW. It was rained out last week. Being a Sunday afternoon, I wonder how many kids will actually show up. Due to his age, ND is back on a little Tee-Ball team again. The other tee-ball parents make me drop my mouth, they make me sigh and shake my head and that is all I have to say about them right now.

Yes, fall baseball is in full swing for us, I am happy to have kids who love to play outside and not sit inside on a game console all day. While our boys do have kindles,  I really limit the usage.
Some times  they get upset with me because they want to take them to school.
"But all our friends do".  I remind them, that school is for learning, and not playing on games all day-and they are not their friends nor I the friends parents.
 And all so, it was their uncle who purchased the expensive item for them, and if anything happened to it, it will be he to whom they answer to.

I love listening to them chat about their baseball future, right now they really do love the game, and have high aspirations.. One tells me he promises to be in the major leagues and buy mommy and daddy a big house on stilts overlooking a river. The other tells me he will make a One hundred thousand million dollars, and have the fastest pitch ever.
ND also asked what the world will be like when he is a man,and I just don't have the heart to answer him...
I smile, and tell them that with hard work, they can one day become that professional player they are dreaming about... 

-JUGM

For The Love of The Game

The boys  last week went through two days of baseball camp with a  Double A Minor league team, that calls this area home.
About 100 kids  showed up, to take instruction from future major league players. All the kids were star struck. We go to the teams games quite often, the boys have autographs, and for them to  be able  to stand on that field, and play ball with their hero's was nothing short of being awesome.

I sat in the stands with the other parents, and took the entire two days in. And thought about those over paid, demanding players in the Major league. Those that seem it is a job  more then a game.
Do they remember when they loved playing? Before the million dollar contracts and all the perks that being successful comes with.
 Do they remember when they were little and the neighborhood kids would get together on the street or in someones yard, perhaps a back lot somewhere and just play the game? Laughing and arguing all at the same time about who was "Out" and who wasn't?

 The last day of camp was scrimmage games. The minor leaguers were pitching to the kids. and playing the role of umpires. They were mentoring these kids and helping them learn baseball fundamentals. NW was actually starting to hit the ball. He hit it so well that on one occasion he drilled the Teams Managers son on the cheek. The child went crying to the trainers and his daddy, and NW happily went trotting off to first base.
The kids were having Fun, The coaches were having fun, The minor league players-those stars of tomorrow were having fun. They were there to pass on their knowledge of baseball, because once a long time ago when they were in Little League some one did that for them.

They were there for the Love of the Game.

-JUGM

PS: That last night of camp. The kids were all invited back to enjoy the regular season game of the minor league team. The kids were brought out on to the field and recognized in front of the crowd. 

Lots on our Plate

 Yesterday I was busy scrubbing the kitchen floor from where ND spilled his little cup of sprite, when my cell phone goes off. Its my sister. she is literally running through the halls of the hospital because My dad has been taken to the ER.

Really? I thought to myself. In what life does both your husbands father and now yours end up in the hospital? Wasn't the trip for NW last week enough. I guess not. Things like this is not good for a person who's trying very hard to stop biting her nails.

My dad has congestive heart failure, and an enlarged spleen. Doctors have told him its time to take the spleen out, its the size of a shoe box. No wonder he was having massive chest pains yesterday.
but he is stubborn, afraid of surgery..and won't do it. We have all told him to listen to his doctors, that it could rupture and he die. It falls on deaf ears.. So, please excuse me for my feelings on the matter now, but if that is how the stubborn ole coot wants to die then so be it.. I have quit wasting my breath.

Thankfully my dad was sent back home, the doctor gave them some mumbo jumbo about all the pollen in the air, flaring up his CHF. I was hoping he would at least spend the night for observation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Senior made it back home yesterday, then we had a baseball game to attend..the little Dodgers tied it up with the Red Sox 12-12. Either the hitting was that good, or the fielding of the ball just that bad..
We have stuck to giving some of the kids on the team nicknames, one long legged kid is named "lumberjack" because when he swings the bat he looks like Paul Bunyon, our catcher is now known as "skip" because when he throws the ball back to the pitcher, he does a little skip...and the pitcher, is now "Lupus" because he looks like the character "Lupus" from the movie "Bad news bears"

ND has t-ball practice tonight, NW has another baseball game Friday night, and ND has a T-ball game on Saturday..whew! see what I mean about lots on our plate? 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After we got home last night, I got the boys to bed,popped the top on a cold "smirnoff ice"  and sat down to relax. I got caught up on "Vikings" on History channel..holy cow is it good.
I also told Senior about how Satan in "The Bible" mini series barred an uncanny resemblence to Obama...he came back and told me that the scene was shown on "O'Reilly" last night..and he agreed.

Now its time to make up a grocery list. I have not been to the store all week. We are running out of things. The boys cringed again over pop tarts for breakfast. I am glad  they did not shape it into a gun, or I would be in big trouble...  : )

-JUGM

The Difference A Week Makes...

At precisely this time last Saturday we were at the ER with NW. He had a IV hooked to his arm, and couldn't walk. We were transported to the children's hospital via ambulance where he continued to receive fluids for his Myositis.  We got to go home Sunday, and he has had to drink Gatorade every day since.  He went back to School on Wednesday. And today, a week later he was back on the baseball field. Where he hit a single, and was driven home by the next batter.  I was one proud Mama!

We lost 3-2. But it didn't matter. To see my baby out there healthy again and running meant the world to me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Update on Seniors dad:  From what we understand, he is doing better but will still remain in the hospital  Senior leaves again to drive up to visit him tomorrow. We hope that things are looking up and his dads health continues to improve....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is a funny thing that happened to me yesterday:  I had to pay a visit to the courthouse- Federal marshals were inside at the security checkpoint. Prior to entering I made sure I did not have any weapons, and My cell phone was in the car. I forgot about my fancy bullet pen.
The scanner went a bit nuts, and the marshal sent my purse back through it again. He looked at me funny, and said " Ma'am you have quite a bit of metal in there"
I got wide eyed, and remember my pen... " Oh no! My pen!"  " Sir that is a writing pen" 
He said on the scanner it looked like some sort of medical needle.
I took it out to show him that it was nothing dangerous, and he smiled. the Marshal at the other end of the counter inquired as to it, and complimented it. I told him he could find the man that makes them at any of the local gun shows. 

Senior laughed when I told him what happened and said " Your such a trouble maker with your assault weapons pen! " 

-JUGM

Welcome and Other Bits of News

I want to give a big warm welcome to : ROXANNE BARE, SINDER ELLA, BADGER MEDIC, and GARLAND GIRL.
Thank you for stopping by and hitting the follower button. I promise to do my best to respond and to any and all comments you may leave.
Some have their own blogs--so stop by and tell them I sent you...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We got a new Washer yesterday..YAY!  And the best part..Its another Kenmore!  We did more shopping around at the major home improvement stores, but I just wasn't happy with the prices, or the brands. Then I remembered there was a small Sears Homelife Store out on the Island. We also got it for about 150.00 less then what the big stores wanted for the other brands.

  I am a happy glock mom today...

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Super freezing weather here today, frost and ice on every thing. I have had a Split leaf Philodendron in the back yard, that has not had a chance. So yesterday I dug the poor thing up and potted it. Now it is in ICU in my sun room getting lots of warmth, and TLC. It is a special little plant to me, because it was planted over the spot where our two special female kitties are buried. We had them for over 15 years and they died within months of each other. So I am passionate about saving the plant.

Off to get my car serviced today, boys are out of school. then its baseball practices tonight. : )
Yay!  and in the freezing cold!!!   Double YAY !!!!

-JUGM

Happy Valentines Day...

 

That special day is here.. Gather up your sweetie and go out to dinner, or make them a nice surprise. I am currently baking all three of my boys M&M cookies..that is their little valentine present from mommy...
Baseball is in full swing, and both boys have practices tonight. NW finally got drafted and he is a proud little "Dodger"  Senior is helping out with coaching.

I am doing the drawing for the cards this afternoon, so GOOD LUCK to all who entered. Tomorrow I will do a post announcing the lucky ladies who won.

Last night I watched a terrible movie: "Battleship"..  NEVER watch a naval movie with a retired sailor..Senior kept coming in the room pointing out all the errors. I did find it funny when the "Missouri" got underway ...those old guys cracked me up.  All I can say is, thank the Lord I did not pay to see it in a theatre...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In case you did not guess it early this week Today is also my Birthday. Yes I am a valentines baby.   WOW 28 !!! I can't believe it! My day started by getting the boys to school, then I came home, climbed back in bed and buried myself under the covers in a dark room.

My mother called to wish me "Happy Birthday" she then proceeded to tell me that at precisely 5:07am she was awoken with sharp baby pains...but now they have subsided and she felt like she had given birth to a watermelon...lo/. I told her she has to experience it all over again because my sisters birthday is the 16th. : ) 
Senior all ready gave him his gift, it was my new rifle.We went shooting yesterday and it performed flawlessly..I really love it.
The boys have a little something for me as well, but I guess I will get that when they are home from school. Due to practices tonight, we are doing dinner out tomorrow night..can't decide where to go though.

Now I am off here to make my sister a Birthday card..again HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERY ONE!  

-JUGM

Pet Peeves

My list of them is never ending. I could go on and on and on..  I guess I am just a little "you know what".

Take nosey neighbors for instance. We have our own Mrs. Kravitz..only it should be "Mr. Kravitz". anything out of place he has to complain about, or question. He doesn't even live on this side of the neighborhood, but for some reason  a car parked on the street is suddenly his business...

People driving in the fast lane...change lanes please!

Drivers who can't change lanes if I am trying to turn on to a street. This happens all the time on the highway in front of our subdivision. I will have to stop and wait for the yahoo driving in the right hand lane because he or she can't get over to allow me to pull out. 9 out of 10 times typically there won't be any other cars around either.

And what about people who put every little thing that happens to them as their facebook status? Your kid took a poopy today! Does the entire free world need to know that?  I have one of these such friends on FB, I think Its time to "Hide" her again.

Individuals who EXIT through the ENTER door. This usually happens at Chinamart. I think they skipped that day in school when reading was taught. I typically like to make a smart comment about it.

Irresponsible parents. I get irked out of my mind when I am dropping the boys off at school and I see how some of these kids look. Unkept or dirty hair, dirty clothes.. I understand if a parent can't afford a lot for their kids. But C'Mon!..you can at least wash and fix their hair and have their clothes cleaned.
There is one little first grade boy, we see him every day. His hair is so long that he looks like a girl.
I am not against long hair. But, if you are going to let your son wear his hair like that, then comb it, and maybe brush it back in to a pony tail or at least trim it up.

Customers who think we have to drop every thing to take care of their lawn or landscaping needs.
Senior taught me a phrase he learned in the Navy that as become my mantra in the business world: 

"Piss Poor Planning On YOUR Part, Doesn't Constitute Crisis Management On Mine"
I love that phrase so much I think I am going to slap it on a T-Shirt and wear to Chinamart.. : )

This has also been evident with us this week in the issue with NWs baseball sign ups..more kids then expected registered. The league did not plan for this and they did not have enough coaches.
Would it have been so hard to get your coaches lined up first, and registered accordingly?
therefore they have been calling every parent asking for coaches..thus laying a guilt trip on the parents.
And then there is this  T- ball mom on the league facebook page: "I got a call that it starts this Monday? I thought the season started in March?"  hello!  its called PRACTICE.  Gosh! I really want to respond .. So I did. In a nice diplomatic way.
 
Then the matter of Gun Safety... I am a huge supporter of gun rights..but I swear some of these folks have no business owning a fire arm. There are some scary people at the ranges...

So, we all have pet peeves, I have shared some of mine with you. I am betting some of you think people who complain (ie: me) is a pet peeve. And you are probably right. I do complain. An EX friend even called me "Catty" once. We won't go in to why she is now an EX friend, because that is whole nother "Pet Peeve" of mine.
Maybe I just think that God gave people common sense, it would be nice if they took it out and played with it once in a while.. 

-JUGM