sleeping in, and other exciting developments...

Ask any mom about sleep...it's absence in her life, it's utter beauty, it's fleeting rarity...

I don't mind being a little bit tired now and then. But believe me when I say this: for over 25 years, sleep eluded me. I was starved for it. My oldest was 22 and a half when my youngest was born...so for all those years of toddlers and babies, then having teenagers on the other end of the day, staying up late late late, having to get up in the morning to get 9 kids out the door for school, during those busy years, after getting up in the night with one baby or another...of course you can't just take a nap to catch up, ha. I tried. Believe me, I tried. It was sadly the focus of my day, most days. And the things that can sabotage a good nap, oh dear! Phone calls, babies who fell asleep just as the toddler woke up, afternoon visitors, barking dogs, older kids who needed supervison...naps were elusive little treasures that I hardly ever got.

So for me, sleep is super yummily delicious. Sometimes these days, I get enough of it, and I wake up satisfied and thankful...oh no, I am not one to take a good night's sleep for granted. No sir.

Duke, the early morning barker, for some reason slept in this morning. I woke up NATURALLY...just woke up, wondering why there was no barking...just woke up...picked up my phone, and Lord 'a mercy, it was EIGHT O'CLOCK! I had slept in!

I got dressed and came out here, and there was the Dukester, sleeping on the couch. I had to check to make sure he was alive, and sure enough, he was breathing...and don't think I'm too evil, but ha, I woke HIM up this morning. How do YOU like it, Duke?!

Anyway. I feel fine today. Sleep is not overrated.

Some people don't read the news, because it's depressing. It really is, but I can't stay away from it. Do you know that in New York state, if you receive public assistance, and win the lottery, the state will take all of your winnings up to the amount that you have taken in assistance for X amount of years? Poor people can't catch a break. We don't receive any public assistance, but can you imagine if you did, and won like a thousand dollars, or even ten thou? And nope, can't keep it. ouch.

And then there's this: a mom in Rochester NY was arrested because she left her 10 year old in a Lego store while she shopped. Now, this is sad. Because basically it was a win/win situation. Ten year old boys do.not.like.to.shop. No sir. But staying for an extended period of time in the Lego store: heaven. And the mom, shopping without the eye-rolling and foot-dragging sighs of a middle sized boy...phew. The sad part of the story is that there is such a thing as predators in the first place. And, that it's is the government's business to decide whether your child is safe, or in danger. The chance of someone really abducting that boy from that Lego store...probably wouldn't happen. So the mom made a decision, and got arrested.

And then every single summer, there are the sad things like drownings and car and boat accidents, many caused by drinking. And the shootings in the cities...just sad.

Anyway. Yesterday I crossed a few things off my to-do list, which for a professional procrastinator like myself, is sheer joy. Sunny is going to be spayed soon, I sent some emails and messages that had to be sent, Sonja's appointments are re-arranged a bit so I can go to Boston, MA, with Paul in a few weeks. School test results are printed and ready to send in. I still have to write the reports, shh. I wish I liked doing that as much as I like blogging. But still, I got some things done.

All the cleaning and straightening up of the house that was done yesterday, has to be done...again...today. Doggies, dog hair everywhere! And guess what? I didn't do it yet...I fed the dogs, took them outside, I took care of the pool, washed some dishes, made some coffee, and here I am.


Trying to get three dogs to look in the same direction and smile is harder than taking picture of children. And the kitty got in there.

I am thinking of going to the fabric store today...hmm...Char and Cam have two friends here...would four little girls like the fabric store?

Tomorrow I am going shopping with Emily for food for a party that her catering company is doing. I am making chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, cupcakes, AND a cake. This is the third year in a row that Emily has catered a party for these same people, and they like our stuff. So tomorrow...I am going to be busy busy busy. So next on my agenda this morning is to make an ingredients list...then school reports...so...goodbye!