Jerome got me cookies, a new book, and gorgeous flowers.

I got myself an ice pack and an iced coffee. Not too bad of a day.

He fought in a war no one wanted.

He saw friend after friend die at the hands of the enemy.

He came home to a country that didn't appreciate his sacrifice.

He will live with the memories the rest of his life.

So that his granddaughters can live in a country that is free.

Thank you Dad. You are and will always be my hero.

You may or may not get a pic that actually works.

Jerome is in town with the boys, playing their first softball game of the year. And, because the game was at 8:25 at night, and because Nina and I must rise with the chickens tomorrow for our grand adventure (more on that in a bit), and because tiny princess Violet got shots today, and because it is all windy and such outside, we stayed home. Which allows me to take a bath in peace with a glass of wine and my phone and a book. I like late games.

My scooter, which had saved my sanity, by the way, was far too boring. So we spiced it up. I think it looks much more fabulous now.

But do you see that back tire? Well, there is a little knob on that tire. A metal knob. A metal knob that I succeed in whacking with my ankle at least once a day. Thus, the loverly photo of my sad, abused ankle.

What's tomorrow, you ask? Well, it is our grand adventure! Nina gets to visit super Dr. S at Shriner's in Salt Lake for her 6 month(ish) post-op checkup. She is doing fabulous, in my opinion, but it's nice to have medical opinions to back you up. And, because I cannot drive 7 hours with my left foot, nor can Jerome take 2 days off in the middle of the work week to take us, we get a special treat. Shriner Grandpa and Shriner Grandpa's Buddy are going to fly us to SLC in SGB's plane! We will be helping them deliver 80 disposable cameras to the patients at the hospital, and Grandpa gets to see the hospital from the grandpa perspective. After our appointment we will be flown back home the same day. Such service! I guess it pays to know people sometimes.

So now I'm going to go soak my poor feet and prepare myself to wake with the chickens.

In bullet style, for your convenience and my amusement. Because it is a beautiful, sunshiny day and I can't play in my backyard. *pout*

* It is extremely hard to resist the siren call of the lawnmower. I love my lawnmower in a slightly unhealthy manner. But I somehow think that grass clippings stuck to my cast might give me away to my surgeon.

* We got to spend way more time in the ER and doctor's office than I would have liked this week. Nina woke up Thursday with extreme pain in her lower right abdomen. All the ER docs were certain it was appendicitis, until it wasn't. Turns out it was a nasty stomach virus that decided to attack the cluster of lymph nodes next to her lower intestine. Needless to say, the littles are going stir crazy while big sis groans on the couch.

* We are almost done with school for the year. This first year had been challenging, but amazing. I am super excited to order next year's curriculum, but ready for a little break.

* My surgery date is May 30. Happy birthday to me - I get morphine!!! It was either that or our anniversary. I opted for my birthday and told my surgeon I would bring him cupcakes.

* I get to rock a hard cast for 6 weeks post-op. Mainly because Jerome and my surgeon agreed that, at some point, I will go stir crazy and try to put weight on my foot if he lets me be in the black boot. I hate it when I know they're right.

* The main conversation in our house right now is what color my cast should be. The consensus is pink camo. I think that works. I promise pics once I'm coherent enough to work my phone.

* Madi has had 2 tball games, and LOVES it. I can easily see her rocking the eye black and striking out the boys when she's older.

* A sweet friend from church has volunteered to clean my house once a week while I'm laid up. So humbling, and yet so awesome!!!

* We are now headed to a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for one of our favorite teenagers. Bonus - no cooking or cleaning for me!

If you've spent any amount of time around here, you know we have poop. A lot of poop. And weird stories about poop.

Our lives have been just a bit nuts lately. I'm still rocking the sexy boot (get to see the doc tomorrow to schedule surgery), the girls are still doing school, and Jerome is really busy at work. He's also tutoring a young boy once a week, coaching Madi's tball team, coaching a 7/8 baseball team, practicing with his softball team, mentoring young men at the church, serving on two non-profit boards, and trying to keep up with the chores I can't. No wonder he falls asleep at 9pm!!

We also have a sweet teenage girl, K, staying with us while her parents move here from Texas. She wanted to be able to get started at school and track, and we welcomed the help around the house!

Friday she had her first pole vault meet in a neighboring town. The girls an I played on the soccer field while K wiped the floor with the competition (not that I'm proud or anything). Afterwards we met Jerome at the park, ate dinner at our favorite Mexican food restaurant then headed home.

The girls had taken their shoes off to play that day, and were dirty. But I was too tired to throw them in the bathtub. So we plopped them on the kitchen counter and started attacking with the wet washcloths.

Madi went to take a clump of dirt off the bottom of her foot. Then she smelled it. And realized it was poop.

She had poop. On the bottom of her foot. And we have no idea where it came from.