The Randalls

Instead of writing a long, drawn-out post (which seems to be too frequent lately) I decided to write what we have been doing in list form. A word of caution: there are random things included.

* My kids are allergic to Del Taco. I guess I should explain that it's a new Del Taco near our house and specifically they are allergic to the play place. They broke out in a red rash all over their legs.

*Calista said to me this morning "Mom, I'm glad you had a good doctor." I asked "Which one?" She replied "The one who gave us Piper."

*After Mark's next China trip he will have spent a total of 3.5 months in China in the past 4.5 years.

*If you add up all the trips Mark has been on in the past 4.5 years he's been gone for 160 days. So, that's just over 5 months. Ugh.

*I have an addiction...to shakes. Phew, that feels good to get that off my chest.

*There are no more dogs in our family anymore. Poor Ghost (Mark's parent's dog) had to be put to sleep. My kids are really sad.

*I haven't baked any kind of dessert or treat in over a week. That's a record for me people.

*Mark and I went on a date Saturday. We saw Alice in Wonderland. It was good.

*Piper is still using sign language. And I love it.

*Calista is slowly learning to read really simple words like cat, dog and at.

*It's the funniest thing to watch Piper after you ask her what a gorilla says. She thumps her chest with both fists and says "uhhhhh".

*My to-do list for the next month: pull weeds, plant 2 fruit trees, plant 2 raspberry bushes and 1 blueberry bush, pull more weeds, have a truck load of dirt dumped in front of my house, haul said dirt into all my flower beds and garden.

*While typing this post I've watched dozens of tumble weeds fly past my house down the street.

*Mark's to-do list for the next month (besides going to China): install sprinklers in the backyard.

*This afternoon Piper fell on the stairs and took a chunk out of her tongue. It was still bleeding an hour later when I put her down for a nap.

*Mark leaves for China again in six days. He will be gone for 2 weeks.

*I hate China.

*I've never been to China.

*Téa can do a full middle splits now. That kid is so bendy it makes me hurt just watching her.

*I read on average a book a week. Sometimes more.

*I have a new niece - Denika Randall.

*I'm super jealous of everyone in my neighborhood who has tulips popping up in their front yards. I ran out of time last year to plant any.

*I sprained my knee almost two weeks ago. I've been a good girl and haven't been running or played any soccer. Which is probably the reason I've been super cranky lately.

*My armpits still hurt from the crutches.

*There are days I just want to tell Téa not to bother doing her homework. The poor kid is bored out of her mind with it all. This is not to brag, but the kid is way beyond 1st grade level. I'm worried for next year.

*I weighed Piper a few days ago on our digital scale (she is 20 months old). It said 29 lbs. Téa was 29 lbs. when she turned 2. Calista was 26 lbs. when she turned 2.

*Piper wears a size 6 shoe. And she's outgrowing them.

*Did I mention that Piper isn't even 2 yet?

*I bought 8 cases of Powerade a week ago. The sale on them was too good to pass up.

*I need someone to tell me what flooring would go with my current linoleum since I can't match what is already in the kitchen. The carpeting under the dining table NEEDS TO GO!

*I finally figured out what my prizes are going to be for Bunko next month. I'm hosting. While Mark is in China. What was I thinking?

*I found the coolest flip flops at Target last night. I'm tempted to buy another pair and store them away for 2 years so that when the ones I have get worn out I have a new pair of cool flip flops. (Yes, I'm weird.)

*I have the coolest brother ever. He ordered new running shoes for me, sent them in the mail, then told me the price was $0.00.

*My podiatrist made fun of how big my feet were.

*Did I mention my podiatrist is my brother? I might need to re-think that whole 'coolest brother' thing.

*Calista, Piper and I went to the Firehouse last week for her Preschool field trip. Pictures to come soon.

*Pepperidge Farm's Milano cookies are E-V-I-L! I can eat an entire bag in one sitting. Two cookies are 140 calories. Each bag has about 15 cookies. You do the math.

*Téa and I are too much alike.

*Téa had a substitute on Sunday for Primary. The teacher commented to Mark that she is such a good kid and so well behaved. Thankfully she doesn't act at church like she acts at home. And I'm just hoping it's the same way at school.

*So much for a non-long, drawn-out post. Oops.