The Online Journal of Melissa Mularski

Sunday 09-27-09

• Elliptical trainer
  • Laps: 8.5
  • Time: 45 minutes
  • Calories: 405
  • Watching: Intervention on A&E: Marci

Helped with a bunch of Christmas trees at a store in Kohler all day.

At night, Michael and I went to see The Surrogates.

We picked up Owen’s homework this afternoon, and he got it done in about 2 hours. He actually felt like he was getting a fever near the end, but he did everything with a smile on his face.

Shortly after, his dad came to pick him up. Even after so many years of doing this, it never gets easier. I miss him so much already. See you Sunday, buddy. I love you.

After the FLL tours yesterday, the cold Owen’s had, which he’s had for almost 3 weeks now, went from mild to pretty bad. This morning he was hacking, coughing, sneezing and sniffing a lot. Last year he didn’t miss one day of school because of doctor visits or illnesses, but today I decided he should stay home, if anything just to rest and hopefully get rid of this cold! He actually spent most of this morning finishing homework that’s due Friday, so I don’t know how much rest he’s gotten so far, but hopefully the rest of the day he can just lay around.

Once a month Owen’s school has an early release day where they get out at 12:15pm. Today was the day.

Owen and four of his friends are preparing to compete in FIRST Lego League this November. Because of their early release, Owen’s dad helped arrange two tours for the boys related to FLL. Ed, the dad that’s coordinating everything for FLL and I, drove the boys first to the State Traffic Operations Center (where I worked once upon a time), then to TAPCO (Traffic and Parking Control Company).

Both tours were awesome. Owen’s dad ran the first one, even showing the boys a Power Point presentation about how and what things get transported, as well as the history and future of transportation.  The kids got to see the giant traffic congestion map of the city, look at a ramp meter and camera up close, and even manipulate cameras on the Milwaukee area freeways. Todd also brought the boys cookies and juice, an absolute life-saver when you’re a 9-year old.

At TAPCO the President of the company ran the tour! They got to see all sorts of sign blanks, where and how signs were made (one man there even did several cool silk screenings on a huge sign for them), and at the end they got to make their own signs from start to finish. The President and CEO of the company helped the boys with their signs; how many companies will do that for a group of kids?

After the tour, Todd had a surprise for the kids. He’d brought a Segway with him, and the boys got to take turns riding it. TAPCO’s main entrance is a warehouse-sized room with shiny black floors and a street painted on it, with working stop lights and cameras. The boys used the street to ride the Segway back and forth. They loved it, and afterward we waited around while a lot of the adult ‘boys’ at the company took their turns as well.

I took a ton of pictures, and I’ll post some soon. I love our camera, but it sure is a process getting all of them from the memory card to the computer, especially when you consider I take so many photos.

Owen had a lot of homework tonight so we got to Lego League at about 5pm. Part of their models is a long, fairly complex bridge. It’s done, although it’s not lining up correctly on the Lego mat. Tonight the boys figured out the problem together and fixed it. I’d call it a successful night!

My mom came over last night with her dogs, and stayed the night. This morning we hung out, we went out for lunch, then she shopped while I went to work. When Owen was done with school we picked him up, then she and he played a very long card game of War. Grandpa Ricco came to pick her up, then they had to go. Unfortunately this is probably the last time we’ll be seeing them for a long while.

During the day the oven repair guy also came over. He said glass tops break like this sometimes, and ordered a replacement. It’s going to take about ten days to get here, after which time we need to reschedule a service call for them to come and reinstall it. I can assure you we’ll be trying the oven self cleaner again before our year warranty is up!

After Grandma and Grandpa left, Owen did his homework, then he and I went to his Cub Scout meeting. I volunteered to come on as an Assistant Den Leader, as there are 14 boys this year and the leader is going to need extra help.

Today we celebrated Lindsay’s 7th birthday and Grandma Anne’s birthday at Michael’s parent’s home. The neat thing was, Michael and I had bought a present for Lindsay, hidden it, and he’d driven it over to their home the night before, so she wouldn’t accidentally see it before we gave it to her.

We had a great time at the party. Michael’s brother’s family as well as aunt and uncle came. We had a delicious late brunch, played lots of games outside, and did two rounds of Happy Birthday. Many candles were blown out. The weather was beautiful, so we did most of everything outside.

When it came time for Lindsay to open her presents, she did so with gusto as usual. She got lots of wonderful things that I’m sure will entertain her for the next year to come. At opening her last present, she saw we’d gotten her some streamers you could put in the end of a bike’s handlebars. She was really excited about these, and said she’d put them in her brother’s old bike. On that cue, her grandpa told her he thought there was something for her over in the garage, and she should walk over and take a look.

She walked over, as did most of the guests. When he opened the garage, she saw a big new pink girl bike inside, topped with a bow and her bike helmet. It was really neat seeing how excited she was. After getting over the fact that it’s a little taller than bikes she’s been riding on, she loved it. It has 6 gears and hand brakes, two things she’s not used to, but she got the hang of both really quickly. The bike’s a little big for her, but by next Spring it should be perfect, as she’s growing like a weed!

Allll four kiddos are here for the weekend. Hooray!

There was a big used Scuba equipment sale this morning at Underwater Connection in Menomonee Falls. Unfortunately, Scuba equipment shopping is pretty boring for kids. While we looked at the goods the kids goofed around (as quietly as possible), first inside the store then outside the store along the walkway. After a brief time they got sick of goofing around all together and instead sat in the van playing their respective Nintendo DS-es.

As a thank-you and reward for them, after we were done shopping we took them next door to the Pop’s Custard stand. About $14 in custard later everyone was happier, although stickier. Except Owen, who’s pretty sticky all day long, every day.

When we got home the boys played Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 together with Reba watching, while Michael helped Lindsay ride one of our bikes up and down the driveway. After a little while, Owen and I left for his coached FIRST Lego League meeting.

As we were leaving the meeting a few hours later Michael texted me, asking if we wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese for dinner. I was fine going anywhere for dinner, as our stove is unusable right now and I wasn’t ready to (somehow) microwave dinner for 6 people the minute we got in the door.

Chuck E Cheese it was. Big mistake as it was beyond crowded, but oh well. The kids had fun playing games, running around in the play land, eating pizza and just running amok, and that’s all that really matters.

Owen was at his dad’s for the evening, so Thursday night I decided to do the self-cleaning feature on our fairly new oven.  In the morning, I took a look at the oven and noticed the glass top looked odd. On closer examination I could see the glass had a long crack in it, chunks of glass popped out of it, and a shattered area as well. Crap.

It’s under the original warranty as we haven’t had it a year, so I’ve scheduled a service call for Monday. Hopefully everything turns out ok. I just have no idea what I’m supposed to do for meals this weekend; we’re going to have a house of six people tonight through Sunday evening!