TOTALLY UNRELATED: Abbey passed the kick test/board breaking to earn her orange belt last night. Promoted before both her brothers (again) and very proud of herself. If you ask her brothers, perhaps a bit TOO vocal at times? And Colton earned four new merit badges at last night's Boy Scout Court of Honor. Very big day for him, too.

I love these backwards movie posters from unrealitymag. They're old. I just found them. Sorry if you've seen already.

Read an interesting article this morning, that asks the questions I've been dying to ask lately:

"What does it take to believe that Christianity is an endangered religion in America or that the name of Jesus is insufficiently spoken or appreciated? Who wakes up believing that there is no appreciation for our veterans and our armed forces and that without a noisy speech from Sarah Palin, their sacrifice would be scorned? It's not unfair to say that such grievances are purely and simply imaginary, which in turn leads one to ask what the real ones can be."

So ... last week was looking kinda bleak. But now things are looking up. Dig it:

(1) Both boys back to full strength - still coughing from the pneumonia, but school-bound on Monday.

(2) Finally ordered the new windows and patio door for the ENTIRE house I've been obsessing over since 2005. And Tim let me get shutters, too. Shutters, people! For every window. F-ing curb appeal. And he ponied up for grilles on the patio door, even though he hates them.

(3) Qualified for 0% interest on the above, which means we can actually afford to get them.

(4) Awesome day at work on Friday. I work with awesome people at a kick-ass company with great clients.

(5) Beat Tim twice at Scrabble today - the last game I got TWO 50-pt bonuses for using all my letters. In one game. Which is pretty much unheard of. One of them was this crazy one that left Tim's jaw on the table.

(6) Vikings and Twins won yesterday.

(7) Just got an email from Greg, who picked me to receive a free subscription to "Vanity Fair" when he was offered one today. Sweet!

Hope you're having a great weekend too ... I'm off to buy some lottery tickets.

UPDATE: And I got a haircut that doesnt suck ... AND Tim mowed the lawn without me ragging on him ... AND Tim started the dishwasher for me ... AND the weather was perfect ... AND we all took a family bike ride without major bitching from the kids ... AND the list goes on. Again, strange to have nothing to bitch about.

Eric has pneumonia, too!

Took him to Urgent Care last night and they did the full workup - strep test, blood work, sinus xray, chest xray. The pediatrician was all, "Looks good. Don't know why he's sick. Must be a virus."

So today he spent a miserable, 102-degree day complaining of his chest hurting when he breathed. I was all, but the doctor said you didn't have pneumonia. Then the doctor called tonight at 8:45pm to say, aw shucks, we misread that xray he really does have pneumonia after all, we just called in a prescription for you.

Sweet. At least now we know.

After being out of school for 4 days, Colton seems to be okay to go back tomorrow. So that should mean Eric will be home tomorrow, but back on Monday? Hope so. Sheesh.

GOES WITHOUT SAYING: Abbey is not allowed anywhere near her brothers,

(1) Chronic head ache

(2) Mood swings

(3) Anxiety disorder

(4) Substance abuse

(5) Memory disturbances

And that's just the top 5 ... It's real because it's on the Internet, right?

THIS EXPLAINS A LOT: Full calendar, full workload, one kid with pneumonia, another with what I suspect is strep throat but have no time to take to doctor until tomorrow, and another with an 8am appt to see a dermatologist that I've waiting 2 months to see, a husband with zero sick time at work to help me out, MUCHO anxiety/guilt about not taking time to make each kid feel special, loved, properly doctored and homework-assisted, and HOLY CRAP KATIE WANTS A DRINK. But I won't. Well, maybe just Diet Coke. Hangovers don't help anything either. (Hey, at least I learning something in the first half of my life.)

BOTTOM LINE: It's the perfect storm. I'll be fine. Kids will be fine. Work will be fine. Always works out. Deeeeeep. Breeeeeeeeeaaaaaaths.

TOTALLY UNRELATED: It is a full moon tonight.

Posted per special request from Aunt Maren... Aren't they adorable? TJ is walking ... Ella still scooting/crawling.

(1) Colton has pneumonia - found out last night, when I went to pick him up at martial arts, took one look at his sad, sunken eyes and droopy shoulders and said, 'Doctor. Now."

Cannot imagine the misery he endured yesterday at school, and during martial arts class afterward, where they had to run a mile in addition to class. He ran a mile with full-blown walking pneumonia! The kid is tough, but still.

NOT A FAILURE BUT WORTH NOTING: After missing school last Friday due to the fever, and then again today, he's logged 2 sick days in only 7 days of school. Welcome back

(2) Completely forgot the 5-hour scout "service opportunity" I'd signed Colton up for on Sunday - serving at a church block party - but in light of the pneumonia, maybe it's better. Still. I forgot.

(3) Abbey brought her white pants home from martial arts and said, "Mr Tom says we need to wash these they're filthy." Um, they were. They have NEVER BEEN WASHED SINCE MAY 15. White pants. Worn daily. Unwashed for over 3 freaking months. Ditto for Colton's and Eric's. In my defense, I really honestly and truly thought the martial arts academy was washing them. They must think we're the nastiest people in north Sioux Falls.

(4) Still haven't downloaded Illinois photos - maybe will get around to it by the time we visit next year?

For obvious reasons I love this photo group dedicated to chicks with 4eyes.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I do NOT own these specs but wish I did.

No shit.