The end of the school year is the herald of vacation for millions of people across America, and so it is with my family clan this year, 2004. It’s not often we get to travel on vacations together, with either myself or Gail having to work, but this year, with the help of generous in-laws, we all managed to take time together to fly out to visit family and friends. It was also a time to reacquaint ourselves with the majesty that is the Southwest.

After a 2 hour delay, we arrived in Phoenix at midnight local time, meaning it was 3 a.m. back home. The kids (and adults) were exhausted. Fortunately my aunt and uncle were there to pick us up and usher us sleepy travelers to their house, with soft beds and the promise of not needing to be up before lunchtime. Naturally, my internal clock decided that 6a.m. was plenty of sleep-in time, so I was awake with the roosters.

I swear, if we get anymore rain, my trees are just going to start falling over. It's that wet right now. Last year, we were in a drought, this year, we're getting a ton. Average for May is about 3-3.5 inches. Last I heard, we were over 7, and that was a week before the month ended. In 23 weekends, we've had only 5 that haven't been at least cloudy, if not raining.

As a result of all this rain, there's been a lot of mud around. I mean, a LOT. Not only in the yard, but in the house as the result of dogs and kids and even grownups (OK, just me) tracking it in. We had our end of the year Indian Guides family BBQ yesterday. Lots of families getting together, all for a good time. We went to Claude Moore park, which has a farm on it's premises, with goats, lambs, pigs, roosters and even peacocks. A couple of dads and myself took the kids down to see the animals, and after a bit, started walking back, knowing the kids would catch up. Cody came running up two minutes later and said "I accidentally pushed Daniel into a mud puddle". Because of all the aforementioned rain, Cody could have pushed him anywhere and almost guaranteed he'd land in a mud puddle. I looked at him said, "Accidentally?".

One of the things Gail and I have been dealing with the past few weeks/months now is Cody's lying. For some reason, he's been lying about anything and everything and it's the stupidest stuff he lies about. A lot of it deals with school work, but the truly annoying lies are ones such as him lying about whether he used toothpaste on his toothbrush, used shampoo, silly stuff like that. It just gets SO old. He'd been saying that the reason he missed "Whacky Wednesday" (a free time for the kids that earn it at school) the past two weeks in a row was because he hadn't received a handout that was due. He's telling us that for two weeks the teacher hasn't given him the paper when she passes it out, but that she's been giving it to all the other kids.

Yeah...right.

I had to take Sarah to the doctor's office yesterday for her inoculations. The last time she needed shots, I had to take her as well, and that just killed me. Two nurses had to pin her down, with me holding her shoulders and telling her it would be OK. By the time they were done, I had tears in my eyes. I sure didn't take well to seeing my little girl getting scared and hurt like that. So I told Gail that next time, she had to do it.

Naturally, she scheduled the appointment in the middle of the day when she's at work and can't get off. So I was the lucky one who got to take her in to get shots again. Sarah had told me she was worried, and you could tell during the exam. She was jumping and running and all over the place.

When the nurse came in to give the shots, Sarah was going to sit on my lap. By this time, she'd ceased jumping and laughing and was crying. Hard. And hiding behind me as well. Eventually it took me sitting her in my lap, wrapping both arms around her, with one hand holding both of her hands, and I had one leg wrapped around her legs to pin them down. Poor thing was so scared, and screaming to raise the dead. Two shots in one arm, one in the other.

Gail owes me big time.

It's snowing.

Hard.

According to the weather reports yesterday, we were supposed to get a "dusting". There's about 2 inches on the ground now, with a forecast of 2-4 inches by this afternoon. Since when is 2 inches a dusting? You normally won't hear me say this, but I am tired of the snow. I want Spring. I want the trees to bloom, I want the grass to need cutting, I want to ride my bike on nice weekends. Hell, I'll even take the seasonal allergies that accompany Spring. I am just so tired of the snow.

Gail and I took the kids and Sarah's friend, Olivia, to breakfast this morning. Cody was asking me what the vents were above the cook's area, and that led to a discussion of how hot the ovens at the pizza place where Gail and I met used to get. I told Cody that not only is that where I met Gail, but where I got a crush on her as well. He said "Oh...so you used to body slam her?"

I choked on my breakfast, and I could see Gail hide the smile that was threatening to become an out right laugh. After coughing for a few minutes, I asked Cody if he knew what I meant by "crush". He shook his head, and I explained it to him.

I tell ya, kids sure can be funny without meaning to be.