Tonight I had one of my best ever softball games. I don't know that I've ever gone 4-for-4 (all solid hits or beaten grounders) but I know I've never scored 4 runs in a game before. I ran the bases aggressively and smartly, and even scored the game winning run, scoring from second on a single. So cool. Alex was back in school today (the kids' last week) after missing on Monday due to throwing up all night. Not as much or as badly or for as long as Missy did a week or so ago, but still the same thing.

After a bad week it was a good long weekend. Missy's tummy was still upset Friday evening so we weren't sure we were going to go camping as planned, but she seemed fine Saturday so we loaded up and headed for Potato Creek. Since we brought Alex's bike with us, we stopped at Wal-Mart and bought one for her too. She needs one, and she wanted one so much. She was riding like a champ before we left Wal-Mart, and did great all day with it at the campground. The usual camping group was all there, plus a few, and we had a great time. The kids had plenty of other kids their age to play with so they actually left us alone most of the time. Of course we took them for bike rides and to the playgrounds too. It's pretty apparent now after seeing Missy ride that Alex needs a new bike; his is just too small for him and he has trouble balancing on it because of that. Missy gave herself a bad scrape on her ankle when she fell once, and didn't get on the bike again that day, but she rode a lot the next day. We went home probably too late because the kids were too tired and Alex especially had started acting up, but they were out before we'd been on the road more than a few miles. We went back Sunday, armed with some geocache locations, but Beth decided she was too sore for hiking which was just as well because the caches Virgil, Jack, and I went to get involved probably a mile of roundabout trail hiking to get 1000 feet as the crow flies. Virgil and I went again after dinner, and Missy nearly got run over by a kid on a bike. It wasn't the kid's fault; he almost threw himself over his handlebars trying to stop and Missy just couldn't get out of his way. They both wound up on the ground but were ok, although Missy was pretty scared and needed to be carried the rest of the way back. We left after 9 again, and the kids were out again just after getting on the road. Today we went to Menard's to get them a new swingset, since the old one practically tips over when they both swing now. The manufacturer did not choose to make the set easy to assemble. I only have the first support done and I fear it will take quite an effort to get it all together.

The week has been a little sketchy. It was fortunate that the kids had school early in the week so Beth could have some time off from them because she still was pretty sore. Monday I got them to school and picked them up, then after work I ran home to get them again to take them to the work department softball game, in which I was 1-for-2 and made a good catch, and during which Alex played with another kid by climbing up a pile of dirt and hurling his monster truck off the top. Until it broke a few times. Tuesday Kate got the kids to and from school, and in the afternoon we finally took the van to the shop to get the window switch fixed. Driving was not agreeable for Beth yet, but she managed. We had to bring in in during the afternoon so I left work to go to the shop, she brought the van to the shop with the kids, we switched the car seats, I took them all home and went back to work, afterwards I paid up ($140), went home, picked up Beth and the kids, and we came back to collect the van. Then I dashed to take the kids to the church softball game (1-for-3, 2 good catches) which we lost to a lesser team. Wednesday was Alex's zoo trip, so he was gone all day until about 3. Thursday I finally re-started German (after missing the first 3 classes due all that stuff) and MAN did I feel in over my head. I was probably the best student in the beginning German class by far, so since beginning German II was cancelled, the teacher thought I could do OK in the advanced class. I'm the only one in it that hasn't spent at least a couple years in Germany or Switzerland, and I felt lost most of the time. I'll stay on a bit longer, maybe it'll get better when I'm not so cold. Thursday night, Missy started throwing up at around 10 pm, and did so every hour or so all night long. Literally all night. Beth and I were up changing nighties and sheets and cleaning up barf a lot. And throw this on the pile: we were watching TV at around 11 and both saw a small dark shape dart across the floor and behind the piano. I was out at owen's buying mouse traps immediately, as soon as the imminent cleanup was over. We set the traps before midnight (baited with bread and peanut butter) and by about 3 am we had the varmint caught, tied in a plastic bag, and tossed in the dumpster. Friday everyone seemed fine but we stayed in just in case.

Beth is still really sore. And we have no child care set up for the coming week because she wasn't supposed to be this sore this long. We've had friends taking care of them for quite a while so we're just going to have to make the best of it, I think. Last Wednesday I was late to work so I could get them ready for school; Kate picked them up and took them home afterwards and I picked them up there after work. Then we went shopping for dinner (instead of McD's or something) and grilled. Thursday I was late to work again to get them up and ready and they spent all day with Tina; and afterwards Beth was able to go to Alex's preschool graduation with the rest of us. Friday Kate picked the kids up in the morning and took them to Lorraine's for the afternoon. Saturday I took the kids out in the afternoon to go bowling, since they've been asking to go (Missy dropped a ball on her foot...twice), then to a couple garage sales (where Alex found a toy that he had to have, but doesn't work). Beth was was well enough to have date night in the evening; we kad Katie babysit while we went out to dinner and to see the new Narnia movie with Churchills. I took them to church this morning while Beth stayed home, but we did go to movie night. We'll see how things go this next week.

Beth had outpatient surgery today. Bright & early, Jenny came over to get the kids up and to school. We were gone before they woke up. By the time we got home in the afternoon they were at Theresa's as was Sammy and Carson and Reagan. I dropped Beth off, then by 4 or so got the kids and took them back to the nature preserve, because I've been informed that there are really restrictive rules about geocaches there, and the long and short of it was I needed permission in writing and to pay $45. So, we went and took the cache off their land. I had an early softball game, so finally I could take the kids to see the game. They were very well-behaved, especially since Carson was there to play with during the game. They got to play at the playground for a while before and after the game too. I was 1-for-3, and we won the game on a walkoff homer (by someone else).

The stinky tree in the front yard by the garage is history. After a few missteps in the planning (caused by the apartment owner being a micromanager), the apartment management and I agreed to split the cost of removing the tree halfway. More than generous since it's on their land. It's a so-called tree of heaven, which is odd because it's dirty and smelly and drops crap all over. But now it's sawdust and a stump, yay!

Beth and I didn't do any geocache finding this weekend, but we did do a hide. The cache I placed in Plymouth (and later removed due to construction and being too far away) has returned to the field after living in the garage for some time. We placed it today in a nice little nature preserve near Hoffman Lake. Problem though: when we got there, the window of the van wouldn't go back up. Luckily it's an amish neighborhood so the likelihood of theft was slight. Alex had his last soccer game yesterday; he was obviously feeling better than last week. He was enjoying himself and actually running after the ball. His team got beaten badly as usual; I'm not sure they ever scored a goal. But I don't think anyoine noticed. He was disappointed that he didn't get a team picture, but he was sick a couple weeks ago when they were taken, so we took a picture of him in his team shirt with a ball in the backyard after we got home. In the evening we all went out to dinner to wish Beth a happy Mother's Day.

Second game of softball was tonight. We got our new team t-shirts (I'm now #9 instead of #19) so we were unstoppable. I was 2-for-3 with 2 infield hits and a walk. I scored a couple times too. The other pitcher was having a tough time. I walked the first time up, went to second on a walk, went to third on a walk, and scored on a walk. The game was mercy ruled after 5 innings because we were all over them (they did have 1 run on a homer). Beth had the kids at mothers' night at preschool (Alex was a late addition to going because now he's getting sick again. Seems to be a bad cold).

Well, Missy didn't get as sick as we were worried that she would. She was pretty sick last Sunday so we kept her home from preschool on Monday, but she rallied and made it to school Tuesday and Wednesday. Monday evening, however, Alex was stir crazy from being in the house all day now that he's feeling better but Missy isn't, and it was raining, so to get him something to do I took him to the library. We had a great time playing "Sorry" and finding some kid books to check out. Tuesday was the first softball game of the season in church league. It was also SO COLD it's amazing we didn't all tear hamstrings. We lost 15-14 in 8 innings after blowing a huge lead late. I was 2-for-4 but should have been 3-for-4 but for a blown call. Wednesday we had a plumber in the house to fix the (ever more and more so) dripping tub faucet upstairs, and had him fix the shower hose leaks and diverter while he was at it. Thursday Beth had quilting and I needed to feed the kids but there was little in the house so I ordered a pizza for them (which they loved since they got to choose the toppings). Friday we took the kids out on the town to do some shopping and spend some of our tax refund, and bought some new pots and pans and some new clothes for me. Saturday Alex had a soccer game (I don't think he's fully recovered yet; he seemed to get tired really fast, and generally lagged way behind the action, and tears came out a few times) in the morning and we all went out geocaching afterwards (first family outing time this year), and got 3 local ISQs before the cold wind drove us back inside. In the evening Katie babysat while Beth and I went to see "The Forbidden Kingdom" which we both enjoyed al lot. Today was a perfect geocaching day so we went out again to a state Rec Area, where 7 are hidden. There is a lot of walking involved so we only got 4 and will come back later. Hopefully before the bugs are too bad because they will be.