What a Stressful Week!

Oh wow, what a stressful week it has been. On Monday, I turned 45. That wasn't such a big deal. The stressful part was watching Zach play ball ---- in the cold --- in the rain. Not my idea of the best way to spend my birthday. However, to look on the bright side, it was the first game of summer ball. Zach has really had a difficult time playing high school ball this year. Coach just won't give him a chance. So, summer ball is much more laid back and there is a different coach. Even though it was raining Zach was finally enjoying baseball again. He had a great game, so all in all it wasn't a bad day. Besides that, I got presents from my friends. That was really good.

Tuesday was election day. Now what could me more stressful than trying to decide who I want to run the whole United States. That is a big decision. I, personnally, would like to choose whoever is going to reduce the price of gas. I hope I chose the right one.

Wednesday, my baby turned 16. Yes, that's right, Zach is 16 years old and if that wasn't stressful enough, I had to take Steve to see an Orthopedic Surgeon. He has been having knee pain for some time and it has finally got to the point where he could no longer stand the pain. The surgeon said he needed a total knee replacement. Not what we wanted to hear. However, he did not want to do the surgery. He doesn't like to do total knee replacement on people in their 40's. Well, Steve is 48 --- soon to be 49 (November). So, he recommended Steve for Supra injections. That is 5 injections, one each week for 5 weeks directly into the knee. The injection is made of rooster comb. Sounds kind of weird, I know, but he hopes this will reduce his pain and buy him some time before he has to have the surgery. I really hope it helps. Anyway, after the appointment, we headed to the ball field and Zach spent his birthday playing baseball. At least it wasn't raining. Just very windy.

Thursday, well that day wasn't too bad. I still went to a ball field but it was to watch Kelsey (my niece) and Morgan (Zach's girlfriend) play softball. I told you in past post that baseball had taken over my life, well, I wasn't kidding. Here are some of the pictures I took at the game. Kelsey is #10 and Morgan is below.

Friday (today) has been the most stessful day of all and I didn't even have to go to work. So, I know you are asking why was it so stressful, Zach got his drivers permit today. That just brings into light a whole new set of worries. He did really well, he only missed 2 on the exam. He drove me to the bank and the grocery afterwards. Also, Steve had his first injection today. I hope it works and gives him some relief. He says it is stiff but the doctor told him to expect that. And again, I sat in the rain and cold and watched Zach play ball. Did I forget to mention we are 3-0. Woohoo! Two more games tomorrow. I am praying for sunshine. Hopefully, next week will be less stressful, but I don't ever see that happening again with Zach driving. He even wanted to drive home tonight from the game in the dark and the rain. What was he thinking?! Oh yeah, I forgot, he is 16, he wasn't thinking!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Tomorrow is my birthday, but Steve and Zach wanted to give me my presents tonight because I have to work tomorrow and then Zach plays ball in the evening. They gave me TOYS! I never get toys. My boys get toys but never me. I am so excited. I got toys! Not one, not two, but three toys. They gave me my own MP3 player. I have been using Zach's old one but it is really nice to have my own. I also got a 7" digital picture frame. Now I can watch all my pictures. But best of all, I got a Garmin GPS device. I am so excited. Now maybe I can find my way around by myself. I have a very bad habit of getting lost. When I call Steve and tell him I am lost, he gets upset. I guess because he worries about me but he isn't very patient with me. So, most of the time, if I get lost, I call my good friend, Lisa. She is great. She always helps me. She knows where all of the high schools are in Lexington. However, if I get out of Lisa's area of expertise, I am in TROUBLE. I hope this will help me get to places with getting lost. I am looking forward to using it on my trip to Washington DC. It even has a setting to use when you are walking. Well, today has been pretty good. Rick and Michelle got me flower pots with flowers already planted in them. Very beautiful. Also, PJ's and a key fob. I love it all. I hope tomorrow is as good. I know I will be at work and then at the ballpark but I will just have to make the most of it. Maybe Zach will hit a homerun for my birthday. Now, that would be a great present too!

Meet the Mob Boss!

I want you all to meet someone that is very near and dear to me. My mom. She is jokingly known as the "Mob Boss". I guess you can say that she is the boss of the Mitchell Mob. She even has a licence plate on her car that says Mafia Town Car.

Now, before you start getting any ideas about what my mother is like, just let me tell you a little about her. She is a wonderful mother, even though her title doesn't reflect it. She is many thing to us in the "Mob". She is the doctor and the nurse, the lawyer, the loan officer, the secretary, the law enforcer, the inventor, the butcher, the cook, the baker, the housekeeper, the defender, the fighter of many battles, the coach, the cheerleader, the lecturer, the teacher, the grounds keeper, the taxi cab driver, the day care worker, the story teller, the grocerer, the personal shopper, the painter, the messenger, the fairy godmother, and many, many more things to us. I just can't think of them all right at this moment.

My mother has a very hard job. She keeps us all in line. She not only takes care of me and my brothers, she takes care of our spouses and our children too. Not that is not an easy task. We can be a roudy bunch. But she is the one that oversees us all. We are all very close. I am not saying that we don't have our squabbles, because we do. But we are all there for each other when it counts. We fuss and fight, but we also laugh and cry together.

I know you are still asking yourself, why is she called the "Mob Boss". Well, it started at a unhappy occasion. One of our very close friends had just passed away and we were all going to the funeral. My mother wore a black dress and both of my brothers and my husband wore black suits. Just in case you don't know my brothers or my husband, I want you to know that they are all big men. Rick and Scott are over 6 foot tall and weigh 350+ pounds. Rick is bald. My husband is 5 foot 10 inches tall and 300+ pounds. They all came to the chuch wearing sunglasses. As they were all helping my mother into the church someone said you all look like you are from the Mob and one of my brothers looked at Mom and said, "I guess that makes you the Mob Boss." and it has stuck to this day.

And just so you know, don't mess with any member of the Mob or the Mob Boss will be after you. Because believe me, if you think the three guys can be intimadating, you haven't seen my 72 year old mother shake her cane at you yet.

I love you, Mom. Hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day with the Mob.

Baby Shower

I had the pleasure of attending a baby shower for my niece, Christina, today at the Embassy Suites. It was very nice. The food was excellent and I had a great time. I was so glad that Christina shared her special day with me.

The cake/cupcakes were wonderful. They were decorated to match the nursery. Mine had a daisey and butterfly on it. It was white raspberry flavored cake served with a raspberry glaze. It was awsome.

Christina got a lot of wonderful gifts. Here is the Hippo bank I got her from Personally Yours. We passed it around at the shower and everyone put spare change in it. I thought that was really cool. Her (Skylynn's - that is going to be the baby's name) bank is almost full and she isn't even her yet.




I love the baby's name. Her mom wanted to call her Sky and her dad wanted to call her Lynn. So they compromised and called her Skylynn. I love it! Skylynn Renee is going to be a very special child. I believe Rob and Christina will be wonderful parents.

Rob and Christina

Unfortunately, Christina is having problems with her blood pressure and has been put on bed rest. So, I am going to post pictures from the baby shower for her to see. Hope everyone enjoys them too. Christina, if you are reading, I hope you are feeling well.

Halloween costume from Aunt Eileen.

Handmade quilt bought at a silent auction several years ago by Grandma!

Mom - Christina

Grandma - Theresa

Grandpa - Leo

Aunt Eileen

Great-Grandma - Eileen

Day at Keeneland

It has been a while since I have been able to post. I explained in my last post that baseball has taken control of my life. Well, it still has. I am just trying to sneak in a few minutes and share with you my wonderful day at Keeneland. The weather was fantastic and I was with some great friends. See the pictures below.

Here are my lunch buddies. They are truly friends you can count on.

Lisa, Me, and Marcia

This is Sharon and Christy! The one above is Marcia and Christy.