Happy Mother's Day!

How do you celebrate? Around here, it seems the baby gets sick and pukes on upholstery and bedding. Usually, this is just what happens. The kids get sick for the morning, then they're up and at 'em by dinner time. Crossing my fingers! But keeping my Steam Vac handy.

Elizabeth and I went junking in Clive Friday night, but we were outnumbered by more enthusiastic Dumpster-divers. I did manage to snag a free Xerox copier. The note attached promised, "It works, just needs toner". It will be the perfect addition to my workshop for doing some hardcore image transfer (the images aren't hardcore, you filthy mind, but the transfer involves chemicals and requires toner to work!). Toner is pricey, but not quite as pricey as a new Xerox copier or a new laser printer, for that matter. I'm game.

While Ben and I were in Southeast Iowa Friday meeting Cosmo and his family, I couldn't help but stop to check out some local thrift. I found the aptly named Antique Shop on the square in Oskaloosa. (The locals affectionately call their town "Osky". Just thought it was cute!) I found an antique blue notepad and a tattered lotto game with all the card and numbers as well some glass chips which kind of remind me of Tiddly Winks. The grand total? Five dollars. Gotta love that. And the nice ladies who own the shop appreciated that Ben didn't break anything and let him choose a toy from their stash. He picked a stuffed Blue Jay, so Ben walked out of there happy, too!

Joel just called Three Rivers Farm, and Cosmo is all set to come home with us Friday morning. He'll be bringing a Puppy Pack of essentials to start with, and we're buying a crate, collar and leash this week. The kids are each choosing a toy for him, too. We live in your typical Des Moines two-story, which means our master bedrooom closet extends the width of the garage on the floor below. It even has a large window on the far end. It's really quite nice, I must say, even though I'm no clothes horse. So, instead of housing my non-existant career wardrobe and ballgown collection, our closet will now serve a higher purpose as Cosmo's den!

I can't help but feel mothering instincts kicking in for this little lab! I just cruised around Petco.com, shopping for a crate, and actually got a little emotional thinking about having the pitter patter of four furry feet in the house. (And I have to add, being the coupon whore that I am, I snagged a 42" Midwest LifeStages crate, the one I've found to be most recommended for Labs, for 10% off with free shipping to boot! YAY for never paying retail!) I think Cosmo will make a wonderful addition to our family. Added bonus? No stretch marks! :)

Elizabeth and I biked to the Des Moines Menace soccer game last night. It was the first time she's witnessed "grown-up" soccer live, and she LOVED it! They handed out carnations for mothers last night and cowbells for noisemakers. Hilarious. It was a really fun time, and it didn't hurt that the Menace beat the Rochester Thunder 2-1. E was fixed on the game the entire time, picking up "cool moves" for her next game.

And while the ride TO Valley Stadium was pleasant, the ride HOME was almost bitterly cold in comparison. We rode a little faster just to keep warm!

Ben recovered, as expected, by mid-afternoon. Whew! I pushed him on the swings for a little while, but then he turned an odd greenish color so I switched to snuggling. It was beautiful outside today, so I unfurled a beach blanket next to the lilac bush in the backyard (well, the lilac bush in my neighbor's backyard, but it's close enough!) and read all about Labs. Ben was a little peeved he couldn't tag along with E and Sam and Dad to Petco, but he was happy to see all the toys they chose for Cosmo!