Thank Y'all

I love comments. Love, love, LOVE comments. I also love emails. Love, love, LOVE emails. But today? All day? Has been THE BEST! Y'all are so sweet to be concerned about my mental stability following last night's game. Seriously. SO SWEET!

I am totally fine. If I jump off a bridge in the next few days, it won't be because I'm at all disappointed in the performance of the Pittsburgh Penguins. I am nothing but proud of the fight the players showed each and every game and the class Pens fans showed after last night's game. All those folks who hung out after the game chanting, "Let's go Pens" and politely congratulating the Wings during the trophy ceremony? Every single one of them rocks.

I love me some Penguins hockey, I love me some Penguins players, and I love me some Penguins fans.

My biggest love, though? All of y'all who took an interest in the game(s) because you knew I was interested in the games. Here's a sample comment from Cecily that had me grinning for hours:

"Guess what! Our whole darn family watched last night. All of us squished on the couch. We all cheered for the Penins (I don't think Gracie and Isaac ever got that they weren't really called that). And even though it was the first hockey game any of us other than Jon had really taken an interest in, we were all way bummed. BOOO."

New hockey fans? Maybe. If so--AWESOME! New Pens fans? Maybe. If so--SO VERY AWESOME! And bonus--you gotta' love a little Penguins hockey bringing a family together.

All y'all who showed a little interest in whether the Pens won or lost, stay tuned. It's a young team. The best is yet to come.

It's not a matter of "if" they'll win that Cup, it's "how many times" and "when" they'll win that Cup.

We all know it.

Garden Pics

(BTW, the frog is about as big as my fist and the yellow fish is around 18 inches long. Objects in photos are definitely larger than they appear.)

Three Overtimes a Cranky Toddler Makes

There are some sounds that you just don't want to hear in the middle of the night.

The crash of breaking glass.

Dogs barking on and on and on.

The phone ringing, most likely signaling some sort of emergency.

Then there are sounds that you just don't want to hear in the middle of the night as you are firmly parked on the couch, pooping bricks and having a heart attack as one of the most intense hockey games you have ever seen goes into overtime.

Toddler feet plopping across the floor above you.

A toddler crying.

A toddler yelling, "MOMMMY!"

The first time Alexis woke up all sorts of cranky, I abandoned my station in front of the Penguins game and managed to settle her back into bed after a drink of water and a few hugs. Miraculously, I didn't miss any goals.

The second time the Toddler woke up all sorts of cranky, I thought it was absolutely reasonable that Mr. Husband should take a turn. I had already missed the entire first period putting the Toddler to bed and part of overtime putting her back to bed.

Mr. Husband wasn't willing to miss a second. His answer for a crying toddler was to snatch her up and let Alexis hang out with us downstairs. And that would be how the Toddler managed to cuddle with me on the couch, watching the Penguins fight for a win like I've never seen a team fight for a win before. She saw at least two periods of overtime Stanley Cup Playoff hockey. (Keep in mind that I do have feet and could have escorted her back upstairs. I didn't want to miss another second either. Even if I was on the verge of a catastrophic heart attack from the stress of that game.)

Surprise, surprise, surprise, the result of a toddler hanging out with her parents while watching hockey in the middle of the night is a very, very sleepy toddler. The kid had absolutely no interest in getting up this morning.

None.

When she wouldn't wake up, I finally just started changing her into clothes while she continued to sleep. That Herculean effort was met with moans and groans and whining. Apparently, a certain little someone didn't like the whole Let's Wake Up Six Hours After the Game Ended Concept. Finally, after several minutes of muttering, "No!" and "Go away!" Alexis said something that pretty much summed up the whole thing:

"Stupid."

I'm not sure if she was calling me stupid, saying that it was stupid to be awake so early after that game, or both, but she was very much so correct in her assessment.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go get some sleep.

Goodbye!