Boys

They're all I know. No, really. My life is overflowing with them. I grew up with two younger brothers-which turned out to be great training for my adult life. I have three boys of my own. I currently have three nephews, a great-nephew, and another nephew on the way. See what I mean?

Boys rule! They're fantastic! They're wild, rambunctious, dirty, smelly, and just all around awesome. Some moments they are undeniably the most disgusting creatures on earth. The next moment, they are the most charming, sensitive beings you've ever met. The exciting part is, you never know which one you're going to get from one minute to the next. The same boy who proposed a smelly fart contest in the car, will bring you hand-picked flowers just because he wants to. (Even though secretly you're wondering what he did that you just don't know about yet.) I once read a book that said "If girls are faced with something and they think there's a chance they might get hurt, they walk away, and won't try it. If boys are faced with something and they think there's even the smallest chance they might NOT get hurt, that's enough for them to jump in with two feet." Truer words were never spoken. Luckily, I have enough experience with boys to know its perfectly normal to look out the window and see them repelling out of the treehouse. And odds are, they will survive. You may die from an early heart attack, but they will bounce. If they can climb up it, crawl under it, or shimmy around it, they will. They have to, its out of their control.

Boys smell. Its inevitable. They don't even have to DO anything. They simply walk outside, the air hits them, and produces a smell that is unmatched. Let them play for a few hours, and you'll reconsider that outdoor shower. Boys are destructive. Its their nature, don't even try to change it. Jellyfish on the beach? Well, of course we have to throw shells at them to see how much force it takes to bust one. Why else would they be just laying around? An old, decrepit building is just begging for rocks to be thrown at it. And heaven help you if they find an old computer, television, or radio to take apart. You will find microscopic pieces with your bare feet for months.

Boys are adventurous. Well, that's what I'm calling it to make me feel better about the things my kids will actually find and eat. Let's see--carpenter ants, crickets, minnows out of the pond--yep, they've eaten all of them. The carpenter ants came from Man vs Wild (time to cancel satellite). The crickets, well, I don't know who to blame for that one. We went to a morning soccer game, they caught a bunch, and then we had an hour before the next game. So, what else would we do besides go home, let Dennis cook them up in the skillet, eat crickets, then go play the second game? I mean, really, was there another option for a Saturday morning? Apparently breakfast at the local cafe is way too lame. The minnows have been caught and prepared on two occassions, I'm afraid to say. Last summer the boys caught the 1 1/2" fish out of my goldfish pond, skewered and roasted them over the campfire like mallows. And yes, they ate them. Apparently they didn't get their fill. My dear friend Amity and her children were here for the day, and the boys were at it again. Her kids are "city kids," and mine are desperately trying to change that. So, my three, and her son, set about catching more fish. When Kieran came in and said "We caught fish out of the pond," I responded with my usual "Well, now you have to eat it." I expected to watch his little tan face turn pale, but noooo, he's a boy. His response was "We want to!" So, my husband, being a boy himself and a wonderful father, shows them how to skewer the poor, little, live fish, dip them in soy sauce, and roast them on the open flame of our gas range. As a girl, I am required to say "EWWW!" Apparently, they were excellent. I'll take their word for it.

My hope for everyone is that they have the pleasure of watching at least one boy grow up. Well, they never actually grow up, they just turner into older, bigger boys, but it is pure, heartstopping, gut wrenching, smelly, joy. There is nothing else like it. Sarah

Grace

I apparently don't have any. Back up. Last Thursday, I took a day alone to go shopping. That was not very successful, of course, because I was born without a fashion gene. So, I called a friend, Stephanie, who very graciously agreed to go with me on Saturday. We hit the mall at 10am, ready to shop, and spend. She had told me her favorite store was Buckle. Loves it. Never leaves there without something she had to have. Well, my shopping Karma being what it is, we, of course, left empty-handed. No worries, moving on. Express, Hollister, Dillards, JCPenny, all produced finds, some better than others. Lunch! Tokyo? Nope-closed for lunch on Saturday. Pei Wei it is.

So, with renewed strength, we headed over to Phelan, starting at Trendy. Found a very cute, go out with the hubby, top. Perfect! Go out to the car, open the driver's side door--into my forehead. HARD. So, I think, maybe she didn't see it. Ouch! I don't think I can get away without her knowing about this. Nope, she saw it. I'm thinking, wow, that really hurt, I bet I have a knot. Yep-and its busted open. Great. All I can think at this point is NO! I'm shopping today, and I'm not spending the rest of my Saturday in the emergency room. Stephanie, who is my own private RN and Paramedic (no, really, she is), says, you're going to have to get it fixed. It needs Dermabond. Let me repeat--I am NOT spending the rest of my day in the emergency room! So, we head over to Doctors Express on Dowlen to have them look at it. On the ride over, I call Dennis, who is at work, to tell him. He so lovingly referred to me as Frankenstein. Wonderful. By this time, all we can do is laugh. Do you have any idea how embarassing it was to walk in to the office, and have them ask what happened? Do I really have to answer? Um, it was a fight over the last pair of shoes in the shoe department. Yeah, that sounds good. Anyway, no glue, not deep enough. Just some gorgeous steri-strips on my 3cm laceration to the forehead. The knot and swelling finally started to recede after 72 hours. Hopefully the strips will come off sometime this weekend, but the important part was that in under an hour, we were back out shopping again, and headed to Gaudie & Co. We are NOT to be stopped. We had a great time, and hope to do it again very soon. Dennis kind of hopes we wait awhile so the checking account can recover first. We'll see-it wasn't that bad. Hope everyone enjoys their Easter weekend! Watch out for those car doors-they're dangerous! Sarah

Vacation

I could use one. But didn't you just get home from vacation, you ask? Why, yes, I did. That was a family vacation. And as anyone who's ever been on a vacation with 3 boys knows, you need a Mommy vacation when you get home. We prefer the kind of vacation where you drive to your destination, which, of course, involves a pool, no matter the weather. Once there, you don't leave until the week is up, and its time to pack and go home. We stay at places with full kitchens so there is no deciding where to eat, then coralling 3 boys at a table while they wait for their food, which, of course, they will eat in half the time it takes you to eat yours. We sleep in, go to the pool, watch a movie maybe, and repeat. We usually don't want to come home. This trip, however, was much different. Left Friday after school, and by Monday, I was reconsidering the remaining 4 days. I love my children dearly. There are times, however, when they drive me mad. There is one middle child, who shall remain nameless, that has days where he wakes up and spends the entire day coming up with ways to make everyone else miserable. I must say, as far as talents go, he's very accomplished at it. Monday was one of those days. Once it begins, there is no way to stop it--believe me, I've tried. And tried. Well, we survived that day, just like all the others before it, and Tuesday was the mirror opposite of Monday. Monday was rainy, Tuesday was beautiful. Monday everyone was cranky (as a domino effect of one cranky individual), Tuesday everyone was all smiles. Tuesday was one of those days that makes you glad you didn't do anything drastic on Monday.

You know you're vacationing with boys when one says "How about a smelliest fart contest?" and you're the only one who doesn't think it sounds like a good idea in the closed up minivan. We did manage to make the whole week without any vomit, so that's a first. If anyone cares to know, we survived all of the following:

Saturday
Geocaching
Trip to Oatmeal and Bertam
Picnic and playground
Ice cream

Sunday
Longhorn caverns in Burnet
Alamo Springs Cafe in Fredericksburg
(Yes, we drove an hour and a half out of the way just to eat hamburgers at one of the top 3 hamburger joints in the state. It was worth it)

Monday
Capitol
Dr. Seuss exhibit at the Art Museum
Texas Memorial Museum at UT

Tuesday
Breakfast at Rather Sweet Bakery in Fredericksburg
A visit to a magic shop, which they loved
Nimitz Museum
The HUGE George Bush Gallery of the Pacific War
Lunch at Rather Sweet
A little shopping
Ice cream
Enchanted Rock

Wednesday
Tennis (Coy wouldn't rest until we played)
Austin Children's Museum

Thursday
(My favorite, with Tuesday a close 2nd)
We spent the day at a near-by park on Lake Travis.
Just walked along the edge of the water, the boys collecting rocks, and played.
Ice cream

Friday
Packed up, left out early, headed to San Antonio
Visited the Alamo
Lunch on the Riverwalk at Casa Rio
Stopped at a dairy in Schulenburg
HOME SWEET HOME!

Anyone else exhausted yet? Of course, someone not accustomed to vacations with children may not be impressed that we lived to talk about this week, but those of you who've done it, you understand. I'll be perfectly content if I don't have to pay to park for another year, or find my way around another downtown district that I'm not familiar with. Yes, the Ice Creams were worth mentioning, because they were probably one of the boys' favorite parts. I think next time we'll find a pool, I'll buy every variety of ice cream on the market, and we'll call it a vacation. It'll probably be the best one we ever take. Sarah

Ewwww!

Today was one of those days that tests your stomach as a mother. Cade had Cub Scouts tonight, and when we left, it was already dark. As we're beginning to pull away and head home, Kyler says, "Here Mom." Now, in the car, this happens constantly. It might be garbage, a toy he's done with, a drink he's finished with, you never know. I will be more careful from now on. I reach back, in the dark, and hold out my hand. He places it in my hand, and in a split second, I find my mind racing--"He didn't have gum. Did he not want the rest of his grape? What in the world is this disgusting feeling thing?" So, I ask "what is it?" He very proudly replies "A booger!" Ewwww! I'm sorry I asked! I can honestly say, that after 10 years of motherhood, this is a first! I never thought I'd have to establish a "no passing boogers without a kleenex" rule, but it is now on the books.

After school, and before Scouts, we raced to Beaumont to Academy for the annual fun of searching for a pair of cleats for Cade. Now, shopping for shoes for Cade is like a treasure hunt. You know there are a pair out there to fit, there has to be; but can you find it? Yesterday I was feeling optimistic, so I picked up a pair in the same size as his school shoes. I don't know what I was thinking, usually I'm much more realistic. So, today, we returned those shoes that he couldn't get his foot into, and bought a pair a size and a half larger. It turned out to be much less painful than years past. Pants, however, are a different story. Cade has managed to find the exact weight where a small is cutting off his circulation, and a medium is falling off. Hmmm, what now? Thank goodness they're required to wear a belt. Oh, and after 5 years of playing baseball (two of which Cade and Coy both played), we actually have the appropriate color belt and socks, without having to buy more! I'm super excited!

I'm also excited about our upcoming vacation, but for the life of me, I can't seem to get anything done to get us ready to leave. Usually, I have 4 lists going, and I'm on the ball. So far, nothing. I have always worked best under last minute pressure, but this is ridiculous. Packing for a family of 5 is no small feat. We also pack most of our food as well, because we don't eat out most meals while we're gone. Okay, wish me luck! Sarah

Happy & Sad

I must shout it from the rooftops--I HAVEN'T HAD A SINGLE DROP OF SODA OF ANY KIND IN 6 MONTHS! This from me, the one who, after the alarm went off, would put my feet on the floor, go to the refrigerator, pop open a can of Dr. Pepper, take a drink, THEN open my eyes. Dennis used to make fun of me for that. That would be the only 12 ounces of soda I would have for the day, but I NEEDED it. Or so I thought. I decided my body didn't deserve to have me put 10 teaspoons of sugar in it first thing in the morning, so I quit--just like that. There were a few times that I missed it. Long day already at 2pm, a Dr.Pepper would have given me the boost to get me through the long afternoon ahead. I surprised myself, though, I could indeed keep going without it. Now, I rarely think about it at all.

I'm sad, too, and perhaps a little desperate. Blueberries are now $4/pint. I can no longer justify my habit. I'm currently going through withdrawals until summer when the price goes back down. I am, hoewever, soothing myself with a gallon can of freeze dried blueberries that I ordered. They are not cheap, either, but they are here, already paid for, so that's like, free!

I'm also adjusting in other places, as well. I, being the best sister-in-law in the whole world, have started a strict diet to offer moral support. My dear sister-in-law is having lots of allergy and medical issues, and needed to start an Elimination diet to get things under control and find the culprits. We found one, and I told her I would do it as well to offer moral support. No caffeine, no gluten, no dairy, no sugar unless it comes from eating a piece of fruit, and nothing processed. (Hmmm, I wonder if my dried blueberries count?) We started Saturday, and so far, so good. It makes you think out of the box. There is plenty I can eat, just can't have some of the stuff I usually grab in a pinch. No Kashi bars, no Kashi cereal with milk, and none of my beloved Ezekial bread ( I miss you, I will come back to you, don't be sad). It is more of a mental challenge than anything. Pushing myself to step out of my comfort zone and prove I can do it. One of the hardest times so far, has been making two decorated cakes this week. No cake batter sampling, and no snacking on the warm, soft cake, fresh from the oven that I just trimmed off. Hard times. But, I survived, and am no worse for the wear. It really is easier than I would have thought, and something I've been working on for a while. We have made food very emotional, and getting back to a place where food is fuel for the body, not a blankie that we can also eat, makes eating well so much easier! I find myself planning food around what my body NEEDS at that moment, not just what my emotions say I want. Definately helps to change the perspective. That cake offers nothing beneficial at all to my body, but an apple and some almonds will fuel it. Instead of having the attitude of deprivation if I don't have empty foods, I think of the good I'm doing myself. Rather than think I deserve a treat, I think, my body deserves good, whole, foods to meet the demands I place on it. I stopped saying "Poor me, I can't have cocoa puffs." Instead, I pat myself on the back for having steel cut oats with banana and walnuts with cinnamon (Yummy, by the way!) because I know it makes my body happy. I'm hoping to keep it running happily for a very long time.

Okay, I really have to get motivated and do some housework. It just keeps escaping me. Of course, it doesn't help that if I do it today, I'll just have to do it again tomorrow. Not very promising. I'm hoping eventually we will get some warmer weather and it will energize me. Until then, I'm going to have to pretend, and do it anyway. Wish me luck! Sarah

Okay, okay! I know its been 2 weeks since I've posted. I've been waiting for some inspiration so I woudn't bore anyone to tears with mundane recounts of daily life. It didn't happen, so this is what you're getting. Let's see, we got Cade signed up for baseball, and found out who his coach is going to be, and I'm very happy (threatening him last year, when he didn't take Cade, seems to have paid off). We have 2 more weeks of basketball, then spring break!



Missy and Hayden spent Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with us this week, and we enjoyed having them here. Tuesday we went to Texas Children's for Hayden's opthalmologist appointment. They changed the prescription for his glasses, and were able to refer us to a place that would fit and order his glasses. His first two pair had to be ordered from California because no one locally would take him. Insight Optical in Houston came highly recommended, and we were extremely impressed with them. There is nothing like working with people that are knowledgable and like what they are doing. It also didn't hurt that they were less than half of the cost of the previous pairs! So, we were pleased with accomplishing that. Wednesday we took them home (much to my kids' dismay) and are looking forward to Hayden's next visit, the sooner the better.



For Spring Break we have decided to stay at a place on Lake Travis and do things in the area. We will be hitting Fredericksburg for Enchanted Rock and The Nimitz Museum. Austin for their Children's Museum, and perhaps the capitol. Then we're hoping to go to San Antonio towards the end of the week to see the sights and eat yummy food. Oh, um, Amy, do you mind if we come crash at your place for a night or two? My kids are accomplished toilet scrubbers, and clean other people's homes beautifully. This will be our first vacation that doesn't center around swimming pools or other bodies of water, so if anyone has any suggestions for fun stuff we must do or see, we're all ears. The cheaper the better, of course. We are also always on the hunt for the best places to eat. So far, we know we're going to hit the Salt Lick, Rather Sweet Bakery in Fredericksburg, and likely Alamo Springs Cafe. Go ahead, give us your favorites! If you would also like to include gift cards to said places, simply leave your email, and I will gladly forward you my home mailing address!



Last Friday I went grocery shopping. Now, this is a very normal occurence for me. My step dad, Andy, however, was enlightened by the experience. You see, he happened to end up in the line behind me at check out. It being payday, I had done "real" grocery shopping. You know, the kind where you have to stack everything in the cart just so, or it will not all fit. It really should be an Olympic sport. You pull it all off the shelf, into the cart. Out of the cart, onto the conveyor belt at checkout. Back into the cart. Out of the cart, into the car. Out of the car, into the house. Out of the bags, into the refrigerator, and freezer and pantry. Then you get to wrestle all of those annoying plastic bags until they're all put away only to find more when you think you're done. And you just paid several hundred dollars to have this much fun. Poor Andy, I thought he was going to have a stroke when he saw my total that day. $524 and some change. He didn't realize at the time that $200 of that was gas cards (not that $324 is something to sneeze at). I don't think he'll ever even blink at one of my Mom's Walmart receipts again. The really sad part, is that later I began making a mental list of all the things that I didn't get with that. Dogfood, catfood, laundry detergent, eggs, bread, bath soap, I could go on and on. And, of course, before next payday, we'll need more milk, and fresh produce. Andy is now considering raising chickens for me. Thankfully, we have a freezer full of venison. Although with the cost of a hunting license, corn, fuel, and ammo, I'm not sure we're coming out ahead, but I know better than to point that out to Dennis. I am, however, extremely grateful to have the means to shell out the money for all these wonderful groceries. I always tell Dennis, "All it takes to make me feel rich is a pantry full of food, and a sufficient pile of firewood." I am a simple woman.

The citizens of Buna will be pleased to note that we have finally taken down our Christmas lights (we haven't turned them on since New Year's). It only took 8 weeks. We hadn't planned to leave them up, I swear. We even talked about taking them down several times. I, however, was determined that I after I nearly froze putting them up, that I was NOT going to be cold taking them down. So, yesterday, while it was sunny and warm, I made quick work of it. Why is it that the jobs we spend so much time putting off, are the ones that take so little time to complete?

I'll try to not wait quite as long to post again. Sarah

Babies

Babies, babies, everywhere, and none of them are mine (Thank goodness!) They say things happen in threes, and this time, at least, its true. My extended family is about to grow in leaps and bounds. By the end of the summer, we will be three more. On January 2, my brother Adam and his wife Miranda announced they were expecting a long awaited bundle of joy. After all but giving up, they couldn't be happier, and neither could we. I, personally, am pulling for twins. I'm afraid otherwise, they may have only one. Hey, they won't live at my house, so I think twins would be a blast! They are rampant in Miranda's family, so I can hope. The estimated arrival date is August 26. Can anyone say "the dog days of Summer?"


January 17th was the 1st wedding anniversary for my dearest cousin Jodi and her awesome husband Aaron. We celebrated with gumbo that was canned from the wedding, leftover bowls and plates for authenticity, and a really, um, yummy, one year old wedding cake. We guilted them into tasting the old cake for luck, and then we all enjoyed a fresh cake made for the day. After dinner, Kyler came in with a white stick which immediately induced a round of squeals, hugs, and shock for the new grandpa. Aaron, meanwhile, is in the background saying (fist in the air) "Me! I did it!" Give credit where credit is due--Great job Aaron! Then starts the frenzy of texts to Dale and Christina who are both in Utah at school. Lots of "Are you kidding?" and "Awesome". The happy parents-to-be headed to Nome to share with Aaron's parents, and left the rest of us pacing in front of our computers, waiting to make a post on facebook-but not before the other grandparents were told. Aaron has downloaded the "What to Expect" application for his iTouch, and is keeping up with Mom and Baby progress, and learning what days it may be safer to just work late. They are counting the days until September 8.


I also recently learned that Hayden is going to be a big brother! My brother Andrew and Missy just announced that they are expecting a boy to be delivered by c-section on May 26. How's that for short notice? I think they know I'm not very good at waiting. They are planning to name him Cameron. They better stick to that, because I'm already in the habit of calling him Cameron. I'm having a blast keeping Hayden as often as I can, and I'm sure Camerson will be just as fun. I'm not sure, however, how soon I'll be ready for both of them at the same time!


So, one down, two to go. No pressure Miranda and Jodi. There just hasn't been a baby girl in my life for 11 years. I couldn't help myself today. I've looked at the new spring onesies that are out 3 different times in the last week, and, until now, was able to resist. They are the cutest things ever! The soft blues, and greens with frogs, and horses. The pink, robin's egg blue and yellow with butterflies and bumble bees. I had passed up the blue ones because they are too small for Hayden, and the pink, well, I know no girls-yet. Today, I caved. Blues for Cameron, and pinks just in case. If we end the summer with 3 new boys, I'll find someone to give them to. Ooops, I just remembered Dennis reads this. I love you dear! Look at the bright side-I like buying the clothes, but we get to send them home! I promise its cheaper than having more of our own.


I'm definately living in a house full of boys. After Jodi's announcement, we were in the car, on the way home and they wanted to know why everyone gets so excited about babies. Boys-they just don't get it. I must admit, I am pretty excited, and I'm sure the time will pass much more quickly for me than for the ones doing all the hard work growing healthy babies. To you, I say, rest now, because you will never sleep again. I'm also sorry to say, that once your babies arrive, no one will give you a second thought. Its just the way the system works. Please allow me to apologize now for blatantly ignoring you, while thoroughly enjoying the being you worked so hard to create. I'm on call 24 hours a day for questions, concerns, support, and baby-sitting when you just can't hold your eyes open any longer. Happy baking! Sarah

Yum!

Hi, my name is Sarah, and I am a blueberry addict. Seriously. I have to limit myself to one pint a day. I suppose its the best $3/day habit I could have. I'm setting up an account for anyone who is interested in helping with grocery costs. $190/month for milk, eggs, and blueberries alone. That seems ridiculous. It seems impossible, but no matter how many times I do the math, it always comes out the same. With 3 boys who are only getting older and bigger, I cringe to think of my grocery bill, say, 6 years from now. I will be working a full time job for that alone. Dennis, actually, just left for what will most likely be a 60 hour shift at the fire station. Thank goodness for OT! Honey, you can retire as soon as the kids stop eating.

We spent some time Sunday and Monday with Dennis's Aunt Velma, in Cypress. She is a wonderful, strong, lady with 2 teenage daughters (bless her). Her home is always open, and she is an exceptional hostess. She also shares our love of food, so we take advantage of that, and Houston's many dining options when we visit. She has lived in many interesting places, and travelled extensively, so when she says a place is good, we trust her. On our last visit, we had Thai for the first time (and cosequently fell in love). This visit we delved into Mediterranean/Arabic cuisine. It was fantastic! Hummus, tabhouli, grape leaves, and shawarma. All of it incredible! Monday we had Vietnamese, which, while not new to us, was still delicious. The boys' favorite part this trip was Aunt Velma's tea "bar". She loves her hot tea, and has a table in her kitchen devoted to it. They loved choosing their own flavors, and customizing with sugar and milk. They've requested a similar set up here at home, and Coy is planning a tea buffet for his birthday. They also had fun playing with their dog, Mango, and watching her dance for bananas. Yes, they have a dog named Mango who loves bananas. The girls are always gracious enough to entertain the boys as best they can so we can enjoy some adult conversation; although at times, I think they are surprised at just how different boys can be. Thank you, Aunt Velma, for your wonderful hospitality and sharing with us your kind and loving spirit. We hope to visit again soon.

We sped into town last night just in time to drop Coy off at basketball practice. He really enjoys playing, and is in his second year. Cade is trying his hand at it this year to bridge the time between soccer and baseball. He asked me last night why I didn't make him sign up sooner. Maybe he'll remember this lesson of when to take suggestions from his mother (although you won't catch me holding my breath). He is really enjoying the fast pace of it, and when its his turn on the bench, you can just see him thinking of how he would be playing it differently were it his turn. Being Cade, he has also shared with me the history of basketball. I also found out today that baseball sign ups are this Saturday. I can hardly contain my excitement. Okay, I do enjoy baseball season. Sometimes it flies past, and other years it just seems to go on forever. This directly correlates to the coach that we end up with after tryouts. I, however, am not going to volunteer for the job, so I try to keep the complaining to a minimum. Tee ball is the best. We don't keep score, everything the kids do is funny, we practice once a week, and play a game on Saturday. Its perfect. We, however, are past tee ball, until next year when we start over with Kyler. We are now into the fun stage of kid pitch baseball. Completely new experience. No coaches pitching the ball until the child makes a hit. No machine making perfect pitches every time. Just a child pitching to another child. 2-3 two hour practices and 2 games every week. Its cold some, and hot most others. But, its part of the journey. The kids love it, if for no other reason than the free sno cones at the end of every game. Sarah

P.S. I would also like to report that the 3 inches of rain Thursday morning made a huge improvement in the appearance of the neighbor's charred lawn. The two inches we get tomorrow evening just might bring it back to normal. Maybe Thursday would be a good day to do some burning. Someone put the fire department on standby. SP

For Amity

Amity, my dear sweet, childhood friend, has requested that I keep the blog updated. So, Amity, this is for you. She bought a house today! I'm so happy for you, Amity! I'm also very happy that she's decided to tie herself to a mortgage closer to home. Baytown is very doable. I'm looking forward to spending much more time together, and letting our kids grow up together like we did. There's nothing like having someone who's known you that long. They understand you like no one else can.

Today, I'm thankful for cute, girly, rubber boots. They made my life a little easier this morning. Today, in the pouring rain, we had to go to school. Why it never rains when I can stay in bed and just enjoy it, is beyond me, but off to school we had to go. Could we just wade to the car and leave? Oh, no. Today Cade's Alamo project was due. This was one of those projects that was assigned before the Christmas holidays, to be due on Jan 29. I, personally, work better on a MUCH shorter deadline, but okay. The kids got out of school early yesterday (why, no one really knows), so Cade had plenty of extra time to finish the Alamo. In fact, I was proud because it was even finished before basketball practice.

Fast forward to this morning. Pouring down rain (why did I straighten my hair?), everyone's dressed, time to leave. Rather than have the kids walk through the 4 inches of standing water between the porch and the car, I carry them one at a time, under the umbrealla, on my back, to the van. Then, I carry the Alamo. Did I forget to mention that Cade decided he wanted his Alamo to be made out of cake? Yes, the only day in 3 months we had to leave for school in the rain, we were carrying cake that had no cover, due to its size. Perfect. Coy was sure to point out, as I was trying to set it on the floorboard without all the water pouring from the umbrella onto the cake, that it was getting drops of water on it. Seriously? You didn't think I would notice that while its pouring around me, the cake was getting a few stray drops that were trying to run the food coloring paint on the fondant? Then, when I'm finally in the car, soaked from the knees to my boots (Thanks, by the way, Aunt Tanya, for the boots, I LOVE them), Kyler says, "My pants are wet." Sorry, Kyler, you'll have to suffer with those 3 drops on your pants until we get back home. Well, we (I) got the cake into the school with no real drama, and they ate it after his presentation. The bonus to that, is that now we don't have an Alamo project that we have to push around the house until the appropriate amount of time has passed until we can toss it.

Kyler and I went to Beaumont today to attend Andy's retirement party. Well, they called it a party, but parts of it felt more like a funeral or a viewing. Why is that? He stood in the room, and everyone stood around him sharing stories and memories they had of him, and talked about how they were going to miss him. Actually, that sounds exactly like a funeral. Akward. Maybe that was why he'd insisted he didn't want one. Just for the record, Andy, I suggested we all go to Carrabba's. I'm happy for you, and I know you'll take to it well. I also don't believe for one second, that you'll ever be not working somewhere, on something. Just remember, now you can choose to do only the fun stuff. I look forward to sharing with you the lunch dates and bon bon days of the unemployed. I also expect you to make at least one post on facebook everyday.

Well, Amity, I hope this has satisfied you for today. I'll try to keep up with it. Hopefully my life continues to produce just enough material to be able to post, but not so much that I can't.
Sarah

That was fast!

So, didn't take as long as I thought to have something to talk about on the blog. I managed to burn a lot of the grass in my backyard, and most of the grass in my neighbor's yard. SO embarrassing! I burned some trash, checked on it a few times, and it was ok, so I forgot about it. I went outside, thought, are the neighbor's burning the grass? (I'd seen several people burning pastures yesterday, so it was fresh in my mind) Uh, no, I'M the one burning the grass! Ran to the neighbor's, because the fire was only about a foot and a half from her house by this time. (Brick house, so it would've just gone out, but still-not good) I hooked up her waterhose, and started spraying. A man who lives in the neighborhood was nice enough to stop and help stamp out some of the flames to keep them from spreading. Thank goodness it didn't make it to any of the wooden privacy fences, or my wooden house. All in all, not bad, just burned the leaves, and the top layer of dead grass. Still, do I need to say it again? EMBARRASSING! I feel horrible-neighbors are cool about it-"No big deal." Hey, maybe the grass will grow better now. Please, no more excitement until tomorrow. Sarah

Here I go!

Well, this is it. It has actually happened-I've started a blog. What will I write about? Who knows. Who will read it? Who cares?! Will I talk about my kids too much? Most likely. My prediction is that the only people who would be able to relate to what I write, and find it amusing, are the people that are too busy to actually stop and read someone else's blog, because they're living the same things I'm writing about. So, here goes-this is my part journal, part rant, part something to do when I don't want to do what I should be doing, blog. I'm open to suggestions, but make no promises to put them to use. Hope your week goes well, wherever you are! Sarah