On turning into a sad, old person . . .

My glasses recently fell apart.  No warning just one night the "arm" on one side just dropped off in the midst of me making soap.

As I'm nearly legally blind, this was not a good thing.  Making soap does not allow for puttering so I grabbed the first tape I could find to fix the glasses and finish the soap.  Sadly, the tape was neon green masking tape (Why, you ask did I have neon green masking tape?  It was for a timeline - death-by-homeschool!).  Yes, them specs shur duz look purty.  

But you all know how it goes . . . I've got my contacts for "public appearances" and Mike and the kids took three full days to notice the green tape.  (The morning after he noticed, I found Andy trying to wrap my glasses entirely in green tape to make it look more even.  Ummm . . . no thanks.)  Getting the glasses fixed or replaced isn't high on my list of ways to spend money right now.  You'd think keeping the lenses clean on one of my lifelines to living in the world would be a priority, though, wouldn't you?

I guess not so much in my case.  I was out in the garage doing laundry tonight and I stepped outside to see if the much-anticipated "cold-front" was coming our way (still waiting) and I looked up at the sky.  I saw the strangest fuzzy thing right next to the moon.  I looked and looked and was all ready to go in to grab Mike and the boys to come look when I realized, there was a big glob of something on the upper corner of my glasses.  How sad is that?  I cleaned my glasses, looked out at the sky again and the moon was all alone.  

Can I just tell you all how relieved I am that I didn't go inside and insist that everyone join me in witnessing a non-phenomena?  I would NEVER ever have lived that down.  And, now that I've put it out here for everyone to see, I guess they'll all eventually see it and start doing weird things to my glasses, but it was too sad and funny NOT to share.  

Now everyone go clean your glasses!  Don't be a victim!

I

Thank you!!!

Dan's interview was this afternoon and based on his report it went very well.  In his words, "It was just me and two old guys sitting at a table talking.  I even made them both laugh a few times."  Now "old" is relative when an 18-yr-old is talking to you.  I'm guessing the men he spoke to were between 25 and 100.  But, he made it through this round and I'm so very proud of him.  (Even though I yelled at him about the nasty state of his room and the clothes in the bathroom when he got home before I asked about the interview.  :::sigh:::: Old habits die hard, huh?)

So, now we wait.  Dan's put in his academic stuff, save two things which will be done soon.  He's passed the medical portion, I think. He has the physical test next week and I don't foresee any problems with that - running, throwing and push-ups. He took the last two of his standardized tests last month and we're anticipating higher scores than the last round (what a freaking game those things are!).  He wrangled two senatorial interviews, no small feat.  Each senator gets five appointments to the service academies.  Dan needs an appointment from both.  Neither senator gave a time frame, so we just keep waiting and plugging along. 

Even with the senator's appointments, he'll still have to do an interview in Annapolis and some other stuff (:::waving::: at Deana and anyone else in the Annapolis area!).  I'm trying to be sane and all of that, but you know how I am.  For now, though, there's not a dang thing I can do.  I see repainting the house in my future.

I appreciate all the prayers, good thoughts and nekkid dancing.  Dan does too - though, strangely he wasn't that keen on the nekkid dancing.  Kids these days.  ;) 

Lazy, boring, busy, whatever . . .

Sorry to be so post-less lately.  As the title suggests there's some laziness involved, a lot of busy-ness and even more "whatever" that's been keeping me away. 

First, we had the dilemma of Andy's Halloween costume.  This is the first year since Danny had just turned one that I've only had one costume to worry about.  It's weird and bittersweet and weird.  Andy finally settled on a reasonable idea and we set to work.  I can't wait to show you all pictures - he came up with the best idea ever!  I found the final bits this evening at, you guessed it, Goodwill! 


The older boys are busy with classes and work and looking for work and their other interests.  Andy and I are finding a rhythm to being a school of two - teacher and student.  It's weird for both of us and we're still trying to figure it all out.  I'm trying to find a balance between not pushing him too hard and not caving to my own allergies (pollen is terrible right now) and laziness and letting everyday be a SpongeBob marathon.  We are, however, currently enjoying our read-aloud book - A Wrinkle in Time.  It's been a few years since I read this book and I forgot how fun it is.

Whatever, we had a fun weekend.  Our neighbors had a pizza party to celebrate the official adoption of their second son.  I get ferklempt just thinking about it.  What a great family they all are - and now they're complete! It was a laid-back fun evening.  Some of the adults were inside watching football and some of us were outside, enjoying the cool temperatures and watching the kids run amok.  While we agree and disagree with our neighbors on many things, I LOVE that we have all been able to put aside our differences and remain friendly.  I think all of our kids (and all of us old people) will enjoy memories of tire swings, pizza, four-square, getting bandaged by a neighbor mom AND getting yelled at by a neighbor mom or dad, dads watching football, moms swapping books by the pool or in the driveway.  I don't know how many neighborhoods like ours are out there - I hope there's a bunch.  Yes, I'd love another bedroom, or even a second story to the house, but I wouldn't trade our lives for anything.

Sunday, I tried to finish weeding the garden - still time to plant, though the window grows small.  Oh man, I am so sore today.  I'm almost finished weeding.  Tomorrow the planting begins - provided I can crawl out of bed.  Getting old is not as much fun as old people tell you it is. 

I hope everything is going well in your worlds.  If you've read this far, please change your plans to pray, think good things, dance nekkid or all three to WEDNESDAY, October 27!!!!! 

This made my afternoon!

This little boy is adorable and kind of amazing.  My kids at three certainly did not have this kind of focus! 

Funny . . .

Sometimes things just work out .  . . this afternoon Andy ran outside to pick up the mail (ah, the things that thrill homeschooled kids) and there was a big, beautiful envelope from Senator Bill Nelson (I'll put aside my horror at the expense of the envelope and its contents for now.  I'm all for Senators using nice paper to impress certain people - however, teenagers seeking his support for the Naval Academy?  Eh, not so much. Send the letter on a used napkin and they're happy. But, as always, I digress.)

Dan wasn't home and I paced the driveway with Andy doing his schoolwork in a lawn chair.  I resisted every urge within me and did not rip open the beautiful envelope.  3:15, Dan, Tim and Ian arrived home from their classes.  Dan was barely out of the car before Andy and I were thrusting the envelope at him.  HE GOT THE INTERVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!

There's still a long road ahead if Dan's to be accepted to the Naval Academy, but, as a mom, I'm so, so, so proud.  We pulled Dan out of school at the end of 2nd grade.  While I was mostly confident about homeschooling him (and his brothers) there were always twinges of doubt.  What were they missing out on by not being in school?  Would they end up being freaky weird kids that no one wanted to associate with?  What if I missed some HUGE important topic and ruined them for life???  What if I'd made the wrong choice.   Well, after ten years, I can sort of relax.  Our choices have not ruined anyone's life (though we still have Andy to screw up). 

Two senators have opted to interview Dan - that is huge.  And, I'm going to go ahead an pat myself once on the back.  I didn't screw up.  Following my convictions has paid off thus far.  I don't know what will happen with Dan and the USNA, but I'm confident that he'll do well no matter what.  Same goes for the other boys.  It was a long wait, but worth it.  Yay me!  Yes, I'm bragging.  Bear with me for a minute.  I did it!!!!  Well, I sort of did it, mostly the boys did it, but I helped.  (Anyone else remember the old Shake n' Bake commercials?)

I can't believe how far we've come.  All six of us.  Amazing, really.

Everyone set your clocks to pray, think, and/or dance nekkid on 10/27/10 at 2:45.  It'll be fun.  Really, it will.  I'll have brownies, ice cream, soda and beer here around 6 pm if you want to stop over and visit (just put your clothes on first, please). 

Tick, tick, tick

Trying to be calm and normal as we wait for some sort of reply from Senator Nelson's office . . . does Dan get an interview or not?  This whole USNA thing has been stressful and remains stressful.  Dan has to have endorsements from both senators.  We don't know if the first senator will endorse him after his interview last week and we don't know if he'll get an interview with the other senator.  Times like this make me wish Mike and I were better at schmoozing and getting to know "important" people - but I only wish that  a little bit - schmoozing is exhausting.  

Danny will get in or he won't.  I'm scrambling to figure out Plan B in the meantime.  

Ugghh.  I hate things that are out of my control entirely.  Send me some graceful vibes.  I'll keep you posted!

Balance

While I'm not one to brag about balance in my life - I tend to be an extremist - I have, as I get older, come to see the value in balance.  Just the past few days have helped me see that I need to spend some time reordering things to make time for things that are important. 

I think it's freaky to go anywhere these days and you see people who are completely oblivious to their surroundings, much less the people around them.  They are absorbed in their phones - texting, tweeting, whatever ... They don't have the time to nod at someone who hands them a cart or checks out their groceries or anything.  Honestly?  Who is THAT important?  I have my blog, and, sure, it's an indulgence.  But, I'm not sending it to your phone.  I'm ok with taking a few days off and if you want to read, great.  If not, that's ok too.  Mostly, this if for me and, eventually, my kids. 

Sure, I love my blog - it's my life, and I really love my life.  But, the world does not hinge on what I do or think.  Recently we've had four couples we know announce their impending divorces.  I'm so sad for them.  I'm even more sad for their children, most of them are young-mid teens.  I simply cannot imagine it.  I'm so very lucky.  Mike and I have had our rough spots, but we have a pretty solid marriage.  Our kids, while they screw up freqently (I don't do details on the blog), are pretty normal and I think will become functioning adults in a short time. 

But, I take for granted how nice and easy my life is. Mike and I love each other and appreciate each other and what else is there? I certainly have taken things for granted lately.  And, whenever I do this, I focus on what is making me unhappy - stoopid stuff usually - and I forget to pay attention to the people and the world around me.  And, the strangest thing is that behaving this way makes ME unhappy!  I fall into this pattern every few years and I'm always surprised to see it.

Well, I'm back.  Tonight I had a quick message from a friend that was a true "Snap-out-of-it" moment.  Actually, my whole entire day was a "snap-out-of-it" kind of day.  There is so much I can do that can make life a little nicer for people.  It takes almost nothing and no time for me to let someone know I care - even if it's someone I don't know.  Why I haven't been doing this for the past few months is beyond me - no excuses.  But, I'm back and focused.  I can't change anyone's life, but I can do little things that cost me little time or effort to let someone else know that I see them and hear them and that I care.   

So, tomorrow, I'll start fresh.  If I see you while I'm walking Scout, I'll say hello (you should respond).  If you're my neighbor and you get sick or have a baby, I'll bring you a meal or some jello or whatever works.  If you're in the grocery line and are short a couple of dollars, I'll chip in (because that totally sucks - btdt).  And, if you're just someone I pass along the way, I'll be trying really hard to accept you just the way you are if you'll do the same for me. 

Yep.  

More Soap!

Same great soap, new prices.  Check it out if you're thinking about Christmas gifts.  amyjosoap.com

The Interview

Today was THE day.  Dan had his interview.  I got up with him to make sure the pants were the right length (I'd hemmed them the night before), his hair looked like he had planned for it to look that way (best we could do) and to check that everything was tucked and tied and whatever correctly.  (Mom comment:  I cried after he left - he looked so handsome and grown up and so like someone who no longer needed a mom! And, that was the plan, you know, for the boys to grow up and leave and be their own people, but I need another 10 years or so.)

Dan and I butt heads often.  Basically, we're the same person.  I remember being his age and just wanting nothing more than to be out and on my own.  I wanted this not because I didn't love and appreciate my family (ok, maybe at 18 I didn't appreciate them so much), but because I just wanted to do things for myself.  I see this in Dan.  I tried to be laid-back and not to hover this morning.  I think my efforts were a success, but I'll never know for sure.

The interview was at 10 am in downtown Orlando.  Dan left here at 8:15 because:  1) I had no cash to give him to pay for the parking garage and he refused to use his own money to park so he left time to walk and 2) We were both paranoid that a truck would flip on I-4 and he'd be late.  He made it in time.

They called Dan in to meet a panel, which did NOT include the senator (who is in town).  They asked him questions.  Dan, being 18 and a guy, has been reluctant to the point of me wanting to beat him on the head about the interview.  The first question according to Dan, though, was "Since you've been homeskooled for so long, do you find yourself feeling awkward in social situations?"  Dan said he tried to suppress a laugh - the "socialization" thing is kind of a standing joke for people who homeschool their kids.  It's the first question people (and, generally it's people who are hostile to the idea of homeschooling) ask - how will those poor children be socialized????

Dan said he resisted the urge to tell them that he routinely dragged one or more of his brothers into the bathroom everyday at lunch to beat them up and steal their lunch money.  Instead he said something like,  "I've been involved with tae kwon do and Boy Scouts since I was seven.  I have friends.  I attended the prom last year WITH A GIRL (who knew my name).  I'm involved in my community college.  My job is cashier at the local grocery store and I deal with all kinds of people all day long.  I don't think I'm awkward socially." 

Gah!!!!  It took nerve for Dan to even tell me that they asked this question - he knows it sends me 'round the bend.  I DO, however, love his answer.  Dan has the kind of eyes that twinkle when he's being serious but laughing on the inside - I'm sure someone picked up on it - don't know if that's a good or bad thing, but I love imagining it. Dan is many things, but he's comfortable in his own skin which is a huge thing for someone who is just 18.

He was interviewed for about 20 minutes, which Dan said seemed to be the average, but he said most of the questions asked of him were about homeschooling. (I so wish the questions had been addressed to me.  I doubt they asked public/privately schooled kids such detailed questions about their texts and work loads.)

I have no idea what Dan said and I have no idea how his answers were received.  He's a super-bright, articulate, athletic young man and if they turn him down, it's their loss.  Clearly, if he was socially awkward or otherwise too weird to talk to they would not have had him come in for this interview.  Right?

So now, let's make it all about me, me me!  I truly believe that homeschooling was/is the right thing for our family.  I'm incredibly proud of each and every one of my sons.  They are all their own person and they are all smart enough to find whatever answers they need - and that's kind of the point, isn't it?  (Bonus, they're all really funny, too.  I love funny.)  But . . .

There's always a but . . . what if being homeschooled eliminates Dan from the USNA?  I know, then it wasn't meant to be.  But, what if my choices (it's not like the kids picked to be homeschooled) have limited them in some way? How old do I have to be until it's not my fault? I don't really think our choices will be a huge impact on the kids in the long run, but some days, like today, I have my doubts.

And, REALLY?  The socialization question?  Gah!  Shouldn't the burden be on the panel to learn about homeschooling before the interviews?  Just a little?  Clearly, if they bothered to call Danny in for an interview, something is right about him.

As for Dan, he feels really good about the interview.  He said he was the only one there without his parents (never occurred to me to REALLY go with him - I joked about it and offered to get a matching outfit, but . . . ) and the only one that did not have a page of notes going in to talk to the panel.  I guess that can go either way.  I'm proud of him for being so independent and able to speak on his feet. 

And, now we wait for Senator LeMieux's decision.  We're anticipating a yes/no from Bill Nelson (our other senator) for an interview date late in the month next week.  If you know Sen. Nelson and he likes you, please email/call him and give Dan a plug. 

I DO KNOW it's not all about me.  (Sort of.  My favorite quote, and one I have repeatedly painted on my walls, comes from my friend, Julie, "I'm not much but I'm all I think about."  I think this is true for every single person and realizing it is true and okay is HUGE.)  I've spent years and years and years trying to find the balance of mom/teacher/police. 

This is all about Dan.  But, because I've been so involved in his education as well as his life these many years, it's hard to keep it all in perspective.  I want to call and lobby people and convince them of how great Dan is, but that won't work - it would just be weird.  I want to have 10 minutes with the people that interviewed Dan to give them a clue about homeschooling - never going to happen.  I want a lot of things - long legs, a big bank account, perfect vision but those are never going to happen either. 

I just need to disengage and accept that we have raised exceptional kids, but maybe not everyone will appreciate how exceptional they are (until they take over the world, muhahaha).  Right?

Talk me down, folks.

Pass the loofah!

Ewwww . . . I'm so skeeved.  I love my scrabble site.  You can play scrabble in real time with other people who are nerdy and love scrabble.  Some people "chat" during the games, others don't.  I'm fine with both.  The site rates players and you can set limits on the ratings of other people you will play.  I've learned so much from playing people with much higher ratings so I don't have a limit on my game requests. 

So, I'm sitting here watching Fringe with the older boys and playing a little Scrabble.  I accept a game from someone with a very low rating and we play.  Not a great game, but whatever.  We chatted a bit about kids and beaches.  I accepted a "rematch" request and HOLY COW - ew! ew! ew! It was some icky, pervy guy.  I quit the game and took a huge hit on my rating and will spend the rest of the night scrubbing myself.  ew! ew! ew!

Really?  Scrabble and sex?  Those mix?  Since when?  What a weird, scary little man.  I guess I will change my settings from now on . . .blech.  Any of the other times that I've chatted with people, it's been grandmas/grandpas, other moms and some normal, interesting, nerdy people.  I'm not going to write the site off, but :::::shudder::::::  I've never had that happen to me online.  I guess I shouldn't complain after nearly 20 years, but still .... pass the loofah!

It's weird

I'm sure you've noticed in your own life how you can plod along for days,  weeks and even years when everything is on an even-keel.  And, then *poof* it all changes.  We appear to be in the midst of changes these days.

Dan's interview with Senator LeMieux is this morning at 10:00 am.  He'll be clean, shiny and ready to go.  Unfortunately, he did not have time to get his hair cut between classes and working.  We've worked out a strategy (the boy has my hair) that should have him looking the senator straight in the eye and appearing to be a serious young man. 

Dan's nervous.  I'm nervous.  I offered to go along with him - you know, to tell the senator all the great things about my son.  Surprisingly, Dan didn't even bother to answer my suggestion.  :::sigh::: Ungrateful kids.

Lots of running around lately and we're not accomplishing much, I don't think.  But, sometimes it's just like that. 

I'll let you know what I hear about the interview tomorrow.  If you're reading early, please say a prayer or cross your fingers or think a good thought.  He could use it. 

1292 - my favorite number!

I don't think I've mentioned here (for fear of jinxing things but, we can all agree we never read this, right?) that Dan was asked to interview with Senator LeMieux in search of an endorsement to get into the Naval Academy.  It's a big, big deal.  (We're still waiting to hear from Senator Nelson.   His office works on a different timeline, so it'll be a few weeks, probably.  If anyone reading happens to be related or good friends with either senator, please call and give Danny a good plug - the Navy could do a lot worse than Dan.)

And, while I'm honored the senator (s - I hope) opted to interview Danny  - it really is an honor for Dan to be selected to be one of the few interviewees - it involves clothing Dan does not have.  After consultations with my mom, and several friends, we decided on khaki pants, a good navy blazer, button-down shirt and a tie - think Dead Poet's Society.  I've been looking online to get an idea of costs and was trying to figure out how to spend $300 on clothing Dan might never wear again and how to feed the rest of us through the month.  I'm weird about spending money and I was having a near panic attack this morning thinking about it.  But, we had to do it.

Dan took the SAT this morning (the second and final time!) and we left shortly after he came home and ate lunch.  I got into the car with such dread - like most of you know, money is tight around here and the thought of spending hundreds of dollars for an outfit Dan would wear for 1 hour, maybe was really freaking me out.  I like rice and beans quite a lot, but not two weeks worth.

The upside?  Dan appreciates how much I miss driving my own car.  I got to drive today, and he got to play his I-pod in the car. (I'm OK with just about any music as long as there is no screaming.) Who knew, I still know how to make left turns and change lanes?????

We were heading out of our town and I saw the Goodwill store sign.  I looked at Dan and said "Whadya think?"  Dan laughed and said "Maybe a skinny, rich guy dropped some stuff off this afternoon.  Let's go look really quick."  (I love that my kids are not mall rats.)

Go figure, there, hidden on the rack was a GORGEOUS wool jacket (however they weave it, it was the perfect weight for Florida) and it fit Dan in the shoulders and chest but had been tailored and totally fit his slim build (he's 6', 138 pounds).  Honestly, I could not have had a jacket MADE that would have fit him so well.  $12.95 - BUT BUT BUT it was the 1/2 price color!!!!  So that made it about $6.50.  We also found a Polo button-down shirt, a beautiful-ish silk tie and, as an added bonus, a pair of surplus Converse sneakers (brand new probably from Target) for $6. Did I mention Dan's 10% student discount?  We left the store and Dan and I both said "I feel like I"m stealing!"  Really, this was such a seriously amazing set of finds.


Our total?  Gorgeous wool jacket?  2.47!  Button-down RL Polo shirt? 3.32!  Silk Tie? .89!  Surplus sneakers?  5.39!  Add some sales tax and you get $12.92.  My new favorite number!!!  I could feel my blood pressure going down as I paid.  Seriously - how amazing is that?  The odds of finding all of those things, in senator-worthy condition, at Goodwill are beyond small.  This, to me, is a sign that there is a God (your mileage may vary).

All we had left to buy was a pair of shoes and a belt.  $29 and a beautiful pair of loafers and the ONLY 32" belt that matched-that-we-could find-that-didn't-have-studs-in-it later, we were done.  Interspersed throughout this post are pictures of Dan showing me how it all looked together - in his own special, wrinkly, bed-headed kind of way.  The pants must be hemmed.  Everything needs pressed, but beyond that - isn't he just gorgeous?  (Not that I'm biased or anything!) 

Someone please tell me the senator (hopefully senators) will be impressed?  If you think of it on Thursday morning at 10 am, please say a prayer or think a good thought, as that will be when Dan is actually in the interview. 

Ooops, I almost forgot the best picture!!!!!  I know he's my son, but HOW handsome is he? (Did I mention how proud I am of him?)

What's a Baker?

Dan, Tim and Ian are all taking the same sociology class this semester.  They've already endured comments that they all look exactly alike and the class, in general, calls them the Bakers.  Fine, the boys are ok with it and they are kind of their own little subculture if being related, homeschooled and tall constitutes a sub-culture. 

There are a couple of people in their class that the boys know from our neighborhood.  The people they know are older than the boys, but they're not too old to remember being kids themselves. Yesterday, during a discussion about "being in the minority" one of the women we know mentioned how she always sees "the Bakers" around, driving or running or cycling and she wondered aloud to the class how they would feel in her parents' neighborhood which is mostly black. 

Ian declared that he was pretty sure they'd feel ultra-white, but there was nothing to be done about that.  The class laughed and moved on in their discussion - sort of. 

In the back of the room, a young man raised his hand and asked "What is a Baker?  Will this be on the test?" 

I don't know for sure what a "Baker" is, but I think it's really funny that Dan, Ian and Tim have made such a mark in one class.  Maybe I should send the professor some pictures to use on the next test.  "Please identify which of the following pictures are Bakers."  

Wait and see . . .

We'll see how the new soap biz does - thanks to those of you who have placed orders.  Everything has shipped and the latest one goes out tomorrow - if the soap takes off I may move the blog over there.  I hate going back and forth between sites for what's essentially the same thing.  For now, though, nothing is changing. 

Spent the bulk of this afternoon weeding and clearing the garden for the fall planting.  We've had a strange burst of cool, beautiful, un-Florida-like weather and I'm trying to take advantage before it gets hot again.  Andy and I have been studying Latin, math, grammar, history and science in the dirt.  I love having Andy read while I pull out weeds and Andy loves that he gets to lounge and read and NOT pull weeds.

The weeding is slow and painful and it's my own fault.  I despise being hot and covered in bugs and so from July-September I ignored my beloved garden.  Now I'm back and not hot and not covered in nasty Love Bugs.  We'll be planting this weekend unless a huge heat wave strikes.  Whew!!!!

Sorry, nothing too exciting to report.  Hope life is going well in your corner of the planet. 

Soap!

I'm back making soap.  Here is the new website - amyjosoap - my name, what I do.  I'm trying to keep it simple.

I would love any feedback you might have.  Keep in mind, I'm trying to keep down costs, the site is new, so pictures/logos will be updated and changed as I can afford them.  If you have experience with logo/graphics design and can help me, I'd be willing to trade in soap.

For now, I'm happy to be back doing something I love and I hope you will like the results.

Time is so relative

In Andy's 10-year-old brain, Mike is FAR older than I am.  Now Mike's only three years older than me, but I'm not going to argue this.  Every  now and then I will get together with two of my neighbors and we'll watch a movie and have a mom happy hour while the kids play over at my house.  Mike doesn't mind, heck, he's pretty much one of them.  The kids make pizza with Mike and trash the kitchen and I get some precious time with actual grown up women.  

Recently, I came home to find Mike and the all the kids, mine and the neighbors, big and small, huddled around the computer.  Mike was showing them television as he remembered.  I'm waiting for the lawsuit.  

First we have the Funny Face commercial.  (Until about two years ago we still had Mike's Wacky Watermelon mug from when he was three.  I imagine archeologists will dig it up a few hundred years from now and think it's something people one worshiped or something.)  

I don't remember that one, but maybe some of you do.  

Next, Mike subjected the poor kids to, of all things, Sammy Davis Jr.  Sometimes I wonder about this man I married.  It just makes me cringe that I was alive while this was happening, even if I was blissfully unaware of it.  (watch the dancers - can you say "step-ball change-and-step-ball change-jazz hands!)

And, to round out the evening, Mike pulled up the Flintstone's cigarette commercial.  Gah!  

Since we homeschool, I can call this social studies.  I don't know if that will fly with the neighbors.  ;)

Can we help you?

In their relentless campaign to make me insane, the boys have once again outgrown their clothing.  Clearly, God has not been peeking in on our checking account lately.  We hit Goodwill first, because you never know and, lo and behold, I found two pair of brand new Levi jeans for Andy, who has decided to skip size 10 and move right to 12's.  (I'm sure the mom who donated those jeans is frantically searching for skinny waisted jeans for her own kid.)  $6.49.  YAY  

That's the beauty of living in Florida -- your kids only need one or two pair of long pants and shorts can fit for an abnormal amount of time.  Next, with Andy, Ian, Tim and not Danny (just Danny's measurements) in tow, we hit Plato's Closet (love this place for teen boys, the girls?  eh - hit or miss - great for event dresses and shoes, though).  

I officially entered old age when, as we were searching the jeans section "I will not pay for jeans that look dirty on purpose or for jeans with holes in them."  Found two pair for Tim, one for Dan, one for Ian and a very nice pair of khaki pants that they can share for dress up (as long as we don't have to all be in one place lol) - American Eagle, Levi's, some surfer brand and Abercrombie Fitch (sp?).  $32.   So for less than $40 the boys' legs will be covered for the winter far more stylishly than if we'd paid retail.  Letting Tim drive to our destinations and letting Ian drive home?  Priceless.  GAH!!!!!!  (Really, I love them, but my hair gets thinner and grayer with every outing. And, what's sad is they're not even terrible drivers.  I'm just a terrible passenger.)

When we got home, Mike was already here and cooking dinner - love that man.  Dan was at work.  Andy went out to play.  Tim headed off with a bunch of friends to a football game and Ian had a magic thing he wanted to watch.  I had just settled in for an online Scrabble game when a knock came.  It was our neighbors each carrying a beautiful baby girl come to visit. The poor couple looked so tired and shell-shocked and happy, happy, happy.  

They handed Mike and me a baby each and crashed on the couch.  We talked and talked about everything you talk about when you're talking to a couple with new babies.  And Mike and I snuggled and snuggled and peeked at toes and fingers and marveled at the babies' perfectness.  

It's been years since I've held such a new baby.  Ahhhhh . . . Another neighbor came over to see the babies.  Mike turned Lily over to her (Mike is much more comfortable with babies 6  months or older lol).  I could see in my neighbor's eyes the tears as she looked at how beautiful the girls are, which made me weepy and then the babies' mom got weepy. I could have snuggled those babies all night - you know, except for the part when they woke up hungry and ticked off at strangers holding them.  But, wow. 

Andy and his friends ran in a few times to see the girls. It doesn't seem like that long ago those boys were tiny little people.  Andy stayed behind and asked if he could sniff one of the babies.  He's heard me talk about how much I love the smell of newborn babies.  He sniffed Zoe, who I was holding, and said "She smells good.  She smells new.  Like a car or a shower curtain."  And then he went outside.  Trust me these babies do not smell like a car or a shower curtain, but . . . Andy's right, they do smell new.