Goodbye's

Today was the last day of school.  The little is done with 2nd grade.  The middle is done with elementary school.  The big one has completed middle school.  Oh. My. Gosh. We have just completed the fasted 9 months of my life, I can't believe I am saying this but....time is flying by!  It's moving at some sort of hyper speed that is going to have my kids all grown up before I blink three more times.  And I'm not sure how I feel about that.  I love my bigger kids, love them!  They are so much fun, but growing up, especially for boys, means growing apart and that is tough to take.  It's what they are supposed to do and my head totally gets that, but my heart isn't quite ready for that yet.  It's like there is a war going on inside me that has me waffling between laughing and crying...it's frustrating.  I really like the laughing better, so inch by inch I'm catching my heart up so that we are all laughing together. :)

This evening the big kid and I had some time to hang out together, that is a blessing.  I asked him how he was feeling about the end of middle school.  He said, "I'm ok with it.  It feels weird to be done, but I'm excited to be going to high school next year.  Still a lot of things have happened during the past three years.  Remember when I threw up on my desk the first day of 6th grade?  And you brought me clean clothes and made me stay all day with barf on my shoes?"  Oh great.....well, he can just add that to the list of things he'll need to tell his therapist one day. ;)  He continued on, "I'll never forget Coach from this year and how she helped me decide between tennis and baseball.  She was always there for me even when I was acting like a fool on the court.  But, the hardest part of being done with that school was saying good bye to the special kids today."  He has used one of his electives the last two years to help in the special education class.  Working with those kids every day for two years has forged some serious bonds.  He told me he started crying today when he had to say goodbye to them. I'm sure he will be thrilled that I just shared that.....he can add that to his "how my mom screwed me up" list too. ;)  Each one of those kids gave him a big hug, one of them said, "I'll never forget you Big kid."  Another one told him he was their favorite.  I think the one that hurt the worst was when the little guy who calls him Gray (no idea why, it is no where near his real name) said, "Hey Gray, you gonna work with me today?  Wanna work with me?"  The big kid was on his way to graduation when he stopped in to say goodbye, so there was no working together today.  His eyes started tearing up while he was telling me about it, so I know it is really weighing on his heart.  I was trying to come up with some sage words of advice when he says, "It will be ok, I'll be able to go by there next year and say hi to all of them sometimes and eventually they will all be at the high school and I'll get to see them there."  Well, I have nothing to add to that...clearly he is more mature than I am.  He's going to do just fine in high school next year. :)

The little one's take on all this graduation and ending of school and blah blah blah goes like this.  "I don't know what all the big fuss is about...it's over, so what, now it's summer and then school will start again.  Jeeez, what's the whooptee do about that?"  Leave it to him to cut things right to the quick.  Then he pulls out his report card and is reading it over and finally says, "APPARENTLY I don't follow directions very well."  And I just spit water out my nose. :))  Thankfully it wasn't the wine hour yet, cuz that would have hurt a little bit. ;)  At least he learned a big word like "apparently", the year wasn't a total loss.  :)

The wine of the day is Kistler Pinot Noir.  No, it's not in honor of the big kid's first kiss last night, they only held hands.  At least that's his story and he's sticking to it.  It's my goal to make those "my mom's mistakes" lists as long as possible.  I'm pretty sure that last tidbit of info will be at least 3 entries. :)  Wahooo!!

Happy Last Day of School Friday!

Boys are good!

We've had another first.  The big kid went to his first school dance tonight...with a date.  What?  I don't know how someone as young as I am has a child old enough to be going to a dance....with a date.  These kinds of events make it hard for me to keep up the rouse that I am only 27.  Jig's up sister, I'm going to have to start owning my 41 and fabulous. ;)

I was informed by the big kid that I would need to have him at a friend's house an hour before the dance started for photos.  He said a few guys and their dates and a few girls that were going as a group were all meeting for photos and going to the dance together.  This sounds like a fine idea to me, of course I want a photo or two.  What happened once we got there was straight out of a John Hughes film. :) Turns out there were about 30 girls and 4 boys coming for photos.  All 30 girls were running around squealing "You look so pretty, I love your dress, Eeeeek this is soooo fun!"  The 4 boys were huddled in a corner with a glazed over, deer in the headlights look in their eyes trying to figure out how to get the heck out of there.  Then the mom's started the photo brigade.  There were so many flashes going off you'd think a strobe light was going off.  I was hoping no one was prone to seizures. ;)  After about 30 minutes of all the girls getting photos in their various groups, as a whole big group, by themselves, with their bff's etc etc, it's time for the boys to come out of hiding.  You would have thought someone just told them they had to eat raw brussel sprouts.  I was standing out of the way just chuckling about all of it.  I did get a picture of the big kid and his date, she is darling by the way, and all 4 boys looked very handsome.  As they are all loading into cars to head to the dance all I can think is...dang, I'm glad I have boys.  Every single girl there was adorable... darling dresses, hair done, make-up on, nails done, matching shoes, perfect jewelry...CUTE!  I can't imagine the preparation that went into getting them ready to go...I'm thinking it took hours!  You know what I did to help the big kid get ready?  I made him a sandwich because he was staaarrrvvving!  Then about 15 minutes before we needed to leave he took a shower. ;)  Oh, how I love boys.

I'm gonna have to go with a box wine today, Black Box chardonnay.  First dance tonight, tomorrow is 5th grade graduation for the middle marking the end of elementary school and 8th grade graduation for the big kid.  Momma's gonna need a tap 'o wine and a crazy straw to muscle through all that.  By this time tomorrow I'll have a high schooler, a middle schooler and a third grader.  Sniff, Sniff, can someone get me a tissue?  And maybe some earplugs, because what all that "end of" means is that the day after tomorrow is the first day of summer vacation. (insert scared face here) Twelve weeks of quality (or quantity) together time is heading this way....sort of like a freight train. ;)

Happy Thursday!

There's no place like home...

Yesterday started out like any other day, everyone went to school and I met a friend at the movies.  Ok, that's not how every day starts, but it sure was a nice treat...even if the movie was horrible. ;)  Besides me seeing a movie on a weekday, there was another notable difference, the air was hot and humid and felt electrified.  All of the local weathermen were forecasting that conditions were perfect for massive storms to fire up during the late afternoon hours.  People were advised to cancel evening activities, business closed early and kids were checked out of school early so that families could hunker down at home together.   Spring storms are a part of life in Oklahoma.  We are all familiar with terms like sink drain, hook echo and vortex.  There are even drinking games devoted to severe weather, every time the weatherman says hook echo take one shot, maxi tornado take two shots etc etc.  I wouldn't recommend this game if you are trying to keep three kids calm when there is a new tornado on the ground about every 3 minutes.  The weather was so severe and lasted for so long yesterday that if you had been playing you would have been face down somewhere by the end of it all, and not because you were taking your tornado precautions. ;)  We spent the afternoon watching the coverage as the storms began to form.  The storm chasers were out and were streaming live footage of tornadoes as they fell from the sky like giant octopus arms grabbing at anything in their path.  We watched 18 wheeler's get blown over, power lines go down and buildings obliterated.  This is all happening less than 30 miles from our house.  Then they went back to the studio while storm chaser A tried to back up real quick out of the way of the debris being hurled at him and showed the radar.  The current projection had us in the direct path of that tornado.  Three boys here are starting to loose it.   They are all running around like crazy people grabbing pillows and bike helmets and water bottles while I'm saying, "Look outside, it's not even raining here yet."  It's time for a diversion, front yard boys.  A little game of burnout with the baseball will calm anyone's nerves...except mine because they all three throw way too hard and I'm scared to death I'm going to catch one in the teeth. ;)  I've got everyone calmed down and am keeping an eye on the radar on my phone when Bud pulls in the driveway.  He hops out of his car and immediately says, "Get your camera out, we need to take pictures of everything before this thing hits."  What?  Did he seriously just pull in here and throw that out?  Good Lord, now everyone is back in a panic.  The little is running around like Chicken Little, the big one is trying to act cool but is high tailing it inside and the middle disappears into the garage.  He emerges a few minutes later and says, "I'm ready!  Nothing's gonna hurt me now." Love that kid. :)  During this chaos the tornado sirens start to blare their warning that there is indeed a tornado on the ground within 10 miles of us.  All I can do is stand there with my hands on my hips huffing, "Why did you have to get everyone all riled up, as if these damn sirens aren't enough to set anyone's switch to full crazy!"  He starts laughing, apparently he was joking about the camera.  Ohhhh, sorry, we've all lost our sense of humor sometime during the last 2 1/2 hours of full drama from weather guys.  Ha. Ha. Ha. :))

Shortly after all that craziness, the monster made a turn north and cut a mile wide path of destruction about 15 miles west of us through several small towns on the outskirts of Oklahoma City.  A mile wide...it's hard to even visualize that.  People's home's were flattened with nothing left but the foundation, cars were in trees, lives were lost; children were pulled from their mother's arms and are still missing.  It is like watching a nightmare playing out on the television.  It is heartbreaking.  It is also a good reminder to hug your kids every day, even when they are being little buggers. ;)  To tell your family and friends that you love them many times every day.  It reminds us that stuff is just stuff and can be replaced.  Dorothy said it best, "There's no place like home", and what makes a house a home is the people inside it.

As our neighbors start the overwhelming task of cleaning up and starting over today, we pray for the families who have lost.  Oklahoma is a place full of amazingly kind people and help will be handed out in a myriad of ways.  Houses will be rebuilt and things that can be replaced will be, and we will move forward.

The wine of the day is Trefethen chardonnay.  It is a very peaceful and easy going white that can be enjoyed with several different entrees and desserts.  I'm feeling some cupcakes coming over here!

Happy storm free Wednesday! :)

One thing I have learned.

This past weekend the little and the middle both played in baseball tournaments.  Thankfully, they were at the same location which makes things so much easier.  It doesn't, however, make it take less time.  We spent the better part of 12 hours at the ball park on Saturday and half the day on Sunday.  My butt now looks like a carton of the stadium cheese that I consumed for 3 meals and is shaped in the form of my pink "sports" chair.  That's a whole other issue, I'll need to take up with my treadmill this week. ;)  I must also apologize to any persons that may have received permanent eye damage from the glare coming off my glowing white legs.  I know it's a scary sight, but after my recent debacle with the self tanner I must concede to the fact that I am indeed white...very white. 

Back to what I have learned...I mean besides the fact that watching baseball is not exercise and self tanner will turn my legs orange every single time I use it. ;)  Over the 11 years that my kids have played some sort of sport I have seen a lot of crazy things.  Some day I will write a book on what I like to call "parent centered" sports and it will say that you should never go to the ball park without  your sense of humor and a good pair of headphones plugged into your ipod.  If you can't laugh at it you better be able to block it out somehow because it can get a little crazy.  The little and the middle both play on teams that are pretty solid and can win some games.  More importantly, both are on teams that have coaches with a great sense of the importance of little league baseball.  Fundamentals are important, but so is having a good time.  There is a lot of grace shown and all of our coaches continually set a great example of sportsmanship.  We are also blessed with families on both teams that are loving, supportive and kind.   I have found that this combination is rare and a gift to be treasured.  Our kids have a limited time to play sports like baseball.  At some point their time on the diamond will be done.  It might be after little league, or maybe high school; a rare few will play college ball.  I once read that your child is more likely to win the lottery in their lifetime than to play a professional sport of any kind.  That includes the professional dart circuit. ;)  Why make any of this limited time stressful for them?  Why get so worked up during games that you set a bad example of yelling at coaches, umpires or 8 year olds?  Why put the "W" in front of the spirit of a child?  If they only have 8 years to play a sport before they aren't good enough or big enough or their interests shift, why take any of the fun out of those precious years?  Bud calls me a quaker because I really don't have a competitive bone in my body, so I know that some of "what I have learned" is just my quakerness coming out.  Regardless, realizing that things end is a great way to appreciate what you have. :)    

The wine of the day is Pink Umbrella Pinot Grigio.  I was told by the local weatherman to take my tornado precautions at 8am this morning because there is a high chance of severe weather this evening.  My precautions include a good bottle of wine on the front porch watching the clouds roll in.  If anyone asks, I'll just tell them I sat outside with my pink umbrella, a perfectly logical thing to do in the rain. ;)  If the severe part kicks in, I'll throw on my bike helmet and use a plastic glass. :))

Happy Monday!

Navigation and Validation

About 14 years ago I was faced with a difficult decision.  There was a new baby in the house and a career on hold waiting for my return.  It's a decision many a mom has to make and it's not an easy one for any of us.  It would help if there was a "right" answer to this question, but there just isn't.  It's different for every mom and every family, and even changes with time and circumstances.  Over the years of staying home I have waffled between loving it and hating it, looking for a job and enjoying my time as home room mom.  My heart knows being home with them is the right decision; sometimes my head gets a little confused on the matter. ;)

On one of our recent trips to a baseball game (have I mentioned that I watch a lot of little league baseball? ;) the little one is chattering away in the back seat.   After a few minutes, he stops mid sentence and asks where we are going.  I'm thinking that should be fairly obvious since he is in his uniform and I have stated at least 15 times that "we need to leave for your game now!"  Being the ever observant one he noticed I was taking a different route to the baseball park from the previous day.  "Yes I am little one, yesterday we were driving during rush hour, so I chose a route that helped us avoid some traffic.  Today is Saturday so this way is actually faster."  He pondered on that for a few minutes and then said, "Seems like most people are driving home from work during the week around dinner time, and then stay home on Saturday.  I wonder if dad could choose if he would work Saturday instead of during the week.  I think he likes having Saturday off to go to baseball games.  Plus he knows that during the week you're home to navigate us."  Then we were both quiet for while, I was pondering the "navigate"statement, and he was probably trying to remember if he had underwear on.  Just kidding, I'm the only one that gives a second thought to the underwear issue, he was probably trying remember if there was a new Sponge Bob coming on later.  I finally had to ask, "What do you mean by navigate?"  He thought for a second and said, "Well, you're always around to take care of us and get us snacks and stuff.  Plus you drive us to practice and games and stuff when dad is at work...you navigate us.  Is that the wrong word there, maybe there's another word for what you do."  No, I like navigate.  He just put my heart two points up on my head in the stay home or work race.  Tomorrow, there will be a big hairy fight between the three of them and my head will catch back up. ;)

Last night the middle had a game (have I mentioned that I watch a lot of little league baseball?  Oh, yes I have mentioned that. ;)  The big one and a friend were doing their usual "we are 14 and too cool to be here" act and decided to wander over to the other side of the park where there was a "flash mob" being staged.  There is a local group trying to get Ellen DeGeneres to come dance with the Thunder Girls at an upcoming playoff game against the Mavericks.   In less than 5 minutes I received this picture from the big kid via text message.

Suddenly these two 14 year old boys are a little more interested in getting Ellen to town. ;)  Nice work boys.  I bet daddy-o is wishing he was "navigating" with the big one about now. :)

The wine of the day is called Little Black Dress merlot.  No games tonight (woot woot) so I think I'll have 2 glasses and then be in the front yard doing a dance similar to Elaine Bennett's from Seinfeld in hopes that it will conjure up some rain clouds!  With a little luck and a little rain, I'll get to don a little black dress of my own and go out on a date tomorrow night! :)  Sometimes a girl needs to be more than just the navigator and #1 fan. ;)

Happy Thursday!

This is a brag...I mean blog. :)

Oh, another day...   That's what I have been saying to myself for about a week, as I am walking out the door to a sporting event.  I must pass by my computer with a million ideas running thru my head of what to write, and keep on walking.  How am I supposed to keep my sanity thru writing if I can't find the time to write?  Sorry keyboard, you will have to wait, I have more important things to do.   Because one day, little league baseball will be over and middle school tennis will give way to high school and then who knows what.  These days of getting to watch my boys play their passions out on the field or court are short lived and a blessing and I wouldn't miss a single one of them...even to write. :)  So here is a pictorial review to the last week in sports at our house.  It's our very own top 10 plays of the week!

State tennis tournament!  Big kid serving an ace...some serious effort goes into that serve, no major league tennis circuit grunting though. ;)

Dang, mom...my should hurts!

5th in the state!! Oh yeah baby!

Over the weekend the little one played in a tournament in a little town west of the metro area.
That is one faaaasssttt little white boy!

It's a pop up....wait for it, watch it...

Caught it!

Such a little ham...he had that same grin on his face when he crossed the plate after a home run!

And then....the grand finale of the weekend...

Chill is in the hoooouuuussseeeee!

First place for the usually struggling Express!!  Sometimes the nice guys do finish first. :)  And the middle left the weekend with a huge trophy and some sweet lace marks on his ankle.  I think he took the phrase "take one for the team" a little too seriously. ;)

The wine of the day is...no wine today.  The little one has team pics and a game this evening so it's back to the ball park.  Best to leave the wine at home. ;)  Or, on second thought...no, better stick with the big gulp.

Happy Tuesday!

Sex Talk 101

WARNING:  As the title suggests, there is some talk of S. E. X. in the blog today.  If that is not something you wish to read about, you might want to come visit me another day. ;)

Earlier this week the middle and I took off for the ballpark.  He had a baseball game and the two of us were heading out early for the warm up.  It is a 10 minute drive.  The middle is a talker, so he was rambling on about something or other and I was tuned out in my own world; then I heard the word sex.  Nothing will snap you out of a nice day dream like the word sex from your 11 year old. ;) What's that you say?  He rolls his eyes and says again, "I saaaaid, hey mom, we are watching the sex video tomorrow in school." All I can think is, your poor teacher.  But I say, "Oh, ok...well, have fun with that.  And don't act like a buffoon, you're going to have to pretend like you are mature for a little bit."  More eye rolling and an exasperated, "Ya, ok, I won't laugh and make crude hip gyrations."  Umm, that really isn't what I meant, but I decided not to take that particular road,  I was having a hard enough time staying on the road I was actually driving on at the moment. ;) He forges on, "So, it's on growth and development and HIV prevention.  Before I go and look like a big idiot, what is HIV, how do you get it and how do you prevent it?"  He and I have already been thru the  "sex" talk a couple of years ago, thanks to the big kid's science homework and the always exciting sperm whale ;) so I was hopeful that a quick "no dirty needles and have safe sex" would do it.  No such luck.  He went right to the obvious question, "What does that mean, safe sex?"  Oh, dear Lord, do I really have to explain this to him on the way to a baseball game?  In less than 10 minutes?  Blah!  I had no time to prepare for this, I just had to do my best, while weaving in and out of traffic like I was playing Frogger. ;)  What I was hoping for was a green light pass to the ball park so that I could defer this conversation until later...when dad was around too.  So what happened?  I got every red light.  He is looking at me expectantly so I have to just plunge right in, "You have sex with only your wife and she has sex with only you and then you are fine.  :) Howweevverrrr, if you just have sex with someone you have to wear a condom."  Saying that without cringing takes a herculean effort.  I should have anticipated the next question, but I was trying to think and drive and not act like I was dyeing inside.  "What's a condom?"  You.Are.Killing.Me. Where is the stinking ball park?  In the calmest, most unexcited voice I can muster I say "It's a rubber thing you put on your ..... self."  He thinks for about half a second and shoots back, "Oh, kind of like a rubber glove for your penis?"  Yep, and I just ran the last red light to get us to the ball park in record time.  Didn't even give him the extra 30 seconds it would take to park, I pulled right up to the gate and send him packing.  Then I parked, took 3 deep breaths and burst out laughing.  Did that just happen?  Wonder how he's going to do in his game tonight...that's a lot of information to process while swinging a bat!  He uncharacteristically struck out the first two times at bat and I am thinking...oh my gosh, what did I just do to him.  He is right now trying to figure out how a glove will fit on that thing and why in the world would you ever want to do THAT!  One of the most amazing things about this kid?  His ability to shake off whatever has just happened and move on.  His third at bat resulted in a walk off home run that scored 3 runs and won the game!
Today he ran off the bus and flew threw the front door, "Hey Mom!  You were right!  You really do know what a condom is! Thanks for explaining that to me the other day, some kids were totally clueless and were really embarrassed by the whole thing."  So, all the sweaty palms and crazy driving were worth it.  Victory!

The wine of the day is Cupcake chardonnay because right now I need to go to my happy place and think about something other than sex talks. Cupcakes are always happy...well so is sex if it doesn't have to do with discussing it with your 11 year old in the car. ;)  I also made some delicious chocolate chip cupcakes to go with my yummy wine.  I'm a firm believer in anything made in my home is "homemade" even if it is from a box mix. ;)  Besides, this particular mix says right on the front that it's made with 100% whole grain so I KNOW it's healthy...I'm having 2!

Happy Wednesday!