Tonight, I Went On a Date!

. . . with my son! (Gotcha!!!) After Christmas I promised the boys I would take each of them out alone. I would love to do it on a regular basis, but it never seems to happen like I plan it, so I just thought it would be fun to do all of them at that time. AJ and Stephen got their date with Mom, but it just kept not working out for Josh and I. (Mostly him. The kid has quite a busy social life for a 12-year-old homeschooler with few extracurricular activities!)

We went out for ice cream and to see the movie "Eragon." I caught up on some things I'm trying to hold him accountable in, and asked him lots of questions about things going on. Yeah, I got the "blah, blah, blah" comments and looks, but I needed the time to listen to him even if he wasn't crazy about talking. After quickly catching up (quick for me, long and drawn out for him), we just talked. It cracks me up to talk to my 5 1/2 foot son with his deep booming voice. Not only does his physical appearance and voice remind me every moment that he's growing up, but just the direction of the conversation is different. We can talk so much more maturely, and I'm feeling more confident about sharing little things with him that I wouldn't have before--like funny things that have happened, and memories from my life and such. It was weirdly like being out with a friend instead of my son.

OK. I'm panicking a little! Quit growing up! Did you hear me? I said QUIT IT!

Nope. He's still growing. And no matter what I do he won't quit.

Ya know the other thing that concerns me? Is he going to grow into those feet? Like puppies do? 'Cause I'm thinking I can't afford that sized shoe. (Or the rest of the clothes to go with it.)

Quit growing. Now!

Hooray! Winter is Here!

I woke up early this morning to rain that has been coming down all night. If you're in Florida in January, that is like waking to snow. It means a cold-front is coming through. So I checked the weather predictions for today and discovered to my delight that it is finally going to be COLD!!! It's supposed to be in the 50's all day!!! (Yes, you heard me right, the 50's. Hello! We're in Florida, and it's not been below 60 all winter, so yes, I'm excited about 50 degree weather.) My apologies to those of you who are in the 20's, or even lower today, and who are facing snow, but be honest now, you've had unseasonable warm weather for most of this winter too, so what are you complaining about? Besides, who decided to live where it snows half the year?

It is going to rain and be cold all day. (OK. Stop rolling your eyes. I'm a native Floridian.) Stop by my homeschool blog to check out what I'm planning on doing for school today. Yes, I know I'm a bit impulsive, but today demands something different . . . . if only to celebrate the winter chill.

Can you hear my teeth chattering?

A Blog You MUST See

Yes, this is it. Here you will see sweet, homemade handiworks (please buy something, so her husband will let her keep blogging!), glean timeless kernels of wisdom (from a mother of SIX who is my role model for being a wife and mother!!!), and just plain have fun. So come meet my bestest pal Eva, and visit this blog often as she shows off her many talents!

It's Amazing What Two Full Days of Sleep Can Do

After being sick and sleeping for 36 hours straight, with an additional 12 or so on the couch, I was up half the night last night. I woke unexpectedly this morning around the right time. The circumstances were a little different than I planned, but I was saved from missing the alarm clock that hadn't been set, and it was early enough for a sweet quiet time with my Beloved, so it was worth it. Started my day off much more focused.

I thought I'd really be dragging after being up so late and rising so early, but as you can see, I'm still here at 2am. But I'm ready for bed, so after I write one more post, I'm hitting the hay!

Don't Try to Please Me . . . Please!

It's 3am and I can't sleep. I hate nights like this. I have spent the last hour or so "surfing" Walmart's music downloads. This is the order of what I looked at and listened to:

1. David and the Giants (Rats! NOBODY remembers them anymore!)


2. Randy Travis


3. George Strait


4. Kenny Chesney (don't particularly like this guy, just wanted to see if I knew any of his songs)


5. Rascal Flatts


6. Tim McGraw


7. Garth Brooks


8. Harry Connick, Jr.


9. Bobby Darrin


10. Dean Martin


11. The Sound of Music (They actually have TWO movie soundtracks to choose from!)


12. Oklahoma (Is that REALLY Wolverine [Hugh Jackman] singing "Surrey with the Fringe on Top?")


13. Carousel (Doesn't ANYBODY remember Shirley Jones and Gordon McRae???)


14. Yul Brenner (Gosh! Don't these guys do any other roles? I only found the original Broadway Cast, but I was looking for the movie.)


15. South Pacific (at least some movie soundtracks still make it in there!)


16. Topol (for Fidder on the Roof, but I only found the original London cast, and even then only one song. I want the movie soundtrack!)


17. Camelot (but I got mad 'cause they only had one, and IT wasn't the movie soundtrack either!)


18. Rogers and Hammerstein


19. Gershwin show tunes


20. The Mamas and the Papas


21. Sonny and Cher


22. The Carpenters

Throw in a little Reggae, some Heavy Metal, and some Bach or Beethoven and I'd be "well-rounded!" Incidently, the boys and I had some free downloads, which we used a couple days ago on lots of Christian music, so that's why I was exploring other . . . errr . . . interests, tonight.

I'm not sure which is weirder: the odd list of music, or the fact that I was doing this at three in the morning!

That's Not What I Said

Today in the car the boys asked where we were going next. I said, "Home to get the baby corral out for [a friend borrowing it]." (The baby corral is an eight piece fence that I use instead of a playpen. I love it!)

AJ said, "Golden Corral! I love that place!" Ummm . . . no . . . we're NOT eating out!

So then I explained to them that I was talking about the baby corral. Within minutes I heard AJ and Stephen chattering.

"Yeah! And it would serve only mashed up foods--banana yogurt, and squashed carrots, and that stuff . . . "
". . . .And it would have baby pizza--crackers with soft stuff on top of it . . . "
". . . Oh! And the drink bar would only serve milk, apple juice, water, and formula!"
"And there would be stroller parking . . . "
". . . and high chairs at every table!"

Know what they were talking about? That new sit-down buffet food chain: "Baby Corral"

It's Going to Be One of THOSE Days . . .

Two of my boys woke up about an hour ago throwing up, one right after the other. Some years ago, this would have done me in, and I'd have been right alongside them. As a kid, I used to have to run from a room if I even heard someone getting sick. My family thought this was hilarious.

. . . Yeah. Real funny.

I don't run anymore, and do a rather formidable job of taking care of them as they are sick, but I still have retained a little of the freak-out reaction. So please pray for me today. I have a feeling it's going to be a long one.

Ummm . . . the Tooth Fairy is VERY busy!

. . . and forgot to bring AJ his money . . . for the last tooth, and for this one that he lost day before yesterday. Don't worry. The Tooth Fairy's not looking for a raise in her salary. Just a Daytimer . . . and an assistant. We told AJ she was catching up from all the Christmas backlog. Yeah, you know . . . all those kids that lose their teeth at the holidays (Haven't you ever heard the song "All I Want for Christmas? Don't you think it comes from somewhere?) I think he bought it. All right, all ready . . . just smile and nod and go with it, OK?