Summer Routine?

No. We don't have a summer routine. This deeply disappoints two people in my house. Two people that really need a cruise director. Sadly, we didn't budget for any new employees this summer. So, no cruise director.



One of my friends asked a very interesting question on the FB yesterday. What is the most frequently asked question at your house? No one really replied with anything except me.

'What are we gonna do next?'

'Can I have a snack now?'

'Is my Under Armour shirt clean?'

Children can ask them as many times as they want. The answers are always the same.




'I'm not your cruise director.'

'Is it 3:30?'

'I have no idea.'

I was super bored one day, so I answered their questions with random answers...... for instance, to the question, 'Can I have a snack now?' I replied, 'I have no idea.'

Totally confused them both. So, true to form, one ate a snack and the other walked away with a confused look on his face.



It didn't stop there. Mav came by right before lunch with the standard, 'Is my Under Armour shirt clean?' So I replied, 'Is it 3:30 yet?' He looked at the clock, and walked away. I really chuckled, because Moms are so good at stuff like this. (Or so I thought.)

3:30 rolls around and Mav informs me that it is 3:30 and his shirt still isn't clean. What do I have to say for myself? Smiles. Walks away.

Now, I'm the puzzled one. I get up, go look in the laundry room, stand there for a second, and he re-appears. Just looks at me and says, 'It works both ways Mom.'



(Did I just get zinged? By my own trick?)

I'm just filling the day people. There's no reason for any of this.

I'm home.

While I was away, I think only one of the teenagers missed me. I received one phone call from the smallest boy. The one that has been attached to my hip for most of the summer. He phoned, it went a little something like this:

Me: Hello? What's up cutie?

Mav: Mom, I'm busy but I needed to tell you I made a bead sculpture.

Me: Okay, what are you busy doing?

Mav: Didn't you hear me? I just made a bead sculpture.

Me: Oh! That sounds cool. What of?

Mav: BEADS. Can't you hear me. It's made of BEADS! Little plastic circles... different colors... BEADS!!

Me: Yes, I get that. What are the beads in the shape of?

Mav: Reade, Meg and Penny.

Me: OH... how neat! Why did you......

Mav: Mom, I gotta go. Gaggy is waiting on me to go to the store.

Me: Okay, bye! I love you!

** END SIGNAL **



Sometimes, it's all about the beads.

Multi-Tasking

It's a skill every mom possesses. I'm not always very good at it.

Multi-tasking.

Yesterday afternoon, I amazed even myself.

I was sitting in my newly painted, just short of AmAzing new office finishing up swaps for convention this week. Simultaneously, while also, at the same time I was able to lead two (2) boys in the important packing of the camp bag. One week at camp requires a ton of stuff. All of the stuff is on a list. Neither of my children could stay on the same item of the list, so I ran two different check off lists.

During the important camp bag packing, I also gave verbal instruction on how to appropriately fold. Simultaneously, while also, at the same time giving the second boy instruction on what to write on his 'don't forget' post it note. Then, they switched, and I did the same thing in reverse. (Please keep hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times during this ride.)

Let me sum up all tasks done yesterday afternoon all at the same time:

1. stamp, staple and assemble 40 swaps

2. pack two (2) boys for camp

3. teach them to fold

4. check off two (2) check lists.... in different order.

5. write important post-it notes

ALL AT THE SAME TIME!

Summer isn't for wimps. You may applaud my super power multi-tasking skills.

Summer Discovery

Fox and Mav just completed their first week at Band Camp. Fox plays the trumpet. There's a few stories about that for a later post.

Mav plays the Alto Saxophone. (Just like I did back in the old days..... Or as I like to call them, the '80's.)



Mav just discovered something EXTREMELY COOL about the saxophone. Not as obvious as the sexy saxophone curves and the wicked cool neck strap. Beyond the attractive 'sucking of the reed' and more smooth than that saxophone sound. At band camp, over half of the Alto players are girls.



(This picture snapped just after the cute one on the right asked him, 'Is that your Mom?')

I can't help it! Blog stalkers... my boys are cute! It's not ALL my fault.



Have you met their dad?

More Summer Errands, Updated to Include Children

Summer is rolling right along! There's already been a handful of camps completed and one brief and wonderful weekend trip. (Tulsa, I miss you already!)



We have experienced water parks and restaurants. Professional home cooking and the best of some really giant truck stops. In short, we're just about having the times of our lives, even if I can't figure out how to fit in Driver's Ed.

Today's list of errands included a trip to the eye doctor. Annual check ups don't take very long. Jag will be sporting some glasses soon. Dude can't really see very well. The doctor thought that would become an issue when he starts to drive. (Maybe we should say IF he starts to drive. Remember, we haven't signed up for Driver's Ed yet.) Epic parent fail.

We're in the car, deciding what to have for lunch:

Fox: Mom, can you take us to Hooter's for lunch.

Me: No.

Fox: They have a gift shop.

Me: I'm not taking you to Hooter's.

Fox: They don't have any WAITERS. Only WAITRESSES.

Me: I'm not taking you to Hooter's.

Fox: The chicken there is SOOOO good.

Me: I'm not taking you to Hooter's.

Fox: Why Not?

Me: I don't want the Waitresses to get jealous.

(Car fills with teenage boy laughter.)

We enjoyed Chick-fil-a...... and, nobody had to be jealous.

Summertime

file this under: I don't understand why, but clearly this is the most fun we'll ever have with only dirt and water.





or simply answer: Because they're boys.

Don't blink...

Just take a moment, and let this image soak in.

This is a completely candid shot of Mav, Miss P and Fox. I almost didn't tell the entire blog-o-sphere about this photo, because I didn't want Little to be jealous of this moment in time. Since I know Little, and I know that she doesn't get jealous of things like this, I'm gonna share. Even if Little would have an uncharacteristic moment of jealously, Miss P is certainly capable of defending herself in any battle for boys' attentions.

Really? These are non-issues, because they're all friends.

Just friends.

For now.

But, I'm not letting these three (or any combination of the TWO) out of my sight.



Hey, what are ya'll up to?

Now I Remember.....

We entered the Barnes & Noble just as any family would.... walking with our feet, through the door and into the awesomeness that IS the B&N. We had been anxiously anticipating this trip to 'town'. The boys hadn't been to the new B&N yet, and had heard tales of it having an escalator. That magical traveling device that transports you to the next level of retail books to purchase.

The glorious escalator.

Except, when we entered, we stopped, looked right at the escalator, and Fox announced, 'Now I remember what an escalator is, I don't like it.'

As a close knit, supportive family, we all began to laugh at him. We made him ride the escalator.



After, a few times up and down, he got more used to it.



These two didn't have a problem.



They were only too happy to encourage their brother. I think someone said, 'Don't forget to step off at the end, or you'll get sucked underneath.' Someone else recommended, 'he hold on with just his hands and swing all the way down.'



Yes, I did have my camera in the B&N! Thanks to Terri and Wendy, I am inspired to carry that thing everywhere! See? It brings me joy!



By the time, we made it back to the car, Fox was feeling back to his 'normal-not-normal' self.



I believe we can check RIDE ESCALATOR off his bucket list.

A Frozen Moment in Time

There are moments that freeze time. This picture is not great, but I was being all sneaky and trying to capture a moment in time, so I had to be quick, and I couldn't take the time to let people pose and put on weird smiles.... or, even turn around. It's just one of those times.

We really enjoyed our Spring Break trip to Austin. We were starving one afternoon, and found an old Applebee's restaurant, so we pulled in. There were other people sitting around watching basketball. The hostess sat us in a corner, right by the jukebox.

The jukebox was hanging on the wall, and we were immediately fascinated by it. The lights flashed along with the music and it was all push button friendly. Tons of CDs were inside with hundreds of songs to chose from.

My boys each had an opportunity to make a selection.

Mav and Jag made quick selections, both based on songs they recognized from Guitar Hero. We sat around and laughed about it, they all talked about whether or not they could play along on advanced or beginner levels. It's was funny. It was all 80's music.

Fox sat pretty quiet this whole time, not really having much input other than, he really wanted to hear some Carrie Underwood, because she's so pretty. He went on and on about it. I finally told him that I was pretty sure that jukebox had some Carrie Underwood on it, why didn't he go select something.

He takes his dollar and leaves the table, he's gone for a little while, checking out all the selections. He finally comes back to the table, and Aerosmith starts playing. I just looked at him, a bit puzzled and asked, 'I thought you were going to pick some Carrie Underwood.... what happened?'

His reply was unexpected, to say the least.

'The jukebox didn't have Cowboy Casanova, so I decided, never mind.'

Talking About Girls--From the 2-DQ-Dudes

How, exactly, do 9-year-old boys feel about girls and the things they do?  People, this is a true story....seriously....I couldn't make this up if I tried!

The 2-DQ-Dudes

MM-So do you have any girls? I have 0.

Big- You dont have any girls in your class!?!

MM-No!!! I have 0 girlfriends!!!

Big-(Laughing) Ohhh! I don't have any girlfriends either.

MM-Hey-you have freckles like me right?

Big-Yes.

MM-Tell the girls they are angel kisses-they love stuff like that!

Big-Okay (laughing).


MM-Why do girls think they look good with make up on?

Big-I don't know.

MM-I think rich girls start to wear make up way to soon and it makes them look ugly.  

Big-Yeah sometimes rich girls are really mean.

MM-My mom says that you need to like a girl who loves Jesus and if she doesn't she can make your life really miserable.

Big-Yeah loving Jesus is really important.

MM-Now women, they need to wear make up...have you ever seen my mom without makeup?!?!  Looks like she having a sinus infection...Some girls in CM's class wear make up-he doesn't like it either.