Am I being punked?

Last week, my teenager was on a school sponsored trip when I began texting him to find out the answers to many important questions. (I am almost fluent in 'teenager speak' and have had much success gaining information through the 'art of the text'.) Many questions were asked, only one reply was given.

'idk'

He thought it was really super funny.

On the way home from the spectacular school sponsored trip, the very same teenager began texting me a series of questions that he thought was important. (FYI - if you might need me for transportation purposes on a Saturday, then you might not want to 'punk' me earlier in the evening. Just sayin...) Many questions were asked, only one reply was given.

'Huh?'

He didn't think it was really super funny anymore.

At least I used a capital letter and some punctuation.

Our "Little" Irish Blessing! Happy O'Birthday, Little!!

Today is a happy, happy day in our house....it's Little's birthday!!

Spring Break 2005..."Just the Beginning"

Spring Break 2006...Hittin' the "Terrible 2's!"

   

Spring Break 2007..."The 'Little' Posse!"

Spring Break 2008..."She's a Beauty!"

Spring Break 2009..."The Birthday Blossom!"

Spring Break 2010..."Pretty Princesses!"

Our 'Little' Irish Blessing is Growing Up!!!

Spring Break 2011..."I can make ANYthing look GOOD!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LITTLE!!  WE LOVE YOU!!

Six Degrees of Separation.....

Every good--and healthy--conversation begins like this (right?):

PrissE:  Hey, Sassy!  Does this constitute a "drinking problem??"

Sassy:  No.

PrissE:  WHEW!  I'm keeping bottles...I wanna make a chandelier!  You know, shine some drunken-light on the world!  AJAJAJAJAJAJA (that's 'aahahahahahaha' in Spanish for those who are not bilingual laughers)!  You're Welcome, World.

Sassy:  See!  You're providing a service!  DUH!  WINNING!

PrissE:  Thanks!  It's my 'Tiger Blood-Warlock-ishness.'

Sassy:  I know!  My mind is 'logged-in,'  like the night I made the "Here's Your Vibrating Coaster, Now Go Stand Over There To Wait For Your Table" pager buzz with my mind!

PrissE:  Ajajajajajaja!!!  "Tiger-blood, telepathy, AND wine-bottle chandeliers!"  DUH!  That's WINNING!!!!

Sassy:  Wurd.  Also, next time I get to name something, I'm gonna name it 'Lacedarius.'

PrissE:  I like the name, "Sha-Laundray Isdone."  You know, like "your laundry is done but with the long-a sound at the end of laundray!"  OMG!!!  Ajajajaja!!  It's one of my 'ghetto names' for one of my 'sistah' voices who lives in my head!

Sassy:  Gurl.  Wouldn't it be funny if Lacedarius met and married Sha-Laundray?!

PrissE:  I think they'd name baby #1 "Boniva Bone-Fixa!"  Ajajajajajajja!!!!

Sassy:  fon-et-ikly please....

PrissE:  That's baby #2!!!!!

Sassy:  AJAJAJJAJAJAJAJAJAJA!!!!

**Disclaimer--

No.  We did NOT drink all that wine for the wine-bottle chandelier.  We're just that funny.  You're Welcome, World.

How Do We Love You? Let Us Count The Ways! (Happy Valentine's Day!)

Here are the one's I love:

My man and my babies:

   

My "other family:"

And many, MANY more--I'd put everyone's photo up but the free blog-host said that I was eating up too much storage space with the 7,384 photos on one post and had to "limit" myself.  Whatever.

I digress.

Today, on this day of love, there are seven precious people of whom I have no photos (at least not stored on my machine...and that makes me nervous because that means I've "done something" with very important pics!).  So let me paint a picture for you: 

Kari Rhoads:  How does the Knight family love you?  Let us tell you the ways:  We love you because when my son and his parents were terrified, you knew it.  You didn't let on that you knew it, but you did know it.  You welcomed us all for who we were, you taught our whole family how to be okay in a time of unnerving change, and you truly enjoyed us.  That kind of acceptance can't be faked...that is just who you are no matter whether someone is looking or not.  We love you.

Jamie Green:  How does the Knight family love you?  Let us tell you the ways:  You are kind.  You love something about every person you spend your days with, and you understand that each person is bringing something new to the table every day.  You loved me on (and off of) my schizo-days,  you loved my boy every bouncing-off-the-wall day of the whole year.  You let him be him...and you loved him for it.  That kind of love isn't given because it has to be...that is just the precious heart you have for kids (who, incidentally, you see as "people," too)!  We love you.

Georgia Crume:  How does the Knight family love you?  Let us tell you the ways:  Positively charged.  There's no other way to describe you and why we love you other than to say you are Positively Charged.  Day two:  new boy disobeys teacher in semi-dangerous experiment....you punch his behavior card.  End of story, no beating of a dead horse, done.  Mom emails you to apologize profusely...you say--and I quote--"It is really not a problem.  I really think he just wanted to continue the experiment beyond the scope of our lesson.  He's really a great kid and such a pleasure."  I know that's teacher-speak, I spoke it, too.  But, after getting to know you, I believe you truly meant it!!!  That kind of positivity is a choice...and you choose it no matter what each day brings.  We love you.

Sanae Allison, Angela Robinson, Keely Perkins:  How does the Knight family love you?  Let us tell you the ways:  Don't feel slighted, girls, because I've bunched you together.  You know, as do I, that 5th grade is a strange grade for kids--end of elementary/prepping for jr. high.  This is the year when "Tag-Team-Teaching" is SO necessary!  So, I can't very well speak of one of you without speaking of the others.  There you go.  You show such a cohesion in your raising-of-our-children, that it is sometimes difficult to see where one ends and the next begins (by very nature, the definition of "team").  And, notice I say raising, not teaching.  Eight hours a day, five days a week...you bet I'm giving some credit for who my kids choose to be where credit is due.  You ladies deserve some of the accolades when my boy makes good choices.  You teach and behave by example, it only stands to reason that some of his good choices are due to your influence.  We love you because you love us.  You expect our best every day.  You hold us accountable when we don't bring it, and you offer us opportunities to make changes so that we do bring our best.  That kind of understanding of humanity can't be taught....it can only be learned through experience.  With that great knowledge comes great responsibility.  You don't take your responsibility lightly...and you hold us to that same standard.  We love you.   

Finally, Christi Kendall:  How does the Knight family love you?  Let us tell you the ways:  You are understanding.  You seemed to know, immediately, that our family may fire on all cylinders, but our cylinders aren't always "normal!"  And you made us feel understood and loved.  You hold us accountable for our actions--not our personalities.  You make it known to us, often, that you embrace our personalities and wouldn't want to change us for anything.  You make us feel special.  Every day.  Somehow.  Without effort.  We know we have a special place in your world.  We know that you don't want to change us, but only to enjoy us.  That kind of affection can't be forced...it's just you letting us be us...which is powerful.  We love you.

I can't express all the love my family feels for these above ladies in one blog post.....we love them too much.  But I can tell you, if you can't express this kind of love for your child's teachers, you're missing out.  

In no finer hands could I have placed my children than the hands blessed to teach.   

Jag.

we are so proud of you.



large accomplishments.



or small.



just because.



you're a great guy.



happy birthday.

That's what they said.

I thought it'd be funny this morning to share some things that people have said to me recently..... for the record, I remained mostly calm in all these examples.

Does this mean I'm maturing? Nah......

Some random child asked:
"Is there anyway I can get some clean underwear before tomorrow?"


Some random teacher was 'asking me for a favor' when she said:
"What are you doing 8th period?"

me: "Going home. I have a conference."

"But, you're being paid for the whole day, right?"


Some random idiot said:
"The birthday party went really well, except Fox just wouldn't stop eating! He ate 5 pieces of pizza!!"

I couldn't control myself (because, you better leave my babies alone), so I asked, "Is that all? What? Did you run out or something? I know these parties are expensive, but the children need to eat."

Finally, I have to share a moment in BFF history. I was wondering out loud to PrissE about what we should wear to an upcoming social event.....

me: "I was thinking hats would be fun. But, I don't even have a hat, and I don't want to turn this into a costume event."

PrissE: "I have hats."

me: "Hats it is!"

See? Sometimes all you need is a 'partner in crime' to make everything all 'normal' again.

Wait..... What's normal again?

Muffins with Mom

Today started out in the best possible way.



Here's the story. Last week, PrissE was all dramatic and serious when she asked me for a 'GIANT' favor. It'd be alright if I said No, because this was a really 'BIG' favor. Twenty-bazillion weird ideas were rolling through my crazy brain! I started getting a little concerned about what PrissE was going to ask me to do!

"Would you be able to go next week to 'Muffins with Mom' at Little's school? I'm gonna be out of town that day, and so is Oma. Little is so disappointed that I can't go. I didn't tell her you'd go! I just thought I'd ask."

Whew! Really? That's it? Sure! I can go!

Then, I started the preparations. I called Little to ask what she was wearing. She said I should wear a flower in my hair. So, I started coordinating outfits that would be appropriate with flowers.

Many a text was sent back and forth in the days leading up to Muffins. I started to get even more excited! I went shopping and bought matching flowers for our hair. I went to bed early the night before, and set my alarm to get up a few minutes early, so I'd have plenty of time to get ready.

The morning of Muffins, I woke up early. I got ready excitedly, changing my outfit no less than THREE (3) times before settling on the right combination of turquoise-flowers-rhinestones-sparkly shoes. I dropped my own boys at school early, so I'd have time to drive to Little's school and park, because Little goes to big town school, where there's more than 15 cars in a real parking lot with actual signs and marked parking spaces.

I parked appropriately and dashed into the school building, got directions to the cafeteria, and eventually found Little. Then, something funny happened. She looked surprised to see me!

"Hey Little! I'm here! Is it too late for muffins?"

She smiled, showed me her classroom, I met her teacher, then hustled down to the cafeteria for the Muffins. Funny enough, Little had already had one round of muffins, but since I was there, she showed me the procedure for getting food, and had a second breakfast.

We selected Muffins, and sat at the table to eat. She was being uncharacteristically quiet and a little weird.(You know, even for Little.) I asked her what was up? She just smiled at me and said, "I've missed you."

OK, could you please put my heart back into my chest now?

I've missed you too Little!

Hug. Hug. Hug. Happy. Happy. Happy.

I took this picture of her.



She took this picture of me.




EVERYONE at school thought I was her Aunt, you know, because we have the same hair color, and have similar sassy characteristics. (Like doing the robot during teacher instruction.) At first, I wanted to tell them all I was her 'big sister' because that's all funny on a new level, and that makes PrissE like 20 years or so older than she really is.

I didn't tell any fibs about how we're related. I just told the truth, 'We're best friends.'

Then, someone said, "Well, you look like you go together."



I guess that's the best thing about me and Little. We go together.