Has this place become a ghost town, or what? I’m excited to see the new Xanga, and get the volume going again. I miss ya’ll!

“Mama! I gotta go FISH!” he  yells. This prompts me to hop up as quickly as I can and grab his little hand. Off we run to the bathroom. His version of fishing requires no  pole. It requires a potty and a strong constitution. Somewhere along the way he got in the habit of referring to his #2 bathroom activity as “going fish”. I don’t know why. Perhaps he thinks it looks like fish swimming. It’s hard to know.
He’s in a funny little stage right now. Anywhere we go, the store, the park, a restaurant, he loves to sing his ABC’s, and at the top of his lungs. Bystanders either think it’s absolutely precious, or maybe the most annoying thing they’ve ever heard. Either way, it does no good to tell him to stop. That just breaks his little heart and he’ll start crying. Which makes the people who thought it was cute think you’re a terrible person, and it makes the people who didn’t like the ABC’s wish you could go back to that.

As we sit in the bathroom, him on the throne and me on the floor, he’s giving it all he’s got. He pushes on his own little belly to “help”. “I gotta push the button!” he says, pressing on his belly button.  I start laughing. It’s kind of hilarious. Then he says, “Mama, I need a hug!” So I get up, and give him a winner of a hug, all while he’s still sitting on the pot. This cracks me up even more. I start laughing, which makes him start laughing. We’re in the bathroom, him on the potty, me bending over, hugging tight and laughing.

All the while he’s fishing.

If this doesn’t sum up parenting, I don’t know what does.

This has been the fastest summer ever! I can’t believe tomorrow is back to school!

This boy just kills me! We saw a movie last night and he was having SO much fun. He kept saying, “This is the best movie, ever!”

If 6 people have the same tummy bug and vomit, each pile will look unique. Sort of like fingerprints.

If your AC window unit leaks and you have to sit towels underneath it, and 6 people have tummy bugs at your house, you will have a LOT of towels to wash.

If you sort and organize school supplies for 4 or more back-to-schoolers, you may lose your mind.

If you browse Pier 1, with no children in tow, after having two glasses of wine at dinner, you may buy an owl cookie jar because it matches your owl measuring spoons.

If you replace 3 illness ruined pillows, everyone will want a new pillow.

If you sit on your tush long enough, nothing gets done.

If you lift weights with your husband, you might be sore for DAYS.

My sister left this morning. She’s two years older than me, and happens to be my best and oldest friend in the entire world.  Due to some unforeseen circumstances, she had to come down here last week and stay a few days with my family. She brought her two youngest children with her. The unforeseen circumstances took a little longer to deal with and they ended up bunked in our house for a whole 10 days. Despite the fact that our kind of tiny house had 7 children and 3 adults, lots of noise, leaky window ac units, a crap ton of laundry, and the occasional child-melee, it was a wonderful visit. We haven’t spent 10 days together since she lived with me and Steven for a few months way back in 01.

You see, we live just far enough apart that we only get to see each other a couple times a year. We text daily, or call. I discuss everything with her, from big news, down to what I had for breakfast yesterday and the fact that I think tomorrow I’m going to have a migraine.  There’s not much about me she doesn’t know and vice versa. I love her. And I hate the miles that separate us. It was so nice to be able to run over to the kitchen store with her and browse. Or go go to the pool together with all the kids. Or to just hang out, or watch t.v., together. 

We often imagine dreamily what it would be like to live closer, but life does not allow that possibility right now. We just say, “Maybe someday.” and go on about our business. So, after she left this morning, and Steven looked at me with all the kindness in the world in his eyes and said, “I knew you’d be sad today, you’re always sad when she goes.” I had to go in the bathroom and cry. I hate crying!  But I did it anyway. And tomorrow I’ll have a migraine. And Ronda already knows.

my answers to SaintVi’s survey

What was the last thing you put in your mouth? Straight up chocolate

Have you ever kissed anyone named Matthew? I don’t think so.

Where was your profile picture taken? My office

Can you play guitar hero? I think I did one time.

Name someone that made you laugh today? The shelter’s accounting ladies. They are hilarious.

How late did you stay up last night and why? Until 1:30 AM. Because I had a terrible headache and it was SO hot.

If you could move somewhere else, would you? Sure. Tahiti. I’d live in one of those huts with the glass floor to watch the fish and I’d be tan and swim all day and stuff.

Ever been kissed under fireworks?  Probably not, I’d be like, hey, we can kiss anytime but we’ll only see this thing detonate once!

Which of your friends lives closest to you? Xanga friends? I’m not really sure.

Do you believe ex’s can be friends? Yes.

How do you feel about Dr Pepper? I like it.

When was the last time you cried really hard? Last week.

Where are you right now? my desk.

What bed did you sleep in last night? Isaac’s bottom bunk.

What was the last thing someone bought for you for dinner? My in-laws bought Chicken Express for Sunday Dinner last week.

Who took your profile picture? Me I think

Who was the last person you took a picture of? Oliver

Was yesterday better than today? I’ll let you know tomorrow.

Can you live a day without TV? I could, and have many times.

Are you mad about anything? I could get there if I tried.

Are you upset about anything? I have a finance meeting this afternoon. I find math upsetting. If you put those together . . .

Do you think relationships are ever really worth it? They’re probably the only things actually worth anything.

Are you a bad influence? I can be. Or I can be a good influence depending on the topic or vice.

Night out or night in? Mostly night in, but I like an occasional night out too.

What items could you not go without during the day? Is oxygen an item?

Who was the last person you visited in the hospital? a client.

What does the last text message in your inbox say? “on the schedule for tomorrow”

How do you feel about your life right now? I’m alive, and that really is a blessing.

Do you hate anyone? Probably not.

If we were to look in your xanga inbox, what would we find? Random stuff.

Has anyone ever called you perfect before? Not something I get accused of.

What song is stuck in your head? Well I’m listening to Passenger on my iphone does that count?

Someone knocks on your window at 2am, who do you want it to be? I don’t want anyone to knock on my window at 2 am. That’d scare the you know what out of me.

Wanna have grandkids before you’re 50? only if my kids are ready to have kids by then. Alex will be 29. Oliver will be 19 so all the kids will be adults and it’s entirely possible. I don’t really have expectations though on what the boys will do with their lives. I’d much rather wait and see what they want to be doing.

Name something you have to do tomorrow? work.

Do you think too much or too little? Depends on the day/time/weather/mood/position of the sun/how much laundry is nearby

Do you smile a lot? Yes.

Who was your last missed call on your Mobile phone? an unknown number

Is there something you always wear? my wedding ring. And deoderant.

What were you doing 30 minutes ago? a finance report

Did you have an exciting last weekend? We had my MIL’s bday party. Today is her 71st Birthday, by the way. I <3 her.

Have you ever crawled through a window? Yes. I don’t really remember why.

Have you ever dyed your hair?  Yes.

Are you wearing a necklace? No. which is funny because I usually am.

Are you an emotional person?  I can be.

What’s something that can always make you feel better? music. chocolate. Ice cream. Gary Allan.

Will this weekend be a good one? I hope so.

What do you want right now? For my finance meeting to be over already.

Have you ever worn the opposite sex’s clothing? Yeah. When I was a kid, my mom used to buy boys clothes for me and my older sister because they were cheaper than girls clothes.

Have you ever worked in a food place? I worked at grocery stores, gas stations, gas stations that sold handmade sandwiches, that I made, and an Italian eatery called Fazoli’s.

What’s on your schedule for tomorrow? It’s starting to feel stalkery.

Does anyone know your xanga password? I don’t think anyone I know could possibly even care about my xanga password let alone know it. ha.

Here you go, @SaintVi

In just over 2 short weeks, 4 of my 5 boys will be back to school. I’ve compiled one main shopping list from the published school supply lists for each of their grades and schools. So, how much do you think this is gonna cost?

2 boxes colored pencils
2 pencil pouches
6 boxes #2 pencils
2 packages cap erasers
1 package each red, blue, and black ink pens
22 glue sticks
1 large zipped binder with carrying strap
1- 1 & 1/2 inch clear view binder
5 packages wide ruled paper
1 package 3×5 note cards
1 package subject dividers
2 packages subject dividers with pockets
2 flash drives
2 plastic 12 inch rulers
5 boxes 24 count crayons
ear buds
1 protractor
1 four function calculator
2- 5×8 school boxes
3 pairs scissors, Fiskars, 5″ sharp
1 package sticky notes 1 7/8″ x 1 7/8″
3 spiral notebooks
1 pocket folder no brads
4 bottles hand sanitizer
4 containers Clorox wipes
1-8 count washable markers
1-8 count PRANG watercolors (no Crazy Art brand)
1 rest mat, 5/8″
2 EXPO dry erase markers
2 bottles liquid handsoap
4 large boxes facial tissue
1-100 count facial tissue
1 package 9 oz clear plastic cups
and last but not least
1 box Ziplock quart size storage bags