So, what'd you do this weekend?

These pictures need no words...






...but I've got some anyway.

You know when your phone rings at 11:45 pm and the teenager is supposed to be home at midnight, that there is not good news awaiting you on the other side of the phone.

Sure enough, Will started the sentence to his dad like..."Um, Dad? I've got a little problem. You see, we finished setting up the chairs at Church for the thing tomorrow, and then we started watching the game at John's house, but it got boring so we decide to go drive around...the thing is...I sorta got stuck."

"Hummm." Says Sir D. "I'm fairly certain that your mom told you to call and let us know if you were going to be somewhere other than the church or John's house."

"Yeah. I remember that now." says Will.

"I'll be there in a few minutes." Sir D takes Bob and heads off into the night (the dark, cold, dreary, drizzly night) to rescue his wayward first born son.

About 5 teenage boys thought it would be fun to do donuts in a field (a CITY PARK field) after its done nothing but rain for about two weeks.

Not surprisingly, Will's truck got stuck. Sir D tried to pull it out with our Excursion, but while the EX has all the torque and horsepower (I have no idea what that really means) necessary to do the job, it is also very heavy and just about got stuck itself. So, Sir D did what any good dad of a teenage boy does. He told him he couldn't get it out tonight and Will would have to make some calls in the morning to see if he could figure a way out of the literal mess he'd gotten stuck in.

Sir D had to jump the other boys truck as leaving the lights on while they tried to get Will's truck out of the mud had drained the battery.

Once Sir D got my boys back in the EX and the other delinquents boys on their way home, they headed home themselves. They were completely muddy and sopping wet.

The next day, Will was able to get ahold of a friend of his who has a 4x4 with a winch to come pull him out. The cost? $20 and a case of Dr Pepper.

The city called him before they got there to get the truck and told him he they had a wrecker on the way to get the truck and it would be impounded. It would be VERY expensive to get it out. Will told the dispatch lady that he was on his way to get it out. The lady said she'd tell the wrecker to put it last on his list, but if it was still there when the wrecker got there he'd take it.

I'd say Will dodged a few bullets this weekend and learned a few things in the process.

1. donuts in a city park after its rained for 2 weeks is not a good idea.

2. always make sure someone in your party is driving a 4x4 if you choose to ignore rule #1

3. you have a cell phone, use it to tell the parental units where you are

4. your dad knows quite a bit about mudding, interestingly enough

5 an incident such as this will cause your dad and uncle's to reminisce about all the times they got cars stuck in the mud in their youth, negating any possible lesson that might have been learned by the teenager


Will did get disciplined for not being where he said he was going to be, but all in all, it wasn't so bad. When the phone rings at 11:45 at night I tend to expect the worst. This was just a little mud.

Teenagers!

John Wayne will Graduate After-all!

You will all be happy to know that John Wayne, AKA Will, has decided to graduate with the association after all.

Sir D and I went to the meeting and put our names on the list for graduation. There are about 20ish kids graduating from our association. Not all of them go to the co op. In fact, most are attending the community colleges for duel credit.

He also found out that 2 of his best friends (who are doing duel credit with him) are graduating with the association.

Sir D and I did tell him that we would not force him. We thought it would be really neat for him to do it. We told him a little about the ceremony and how it's done. It's very family oriented and each family creates a power point presentation with pictures of their child while the Dad's voice can be heard giving a message to the graduate. It's really amazing. I would have been heart broken to have him miss it.

HOWEVER, I have learned a thing or two in this last 18 years of parenting and one of those things is that it's not really all about me (I KNOW!).

I told Will that I think it would be a neat experience and I'd like him to do it, but I understand if he'd rather not and I would not force him to do it. If he'd prefer we could throw a small party or do nothing at all. The choice was up to him.

Well, after talking to his buddies who are graduating, and after having some more information about what exactly was going to happen at the ceremony (after Sir D and I went to the meeting) he decided to do it.

Whew! Crisis averted.

(And thank you all for your comments and advice! I'm telling you, the blogosphere is just chock full of wisdom!)

John Wayne Graduating

I mentioned to Will that his dad and I would be going to the graduation meeting with our homeschool association tonight.

He asked me who was graduating.

Um. Huh?

I told him HE was graduating. Being that he was a senior in high school and all.

He told me that since he was already taking all college classes, he really didn’t want to do the whole ‘graduation thing’ with our homeschool association.

I was flabbergasted.

NOT do the graduation thing?

I do not know what to think about this. I mean, I guess he’s right. He’s not taking any classes at the co op this year. He is taking all his classes at the community college, and next year he’s just going to continue taking classes at the community college, albeit a different one so he can become a paramedic.

So, I don’t know what to do. No cap and gown. No senior pictures. No commencement address. No graduation photo.

Just hand me the diploma and let’s move on, he says. I don’t really need all the hoopla, he says.

Why does this make me sad? Maybe after homeschooling this kid, my first kid, all the way to graduation, I need all the hoopla.

And don’t you think that one day he’s going to look back at the graduation rite of passage and wish he’d done it? What should I do? I mean, I think if I told him we’re doing it, he would do it, but it would be for me and not because he wants to.

So, pomp and circumstance, or let him walk John Wayne style off into the sunset?

Over the Top, Much?

I thought you all might find this exchange that took place on Facebook between me and friend of mine, amusing. We were talking about the children’s picture book The Story of Ferdinand, which is one of my all time favorites, that I was planning to read to my Book Club class at the homeschooling co op my family attends.

I guess it’s a job hazard of the homeschooling mom to perhaps read a little too much into a children’s book.

Me:
I think I say this every week, but *this* is my favorite children's book! I'll be reading this one to my class tomorrow. (I included a photo of The Story of Ferdinand in my status update)

Her:
He always bothered me. okay.... trust me, I will not be talking to/influencing your kiddos tomorrow. and you can depend on me to keep my thoughts to myself should you see me in the halls. lol : >

Me:
I know some people are bothered because they see it as an encouragement for alternative lifestyles or pacifism. I guess I just see it as a book that says it's okay to be the you that God created you to be. That's what I pull out of the book when I read it with the kids. Please God, not man, and you're on the right track. :)

Her:
oh, wow. I never went that deep with it. I just thought he was boring. sweet, but boring. : >

Me:
Hahaha! Sorry ‘R’. Sometimes Sir D looks at me when I'm discussing various children's books and says, "Maybe it was just a cute story written for kids and you're reading too much into it?" Perhaps I really should dial it down a notch! :)

Introversion

*Introverts tend to be more reserved and less assertive in social situations. They often take pleasure in solitary activities such as reading, writing, drawing, playing musical instruments or using computers. The archetypal artist, writer, sculptor, composer, and inventor are all highly introverted. An introvert is likely to enjoy time spent alone and find less reward in time spent with large groups of people, though they tend to enjoy interactions with close friends. They prefer to concentrate on a single activity at a time and like to observe situations before they participate. Introverts are easily overwhelmed by too much stimulation from social gatherings and engagement. The introvert tends to think thoroughly before verbalising their thoughts.

Introversion is generally not the same as shyness. Introverts choose solitary over social activities by preference, whereas shy people avoid social encounters out of fear.


I am an introvert by nature. This surprises people in my real life because I am not shy and people tend to equate shyness with introversion. I can be ‘on’ on social situations. I can even be chatty. Especially in social situations I am comfortable in like my Bible Study group. These are mostly ladies I’ve known forever. Most of us have been in this bible study for going on 8 years now so I’m totally comfortable there and tend to be probably chattier than some would like!

The thing is, it drains me. It does not energize me. Being alone energizes me. To sit in the quiet and just think or write or read or just BE. I know it sounds nuts but sometimes I just need to be in the quiet. My husband does not understand this. He absolutely does not get why I would like to just be home ALONE sometimes. I have to be careful to not hurt his feelings. It’s not that I don’t want to be with him it’s just that sometimes I need NO outward stimuli! NO TV, NO talking, NO sound. NO input. To him this makes no sense.

I’ve tried, over the last many years to explain it to him, that I feel fed, filled up, energized, recharged when I can just sit and be quiet and alone with my thoughts, but he just gives me that look like I’m nuts.

For instance, today, right now, I’m home alone. It’s dark and rainy outside and I have not raised the blinds. The TV is off and It is quite dark and quiet in the living room. I LOVE IT. It’s so rare. The kids are only at co op once a week and I teach so I’m with them most of the day, but for a few hours, a few precious hours, I’m home alone. Often Sir D will stop by and see me. He’s on his way right now. I have to get up and open the blinds or he’ll think I’m loony for sitting in the dark.

*sigh*

It was so nice to have these few minutes of alone time. I’m not nuts, right? There are others out there like me, right? Other introverts who just can’t wait for that next minute to be alone and quiet?




* So says Wikipedia

12 Year Old Doctors and Green Nail Polish

The blog’s been a little quiet lately. I wish I could say it’s because my life’s been a little quite and I have nothing to report.

Sadly that is not the case. Although the nothing to report part might be true. Most of what keeps me busy these days is the mundane. The day to day of keeping all these big people doing what needs to be done and clothed and educated and ferried around from place to place.

We have had one noteworthy incident…



Eve broke her foot about a month ago, which I have mentioned. The thing is, last week’s X-Ray showed that it is not healing and the doc we were seeing suggested a specialist. He said the specialist will most likely want to do surgery to pin it.

Oh, Joy.

Well, we saw the specialist yesterday. He was a nice man who was from a French speaking area of Africa originally. He was very nice and very smart and talked VERY fast in his French/African accent. He also had a person with him who he was talking too. He was telling this person everything he was doing and why. One would assume this person would be a med student, correct? Ah, that would be wrong. They must teach Doctor Arrogance 101 early in the course of study, because this NOT student had it in spades.

I was trying to explain to Eve why the Dr was telling everything to this other guy (the African Dr had stepped out and the NOT student Dr was still in the room.) I asked the NOT student if he was a med student and he looked at me sort of smugly and said in a rather exasperated tone “No. I’m not a med student, I’m a second year resident.”

I replied graciously to this annoying little upstart who was hardly older than my son, “Oh, interesting. Could you please explain to us how it all works? 4 years of college, and then what?”

He sighs but deigns to graciously educate us on the ways of medical education.
“4 years of college, 4 years of medical school and then residency. The length of residency depends on your chosen specialty. Once you’re a resident you’re considered a doctor.”

So, now you know. The little punk who was young enough to be my son was a doctor.

Sheesh I’m getting old.

So back to Eve. He put her in a cast. Not like the removable one she had been wearing. No, this is a cast cast. 4 weeks of crutches, no weight on it at all, itches you can't scratch, and plastic bags while she bathes.

It is a last ditch effort to avoid surgery, but one the African Doctor (you know, the one who was not 12) thinks will work.

I hope he’s right. I’m afraid to ask which of the 2 doctors would be performing the surgery. I don’t think I could let Doogie Howser operate on my baby, no matter how many years of residency he’s completed.

And just in case your curious, Eve chose a green cast.



Because she had the nail polish to match. That is how the mind of a pre-teen girl works.

Monday...

This random and somewhat disjointed list is all I could come up with today. I'm sorry. But it's Monday. And it's morning. And I don't really like either...

1. The boys have been split up. I don't know if I've mentioned that or not. Will has been moved to the back/extra room. It was the only extra overflow sort of space in the house. It is an official bedroomish thing, with a closet and bathroom, but it also has a door to the back of the house. But the kid's 18 so...

2. Eve's broken foot? Yeah, still broken. In fact, it still as broken as it was 4 weeks ago. We have an appointment with the surgeon on Wed. It seems somehow appropriate. We started the year out with hand surgery for Will, so it seems right, in a sick sort of way, to end it with foot surgery for Eve.

3. Bob got his permit a few weeks ago so I'm relegated to passenger status again. I don't like being the passenger BTW.

4. Sir D turned 39 on Friday. I don't mean that facetiously. He really did turn 39. Know what that means? I will be 39 soon too. Hummm. NOT liking that. Sir D got a mountain bike from me and a friend of ours. This friend found it on Craig's list. I heart Craig's list. I heart male friends who are willing to go pick up the item purchased on Craig's List more.



5. And today is Monday. In case you were not aware. Monday. My NOT favorite day of the week.

6. I think I was a little optimistic in my school planning for this week, because I looked over the assignments sheet I made up for the kids and I felt overwhelmed. Of course it may have something to do with the fact that it's almost 9:30 and we haven't started yet...and it's Monday.

Happy Monday to you!

His Children

My IRL, Bloggy and FB friend Tonya had this quote on her blog today.

I SO needed to read this today. Thank you Tonya, and thank you Lord for the gentle reminder.

"These children are dear to Me. Be a mother to them, and more than a mother. Watch over them tenderly, be just and kind. If thy heart is not large enough to embrace them, I will enlarge it after a pattern of My own. If these young children are docile and obedient, bless Me for it; if they are froward, call upon Me for help; if they weary thee, I will be thy consolation; if thou sink under thy burden, I will be thy Reward."

So, how'd YOU sleep?

Sir D and I and the kids were making our way out of the hospital’s lobby when we noticed Him standing at the door. He was checking the forearm of every person who left the hospital. If they did not have the proper mark on their forearm, they were quickly and quietly escorted away by The Others. Oh no. How were we going to get out? We did not have the proper mark.

We saw some of Them, heading to a side exit that was not yet being manned. Sir D grabbed the hands of the girls and practically ran to the door with Bob and I trailing behind him.

We managed to get out, but only just. We quickly headed to our car in the parking garage. The people around us were walking slowly, steadily, as if in a daze. They were everywhere, checking forearms, dragging people back into the hospital if they did not have the mark.

We got into the car and made it out of the parking garage just in time, before the barricade went up. We had to get home, we had to get our things, pick up Will and get out of the city.

The cell phone rang and I picked it up. “Mom! Where are you? They are everywhere! I’m at the hospital, I came to meet you and They’re here! I can’t get out! I can’t find you! What do I do?!?”

It was Will.

Sir D grabbed the phone as he spun the car around, trying not to draw attention to himself. They were watching and They were everywhere. If you behaved in an erratic manor They’d know you did not have the mark and They’d come after you, we had to go unnoticed.

“Will, go to the basement of the building, in the back there is a storage room with a window. We’ll meet you there. Just hide down there till we get there, we’ll break the window and get you out. Just hang on. We won’t leave without you.”

We got to back to the hospital, having to carefully and calmly drive around to the back side where the doctors park. Sir D saw the window he had told Will to wait for him at. Sir D stopped the car and got out. They were milling about across the street. If he was quick he could break the window, help Will out and get back into the car before They could get to us.

Once Sir D got to the window he quickly broke it, pulled Will through the window and they ran back to the car. They had noticed. They were coming.

Sir D hit the gas and screeched the tires around the hospital and out of Their site. He slowed down again, like the rest of traffic, like Them, to not draw attention to our unchanged state.

We drove as quickly as we could to the house to grab a few things. Throwing into the car only what we needed to survive. We ran back to the car, to head out to the ranch my aunt and uncle have in the country. We knew we’d be safe there.

We all jumped into the car and were about to take off when Ann yelled that Eve had not made it to the car! Where was she? Suddenly we heard a scream. They had her…

I woke up sweating, the scream had been mine. What a horrid dream! It was laughable and terrifying all at the same time. The dream was like every zombie/aliens-are-taking-over-the-world movie I’d ever seen and yet it was so real. It was MY children they were after, MY family that was in danger. That’s the weird thing with dreams. The emotions attached to them are real, even if the situation is not.

I have never been so grateful to wake up in my own bed at three in the morning. Never was I so grateful to see all four of my beautiful children peacefully sleeping in their own beds (You bet I got up and checked!). Never have I been so grateful that zombies/aliens were not taking over the world.

A Change is A-Coming.

Today is a sad day here on the Hilltop. Well, not for everyone, only for me. Today I'm giving up my back room/school room to my college student.

We will no longer have a back room where the kids can go to watch a tv show that I don't want to hear or play games I don't want to hear, or read quietly because the rest of the house is too loud. There will also no longer be one central location to store all the school stuff. This especially makes me sad.

We're moving Will out of the room he shares with Bob into the back room. The back room is like a bedroom, it has a closet and a bathroom attached, but it also has an outside door opening onto the back deck. This I am also not so happy about, but honestly the kid's 18. I'm not too worried about him sneaking out and partying. He's not that kinda kid and really he's a man. If he wants to go out somewhere at 3 am, I suppose he can. (but don't tell him that !)

The boys have always shared a room. Since they were babies. They don't, however, seem at all sentimental about this move. In fact, Bob is practically throwing Will's stuff out the door.

I'll show you after photos when they're done.

*sigh*

It's kinda like the end of an era. Next thing you know they'll be moving out completely...