Friday's Attire

It was share day at school yesterday. In addition to taking the JDT, which now has lost its ability to steer, he wore his JD hat, shirt, and boots with the cutoffs.

I really want to be proud of his individuality, I do. It's just ...

The ABCs of Digression

They get worse as they go along, each becoming more and more entrenched in his potty humor:

The Big Man

I have sunk to a new level in disciplinary practice. I've been talking about The Big Man Up North (not to be confused with The Big Man Upstairs -- I've turned to him too, but mostly for my own sake).

You know, The Big Man, right? The one who is all-seeing and all-knowing. It's August, yes, but I've done it out of sheer desperation.

His response: "Mama, if he sees everything I do, then he sees you too. YOU better watch out."

Indeed.

Happy Birthday G-Diddy!

Macy & G-Pop were here for the weekend, which conveniently included Grandaddy's birthday. They got a hotel so we could swim, and The Goose stayed with them every night (all of them in a king size bed!). They brought shirts with numbers on them and videos of animals and garbage trucks and I could've been in Antarctica for all my son cared.

Additionally, we went to the Farmer's Market, the Adventure Science Center, church, and spent over two hours trying to just get Sunday lunch. Eventful!

We'll see them again on Labor Day. Thanks for coming!

How Keeping Other People's Children Provides Much Needed Perspective

Stink Bug & Lil' Jimi

We watched our friend's foster kids this past weekend. Originally I volunteered to do this because it was B's week off from his grad school program, and I thought we'd be doing this together. However, he spent the day in his classroom, so I was with three kids all day.

And call me crazy, but I really thought it was EASIER than just having one. I know that wouldn't be the case had they stayed for longer, but still, it provided a much-needed change in perspective for me. Contrary to my original fears, I never once felt outnumbered or cornered or out of control. They all followed my instructions and took naps. They also fought over toys, pushed each other, and whined. But somehow it was OK, and I actually, um, are you sitting down?

I LIKED IT.

Normally, I go around asking B things like:

Why does OUR child always stick his fingers in my face?
Why does OUR child always say my name 654 times a day?
Why does OUR child smile at me when he's getting in big trouble?

Now I'm still asking those same questions, but the agent of action is different. Y'all: NEWS FLASH!

All children stick their fingers in my face.
All children say my name 654 times a day given the option.
All children smile when they're getting in big trouble sometimes.

I am a new woman.

Here are some photos of smiling while getting in big trouble at the dinner table:

CHEW WITH YOUR MOUTH CLOSED!!!

Click here for more.

Is He Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

We'll see ...

County Fair

Met some friends at the County Fair Friday night. This does not bode well for the teenage years, but so be it.

Cut Offs, Bug Bites, & Toasters

These are a few of my favorite things!

He loves this pair of cut off bluejeans, which I butchered one day out of frustration. He is really into dressing himself, and he puts on the most awful combinations of orange and too-short pants. So I cut these off with my meat scissors a couple weeks ago, and he's probably worn them 5/7 days each week since then.

Those are all mosquito bites on his leg, but thanks to our neighbor's new chainsaw job, we don't have such a bad problem anymore.

And finally, the new addition to our household! Her name is JANE, and only her namesake knows why ...

A Giant, Dirty Termite

And his quote of the week:

"The whole world is covered up in grown-ups, and not one of them can spank me."