Still in Summer Mode

Belle doesn't start school until September 7th.  Parrish starts HIGH SCHOOL the week before (half days Thursday and Friday - and half days every Friday...all year).  Right now I am enjoying summer and the laziness that is going along with it.   I spend very little time with Parrish other than driving him places so unlike you Carole, I am looking forward to my child driving and getting a car although I may never see him again.  We have been trying for quite a while to get him behind the wheel (in an empty parking lot, etc.) because it is just important for kids in the middle of nowhere to know how to drive.  He won't do it.  I do often wish he was still on Mud Island at the Montessori school - I have missed that place so desperately through the years.

The apendix (or lack of) is all better.  I am glad it is gone - who knew?  I went into the hospital Sunday morning with this off and on pain in my side that felt like someone was stabbing me from the inside which had started Saturday evening.  Friday night I had gone out with a friend and felt fine.  Saturday I went to run errands and just felt sick and achy, like I was getting the flu.  I really thought the pain was an ovarian cyst.  Glad the doctor didn't listen to my expert medical opinion.  I was in surgery that afternoon. 

So, I am purging crap in my house.  I have almost doubled the space I had in Memphis and it is feeling crowded.  It doesn't help that the men I live with are hoarders.  Seriously, if something happens to me expect to see them on that show.  I took BAGS of stuff to the transfer station (dump, but really tidy) "free room" (which we call the Winhall Mall) and Thane was quite concerned that I had brought some of his things.  No, but I am sure I brought some things he would have saved...

I just read "The Red Thread".  Y'all would love it, it's a really sweet book about Chinese adoption.  I am getting my baby fill by helping out some friends with their little ones.  Today I watched a 16 month old named Kai.  What a cutie.  Word is getting around that I work for free and I fear that I may soon be overwhelmed!  But I am enjoying it and so is Belle.

week 2 of school, already!!

hello,

Since I last posted I now have a 14 going on 17 yr old

that increasingly wants to drive.????? Why is this?

Does she think she will get a car soon??

We had a spontaneous b.d. celebration on sat.

The Glee movie and pizza with a gaggle of girls.

Kevin dropped in for razzing purposes.

They are an opinionated bunch, seriously.

Kevin is breezing through this year too.

I might need to go ask to have him switched to a harder team,

although they will tell you they are evenly divided.

O.K., I thought girls were the people that complained more....

I think I am going to turn on a tape recorder...yes, we actually have one,

and have him listen to himself.

I have tried no reply, replying with a worse case senario,

asking HIM to leave the room, leaving the room

(he is like a dog...he follows along), and asking him to SHUT UP.

To which he replies...you don't love me or you her more than me.

Misery does not need company in this small house!!!

Is this typical of almost 12 yr olds.... not knowing what they want,

finally deciding what they want, then whining about it afterwards.

Congrats to Corinne for making the volleyball team...she may even get a starting position!!!

need to go finish my job,

Hazel, Alice or what ever maid you remember.

First Week (well, 1/2 week) of school

Hey all,

Carter started school on Wed (1/2 day). He said it is a lot easier than last year. I reminded him he knew kids this year and where stuff is which makes all the difference. They had an informal dance on Friday night which he went to. He didn't get asked to dance like he did the last time but the girl we carpool with asked him to dance with her and her friends so that was nice. He was excited to go which was great. He had his first soccer practice (last year where everyone makes the team) and seems to like it too. Jim started homeschooling Emerson on Wed too. Things seem to be going well I guess. Jim thinks I'm micro managing him if I ask about anything so I guess I'll just let this go. Wonder if he will have an "open house". Ha Ha!!

Julie, sorry you had to part with your appendix. Hope you recovered well. On of your posts says "here he is" which makes me think it might be a video of Parrish??? I don't see anything attached to the post so I'm either missing it or perhaps Mac isn't compatible to whatever you used???

Carole and Cari, we will have to do lunch soon. This week will be pretty crazy at work (at least Mon-Wed). Maybe we could get together Thursday or Friday. I'm very proud of myself. I told the COO that I was burning out and there was no way I could continue to do my job and our assistance's job (she left mid July and no one has time to train her replacement) without being approved for overtime. She approved it so I got about 8 hours two weeks ago. It seemed to make all the difference. I told my boss I was tired of being there all the time and not being paid for it. We are having a team meeting mid Sept to go over all of our accounts and see if we can switch some around, etc to make life easier. I am looking forward to seeing how my book of business has changed since Jan 2010 when I started. Info should come in handy come review time. :) He probably didn't realize he is probably opening up a big can of worms giving me access to that info ( I could get it myself anyway).

I'm watching Emerson and a friend of his swim. I was planning on getting in but there is such a cool breeze now, I doubt I will. Is fall here already?? Very doubtful, thank goodness.

Brenda

boots

There are times in a child's life when they ask for something and truely (sp)

want and love it.

That is Corinne and her boots.

she would wear them everyday.

I think back on those ruby red glitter shoes that she wanted

and I never bought for her and feel sad that

she did not get them.

The first day day at middle school was o.k. all around....for the children that is.

Kinks with carpooling will work out nicely...i hope.

I am a not happy with kevin's team of teachers, although i do not even know them ...with thwe exception of one.

That comes from knowing what excellent teachers

Corinne had in 6th grade.

Yeah for cooler weather coming.

c

...where did he go??

There are times that a medicated child NEEDS to stay on meds even if he looks like a refugee!!!

Kevin has a friend...I am just leaving it at that because neither Keith nor I understand what he sees in this child!!

Anyway through the school yrs they have had classes together.
one yr, the one that tipped the parent off that he MIGHT need meds is the yr that mid way she moved her son. I am almost sure the Jewish teacher said novenas for this to happen.
I am rambling here, ANYWAY, I agreed to have this child over.

a mom of a wonderful child asked me to watch her son the same day, I said yes.
Woe, woe. said unmedicated child about drove me crazy and set my mellow child on a
collision course with his mom and his nice friend.

Flight of ideas is just that. Think Cat in the hat on speed.
He goes from room to room touching, moving things, thoughts go from one idea to the next...no connection. One pestering behavior to another.
Anything i ask not to do is done as soon as I walk out of the room...i usually turn around to see him do it.

I have yet to talk to Kevin about this ...trying to find a nice way to do it.
I think Kevin knows the child has a problem...cannot control himself, but is unwilling to admit it b/c he likes the child.
there is a proverb in the bible essentially saying choose a fool for a friend and you become one.
(lie down with dogs and get fleas).
I am not sure this applies b/c he is not on his meds!!!

uggg, the last of it is that i like his parents!!


thanks for the sounding board.
c

I Did Not Want This Kind Of Vacation

I just arrived home after my wonderful 3 day vacation at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.  Where I generously left them my appendix - which I am kinda bummed I didn't get to see. 

My throat is killing me - I guess from the tube during surgery?  Carole - any ideas for relief?

mellow child

Kevin made it safely back to us.
Camp Lake Stephens had him for 2 weeks.
He LOVED the camp experience and is much more
aware of his attitude...our family attitude.
He reminds us when we dis one another...'we don't talk like that at Camp Lake Stephens.'

He seems lost at times...he mentioned that sitting around at home just chilling was rather boring. I know he misses the guys...9 boys bonding for 2 weeks. the first week they
were with regular campers. the second week they hung out with the jr high kids.

I think part of this quietness is older kids tolerate juvenile behavior less, so you must
change you behavior to suit the situation.
He did come home with lots of quirky...boy...behavior farts and all!!

Did I mention they have devotional twice a day and vespers!! he likes reading the bible in the evening. nice


c