The Loving - Make that The Evil Big Brother

One of the big changes this school year is for Benjamin to get him on his own instead of wanting for me to wake him  up. He did have an alarm clock, but it's too hard to work and beeps with the power goes off (which has turned out to be more often here than in Guam!! VERY CRAZY!!) So, the other day I had bought a new alarm clock. I was pleasantly surprised when William took it upon himself to set it with the correct time and the alarm for him.  I even praised him for it.

Such a sweet big brother!

Then the alarm went off the next morning...EXTREMELY LOUD!!! I mean, it could have waken the neighbors it was so loud!!

I looked at William who was already up and eating breakfast, "Did you set the alarm for loud??""

He just smiled and giggle an evil laugh.

"Here I thought you were being a loving brother, but no. You took advantage of  getting a dig in didn't you???!!!"

He just continued with his evil giggle.

Oh, the love we have for each other in this house.

Time for More Meds and Cooler Weather

Today the temp is in the mid-70's with clouds - so much better than the 102+ we had this week. I love summer and enjoy the sunshine and warmness, but it's September. I'm done melting. We are enjoying this. I'm looking forward to the next few months when we get to pull out long-sleeves and sweaters...I really love sweaters!

I ended up taking Benjamin to the doctor yesterday for an asthma check up. He has been using more "rescue" meds during cross country and soccer - more than I thought the doctor would like. And I was right. So, we are starting on some new controller meds. Also, we are going to have some testing done to see if this is his asthma and allergies or if it's more "exercise induced" asthma.  They have the same symptoms but are treated differently. 

While we were at the doctor's he offered to go ahead and have Benjamin get his flu shot. Sure! I had no problems with that....Benjamin on the other hand was not so thrilled. But he is so much better at shots than his sister.  Last year we had to hold her down.

Which is understandable at three. Not thirteen.  It was not a pretty sight.

Hate to see how this year will go....

All  in all it's been a good week. And are now enjoying a lazy weekend. We hosted a dinner party for  a few friends last night, so we are just going to hang out and watch some football the rest of the weekend.  (Of course, I think Melissa has other plans....I think she wants to go shopping......that babysitting money is burning a hole in her wallet....)

The Long Weekend

We all enjoyed our long weekend. We went to Oxford, MS to watch the Ole Miss football game. We went two years ago, but this trip was much better in that the game was a night - so it was sooo much cooler and we won.

Winning always makes the trip better.

After the game was over, we stayed in the stadium a little while listening to the band. When they were through, they played a song from the radio over the loud-system and I discovered a marvelous thing:  Embarrassing my teenagers.

What a joy!!

I started to dance to the song since we all were in a good mood due to the win and the song had such a bouncy beat - how could you NOT dance?? 

William looked at me - "Stop dancing!! Please, stop! People are starting to stare!!"

Which, of course, just made me want to dance more.  Yes, I have an evil bone or two.

He and Melissa quickly ran up the seats to get away from me....of course, then that made me yell at them  - "Come dance with me!!!"

"NOOOOOO!!"

"Oh, how I love to embarrass my teens!!!" I yelled!  One lady looked at me and laughed, then said, "I can't wait until I can do that!"

"Yep - they're such easy marks!"

And the ironic thing: I never set out to embarrass them. But oh, the joy!

Busy Day

Today started out with Melissa throwing up as I was walking out the door to work.  Thankfully, I just had to go and wake up Drew and let him deal with it.  She went back to bed, slept for a few hours then woke up feeling fine. After she ate some toast and still felt fine, Drew took her to school. She had a few tests that she didn't want to miss. I was shocked to come home to no-Melissa because even though I talked to the ladies in the front office as I was leaving at noon neither mentioned to me that she was in school.

The teacher I was subbing for teaches four classes at our school then one long class at a high school thirty minutes away. Thankfully, that school found someone there to cover the class so I did not have to do that drive. Overall, his classes were good. Although, I did have to tell one girl to quit smelling the markers! You would think by 7th grade they would know NOT to, but apparently she did not.

Another reason Melissa wanted to get back into life today is that today is a babysitting day for her.  She did not want to hand over a day to William - and let him get the money!  She did bring the twins down to our house to meet all of us - especially William: the back-up. As she and the little girl were walking out of their garage, they got stung by a wasp. Yikes! Nasty bites! But both seem to take it like a pro. I didn't see any tears.

Drew is working on dinner, laundry is going, a headache is slowly making its way away from my head,  Ben has soccer (unless it continues to rain), and William has youth Bible study. Mondays evenings have been busy!

School Time = Busy Time

Yep. It's that time of the year....school starts and life get busy!   I set down on Monday and put everything (that I know of!) going on onto a calendar. Took a sweet forever!

William is doing soccer. While it doesn't start for a few more weeks, we do have the practice schedule and games already. This year there will be a formal try-out for varsity and junior varsity.  Last year William made varsity as a freshman (it was just a coaching decision - no formal system that the parents knew of), but didnt' play unless we were ahead  - by a lot. He did play a good bit at the junior varsity games. He felt like there were more people at the informational meeting that there were at the work-outs this summer.  So...we'll see how it goes.  I'm also trying to get him to join one or two clubs  - SADD or the community service or Interact. Not sure if he will or not.  He, also, plans to try-out for the school play in the spring. He really enjoyed that last year. He will continue doing gifted music. I'm hoping that we'll add guitar this year....we'll see.....might be sort of hard since we have yet to buy one.....

Melissa is doing art again this year.  The cross country teacher tried to talk her into running again this year - and almost had Melissa committed to it until Melissa found out her younger brother wants to do cross country.  Then it was "NOT IF HE'S GOING TO BE THERE!!!" I tried to work something out....even got  Benjamin to agree to quit trying to embarrassing her in front of her friends, but all to no avail. She doesn't want to be anywhere he is. (Wonder how that's going to work next year when he's old enough to be in the youth program at church.....) But Melissa is on the ambassador team at school - so she does have something that no other family has. She's happy about that!  And she will, as well, continue the gifted music program.  She has a weekly babysitting job that will keep her busy - and money in her pocket!!  Right now she says she is saving up to buy some 'Miss Me' jeans. (They are well - WELL - over my budget for her clothing needs!!)

So, yeah - Benjamin is going to try to do cross country.  Today is the first practice, so, we'll see how he does. He may find it harder than he thinks!! His elective this year is robotics, so there will be competitions he'll be involved with that. Also, he is trying out for the gifted music program. The testing is different than last year's, so I'm not sure what it will  entail or how Benjamin will do. It's suppose to happen by the end of the month...we'll see. If he doesn't get into the program...not sure if he'll take private piano lessons or not....I'm just about tired of the whining and complaining that I get from him over it! Not that he complains to his dad - just to me....urgg.  He is, also, doing soccer this fall. His first practice is  Monday - he's excited! He loves it like his big brother.

Add to that church programs and family stuff - we'll be busy! But in a good kind of way. I'm very thankful that Drew will be around (no deploying!!) to help drive the taxi.

ALL THREE???!!???

Thursday I sent the day in Jackson with my parents.  My father wanted to see his aunt that is in a nursing home, an uncle, as well as a few other stops. The day went really well.  While I doubt that his aunt knew who we were - well, who anyone is, it was a nice visit. (Even if the nursing home was depressing - not horrible....just sad, I guess.)

At one point during the morning the thought danced through my mind wondering if any of my children had a key to the house as they would be coming home to an empty house, but I  just set it aside.  After all I was sure that at least one of the three would have a key. I know I had a discussion with Benjamin before school started a few weeks ago that his key belonged in his backpack.

At thee o'clock I get a frantic phone call form Melissa that none of them had a key to the house. I think she was expecting a little more understanding from me.....instead of the yelling she got in her ear (REALLY!!!?? ALL THREE OF YOU????)

Thankfully, we are close to several neighbors. But seriously?? 

But I think they have learned their lesson. Or at least one of them.

Dreaming...

I had an interesting dream the other night... I was at a football game with my parental grandfather. Being at a football game was not the interesting part...growing up I was always at a football game.  Nor the fact that several people in my dream told me my team was losing or that my team would lose when their favorite team played mine.

That's all normal.

What was interesting - odd - was my grandfather was skinny - I never saw him skinny - he was always a big man.  He was also dressed in his deputy sheriff uniform.

Quite handsome he looked.

Made me miss him and my grandmother.

So comforting and glad to know that in my next life I will see them both...what a hope we have in Jesus.