Conversations with Smiths-Part 13

I have always claimed to know nothing about football. It's not a baseless claim, despite the fact that I was in marching band for 2 years of high school and therefore attended all the Friday night football games.

Also, despite the fact that I dated a football player (although, it was off-season). He was very nice about and I think even a little amused by my ignorance of the sport. I regularly referred to him as My Big Dumb Jock, and he was nice enough not to point out that in this particular area, I was the dumb one.

And then in college I was surrounded by other music majors. The majority of us had been in marching bands, but we didn't talk about football. Until I started dating a guy (also a music major) my sophomore year who was appalled at my lack of football knowledge. We started dating in November, and he almost immediately began trying to teach me about it. I was not an enthusiastic student. I did, however, agree to watch the SuperBowl that year. I brought homework to do and only really looked up during the commercials, such was my enthusiasm for the event. 

He managed to teach me one thing. I think we were at a diner when it finally sunk in. There may have been sugar packets involved in the explanation. But, the one piece of football knowledge I have retained is this: A sack is when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage. 

At the wedding of this ex-boyfriend, my husband actually thanked him for working so hard to teach me that one thing, because he wasn't getting anywhere with furthering my football knowledge.

That's it. That's all I know. I know the definition of a sack. It's like my party trick. I now live in a land obsessed with college football, and when accused of knowing nothing, I pull out my one piece of knowledge. (Also, I knew that this year OSU managed to do very well with their 3rd string quarterback. But you can't really live here and NOT know things like that.)

Or at least I THOUGHT that was all I knew. Until last night.

Benjamin: So, while I was sitting outside the trainer's icing, I heard this really weird thud come from the football field and there was our one shining hope for a decent football season. He's an incredible linebacker and now it looks like he's out for the season!

Me: Oh, no! What happened? 

Benjamin: They think his ankle is fractured. It was an incredibly hard sack.

Me: [getting all excited!] But that wasn't a sack. He's not the quarterback.

Benjamin: Yeah, but it doesn't always have to be the quarterback for it to be a sack.

Todd: [reading the definition of "sack" from my phone] "Sack-In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback (or another offensive player acting as a passer) is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass.

Me: Yes, but linebacker isn't an offensive position.

Benjamin: [glowers at me]

Me: Face it. I know more about football than you. [I totally don't, but it's fun to egg him on.]

Benjamin: You really don't, Mom.

Me: Apparently, today I do.

Benjamin: Okay, what's a wide receiver?

Me: Someone who catches the ball...you know, but far away from things.

Benjamin: I'm just not going to talk anymore.

At which point Todd and I high-fived and we continued with dinner. Also, it should be noted that I had NO IDEA that I knew what linebackers and wide-receivers were! They must put something in the water in Columbus....

Appalachian Trail-Maryland Days 2 and 3

I have literally no pictures of day 2. 

The reason I have no pictures of day 2 is that we were cold, and tired, and sore, and then it started raining. Still, we met some really cool people at the shelter the night before and were ready to go our requisite 8 miles to the next shelter that day.

It started out beautifully. Lovely, easy hiking. And then we went up a huge hill that was covered in boulders top to bottom. It was really hard. The 2nd half of the trail that day was much nicer, but that's when the rain started. 

The boys did great. Really and truly great. Lilyanna did great, too, but with significantly more whining. The boys took off ahead of us at some point with the instructions to find the shelter and get set up and then head back to help with their sister. While it was just Lilyanna and I, we took A LOT of breaks. Breaks seem like a nice idea except when you're wearing a really heavy backpack. And my pack was heavier that day because I had lightened some of Benjamin's load from the day before.  

Also, while I'm sure nobody wants to hear about this, I was also dealing with some major feminine hygiene issues throughout the whole thing. Basically, I learned in great detail what NOT to do. 

Anyway, around mile 6 that day and in the rain sat down and refused to go another step. Just refused. There was weeping and wailing and howling and gnashing of teeth. I finally asked if she wanted to go home the next day. She jumped up said, "Yes, Mommy, thank you!" and practically ran the remaining miles to the shelter for that night. 

Stinker.

When we arrived, we found quite the crowd of friendly people already set up, but they made room for us and helped us get our dinner together quickly before it got too dark.  Lilyanna made friends with the only other girl there (she was in her late 20s, but Lilyanna was feeling desperate for some girl time.  The AT was a little too male-centric for her tastes.) She also announced to anyone who would listen, "Hi! I'm Lilyanna! We're backpacking, but I hate it! I just want to go back to the cheap motel and watch Food Network. I don't ever want to go backpacking again!" She said it all so cheerfully, though. Poor traumatized child. 

It was at this point that Benjamin was suddenly super in to the whole idea of backpacking since he'd been talking shop with the fellow backpackers at the shelter. Nothing like war stories and comeraderie to inspire a surly teenager. ;)

When we woke in the morning, we took our time with breakfast, gave food away to those who would still be continuing on for a few more days. Gave information to the ones who were heading north where we'd already traveled, and called for the shuttle to come pick us up. We filled up our water bottles at the spring and hiked an easy mile to the highway to get picked up.

The weather was glorious. And we were sore, but everyone was in good spirits.

I reminded myself that I wasn't a total failure. The dream of hiking the whole state was mine, not my children's, and we'd accomplished quite a bit. We were also better prepared for next time. Though my kids swear there won't be a next time, I'd like to go down to finish the state of MD and WV, perhaps in the fall. I'll take whomever wants to come with me. 

My 5 year old hiked 18 miles in 2 days. She rocks. (Even if there was lots of whining while she did it.)

Lilyanna crawled into her sleeping bag as soon as we arrived at the shelter on day 2. She ate both dinner and breakfast in "bed".

Waiting for the shuttle at the trail head. Everybody feeling very chill knowing that they were "supposed" to be walking 10 miles that day.

Favorite game? Wait until Nathaniel is sitting down. When he asks for food, throw it just out of reach and watch him flail a lot trying to grab it without taking off the pack or standing again. (Seriously. I wish I had video. It was hysterical!)

This is the only photographic evidence that I was even on this hike. 1 picture.

A little historical site-seeing was in order on our way home. Except every time we got out of the van, there was a chorus of "ooo, ow, oh, ow". We were a little stiff and sore.

Benjamin somehow forgot the belt for his hiking pants, so this is what I fashioned for him so he would stop mooning us while hiking up hills. ;) Bungee cords should be kept on hand for all backpacking emergencies.

We took our extremely stinky selves to Cracker Barrel for a meal that didn't need to be reconstituted first. And then we headed home, where were able to have a few relaxing days left of spring break.

All in all, I'm really glad we did it. We have some really fun memories and stories, and my kids know that they can do hard things. I'll force them into doing it again sometime soon, but I'll let them forget a little bit more first. ;)

Healthy?

Belly dance, anyone?

I'm giving you a chance to turn back now. This is one of those "personal realizations about health and body image" blog posts. They can be super tedious to read, so I give you fair warning.

Right after Christmas, I had to go to a health screening for our insurance company. My numbers were not great. Weight, I was expecting to be commented on and with good reason. But my other numbers, which are usually fabulous (seriously, I have sexy blood pressure numbers, people!), were not bad, but also not so good. More like in that warning section. The RNP doing the screening pointed out that it was a rotten thing to make everyone do the blood work during the holidays when people are generally eating, drinking, and being merry perhaps more than they might otherwise be.

That being considered, a few days later when we were sharing our resolutions and goals for the new year with one another as a family, I mentioned that my goal was to be healthier. Every single one of my boys said, "Really? But you're super healthy. Why do you need to do that?"

And for a brief moment I saw myself through their eyes. They have a Mom who takes belly dance, ballet, spinning, runs and does hateful those tabata or boot camp workouts all throughout the week. I ran 5 miles Thanksgiving morning. I trained for and ran 1.5 half marathons last year. I'm taking my kids to hike two whole states worth of the Appalachian trail this spring. They have a Mom who tries to feed them healthy food and tries to encourage good eating habits in them.

Yeah, I need to lose weight. I should eat less sugar. And I'll work on both of those things this year just like I said I would.

But I am so grateful to my children for being a better mirror than the one I look in by myself.

Birthday Flowers Then and Now

 I received this lovely bouquet of flowers for my birthday a few weeks ago. The card indicated that it was from my parents, and I fully enjoyed their happy spring colors as it snowed more outside.

Whenever Todd comes home from work and sees flowers he says something to the effect, "Are those from your secret lover?" Which is funny, because I'm terrible at keeping secrets. Anyway, he and I agreed years ago that if I wanted flowers I should by them for myself and not wait around for him to think of it. It's not that he's never done it, but the event is so rare that after 15 years of marriage I can still count the number with one hand.

But with this bouquet I suddenly remembered a bouquet that was delivered to me on the first birthday I had right after our wedding all those years ago. My birthday was 3 months after our wedding, so we were still in full on newlywed mode.  When I arrived home from work the afternoon of my birthday to find a bouquet of flowers on the doorstep, I immediately was sure my sweet husband had sent them. Until he said, "Who are those from?"

And then I read the card. Only to discover they were from one of my old flames. Barely even flames. We had been friends all through our college years even though we attended different colleges in different states, but on Spring Break my senior year I went to his college to spend a couple of days and he decided we should try more than friends. I didn't have a good reason to not, but we sort of continued in an awkward more than friends, but not really and only when we happened to be in the same place at the same time pattern for a few months. And all while I was dating other people until finally the week before I convinced Todd to fall in love with me, I said terrible things to this slightly more than friend and we parted badly. We definitely needed to part, but I didn't need to be quite so harsh.

I hadn't contacted him after that. Even to let him know I was getting married. So these flowers were his way of 6 months later, reaching back out. Todd snickered and told me I should probably go call the poor guy.

So, I went into the computer desk where the phone was and placed a very awkward call. "Hey, thanks for the flowers, they're lovely, btw I'm married now!"

Happily, the birthday bouquet of 2014 wasn't nearly as complicated as the bouquet of 1999. 

The Annual Christmas Ornaments

Benjamin received a little pine cone that had been fashioned to look like a hedgehog,  in memoriam of Nicco, the Hedgehog.

Each of my children has a lovely Christmas box which holds the ornaments that I've purchased for them, or they've made over the years.  I try to buy an ornament each year that symbolizes an important event, achievement, or love of theirs from that particular year.  I'm also making an album explaining each ornament, so their children will know the stories, too.  My kids get almost as excited for the Sunday after Thanksgiving tree trimming and unveiling of their new ornaments as they do about Christmas itself.

Someday, right now I'm planning on when they get married, I will give them their box of ornaments and album for their first Christmas as their own new family.

Lilyanna received Rapunzel.  She adores the princessy things.  I tried to avoid that whole scene, but it was not to be.  At least this Rapunzel is wielding a frying pan to take out an intruder.  I like a princess who gets things done.

Ah, Caleb and Doctor Who.  He's holding up last year's Dalek ornament as well as this year's 50th anniversary ornament featuring all 11 of the doctors.

The kids happily going through their boxes to rediscover the treasures of years past.

Nathaniel and a manatee.  Nathaniel is obsessed with manatees.  I have no explanation for how or why.  It just is.

Caleb wanted Adipose in on the Doctor Who action as well.  (I do think it's funny that there are angels peeking over into the picture.  They're not exactly weeping, but still...)

Mars and Venus

I've previously mentioned how bad Todd is at noticing hair cuts, etc.  I typically will text him from the hairdresser to remind him that he needs to comment (nicely) on my hair when I get home.

This sweet husband of mine had a day off today and offered to watch the kids so I could have the day off, too! I booked myself a hair appointment and assembled some friends for lunch to make it a truly happy day.

When I got home this afternoon (after getting 4 inches cut off and a whole lot of high and low lights), the only person who noticed my hair was Lilyanna. Lilyanna is 3 and has been delirious from a high fever most of today.  The delirious 3 year old noticed my hair but not EVERY SINGLE MALE living in my house!

At dinner after I'd been home for 4 hours and they still hadn't noticed, I announced at the dinner table that they were all in trouble.  Todd immediately repented and gushed compliments. Caleb said, "Oh, yeah, I noticed the color, I just forgot to say something." Nathaniel dug himself a deeper hole by saying, "How could I notice? It looks exactly the same!" Followed by, "You always wear your hair up, how am I supposed to tell that it's shorter?"  Benjamin redeemed himself slightly by warning Nathaniel to stop talking, and to never repeat any of those statements to any girl friends.  So there's hope there.

Boys!

Comics, Coupons, and Negotiating

When we first moved to Ohio 7 years ago, I bought a subscription to the local paper in an effort to get to know the flavor and flaws of the area better.  It did help tremendously for both of those things, but after a couple of years, I switched to just the weekend papers so I could still get the coupons.  At the time a subscription only cost me about $5 each month.  Two or three years ago, they increased the cost of receiving a weekend paper to $13 and change/month!!

I started tracking the benefit of the coupons I clip and use each month.  It averages out to about $9/month.  Not enough to pay for the paper anymore.  Yesterday, I announced to the boys that I would be cancelling our subscription.  Benjamin and Caleb were horrified.  Nathaniel was, too, initially, but then he figured out how much the paper cost each year, and decided he could just get comic collections from the library for free.

Benjamin was ready to sign over his first born right there and then if I promised to keep getting the paper.  We came to an agreement that I would pay $8 each month for the paper, but it would cost him $5 each month.  He was willing to pay more just for the chance to read the Sunday comics, but I tried to use the moment to teach him about negotiation.  (He is historically awful at negotiating.  Nathaniel on the other hand seems to have a little Tom Sawyer in him.  I caught Benjamin doing Nathaniel's chores the other day, just for the chance to play Nathaniel's DS.  Benjamin owns a DS, too, but couldn't find it at the time.) Caleb wanted the comics, too, but knew Benjamin would pay.  So he disappeared for the negotiations saying, "Well, I don't care that much about comics."

Benjamin is good about earning money.  He's willing to work hard for it.  But once he gets it (after he puts a percentage in savings and tithing) it burns a hole in his pocket.  Ah, well.  I feel like he will learn the lesson eventually.  And probably sooner rather than later.  Smiths seem to be genetically predisposed towards accounting or other financial services.  In the meantime, I will try not to take too much advantage of him.

Denver, CO

These kids are far too cool for their own good.

So, I have no pictures of our friend, Linnea, to whom this rad scooter belongs and who invited me and four of my children to come stay with her while we trekked west.  AND who made us dinner including homemade ice cream AND took my kids for rides on her scooter because she is fabulous like that.  Linnea is also famous for getting me to paint my toenails a few years ago (the last time she invited us to stay at her house).  I've been doing it in warm weather ever since, and really the world thanks her for it.   AND for encouraging me to start running.  Hm.  Linnea is responsible for a lot of things in my life...

A BIG HUGE THANK YOU TO LINNEA AND ARTUR FROM THE SMITHS!!!!    

still churning the ice cream!!!

Marriage

One day after school last week, Nathaniel and I were walking through the school hallways after retrieving a forgotten paper. I stopped to chat with a fellow Mom, when one of her Daisy Scouts said, "Hey, are you Nathaniel's mom? Cuz, I'm gonna marry him."

All I could do was blink a few times, and say, "Um. What's your name?"

Nathaniel rolled his eyes at her.

The thing is, this is the second time I've been approached like this. The first time was a girl from Caleb's 3 yr old preschool class. Same exact conversation. Although, we were members of the same pool this summer, and they didn't even look at each other. So, I guess they're over it.

Is this preparing me for some pushy daughters-in-law somewhere down the road?

I think I'll move far away. I think I could be a decent mother in law from afar.

Cub Scout Camp

The three younger boys and I spent this last week at Cub Scout Camp. It was absolutely fabulous! Both Benjamin and Nathaniel completed nearly all of their scouting requirements for the coming year and earned several belt loops, as well. More importantly, they had a great time!

I was on staff as the badminton instructor, because, you know, I'm the most amazing pro at badminton.

Oh. Wait. (Yeah, actually, last time I played badminton, I'm pretty sure I still had a perm and a scrunchy in my hair to go with my acid wash jeans. Oh, and I believe that we added a tackle component to the game. Shockingly, that's not in the official rules.)

So, yes, I looked up how to play it the night before I had to teach it, and then spent the next four days teaching six classes a day. I saw and yelled at over 500 scouts during the week.

Caleb got to hang out with other younger siblings, which basically meant that he got to do all the coolest stuff AND sit around and eat staff food all day.

And let me tell you, if you are thinking that I was a little crazy for being on staff while pregnant, two words. Staff Bathroom. All the other parents had to use the same bathrooms as all 520 scouts. It was totally worth the extra responsibility.

Benjamin and his den performing a skit.

Nathaniel patiently waiting for their turn to sing a song at the campfire program.

Caleb. Chilling with the staff and actually paying attention to the 24 skits and songs performed that evening.

In case you were wondering what 520 cub scouts look like.

Girlfriends

This morning Nathaniel asked Caleb how he was ever going to get a girlfriend.

He asked, "Are you A) going to club her over the head with some hard object?, or B) going to annoy her?, or Z) going to cluck like a chicken?."


To which Caleb replied, "Nathaniel, I don't need a girlfriend. I'm going to marry pizza."

Sensible boy.

Mother's Day with Boys

Today I received three lovely cards from my three oldest boys.

Highlights from Benjamin's card:

"I love my Mom because she takes care of me when I'm sick." (Complete with a picture of him throwing up.)

"From my Mom I got big feet and a love of music."

Highlights from Nathaniel's card:

"Mom, I think you are funny when you put me on a leash."

J's card was nice and normal. Perhaps that means there is hope for the younger boys as well.

Keep the Old

On our almost last day in NJ, we drove up north to have a picnic with my friend Jill and her kids, Nick and Cassie. Nick came with a full arsenal of nerf guns so fun was had by all. After we visited for a while, Jill mentioned that her younger brother, Dave, was going to stop by as well.



I haven't seen Dave since a brief hour or two my senior year of college. And even before then it had been pretty sparse. Dave and I became friends I guess around age nine or so. But not really until middle school. We lived a good hour apart, but managed to hang out a fair amount, still. It was ancient times, of course, so we wrote letters to stay in touch, every one of which I still have.



I was reading them a couple of years ago. I unfolded each carefully and when Todd asked what I was reading, I said "I'm looking at the love and friendship of a 13 year old boy."



Dave and I are about as different as two friends could be. I love being around people. He goes out of his way to avoid them. And that is just the tippy top of a whole entire iceberg of differences. When we were kids, Dave and I communicated mostly through tackling one another. Despite our differences, though, Dave was a constant sort of friend through all the changes which came through middle school, high school, and college.

In fact, I remember one very important night. His sister, Jill, and I had driven from WY to NJ in two days. We stumbled into her parents' house late in the afternoon and my only plan was to sleep until the following morning. I was particularly nervous, though, because the following day I would be seeing my boyfriend. We had dated all of my freshman year of college and spent a rotten summer apart. I wasn't sure how things were going to be. He'd pulled back a little from me that summer and I was terrified that he had decided I wasn"t worth it. I lay in bed tossing and turning in the darkness. Dave came in at some point and lay down next to me and asked what was wrong. When I told him, he said, "If he doesn't still love you, than he's an idiot and I'll knock his block off." I knew it was an overly simplistic view of the matter, but right then it was all I needed to hear. And with that I cuddled into Dave and fell asleep.

Last week, after nearly 12 years since last we saw one another, when Dave stepped out of his car, I ran across the grass, jumped up in the air, and threw my arms around him to say hello. And Dave, even though we haven't spoken in all that time, caught me up and swung me around...as if I didn't weigh 50 lbs more, have four kids, a husband, a house, and a minivan. For about 20 seconds, I was 13 years old again. And while definitely not my favorite age, he was certainly a favorite part.

On with the show, though! Picnic pictures: Mr. Zero Percent Body Fat was so cold that he borrowed my field hockey hoodie from me. Poor guy.

A motley crew indeed.

Even scarier. Though made slightly less so by Cassie's bunny ears.

Me and Dave and Cassie's bunny ears.

Mmmmm. Fooooooood. Nothing like hot dogs fresh of the grill on a chilly day.

Love in the Sand

Not that kind. This is a family blog, people.
Minus the "s" part of my initials, that's what was scribbled all over the back cover of my freshman year algebra notebook. I also would spend time mixing our initials up to spell different words. Like meats, beats, steam, beam, same, mates, bates, etc.

This may explain my grade in Algebra that year.

In my defense, I've gotten a lot more mileage out of loving Todd Smith than I have ever gotten from Algebra. *

*To any of my kids who try to use this story to justify lousy math grades: Don't Even Think About It!!! There will be concentrating in class and NO mooning over silly girls and lots and lots and lots of studying!!

Kid Quotes

"Mama, can I blow up the microwave when we get home?" - Nathaniel

"Mom, when you die, your heart bursts out of your body." -Caleb

I have some seriously creepy kids.

Snow.

Remember all that snow I wasn't too keen on receiving last week?

We got it. And lots of it. But it was undeniably lovely. And it was sort of fun getting all the ice off of my car. Sort of like peeling a hard boiled egg. Except I've never managed to cut myself on egg shells. Ice is now a different story.

Still, the sun came out and made all the ice and snow sparkle beautifully and I could pretend I was in some other world full of diamonds. Granted, I caught myself day dreaming more than once during the week about hanging out poolside with a book all summer, so I was still aware of reality to some extent.

Fellow Awesome Broads, Heather and Joan, were most helpful in preserving my sanity during the two days the kids had off from school. We swapped kids around and it made me happy and my kids happier.

Musical Monday

The snow has been replaced this particular Monday by rain.  At least it's warmed up a bit.

Today's musical selections are in honor of our almost son.  We went to see him perform as Cinderella's Prince in Sondheim's "Into the Woods".  He was WONDERFUL!!  He has a lovely voice and a tremendous stage presence.  He is clearly at home on the stage.  It was such a joy to watch him and the rest of the cast!  These clips are obviously not of a high school show, but our Princes were very like these professionals.

The prince has three main numbers and then little scenes here and there.  In the first scene, he and his brother bemoan the troubles of getting their princesses; Cinderella and Rapunzel.

In the second song, the princes have caught and married their princesses...and are missing the thrill of the chase.  They return to the woods and find Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.  Best line ever- "Dwarves are very upsetting!"

In the third, there is a Giantess killing in the land and everyone in running through the woods.  Cinderella's prince finds the baker's wife...

I will confess it was a little odd to watch our almost son seducing someone, albeit in character on stage.  Still.  I didn't even know for sure he had ever kissed anyone.  And there he was on stage kissing the baker's wife quite thoroughly.  He looked to be doing a good job of it, too.    

Is it creepy to notice that my teenage son seems to be a good kisser?  I mean, I wouldn't want any of my sons to be bad kissers.  But it seems like a strange thing for a mother to be aware of.  Hm.  

Brrr

This week in Ohio there is snow on the ground and it smells fully of winter.

10 days ago in Florida was this:

My niece dozing on her Daddy's shoulder.

Frolicking in WARM waves!

My nephew serious about the sand.

Caleb with a sand castle moat emergency!!

Merrily We Roll Along

This has been an interesting week.  I have felt extremely unfocused thanks to some big stuff that happened.

Last week our Bishop called me into his office to ask if I would accept the calling of Relief Society President.  (For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, see here.)  For those of you who do know what I mean, you will understand why I immediately burst into tears and cried in his office for about an hour while we talked it over.  I tried explaining to him that I am not even nice, but it didn't seem to change his mind.  So I spent the rest of Sunday close to my tissue box...and a little bit of Monday.  On Tuesday I finally told him yes.

One of my non-LDS friends asked what the heck I was thinking by taking on something so huge.  And while I felt much the same way, I was able to explain that in our church this is what we do.  We accept callings and assignments (after prayer and consideration) that often seem beyond our capabilities.  And then we learn and grow and fall short and slowly get better until we are big enough to fit into them and do them well.   So here's to growing!

Just when I was beginning to wrap my mind around that, we received a call from a case worker letting us know that we would be getting a son for Christmas.  I won't post details about him until he's mine, but he is 16 and delightful.  He is polite and sweet with our little boys and well-mannered and witty with us.  He has a lovely voice and enjoys music, theater, and reading.  I asked his case worker on Friday if I was allowed to be excited yet, because we've been trying to adopt for almost two years and been thwarted at every turn.  But this is all go!  So I have a couple of months to fill out mountains of paper work and get his room ready and think about life with four boys...one of whom is an instant teenager.  (The cleaning thing from last week.  According to the very wise Dee, I am nesting.  And she's totally right.)  

There's a line from "Into the Woods" in which Little Red Riding Hood says she's scared, but then amends it to say, "Well...excited and scared."  And that's how I feel.

I also feel like I haven't really been very present this last week.  As if I'm on the outside watching someone lead me quietly along.  I'm sure one of these days I will snap out of it and freak out, but for now if I appear to be not so lucid, just snap your fingers in my face a few times until I come back.

Thanks for all of you who have put up with my spaciness this week.  I appreciate your friendship, love and support more than I can say.  

Boys

The weather in Ohio has been absolutely wonderfully fabulously gorgeous!! I wish I could have you all over for a wonderful leaf crunchy, blue sky, autumny picnic!

Today we went to a park next to a river. I don't know the name of the park or the river. Because once you get out of Columbus, it's all farms and tiny towns until you hit the state line. (Or Cincinnati or Cleveland or Dayton.)

Here are some pictures of the loveliness of our day:

Above is a picture of the building across the street from the park. I thought the brick was a lovely contrast with the wonderful blue sky. Below is a picture of my hot husband playing frisbee with our four boys:

Aren't my husband and four boys so cute as they frolic about a field with their frisbees?

Hmm? What's that? You thought we only had three boys? Gosh. I'm pretty sure it's four, but maybe I should count again...
One.


Two.

Three.

Four.

Yup. Four boys.