...So I said I'd tell you about the gum...



Nathan was having trouble with his asthma, I'd already picked him up from school before Gabriel's talent show. We got to the Middle School gym right as the students were starting to file in, and somehow ended up in the bleachers surrounded by 7th graders.



Nathan and I were both chewing gum. I didn't think it would be a problem, we aren't students there. As Nathan got the camera ready and we waited for some measure of quiet, a teacher approached Nathan on his other side. The teacher started to talk to him, and I wasn't paying attention...I was watching people adjust the microphone...I was turned away from the teacher, so she couldn't see my face. (It probably didn't help that I was wearing a bright pink hoodie with "Bloo" from 'Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends" on the front of it).



I felt Nathans body tense up next to me, so I turned to see what was going on. I caught a few important words like: gum, school, rules, all students...

I swallowed my gum, and just then another teacher, one that recognized Nathan from last year, appeared at our side to ask what the problem was. The first teacher seemed surprised that I was an adult, and the other teacher told her that we weren't students and she didn't need to enforce the rule with us.


The first teacher said that Nathan had been a student last year, and knew the rules, and should therefore throw away his gum. I smiled and said, "Nathan, hurry and swallow your gum, I don't want to get in trouble". He stuck his gum to the roof of his mouth as he swallowed with difficulty.

The first teacher turned and left, the second apologized and took a seat nearby. Some time later I noticed Nate happily chewing away again. I told him not to be so obvious about it, and not to get caught again. He laughed at me, told me he couldn't believe I'd swallowed my gum...I guess they couldn't have sent me to detention or anything like that.

This is the first kid free weekend (where they are all with other mom and other dad rather than with Grandparents) since Sept. 13th, when I whined and cried about them being gone.

I'm ok. (So tense that my jaw hurts from clenching my teeth, my phones going to fall apart from me checking for any word from them every other minute, and I'm so much fun to be around that I had to go to the dining room to type because I was disturbing Reeds one morning to sleep in)! I'll be a lot more ok tomorrow night when they are all home.

Other than that, we had a phenomenal week. Gabriel tried out for the 7th grade talent show. He played Ode to Joy on his guitar. The morning of the talent show he decided he'd play something else...I wasn't so sure, I didn't know how prepared he was for the other...I hadn't heard him practice this other.



I got to the gym and sat amongst hundreds of 7th graders. (Nathan went with me so I wouldn't feel out of place. Funny story, all about gum and teachers, I'll tell you later). They started, Gabriel was 2nd in line, and although it took forever to get the microphone set and him ready to go, he looked confident. Then he started...he did great, but he played very fast...I guess he was a little nervous after all.

End of the term...all work done and turned in, kids thrilled about "just 3 more to go" and me?...Well, we've got our homework routine and scouts and dance for Crystal all figured out and running smoothly, blissful?...That'll happen tomorrow night!

...I ate WHAT??

Last week sometime I was on my way to Tooele to pick Nathan up from a friends house. (Funny how driving into town I feel like I'm accelerating through the gates of Hell). Before I went to grab him I stopped to visit a good friend that I haven't seen since we moved to Midway.

She greeted me at the door much changed from what I remembered. Nearly bald, and pale, and tired, and absolutely beaming to see my long-absent face. The last time I'd seen her she'd had curly, long brown hair, an energy about her that was contagious. Although I'd spoken to her on the phone the day before, she hadn't told me. In fact, through my absence she hasn't complained about anything.....and I find her just finished with her last round of chemotherapy, her two adult sons living at home to care for her, her job gone, her finances more than difficult.....still smiling and shining and with such strength of spirit.

...Got me thinking about the things I'm doing actively and the things I've been putting off or down right neglecting.
The things I want to teach my kids but have just been doing myself because it's easier and less frustrating than to walk them through it. Books I've wanted to read. Naps I've wanted to take. Food that I meant to eat earlier in the day so that I don't eat everything right before bed and really pack in the potential for acid reflux.....

So with a light heart I'm able to say tonight that the laundry is folded and put away. The kids are in their rooms if not actually in their beds. (In the boys room it is too noisy for me to believe that they are trying to be restful)! The dog is washed, my brother Richard and I are getting ready to start the 3rd book in a series of 4, and instead of having half a pint of Ben & Jerry's right before bed?...I had a piece of summer squash with brown sugar melted on the top. (Prepared by Reed, my vegetable hating German meatitarian).

Happy?.....Oh YES!!!......kids need kissed good night...Mom to the rescue!

My boys

Last night Gabriel and Nathan both attended their first etiquette dinner for young

men/young women. The boys put their name in a hat, and the girls drew a name from the hat to be paired for the evening.

A young lady in our Ward happened to be celebrating her 16th birthday. She got to draw first. She pulled Nathan out of the hat. (Keep in mind that Nathan is 13). One of the other kids shouted, "Hey, Nathan gets to take her on her first date!" I understand his reply was to flirt outrageously with her all night, exaggerated manners and lively conversation. She said she had a great time.

Gabriel got paired with a petite gal, and although he is usually shy around unfamiliar girls, he made the ultimate effort to be entertaining. He asked her about interests, she didn't have any. He asked what movies she's seen recently, she doesn't really watch movies. I think he left with a feeling of "are girls always so difficult?" To him I say, "Yes, babe. Yes they are, but never in a predictable or sensible way."

They'll always be my boys, but since when are they old enough/big enough/mature enough to want to be enchanting to girls?

Another day older...

So...other mom and other dad both flaked out the weekend of my birthday. This is ok with me, I'd rather have the kids home, but Reed had made plans...so his mother (bless her patient heart) took all 6 for the weekend.

Our bathroom had a huge jetted tub, and I've decided that's a necessity when we start house hunting. (Cumulatively I spent hours in it, I kept turning red and getting out resembling a lobster). Reed tricked me into leaving our room long enough for our Louis to sneak in and decorate, when we returned, I almost wet my pants! Reed opened the door and there was a man in our room...it took nearly a minute to process that it was Louis amongst all the balloons and streamers, then I laughed and blushed and laughed some more. (Louis was the best man at our wedding, and we love him more than our luggage)!

Everything in pink and blue and purple...4 kinds of cheesecake and my German Chocolate cake...how did he know?...his girlfriend, now done lighting candles, said that Reed and Louis have been planning since August 22nd. More than a month. I'm humbled.

Ryan never could be troubled with my birthday, I usually made my own cake and took care of the present on my own. Reed always has this gift for making me feel spoiled and special and pampered and loved...whatever was done that I deserve him I don't know, but I'm hooked, addicted, smitten, and more than casually grateful!

Now I wonder what will be expected for Louis' girlfriends birthday...I think we'll have time to figure something out.