So I Was Just Thinking

Today is the first time I have ever sent my oldest over state lines without her father. Today is the first day of summer youth camp. We have been planning for this since last year when she went to the local children's camp . She went without incident, and that was quite an important step in this Aspie girl's life towards autonomy. As I got her ready for this day, I counted socks, underwear, swimsuits, towels, etc. We talked about the dangers of going places alone and the importance of the buddy system. I even explained the ever present topic of "Few people are interested in Pokemon," and what is a good topic to strike up with other girls in junior high and high school. Unfortunately, there was one thing I didn't plan for and it ruined my morning. The youth director wanted the kids to be there by 7:30. My summer school director was kind enough to let me arrive late to work. I got my daughter to church at exactly 7:30, unloaded her gear, got her things onto a pull ...

...But to a Texan, that doesn't mean much. We have been having close to 95-100F temperatures for over a month. Nonetheless, it doesn't keep us inside. We continue our daily routines and go on excursions armed with hats, water and sunscreen. Like this past weekend where we ventured out to our annual trip to Holland (TX) for the corn festival. In a recent post, I shared with you some Team Brandi pics, but there still more photos to share from our excursion. So sit right back, get a glass of Texas Tea and cool off while I share our day. This is what I look like after a day in the heat. It isn't sunburn and I am don't feel bad. It is just what happens to me. People get worried, but I am hydrated and don't feel terribly hot. My poor son has the same affliction. His is far worse as he can't even get in the hot car without immediately sweating. We live with it and try to allay people's fears that we are having heat stroke. Most Central Texas parades begin with the ...

Not as bad as day one until little man decided we were going as far as MacDonald's. He sat on the curb screaming. Then a police car drove by. I had to go back and get the bike out of his grasp and repeat the first day's drama. Next time I'm going to get up really early and go on my own. Although this double duty workout must have some benefits.

So my plan was to ride bikes everyday from now until Peggy comes Unfortunately, I didn't account for a rug rat who doesn't know how to ride a bike yet. He isn't old enough to stay home alone, and staying with his sister is basically the same as staying home alone. So he came along for the ride. I got a double workout because I would ride forward 50 yards and he would ride forward 20. I then would get off my bike, run back to where he was, put him back on the bike he had fallen off and pull his 60 pounds uphill. On the way back from the cul de sac around the corner from my house which is as far as I got in 20 minutes using the aforementioned process, I changed my method. I put my bike down, put him back on his bike, pulled his 60 pound body up the hill (yes it is uphill both ways - in my opinion,) and then ran back to my bike (yay, downhill) and road my bike up to the driveway where I left him. Then I carried his Spiderman bicycle (I hate you Spidey) across the street and to...

Today I saw the most touching expression of support that a town of just over 1100 people could show toward one woman. We went to Holland, TX for their annual corn festival, but this year had a theme like no other theme I have ever seen before. After the military marching band and traditional corn queen float passed, I was surprised by a group of bikers swathed in pink. I thought it was unique, but didn't let it weigh too heavy on my mind. Then came this group of ladies in pink sporting Team Brandi t-shirts. But the most unique part of the parade was this... Do you believe this? or this? I then decided I better ask the Team Brandi woman that was standing next to me with a video camera about Brandi. It was then that I learned about Brandi Shelton who was going through her third bout of cancer which this time has spread to her bones. The entire town decided to dedicate the festival to her. She even got to ride on the pink fire truck. Unfortunately, I didn't know this until the tru...

Waiting for his turn to dance He is funny. He gets humor and sarcasm. He makes remarks and waits for you to get it. However, he doesn't tell funny jokes. With those he makes up jokes that make no sense. For example, I will say, "Why did the lettuce always win the race? ... Because he is always a head." Then James will say, "Why did the squirrel cross the road? ...Because he was a silly squirrel head and he eats acorns and is running across the highway." What??! Last night he was standing next to me pretending he had lost his voice. He was mouthing words and trying to get me to guess what he was saying. The only thing I got was, "I lost my voice." It ended with me tickling him to make him laugh and prove he hadn't lost his voice. He remembers EVERYTHING. On Sundays we have breakfast after church while Cait is spending time with the youth group. We go to the same place every week. When we order our breakfast, we get Cait a cheeseburger, pickles only ...

I was taking my son to daycare this morning and some questions occurred to me. It was all a matter of courtesy and hidden social rules. The school has a large parking lot. Most parents are trying to get a child or two out of the back seat. Why do people feel they must park in the space right next to you when there are 20+ spaces available elsewhere? There you are pulling your child out of the car, door wide open so you don't bump his head and along comes Mr./Mrs. Impatient who noses his/her car into the space next to you as if to say..."I'm in a hurry." Listen mister/lady...I am in a hurry too, but I am going to slow down just to impede your progress. When you are entering a building and you know that someone is walking up behind you with child in tow, how close to you do they have to be in order for you to have to wait and hold the door for them? Inversely, when a person is holding a door for you even when you are clearly too far away for them to need to do it f...

...to look at the things I love about my kids. See below as I go outside to stop the whining. My Lil Slugger Running for Home Who's the kid? How much longer will that branch hold?? Disaster averted. The whining has ceased and all is peaceful again.