Eeewww!!!

Neil was tenderly tucking Allyson into bed last night when he noticed her pillow pet was wet.

“Ally? Why is your unicorn wet, honey?” He asked.

“I was giving her a bath just now before you came up daddy,” she matter of factly revealed.

“How were you giving her a bath in your bed?” Neil wondered.

“I spit on her and rub it in so she is clean,” Allyson replied.


Gosh I love that girl, but eeewww!

Confessions of a Mom of a Teenager

My stomach is in knots as I write this.

I sent Ryan (9th grader) to school today knowing that he probably could have used a day off. He was a little under the weather yesterday, and even worse this morning. I sent him any way.

Ryan is a bright kid, always has been. And until this year, he was rarely challenged in school. It boggled my mind that he could earn all A’s with very little effort. It actually frustrated me. He is now attending his dream school and Neil and I couldn’t be happier with the culture there. It’s actually cool to be smart! As this year has progressed, the workload has become enormous, and the pressure to do well is insane. I am not helping.

For the first time in his academic career, Ryan failed a quiz. He said that most of the kids in the class had flunked and that the quiz was “ridiculous.” (The “other kids” phrase has never worked in our family and Ry knows that.) Neil and I kept our cool, but mentioned that it seemed as if he wasn’t devoting as much time to school work lately. This upset him, but I think he knew in his heart that we were right. He even did some extra credit in that class in an attempt to bring his grade up.

Fast forward to yesterday. He wasn’t feeling well and proclaimed jokingly, “I think I am going to take tomorrow off.” I replied that if he had a fever, he could. (He had an entire week off last week, including Monday for heavens sake!)

It turns out that he has another quiz today in the same class and on top of feeling yucky, he is clearly nervous. I decided to stay strong. He needs to push himself. He needs to learn what it is to really study and buckle down. This is what life is about…right? Right?

It’s hard to be strong. Did I mention that he was up until 1:00am studying? It’s hard to be strong.

Rugby!

Ryan (our ninth grader) was late calling me to come pick him up at the train station after school one day. He was trying out for the rugby team (despite my apprehension) so I figured practice was running a little late. Well, after sitting on my hands for twenty minutes, I called him…no answer. (I hate when that happens! My mind goes to places that I really don’t want it to go, but I immediately stop it.) Ten minutes later he finally calls me back, but unfortunately he doesn't sound right. In fact, he sounds upset. I ask him if he is okay, but instead of answering, he simply replies “Can I get a ride home from school today?” I knew something was terribly wrong because he loves taking the train. Neil picked him up since he was in the area on business. On the way home, Ryan confessed to Neil that he was hurt and having trouble breathing. When they arrived home, Neil proceeds to inform me that another teammate tackled Ry during a drill and struck him in the middle of his chest…hard. “I think my sternum is fractured mum,” Ryan winced. I immediately call the doctor. (Meanwhile I am thinking, why did I let him do this? I knew I shouldn't have agreed to this!) After x-rays the hospital wasn’t completely sure if he fractured his sternum since there was a separation, but it’s precisely where a growth plate is. So, Ryan may have fractured his sternum. Thank goodness he was instructed not to play any contact sports for at least six weeks.

"There is always next year!” Ryan proclaimed the next day. Oh Lord give me strength!

Crazy Days!

I am sitting here smiling. I am not sure why because I am absolutely exhausted, but here I am grinning ear to ear. Maybe it's because I realize that these days will most likely pass by so very quickly. Oddly, one moment I wish that they would pass (especially when I look at all of the laundry in the hamper that I just didn't get to today), and then before I can even exhale, I think about how blessed I am. Crazy...I know!

Neil had today off and I had planned on getting tons of things done, but you know how it goes...the day just got away from me. It's okay though. We made it through the day and everyone is snug as a bug in bed. Except for me. I am hiding in the computer room trying to catch up on things.

I have to share...Allyson is walking now. Not full time but she thinks she can. LOL! So I need to be on my toes at all times. It's bittersweet for me because I know how happy this makes her! She has been cruising and begging for someone...anyone to hold her hands so that she can walk around the house! All of us have sore backs as a result. (This makes me smile too.)

Anyway...I just needed to visit my poor dwindling blog and say hi! And to tell you to love today because it will be gone before you know it!

My Budding Naturalist

It's almost science fair time and Ryan has a great plan for his project. He's spent countless hours researching and studying. When I asked him what his plans were he told me that he'd let me know when he narrowed it down.

Well, the other day he proudly handed me a list of the items that he needed:

Ants
Bread
Fish Tank
Cheese Cloth
Sand
Digital Camera
Eye Dropper
Measuring Utensils
Sodium Chloride
Sucrose
Citric Acid
Caffine

Here is a list of what I need:

Raid
A bottle of wine
Valuim
A secluded island
Some more Raid

Feel free to add to my list.

Allyson is on the move!

It's official...she is crawling like a crazy monkey--in fact she's coming this way! I have to sweep the floor at least three times a day because she will find the tiniest speck of...whatever on the floor. LOL! Say good-bye to the mini Lego's and the Barbie shoes for a while.

I will more than likely be posting even less now. It's very busy here. (But I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!)