Elsewhere

June 28, 2011

I wrote last week about Teenagers and Curfews over at AlphaMom.

Who knew there was a secret club to which all parents will all one day belong, the Curfew Police. It is not nearly as fun as it sounds. And since it doesn’t sound that fun to begin with, well you can only guess the good times that go on.

And I don’t think I ever linked to this post about Report Cards for Mom. What do you think of the Florida legislature’s idea to grade parents based on their interactions with the school and how prepared their child is every day? How do you think you would rate? I think I would get a solid D.

Summer Evenings

After dinner, which is always late these days, we most often we end up in the front yard. The kids ride bikes, skateboard, rollerskate in the street.

The dying lawn gets watered to the tune of “Look at me! Are you watching? Didja see?”

And just like when I was a kid, the street lights slowly coming on signals it is time to head inside.

Summer Perfection

June 25, 2011

Early evening sunlight.

Unexpected detours which lead to hidden rope swings.

Bridges that lead to nowhere.

And jumping off of them.

We didn’t have Country Time Lemonade, but we did have Hey Cupcake.

Can’t get better than this.

Summer Staycation

June 23, 2011

We are not going on a vacation this summer, mostly because there is no money for a vacation. Instead we are staying home and trying to try out different things that are local, mixing the free, the inexpensive , and a couple moderately pricey things to try and make it a fun summer without busting the budget.

So far I have to say we have been having a lot of fun. Attitude is everything. And this is the summer of we-will-have-fun-even-if-it-kills-us-goddammit.

Yesterday we tried bowling. I can not recall the last time I went bowling. It was at least a decade ago.

But I discovered a website Kids Bowl Free which lists local places where kids can bowl two games per day for free. We still had to pay for shoe rentals. And then there were the sodas and nachos with cheese. All told, about $50 for 6 kids and 2 adults.

We have found a sport that we all suck equally at. To say we were bad would be an understatement.

I mean, it takes a certain level of skill that not everyone can possess to throw the ball on the other side of the gutter bumper.

The License Should Come With Flashing Warning Lights

June 16, 2011

Yesterday at 6:30am, we lined up at the DMV hoping to get one of the coveted time slots for taking the driving test. It doesn’t open until 8:00. There was probably already 20 people ahead of us in line.

I told my son if we didn’t get a slot I was going to have to drop him off the night before and he could camp out like we used to have to do for concert tickets. Something which confused him greatly. Why would you camp out?

Luckily it didn’t come to that.

I am now the parent of a driver. God help me.

Just like his mother before him, he drove right over a cone during the road test.

I sent texts to our neighborhood friends warning them to be on the look out.

Don’t Make Me Stop This Car

June 8, 2011

My 12 year old son is playing on a 7-7 football team. I had never heard of 7-7 football before this spring when he brought home a sign up sheet and begged to do it.

Basically it is like a big game of tag, with a ball.

And who doesn’t want to run around non-stop for two hours in 100 degree weather. You know, other than sane people.

My other children take the opportunity of watching their brother’s game to bicker non-stop with each other. They argue over nothing. It’s like it is their favorite hobby. I pass the time making idle threats. Yes, I have officially turned into that parent.

Except I mean it. Next time they are totally walking the 10 miles home.

This and That

Summer is kicking my ass. Not in a bad way, I suppose. More like a holy hell it is so damn hot and sunny and why won’t it just rain already so we can stay inside and watch movies in the air conditioning sort of way. Because my children? They do not believe in remaining indoors. Ever.

So far it is all pool, skatepark, pool, collapse in air conditioned house, eat ice cream. Not a bad way to spend the first couple of week of summer that’s for sure.

Added into the mix are dentist appointments for all. Follow-up dental appointments for the unlucky. Orthodontist consultations. Appointments for tooth extractions. Doctor check-ups.

One of the unlucky, though you wouldn’t know it by looking at him. He wanted to know why he had to wear a bib. Uh, so all the blood and drool doesn’t get on your shirt?

I didn’t really say that. Not that it would have mattered since he was busy watching Phineas and Ferb and getting annoyed when the dentist’s hands got in the way of the tv.

July? I’m not doing anything.

On the Bright Side, One Less College Tuition to Pay

June 6, 2011

In my house I try to deal with most things with a sense of humor. That’s not say I don’t yell, I do. Probably a lot. Though I try to justify this by saying that my house is so loud I have to yell just to be heard over everyone else.

With that in mind I have one kid who just doesn’t seem to apply himself to school at all. He gets good grades, when he remembers to do his homework. He is just so forgetful.

And so it happened that one day it was going to be career day at school .

I helpfully wrote a list of things that I felt would be his best career options should he continue on the path he is currently on.

1) Grave digger

2) Clown car passenger

3) Crossing guard

4) ?

I left the note at his place on the table. I had hoped he would maybe contemplate the list and realize he didn’t want to have a career in any of these things. Maybe during career day he would go and listen to what the people had to say about their chosen professions and the education that was required to get them there. Maybe.

Instead he crossed out the question mark and wrote in the space, Professional Smiler.

I looked at him. What?

He flashed me a hug grin, accentuating his dimples as much as possible, pointed to his face and said, How can I deprive the world of this? I am so good at it.

What I Love About Texas

June 5, 2011

It’s 8pm and and we are at the pool.

Slices of Heaven

June 3, 2011

It has been five years since I have been gluten free.
It has been five years since I had French Toast.

This was worth the wait.

I ate it at The Little Aussie Bakery and Cafe in San Antonio this past weekend. A 100% gluten free place. There is even a sign on the door forbidding people from bringing gluten into the restaurant. It was a good thing Melissa decided not to dust herself with flour before we left the house.