So far, our Middle Son is the one who has had items stolen.
A year ago last fall he had a team hoodie for cross country and the team sat outside at the high school near some bleachers and he took it off. He said they went into the gym for 5 mins and when he returned it was gone. But then he got it back! On the very last day of school (which is warm as it was end of May and this is Georgia), he saw a kid who was wearing it in the hall. My son approached him and said told the student that if that is a medium then that looks like my jacket. And the student let my son look at the tag and saw it was a medium. And then the student said, "Do you want me to take it off?" And Middle Son said yes and it was given back to him. On the very last day of school.
A couple months ago he went on a trip to Florida for cross country and stayed in a hotel room with three other boys. I had given him some spending money and happened to have a lot of single dollar bills--I had told him to use those first to get rid of them. One night after they had gotten back to the room he texted me to say "someone stole money from him and he thinks it was the hotel maid". What happened was in the morning before they left for a day of activities he left all those singles (as in $28) in a stack on top of the TV. (!!!!!!!!!). I have no clue why he thought that was better than in his duffel bag or on his body......but then I explained to him that she didn't steal it.....he left it out as a tip!
Last month he went with a friend to a public skatepark and the other boy's mom drove them....as he is 15 and can't drive yet and has a permit to drive. It doesn't cost any money to skate there but they do have a snack bar in case you need....maybe $5 to have. So who knows why he took his whole wallet with about $50 in it.....money he had just earned from Hubs after Middle Son said he needed money for some upcoming events like some movies out with friends and a girl's birthday dinner. Our son had worked an entire day for Hubs, cleaning out a workshop and organizing every single item down to paint buckets and nails.
At the skatepark are lockers and you would bring your own lock (which is what he has done in the past if he brought a camera and filmed friends. But he and his friend used a metal stacked locker to keep our son's wallet and both of their phones....and repeatedly went to the locker--which is in plain site--to look at phone. Then he went to locker and the wallet was completely gone. Gone with his hard earned cash. It broke my heart for him. I knew it was a lesson he had to learn. We came up with a plan of tasks to earn more money.
And then I had to take him one morning to the Driver's Vehicle place at 7:15 a.m. to get another Driver's Permit. Looking forward to sleeping in next week.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Twelve Days of Christmas - Full Cold Moon
You may have heard that there were two winners of the huge lottery last night and one ticket was sold in Atlanta. Unfortunately it was not our ticket and so as usual I will be logging into my laptop in a few minutes to start my work day. I will be taking a lot of days off the next two weeks. Yay!!!!
I have a lot to say every day so I blog in my head and my heart but I feel conflicted with teenagers -- so much to say about them, but what should I share and what is not cool to share? I think about that a lot.
I gave the boys the heads up a month in advance that Sunday, 12/15 was our family day to see Santa. yes--our tradition requires an annual photo that I treasure. We have the routine down: we leave the house at 8:30. This time we had to coordinate that Middle Son had Driver's Ed at the high school at 2:00 so we left my car at the high school and then he drove the family Suburban to the mall (yes, our 10th grader drove to have Santa photos. I sit in the back with the 12th grader and 7th grader).
As usual we were first in line....we parents do have the decency to be efficient with our tradition. I had a feeling this Santa would be different than last year's and he was, but just as jovial. I even brought last year's photo as I liked how the boys stood--they are too big to sit and Youngest advised us he was tired of being the one to sit on his lap.
After we get the photo done and the usual two 5x7's paid for, I get a huge smile on my face. And then we shop for clothes for the boys and as teens, new clothes make them very happy. After shopping we have lunch out and are done.
It is one of those years where the boys didn't have one particular item they wanted for Christmas. There is nothing under the tree right now. I will box and bag their new clothes and there are a few things on the way from Amazon. I told the boys I would like to do some things together with them over the holiday break.....but I do of course feel anxious that as of 12/18 I am not ready with gifts.
But maybe that is how it is supposed to me for our "pocketbook" since Son #2 will be added to our auto insurance in one month (which doubled the cost 1.5 years ago when Son #1 was added).
I hope you are where you want to be on this day one week from Christmas!
I have a lot to say every day so I blog in my head and my heart but I feel conflicted with teenagers -- so much to say about them, but what should I share and what is not cool to share? I think about that a lot.
I gave the boys the heads up a month in advance that Sunday, 12/15 was our family day to see Santa. yes--our tradition requires an annual photo that I treasure. We have the routine down: we leave the house at 8:30. This time we had to coordinate that Middle Son had Driver's Ed at the high school at 2:00 so we left my car at the high school and then he drove the family Suburban to the mall (yes, our 10th grader drove to have Santa photos. I sit in the back with the 12th grader and 7th grader).
As usual we were first in line....we parents do have the decency to be efficient with our tradition. I had a feeling this Santa would be different than last year's and he was, but just as jovial. I even brought last year's photo as I liked how the boys stood--they are too big to sit and Youngest advised us he was tired of being the one to sit on his lap.
After we get the photo done and the usual two 5x7's paid for, I get a huge smile on my face. And then we shop for clothes for the boys and as teens, new clothes make them very happy. After shopping we have lunch out and are done.
It is one of those years where the boys didn't have one particular item they wanted for Christmas. There is nothing under the tree right now. I will box and bag their new clothes and there are a few things on the way from Amazon. I told the boys I would like to do some things together with them over the holiday break.....but I do of course feel anxious that as of 12/18 I am not ready with gifts.
But maybe that is how it is supposed to me for our "pocketbook" since Son #2 will be added to our auto insurance in one month (which doubled the cost 1.5 years ago when Son #1 was added).
I hope you are where you want to be on this day one week from Christmas!
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Sunday in the Kitchen and a Full Beaver Moon
We have a ritual on Sundays where Hubs will go get the Sunday paper at the store and bring home bagels sometimes. I cook a big breakfast and we read the paper--he still insists on reading a Sunday newspaper. So there I am making bacon and he says to me:
Hubs: Didn't you once tell me about that blogger who lives on a ranch somewhere out west?
Me: thinking to myself that he could be a little more specific said "Um, what?"
Hubs: With red hair? Ree? She is on the cover of the Parade Magazine.
Me: Oh yeah, a cattle ranch and now she has a food show but I swear her recipes are nothing different than what I cook all the time for you guys. But you know what I like about her? Her beauty she once had is fading away, like me. Her jaw and neck is soft and she hasn't changed her face with surgery.
Hubs: Not yet any way.
* * * *
......Not the answer I would have liked.
I made one of my night time trips to the grocery store tonight. On the way back home I was driving a little slower than normal. I was deep in thought of what to write in my blog today, and wanting to mention the Full Beaver Moon and all the nature in our 'hood with hawks and foxes and deer.
Then a deer leaped from the right side of the road, ran in front of my car, for a second, so fast, and so close I could see all the markings in its fur, just a few inches from the hood of my car, and it disappeared to my left. It scared me so bad I almost pulled over. If my husband was home when I pulled in our driveway a few minutes later I would have cried when I told him. But he was out doing driving practice with Middle Son.
Sometimes I feel sad, but sometimes when I miss hitting a doe which would have flipped on top of my car hood had I hit it, I feel very lucky.
Hubs: Didn't you once tell me about that blogger who lives on a ranch somewhere out west?
Me: thinking to myself that he could be a little more specific said "Um, what?"
Hubs: With red hair? Ree? She is on the cover of the Parade Magazine.
Me: Oh yeah, a cattle ranch and now she has a food show but I swear her recipes are nothing different than what I cook all the time for you guys. But you know what I like about her? Her beauty she once had is fading away, like me. Her jaw and neck is soft and she hasn't changed her face with surgery.
Hubs: Not yet any way.
* * * *
......Not the answer I would have liked.
I made one of my night time trips to the grocery store tonight. On the way back home I was driving a little slower than normal. I was deep in thought of what to write in my blog today, and wanting to mention the Full Beaver Moon and all the nature in our 'hood with hawks and foxes and deer.
Then a deer leaped from the right side of the road, ran in front of my car, for a second, so fast, and so close I could see all the markings in its fur, just a few inches from the hood of my car, and it disappeared to my left. It scared me so bad I almost pulled over. If my husband was home when I pulled in our driveway a few minutes later I would have cried when I told him. But he was out doing driving practice with Middle Son.
Sometimes I feel sad, but sometimes when I miss hitting a doe which would have flipped on top of my car hood had I hit it, I feel very lucky.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Conversation with my High School Senior
It's Back-to-School here and I rise now again at 6:30 a.m. to see the 12th grader and the 10th grader off before they leave the house for school. Hubs leaves ten minutes later. Peaceful coffee time.....
Then I get this text from Oldest Son:
Then I get this text from Oldest Son:
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Red, White and Blue Nails
I don't really have red, white and blue nails in honor of the 4th of July, but who knows--by tonight I might.
Years ago, before kids, I used to paint my nails red or pink or tangerine. Or French tips. Last year, having purged many bottles of nail polish, I just had a few colors I would have on my toes (I do always have color on my toes) but for fingernails I only used clear or maybe the occasional pale shell pink.
But lately I have been taking an interest in my fingernails. Maybe it is because it is a part of my body that still looks good? Anyway, Hubs uses You Tube videos to learn how to fix something around the house and one day I looked for videos to show how to do a multi-color technique I saw in some Cover-Girl ad in a magazine. I found several videos that showed how you first paint your nails a pale shade close to white, and then you get a make-up sponge --the kind shaped like a triangle--and you paint your choice of two or three nail polish stripes onto the sponge and then dab on your nail. A layer of clear afterwards improves the look. I later became the cool aunt on a FL trip, demonstrating this technique. Here is one look:
So I have been buying nail polish in funky colors now (for when I am not visiting a client) and I now have blue and green. Here is what I did with the blue. Also, You Tube video girl had "squared off" nails so now I do that too instead of more rounded:
So maybe this is my new hobby now. Painting my face isn't the same anymore. I am ashamed that I was doing the walk/jog/run routine in March and that tapered off and I love long skirts that fold down at the waist now...... I took some selfies at the beach and found out that for all future photos I must raise my head as in the shot below. Either that or I am going to strategically place my hand/fingernails in front of my neck.
Years ago, before kids, I used to paint my nails red or pink or tangerine. Or French tips. Last year, having purged many bottles of nail polish, I just had a few colors I would have on my toes (I do always have color on my toes) but for fingernails I only used clear or maybe the occasional pale shell pink.
But lately I have been taking an interest in my fingernails. Maybe it is because it is a part of my body that still looks good? Anyway, Hubs uses You Tube videos to learn how to fix something around the house and one day I looked for videos to show how to do a multi-color technique I saw in some Cover-Girl ad in a magazine. I found several videos that showed how you first paint your nails a pale shade close to white, and then you get a make-up sponge --the kind shaped like a triangle--and you paint your choice of two or three nail polish stripes onto the sponge and then dab on your nail. A layer of clear afterwards improves the look. I later became the cool aunt on a FL trip, demonstrating this technique. Here is one look:
So I have been buying nail polish in funky colors now (for when I am not visiting a client) and I now have blue and green. Here is what I did with the blue. Also, You Tube video girl had "squared off" nails so now I do that too instead of more rounded:
So maybe this is my new hobby now. Painting my face isn't the same anymore. I am ashamed that I was doing the walk/jog/run routine in March and that tapered off and I love long skirts that fold down at the waist now...... I took some selfies at the beach and found out that for all future photos I must raise my head as in the shot below. Either that or I am going to strategically place my hand/fingernails in front of my neck.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
May Day (Mayday)
Stepping back into my blog, I took a look at at site I like called Earth Sky to see exactly how many full moons I have missed talking about on my blog. It has been two full moons since I last blogged but what caught my eye on the site was an entry about how today is May Day.
I read this article about why we celebrate May Day and I was transported back to 7th grade when I attended an all-girls school. This school had decades of traditions and one was a May Day celebration which included girls in spring dresses dancing around a May pole, creating a beautiful pattern on it with ribbons they held.
So, May Day is halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice, and I never knew it was an ancient astronomical celebration.
I have been busy, stressed, worn-out (but no travels--it's other stuff), hot-flashed and plagued with high-anxiety but not without reasons. Master shower leaking Fiasco! A college visit with Eldest! Taxes! Clients Whining! Gravity Attacking and Weight-Gaining Going on! Messy Boys! Underwater House Refinanced! Two Teen Drivers!
But now it is May 1st and am past a few hurdles and ready to show a little attention to myself. Good things used to happen in May.
Happy May Day!
I read this article about why we celebrate May Day and I was transported back to 7th grade when I attended an all-girls school. This school had decades of traditions and one was a May Day celebration which included girls in spring dresses dancing around a May pole, creating a beautiful pattern on it with ribbons they held.
So, May Day is halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice, and I never knew it was an ancient astronomical celebration.
I have been busy, stressed, worn-out (but no travels--it's other stuff), hot-flashed and plagued with high-anxiety but not without reasons. Master shower leaking Fiasco! A college visit with Eldest! Taxes! Clients Whining! Gravity Attacking and Weight-Gaining Going on! Messy Boys! Underwater House Refinanced! Two Teen Drivers!
But now it is May 1st and am past a few hurdles and ready to show a little attention to myself. Good things used to happen in May.
Happy May Day!
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Birds and Bees Talk -- 11th Grade Style
Last weekend I was sitting at the table alone eating some lunch and our 11th grade son was close by in the kitchen putting together a sandwich and out of the blue he tells me about a 12th grade boy he hangs with now. They are on the same sports team and sometimes gives him rides to get some food or back to my son's car after they have practice.
Son to me: "So Clay and I stopped by this fast food place to eat and he saw a server there who he used to know. A couple years ago she was mad at him for not going out with her and for revenge she told her parents that he raped her. She even had bruises on her arms she must have done herself and Clay had to get a lawyer that his dad knew. He didn't do any of that."
Me, in my head: (WHAT ON EARTH??!!)
As parents you can relay and advise your kids on situations but I am seeing that this cerebral son of mine learns best and thinks about things that happen in conversations with other people and maybe not so much his parents.
So about this Clay person who is in 12th grade and who we have never even seen because they play a sport that is not a spectator sport......in all honesty this is a very fishy story to me. Without knowing either of these two people, I side with the girl and my teen son believes his friend.
What young girl is going to tell her parent(s) that a named boy raped her and go through court unless it happened? And what boy feels the need to tell my son everything he told him just because he happened to see this girl working there? I asked my son, "If you didn't know this girl at all (he didn't--she goes to other school and may even be out of school now) why would Clay sit there and tell you everything about something that happened a while ago with this situation?"
This led to a discussion about what is date rape so we discussed that--how years ago no one would believe that someone who is dating or even married to someone could be raped. That is when my son clarified they weren't even dating. The whole story sort of baffled me. But it did lead to a Very Good discussion between us. And also has left me biased that this boy is not innocent. An opinion formed on someone I never met, and I am sure I will meet him one day soon. And thoughts of his parents....and us as parents. With three children I have learned to never assume certain things I have heard about of other kids could never happen to my kid.
I do appreciate that this item was such on his mind--trying to process all of it--that he shared it with me out of the blue. And then he continued with a different story. He told me that when he was working at that restaurant (the one that hated to pay its busboys) there was a dishwasher who was in his early 20's and he told my son that when he was 18 his girlfriend was 17. The girlfriend's parents got mad and pressed charges that he was 18 and having sex with their 17 yr old daughter. So now this guy has a record as a sex offender. My son said, "And it was consensual."
!!!! Again my son hears about an incident that we could have told him about but he didn't "process it" until he heard it from a peer right in front of him. So that led to another good conversation about how this is true about the age thing and right or wrong, that could happen, which is why when you make a choice to do something, you have to ask yourself--what is the worst thing that can happen.
Of course as soon as I could I relayed everything to Hubs, probably when he was in the shower, where so many of our conversations take place. He was dubious of Clay's story too and a little while later I heard him asking our son questions of his own.
It would be so hard to not have Hubs to share in raising these boys. There is always something going on. There is always a lot to talk about.
(sometimes I think about what different stories I would have if I blogged back when they were this little).
Son to me: "So Clay and I stopped by this fast food place to eat and he saw a server there who he used to know. A couple years ago she was mad at him for not going out with her and for revenge she told her parents that he raped her. She even had bruises on her arms she must have done herself and Clay had to get a lawyer that his dad knew. He didn't do any of that."
Me, in my head: (WHAT ON EARTH??!!)
As parents you can relay and advise your kids on situations but I am seeing that this cerebral son of mine learns best and thinks about things that happen in conversations with other people and maybe not so much his parents.
So about this Clay person who is in 12th grade and who we have never even seen because they play a sport that is not a spectator sport......in all honesty this is a very fishy story to me. Without knowing either of these two people, I side with the girl and my teen son believes his friend.
What young girl is going to tell her parent(s) that a named boy raped her and go through court unless it happened? And what boy feels the need to tell my son everything he told him just because he happened to see this girl working there? I asked my son, "If you didn't know this girl at all (he didn't--she goes to other school and may even be out of school now) why would Clay sit there and tell you everything about something that happened a while ago with this situation?"
This led to a discussion about what is date rape so we discussed that--how years ago no one would believe that someone who is dating or even married to someone could be raped. That is when my son clarified they weren't even dating. The whole story sort of baffled me. But it did lead to a Very Good discussion between us. And also has left me biased that this boy is not innocent. An opinion formed on someone I never met, and I am sure I will meet him one day soon. And thoughts of his parents....and us as parents. With three children I have learned to never assume certain things I have heard about of other kids could never happen to my kid.
I do appreciate that this item was such on his mind--trying to process all of it--that he shared it with me out of the blue. And then he continued with a different story. He told me that when he was working at that restaurant (the one that hated to pay its busboys) there was a dishwasher who was in his early 20's and he told my son that when he was 18 his girlfriend was 17. The girlfriend's parents got mad and pressed charges that he was 18 and having sex with their 17 yr old daughter. So now this guy has a record as a sex offender. My son said, "And it was consensual."
!!!! Again my son hears about an incident that we could have told him about but he didn't "process it" until he heard it from a peer right in front of him. So that led to another good conversation about how this is true about the age thing and right or wrong, that could happen, which is why when you make a choice to do something, you have to ask yourself--what is the worst thing that can happen.
Of course as soon as I could I relayed everything to Hubs, probably when he was in the shower, where so many of our conversations take place. He was dubious of Clay's story too and a little while later I heard him asking our son questions of his own.
It would be so hard to not have Hubs to share in raising these boys. There is always something going on. There is always a lot to talk about.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
On Track
Today Hubs and I got out the door at 7:30 am to take our 9th grader to high school where he'd get the bus with the track team for a meet. His run time wasn't until 12:30 so I was so glad it wasn't me who had to sit outside for hours till then.
We went to the high school meet later and it was so cold out--must be in the 20's with the chill factor. And there were these high schoolers running in shorts and tank tops. Our son ran cross country in the fall and we went to all of his races but the courses wind in woods oftentimes and we only see his body in motion briefly.
But with track you see the students run around a track and we sat ourselves on the freezing stadium benches waiting for his race to start (a mile which is four ties around the track).
I hardly recognized him as he has grown four or so inches this year. He looked so beautiful I had some tears behind my glasses.
Making food in our kitchen for the boys is a large way of showing my love for them. My heart was bursting with pride for him and for wanting to cook for him/them.
My changing hormones and their changing hormones sometimes clash around here. Every day when he gets home at 5:30 he and all of them are ripping through the cupboard like madmen for food. Most days I have dinner or muffins or something ready--I'm up at 6:30 am and have dinner and items prepped before I start work at 9:00am. One day last week I didn't and there was our runner, all sweaty and hungry and I was about to do my new commitment to walking/jogging in our 'hood and as I am apt to do lately I snapped, "This is why I am fat -- I am always in the kitchen if I am not working!!!"
And you know, that is sort of true....but today I am calmer and it is about them. I have had my days of looking good and many years without kids. I do need to point them to what they can eat while I do go outside for 30 mins to take care of me a little bit.
It's been 8 hours now and he is still at the track meet. Brrrrr. There is a big pot of chicken noodle soup and salad and bread (Hubs will complain there are no matzoh balls in it, which I make sometimes). After today I have more respect for how hard our son works at school and after school with track and how hungry he is when he gets home.
We went to the high school meet later and it was so cold out--must be in the 20's with the chill factor. And there were these high schoolers running in shorts and tank tops. Our son ran cross country in the fall and we went to all of his races but the courses wind in woods oftentimes and we only see his body in motion briefly.
But with track you see the students run around a track and we sat ourselves on the freezing stadium benches waiting for his race to start (a mile which is four ties around the track).
I hardly recognized him as he has grown four or so inches this year. He looked so beautiful I had some tears behind my glasses.
So, this is what he does after school every day, prior to when he calls Hubs or me asking for a ride home, getting stronger and faster. That phone call where I am all grumbly thinking why aren't there other kids near us who do track so we can carpool.
And then I had the same reaction the first time I saw his older brother do cross country. I felt like I had to get home as fast as I could and cook a lot of food. I saw his body in motion and thought--no wonder these boys eat us out of house and home. He is almost 6 feet tall--what did I think it took to have them grow so well. And then I couldn't get home fast enough to make some homemade chicken soup.
My changing hormones and their changing hormones sometimes clash around here. Every day when he gets home at 5:30 he and all of them are ripping through the cupboard like madmen for food. Most days I have dinner or muffins or something ready--I'm up at 6:30 am and have dinner and items prepped before I start work at 9:00am. One day last week I didn't and there was our runner, all sweaty and hungry and I was about to do my new commitment to walking/jogging in our 'hood and as I am apt to do lately I snapped, "This is why I am fat -- I am always in the kitchen if I am not working!!!"
And you know, that is sort of true....but today I am calmer and it is about them. I have had my days of looking good and many years without kids. I do need to point them to what they can eat while I do go outside for 30 mins to take care of me a little bit.
It's been 8 hours now and he is still at the track meet. Brrrrr. There is a big pot of chicken noodle soup and salad and bread (Hubs will complain there are no matzoh balls in it, which I make sometimes). After today I have more respect for how hard our son works at school and after school with track and how hungry he is when he gets home.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Phone Tales
One day last week I was working at my desk as usual with my phone nearby and my middle son who's in 9th grade calls, which is unusual since he only calls or texts at the end of the day when he needs a ride home from sports.
He say, "Mom, I'm calling to let you know that someone had their phone stolen at school and my backpack got searched and of course there was nothing in it, so I will see you later, OK?"
Me: "OK, bye". Thinking: Well, I will pump him for all those details later.
So the minute he got home I got the scoop. He was in math class and there were about 20 minutes left and the students sit in single desks all facing the front. a couple rows behind him and toward the left a girl announces that her phone is missing. She had put her iphone on her desk during a quiz .......and suddenly realized it was gone. The teacher then said he needed to call Administration and when the assistant principal got there (he is known to the students as "Sherlock Holmes" as he is the one involved in these kinds of investigational/law breaking issue) he asked for everyone around Stolen Phone Girl's radius to stay and everyone else to go on to their next class which was starting soon.
Then of the remaining students, three at a time they had to go into the AP's office and have their backpack searched. One girl student who was to the Stolen Phone Girl's left and behind, was very vocal in denial and she was known to have frequent in-school suspensions for stealing these, etc.
My son was the last to be called in for a search and in the meantime he missed Spanish class and was starving and had to use the restroom he said more terribly than known to humankind. Afterwards is when he was told to call his parent and state what he said when he called me. He never heard the results of the Stolen Phone, but these were my/Hubs' thoughts:
--Did anyone call the phone to find it (yes, but it was on silent)
--Why was her phone OUT of her backpack to begin with (our son said this same question to himself and the girl was asked and she said she had no pockets but not sure why it wasn't kept in backpack. If you knew that Reputation of Thief Girl was sitting nearby, why have it out??)
--Was there a test or something going on in Spanish class that you missed (No).
--Is someone at school allowed to search your backpack? (Hubs asked this. Apparently they are).
BTW, in the fall this son had just gotten his new cross country sweatshirt and set it down for 5 mins and it was ripped off. I asked him the other night if a teacher was able to make everyone freeze and find it but it was afterschool. Also this same son left his (non-running) shows in the building one day when he was waiting for us to pick him up and they were never to be seen again and being the toughie I am, I am not replacing them.
Onto the next phone tale....
Hubs and I have had the iPhone 3 for almost two years. We are behind the times. I don't care about phones too much as I am on the phone and computer all day for work and frankly don't have the time to think about my phone much. But Hubs had a fit the other day when Pandora acted up so we went to the AT&T store and walked out with the iPhone 4 for $ .99 each and an appt at the Apple store for two nights later.
Friday night we had a technology date at the Apple store in the mall. I felt old and awkward that we brought in new iPhone 4's but our young tech rep got us all fixed up with some info and transferred my phone photos onto our laptop that we brought in. He showed me some photo tips and in the process he took a picture of me (with my permission) and showed me how it was then sent to the laptop.
I am still in shock over the photo.
What The Hell Happened to me?
Why is it that occasionally I can put on make-up, fix my hair, wear jeans into some great boots I found, think I look not bad at all for 50...and then see a photo? I did get some good genes that did their thing previously but these same genes are the culprit of a neck that is horrid and a face that has fallen. Sure I have some good things left for my age. People exclaim positively over my fingernails. I have long legs, particularly the thighs.
My sedentary and stressful months have maybe added to the downfall and although I have heard that a few extra pounds my be good for the face maybe that isn't true for me.
You know I cook all the time for these 4 guys, right? And that includes desserts--these guys have no body fat. But I have stopped eating dessert cold turkey. I am saying that I won't have dessert stuff for 30 days. I also went out and bought new running shoes and spent 30 mins doing the walk/run/walk/run all around the n'hood using the timer on my New iPhone 4.
I guess it took that photo on my phone to motivate me.
He say, "Mom, I'm calling to let you know that someone had their phone stolen at school and my backpack got searched and of course there was nothing in it, so I will see you later, OK?"
Me: "OK, bye". Thinking: Well, I will pump him for all those details later.
So the minute he got home I got the scoop. He was in math class and there were about 20 minutes left and the students sit in single desks all facing the front. a couple rows behind him and toward the left a girl announces that her phone is missing. She had put her iphone on her desk during a quiz .......and suddenly realized it was gone. The teacher then said he needed to call Administration and when the assistant principal got there (he is known to the students as "Sherlock Holmes" as he is the one involved in these kinds of investigational/law breaking issue) he asked for everyone around Stolen Phone Girl's radius to stay and everyone else to go on to their next class which was starting soon.
Then of the remaining students, three at a time they had to go into the AP's office and have their backpack searched. One girl student who was to the Stolen Phone Girl's left and behind, was very vocal in denial and she was known to have frequent in-school suspensions for stealing these, etc.
My son was the last to be called in for a search and in the meantime he missed Spanish class and was starving and had to use the restroom he said more terribly than known to humankind. Afterwards is when he was told to call his parent and state what he said when he called me. He never heard the results of the Stolen Phone, but these were my/Hubs' thoughts:
--Did anyone call the phone to find it (yes, but it was on silent)
--Why was her phone OUT of her backpack to begin with (our son said this same question to himself and the girl was asked and she said she had no pockets but not sure why it wasn't kept in backpack. If you knew that Reputation of Thief Girl was sitting nearby, why have it out??)
--Was there a test or something going on in Spanish class that you missed (No).
--Is someone at school allowed to search your backpack? (Hubs asked this. Apparently they are).
BTW, in the fall this son had just gotten his new cross country sweatshirt and set it down for 5 mins and it was ripped off. I asked him the other night if a teacher was able to make everyone freeze and find it but it was afterschool. Also this same son left his (non-running) shows in the building one day when he was waiting for us to pick him up and they were never to be seen again and being the toughie I am, I am not replacing them.
Onto the next phone tale....
Hubs and I have had the iPhone 3 for almost two years. We are behind the times. I don't care about phones too much as I am on the phone and computer all day for work and frankly don't have the time to think about my phone much. But Hubs had a fit the other day when Pandora acted up so we went to the AT&T store and walked out with the iPhone 4 for $ .99 each and an appt at the Apple store for two nights later.
Friday night we had a technology date at the Apple store in the mall. I felt old and awkward that we brought in new iPhone 4's but our young tech rep got us all fixed up with some info and transferred my phone photos onto our laptop that we brought in. He showed me some photo tips and in the process he took a picture of me (with my permission) and showed me how it was then sent to the laptop.
I am still in shock over the photo.
What The Hell Happened to me?
Why is it that occasionally I can put on make-up, fix my hair, wear jeans into some great boots I found, think I look not bad at all for 50...and then see a photo? I did get some good genes that did their thing previously but these same genes are the culprit of a neck that is horrid and a face that has fallen. Sure I have some good things left for my age. People exclaim positively over my fingernails. I have long legs, particularly the thighs.
My sedentary and stressful months have maybe added to the downfall and although I have heard that a few extra pounds my be good for the face maybe that isn't true for me.
You know I cook all the time for these 4 guys, right? And that includes desserts--these guys have no body fat. But I have stopped eating dessert cold turkey. I am saying that I won't have dessert stuff for 30 days. I also went out and bought new running shoes and spent 30 mins doing the walk/run/walk/run all around the n'hood using the timer on my New iPhone 4.
I guess it took that photo on my phone to motivate me.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Now I'm Keeping Track of Three Wallets
As the only person in this household who keeps and carries a purse (a bag if you live in a different region) my wallet is always in its place when I need it. Not the same for two of the other people I live with and soon another son will be added to the category of those of whose wallets i must keep track.
Almost 20 years ago Hubs and I went on a vacation with another couple. It was a wonderful week for us (although the wife of the other couple left the husband 8 months later) and we had so many laughs that Hubs and I still sometimes revisit those memories. Anyway, at least several times a day for 7 days, my husband asked me, "Michele, do you have my wallet?", so much that after a few days just to be funny, our friend, Tom, would ask me as well, "Michele....do you have my wallet?"
Many a morning is spent tracking down his wallet in our 25 years of marriage. When we do errands together he almost always drives and when we get out of the car to go in the store, his wallet and phone go into my purse. Sometimes when he goes to work the next day his wallet is still in my purse.
Ever since last July our oldest at age 16 has to keep track of his wallet/engage the whole house sometimes to find it. Everything is misplaced including the keys to our little truck that he drives to school. Last night we had an incident that I realize is going to be a frequent occurrence over the next several years. It was about 6:30 and I expected him home at 6:00 after going from school to a golf club near school where the soon-to-be team gets to practice. I texted him to check in on his whereabouts. He texts back, "I lost my wallet at the golf course." He called to add that he left the golf course and went to a gas station but didn't have his wallet so he was retracing his steps and a couple people were helping.
I then mentally check off that he has a debit card that will need canceling and a driver's license that will need to be reissued and that he and Middle Son will have to take the dreaded school bus till that's done. I scout out Hubs and tell him. He doesn't get all whacked out like I do.
A little while later Oldest son calls to say a friend of his who was helping him look found it in the road near the entrance/exit of the golf course. Oldest Son had done the "classic" move of placing it on top of the vehicle and leaving it there and as the little truck pulled turned out of the drive and onto the street, it was flung off and left in the street. At this time the rest of us were at the table eating dinner and Hubs says, "Oh yeah, I have done that before." and then tells two stories of doing this same move.
Something tells me that last night won't be the last time I get a phone call about losing a wallet and that call could be from anyone with whom I live.
P.S. This past Saturday I was at the Drivers License place with our Middle Son who turned 15 last week, to take his Learner's Permit test. He passed and then later Hubs took him out for his first experience driving and maneuvering in the parking lot and then driving home. So now there is another wallet to be minded in our house.
P.P.S. Have I mentioned that insuring three vehicles was $150 per month until last July when we added one teenage boy and it doubled to $300 per month. One year till we have another teenage driver to be added.
Almost 20 years ago Hubs and I went on a vacation with another couple. It was a wonderful week for us (although the wife of the other couple left the husband 8 months later) and we had so many laughs that Hubs and I still sometimes revisit those memories. Anyway, at least several times a day for 7 days, my husband asked me, "Michele, do you have my wallet?", so much that after a few days just to be funny, our friend, Tom, would ask me as well, "Michele....do you have my wallet?"
Many a morning is spent tracking down his wallet in our 25 years of marriage. When we do errands together he almost always drives and when we get out of the car to go in the store, his wallet and phone go into my purse. Sometimes when he goes to work the next day his wallet is still in my purse.
Ever since last July our oldest at age 16 has to keep track of his wallet/engage the whole house sometimes to find it. Everything is misplaced including the keys to our little truck that he drives to school. Last night we had an incident that I realize is going to be a frequent occurrence over the next several years. It was about 6:30 and I expected him home at 6:00 after going from school to a golf club near school where the soon-to-be team gets to practice. I texted him to check in on his whereabouts. He texts back, "I lost my wallet at the golf course." He called to add that he left the golf course and went to a gas station but didn't have his wallet so he was retracing his steps and a couple people were helping.
I then mentally check off that he has a debit card that will need canceling and a driver's license that will need to be reissued and that he and Middle Son will have to take the dreaded school bus till that's done. I scout out Hubs and tell him. He doesn't get all whacked out like I do.
A little while later Oldest son calls to say a friend of his who was helping him look found it in the road near the entrance/exit of the golf course. Oldest Son had done the "classic" move of placing it on top of the vehicle and leaving it there and as the little truck pulled turned out of the drive and onto the street, it was flung off and left in the street. At this time the rest of us were at the table eating dinner and Hubs says, "Oh yeah, I have done that before." and then tells two stories of doing this same move.
Something tells me that last night won't be the last time I get a phone call about losing a wallet and that call could be from anyone with whom I live.
P.S. This past Saturday I was at the Drivers License place with our Middle Son who turned 15 last week, to take his Learner's Permit test. He passed and then later Hubs took him out for his first experience driving and maneuvering in the parking lot and then driving home. So now there is another wallet to be minded in our house.
P.P.S. Have I mentioned that insuring three vehicles was $150 per month until last July when we added one teenage boy and it doubled to $300 per month. One year till we have another teenage driver to be added.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Teenager Part Time Job Saga - Part 2
Since my previous blog post about our 11th grader's first part time job as a restaurant busboy--that same restaurant was recently mentioned in a local paper with its Health Food score an F! His first job is frequent fodder for our family dinner table conversation.
In October when he had that job, we mentioned this job's shenanigans to a friend who has always been in the franchise business and he told our son about an acquaintance getting ready to open his own franchise restaurant and he could put in a good word. That is how our son got his 2nd job which started after Thanksgiving.
Our son is amazed at the contrast--there was good training, high expectations and a clear payday schedule. He is working at a place that is similar to a Five Guys where the order is taken by a cashier and then cooks make the food and then customers are called up to get it and then add their own fixings to their plate. So his duties rotate from cashier to refilling the drink dispensers to sweeping the floor, to asking customers if they need anything. I knew he would like to work like I did when I was his age because it helps to learn how to make conversation with all kinds of people.
On his first payday he didn't even ask his boss about the pay--when he walked in his boss immediately gave it to him. Together we have opened a "teen" checking account so now he has direct deposit and his acct is linked to mine so I see it and he has a debit card. Talking to the bank associates was a good experience for him too. Right now his mind is filled with what kind of jobs people have and how did they end up where they are.
But there was one incident that happened in the parking lot outside his new job. The restaurant is in a newly renovated strip center that is looks 100% better than it did a year ago with some good anchor stores and new smaller stores. He drives to work in an old Toyota truck of ours that he gets to use for work and school. The workers tend to park at the opposite end of the lot, with their cars facing a busy road. The lot is not very big--nothing like a Home Depot or grocery store lot--it is much more narrow than that.
A couple of Sundays before Christmas he worked from 4 till 10:00 pm and when he got into his small truck he drove away and noticed it sounded loud and knew he had to tell his dad/Hubs as soon as he got home, which is a few miles away. But shortly another driver pointed to my son's car and said his tailpipe was dragging so our son pulled into a bank parking lot and called home and said something was wrong. Hubs grabbed his tool bag and went a mile down the road to meet him.
Soon they both came back and Hubs announced, "Thieves cut out the catalytic converter from under his truck."
This happened to a friend of mine a few years ago who had parked her Maxima in a large Home Depot lot all day.
All it takes is two minutes for a thief to slide under a car with a saw and cut in two places near the muffler and steal it. Here is why (pasted from Wikipedia):
Because of the external location and the use of valuable precious metals including platinum, palladium, rhodium, and gold, converters are a target for thieves. The problem is especially common among late-model trucks and SUVs, because of their high ground clearance and easily removed bolt-on catalytic converters. Welded-in converters are also at risk of theft, as they can be easily removed with a reciprocating saw. Theft removal of the converter can often inadvertently damage the car's wiring or fuel line resulting in dangerous consequences. Rises in metal costs in the U.S. during recent years have led to a large increase in theft incidents of the converter, which can then cost well over $1,000 to replace.
It is amazing that someone risks jail time for an item for which they get about $40 from a scrap metal place--and those people who pay for these are as bad as the thieves. Fortunately for this vehicle a refurbished part cost $75 and then after labor the total was around $200 so not the thousands it would cost for other vehicles.
Our son called his boss and told him just as a heads up to tell the property rental company. Police drive by occasionally. Anyway, our son parks closer to the store now. Something worse happening in this town we live in has me nervous.
A few weeks before Christmas, Hubs said outloud, "Well I wonder what house item will fall apart/break this year as it is always something this time of year." He didn't have to wonder long, as I swear the next day it happened. It has been a stressful, bummer, downish winter.
In October when he had that job, we mentioned this job's shenanigans to a friend who has always been in the franchise business and he told our son about an acquaintance getting ready to open his own franchise restaurant and he could put in a good word. That is how our son got his 2nd job which started after Thanksgiving.
Our son is amazed at the contrast--there was good training, high expectations and a clear payday schedule. He is working at a place that is similar to a Five Guys where the order is taken by a cashier and then cooks make the food and then customers are called up to get it and then add their own fixings to their plate. So his duties rotate from cashier to refilling the drink dispensers to sweeping the floor, to asking customers if they need anything. I knew he would like to work like I did when I was his age because it helps to learn how to make conversation with all kinds of people.
On his first payday he didn't even ask his boss about the pay--when he walked in his boss immediately gave it to him. Together we have opened a "teen" checking account so now he has direct deposit and his acct is linked to mine so I see it and he has a debit card. Talking to the bank associates was a good experience for him too. Right now his mind is filled with what kind of jobs people have and how did they end up where they are.
But there was one incident that happened in the parking lot outside his new job. The restaurant is in a newly renovated strip center that is looks 100% better than it did a year ago with some good anchor stores and new smaller stores. He drives to work in an old Toyota truck of ours that he gets to use for work and school. The workers tend to park at the opposite end of the lot, with their cars facing a busy road. The lot is not very big--nothing like a Home Depot or grocery store lot--it is much more narrow than that.
A couple of Sundays before Christmas he worked from 4 till 10:00 pm and when he got into his small truck he drove away and noticed it sounded loud and knew he had to tell his dad/Hubs as soon as he got home, which is a few miles away. But shortly another driver pointed to my son's car and said his tailpipe was dragging so our son pulled into a bank parking lot and called home and said something was wrong. Hubs grabbed his tool bag and went a mile down the road to meet him.
Soon they both came back and Hubs announced, "Thieves cut out the catalytic converter from under his truck."
This happened to a friend of mine a few years ago who had parked her Maxima in a large Home Depot lot all day.
All it takes is two minutes for a thief to slide under a car with a saw and cut in two places near the muffler and steal it. Here is why (pasted from Wikipedia):
Because of the external location and the use of valuable precious metals including platinum, palladium, rhodium, and gold, converters are a target for thieves. The problem is especially common among late-model trucks and SUVs, because of their high ground clearance and easily removed bolt-on catalytic converters. Welded-in converters are also at risk of theft, as they can be easily removed with a reciprocating saw. Theft removal of the converter can often inadvertently damage the car's wiring or fuel line resulting in dangerous consequences. Rises in metal costs in the U.S. during recent years have led to a large increase in theft incidents of the converter, which can then cost well over $1,000 to replace.
It is amazing that someone risks jail time for an item for which they get about $40 from a scrap metal place--and those people who pay for these are as bad as the thieves. Fortunately for this vehicle a refurbished part cost $75 and then after labor the total was around $200 so not the thousands it would cost for other vehicles.
Our son called his boss and told him just as a heads up to tell the property rental company. Police drive by occasionally. Anyway, our son parks closer to the store now. Something worse happening in this town we live in has me nervous.
A few weeks before Christmas, Hubs said outloud, "Well I wonder what house item will fall apart/break this year as it is always something this time of year." He didn't have to wonder long, as I swear the next day it happened. It has been a stressful, bummer, downish winter.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Some Sagas of our Teen's First Part Time Jobs--Part 1
This past October our oldest son in 11th grade got his first job--as a busboy in a restaurant near home. I got my first job at the same exact age and I really liked the experience and learned a lot about the public--I knew he would feel the same way. I had no idea that his job(s)n would lead to such conversation pieces and drama at our household!
First it seems that to get a p/t job it is "Who you know" just as much as a grown up trying to get a job these days. A friend of my sons started working there as his sister was a waitress there so the friend put in a word for my son. The hours were really bad: every Fri, Sat and Sunday night. But the worst part is he worked for weeks without a paycheck. As a busboy on Sunday he would bring home cash as it is a % of what the wait staff made so he would have $100 cash, which we knew was pretty exciting to him but we reminded him he worked a lot of hours--like 24 for that $100. And where was the paycheck? He was supposed to get $2.00+ per hour as a base salary. I swear to you every week he asked the mgr and the owner (the wife) when he would see his paycheck. Turns out the rarely had a paycheck for the busboys. Which we found out later is why they quit every 6 weeks or so. After about 3.5 weeks he got his first paycheck. But then it was a hassle to try and get the second and last paycheck.
Once the wife distinctly told him that she would be there on a Monday as "they had run out of checks". They wrote checks by hand just like a home checking account. She was a no show. Then the following Saturday night he saw her at a table with husband and they had finished eating and he asked her when he would have a paycheck and she said, "Don't ask me about that while I am relaxing having dinner."
Seriously? Does this woman think that this 16 year old boy has no family? Does she not have a clue that he has a momma who loves him? I wanted to go there one night when she was there, approach the table and go all New Jersey Housewife Teresa Giudice on her. Either that or I did have fantasies for real of going to the restaurant and inform them I wasn't pleased and then approach every table and tell customers how the restaurant does not pay its employees!!!
Well, our son had reached his limit of this place not knowing how to hire enough busboys to give them more normal schedules or to pay them as they should so he quit after getting one paycheck but being owed another. The mgr assured our son that the last paycheck would be there a certain day and after going in it wasn't. Well, the next day Hubs and I moseyed on over there at about 5:30 pm. We asked the young hostess for the owners and then the mgr quickly came over. Hubs introduced himself and the mgr (who is older, much older than I thought) said, "Oh yes, he is such a good boy. He is my favorite." And Hubs said, "Well, then do the right thing by him and make sure he gets his check. You guys OWE HIM MONEY."
And then the next day or so our son went by and the check was ready. And the mgr said, "Be sure to tell your dad that you got your check." In all my years, I never thought that we would have to practically have a scene for our son to get his paycheck. And we really didn't have to and shouldn't have to. I think both Hubs and I were SO CURIOUS as to what kind of people cannot pay a 16 year old a check that only totaled about $65. The only thing this place has going for it is that it has a primo location at a pretty, outdoorsy shopping area (where Hubs and I needed to do an errand anyway).
So our son then had the month of November off and then right after Thanksgiving he started his second part time job and I know he felt different being able to tell the owner that he had prior experience.
Next up: there was an incident at this new job.
First it seems that to get a p/t job it is "Who you know" just as much as a grown up trying to get a job these days. A friend of my sons started working there as his sister was a waitress there so the friend put in a word for my son. The hours were really bad: every Fri, Sat and Sunday night. But the worst part is he worked for weeks without a paycheck. As a busboy on Sunday he would bring home cash as it is a % of what the wait staff made so he would have $100 cash, which we knew was pretty exciting to him but we reminded him he worked a lot of hours--like 24 for that $100. And where was the paycheck? He was supposed to get $2.00+ per hour as a base salary. I swear to you every week he asked the mgr and the owner (the wife) when he would see his paycheck. Turns out the rarely had a paycheck for the busboys. Which we found out later is why they quit every 6 weeks or so. After about 3.5 weeks he got his first paycheck. But then it was a hassle to try and get the second and last paycheck.
Once the wife distinctly told him that she would be there on a Monday as "they had run out of checks". They wrote checks by hand just like a home checking account. She was a no show. Then the following Saturday night he saw her at a table with husband and they had finished eating and he asked her when he would have a paycheck and she said, "Don't ask me about that while I am relaxing having dinner."
Seriously? Does this woman think that this 16 year old boy has no family? Does she not have a clue that he has a momma who loves him? I wanted to go there one night when she was there, approach the table and go all New Jersey Housewife Teresa Giudice on her. Either that or I did have fantasies for real of going to the restaurant and inform them I wasn't pleased and then approach every table and tell customers how the restaurant does not pay its employees!!!
Well, our son had reached his limit of this place not knowing how to hire enough busboys to give them more normal schedules or to pay them as they should so he quit after getting one paycheck but being owed another. The mgr assured our son that the last paycheck would be there a certain day and after going in it wasn't. Well, the next day Hubs and I moseyed on over there at about 5:30 pm. We asked the young hostess for the owners and then the mgr quickly came over. Hubs introduced himself and the mgr (who is older, much older than I thought) said, "Oh yes, he is such a good boy. He is my favorite." And Hubs said, "Well, then do the right thing by him and make sure he gets his check. You guys OWE HIM MONEY."
And then the next day or so our son went by and the check was ready. And the mgr said, "Be sure to tell your dad that you got your check." In all my years, I never thought that we would have to practically have a scene for our son to get his paycheck. And we really didn't have to and shouldn't have to. I think both Hubs and I were SO CURIOUS as to what kind of people cannot pay a 16 year old a check that only totaled about $65. The only thing this place has going for it is that it has a primo location at a pretty, outdoorsy shopping area (where Hubs and I needed to do an errand anyway).
So our son then had the month of November off and then right after Thanksgiving he started his second part time job and I know he felt different being able to tell the owner that he had prior experience.
Next up: there was an incident at this new job.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Traditions - Full Long Nights Month of December
It is back to the usual school routine today and I think our cat is happy to have some order again with a regular bedtime, early rise time for the boys and a window seat to watch the long winter's night turn into day.
I have just put in a load of my laundry (after a full day of boys' laundry) into the machine and my week's worth consisted of pajama bottoms, lounge pants, yoga pants, more pajama bottoms, about 13 pairs of bright, fuzzy socks, and a sweater from our one night out this month on a date.
It's been a month of keeping up a 16-year tradition, ending traditions and something new due to the sheer force of boys getting older, and an unwelcome tradition that I hope goes away.
In November, around the dinner table, we start to tell the boys that a visit to Santa at the mall is being planned. As usual.
My incentive is I treasure the photos. A negative aspect of me is that I don't take many photos of the boys. Or any of us. We got a cat in August and the shelter had asked if we could get a family photo and send it in and I wanted to but I never did.
The boys are highly motivated by new clothes at some of the stores, and food--they know our tradition is to get up and be at the mall one hour before Santa arrives so we are first in line, get the photo taken, see their mom and dad laugh and smile, then shop for clothes and a skate board and then have a yummy lunch together.
One of Oldest's friends had pictures taken of him for fun and put it on Facebook so maybe the boys don't think we are too crazy. We did notice the little kids in line after us were staring at the boys. Santa was wonderful as usual and I asked if this year we could take a photo of them standing rather than sitting and after that Santa chose this pose--he does a good job of lecturing them. We wondered if Middle son, who is now over 5'10" would be taller than Santa but right away Son said, "No, this is a tall Santa."
This was December 20th and it was my first official Vacation Day off work since the end of June. And not to cloud my post or my memory but the reality is that there were several work crisis's the day before (and all month) and I had to send emails at 7:30 am and check emails at lunch in the bathroom. And then make calls after we got at home. I am already planning a day off in January after things settle down.
(Santa 2011)
We still plan on coming back to do the Santa picture next year, as a tradition that started when Oldest was six months old. We didn't have decorated Christmas cookies made until the night of the 25th. We never drove around looking at houses lit up (but Hubs still puts old school colored lights on our house). We still get our tree from Home Depot on the last day of November. We still have our own Thanksgiving full-blown turkey meal the weekend after Thanksgiving to help us calm down from (this year's especially trying) Thanksgiving in Florida. We still have prime rib with candle light on Christmas Eve and ham and buffet foods on Christmas day, at home, in pajamas with the 5 of us.
(Santa 2010)
I have just put in a load of my laundry (after a full day of boys' laundry) into the machine and my week's worth consisted of pajama bottoms, lounge pants, yoga pants, more pajama bottoms, about 13 pairs of bright, fuzzy socks, and a sweater from our one night out this month on a date.
It's been a month of keeping up a 16-year tradition, ending traditions and something new due to the sheer force of boys getting older, and an unwelcome tradition that I hope goes away.
In November, around the dinner table, we start to tell the boys that a visit to Santa at the mall is being planned. As usual.
My incentive is I treasure the photos. A negative aspect of me is that I don't take many photos of the boys. Or any of us. We got a cat in August and the shelter had asked if we could get a family photo and send it in and I wanted to but I never did.
The boys are highly motivated by new clothes at some of the stores, and food--they know our tradition is to get up and be at the mall one hour before Santa arrives so we are first in line, get the photo taken, see their mom and dad laugh and smile, then shop for clothes and a skate board and then have a yummy lunch together.
One of Oldest's friends had pictures taken of him for fun and put it on Facebook so maybe the boys don't think we are too crazy. We did notice the little kids in line after us were staring at the boys. Santa was wonderful as usual and I asked if this year we could take a photo of them standing rather than sitting and after that Santa chose this pose--he does a good job of lecturing them. We wondered if Middle son, who is now over 5'10" would be taller than Santa but right away Son said, "No, this is a tall Santa."
This was December 20th and it was my first official Vacation Day off work since the end of June. And not to cloud my post or my memory but the reality is that there were several work crisis's the day before (and all month) and I had to send emails at 7:30 am and check emails at lunch in the bathroom. And then make calls after we got at home. I am already planning a day off in January after things settle down.
We still plan on coming back to do the Santa picture next year, as a tradition that started when Oldest was six months old. We didn't have decorated Christmas cookies made until the night of the 25th. We never drove around looking at houses lit up (but Hubs still puts old school colored lights on our house). We still get our tree from Home Depot on the last day of November. We still have our own Thanksgiving full-blown turkey meal the weekend after Thanksgiving to help us calm down from (this year's especially trying) Thanksgiving in Florida. We still have prime rib with candle light on Christmas Eve and ham and buffet foods on Christmas day, at home, in pajamas with the 5 of us.
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