keep passing the open windows

Last weekend was the annual Heritage Days Festival in our little town. It involves a talent show, musical acts (all Christian or Country-blech) and a carnival with rides, games, and funnel cakes. (Mmmm… funnel cakes!)
Taylor went with a couple of other boys his age. I asked him if he had fun, […]

There is a David Sedaris story that goes something like this:
“One summer my family was embroiled in a mystery. Someone was wiping his or her butt on our mahogany colored bathtowels and replacing the towels on the shelf, properly folded. At one point or other each of us was the victim and one […]

You graduate from 8th grade today, an accomplishment you seem to be taking in stride.
“Mom! It’s ONLY 8th grade promotion” was your exasperated plea when I ruled out basketball shorts, a white t-shirt and high-top tennis shoes for your graduation ensemble.
I’ve written about some of the less sterling parts of your middle […]

Saturday night we (Taylor, Chris, Tay’s friend Wesley) were hanging out playing board games.
The topic of usernames came up. Chris said “My username on my fantasy league is Mike-Oh, I better not say.”
Taylor and Wesley started lauging hysterically.
Okay, what’s so funny about Mike? Mike What?
Chris finally admited that his username is […]

Yesterday I had to take Taylor to the dentist for a follow up visit (cavity!). After signing him back in at the school, one of his teachers came up to me and said:
“What happened to Taylor’s hair?”
And she said it in the same concerned and bewildered tone one might use when asking someone about […]

Riding in the car yesterday Reagan said “Mom, remember when I went to that lock-in and the topic was abstinence?”
“Yah?”
“Well, one 6th grader asked ‘If abstinence is so great, then why are there prostitutes?’”
My son proclaimed this to be his new motto.
He wants to get bumper stickers and t-shirts printed and sell them; […]

Last night I went to be early. Early-early, like nine pm. I haven’t been sleeping well and really needed a good night’s sleep.
It was wonderful.
Of course, there’s a BUT.
Actually two BUTS.
One, I missed the blogger bash.
Two, while I was sleeping my husband shaved my […]

Last night I was helping Taylor with his math, Algebra 1. The worksheet was entitled “Real Life Applications” and had a blurb at the top extolling the practical uses of the intersection point of two lines.
The sheet had three story problems, all with the same topic.
“Imagine you are walking in the […]

Both of my kids were needlessly and endlessly aggravating last night.
Reagan, who has pleaded with me not to attend her Scholastic Bowl meets (”You make me nervous!”), upon hearing that I have a hair appointment tonight said “You aren’t coming to my Scholastic Bowl meet? I feel really special. I […]

Yes, really.
Those of you that know him, understand why this is funny. Taylor loves to read. He likes to play video games. He’s smart, and cute and kinda geeky.
His reasoning? “No Homework!”
His shortsightedness is driving me crazy.
He gets to pick three electives and wants to take World Geography and […]