Day by Day

This week has been a great experience of spending time with the kids and Bob.  I watch Katie and realize she is growing into this beautiful young lady.  She has long pretty hair and she has a cute figure, as we used to say, (who knows what they call it today).  She has a fun personality...easy going and content.  Not to mention her athletic ability and her intelligence.  There is something about a mother watching her little girl grow into a beautiful woman.  As appreciative as I am, I am also a little sad that my mother did not have the joy of putting in all the hard work of the younger years and not being able to watch her two girls grow into women with off springs representing all those  generations from the past.  I look forward to the days of the future when the teenage rebellion passes and she and I will share a friendship that will last for years to come.

What is Christmas vacation for........I had to wake Brendan up at 12:00 p.m. yesterday, Tuesday....he emerged in his plaid, fluffy, blue robe, which he received for Christmas.  (He looks like the Great Gatsby)He then proceeded to play his Wii games he received for Xmas for the remainder of the day.  He did get out of the robe to go to New Haven to help his father with the TV...then he once again returned to the robe.  As I sit here on Wednesday morning at 11:30 a.m., typing my blog, Brendan remains in his robe, playing his Wii games.  I think the robe is now growing on him-literally.  Thank goodness he has to go to work today at 2:00.  Although he did wear his "sleekers" or "shlews" to work last week by mistake....his barepaw fluffy slippers (he named them sleekers because they are comfortable like slippers but look like shoes and he named them shlews for the same reason).  Apparently his feet hurt when he came home because they have a soft sole...

It didn't even take him a day to fix that TV.....he's a genius...I'm eating my words of yesterday.....

The boys arrived home and came running in to tell me this TV is HUGE!  Of course now I think that it is basically a little like 29 inch (or whatever size they are) TV or like a 1950's version of "Big Screen" TV.  But when all three of them insist that I go look at it.....I had to....from the inside that is because it was way too cold to go outside (like below 0 with wind chill).  They opened up the back of the van for me and it was huge.  Then the story started to unravel......it was so HUGE that they couldn't maneuver it around the corners of the stairwells in the apartment building (with the bars on the windows, if you remember from yesterday), so they had to bring it down the fire escape.  (WHAT???)  My boys were bringing this HUGE TV down a fire escape in below 0 temperatures (and  you know kids today-no coats, just sweatshirts with hoods)?  Connor tells all-good source for info.  A part of the wood fell off of the TV base (it's at...

Bob has diligently been studying Craig's list while he has been home.  Don't get me wrong....I'm all for a deal, but this one is a little scarey.  On Monday night he discovered a flat screen TV in New Haven for free. First of all, my opinion-nothing in life is free.  No matter how you look at it, there is always a price for everything.  Secondly, when he announced he was going tonight (one of the coldest nights of the seasons-which could be good, actually) with both boys to help him carry it down three flights of stairs....I became more than a little nervous.  I tried to talk him out of it...why night in New Haven???  I told him he better bring both boys back alive.  I also told Connor to call me when they arrived at the house (??).  When Connor called, I asked if it looked safe and Connor's reply was that "it is a great neighborhood, decorated lovely, with most houses having bars on their windows."  Great....I have asked him to ca...

I was running today on a path I don't usually run on.  I was trying to get up to 16 miles, but only reached 12.  The path is actually a trail, which was a bit uninhabited at points.  As I was running, I decided I truly wanted to be home (sometimes the 40 year old parts can't quite get in the swing of a long run).  I was thinking about my four beautiful kids (although not perfect by far) and that I was so lucky that they are all basically healthy.  It made my heart feel warm.  I observed the other runners/walkers as I ran by them.  Each of them has their own story - an elderly man by himself, maybe he is a widower?? or a divorcee??.  A young couple with an infant on the mother's chest and a dog in toe - just beginning their lives together as a family.  And so on..... My only thought was despite the trials and tribulations, my life is perfect and I can only hope it remains that way for as long as possible. 

Last Monday Connor had his state wide competition, Mock Trial.  His teacher kept telling us that he was the best lawyer he ever coached.  Seeing it was believing it!  Wow, was he good.....he didn't even have to look at his closing arguments on his paper as he lively recited to the judge his argument for the defendant.  When it was his turn to examine the witness, I felt pretty bad for her.  Many a time I have been on the other side of his arguments; I was feeling her pain. Katie had her mock trial today.  She is also an excellent lawyer.  As the teacher says, "She has the same killer instinct that Connor has."  I live that too when they are wanting to kill each other.  She was very clear and concise; I could follow her arguments and mindset, while the other 7th grade lawyers seemed to have preset conversations that didn't follow the reactions of their live witnesses. Connor will go on to the next level in the State championship next month...

Brendan called me from home, while he was babysitting Keera and asked if I could pick up posterboard on the way home.  I asked why and he said he had a project he had to do.  I asked, "For tomorrow"? (as in December 15th?)  His response was, "No, it's due January 11th." My response - "Who are you and what did you do with my son, Brendan"?

Connor asked to have a party at our house for his 14th birthday.  Sounds simple enough, but when Connor does things, he does them up big and before you know it you are involved in something you didn't even know could happen......hence Connor's 14th birthday party. It started out small - "Mom, can I invite like 20-30 people for a birthday party above the garage?"  "Connor, what about a simple little get together with the kids that mean the most to you?"  "Mom, can I please have a party above the garage with 20-30 people.....you won't have to buy me a gift, just pay for the party." Now, as a parent, how can you say no to that simple request? The party planning began...of which Bob and I were not a part.  As the days passed and the business of the season, work, etc continued, Bob and I slightly lost track of how the planning was going.  But, no fear-Connor had it all under control.  After the rush of the Cheshire Thanksgiving game was over,...