Do you not know what causes that?

Benjamin's Graduation

Okay I'll admit it. I cried like a baby at the very end.  I was so overwhelmed with how far Benjamin has come.  The ceremony was nice and Benjamin waited patiently as a W. He did cover his ears a few times but managed to stay in his seat and behave very nicely - hard for any 8th grade boy. He picked his own clothes out yesterday. He promised to wear the tie to his wedding (sorry future wife).

Jana came and thankfully brought her camera as I couldn't find mine. This was a quick snap with my phone as Jana had a film (???) camera. Then off we all went for lunch but Panera was out of soup (???) so we had CPK! Yum. Now I get B alone for the day...

Happy Birthday Benjamin!

Today Benjamin turned 15 today.  He started off being driven to Bob Evans by Hilary (I was co-pilot) and we went the long way! After shoveling plates of hotcakes and eggs in his mouth he was all smiles. When he got home Lilah, Isaac and the little girls decorated the door to his room with birthday cards. He went with the family to services while I took Lilah to the pediatrician for a rash (Fifth Disease).

We spent the afternoon hanging around and enjoying each others company. He wound up taking a walk and playing in the back yard. By evening we met his friends at Lazer Blaze and played a few rounds. Then off to Skyline Chili for a birthday dinner and we were joined by Ashley.

At home we had a vanilla cake, with vanilla icing and vanilla ice cream. (We did offer mini M & Ms on the side for the adventurous.) Then presents!  He got a SIGG water bottle, in red with a sports cap.  Then a shakeable flashlight and a really hard puzzle.  He was thrilled.  Now we're finishing up watching North by Northwest with Hilary.

Telling on Myself

So being the good teen he is, Benjamin has yet to bring home the official end of year graduation info for 8th graders.  So I called the school to ask what time.  They asked me: "What team is he on?"  I thought about it a second, with the answer "It's some bird." on the tip of my tongue. Before I could answer she said, "Eagles or Falcons?" 

Crap.  There went my brilliance as a mom. I madly trying to picture the sweat shirt he wears nearly daily and can't discern the type of bird...

I finally do what all mothers do, I guessed "Falcons."

This provided me a time, who only knows if it's the right one.

Derby Party 2008

Every year, we have a family Derby party. It's great.  But this year it was a bit rough.  We do various things and the kids win the names of horses.  If the horses win, place or show the kid holding that name win a "prize."

Lilah won 1st place with Big Brown. Owen's horse came in 2nd with Eight Belles, and Clara with 3rd. So it soon became apparent that Eight Belles was injured. Then the very sad news was that she was euthanized. Owen staring up with big tears asking what happened to "her" horse.  I said simply, "Honey, she died."  Benjamin starts screaming, "They killed her! They killed her!"

Needless to say it was a very long evening explaining euthanization to a 5 yo and a nearly 15 yo.  This on the  end of the week where B found a dead turtle and a dead bird, which only proves the world is a bad place...

Nobody Else

Benjamin had a part in our service this weekend.  He came down very neatly dressed, but wearing jeans. I kindly asked him to change into dress pants.  He replied, "Fine, but it's just for G-d and the Torah and nobody else!"

That works for me...

Girlfriend Pants

If you've not seen Benjamin in the last few weeks or few months - he's growing by leaps and bounds. In fact, the pants I bought him in December are high waters.  So today we had planned to get some new pants.  While in the car we were talking about the pants.  He said "I want some pants that will help me get a girlfriend." 

I let it ride a minute, because, quite honestly, I wasn't sure how to respond.  Finally he pipes up with, "You know, pants that go to my ankles, not like to get sex or anything..."

Good because all I could think of was leather pants...

Chanukah (Night #5)

Tonight was Benjamin's night.  What I failed to realize when I planned the Chanukah experiment of 2007, was that Benjamin would be doing his youth group convention and miss tonights fun.  Given his propensity to need to come home early, we decided to give him a couple of gifts and hold the big ones until later - only if he managed to stay the whole time.  So it was a quiet night. When he came home minutes before midnight he was really anxious for the other presents.  He was really glad that he stayed...

Where do I start?

Well, it's been a wild couple of weeks to say the least.  It started off at the Lamaze International Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.  The good news is that I figured out how to fly and NOT drool on myself for days afterwards - Xanax!  I actually worked on a plane.  It was great to not have panic attacks.  And lest you believe it to be a one time trick - it worked every time. I rode four, count them, four airplanes in two weeks!

In AZ I gave two presentations and lead two special groups. They were fun and exciting. I also enjoyed just relaxing with my good friend, Pat. I also picked up some goodies for friends who are CBEs. My room was way far away and it felt like a real hike, but it had a nice view of the mountains.

I came home for about 40 hours.  In which I went to HS open house, had a dinner date, shopped like a mad woman, fixed dinner for 15 guests for Rosh Hashana, did a radio interview, and went to services. I left services to go to the airport, and changed my clothes in the parking lot.

ICEA was fun, though I was wiped out. I had a good time with my room mate, Teri Shilling, even though I think I drove her a bit nuts.  She did get some good laughs in, mostly at my expsense. We had dinner with Penny Simkin, Kathy McGrath and Rachel Miller one night which was so fun to just sit and talk. We also spent a lot of time talking to Debby Amis and Jeanne Green while at ICEA, though they had led a training seminar at Lamaze, but they were busy then and unavailable for converstaion. I did two more presentations and helped Teri lug her two 74lb (EACH!) suitcases to her sessions.

I made it home in time to spend some girl time with Laurie and Paula.  We stayed out until 2 a.m.  Then back on the road with the kids for school, brunch, our first book club and stamping!

Some memorable highlights from the week:

• Ada insists on telling me how to drive. If I go the "wrong" way she tells me all about it.
• Hilary apologized for a flare up she had - which was very mature of her.
• Grandy (my mom) had a birthday and I took grandma to see her.
• Grandma informed Mom that she wouldn't live much longer. (Grandma didn't know why we were laughing so hard.)
• Clara and Owen are loving soccer and ballet.
• Lilah has fallen and scrapped up her knees again!  Poor baby. Though she is pleased with her new shoes.
• Isaac is not liking homework, but glad to be back in Tae Kwon Do and chess.
• Benjamin, after a lengthy conversation about the role of electricity in the body, including the ability to pass that electricity on, concluded: "So if it's a lightening storm outside, don't walk around holding hands..."
• The fish is alive, even after I cleaned the tank, but the boys declare that the tank still smells.
• Kevin is very, very, very glad I'm home.

Ever had one of THOSE days?

I am. Benjamin left today for Orlando to visit my dear friend, April. He made this trip last year, but was a bit nervous after surgery, etc.  He'd also forgotten about the plan ride until today.  He was a nervous nelly all day. Check in was a breeze and the electric cart guy offered us all a ride - what a treat! So we finally get him to the airport and wait for two hours for him to board. (I planned to get there that early so that he wouldn't worry about traffic, security, etc.)  We actually had fun watching planes, playing trivia for Starbursts and riddly riddly ree.

  So then we finally get going. The girls wanted to go to the bathroom. First we couldn't find one open to the public. When we did we had to put all four of us in a stall, which totally messed up the automagic flusher. Isaac waited patiently outside. I know we looked like a bunch of clowns coming out of a VW! We all headed for the grocery. I've really been trying hard to make dinner at least twice a week, including one new dish.  So tonight we were going to try Peanut Butter Hummus.

The kids weren't the best at the grocery store. I think it was my frayed nerves, but they kept stepping on my shoes and blocking my cart.  I wasn't a happy camper.  I rented them a movie for some peace when I got home.

We took some food to grandma's and put our groceries away at home. I started the movie, hoping Owen and Clara would nap.  I fixed dinner and a dessert (Yogurt pie).  Then April calls. I'm assuming she's calling to say Benjamin is on the ground. Nope, after circling for 45 minutes the plane got diverted to Palm Beach because it was low on fuel. I sent Benjamin a text message to tell him we knew what was going on and that April was not leaving him. He didn't call or return the text.

So I just kept working while we all watched the movie. Finally Kevin brought Ada home and we sat down to dinner. It was one disaster after another. Spilled this, whiney that... you get the picture. Even after I finally did scream (I'm really working on that one!), Kevin still didn't offer to take anyone with him to Tae Kwon Do. April called, Benjamin finally made it in after flying for almost 5 hours.  Poor kid, he said he was mad, but the threat level hasn't been raised and no planes were diverted, so it couldn't have been that bad.  Way to go, Benjamin!

So now I'm sitting here eating the left over Cool Whip and Ada, Owen and Clara are in bed at 6:20 p.m.  No one is yelling now...

St. Louis (The Funny Stuff)

Did I mention that I got pulled over by the cops at the exit for the hotel?  It's nearly 2 a.m.  Benjamin who had been asleep in the back seat but woke up a few miles back to see the Arch.  I see the cop pull out behind me and he followed me for about 500 feet.  Then he turned the lights on.  Oh man!

So I pulled over and Benjamin is getting really excited.  "Is he going to pull a gun on us???"  "No, your job is to sit still and don't say ANYTHING."

Turns out I'd driven over 300 miles with no lights on. Thankfully it was a rental car and the guy didn't give me a ticket. Man, talk about my heart beating wildly.

Then on Sunday I took Benjamin to the Arch.  He didn't want to go up in it.  I was a bit miffed.  But after we left I heard that people got stuck for two hours in the elevator and at the top.  So I was really glad Benjamin didn't want to go...