A note to San Antonio

Dear San Anton-

I'm going to be blunt. Do you want us there? If so, make it easy, please. Make the fellowship interview "feel right" for the doctor tomorrow and make the hospital send an offer, quick-like, of course. Have a yellow brick road pointing the way to the oh-s0-perfect-in-the-budget-house. Put us in the right school district near the most perfect park, because my kids love the park, and a well-stocked library. We need nice neighbors, I'm going to miss my current ones dearly, a good ward & a yummy ice cream shop near by. (Of course an ice cream shop!)

Help us to sell our first house smoothly, and for the relocation company to not lose any of our stuff. Well, maybe some of it. I'd like to get a bit new. This is our 11th move you know? In less than 10 years. We need a settling now. Lastly, if you could, please move at least some of our family there to make it easier. Oh, and let our Air Force time be enjoyable. Don't deploy the doctor.

Thank you.

Tanner said

"Will you do Emma's hair so that it points straight up like a tree?"

He was very serious.

I had to

appologize. It went something like this.

Ryan,
I'm going to try to not whine so much and not hate your job and be happy. Like be of good cheer happy. Do you forgive me? For my crankiness? Will you still be my best friend?
ps- and you are right. I set the mood for the house. If I am happy we are all happy.
Lacey

He wrote back that he would still be my best friend. And that he forgave me. I love him.

Happy Jacks

This baby has been so good to me. He lets me sleep through the night. He's found his thumb- and I wake up to the sound in the morning.

I've skipped the milk and he seems to be happier. His Great Aunt Debbie sent this blanket this past week (how'd she know I love polka-dots?) - thank you Aunt Debbie!

Oh Ike. And the 3's.

Ike, Ike, Ike. What have you done? YES you devasted Texas and the coast. But your 75mph winds did hit here. YES, Kentucky. Who would have thought? On Sunday I felt like I was Dorthy from the Wizard of Oz. Things were a-flyin-around....oh my. And now, ALL the neighborhood kids have been out of school ALL week. No power around town. Ours stayed on so I could make the snowcones for the kids that played on the computer and wii on tv and who needed to take hot baths everynight because they had run around carefree outside all day. They say it's coming back on line- just in time for school on monday for certain- right? Oh yes, I say.

The remains of Ike were here while I turned thirty. THE 3-0. Did not make me so-happy-o.
I know it's just a number. I've thought much about the "3's" lately. Like on saturday night I have had to iron "3" sets of boy clothes for church. That I have 3 of those little boys makes me smile- I never pictured myself as a "boy" mom and I know someday I will have to let them go for a couple years. That's hard to think about right now-they're my little guys. I've thought about this being our "3rd" and last year here. I can't wait to be through residency and also know it charts us on a new path- away from Kentucky, that brings mixed emotions. I've thought about my little Emma, who is just 3, and she does not like preschool. And I paid about 300 non-refundable dollars for her to go with registration fees. And I am not going to take her anymore. Because, she is just 3, and she says she just wants to "stay with" me. And I know there will come a day when she will not want to stay with me, so I will give into her demands today. Before I know it she will be saying, "Thirty mom, I can't believe I'm thirty. I always thought old people turned thirty."

I love my in-laws...

They are just good people. Simple and true and funny. My husband is the first-born of 31 grandchildren on his mothers side. He grew up in the country with all his aunts and uncles and cousins around him- literally they were neighbors on both sides. There was an unlimited supply of homegrown fruits and vegetables and he could roam, roam, roam. He was a "free range" (see previous post) handful of a kid, according to family stories. He had a happy childhood that we know we could never duplicate- it would require all his siblings living on the same street in the country (we are wishful though). I have decided that Ryan's mom and her sisters had some serious persuasive power over there husbands to get them to all find work in the same city and buy homes right next to each other. Oh, that I had such power.

Ryan's cousin, Robyn, just went home and shares her trip on her blog. It was so nice to see a current picture of everyone. Did I mention Ryan remembers sharing one milk cow between 5 families while he grew up? I sure hope it is not this one- that good ol' milkin cow deserves a better burial. He fed the masses on that farm.

"Free Range Kids"

Tanner- Can I ride my bike down to Aarons?

me- Well.... uhm.... (stalling, because I know it is just around the corner and he is 7 and what's the big deal? I mean, I rode my bike around the block times over at Grandma's, and walked to school both ways starting in kindergarten with my sisters, and crossed a busy corner or two along the way, and I survived.)

Tanner- Mom? Can I?

me- (and I really said all this) Just there. And be right back. And don't go in the house. Or the backyard. Or get off your bike. Just come straight home and if you don't come straight home in a few minutes I am calling 911. Okay. I don't want to lose you (I'm thinking, or for someone to take you). Come RIGHT BACK. Okay?

Tanner- Mom, it's just like 15 houses down.

And he went and came back in a record of 3 minutes or so. And then I thought about what a freak-out I just did on him. And what does that make him think about the world. When does a mothers instinct get overrun with paranoia? And too much dateline and 20/20? And how can you decipher fear from instinct sometimes?

"Free Range Kids"- is a movement that encourages the parenting of kids that are given a little freedom. Do you ever"...let your kid ride a bike to the library? Walk alone to school? Take a bus, solo? Or are you thinking about it? If so, you are raising a Free Range Kid! At Free Range, we believe in safe kids. We believe in helmets, car seats and safety belts. We do NOT believe that every time school age children go outside, they need a security detail. Most of us grew up Free Range and lived to tell the tale. Our kids deserve no less." It's put all together here quite well.

So, I like this movement. Really. For a time, my sisters and I were latch-key kids and, big news, we were okay. But, I still don't know if I can let go of being my kids "security detail". Maybe, I will tone down the "911" talks a bit. That's a step.

I love this:

Blog: http://goodmommybadmommy.blogspot.com/

And the girlfriends in my ward who treated me today... thank you Kristine. Made the B I G dreaded THREE-O not so forbearing ;)

And my cousin Sara sent me a Scentsy Candle that I really love. Like, could-eat-it-up-it-smells-so-good love.

And my kids love these that Aunt J. sent awhile back. Twilight Turtles and Ladybugs. They shine the solar system on the ceiling and are a flashlight all in one. IF you have a gotta-have-a-flashlight-to-go-to-bed-kid you MUST MUST get one.

And now, I am a badmommy. My baby has been calling. For a few moments.

Landon turns 2

Really, where has his life gone? He loves pizza and "choc" for chocolate milk and soup, soup, soup. He's been known to carry around a cake mix box and tries to persuade me to make it. He has 2 blankies, still takes a nap, thinks he a pro-wrestler and can spot a Batman or Spiderman item from miles away. We love this kid.

(ps- yes I did put a "1" on the cake and "3"candles. The neighbor kids thought it was so funny that I couldn't get the "2" right.)

Our newest addition

I think I need a bus license.

Colors

I'm with the kids at Dee's craft store & getting them out of the car. I noticed an extremely punked out couple of teenagers. Died bright red hair and black and white striped outfits with red boots. Extreme enough for me to pause and not rush the kids out of the car. I was going to wait until they drove off. Plus, they did not reciprocate my smile.

Emma: "Ooooh Mom! I like their colors!"
me: I could tell they were listening. "Yes, I know they are beautiful."

Emma continues really staring at them and then waves at them. They laughed. And smiled at her. Probably the best compliment they ever got.

Crashed and Recovered

(not me, from google images, but Tanner said it looks like it.)

Just let me tell you- do not use LimeWire. And, I needed to check for directions and phone numbers and the stake directory and Ryan is sitting in as Chief Resident and has a big autopsy presentation tomorrow and needed the computer. And it was out of service. For what seemed like days and days. Dang LimeWire. Never again.

It's coming!

The Bluegrass Hot Air Balloon Festival is September 26-28. Check it out here. A definite favorite of our families. Our last year to experience this as well...