The boys of summer

Two great pictures I got of the boys on the trampoline. They both got haircuts and then decided to cool off by having a trampoline water balloon fight. The weather is great, the sun is shining, the neighbor is cooking steaks on his BBQ, the bees are buzzing and laughter is loud and giggly. I love it!

French Kissing and one guest blogger

Sterling came in from hanging out outside with some friends when he informed me that one of the girls he was "hanging" with had french kissed one of his friends (they're 9). When I asked Sterling if he knew what french kissing was, he said no. When I told him, he was disgusted!

Guest Blogger #1 - Sterling
Today I was hanging out with Tamara and my friends and I said "I was getting my hair cut", Tarik and Tamara were shocked because of how long my hair already was. I told them that it would only take maybe 15 minutes because I just needed a trim and the haircut place wasn't too far. When I get back we are going to have a water balloon fight but for now they are hanging out in Liam's house (and my mom is mean and won't let me hang out there). Please write a comment telling her to let me.

The Art of Loving

A standard comment coming from my mushball son. Every night he asks me the same question - "Did you have any bad customers tonight?"
Last night I told him to be asleep when I got home, as he needs to get over this chest cold he has. He took my words to heart and was asleep when I got home, but had to get in the question. Since he wasn't going to get an immediate answer I got a comment instead.
Love this.
He's just so darling.

Sterling had the opportunity yesterday to go to a great program called "Racing Against Drugs". Grade 5s from 4 local schools all gathered for this great program. I had heard excellent things about this and Sterling was so excited to go. They had a lot of stations to go to and learned a lot of different things. His favorite station was when you put on a pair of "beer goggles" that was supposed to stimulate how people see when they are drunk, and are made to "walk the line" heel to toe, heel to toe. He thought it was hilarious but very enlightening. He had a lot of good things to say about it.

When his class got back to school, the kids in the class decided to sign each other's shirts. I thought this one was very telling. Sterling and Maricela work with the Kindergarten classes everyday during their class breaks and Sterling has spoken about her quite often. I had to tease him about the heart Marisela added to her name on his shirt. Hmmm. When Craig asked him about it, he just blushed and hid his face. No strong denials.

So, I had to have my say in all this...

Last night when I got home from work I tucked Sterling into bed and our conversation went something like this:

Me: " Good night sweetheart, I love you"

Sterling: "I love you too, goodnight mom"

Me: "Oh, I forgot to mention, Maricela called and asked me to kiss you goodnight for her"

Sterling: "I knew this was never going to end!"

Happy Birthday Emma!

An open letter to Emma -

Dear Em -

Four years ago I got a call telling me that you had arrived. I was so happy. A little girl. After two boys, I was going to have a niece. I was so happy for your mom and dad and your Ammy and Baba. I was so happy for my boys because they now had a cousin. I first met you at Uncle Craig's brother's wedding, and you were this big cheeked ball of sweetness. I fell in love immediately. The boys were so excited to hold you and I was so impressed by how mellow your mom was. Over the years we have seen each other twice a year and I have always tried to be involved in some way in your life.
I have a special bond with you. One no one can change or break. No one can take it away from us. You are my sweet girl.
I talked to you this morning and just loved hearing your musical voice over the phone line.
I remember coming to your first birthday and wish I could be there for your 4th. I guess what I want you to know is that I LOVE you. I will always be here for you. ALWAYS! When your mom and dad are driving you crazy, call me. When you have a school fundraiser, call me. When you need advice on boys, call me. When you want to travel to Europe for 6 months and stay in hostels and buy a Eurorail pass, talk to your dad - I don't think I would be the best choice for that conversation.
Just know that you can always count on me. I couldn't love you more if you were my own.
A Happy Birthday to my (for now) favorite niece in the world. I love you, sweet girl! You light up my life!
Big SMOOCH to you my love.
Happy 4th Birthday!
love, Anti

Tuesday

Ear aches - the bane of my existence. Back to the clinic today with Kaedo - and lo and behold - both ears are infected! So, onto some antibiotics that I will have to force down his throat for the next 7 days, in the hopes that his ears will clear up before it is time to put up the pool.
Yesterday when we went to the clinic his ears were fine. I knew that when he was complaining (he had a cold compress pressed to his ear) that I should have insisted we do something preventative, but alas I did not. Now I have another trip to the clinic under my belt. Anyone keeping count would note that it is three trips in 24 hours. (a refill of a prescription rounds out the three)

Did my midnight shift last night. People progressively get more drunk between 9pm and midnight. People also seem to misplace their cards more between 9pm and midnight. I'm sure there is a correlation.

School is almost out and Thursday Sterling has his last school trip of the year. He will be participating in a "Race Against Drugs" program in B'ville with all the grade 5 classes. Kaedo will be heading to Medieval Times on the 22nd with all the grade 4s.

Kaedo's birthday is right around the corner and so we have to get the plans in place for that this weekend. A sleepover is on the agenda, along with a crazy meal, some DVDs, junk food and lots of fun.

Looking for some ideas for end of year gifts for male teachers. You know who you are - send me your favorite gifts! (This means you, Kelly).

Off to work in a couple of hours but for right now I am going to snuggle with the sicko and enjoy spending some one on one time with him.

5 cool facts about elephants

I think elephants are so amazing, so I thought I would pass on these cool facts:
1. They're into tools - They've been seen using sticks as back-scratchers
2. They use Infrasound - carrying on long "conversations below the range of human hearing"
3. They aren't sexist or ageist - they live in matriarchies led by the oldest, most knowledgeable female (smart, smart, smart)
4. They get emotional - They "spin around while roaring and trumpeting" when reunited with old friends
5. They're self-conscious - they study themselves in mirrors. In one zoo experiment, a zoo elephant "used the mirror to examine the back of her ear"

They are just so cool.

In other news - Kaedo was home from school today. Sick again. Asthma. Took him to the clinic. He has to be on Flovent, Ventolin and Singulair. Back at it. I think if we had done this last Fall, he wouldn't have missed so much school. I guess better late than never. He's a trooper. Thank God we don't have to do the mask anymore. He is old enough to do a diskus and is very good about taking it. Sterling has gone back to the Losec, as well. Thank God for 100% coverage drug plans!