Blissfully Unaware of the Chaos the Surrounds Me

So Proud of my Boy . . .

who passed his Hunter's Safety Class/Test today on the first try. Given that they boy is a straight-A student and all, I shouldn't have been surprised, but the circumstances pretty much sucked and by all accounts, he shouldn't have been so successful. Sadly.

Long story short? Dylan and John have been struggling just a bit over the last few months. Some combination of Dylan's age/John being really busy and stressed/different personalities/just life, I guess. Anyway . . . Dylan asked if he could take Hunter's Safety with my Mom's SO, Les. And I said yes, without talking to my husband (who wasn't able to do the class because of his schedule and probably would have never said "yes" to Dylan doing it with someone else). Bad course of action set upon by me. 

Thus began the last two months of struggle. Over this stupid freakin' Hunter's Safety course. It wasn't the best situation.

And Dylan felt caught in the middle. Between John and I. Between my Mom's SO and John. Between wanting to do this and wanting it all to go away.

So he did exactly what I would have done . . . he retreated. He didn't study as much as he should have. He didn't complete the workbook he was required to do . . . heck, he didn't even tell us about the workbook! He didn't go to the cabin with my Mom and Les last weekend. He avoided. With a capital A. And then he stressed. And stressed. And stressed some more.

We found out, LAST NIGHT at 6:30 pm about the workbook needing to be complete. All 71 pages of it. I was ready to pull the plug, right then and there. It wasn't worth it to me. But Dylan and Les persevered. Dylan was terrified that he would disappoint someone. So they stayed up until 12:30 finishing the workbook. Then it took Dylan another two horus to get to sleep. 

The class/test started at 8:00 am.

Although Dylan is one seriously smart kid? I didn't think he had a to chance to overcome the circumstance.

But he did. He did fabulously! Way to go, Dylan!

(Even if he did completely trick me and originally tell me that he had failed. Which I believed and felt so freakin' bad for him. Booger!)

 

No Sense At All . . .

My brain seems to be on rapid-fire mode. Except that it's more like rapid mis-fire mode! I can't speak with any semblance of intelligence. I can't remember shit. I jump from one subject the next . . . completely and totally without any rhyme or reason. So the following jumble of thoughts is about where I'm at these days:

(1) I finally finished Lauren's final invite mock-up. I swear I've been sweating these things out for a month! Never again . . . except for Shannon or Gillian, will I do this again! Not because I don't want to but only because I stress so badly about them! I literally lay awake and think of ways that I could make them better! Plus, my printer hate Envelopements stock. That's my only explanation for all of the flipping printer jams that I have cleared out this week!

(2) I love the final proof of the invite. Right down tot he exterior envelope. So while I say I'll never do these again? I could be persuaded :)

(3) Dylan had a great trip to Sunsplash on Wednesday. His face is sunburned . . . apparently telling your twelve-year-old to re-apply sunscreen doesn't mean that they will even think about it once. Not once in the entire day!

(4) I am getting ridiculous about showering/doing my hair. We're in the pool so much, it just seems stupid to bother with doing anything that might require effort or God-forbid, blow-drying! Plus, I am overdue for a cut and color (come on, Tuesday!) and so even when I do my hair? I end up sticking into a messy bun and calling it good. Even Halle has been sporting the messy bun this week!

(5) Took my kiddos to Redding with me yesterday. It was a grand time! My one scheduled meeting got cancelled, so the kids hung out while I signed checks, met with my assistant, went through the piles on my desk and then we were out of there! Lunch at Red Robin (surprise!) and then to Turtle Bay. If you're in the area, I would highly recommend their Grossology exhibit. It was very interesting, incredibly interactive and both my kids enjoyed it, as did I. They also have an interactive Parrot house now, and while Dylan and I got a kick out of that . . . Halle did not. She's not a big fan of screeching, flying birds that land on you and try and eat your hair. Just saying.

(6) I am big chicken and don't like to sleep with the windows open when John is gone. I know, I know . . . it's ridiculous, but I'm weird like that. So last night I was tossing and turning and so incredibly hot that I couldn't ever get into to that deep sleep. When I got up this morning, it was 74 outside and 80 in my house. Yuck. The six degree difference is seemingly a big one!

(7) I tried the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips (Girl Flower was the pattern we used) on Halle the other night. I have to say, they're kind of impressive! She likes them and they look pretty stinking cute on her little fingers. Plus, since her fingernails are so big, you can cut the strips and get 2-3 nails done for every strip instead of just one!

(8) Now we are headed out the door to hang at a friends and swim. Yeah! It's officially the weekend!

 

Fourth of July 2011 . . .

 

On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. 

2.5 million . . . In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation. 

311.7 million . . .  The nation's estimated population on this July Fourth. 

$3.2 million . . . In 2010, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount ($2.8 million) was for U.S. flags made in China. 

$486,026 . . . Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2010. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $256,407 worth. 

$302.7 million . . . Annual dollar value of shipments of fabricated flags, banners and similar emblems by the nation's manufacturers, according to the latest published economic census data. 

$190.7 million . . . The value of fireworks imported from China in 2010, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($197.3 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $37.0 million in 2010, with Japan purchasing more than any other country ($6.3 million). 

$231.8 million . . . The value of U.S. manufacturers' shipments of fireworks and pyrotechnics (including flares, igniters, etc.) in 2007. 

 

Yardwork . . .

On Sunday, amidst parties and pool time and errands, we managed to pull the backyard together. Just a little bit. We still have about $4,000 of landscaping to be done, but hosing, re-arranging and putting out the new furniture was a start. Pool toys got cleaned up and a whole bunch of them thrown out. We even got a couple of lanterns hung up! We're getting on it and gosh, it's only July. LOL!

As you can see, I settled for the Costco umbrella. Boring beige, but you just can't beat their quality. Plus, there is plenty of color going on with the new cushions. Cushion #4 will be picked up in Redding on Thursday!

I'll catch up with the 4th of July details tomorrow, but I'll leave you with this red and white teaser . . . 

Long Weekends . . .

really are the best. I am spoiled by my (almost) weekly three-day weekends. I know this, really, I do. But there is something magical about a four-day weekend. Even if we just spend it at home.

Yesterday was great. I planted some flowers (which are looking pretty sad in this heat) and ran some errands with the kids . . . new books, a new hammock piece, new cushions . . . but no new patio umbrella. I have to go back for that today. Or be patient and order it from Overstock. (It's already in my cart, I just want it today!)

In my never-ending quest to buy four cushions for four chairs, I was only able to find three matching cushions. (Which is better than the singles and sets of two I've been finding.) This is apparently because patio furniture and accessories go on clearance beginning in early June. So if you're not willing to pay full-price or be there on June 2 when the retail summer season seemingly ends, you're out of luck! I spent some time online last night and ordered one for a Lowe's store-pick in Redding. Except, it didn't turn out to be the Redding store. It was the Yuba City store. So if you happen to be coming through Yuba City and headed towards Chico, let me know! (I also spent 20 minutes on the phone with the Redding store this morning and was able to buy their display cushion and have them hold it for me until Thursday when I'll be up there. Crossing my fingers :))

After my search for cushions, we spent some time in the pool. I had bought a floating island the other day and swore it would be for grown-ups only, but let's just say that didn't last long. Not long at all! So we lounged and played and hung out in the pool, which was exactly where we needed to be when it hit 97 degrees outside. Hello Summer! Welcome! Too bad you've been pushed out of every store in town. Apparently it's time to buy for school :(

(That is water-wrestling, by the way. John was not beating down our child as a method of discipline. It's Dylan's favorite pool activity.)

Then John and I got to head out for some blissfull grown-up time. Amen to grown-up time! We headed to our favorite steakhouse with Ed and Stacy where we enjoyed 2.5 hours of food, drink and great company. We were getting the stink-eye from the hostess who clearly wanted to seat others at our table, but hey, tough! We averaged out at over $100 per hour, which is more than fair enough for a table rental fee, I think.

We came home to an utter mess at my house, but it was worth it. The kids were happy. The fingernail polish came out of the rug. The leftover pizza wasn't very appealing after being left out on the counter the entire evening, but eh, I didn't need to eat it for breakfast anyway. The sink was full, but hey, that's why we have a dishwasher. And again, the kids were happy. We even had cupcakes that were almost ready to eat! And the grown-ups were rested, full and happy. It all works.

Of course getting the kids to bed was a major dose of reality. Halle didn't want to go to bed. Ever. And Dylan went to bed, only to have a major anxiety-ridden breakdown over his upcoming Hunter's Safety course. Then Halle woke up screaming at 2:00 am telling me that there were bugs in her room. Of which I believe were the dream variety, but I still had the creepy-crawlies. Then I laid awake and listened to something rummaging around the side of the house. A raccoon or possum, if the squeaky weird noises were any indication. All the while, the dog slept peacefully next to my bed. (Word to the wise? Cocker spaniels? Not much for instincts. Although Brody just raised his head off my foot and looked at me. As if he knew I was talking smack about his skillz!)

Needless to say, it's morning! Already hotter outside than in. But we have some pool time ahead of us, so it will be a good day! Along with that pool time comes "our Shannon" so that will make it a great day!

 

Mount Lassen Take Two . . .

I thought I was really smart when I took my waterproof camera with us to Manzanita Lake. And I would have been . . . if I had remembered to put the memory card in it. But no, the memory card was plugged into the card reader . . . at home. I didn't realize any of this until we were out on the middle of the lake, by the way.

So I was able to take three photos on the camera's internal memory. One of which is out-of-focus. But I'm posting it anyway.

These make me want to go back. Right now.

Holiday Weekend . . .

Every once in a while I realize that I should be shopping/packing/prepping to go to Tahoe. Or even be on our way already. And then I am so grateful that we are staying home! Don't get me wrong. I love Tahoe. I love hanging with the family and the crazy cousin madness and there is a big part of me that wants to be there. If it wasn't 3.5 (+) hours away, I'd gladly go up, even for just a day! But alas, my family needs some down time. Big time.

Dylan decided to stay home this weekend instead of going to Eagle Lake with my Mom and her SO. I wish he had gone because he would have had fun, but I love having him here with us too.

So we started our down-time, family-time a couple of hours ago. John, Dylan and I are trying to get through "I Am Four", with Halle home. Needless to say, we're watching it in bits and pieces while she is asleep or otherwise occupied. We're cracking peanuts out of the shell . . . usually reserved for campfire food, but hey, it's a holiday weekend and I'm drinking a WT wine cooler already. (It was 4:00 before I poured it!)

Halle has dug through the huge bag of her baby clothes in order to dress "her daughter", aka, my old Cabbage Patch Kid. John has mowed the lawns. I've cleaned the kitchen floor and made dinner. There have been family games of Duck, Duck, Goose and wrestling. Laundry. Visiting with the neighbors. Some time on the 'Net.

(She can take her brother down! But only because we make him be gentle with her :))

Tomorrow I am planning on some pool time. Tomorrow night we (we=adults) get to head out to 5th Street with our good friends. Then Sunday brings time with our Shannon, her family and new(ish) fiance. Monday we'll spend the afternoon poolside with some great friends. I marinaded the pork for our pulled-pork sandwiches, bought what I needed for our layered salad and even sprung for some patriotic paper plates!

It's not Tahoe, but it also is the kind of pace that we desperately need right now. 

By the way, swim lessons went 100x better today. Halle went under water several times, still no tears AND Clara didn't kick us out! Winner!