TGIF!!!!

I want to apologize, I don't normally go so many days without posting. It's just been a busy week and I have not had a lot of time to myself to just think, let alone write! I worked two days this week on top of Sunday and they were so busy! I have to say, I am very impressed with teachers down here (and maybe they are like this everywhere) but I have sold more fabric to teachers making curtains for their rooms, or recovering bulletin boards than I have many other things! And they are paying for them out of their own pockets! I really salute their dedication! We have also had many dedicated mothers (and grandmothers too) making Halloween costumes for little ones: yesterday I had two Disney Princesses purchased, a Belle, and a Snow White. These little 2-3 year olds were ecstatic! Then there was the almost 4 year old soon to be cheerleader, and a 2 year old pumpkin... I really enjoy it when the little ones are in the store. One shy little girl yesterday studied me with big brown eyes while I cut her mom's fabric, then popped her pacifier out of her mouth, grinned at me and said "bye-bye" as they left, with a cute little wave. I admit I like the steady busy-ness over dribs and drabs because it makes the day go faster.

I have been focused on helping research articles and resources for Eric to use in some projects he has due for school this week. He got one major paper done this morning for today, and he has a couple more due next week. He is done for the summer on the 24th, then resumes with a fall schedule on the 8th of September. I find some of the stuff he is working on interesting, but other things are just dry (can you say crime statistics?) and I don't necessarily understand them. The gun control articles were interesting, because that is an issue I am on the fence over (I have no problem with responsible adults bearing/owning arms; I just don't necessarily like guns, nor do I want them around unsecured. If you NEED to carry a gun to feel like a man, then you probably shouldn't have one). I DO agree with a lot of what the Pro-gun people say, I just don't like extremists on either side! Anyhow, Eric is almost done with this term and I am close to being able to put my research skills back up on the shelf. I do like and miss school. It was something I was good at and it made me feel good about myself.

We have gotten some letters from Brianne this week, and I have mailed off the first of her "shoebox greeting cards" with notes from home. She has cut her hair really short now, and Eric says she looks like a really young version of him. In the only pic I have really seen of it her hair is boyishly short, but as we say of everything else, "It'll grow". She had been upset that a new friend (female) had been moved from her truck to another one, but it sounds like she is doing ok. She will be done sometime mid-September, which is earlier than we had anticipated (we were thinking early October).

We are in the count-down now for school to start (first half-day is a week from yesterday). We will need to go out and gets some school supplies, probably this weekend, and then once we know where our finances are at, will need to go get some school clothes for the kids. Rei has grown at least 6" this summer, and is nearing 6 ft. tall. Patrick hasn't grown so much, but he is hard on jeans, and they both need new shoes. Aurora got outfitted with a few things this spring, but she too needs a few pairs of jeans at least, and maybe a new hoodie. We got them all registered this week, to the tune of almost $300 when all was said and done--planners, and fees, and shool IDs and gym uniforms... What free public education? We still need to hook Aurora up with a sport's physical (she neglected to pass on the date of the $10 one sponsored by the school), so I have to track that down, and she has an appt with the specialist on Tuesday for her pelvic pain (so hopefully we can get that resolved and it won't negatively affect her running and eventual bowling season like last year). Patrick is planning to do Air Force ROTC this year so he'll be shaving his head soon (no more sheepdog hair!) and he wants us to arrange for REAL senior portraits for him for the yearbook etc. I sure do hope he and Rei do better this year with grades! One can only hope!

We had a birthday party here yesterday afternoon/evening for Patrick's 18th birthday. He had friends in and out starting at around noon, and Eric grilled hamburgers for them around 5 (I ran out and got sodas, chips, and a good sized watermelon to round out the meal after I got home from work, and I brought home a dairy queen blizzard cake). Eric and I went to bed around 11/11:30 and there were still a few kids here playing video games. It was slow to start, but I think he ended up having a good time. I counted 12 kids here at one point (including our 3), so that was good. Eric and I chaperoned, but basically let them have their party. Shockingly, we still have some soda left!

I suppose I should get going on my day--have some phone calls to make, and some post-party cleanup to get to. I will hopefully be around more this weekend!