A very clean dishwasher

We have some old friends from Massachusetts visiting today. Nate is extremely excited to see his friend Joe. They were great friends from preschool to first grade when we lived in MA. In an unselfish and loving act of kindness, Nate got up and decided to run the dishwasher to help me have clean dishes for the day. He proceeded to run it after he filled up both soap cups with Palmolive liquid dish soap. About 10 minutes into the cycle, Nate informed Stan that the "dishwasher was leaking tons of bubbles all over the kitchen floor and that it must be broken or something."

Thank you, dear Jesus, for the miracle of vinegar.
And for sons that try to be helpful.

Bring it on, Middle School!

Nate is growing up. In just a few months he will turn eleven. I can clearly remember the day that I finally brought him home from the hospital and walked into our little apartment and was overcome with joyful tears of relief....knowing that we had finally created a "perfect" family. It was an overwhelming feeling of love and extreme accomplishment and I will never be able to adequately put that moment into words.

Nate has recently been talking a lot about middle school. Last week he had a visit from his soon-to- be band teacher. In the past year, Nate has wanted to play saxophone (ew!), clarinet, drums (ew again!), and trumpet. We were very happy with the last choice since we had a free one just sitting in the closet! Anyway, the band teacher decided that Nate's mouth was "too big" for a trumpet and chose the trombone for him instead. Nate, in his cool and calm style just rolled with this new unexpected path. He is now quite happy with the manly choice of instruments and looks forward to band next year. I, on the other hand, have started collecting monetary donations for this "manly" yet very expensive (!!) instrument.

His class took a trip over to the "new middle school" today. This is a great relief to me because Nate is a worrier when it comes to change. Remember the food trying thing? Anyway, I was hoping that the visit would calm his imagination down so that he won't get sick the night before school starts. I can't recall a year that we haven't been up half the night going through "anxiety pains". Trying to be sensitive to this anxiety thing, I didn't press him for information but I did get small comments like: "My new school is HUGE" and then he quickly and bravely added, "but it will be o.k. because our lockers are going to be "magically" placed next to our first period teacher". (I guess Dumbledore will be working his magic this summer.) He said that he is very worried about getting lost but I quickly reminded him that just 3 years ago he had a whole new house to get used to with lots of new rooms and bathrooms and he managed to find his way around in just a few minutes! He just smiled, shook his head at me (like I was stupid), and walked away. Why has he started thinking that I am stupid? I'm not sure if I am going to do well being a middle school mom. Maybe I need lessons. But, I have this perfectly precious picture to keep me persevering FOREVER: (make sure you read the words on the the shirt!)

--oh yes... she does!

Fashion Rules....Always

My ten year old Nate went to school today in a hoodie. In my day we called them "kangaroo shirts" because of the pouch pockets in the front but I was quickly told that "is not what they are, Mom" this morning as we walked out the door. It is spring.....in Michigan. That pretty much means that it is NOT spring for a really long time and then all of the sudden it is summer. The seasons are not usually gradual at all.
So here is the fabulously funny conversation with my not-too-outspoken- fifth grader this morning at 7 a.m:

Mom: So Nate, you might want a little warmer coat for today.

Nate: Mom, it is really warm out and I don't want to wear my winter coat.

Mom: Well, it is 48 degrees right now but the temperature is supposed to be falling all day.

Nate: Mom, it's all about fashion. Hoodies are in....winter coats are SO out.

Mom: Oh, I see. Cool then.

Afterschool
Mom: So, how was your day?

Nate: Well, I think tomorrow will be a winter coat day. I don't think fashion matters anymore! At least for a few more weeks it doesn't.

Hmmm....obviously fashion isn't going to matter to him for very much longer! That's my boy!