Odds and Ends

Tomorrow Alex comes home from scout camp. 

He's been gone all week. Five nights and six days. That's a long time. Earlier in the week I was worried that I'd get a call that he wanted to come home. Nope. Now I'm worried he won't ever want to come home. I mean really. He's sleeping in a tent, swimming, lighting fires, playing in the dirt and not reading, bathing or studying. He probably really doesn't want to come home.

I miss my children when they're gone like this. I get so excited for them to come home. It makes me wonder what it will be like to have Kambree gone for weeks at a time? (Notice I said WEEKS not MONTHS!) I wonder if Alex's "flames" have grown out on the side of his head? I can always have hope....right? I wonder if he brushed his teeth at all? Tomorrow will tell.

 

I am happy to report that we made it through the week-o-birthdays and with SIX cakes total, I only gained 1.5 pounds. Could have been worse. Now I'm off the hook until January. With all this birthday excitement Rylee has taken to planning and talking about what she wants for her birthday. Just like with Alex I finally decreed that she cannot plan, ask or talk about thing relating to her birthday until the month of her birthday....that would be just about six months from now! She and Alex are eighteen months apart to the day.

 

I've had to make the same decree with Alex and Rylee about Halloween. Gosh. They come up with "what I want to be for next Halloween" the first of November and then change their mind a bazillion times. I have refused to talk about Halloween costumes until October 1st. (Last I heard Alex wanted to be the guy from gutiar hero with his hair all in pointy spikes. He's new hair do will certainly nix that costume plan. Rylee wants to wear her retro 70's dance outfit and buy white high go-go boots. I've been trying to explain that she's mixing up decades but she won't hear it!)

James has been busy laying cement in our side yard and has recruited the children to help. Today was Devree and Rylee's day. Austin already has put his time in and Alex did a section the night he was "the servant" so I'm not sure if he owes James another session on his own time or not. He likes working with James and it's dirty work so that's even better in his book. Kambree still needs to participate-I hope I'm gone the morning he rouses her out of bed in the early am to help!

GLORY BE AND THE SAINTS BE PRAISED! 

Austin got a job!! He's going to work at the bakery where Kambree works or worked once she leaves for school this month. I am so happy as they're closed on Sundays, agreed to not schedule him on Wednesday nights and they close at eight pm! Perfect high school job! They've been so good to Kambree. They love her and have told her they wish they could hire ten of her! I hope Austin can measure up. I know he can be a good worker too it's just that he's all about having a good time these days and although funny and witty and very persuasive-let's just hope they can find the joy and charm I find in him!

We sold our van and now James is shopping for his commuter car. Good grief. Since April we will have contacted our poor car insurance agent NINE times to make changes to our policy. It started with adding Austin to the policy, then selling the scooter, adding the motorcycle, adding the Saturn, licensing Moby (our old Ford) and adding him to the policy, selling the Infinite, adding the Sequoia, selling the van and hopefully adding the new car tomorrow. If James doesn't find a car before he leaves for work on Tuesday Austin and I will be in trouble as James will take the Metro to work, Kambree the Saturn to Snow and unless Austin wants to drive gas guzzling-diesel fuel drinking-larger than life Moby he will be without wheels and I will be without a driver for the junior high commute. (Yes, my high schoolers drop off my junior highers!)  I think I feel more sorry for me than Austin!

We made a trip to Home Depot tonight. What started out as a "Mom, the sink is leaking!" last week has turned into an entire replacement of the vanity, sink and faucet in the kids upstairs bathroom. We've put off renovating that bathroom but now it's time. It's a domino effect. Leaky faucet? Well, let's replace the whole original 1978's vanity and counter but now we need to do the floor and the surround needs to be replaced and so on and so on.....Ahh...home maintenance. Just when you think you're done-it's time to start over!

I took two darling listings today! Anyone need a great rambler in West Jordan or newer Multi in Draper? Both price under 230K! 

Well, I can hear the movie going and smell the popcorn.

Movie night with James and Rylee.

Life is good!