Random Is as Random Does

Summer has officially started and we have house guests.  I'm finding it hard to keep up with everything, get the kids to their respective activities AND write on my beloved blog. I'll try to get more organized.  After 13 years as a mother, you'd think I would be prepared for the Summer Chaos, but it sneaks up on me every time.

One really wonderful development is that it looks like Ana (13) is going to be attending the same academically advanced private school that Jane (10) attends next year. I'm so excited for Ana; she's THRILLED, and although we may be eating cornflakes for dinner as we pay for two kids in private school, I LIKE cornflakes. It's a win all around. We're going through the application process now, but it looks like everything is good to go, barring any other economic disasters. I'll keep you posted.
Yeah, she really is THAT beautiful.  And THAT smart.
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It turns out that my husband and I are not the only ones with a Mixed-Towel-Ethic Marriage. Check out this post by The Bloggess. It made me realize that my husband and I are very formal and serious when we argue. I have never once called him names, nor bought a five-foot chicken in retaliation for anything. (Although I confess that now I kind of want one. Wouldn't be hilarious if after all I did to remove the freakin' roosters from this house, I now replaced them with CHICKENS?) (Well, hilarious in a Mental Illness kind of way, I mean.)

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Edward has taken to lying on my computer desk when I'm working.

As you can imagine, I hate this --NOT.  Although, it's really hampering any kind of production, and I really didn't need any other distractions.
Look!  How smart!  Edward caught a MOUSE!
I know it's a slippery slope and I am probably becoming one of those sad cat women, destined to die alone in a studio apartment, surrounded by my 125 cats, but holy COW, I so love that cat. I was thinking the other day that if more people behaved like Edward (not the catching chipmunks thing, but the sheer single-minded devotion he displays to me, his Person), the world would be full of happy, purring people. His entire attitude is, "Why yes, I am the most gorgeous creature on this planet and many bow down before me, but I choose YOU.  I will now follow you around and curl up in the crook of your arm any time you lie down and I will purr my Mighty Purr only for you."  Because of this attitude, I am willing to forgive an awful lot. I could forgive him a giant chicken, I really could.

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I am very fortunate this year to have my enthusiastic co-Farmer in the form of one Jane Cooper. She's primarily in charge of harvesting and she takes her job VERY seriously.

I would love to tell you that Jane goes out to garden before she's even changed out of her pajamas but the truth is that during the summer, every day is pretty much Pajama Day in Jane's world. I'm fine with that.

First cucumber and carrots.
Snow peas!
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In other Jane news: Jane played softball for the first time this year and it turns out that she's fantastic at it and she LOVES it. Now she practices all the time in the back yard, which means we have to bring the dogs inside because they keep fetching (and slobbering all over) her softballs.

Here's a little slide show from yesterday:


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Earlier this week, an enterprising spider built a web between my car and the lamp post.

I totally understand the impulse and the futility.  I'd like to build a huge spider web to catch these fleeting days.

Comments

hokgardner said…
The HEB near our house had two of those giant chickens outside. I nearly doubled over laughing at the idea of bringing one home for my husband, who would most decidedly NOT be amused.
Panhandle Jane said…
My DD and I once started a list of legitimate jobs that would not necessarily enhance one's resume. An example would be the "barker" who announces shoes at Shoe Carnival. The second one was the giant inflatable duck scheduler for Quick Quack car washes. Of course, the secret would be giving them a suitably grandiose title.
Kathy Ireland said…
I actually had to leave my desk after seeing the picture of the 5' metal chicken at the front door. They may be the funniest thing I've seen this year.
Kimos said…
@ Panhandle Jane. Director of Marketing is an obvious choice.
hollygee said…
I LOOOOOOVE THAT CHICKEN!!!!!!
Ei said…
bummer...I have no one to annoy with chickens. My kids would LURVE them.

The reason you can't keep up is not because you've missed a lesson in your 13 year career parenting, it is the addition of the softball...that is if there is anywhere NEAR as many games & practices as there are for little league...and if it rains in NY like Noah lives there so you have to reschedule every other dang game.
Awesome picture of the spider web! They're so hard to photograph.
Barb Matijevich said…
It was really windy so the picture isn't quite clear. The web was GORGEOUS!

@Ei, I don't know how single parents of multiple children do it. There is no way Jane could have done softball this year if there hadn't been two of us because every game conflicted with a class of Ana's. (Luckily, the coach wasn't big into practice so we only had a few of them.) I tip my hat to you, friend.

@HOK How much are those HEB chickens, exactly? Just in case...
Susan said…
We had many good years following the girls softball teams here and there. Ana reminds me of my youngest - same haircut and little glasses. She switched to contacts when she was 10 for sports.

That cucumber is so cute and the carrots look yummy.
Lane said…
If I hadn't already come to love your kids, I'd love Jane for no other reason than her pink and yellow socks! Plus, her softball form's looking good (I used to be a pitcher!), and special congratulations to Ana!
Bullwinkle said…
You may have been a mother for 13 years, but summer changes every year. The kids are change, every year. The place changes. Even the dogs are different.

That Bloggess post makes me want a giant chicken :)

Congrats to both kids (and ear scritches to Edward)- learning new things, and being in a place that encourages that, is one of life's greatest joys.
Candy said…
Is that Ana? HOLY MOLY! What in the world happened? She's like a young lady!