Not Quite Ready For This . . .

Yesterday my son turned 7. I haven't had trouble letting my RyLeigh grow up. She is independent, and strong. And really, I could send Amylee out into the world right now and it would never know what hit it. But, Duncan is my tender heart. He mostly has me wrapped around his finger. I think it's a mom/son thing. So here is the conversation that ensued in the bathroom before leaving for his birthday dinner.

Me - "Dunc, get in here so we can do your hair before we go."

Duncan - "WHY? Why do we have to do my hair. We are going to Hungry Bear, NOT church!"

Me - "Just indulge me, okay? Sometimes you have to let moms do things."

Duncan - "You do too much things."

Me - "What?"

Duncan - "You do too much things."

Me - "Like what?"

Duncan - "Like, my clothes. I want to pick out my own clothes." (yes, I pick out his clothes and put them on his bed at night.)

Me - (Shocked in finding out this was even an issue) "Okay. Okay. You can totally pick out your own clothes. That's fine."

Duncan - "Thank you"

So, he's 7 and all the sudden he's all big and wanting to do stuff. Which makes me think, what other too much things am I doing that's driving him nuts and he's just indulging me? He bears his testimony in church now all by himself. (Yes, break my heart wide open!). He wears his white shirt and orange tie and walks up there like he believes every word he's ever been told. And this is only going to get worse. Like, what the crap do I do with myself when he gets baptized and I'm bawling my eyes out? I mean, I can't embarrass the poor kids. Or when he starts junior high ( I swear if people are mean to him I will kick their butts). When he goes on his first date? When he gets his mission call and leaves!!! Or when he finds his bride, and marries her and then holds his baby for the first time?

I thought being a mom wasn't going to be hard this way. The emotional, rip your heart out, hurst so bad to love him so much kind fo hard. I thought it would be the laundry that would kill me. I guess it has: "Mom, I can pick out my own clothes."

Family Photo's! (Long time-no blog. I suck)

Lee-lee

She doesn't look to thrilled about this tender moment.

My son begs me to let him clean the toilets.

I love him.

Proof

Speechless

I will be here. At this very spot. In two days. I have never done anything like this by myself and I'm nervous. Anxious. Excited. Thrilled. I have to give a shoutout to people who have supported me and been so excited for me to get here. Kelly Oram, who has wanted me to do this for five years. Ryan, who told me it was now or never (probably) and has wanted me to do this for a whole year. Kristie, Dennise, Emma and Britney for helping take care of my little monkeys. To Bonnie, for being my travel companion. She has every reason to not go on this trip, and she's going anyway. Mom and DAd Thorne for helping me with the initial payment (and for being so excited to see me go.) And my Mom and Dad and sister, Shelly, who remember that huge poster of the Eiffel Tower I use to have hanging on my wall in my bedroom in the 8th grade.
So this post was titled speechless. Seems I did have something to say.

Davis Reads & Lady Macbeth

At Davis High School where I teach we are implementing a new reading initiative. To catapult this into place, each teacher was encouraged to bring their favorite book (s) and head to the photography studio to have their picture taken. These picture are placed in said teachers classrooms in 20x24 size frames (I think) for all to see. I thought it would be way too much fun to dress up as my favorite Shakespearean character and get my picture taken. My bestest friend Syd came and did my hair and make up. I barely fit into that dress (my ribcage is not the size it use to be) and I think I made my friend Kelly Oram who took my picture an eensy-weensy bit uncomforable because of how much skin I was showing. And plus, I just look damn hot! This is the closest I will ever be to actually being Lady Macbeth. And I'm okay with that. My favorite part of the picture is the blood dripping off the knife. Also a Syd feature. My other favorite part is having this in my classroom when my new little sophomores come in next year. I think I may carry around my blood soaked knife on the first day. Just for fun.