Three weeks and counting..

It's been a long time coming but I can finally say that as of tomorrow, I graduate from college in THREE WEEKS. I can't even fathom the idea of having the summer to my family and myself. The scary part is that I'm almost done but I don't know what I want to do next. Big problem. The plan was always to go to grad school, PA school to be exact, but now that it's fast approaching, I just don't know if that is where I want to be for the next three years. I guess it's time to really grow up and decide what comes next. Maybe after this summer break applying to grad school in the fall won't seem so daunting. Jamee told me last night that he thinks I should write a book. I think he really feels my pain right now and he is just as confused about my future as I am! Oh well, I believe God is in control of my life no matter what so we'll see what he has in store for me next.

My predictions...

Most of you that read this probably already know but I'm bursting at the seams and just need to share! A few posts back you will recall my ranting about wanting a baby and getting over it just as quickly when my sister and two close friends all became preggers around the same time...well, I just found out last week that my sister is now having TWINS! I can't believe it. Twins have a tendency to run in our family. As a matter of fact we're an odd bunch because they run in EVERY generation now insted of just every other like most fams. My sister was a twin (mom lost the other during her pregnancy), my mom's cousin is a twin, my grandpa is a twin and my great grandpa had twin sisters. Looking back at this cycle, boy am I glad it was Lindsay and not me!!!! I think I got out of parent hood pretty easy watching what she's about to take on but I have no doubt that God made her for this job and she will be a wonderful mother. Her laid back personality and how caring and kind she is with Brevin and Laney will be doubled with her own children. I'm so excited for her. Now we're all holding our breath to see what the sex is...

To top off my baby fever excitement (for others) Kerri called last night and had found out that afternoon that she and her husband are going to be the proud parents of a baby boy.

Kate and Matt are still going the old-school route and waiting for the surprise of what they are having on baby's birthday. Gosh, that will be an exciting phone call!

So, here are my predictions...

Kerri: BOY (I have to get at least this one right!!!)
Kate: BOY (I'm not sure why I think this but both her brother and sister had little boys first so why not continue the tradition???)
Lin: BOY/GIRL...my great grandma Betz had two sets of fraternal twins (one being my Grandpa) and both were boy/girl...plus I don't know if Lin will have more after twins on the first try so I'm hoping she gets to experience both. If she gets two girls or two boys that would be so fun too!

In truth, I just pray they all have healthy pregnancies, healthy babies, and hearts full of joy when the day arrives. Okay girls, lets get going I REALLY want to start shopping!!!!!!

You Make Me So Proud

It all started with a phone call...

For those of you raising boys, or who have raised boys, or lived with boys...you know that life is always very interesting. Although I was blessed with two younger brothers, one lived on the other side of the country and the other was 10 years younger than me so it's pretty safe to say I "grew up with sisters." Two sisters to be exact, and with a single mother, women ran the house so there wasn't a whole lot of male input...EVER. So, as I've been blessed with a "man's man" for a husband and a son a lot like him it's been an interesting transition for me. I watch and actually LIKE sportscenter now, and I can tell you every starter for the MSU Spartans basketball program...our dog was named IZZO. So, now when I get phone calls from parents telling me Brev and his/her son were spelling swear words in the bathroom or a group of boys were playing the "slapping" game (which basically consists of slapping your best friends across the face as hard as you can when they aren't expecting it and then laughing hysterically) I don't hardly bat an eyelash anymore.

But then my phone rang. The mother of one of Brev's classmates started out whispering (which I found odd at first) that her daughter had just gotten new glasses and she was excited about going to school that day and then everyone in the class was making fun of her. Immediately my ears turned red and I could feel the embarrassment and disappointment welling up in my chest. So I waited to hear what part my "boy" played in the harrassment of this poor little girl. She continued..."I just wanted to let you know" (OH boy, here it comes) "that Brevin went up to her and said 'I think your glasses are pretty and you look cute.'" I could have cried. I thanked her so much for letting me know, and added that it's nice to hear positive things about your kids now and then. Then I gave Brevin the biggest hug and told him how proud I was of him. I've always tried to pass the words my mom gave me down to my own children, "Beauty is only skin deep and it's what's inside that counts." This one small incidence reaffirmed to me that something we say does get through, you just have to be patient and wait for the benefits.

I'll never forget that phone call.

Sharpay, Sharpay, Sharpay

Well, for those of you who aren't involved in the preschool to preteen eras, High School Musical 3 finally came out on DVD. We decided to rent it for the kids (and did a 5 day rental...I'll get to that later). Laney was jumping up and down and so excited but Brev acted like he could care less. So, I grabbed some comfy blankets and Laney and I headed downstairs to the theater room to cuddle up for 2 1/2 hours of cheesy songs and heartfelt confessions of love. Soon after (5minutes to be exact) Brev snuck down "because he was bored" but surprisingly he never left the room until the credits rolled (oh yeah, he was breakdancing in the middle of the floor during the credits also...pretty interesting for someone who didn't want to see it). So, Laney has watched HSM3 approximately 5 times in the 5 days we've had it! I have heard "I Just Wanna Be With You" so many times that I find myself singing it in the car on my way to work, humming it in class and trying desperately to get it out of my head. Last night was the cherry on top...I was doing homework in the livingroom and Laney wanted to watch it ONE MORE TIME before we had to take it back so I told her she could set it up in my bedroom and I would be in shortly (because she HAD to watch it WITH mom). Next thing I know, Brev is casually making his way back there too. I hear him say, "Oh my goodness!" This is possibly one of the most frightening things any parent can hear from another room. I waited for the tattling but nothing came so I decided to wait it out a few minutes longer. Then, Miss D walks out in my knee high, black stiletto boots (that go nearly to her hip), in FULL makeup, and some crazy hair (like 6 barrettes!) and asks me if I can "dress her up cute like Sharpay." I finally believe that yes, these young stars and starlets have a little more influence on children than I'm comfortable with!!!

I Think I Just Lost Mother of the Year...

This morning on my way to work I was listening to a popular (local) morning radio show. They were reading the news...bad economy, GM bailout, yada yada yada...then they read a story about a man trying to get a kid into a white minivan by bribing him with candy in a school district too close for comfort. Thankfully, the child knew all about "stranger danger" and screamed and ran away. They also reported this occuring in other areas of Mid-Michigan. Then they issued a warning to parents about making sure you talk to your children about strangers and I realized that I'd talked to Brevin in the past but it hasn't come up with Laney. I was determined that when I got home that afternoon I would be making sure to explain stranger danger to them. So, we arrived home and our outside temp showed nearly 50 degrees! The kids were so excited to be able to play outside and not freeze so they ran out on the back deck. At this exact moment I remembered I wanted to talk to them about strangers. So I peeked my head out the slider and (thinking I was being a very proactive parent) explained what I'd heard on the radio and asked them what they thought they should do. Their responses were as follows: Brevin: "I'll hit 'em with a stick" (which he proceeded to pick up and use during a pretty intense ninja routine). Delaney: "Call the police." The correct answer of course is to scream and run away which I told them both and had them repeat. This is where I messed up. I went inside to do some light housework and following me right back in were two frightened little children that refused to play outside because they thought someone was going to jump out of the bushes and steal them away. UGH!!! I didn't intend to frighten just inform. Parenting is definitely a practice makes perfect situation.