The Quotable Beasties

Eli, holding a large, sharp stick -

"Eyes are for poking."

Conversation in the car -

Me: "Now when we get to tap class, I want you guys to listen to your teacher and not horse around... Deal?"

Finn: "..... Ummm, Mom, I'm going to have to stop making so many deals with you all the time. We have so many deals my head is going to 'splode."

Eli (without hesitation): "Then we'll have to get you a robot head."

Finn: "Oh. Well. OK!"

Finn, to his dance teacher -

"My mom said if we do something hard or if I get tired I can sit down and watch."

(I so did not say that.)

Finn, at least 3 times a week -

"This is the most awesome day EVER!"

Both -

"When can we spend the night with Nana/Papa/Grandmother/Grandaddy/Abby/Anna Grace/Kieran-and-Connery???"

Eli, after watching Finn's tooth fall out -

"I'm not going to get big teeth in my mouth. I'll just keep these little teeth. And all my blood."

Not a quote but an awfully good piece of art -

The boys have spent part of the summer ganging up on me during my morning computer time. They are the warriors and I am the evil monster. Specifically, Medusa with the snake hair and the gaze that turns men to stone.

Portrait of Mom by Finn.

LOVELY.

Winds of Change

I did something pretty big a few weeks ago. I quit my job.

You know, that Job That Defined Me.

In a nutshell, the situation just wasn't working out anymore - not for me, not for them, not for our budget, and especially not for my family. But I'm proud of the work that I did there, and a part of me will miss it.

So that puts me squarely in a place I never anticipated being - CDG of The Hotwheel Hacienda, SAHMomdom. And DUDE... I am tired. It's only been one little week and I fall into bed and sleep like a dead rock. This new position is about twelve times more physical than my previous one, probably because this is a sample of what we do at 8:00 AM:

I'm not kidding about 8:00 AM...


I'm embracing this new job. There are gardens to tend, a house to organize, pools to swim, cookies to bake, books to read, games to play, skinned knees to smooch, and tears to dry. They are only this little once, and soon enough they will push us away, struggle from our embrace, and retreat to other people and places.

I will stay sane thanks to my husband, my friends, and my derby sisters.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit scared. I've NEVER not been employed, at least not in the past 17 years. I'm banking on staying busy so I can stay out of trouble.

Bring it on.