I was so tired last night that i didnt choose to post. Yesterday began with my list of activities to do which included getting Adan to his littlle freind's birthday party from 1:30 to 3;30. My "tribe" (this is what the lady at walgreens calls us because we are really regulars at walgreens. Also, she notices us each time we enter, because i am still trying to teach them not to make a mad dash into the store, each of them grabbing their own cart and beginning their speed walking down each aisle, and all of this before i can even get totally out of my car. The day really began when we left the house at 10:00a.m. We began with a trip to the donut bank where i purchased three individual cartons of milk, three creme sticks and three donut holes a piece for each of the boys. When they complained that this was no where near enough food to fulfill their dietary needs, i informed them that we would eat again iat IHOP in a couple of hours when we dropped Aidan off at his friend's birthday party. I asked them to not eat this "tiny" breakfast until we got to walgrens parking lot and we would sit in our car with the windows down and have a pretend picnic. We went to Walgreens this time in a little more organized fashion and purchased a gift, gift bag, tissue paper and a card. We put the "Hannah Montana Accessories " gift in our large gift bag, outside by my car in the walgreens parking lot, and put the gift together. Aidan signed the car and threw away our trash. then we left to get gas and wash the car in the car wash. this is always an enjoyable experience, because we all scream our loudest as if we are in great fear when the big sprinkler traverses the car with its loud pounding water attack on our car.

Next we went to Home Depot which was an event in and of itself. We went there to puchase two screens. Michael sr. likes to open the windows and let the cool air come in the house and turn off the airc onditioner when the outside air is cool . It doesnt seem to bother Michael.sr. that one of the screens is missing on one of the front windows and the other screen is all bent out of shape because Zulu, the huge Newfoundland who lives in the house with Snowball, the Great Pyrnees with all of us, had plunged her head through the "good" screen when some hapless person came upon our porch for some reason. So in my mind, we needed to purchase two screens. If anyone had seen us in Home Depot, they would have seen michael jr. walking in front with his hands folded together and Brendan following me with Aidan right behind Brendan. I told them i knew this behavior was foreign to them, but it was expected by me every time we go into any store. When i said they should have been embarrassed when i was having to order them around, Michael jr, said "Im not embarrassed." Then i explained to him and his brothers how they should have been embarrassed because i was so embarrassed at having to discipline them inside the store. I told them that when they are with me i expect perfect behavior. Brendan reminded me that no one is perfect. i acknowledged that , but i said, that nonetheless, i expected perfect behavior from them every time we are out. I felt so good at saying all of that. They are still agog, i think.

We picked up Aidan at the party at 3:30, right on time, and drove home. Their mother had said she would pick them up late saturday night and keep them through Monday morning taking them to school on monday and we will pick them up monday after school . She arrived at 10 and the boys were all so tired but glad to see her and ready to get on the road. Michael jr. had fallen off of a bike and his knee was really skinned up badly and aidan was complaing loudly about a head ache and Brendan was just watchig tv, seemingly oblivious of all that surrounded him. Anyway they all left and in 10 minutes they werr back. Aidan had vomitted all over the car as they pulled away. i washed the huge blanket Karen had covered them up with for the long journey back to indianapolis. The blanket was now covered in up-chuck. I had Aidan put his up-chuck covered shorts in the shower. Karen got about three towels and a cleaner to clean up her car seats and then she and Troy, who was following in a car behind her, all left for a final time. Actually, Garrett, Troy's son, did come in to use the restroom before the final departure. Karen and i discussed briefly of the blessing i had received in Aidan's waiting to toss his cookies until after he left the house. I was in bed around 11 and probably asleep by 11:01.

I so continue to enjoy my time up here so much. Micjhael sr. is physically back to his old self. He continues to examine his past and speak of future things. He tells me over and over again, how much my presence means to him. He thanks me for the help with the children and times where he talks and i just listen....i promise it is true, i just listen. I am not saying it is easy for me to listen, but i am telling you that i just listen. I know that is what he needs right now, just to be able to articulate his thoughts.

Lyndsey, the expectaiton of perfect behavior when we are in public, is also fueled by my mothering, teaching and principaling expectations. Ah, those were the days. These days, I must admit, are the better days. Blessed be the name of the Lord. love you all. jk