How times have changed

I've recently been thinking about how different Thade's pre-teen years are from when I was this age. For instance, I recently paid an $80 water bill so that Thade can take 2 showers a day (but not change out of his pajama pants for a week) and Reed can play in the shower for 30 minutes at a time several times per week. In contrast, I was allowed to finally take showers only when I had my own shower (and water bill) because taking showers used more water than taking baths and thus my parents were "conserving water". Secondly, I did not have a TV in my bedroom until I graduated from college and could afford one. We have FIVE, yes 5 TVs with cable in this house and Thade has his own computer that he constantly complains is "too slow". Lastly, my summers starting at 12 were spent at the Little League baseball park working the concession stand to make my yearly purchase of Nikes so I didn't have to wear the K-mart brand. Thade is on his 4th pair of Nikes this year and his 3rd vacation this summer. But yet he's bored all the time? Rustin and I picked him up from church camp on Thursday only to find he hadn't brushed his teeth since Saturday. At what point do kids notice the chicken remnants left between their two front teeth? I notice within an hour. Apparently my child didn't notice for a week.

Adalae is definitely a mommy's girl. If I'm within sight, she is stuck to me like a leech.

Mema came to visit us over the 4th. The kids loved it. Reed would wake up every day asking, "where's mema, where's mema". And Adalae just wants me to hold her.

We went to Bedford Splash the day after the 4th. We had a blast until some kid pooped in the pool and they shut it down to "clean". After the 3rd time my clever 2 yr old snuck into the contaminated pool and the lifeguard gave us dirty looks rescued him we decided it was time to go.

We had our housewarming party last weekend. I had a rare moment of domestication and made a fruit bouquet. I'm taking orders as long as you 1. don't expect it delivered 2. don't expect the fruit to be fresh 3. have no expectations at all except for fruit on a stick

My good friend Susan also had her baby on Saturday at 29 weeks pregnant. He is adorable and his name is Eli. He is 2 lbs 14 ounces. I got to be his guest for the day last Wed. Since then, he is off all oxygen and breathing on his own. Please keep Eli in your prayers for continued healing.

I know you are all wanting to know the latest disgusting cute trick my kids have up their sleeve. Reed loves to play with plastic cups which is totally cool since they cost 3 cents a piece. Here I found Reed spitting in his cup, drinking it and chanting "yummy water, yummy water".