Staying cool

I think we're finishing up our second full week of high temps in the 90s, and there's no end in sight, according to the weather forecast I saw. Sigh.

I know it's almost officially Summer and all, but for it to be THIS hot, THIS early in the season has been a little disconcerting. And I'm not even nine months pregnant (like my sweet sister), or someone who has to work outdoors all day ( can't think of anyone to name, but I see people all the time when I'm driving in my air-conditioned car).

And speaking of air-conditioning, I grew up in a house that was sans a/c, which was manageable most of the time, since it was in New Jersey. But nowadays I thankfully spend most of my time in a cooled environment (sometimes too cool for my taste, but I have to share space with others). I really shouldn't complain about the heat.

So instead of complaining, I'll just share some of my other favorite ways to stay cool:

ICE
Sonic ice is my favorite, but regular old ice cubes made in the trays you have to fill up yourself work just fine. That's what I did all summer growing up. I'd have a big cup of ice cubes and a huge hard-cover book from the library and I was set. I sometimes got in trouble for not filling up the ice trays after emptying them, but I probably blamed my sister. For the past several years(so long I can't remember), we have not had a working ice maker in our fridge (it's unfixable), so I regularly buy bags of ice to keep on hand. It's much better than having to fill up those trays!

FROZEN GRAPES
I think this is a treat that I started enjoying when I was growing up, too. Probably another way to try to stay cool in the humid New Jersey summers, and it's still a refreshing treat for me now. If you've never had them, just go pull some grapes off the bunch and pop them in the freezer for a few hours. They don't get as hard as a popsicle and are very yummy!

FAN
We relied heavily on big box fans in our house in New Jersey. I think we had one in each bedroom and probably a couple downstairs. They kept the airflow moving throughout the house and except for the most hot and humid summer nights, allowed us to sleep comfortably with the windows open all summer. Of course, there was the time that Dad put the fan in the window sill and somehow it fell out of their second-floor window, bounced onto the roof of the sunporch, and off onto the back patio. My grandparents were "asleep" in the sunporch/den, so in an attempt to not wake them up (again, who could sleep in that heat--it was the 4th of July!), he went downstairs and out the front door to try to retrieve the fan from the backyard. My grandmother heard someone outside and thought it was a robber. She could be heard saying, "Granddaddy! Someone's outside trying to steal their fan!" I don't think my grandparents came to visit in the summer ever again.

So, what are some of your favorite ways to stay cool?

The great debate

A huge debate has ensued between me and my strong-willed son. It's not about whether he can stay out past 10:00 at night or about who is the best baseball player of all time. No, this debate is more complex than that. It's all about the Punch Bug Game.

You know, the one you play when you're driving around town and you see a Volkswagen Bug and then punch the person riding with you who didn't see it first. Well, "back when I was a kid" the rules were that it had to be an actual Bug, not any other model of Volkswagen. Apparently, the rules have been changed. Or bent. Considerably.

There have been some VW commercials running lately that have various people playing the game whenever they see any type of VW model. So that has become the basis for Daniel's argument. And he is determined that his way is the "right" way to play the game.

I have informed him that I am a "Punch Bug Purist." I will only be on the look-out for VW Bugs of every color under the sun, even those older "vintage" models that he has trouble identifying, or believing that they are Bugs. And if the response to my recent Facebook status post about this subject is any indication, Daniel better watch out for a whole slew of other Punch Bug Purists who might not be as forgiving of his errant punches!

Toes

I just found out from The Mom Creative that this week is Soles4Souls Barefoot Week. If you've not heard of Soles4Souls, this organization gives shoes to children all over the world who walk around barefoot in some horrendous circumstances. I actually am embarrassed to admit how many shoes I have hanging on my shoe rack that hardly get worn (one pair has NEVER been worn), yet there are children who would love to have just ONE pair of shoes (flip-flops even).

So, in honor of Barefoot Week, I have to show off some of the cutest toes I've ever seen! Erica has gotten very into her toes lately. I think it started with one of her babysitters who had painted toenails and now Erica wants to see everyone's toes, including her own! She even wants to get her toes washed after a meal when she's getting her hands and face washed off. The other day when we were hanging out with family, she kept wanting me to take pictures of her feet. And of course, I obliged! Enjoy these sweet piggies!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Just want to give a shout-out to my Mom today while it's still her birthday. Her birthday has been a little bit out of the ordinary, but I think she had a good day after all was said and done! She started the day out at Vanderbilt Medical Center with Dad, but got to bring him home around midday, with a stop at Sonic to get some lunch. She got lots of birthday wishes via e-mail, phone and snail mail. We also had an impromptu birthday dinner from Zoe's Kitchen with some of the family. We'll be having our "official" family celebration for her on Sunday.

One sweet story is that even though my dad was in the hospital recovering from a kidney infection, he still remembered that it was Mom's birthday today. Yesterday afternoon, while Mom was at home resting, Dad called my home and left a message for me to call him. When I talked to him later, he said that he wanted me to go pick out a birthday card for him to give to Mom today. I almost cried at how 12-hours prior, while in the ER with a high fever, he had been confused about what year it was, yet, once his head cleared, he wanted to make sure he could honor his wife on her birthday! Of course I bought a card for him, and made sure it was one that sounded like something he'd want to say to his wife of 46 years.

Mom, you are loved, not only by your sweet husband, but by your daughters, grandchildren, son-in-law, extended family and many friends!

You gotta play to win!

My friend, Suzanne, is doing her monthly give-away for Keep In Touch Stationery, Inc., but you can't win unless you enter (and she gives us FOUR chances!).

This month the prize is a FREE notepad and I love her designs. I buy them to use as fun gifts and also for myself. They're also great for kids who like to have something with their name on it.

So, what are you waiting for??? Go, go, go!!!!

Summer reading

Today was Daniel's last day of ninth grade, so it's officially summer break at our house! Of course, my ever-conscientious son had me take him to Borders yesterday (yes, the day before school was out) to buy books he needs for his summer reading. He's not too excited about all the work he has to do over the summer, but I bought him a "fun" book too, so that helped.

One of the books that Daniel has to read was on a table marked, "Buy One, Get One 50% Off." Well, that's all the encouragement I needed. I looked around on the table to see if there was a book I might like that I could get for half price. After some quick deliberation (because it was supposed to be a short trip to Borders, if there is such a thing), I impulsively bought two books to start off my own summer reading. I actually felt guilty about my purchases when I woke up this morning, not because I had gotten some steamy "chick lit", but because I have a hard time spending money on books. I usually just write down the titles of books that catch my eye and then check them out from the library. But this time, I decided to keep them. Maybe I'll sell them later. And if you're doing the math, the fourth book that we got in the BOGO deal was the "treat" book I got for Daniel

So, without further ado, here are the titles I selected:

1. The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women and a Forty-year Friendship, by Jeffrey Zaslow

2. Summer at Tiffany, by Marjorie Hart

If you've read either of these books, I'd love to know what you thought. And I'd also love to hear about the books that you're planning to read this summer.

I've seen a glimpse of the future

. . . and it's Blue and White*!

Tonight we attended the graduation ceremonies for the Hume-Fogg Class of 2010. It was a unique experience to be able to stand on the sidewalk beside First Baptist Church and look up Broadway to see the Class of 2010, dressed in their blue caps and gowns, come down the front steps of the school and walk the two blocks to the arena. I only knew one of the graduates, but it was exciting to be able to cheer for these kids who have worked so hard to acheive this goal. Kind of a practice for what's to come in three more years.

I don't intend to fret away the next three years, bemoaning how quickly Daniel is growing up and how hard it will be when he leaves home. That would not make these next few years enjoyable for any of us. Instead, I want to cherish these years. I want to be as involved in Daniel's life as is healthy for both of us, while also giving him wings and helping him to be prepared for leaving the nest. I'm excited for him to grow and learn and to become the man that God has purposed for him to be. I want my son to experience each normal stage of life, even though that will mean that he gradually becomes less and less dependent on me.

I know that the choices I make as a parent over these next three years, and into his college years, will shape our relationship for the rest of our lives. I'm thankful to have this "front row seat" to watch him as he grows into a man. And I intend to be the one cheering the loudest from my seat in the arena when his name is called to walk across the stage and receive his diploma!


*Daniel would want me to point out that it's Hume-Fogg Blue, not UK blue!