Email from Mom...

So, I got this email from my mom today...

Our I-Pads just arrived. Yes I-Pads. I have my own. The grandkids will really love me now.

Mom

Um, yeah. The kids' Spring Break starts today. I'm thinking Ben will want to spend the whole week at "Camp Ownie".

TAO

Great lunch today with an old friend. It really is sad how quickly you can loose touch with friends that you don't "have to" see often. Especially when they don't have a FB (nudge, nudge).

Anyway, got done with lunch & ran some errands. It was still too early to leave to get Ben, but I really didn't have time to go home & get anything accomplished. Then I remembered that I have Jane Eyre in the car that I'm supposed to be reading for book club. I've had a hard time getting into it, so I thought a forced hour of reading might do me some good. So, I make the 30 minute drive up to the school, park the car (first spot in the car line...SCORE!) & read for about 45 minutes or so. When my eyes started burning, I set the alarm on my phone & closed my them for a few minutes. (Oh! How I loooooove car naps!) So, I zonk out (seriously, I think there may have been drool involved) & wake up in time to hear the afternoon announcements over the intercom.

After about 5 minutes, Ben comes out & we get on on merry way, discussing his day & the Relay for Life event his school is having tomorrow. About 5 minutes into the drive home... I see it...

The Antennaed One! Staring at me with his antennae twitching. In the car! With me! For AT LEAST and hour & 1/2! While I was sleeping! With my mouth open! OMG!!!

I wasn't in a place where I could let him out & he was too big to squish, so I drove the rest of the way home, keeping one eye on the road & another on him & yet another on Ben who, in his bravery, was practically falling out the passenger door in an effort to get as far away from TAO as possible. Gotta love the chilvary of a 12 year old!

Anyway, we made it home safely & without any contact with TAO. I then set him free to live another day amongst the pollen.

He fared a lot better that this little flying friend I encountered while waiting for Ben at drum lessons last week.

I was able to capture one of this little guy's last living moments on my camera phone, just before I indavertantly squished him while trying to let him out my car window. R.I.P. Ladybug, R.I.P.

Oh Spring!

Yeah, so remember yesterday when I was all "Spring!" "It's great!" "I love to be outside!"?! Well, today I'm keepin' it real.

We have a lovely (in this photo at least) oak tree in our front yard.

And tons of pollen on the ground.

And, for some reason, Spring in Florida brings lots of dead leaves.
Without the benefit of the beautiful hues of a northern Fall.

Every morning (& afternoon & evening) I see how my car & pollen have

really formed a tight bond.

And every time someone comes into the house, I get to sweep the foyer.

Good times. Good times.

*that being said, I AM MOST GRATEFUL that no one in my family has a pollen allergy. I know many people who are absolutely miserable this time of year, I'm just a little annoyed.

Outside

I love love love this time of year! We were out at a high school baseball game tonight & although the Bulls lost, it was such a beautiful night that I really enjoyed the evening anyway.

When the girls were younger, I was out at the field every night... but once they started driving themselves, I'm always home cooking dinner while they are out & about. I hadn't realized until tonight how much I miss it. This is the perfect time of year here in Florida... right in between the cold (for FL) weather & the super humid, mosquito-laden summer. I'm sure you won't be able to drag me out of my air conditioned abode come July or August, but tonight I was really happy to be a Floridian.

Very cute!

Hallelujah! Jesus Christ is Risen Today!

My favorite hymn of all time! Even though we aren't regular church goers anymore (heck, we're barely even Chr-Easters anymore), I do try to remember The Reason for the season. Every time I hear the bells ring during an Easter service, I cry. What a joyous noise!

Every Easter morning of my childhood, my dad sang this song VERY LOUDLY while we were getting ready for church. Let's just say that while God gave our family many gifts, the gift of a beautiful voice wasn't among them. But I loved it anyway. :)

When I was a kid, the Easter bunny didn't come while we were sleeping, he hopped on over while we were at church, so as not to distract from The Reason.

We would all get in the car ready to make the 7 minute drive to church, when my mom would say that she probably should use the bathroom before we left & she'd run back into the house & set out our baskets. Funny thing is, even though it was only a 7 minute drive, & we always had plenty of time to use the bathroom once we got to church, this wasn't unusual behavior for Mom. We never even batted an eye. :)

Hmmm... Maybe she did it all year long, just so we wouldn't be suspicious on Easter?! Clever. Clever. Clever. Maybe she STILL does that just in case she's ever called upon to make us Easter baskets again.

Mom, the gig is up.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!

Falls, Fouls & Funny

Need I say more? Jordan's section starts around the 4:00 mark. She's #5.