Mother's Day

I sent cards to our mothers and grandmothers this year, but could not squeeze gifts out of our budget. I know the family was a little concerned about what to do for me. Ben and Joel solved the problem. They went crabbing on the bay with their friends. I LOVE crab. With help from Michael, they prepared a meal for mother's day. It was fantastic!

As we were about to sit down, Ben received a phone call. His friend was bored at his job, and wanted Ben and Joel to come hang out. He is a beach chair attendant. Ben explained that he could not go as it was mother's day. Edgar(the friend) offered a free chair, umbrella, and possibly kayak, if only I would come, too. I thought about it for 5 minutes. HMM, did I want to go sit on the beach on mother's day. Michael sealed it when he offered to keep Grant and Liberty. It was a gorgeous day at the beach.

Joel, Edgar, Ben

Savannah got me these! In the Philippines they are called "chom poi." I believe they are seasoned, dried plums. I have loved these since I was introduced to them in Vietnam when I was five! Savannah said people were looking at her strangely when she said they were my mother's day gift. Everyone else was purchasing chocolate macadamia nuts for their moms. She told them she has a weird mom. I said that made me proud!

Ok, so Melinda linked me to some kind of Super sized family list. Today's post is on Road trips.

I NEVER drive through the night. I have a game plan for ime, but I am not a slave to the clock or mileage. If kids have to go to the bathroom or just stretch, that is ok with me. We do not own DVD players or game boys. On the reverse, we also do not sing rounds or join in hand slapping games. We DO bring alaptop that we hook up to the sound sysytem and strap to a stool so the whole car can see. We only watch a movie after everyone seems REALLY bored, and then usually only one. For a 10-12 hour trip, we MIGHT watch two. I carry snacks and drinks, but we stop to eat, so we can get out and stretch. Everyone gets to bring their own bags of stuff to do. We try to get where we are going by supper time. By then, I am done. We like to play mad-libs and some times "are we there yet" games. The kids like to be assigned a certain color car to look for, and jeep/punchbuggy spotting is popular. Though no punching is allowed. Ben has an ipod, but Savannah puts hers on the car stereo. I guess that's it.

I am just going to ramble, because, as they say in "The Princess Bride" (Doesn't everyone have a script next to them?) "Let me 'splain. No. There is too much ." It is soccer season, still finishing track and Tee-ball just started. Grant got a black eye last night from standing up in the computer chair with Liberty while Trinity spun them around. Hello, can anyone say Centrifugal force? Ben was planning to go to FSU, but we just found out they wanted him starting this summer! Where in the world will we get the money for that? Yikes. No one really wants to buy life insurance in this economy, so that puts a crimp in our style. Ben broke the arbitrary don't go to the prom mandate, and it was ok. Jeanette and I got to go on a dolphin cruise, but my camera ran out of batteries after 4 pictures. I am supposed to do testing next week, but the tests haven't come in yet. Joel's friend Jake got the chicken pox even though he had the shot, so I got him to come hug Grant and Liberty. Anna just fell over on her bike and is whining at me. Savannah likes Hawaii, but it has presented quite the emotional learning curve. Evan and Liz are wondering what to do for Ben's graduation. Frankly, so am I. TOo much to think about!

Liberty moved to Savannah's bed and does ok most of the time, though I was up with her for about 1/2 hour last night. Trinity loves T-ball, but thinks she will go back to soccer after this. Ben's van was sideswiped by a little old lady who then drove off. But he was clever and got her license plate #. His car was totalled and he just started driving the "new"van. It is like mine but white. I got to go to the Third day concert and take Ivy and Anna. Please see my facebook account for all the pix.

I think that is mostly what happened this month. Maybe there was more. I'll save it up and subject you to further ramblings...