Kristin's Home and We're Moving On

Well, Kristin is home. The boys both stayed out of school last Thursday morning to go to the airport and greet her. Things are pretty much back to normal at home, the missing DVD from the library that was supposed to be returned in her absence has been located in a toy cabinet and has been returned and the fine has been paid. Thank you Public Library for fine limits.

After returning from one of her extended trips there is a sense of euphoria on every one's part and then a sense of reality that is hardest on Kristin to be sure. We are just glad that she still likes us during this period as she readjusts to our life of peace and serenity.

Right now we are hard at work on Carter's soon to be 9th birthday party. He has opted for a High Schoool Musical theme party and we are going to have a screening of the movie at a theater on campus, have a real concession stand for our guest's to get Cokes and Popcorn and then have sing-a-long slides and karaoke. Should be a blast. We wish cousin Beth was here to take part. Carter keeps practicing what he will say at various points in the proceedings and has some elaborate ticket scheme where only those with lucky numbers will get to visit the concession stand but it is rigged so that everyone gets to go. Graham's only reaction is to start planning his own birthday party which is still months away. (Photo is of Carter's eight year birthday at school preparing for the earth to go round the sun.)

Kristin Please Come Home Now

We started our afternoon after school going to Lowes for Drain Opener. The kitchen sink is clogged and the water is backing up out of the washing machine drain. It may be of interest to know that most of the boys clothes are wet and in the washing machine. (see January 4 post re: my great system of staying on top of the laundry.)

As we are getting into the car to come home, I overhear Carter whispering to Graham that the way to get to go to McDonalds for supper is "to butter Dad up." After explaining to Graham what buttering Dad up means, I explain that one need not even bother with buttering anyone up, I am taking the path of least resistance and that path happens to be right through the drive-thru at McDonalds.

We get home and I use my extra strength drain opener which promptly begins to spew and foam and roar out of the washing machine drain all down the wall of the kitchen and onto the floor. I am mopping it up and wondering if I should evacuate and call the fire department but right as I am about to throw in the towel, it stops.

The house now smells like I imagine a meth lab smells, the boys are playing next door having proclaimed that the smell makes the litterbox smell good in comparison and the plumber is on the way-- should be here before eleven p.m.

Kristin, please come home.

High School Musical

Carter and Graham consult Marta Map to determine our route and destination.



















We then headed to the Varsity for naked dogs and Frosted Oranges and paper Varsity Hats.



Then it was a short walk to the Fox, which we thought was very cool. It reminded us of our church, which it should since it was designed by the same person.
The show was great, better than the movie Carter declared.

We got cool High School Musical Tee Shirts and had to put them on right at the Fox Theater and wear them to the show. We couldn't wait. The only thing missing from our great day was Mom who we look forward to seeing in just over a week.

Buenos Dias from Ecuador!

Yes, that´s right. I am in Ecuador with a group of students from BSC and instead of hiking up a volcano or biking along to see some of this area´s 30 waterfalls, I am at an internet cafe posting to my blog. I don´t know whether to be proud or disturbed.

Our trip has gone very well. We have a great group of 14 students and two faculty members who are lots of fun to travel with. We have learned about sustainable development efforts in the highlands of Ecuador and next week (after our weekend of relaxation here in Banos) we begin our service projects in a community known as Pataloma. I wish I could post some pictures, because I have about 400 already.

Even though every moment of this project has been rich and rewarding, I miss my family very much. I have talked to them about every three days and that helps but I´m totally bummed to have to miss the High School Musical show in Atlanta on Monday. (I´m totally singing Breaking Free to myself right now - not outloud, I´m in an internet cafe in Ecuador!)

I will plan to post the best pictures and stories when I return. In the meantime, maybe Reggie can juggle caring for two kids, a cat, a house, and another post.

Hasta Luego!

Missing Mom Already

Kristin left this morning for Ecuador where she will be for most of the month. This means a couple of things -- most frighteningly that the Family Manager is gone and the boys are left to their own survival devices. Meals we can take care of (thank you Super Suppers) -- other things like remembering where just about anything is located in our house can be a problem. Right now I am wondering where the list of things that must be done by a certain day and time is. I know Kristin showed it to me, I just don't know what she did with it. Fortunately there is a well marked calender with most of the same information and it is still firmly attached to the fridge which I am certain is still in the kitchen. Anyway, I am proud to say while I may have lost a list or two, I have yet to lose one of the boys.

I do resort to my own household managerial system that may lack style but goes off the scale in functionality. For example, who needs clothes hampers and laundry baskets. Dirty clothes go right into the washing machine when they come off and we wash many small loads -- Good thing we have that energy efficent, water saving front loader. Also who needs drawers (as in chest of drawers, not underpants) ? My system --Out of the dryer, neatly folded onto the air hockey table/laundry center. Before this Christmas when were given the Air Hockey table, I had to dedicate one half of the dining table to the laundry center. Hey, it works. I have discovered that as long as I stay on top of things like dishes and laundry, I am okay. It falls apart when I let things pile up and then I get overwhelmed and it only mounds up even more.

My final survival system is bribes. I pay the boys dearly to help out with things that they should be doing anyway and they make out like bandits and there is little to no whining. You do what you have to do.

Kristin is slightly crazy for about 48 hours before departure on these interim trips. We try to give her wide berth as she packs and does all that last minute preparations. During those 48 hours we are really ready for her to go, then she does leave and we call her about six times between when she leaves the house and boards her international flight. Then a full eight hours after she is gone it sets in we miss her terribly.

All of us were sad at supper tonight and there were even some tears. Graham thinks Kristin shouldn't be flying this late at night. Who knows, we might have to move that laundry and play some air hockey.