Date Night

I recently received the following e-mail from my mom, which she received from her friend.

"Good afternoon!

After trips to the beauty shop, hardware store, etc. we went out to the new house this afternoon. Later we stopped at Dairy Queen for a late (2 p.m.) lunch & saw the cutest couple out on a date. It was a May-Sept. kind of romance. The woman was quite a bit older than the "man", but they looked good together. I don't think it was their first date, but I have reason to believe that she is seeing a few others on the side. But she has her reasons, probably pretty good ones. From the giggles that were coming from that end of the room I would say they were having a really good time together and enjoyed each other's company. Amy & Adam were out on a mother/son date.

It was really sweet. They weren't there too long & may have had other activities prior to the DQ visit, but what we witnessed was just great. We saw them when we first arrived & when I asked where everyone was, she said that they were on a date. So we made sure to sit at the other end & did not speak again until they were leaving. Makes me miss all the fun times I shared with my son when he was little. Amy is doing a wonderful job building memories & cementing her relationships with her children."

I am only sharing her e-mail because of the adorable way she put it into prose and not to toot my own horn about what she said about me. But it does feel good that an outsider, or at least one who knows us and the family, can see my intentions in planning dates with my little men.

I stole "dating your children" from a few of my guy friends. You know, I have boys, why can't I date them? (For sure, they are going to need the practice for someday, or maybe never, for their mama's sake. Ha!) Dates for the Gibson duo is usually a trip to local somewhere for a little something. For example, an ice cream treat at Dairy Queen or a trip to Target for popcorn and pop. Yet, it isn't about the destination, it's about what happens there. With my boys, it is like pulling teeth to get them to express. They know how to talk and say all the goofy, crude boy phrases, just not the dig-down-deep words to have a conversation that doesn't have the words fart, butt or poopy in it. (I'm exaggerating a bit.) I usually bring along my little book "Ask Me" by Antje Damm to help me pry some things out of them. It is a wonderful book that asks simple, accompanied by rich and varied images that are designed to stimulate conversation. Questions like, "Which of your dreams do you remember?" and "What do you wish you could do really well?" are a few examples.

Getting to know my children deeper is not just about dating them, I know. Yet, it is a helpful way to get intentional, focused attention on just one child away from your home. I love seeing these boys in different lights individually. Having a big family like ours, it is easy to be clumped together, especially with two of them coming into this world already a duo. I cherish these little dates and my forever-little boys.

And speaking of dates... Grant had quite an extraordinary date with his mom today that I had to share because he had a blast. And he can't wait to tell everyone at school and show the picture we took. He even made me tell the drive-thru girl at McDonalds' where we went. "Blue Man Group" was the destination!! I want to instill the love of culture and the arts in these guys, because there is so much to offer out there. Grant loved the percussion sets and all the goofy moments these guys share. He was upset because there wasn't more "tubes" that beat on. He even had me pray for the opportunity tonight; so I know he must have loved it. And his mom loved it too!!

What to Do? What to Do?

I've pulled the summer programs book out to glance at for my boys. I don't want to get into too much trouble overscheduling, but it would be fun to do something different, something a mom can't offer.

We already signed up for the necessary swimming lessons, and a possible Vacation Bible School is always a good option. So, Adam wants to do karate and tumbling and Little One's day camp. Will wants to do gymnastics ("Maybe, Ally will be there!" Ally = special girl at preschool.) and golfing. Nothing in the book interests my oldest Grant.

No basketball or baseball skills camps. No arts camp. No karate. No nothing.

A little background on him - he takes after his father on being more mild and more timid than others. (Notice I didn't say "more wussy.") Grant likes to play tag, chase/tease the girls, and play on the equipment at recess, because playing football and basketball with some of the other boys is "too rough," and, "Someone might kick me." Also, Grant gets hit by a ball at least once at every one of his baseball games and, bless his heart, he cries most every time.

So, after offering up Tennis Lessons from the St. John summer program book to my sweet child, he questions, "Is the ball hard?"

Grant

My sweet child. My firstborn. He was, like most parents believe, a perfect baby. He came into this world with a non-conical shaped head and no zits on his face. He was cute; looked like a Docter. His personality was brilliant - good-natured, happy and smiling, eager to see the world, bright.

My firstborn. Grant.

Each year brings new adventures and a variance in their nature. The early years, ages 1-4, are just hysterical! They see everything for a first time, giving words to their visions. And the words they use usually aren't spot on. And that is what makes everything in the world disappear, as you see it through the eyes of a child - innocence.

These youngsters age each year, becoming more wise, growing into that soul that will become old. They don't make those "word mistakes" anymore, but correct those that do. They form their own jokes and riddles, actually making sense, and not using the words "poopy" or "toilet" to get a laugh. They start to ask the tough questions; they understand more of reality than given credit. They learn things in school that you don't know and have now become smarter than their parents. They surprise you with their generosity and care for others.

Grant turns 7 next Friday. Sometimes I wish I had my sweet precious tyke back. I caught a glimpse of my little guy as he lost his other front tooth. I love a child without his two front teeth-sweet, youthful, uninhibited-are just a few words that come to my mind. This little stage is fun, until I see the gnarly, gangly, yellow teeth that take its place!

Has my Uncluttering Gone too Far?

While doing research as to how to "dye" ice cream for an upcoming birthday treat, I happened upon the McCormick website - home of food coloring and spices and such.

Intrigue set in as I caught a glimpse of the tab "How Fresh Are Your Spices?". Ooo, I couldn't wait to be done with my "project" to head on over and click.

Well, I gathered up my own trays of spices and began to seek the freshness through their "Fresh-Tester." If my spice didn't have a best by date on it, I then plugged my code into it. Some interesting results ensued.

I had spices that were over 13 years old! 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, etc. (And McCormick was even pretty cute with witty sayings dating our spices to what was going on that year.)

So, needless to say, I now have 2 empty bins to place in my cabinet. As you can tell from the picture below, I threw out 20 spice jars and kept only 8. I was shocked that spices went bad so quickly. According to their site, the shelf life is from 1-4 years, depending on the spice. I know many of folk who have spice racks, and most of those sit around for years and years!



So, I just wanted to inform any of you ladies out there about this wonderful tool on the McCormick website. http://www.spicecheckchallenge.com/ Check it out sometime! It will change your life! Or at least a shelf in your life!

Weird

"Mom, you look weird," says the second born William.



I'm wearing a dew-rag today. It's tied underneath my hair like a huge headband, a bit like a babushka. Anyway, I used to wear it like this in my earlier years. And I wanted something to keep my hair out of my face today because I'm going to help Lizzie & Brandon clean their new house.

Will said I looked "weird" because I believe he never sees me like this. I am pretty plain in my style - pajamas pants, t-shirts, glasses and flip flops. He most likely didn't have the words to say, "Mom, you look different."

So, William, you will be my inspiration. An inspiration to look "weird" a lot more - to get out of my comfort zone of pjs and t-shirts and get more exciting in my approach at life! Will, thanks for what you said. And little do you know that the yellow and orange rain boots I wear around the yard, which you think are normal, are a bit weird. Yet I have confidence in myself and don't care what others think. I pray my boys will have a style all their own and be confident in who they are also.

My Dear Child

Adam John, oh, Adam John. I shake my head daily with him, wondering where he came from.

Lemons - likes to squeeze them... into his milk! And he enjoys eating them - rind and all!

Afternoon comes, playing with a buddy outside. Will joins him and drags him off around the side of the house. All three boys squirm on back.

"Mom, I went bops outside."

He's kidding, right? Nope.

They've been asking for a dog. I don't think so.

Right in the Wanker

"I made a new friend in Treasureland today!" Adam exclaims.

"What's his name?" the mother asks.

"I don't know," Adam says.

"Well, good for you, guy!" states the mother.

The next day on the way home from preschool from the back seat of the Ta-Ho, a discussion begins among Will & Adam.

"I made a new friend in Treasureland," repeats Adam. "I kicked him right in the wanker and he laid right down! It was so funny!"

"Did he cry?" questions the mother.

"He didn't cry," says Adam. "He said thank you and he kicked me right back. He's my new friend!"

As the mother continues down the road, shaking her head, she smiles to herself. She thanks God for her little boys and the beauty of their ways.