Brrrrrrr.

So here's the thing. Now that it's December, I'm hoping for actual December weather. No more of this January gray depressing 30 below stuff. C'mon. It's cold. The first problem is my coat. I have a very nice and stylish Fall/Spring coat. Perfect for running through the rain. Which I've done. But not so much for running into the school in 30 below temps. Which I've done. I have added 2-3 long sleeved shirts, a sweatshirt and a scarf to help. But the unseemly temps don't comply. So I was looking at really warm and beautiful coats at Kohl's. I need to save my money. Right now I have a $10 Kohl's cash thingy and a 15% off Kohl's thingy. But I don't got the cash. So I guess I freeze. Wait! You say I have a red coat in the basement that should do it? Please. Did I tell you I've put on a couple pounds? And it's old enough to need plastic surgery.

The second problem is my blood. It's really warm. In the Summer I seriously sweat so much my elbows stink. So Winter comes as a special treat. I can wear layers, you see. I can't really remove stuff when I'm HOT. It would be unseemly. (That's twice now I've used that word) So now that my blood is thinning due to the extremely cold temps, I have a real problem. Let me lay it out for you. I'm in my house. Not doing anything. Just sitting maybe. I get cold. Brrr. So I turn on the fireplace which has been turned up ever so much during this cold spell. Then I turn on the heater. Brrr. Oh it really starts to feel good. Then I remember I need to:fold laundry, bake bread, do dishes, make dinner, vacuum, sweep, wash windows, dust, wash walls, whatever. Actually just getting up and walking to the bathroom will then make me sweat. Seriously. I start to sweat. So I turn off the heat producing machines and open a door. I cool a bit. But it really is seriously cold outside. So it comes down to this: when I start having hot flashes, I will have to sit on my couch and just read a book and have someone bring me stuff so I don't have to move. I might actually have to run the AC in the Winter.

The third problem comes in the form of 3 goats. Baaa baaaa baaaa baaaaaaaa baaaaa translates to I waaant to cooome iiiin I neeeeeed some more fooooood Pleeeease heeeeelllllp meeeee. I can talk goat really well in person. Just ask. I'll oblige. I don't want them in the house and Daniel says they'll be fine. But 30 below is just freakin' cold! I have to talk myself into the fact that they are farm animals, outside animals, furry animals, fat animals. They'll be fine. I'll just freak out when the kids are born. No problem.

So there you have it. The quote that comes to mind as I review what I just typed is “Your pills”. You know, from Wayne's World. Your pills. Medication. Might be nice. Or necessary.

Finally!

I finally bought one! I would have bought one a long time ago, but could never find one.

Sheesh!

You would think that because everyone should have one and I didn't that I would find one.

But I didn't. I couldn't. They were no where to be found.

Then

Finally

I found one

A Bread Basket!

It's so much better than putting the rolls or bread sticks on a plate and hope they don't slide off.

Which they always do.

This lovely number is from the $1 dollar store.

I dressed it up with a grimy looking tea towel. If you want to surprise me with something that would make me weep for Joy, A Tea Towel or two would do it!!

Seriously.

I would weep for Joy!

And then the inevitable.

Bread sticks!
It's time for dinner.
See ya!

The Sting.

Another thing I have learned over this long waiting period is how acute the sting can be. And this covers many things. The sting of not being in control. The sting of another announcing she's pregnant and has a due date. The sting of a young single teenager choosing to parent on her own. The sting of a failed adoption. The sting of knowing someone has experienced a loss. The sting of personally experiencing a loss and not having anyone understand that. The sting of parents hurting their children. The sting of letting go so I can move on.

I really don't want this post to be about how hurt one can be. Just know that the sting is harsh. It sits right in the middle of my heart and my belly. And it will always be there.

But what I have learned as I have felt those stings is that they can be lessened. They can be healed. The lessening comes in putting all my trust and faith in the Lord. He knows me. I know that. In fact, even when I complain, I know He knows me and the sting I am feeling. He will lessen the sting if I let Him. Sometimes it's hard to let Him. But isn't that why He came? Didn't He suffer and bleed so that I don't have to? The sting can only be lessened when we turn to Him. Completely. Wholly. Faithfully. When I let Him help me, the sting lessens and the healing begins.


I am not completely healed. In fact, it may take years before I don't feel the sting of so many things so acutely. But I am on my way. When I pray I feel peace. When I look at a new baby I feel peace. When I go to the temple I feel peace. When I look at my blessings-Daniel, Isaac, Samuel and Ruthann-I certainly feel peace. And those are the things I love to give my heart and soul to. My sweet blessings. They are here and they are mine. And blessings are salve to a sting. In putting my trust and faith in my Savior and giving all I have to my family, I am happy and have peace.

A Moment.

Yesterday in Sacrament Meeting we sang the hymn For the Beauty of the Earth. Ruthie was singing from my hymn book with me. We got to the 3rd verse which says...

"For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth, and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild, Lord of all to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise."

As we sang "friends on earth and friends above", there was a physical reaction from my daughter. And I knew right then that she knows that she has a "friend above".

We miss you and we love you Lyndsay.

Adoption Friendships.

So what else have I learned during this long wait for another child? I wish I could share it all with you. But, again, I am doing highlights.

Today I want to talk about the friendships.

The China paper chase process began almost 5 years ago. When our agency people came to visit us and begin, they mentioned a family who was also starting the process who lives just 5 minutes away. They said they know us! I was a tad confused. Who else is going to China that lives 5 minutes away and knows us? No one had said anything to us. Then they explained.

That began a friendship that I have cherished. Kim, Jon and their daughter Jessica. Jon is actually a brother to Daniel's sister's hubby. Did that make sense? So we had seen each other and chatted every once in a while at family gatherings for Daniel's sister and Jon's brother and their family. But now, with China in our sights, Kim and I became very close.

We spend our summers at the dollar movies with our kids. And let me tell you about our kids. Jessica and Ruthann are like long lost sisters when they're together. I love the time our kids can spend together. Kim and I meet for lunch often. We confide in each other. Church callings, adoption, raising our adopted daughters, marriage, home, extended family, China, and anything else that comes to mind.

Recently Kim and Jon looked into the Special Needs program in China. And guess what?! They found their daughter!! They are getting all the paperwork done so they can go get her and bring her home. I am so thrilled for them. Jessica will be 10 soon. I think she's ready to be a big sister.

Another friendship I cherish is Leanne's. One day, while in the paper chase process, I got a phone call. She said she was with the same agency and wanted to know more about adopting from Guatemala. I was happy to talk adoption, but told her I didn't know anything at all about Guatemala's program. She meant China. We talked quite a bit. I can do that about China adoption. We became fast friends.

Leanne and I used to get together often for lunch to talk about adoption, our agency, children and other things. You wanna know something amazing about Leanne? She adopted her daughter almost 2 years ago. I knew her as a single lady with no children. Now I know her as a mom. Her daughter is beautiful and Leanne has blossomed into a beautiful mom. We were supposed to go to China together. (at least we hoped we would) I don't know if we will. But I am grateful for the friendship I have with her that I otherwise wouldn't without this long wait.

Those aren't all of them. Andrea is a great lady who still waits with her husband. I hope she goes to China soon!!! Very soon!

I have had phone conversations with others who are also waiting. Who have, in one way or another, affected my life. If we hadn't began the process when we did, Kim and I most likely wouldn't have solidified a friendship that will last forever. If we hadn't began when we did and told our agency that they could give our number to people looking into adopting from China, I would never have gotten that phone call from Leanne. And so many other people would never have touched my life.

And then there are the people who have touched my life just right here at home. I have had people who I have known for a long time confide in me about infertility, adoption, loss, foster care and many other things. Who knew that just having paperwork in China and a profile up through LDSFS that I could connect with so many people.

I will never regret beginning this process. Even if my arms never hold another baby that I call my own. These friendships have been salve to my soul. Thank you Kim. Thank you Leanne. Thank you Andrea. Thank you lady in southern Utah. Thank you perky gal from Salt Lake. Thank you everyone. You really may never know how your friendship has lifted me up.

Saturday Night Fun.

Adam and Eve and Pinchmequick went down to the river to bathe

Adam and Eve got drownded

Who do you think got saved?

Just A Suggestion.

Need a role play idea?

Role Player 1: High powered executive traveling by plane out of state

Role Player 2: T*S*A* Agent

Have fun.

Temple Blessings.

As I have been looking over my list of things learned while waiting for another baby over the past 5 years, I get a little choked up. I really have learned a lot. But more than that, the things that I have already known have been re-taught and re-emphasized so that my knowledge has grown and been made stronger.

One of the greatest blessings of adoption, actually, the crowning glory of adoption, is going to the temple together. Not as a couple, but as a family. When we went to the temple to have Ruthann sealed to us it was an experience that taught our boys the beauty and strength found in the House of the Lord. Daniel and I have wanted that opportunity again!! And so have my kids. But the truth is, we can't take our kids in the temple just because we want to. There has to be a purpose while they are so young. Here's what I've learned about taking my family to the temple during the wait.

We sat in the temple as a family one day. Daniel was kneeling across from me, Ruthann was between us being held by Abbie, our boys were sitting on the closest chairs with Grandma, our dads were sitting as witnesses, and my brother Aaron was close by in spirit. Much of our family was there with us. What a beautiful day. Our daughter was sealed to us as if she were born in the covenant. I cried tears of Joy that day.

We talk about that day a lot. I want them to remember it. To want to go back. So far it's working. All of my children want to go back. We talk about what mom and dad do when we go to the temple. We go so often that when I asked one of our babysitters to babysit, she said, "Doing the usual?" I looked at her kind of strangely I guess. She said, "Going to the temple?" Even she knows we go often. When Daniel and I have gone on a date in jeans, my kids are confused as to why we are wearing jeans to the temple. Sometimes we just go to a movie.

We have a beautiful picture of the temple on our wall. It's a constant reminder that I want ALL of my family there. It would be easy (hah!) to just focus on going back when we have another baby sealed to us. But as Daniel and I have been feeling more like our family is done, we will have to wait a little longer before we are all in the temple together. I remember being in the temple with Daniel's family for his sister's wedding. His parents talked about having ALL of their children in the temple. I remember being in the temple with my family. My brother Aaron passed away several years ago. When Ruthie was sealed to us and as my brothers have married, ALL of my siblings were in the temple with my parents. What a tremendous Joy for parents to be in the temple with all of their children. And their children's spouses. I look forward to that day for my little family.

As for what I've learned...No matter when we will all be in the temple together, Daniel and I set a precedence. We go often, as we've been counseled. We talk about the temple as a family often. We visit temple grounds and talk about worthiness often. Our previous Bishop would always ask our kids during tithing settlement what blessings we have received as a family because of paying tithing. The answer is always-Being able to go to the temple. And being able to go to the temple, talking about the blessings of the temple, and going to the temple often, strengthens our eternal family! Oh my heart!

National Adoption Month 2010.

It's November. National Adoption Month. And I haven't written a thing about it. I have gone back and read what I wrote last November. Holy Super Writing Batman! Since I don't feel particularly sassy and stuff at the moment, I thought I'd share something that has been on my mind the past few days.

As we come to almost 5 years since beginning the process, I have been feeling an urgency to write down all the things I've learned. My list is several pages long and I just barely started. So I thought I might just take a moment a few times this month and share just a peak of what I've learned with you.
*****************************

I have developed a great testimony of the Law of the Fast. Fasting in our church is done on a monthly basis, on the first Sunday of the month. We Fast other times as well. But let me go back just a bit.

When I was diagnosed with Diabetes, the first thing my sister Katie said to me when I got home from the hospital was, "You are so lucky! You never have to Fast again!" And so I stuck with it. I never have to Fast. And for 27 years I have been proud and unabashed and downright obnoxious about Fasting. Neener neener neener! I don't have to Faaaast! But YOU do! Neener neener neener! Yep. Totally obnoxious.

A bit over a year ago, Daniel and I were in the temple. I go to the temple often with adoption on my mind and in my heart. This particular visit was no different. I needed direction from the Lord on what to do next. It came very clearly. We needed to invite our families to join us in a family Fast. But it didn't stop there. We needed to do it quickly! Urgently! The following Sunday. And not just Fast for us, but for our birth mom. And some specifics were laid out in that regard. Wow. I was a little stunned sitting there in the temple and being directed to have a family Fast. Didn't He know I sneered at the thought usually? Of course He did. But here's where He is (always) so much smarter than I.

I told Daniel when we met in the Celestial room. He agreed. So we contacted our families and invited them with the specific instructions I was given. You wouldn't believe the responses we got in return. Although you may. Because you aren't a sneerer like me! My favorite and the one that brought a flash of tears to my eyes was my brother in law Clark. "We join with you gladly!" Oh my heart.

We Fasted. We really Fasted. And prayed. And prayed some more. We Fasted for us. We prayed and Fasted for our birth mom and all that she would be facing. It was powerful. Truly a powerful day. I could feel the strength of family. I could feel the strength of the Fast. I was humbled and I was being taught.

My heart was softened and the Lord taught me a powerful lesson that week. The Law of the Fast is essential to me. Even if I can't skip a meal. I can fully participate in the Fast and I can reap the blessings associated with fasting. One thing I have learned during this process is that I now have a deep, strong and steadfast testimony of Fasting and its power in my life.

Hello From The Land Of Poo.

"Where are we? We are in the land of poo. Duck poo, cow poo, goat poo."

Nanny McPhee Returns

("Nanny McPhee. Little c big p.")

And so here we are. And every day there is even more poo. But the grass will be greatly fertilized! Right?!

These thangs got Oreo up the steps to feed her some feed. She doesn't know how to do steps. And with her back end getting bigger and heavier (kid!) we decided not to get Oreo and Blackjack up the steps.

Cass, on the other hand, comes up all the time!

Blackjack and Oreo follow the kids as soon as they come out. They know something good will come. I send apple halves out with them once a day.

But where is Mama Cass?

Hiding under the tramp. She still has trust issues.

But she's getting better.

Look at that! She is eating out of Sam's hand.

Definitely getting better.

That's all for now from the Land of Poo.

And if you haven't yet seen Nanny McPhee Returns, see it!

Where Are We?

We are in the Land Of Poo. Duck poo, cow poo,

GOAT POO!

Nope. That's not dirt.

It's poo.

Goat poo.

This is how I greet the morning. And the afternoon. And the evening. Etc. Etc.

Usually there are three cute little heads at the top of the couch. Attached to three cute little bodies, of course. They just sit there and watch the goats. They always turn and start telling me what the goats have been up to as they get off the couch. I need to catch them off guard to take a picture.
The goats were all named Monday night.
Introducing!!

Blackjack.
Hey Blackjack. Look over here!
Oreo .
And you all know
Mama Cass.
That's what I call her now. She's my Mama Cass.
All together they are my Gorgeous Girls.
Just call me Farmer Jennie.
And welcome to the land of poo.
P.S. Do you know what movie that's from? The Land of Poo?
Hmmmmm...
Now I just need to invest in a Poo Broom to clean it up.

More Goats Please.

This morning our family grew by 2. We added 2 pygmy goats to our growing goad herd.

Daniel's uncle Louis has a cattle ranch in Idaho (way to go Idaho) and so Daniel called and asked if we could have a goat for a bit to help our friend Cass. She's lonely.

So Louis brought 2!

And come next February, they'll double!

Yep. Baby goats.

He checked Cass to see if she will be a momma, but he didn't think so.

She's just gettin' chubby, and 2 kids will be enough anyway.

He said he'll bring a horse next time.

Louis is a funny guy!

For some reason he thinks I'll be out milking those momma goats.

Yup. He's super funny. I'm city girl Jennie, remember?!

Once we have another fence up, we may ask for a calf.

But we'll see.

And that chain is still attached to Cass. She jumped 4 feet and got through the neighbor's fence Saturday, so we really don't trust her yet. But she's sticking close to her new friends right now. We might just be okay.

When the kids (ha ha) get home from school, I'll have them name the momma goats.

Here's Ruthie on Saturday jump roping with her new rope.
Sam got to help dad weedwack the stuff in the front yard.
He said he got to help grandpa with the chainsaw Saturday morning, but when further pushed, I was told he was fibbing. But he really wanted to use the chainsaw!

I did my new hairdo curly today. I'd show you, but I didn't take a picture.

My curls finally look good again!

My Baby Is 7.

Can you believe it?? I sure can't. But she is 7. One more year and we'll be getting ready for a baptism. My last baptism.

As for the festivities, each kid gets to choose where we go to eat on their birthdays. Ruthie chose Burrito Grande. An excellent choice. We ate lots and laughed lots. Then they brought out the huge sombrero. Sombrero Grande. And the servers all sang to her. Then there was silence when they got to the name part. So I sang, out loud, Ruuuuuthie. I would show you the fantastic pictures of the girlie in the sombrero and the servers singing, but, alas, the card wasn't in the camera and I can't find a thingy to stick in the camera to load them to my laptop that will fit in the camera. So, no pics.

Ruthie got some presents from us, too. A movie and Legos and this beautiful doll.

Isn't she gorgeous?! Both Ruthie and the doll. My friend Christine made it especially for her. Ruthie named her Mrs. Pretty and after gazing at her for a while said, "Hmmm. She looks like she was born in China!" Clever girl.

Today we had a party with some of her friends.

We served a lunch of small tea sandwiches, olives, carrots, apples and dips. Ooooh. And raspberry soda. Mmmm.

Then we played Kiss The Frog Prince. They all kissed him. But he didn't turn into a Prince like we'd all hoped. I guess they're all too young anyway! And I've already got mine!
We also played Princess and the Pea. I told the story, my way, and the queen had a New York accent. But they each laid down on the pillows with the pea under them and they all felt it. We now know that they are ALL princesses.

We decorated cupcakes. 7 year old girls are kinda funny about having plastic spoons and lots of icing at their disposal! Can you say hyper?!

Each of the girls made a flower hair clip. I made a few extras for the birthday girl after the party. Ruthie made the white one with the blue flower and the star jewel. Isn't she talented??

She has lots of wonderful things to fill her time and lots of hair stuff to fill her head!

It was a fun 2 days of celebrations!

We love you Ruthie and are so happy you are ours!!

If you'd like to see some fantastic dolls that Christine makes, go here

http://chrisyleecreations.blogspot.com

Cute stuff!

Thursday-ness.

Thursday

Where does Thursday take me

wake up

Family prayer and scripture study and

a really nice discussion about being called children of Christ

I love my family

breakfast

work

school

clean the house up a bit

shower and dress

make doctor appointments for me

yay me

watch last night's episode of Survivor

the reality show I watch to escape reality!

eat some quick lunch

head to Daniel's parents house

help clean and organize

grab more fabric for quilts

grab a quick chicken sandwich from Wendy's on my way out

starving!

get kids from school

homework!

deliver homework to boys who missed den meeting

look through mountains of Legos to find all the Lego men

and their various body parts

get Ruthie from friend's house

get cupcakes from store for Ruthie's class tomorrow

wonder where the last many years have gone that leave me with

a seven year old tomorrow

!!!

eat a fast dinner of leftovers and frozen pizza

cook the frozen pizza

grab Ruthie and head to aunt Shelba's for haircuts

get a fantastic new look!

get home

kids to bed

eat a sandwich of pb and honey on the last heel of bread

look over my list of party plans for Saturday

look at the grocery list for tomorrow

and now I'm ready for bed

and I didn't even do the dishes.

Happy end of Thursday!

Wednesday-ness.

Wednesday

Oh Wednesday.

Here it is...

wake up

family prayer and scripture study

breakfast

school

laundry

lots of laundry

shower

field phone calls

make a list of stuff needed from the store

double sided tape and sewing machine oil

run to the store

lunch

get everything boxed for den meeting

fill the car with boxes for den meeting

get piano lesson stuff together

get kids from school

piano lessons

Webelos

grab church keys from primary president

run to the church for cub scouts

field only 11 8 year old boys while doing a craft

other leader brings many cans and the cans outnumber

the sands of the sea

boys make "gifts" with the cans

8 year old boys are clever

clean church with 11 8 year old boys

I wish someone would fight over the vacuum with me at my house

leave church following 4 boys on scooters and bikes

deliver can gifts to those boys

run the church keys back to the primary president

run Sam to the store for a promised treat

make spaghetti for dinner

Ruthie's friend comes over to spend an hour

while mom is at a meeting

ready for bed

waiting the appointed bed time hour

Wednesday is my busiest day of the week

oh yeah, except for all the other days...

Happy Wednesday bedtime!

I'm gonna go sit down now.

The State Of My Mind.

So last night Daniel and I were watching all the polling returns. As the state names came up with results and where things stood at the moment, some things came to mind. My mind. Oh my mind.

Way to go Idaho -Toy Story

O-Hi-O -Miss Congeniality

There goes Nebraska Brandon -woman talking to her son, family vacation to the Black Hills

Arizona, take off your rainbow shades -Mark Lindsay

Hi. We're in Delaware -Wayne's World

New York, New York da dadada da da dadada -Frank Sinatra

Oklahoma, where the wind comes rushin' down the plain... -cast from Oklahoma

California here I come, right back where I started from... -Al Jolson

Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore -Dorothy

Mississippi is easy to spell. M iss iss ipp i -Mrs. P my 5th grade teacher

My name is Richard Henry Lee, Virginia is my home -1776

Is this heaven? No. It's Iowa -Field of Dreams (Thanks Katie!!)

That's all I could come up with before falling into a dead sleep.

Tuesday-ness.

And it's Tuesday

where does Tuesday take me?

morning prayer and scripture study

to supply more cans for cubs tomorrow, Ruthie has

chicken noodle soup for breakfast

the boys don't

kids off to school

quick shower

off to work in Sam's class

then to Ruthie's class

Vote

lunch

serge quilt squares

blog about said quilt squares

dinner in crockpot

providing more cans

count cans and realize I may just have enough

leave bed making for another time

perhaps another day

eat chips and cheesy sauce

make invites for Ruthie's birthday party

think about the drastic hair cut I'll get Thursday night

hmmm...what should I do?

get kids from school soon

hope for no homework

pass out party invites

dinner

play

kids to bed

TNT night

love TNT night

Tuesdays are always good at my house...

The Serger.

Daniel's parents make a quilt for the grand kids when they turn 12. Well, the point is having it done before they turn 12. The good thing is all the squares have been cut for about 3,027 quilts. Just kidding. I think Jesse, his dad, and I counted under 25. This is a large family with lots of grand kids. Some sisters have taken squares home and sewed them together. Then Jesse will quilt the bottom on. Or something. So what do I do?? I say, Hey, I can sew a straight line. I'll take a couple of those boxes of squares and sew them together.

Hahahahaha.

That's all those who know how to sew, excuse me, those who know how to use a serger, laughing!

When I see that the seams are serged, not simply sewn, I panic. But Jesse says, Just take them home and play with them. See what you can do.

Easier said than done.

So I called my sister Katie and asked if she had my mom's serger. Yes. So I got it from her.

The thread is somewhat threaded, but in order to use it, it all has to be threaded.

So I tried. For like 4 hours. To no avail.

So I asked my hunk o burnin' love to do it for me.

And he does.

He's so awesome.

So today, this is what my table looks like...

I have serged together 3 rows of squares. The first 3 that are sewn together were done by someone else. I'm scared to serge the rows together. Something about a fear of failing. Going in a small straight line is pretty easy. I don't ever see myself making clothes and such with it. There are a total of 17 rows for this quilt. And then I've got another bag of squares for another quilt.

I seriously may just give the rows to a sister who really knows what she's doing. Straight line or not, it scares me.
At least I know the serger will work for evermore.

Monday-ness

Monday...

How do I love thee

Let me count the ways

a new week

clean up the weekend mess

which included camping with grandma and grandpa

morning family prayer and scripture study

kids off to school

laundry

kitchen

doctor appointment

flu shot

vacuum and clean durango

ahhhhh

prepare for wolf den meeting on Wednesday

rejoice that said den meeting will be at the church

so my house won't be a shambles

15 8 year old boys!

think of dinner that will include opening lots of canned food

so I can clean and dry the cans for our den craft

prepare family home evening

get a large diet pepper

cringe at my sore arm

darn flu shot

look at the calendar so I know what the week will be

think about my kids

wonder how much homework we'll be doing today

celebrate the end of October

start planning Ruthie's birthday party

rethink the clean the house idea

think about how I want to cut my hair

call Shelba and make the appointment

call and report visiting teaching for October

Wow! I'm so good

And that's my Monday-ness. At least for today.

And just for a kick. (In the pants!) I went on Ruthie's field trip several weeks ago and the guy who was telling stories to the kids put a pink dress on a tough boy. Turned out he would be playing the big bad wolf dressed as granny. But he started talking about pink and how there is a stigma for boys and pink. Then he said, and I quote, "I remember having a pink tie that I wore all the time in the 80's. And I was cool!" What do I do?? I laughed out loud. Out loud. Then I realized I was the only one laughing. Because I was the oldest mom there. I lived and breathed and graduated high school in the 80's and guys in pink ties and pink polos with the collar flipped up were cool. My prom date wore a pink tie. So I laughed out loud. But I quickly stopped when the other moms were looking at me.

Like I was crazy.

Or close to 40.

Happy Monday.