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misunderstanding is the funniest
The best conversations happen in the car. We are driving along, discussing names for future pets. (It’s what we do.) And we all keep shouting out ideas. “Huckleberry. Atticus. Dash. Lazarus. Seven.” (That last one is from me. I really want to name some animal Seven.) And then someone in the front seat suggests, “Ebenezer”. This adorable Otto voice arises from the backseat. Lots of laughter. “No, guys. That’s silly. Who would ever want to call a dog Ebenezer?” He’s choking out the words, he’s laughing so hard. We all sort of wait for his laughter to settle down. “Why is that so funny? Ebenezer is an okay name.” “No,”…
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a party. a magic kind of party.
The idea was a simple one born out of a desire to help our friend. Hilary and her family are moving to Bangladesh and you know, from what I assume, having never made a cross-the-universe move before, I think it’s a pretty expensive little venture. And as much I would like to sabotage their plans and keep them as my neighbors and nearby confidantes for the rest of all time, I know that’s not what is supposed to be happening here. So Jo and I wanted to help. We figured a fundraiser where people gave them money and we gave people something in return could be pretty fun and fairly…
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really, just a post that wraps up and sums up and wanders a bit. a post kind of like a regular day.
When the little weather ap on my phone said the sun would be shining all week long and warming up our little corner of the earth to a toasty 95 degrees most days, I decided the time to finally cave in and turn on the air conditioning was right then. I have waited and waited to flick that switch – loving the lower numbers on our Duke Power bill and being thankful that the days had really been so breezy and pleasant for such a long stretch. The air filters were fresh – I actually remembered to change them – and I slid the tiny button right on over to…
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when there is no answer
The truth is ….. trouble follows you wherever you go. The Avett Brothers have a song entitled “The Weight of Lies” and a couple lines in that song had me thinking on our recent flight to Texas. The weight of lies will bring you down And follow you to every town cause Nothing happens here that doesn’t happen there …. Lies don’t need an aeroplane to chase you down Sometimes I fall into the trap of thinking that a new setting will be the answer. But I forget. There is no answer. Here, on this green patch of earthly sorrow and glory, there is no answer. No answer that satisfies…
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the both.
It is surreal to wake up in Texas and to go to sleep in South Carolina on the same day. I want to talk about a day of travel with five kids. But I also kind of want to sleep. And I want to complain too for some reason. I’m feeling a little weird like that tonight. Maybe it’s the travel. Or the whiplash from Texas to South Carolina with an Atlanta stop in between for our plane to land. I’m pretty sure Night Writing under such emotional conditions is a dangerous sport for me to undertake. Looks like I’m doing it anyway. I know there is so much good…
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when I misjudged his intentions.
“Momma, where are you?” The question of the day. It’s the six year old walking grin asking this time. When he can’t hear my answer, he asks it louder. And continues to ask. And I finally shout from my location – the bathroom – “Son, I am in the bathroom!” We are all changing from our swimsuits into our dry clothes and he keeps asking, “Mommy – where are you?” He can’t hear me. I say it again. And again. Louder. Not in a super kind mom voice. You know the one I mean? And then – this six year old gentleman finds me. “Hey, Mommy,” he says through the…
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The Texas Tally
Sometimes when we get together we end up counting things that happen – and we can barely keep up. $20.26 spent on candy at Mom and Pop’s Candy Store. 4,321 times that 8 children asked, “Can we have another piece of candy?” 13,241 steps Emma took today according to her FitBit. 6 times Emma told the kids, “Just one more picture.” 1 batch of delicious cake-like brownies Mosely made from scratch. 4 nights in a row that Jurassic Park has been on television. 18 times that Miller said, “No – you may not kiss me.” 13 door bell rings from neighbors wanting to play. 9 meatballs consumed by Bergen at…
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Texas ya’ll.
Texas is hot. It’s also in a different time zone. (But of course everyone knows that – right?) And it’s home to one of my favorite families and my favorite Emma. We have eight kids all together here and we are enjoying the high volume chattering and the endless snack consumption and the book reading and good times. We’ve been using incentives to encourage them to clean up – like offering them tokens that they can later exchange to buy popcorn with toppings for movie night. The boys ended their baseball seasons this weekend and we were able to watch a couple of games and see Colton wear his official…
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here I am, son.
They sit on me. Lean against me. Wiggling. Twitching. Tapping. Head lolled against my shoulder. My boys. Some days I am struck by their vastly increased hands-on neediness. My sons are much touchier than my girls. They need me differently. Some days (all days) I am convinced that my ten year old would literally crawl into my skin and take up permanent residence if he was given the option. A steady question on his lips – “Where are you? What are you doing? Will you be here when I come back?” Listen to me, son. I’ll be here. Lean your head back on my shoulder. I’m not going anywhere.
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a big day. a little post.
Today the kids and I flew to Texas. We flew to Texas, you guys. The kids were incredible. I am so very tired. All I’ve got for you tonight are some photos. I hope that’s enough.
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the second day in june.
Well. We remembered that it was trash day during daylight hours. We accidentally locked the dog inside the house and I had to drive in reverse on the driveway to set him free. We took turns holding Maddox. We had a fabulous Book Club at our favorite local pizza place. (You guys. Start a Book Club. It’s so great. Really special times with your kiddos. Rare and sweet.) I don’t know what else – I mean, at one point it rained. Mosely was bitten by a fire ant. Piper has a new loose tooth. The mint cookies and cream ice cream at dinner was stinkin’ delicious. No one wanted to…
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says London Eli Scout
“If I married a potato chip, my potato chip husband wouldn’t last very long. Neither would our potato chip children.”
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Friday’s Movement.
The front door crashed open before breakfast was even on the table. “Mom. Mom. Mom,” Mosely was rushing to my side, breathless. “Prince Caspian won’t get up. He can’t stand up.” And it was Friday. And the day was tilting. I ran out to the goat’s pen and surveyed the situation. It didn’t look good. Poor little Caspian was suffering for sure. I called my kind vet tech in training and asked her advice. I messaged the helpful seller of the goats. Then I called our vet and made an immediate appointment. The kids and I all piled in the car, Mosely carefully holding Caspian in a red blanket on…
