First Dive of the Summer

Both kids got really brave. Sam was scared to jump off the diving board, but after a bunch of practice, went and did it - a bunch of times!

Jo was scared to dive - again, a bunch of practice - and watch what kept happening!

Quotes and Photos, May 2016

Ah, moments with Sam. 1) In the 'where have you been for the last 8 years file,' he is told to put away the bag of bagels and use a plastic bread tie. "What's this?" he asked, picking up the plastic square, not unlike a Neanderthal discovering fire. "It goes on the bread wrapper to close it up," Jo explained, huffily. Sam, filled with genuine wonder: "Does it come WITH the bread?!"

2) In the 'where have you been the last 15 minutes' file, during a family meeting - which, oddly enough, we call a 'family meeting,' and which he had reminded us to have, Lisa says to Sam - "You can shower after the meeting." Sam looks at her, confused as ever: "What meeting?"

3) From his window, he calls down to us sitting outside and says, "The wedding is going to be fantastic. I'm worried about the rain, though. I think we need to get a balloon and send it up to the sky with a note from God asking for it please not to rain."

Also, last night Josephine told Lisa Green and me that we're "pathetic" and "old school." We took this as a sign that our concerted effort to manage her hormonal rush into teenagehood is on the path to success!!! Hallelujah!

Sam *

Sam turned 8! In his class at school, the teacher had the kids all say things they liked about Sam - "awesome," "cool," "a good friends," "spectacular," "excellent at everything" - sweet. "Safe" cracked us up. Sam's explanation: "Because I don't dive on my face on the ground or face plant myself into a tree!" Lisa Green and I were dying. Is that the normal thing his classmates do? Apparently... and here he was, 8 years ago, and now... "I love my life," he told me today.

Mama Day, 2016