Terrified.

Matt will be 14 in March.  

This last weekend, a GIRL at school invited him to go to the movies on MLK holiday.  We asked him how many were going, how many girls/boys, what they're seeing etc.

He didn't know all the answers, but said he'd email his friend and get back to us.

One friend (girl) and her cousin (girl.)

We said no, that it's too much like a date, and he's not allowed to date until he's 16, and that he's not allowed to SINGLE date until he's 21.  LOL.  (We'll see how long we can get away with THAT.)  He said she's just a friend - he doesn't like her THAT WAY.

As I got into my email today, Matt's email was already logged in.  Is it bad that I read some of his?  Oh, who are we kidding - I really don't care what anybody else thinks.  I'd do it again.  This same "friend" had sent him a few emails addressed to "Hey cutie" and another that said it's ok that he couldn't go to the movie that day, but that she would "save that movie to see with only YOU, and nobody else."

Freaking out here.

I want to throw myself on the floor kicking and screaming, WISHING that my boys didn't have to grow up.  I KNOW what's ahead for them.  I DON'T know what's ahead for them.  I'm scared of forward girls who have very little inhibitions nowadays if they have a victim within their reach.  I'm REALLY scared of cell phones, texting, emails, and the internet.  They don't even have cell phones yet - we're avoiding them like the plague.  At what age do they truly NEED them?  We never had cell phones growing up, and we didn't DIE without them.

Life with my little kids is over as we know it.  The small window of opportunity where they think we know everything, where WE are their heroes, where we still have the most influence over them.  I'm sad.  It happens so gradually, you don't even see it coming.

Temple Trip....

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go with my boys to do Baptisms for the dead at the Temple.  I haven't done that for 20 years or more.  I was excited to go to San Antonio, as it was my first time to visit that Temple.  It has beautiful stained glass windows everywhere - gorgeous.  

My job was to hand the towels to the youth when they got out of the water.  A few of the kids and leaders brought their own family names to do.

One big, burly, intimidating man that looks like Mr. Clean watched closely as one of the youth was baptized for his wife's grandparent.  After the baptism, he gave the confirmation blessing.  I watched as he got choked up performing the ordinance.  So then of course I started getting weepy thinking about what this means to their family.  

His wife is in the Relief Society presidency, and told everyone during the "good news" minute that her grandparents were just baptized yesterday in the Temple, and that she's so excited for them to get sealed so then her own parents could receive the same ordinances, and that they all would soon be sealed as a family.  I can't imagine how long they've waited for this.  The joy they must be feeling.

I can only relate it to last June, when Ruthy went through the temple for the first time.  All eight siblings including our parents were there together standing in a circle, just looking around at each other and crying.  It felt like forever in the making.  Love you.  

I AM A NERD.

This morning Del and I went to Matt's Robotics competition.  He's in a robotics class and club at school.  It's like playing with remote control legos on steroids.  They program their robots to do certain tasks and requirements, and they are scored for a bunch of stuff I don't get, but I cheer nonetheless and video and take pictures like the proud mama I am.  

This is the cute pep-talk before the competition.  They even say a prayer in their huddle.  This is important stuff!  I think Matt's the ringleader - Chief Nerd - if you will.  That's my boy!

Watching their robot do it's tasks.  They even have referees, but they're really just judges - jotting down each task completed.

The team after their competition.  We don't know how they placed yet, as they have more tasks to do without spectators.  He's there from 6am to 6pm.  If they place in this series, they get to go to the finals in Georgia.  (Addendum: His team did NOT place for Nationals.  What I didn't know at the time - this was the Texas FINALS.  They all got a medal for participation, so he was happy.  He said it was lots of fun.)  I didn't want to leave you hanging, because I can tell by the sheer volume of comments, ya'll were hanging on the edge of your seat waiting to hear the outcome!  LOL!)

After the nerd (I say this endearingly, as the apple doesn't fall far from the tree) convention, Del took me shopping.  Tomorrow is my birthday.  (Don't freak out, if you haven't sent any gifts or cards yet, you still have time.  OK fine, J/K.)  He took me to Fry's Electronics - one of my favorite stores.  I got a new color laser printer, that I've had my eye on for MONTHS.  Suuuuhweeeet!  My husband rocks - hardcore.

This is the awesome shelf Del made last weekend to store all my fun stuff, especially the new beast sitting on top.  It's a fax, scanner and copy machine as well - SCORE!  I am my mother's daughter, what can I say - we're generations of nerds.

Valentine's Day is coming up, and I already know what I'm getting, and I can't help but still be excited.  Last year Del got me Apple One to One personal training sessions for a year.  It's such a good gift, and he said he was just going to renew it again for this year!   Nothing says I love you, like computer classes.  

Forget chocolate and flowers - we have nerd love.

Exciting News....

Shout out for you, Janelle! 

I really have nothing to say, but feel like I should put SOMETHING on here to update my blog, but the only thing that's happened lately, is I had my yearly today.  TMI?

Hopefully a friendly reminder for the rest of the women in my life.  Love you!

  PhotoBooth Pic. Love playing with the affects.

Wall of Fame...

One of my FAVORITE things about Christmas is all the mail. I love getting everyone's pictures and updates and cards. Seriously - I can't wait to go to the mailbox everyday to see if we got a new one.

It's sad when Christmas is over, and I have to take down my wall of fame. I usually leave them up until the first week of January, because I know there are others out there like me that mail their cards AFTER Christmas. It's all good.

So thanks for all the cards, pictures, and newsletter updates. I love them.

Texas Legends...

A couple days ago I was driving home, minding my own business, jamming out to my new favorite song, "Gives You Hell."  I know, I know - a good Mormon girl (mom of 5) isn't supposed to like such profanity, but it makes me laugh, I love the beat and the ho-hum happiness of the how-do-you-like-me-now revenge song.  It's applicable for anybody - an old boss, teacher, boyfriend, girlfriend, whatever - it's all good.

Anyway, as I'm thumping along, singing my song, a cop walks out in the middle of the road and sticks out his hand to stop me.  DANG IT!  

He waived me over to the side of the road to park.  He moseyed (in Texas, we mosey) up to my window for the routine I know oh so well - "Do you know why I stopped you?"

With a big smile on my face - "Probably for speeding?" (followed by nervous laugh.)

Officer - "Do you know what the posted speed limit is?"

"Nope, no clue." (another nervous chuckle.)

Officer - "It's posted 45 just as you turned onto the lane.  Do you know how fast you were going?"

Still smiling - "Not a clue."

Officer - "You were going 57."

"Awww crap."

He then asks for my license (my UTAH license, as I haven't updated it since moving to CA, and then to TX - what a slacker!  I told him we recently moved to Texas.  "Recently" is very subjective.) and insurance information.

As he's filling out my info, I start babbling, a nervous habit I can't seem to break (I also babble at the gyno's office) -  "Ya know, you guys are legendary...."

Officer looking up from his writing - "what?"

"My neighbor said cops camp out under trees with their radar guns, and then walk out in the middle of the road and stop you ON FOOT - I thought they were kidding, but that's exactly what you just did!  You're a legend!"

Officer chuckling, "Really?  They don't do that in Utah?"

"Uhh, No, Sir."

After that, I just shut up and let him do his business.

Meanwhile, his partner is still standing in the shade with his radar gun, and pulled over another woman behind me.  I watched in my side mirror as he walked up to her window, and heard her making excuses, and arguing with him.  

MY officer says - "Can you hear what's happening back there?"  I said yeah, as I keep watching and continue my silence.  He said, "She's just digging herself a hole, getting in deeper and deeper."  I didn't say a word, waiting for my sentence.

He looks up from the paperwork and says, "I'm just going to give you a warning today...."

"LOVE YOU!!" I burst out.

Officer chuckles - "Make sure you slow down and pay attention to the posted speed limits."

Me - giddy with relief, "Yes, sir!"

Officer - "Welcome to Texas, M'am." smiling as he walked away.

And that, my friends, is how it's done.  (big sigh)