Well then

Little boy's preschool just called. He's throwing up. There is another kid there that has stomach flu so... Side note. Why in the hell do parents send their kids to school sick? Like throwing up, fever, got the runs sick? I just don't get it. I understand that some bosses can be really stupid but if you have to leave your sick child, aren't there better jobs out there for you? OK, that's all.

Joe is on his way to pick him up and I'll meet them at home and take over. Not quite sure what I'm going to do tomorrow. Teenage boy is testing for his 2nd degree black belt in Taekwondo (I am SOOO proud, by the way) and the test is 5 hours long. My sister in law was supposed to watch Little boy through it because he would be oh so bored. They have a 5 month old baby and I wouldn't want him to get sick.

I think that Robin's little boy has sent the crud our way. Thanks for that!

See you on the other side.

Blockage

I am blocked. Stuck. Bound up. Got nothin. Nada. Zip. Zilch.

I am so busy with work, so busy with home stuff, so frustrated with teenage boy and his inability to turn his homework in, so so so so so incredibly ready for housguest to move out. I can't form a complete sentance in my brain and transfer it onto paper. It's just not happening.

I will resume my life on the web when my brain resumes functioning.

For my friend who's struggling right now, I'm sorry I haven't been there for you like I should have been since Thanksgiving. I read your blogpost today but couldn't comment for some stupid reason (probably my fault). I know you'll read this so...

You know how I feel about your situation. You know I think you deserve better. If there is anything I can do, let me know.

Turkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving, one and all. May your day be filled with family, friends and peace. If you're hosting the festivities at your house, may it also be filled with wine. Lots and lots of wine.

We have 24 people coming to our house today. It's 10:00 am and houseguest is still asleep. We still have to clean up our family room, which is his room now. Soon he will be woken up with cold cold water.

What am I thankful for this year? In addition to my family, my friends, my home and all of the other typical stuff, I am oh so thankful because we got some great news yesterday.

Houseguest has a job. He starts on Monday. He found an apartment and he moves out in 2 weeks. For that, I am truly thankful.

Overheard

Little boy to houseguest, "Uncle, I like you."
Houseguest to Little boy, "I like you too."
Little boy to houseguest, "You should get a job."

Amen, Little boy, Amen.

Blech!

That's the sound that my week has made. I have been too busy to come up for air. Work is nuts and we have a relative staying with us. It has been 5 days so far and I'm ready for him to move out. When is that going to happen? Yeah, that's the million dollar question. Who knows. I walked downstairs to my former family room and walked into a mess that looks like a mouse lives there and is very very happy. There were underwear lying on the ground. Just lying there. In the middle of my family room floor. I'm done. So done.

In other news...I have been promising to send some pictures to a new friend but haven't had a chance to take them yet. Rest assured, friend o'mine, reciprocation is coming.

That is all. I will update again when I have a chance. Still to come...the joy of driving on ice in the winter time and how our houseguest backed into a parked car and sent it into traffic. Fun!

My Montana

Glacier National Park
Originally uploaded by jesslee23.

I was born on a couch. My parents had planned to have a home birth but it didn't go as expected. They had been working with a midwife who lived out of town and we lived out of town in the other direction. They were sure that she would be able to arrive in time. Guess what? She didn't. When my mom went into labor they started calling. The midwife's phone was busy busy busy. This was in 1976 and so not many people had call waiting. She didn't.

After they finally got her on the phone, she took off to get there. She was stopped by a Highway Patrolman who did not believe she was on her way to deliver a baby. So my dad delivered me. Lucky for me, he had read a book. Until the day he died almost 2 years ago, he called me his little smurf. I had the cord wrapped around my neck three times and was blue.

The house that I was born in is 20 miles away from where I live now. I hated living here growing up. It was boring. Backwoods. We got all of the current trends late. It just seemed so podunk to be from Montana. I ran away from here and swore I would never come back. But then I did. And I fell in love.

It is amazing to me that I am blessed enough to live here. It is a safe place to raise my boys. I am secure here. I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. I look out my window every day and see the mountains, take a deep breath of the clean, crisp air and I feel liberated. The chains that I felt bound me when I was young are gone. When I'm hiking the trails and I reach the peak, I feel like I can touch heaven.

I have no illusions that my kids will enjoy being here as they get older. They are going to struggle with the same things I did. There still isn't anything for them to do. We still get the trends way after other places. But I hope that I can instill in them the love that I have for this State. That the smell the permeates our lungs after a spring rain will be as exhilarating to them as it is to me. That they feel blessed to live here.

I have pride in being a Native Montanan. And that's something I never thought I would say. I love this state.


Happy Love Thursday, everyone. Go here to read more!

I voted.

Therefore, I reserve the absolute right to complain.

My heart on my sleeve

My boys
Originally uploaded by jesslee23.

I had always been told that when you have kids, it's like having your heart walk around outside of your body. I never believed that. I always thought that I would love my children like I loved everyone else in my life...somewhat detached.

Boy, was I wrong.

I was so wounded that my heart was frozen. I had been so hurt by people that were supposed to take care of me that I had chosen to close off pieces of myself. When Teenage Boy came into my life, the walls crumbled. And when Little Boy was born, they turned into concrete dust.

I love Teenage Boy's heart. He cares for people so deeply that if someone is hurting, he hurts.
I love his wit. His sense of humor. His smart alec-ness.

I love Little boy's charm. He can wrap anyone around his little finger in .02.
I love his goofy self. The kind spirit. His knowledge of himself, of who he is, even at 4 years old.

I love watching them together. Little Boy reach up and pull Teenage Boy's face down to him. Placing his little chubby hands on both sides of his face and then whispering so earnestly, I love you. You're my favorite big brudder ever. Seeing Teenage Boy's face melt. Love rush into his eyes as he responds in kind.

It fills my heart when Teenage Boy comes running out of his school just because he wants to show Little Boy off to his friends.

These boys are my everything. They made me whole with their love for each other and as long as they have that, nothing can stop them.


Happy Love Thursday, everyone. Go here to find more links.

Post candy letdown

Overheard from the kitchen this morning...

Little Boy: Is it halloween time still?
Teenage Boy: Nope, halloween is over. Thanksgiving is the next holiday
Little Boy: Thanks, Give me?
Teenage Boy: (obviously only half listening) Yep.
Little Boy: NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! I don't want to give my candy back!!!!