It feels like it's been a while since I let you know the goings-on in the house. Based on the list I have in front of me - a lot has been happening.
Today was Copper's birthday. We didn't get him a present. We didn't give him a walk. And we didn't pay a whole lot of extra attention to him today. This had Ryan (who was obviously very tired) crying on Copper's behalf. "It's just so sad. He didn't get any presents on his birthday!" To make matters worse, Copper has been something of a flea bag, despite my effort to treat him. I have heard this is going to be a bad flea year, and it scares me. I am going to run some errands tomorrow and hope that I find something that will give him relief. If it makes you (and Ryan) feel better, I did give Copper some frisbee-throwing time this morning.
The boys and I are faring well while you are away. I do feel a little bad for Copper though. Last Tuesday night he ran off on me again. Big time. He ran off right before I went to bed (in other words, late). I had been throwing the frisbee for him and he just disappeared after the fourth throw. I didn't see him at the door until the wee hours of the morning. That makes for a tired mommy.
I did have an interesting dream that night. I was at the grocery store with two new male acquaintances (rather good-looking men, I might add). I was walking with my arm around one of them. Then I leaned into his chest and . . . slowly inhaled. My interpretation of this dream: I miss the closeness of my Hun.
When you first left, Ryan was having a hard time settling down for sleep. He seemed more scared. He tried to lean on Copper for support. Ryan would try to call Copper into his room to sleep with him, but Copper was never interested. Ryan would end up crying. We got over that, and Ryan became content going to sleep after petting Copper good-night, as long we kept the light in the hallway on.
A few days ago I was the first one up in the morning. I went to wake up Todd for school. Then I went into Ryan's room. The room was empty. I couldn't find Ryan. I went back to Todd's room. I looked all around the house. I was starting to get nervous. I went back to my room and found Ryan asleep on the floor using Copper's dog bed as a pillow. Earlier this week Ryan crawled into bed with me after having a bad dream. He was so sweet putting his arm around me. Then, once more Ryan came in and fell asleep by Copper's bed in the wee hours. Three times in one week. Ryan doesn't act out at all during the day, and he doesn't say a whole lot about you. But I can tell that he misses having you around.
There is another thing that has concerned Ryan this week. His mother can't spread out her toes. That pinky toe of mine (and the three toes to the left of it) has no control. Ryan has tried multiple times to demonstrate how it is done. He explained that I needed to see that muscle working on the top of my foot. But no matter how much I strain, I can only make my toes curl down and back up. No sideways motion at all. I think Ryan looks at me as moderately handicapped now.
The weather has been just lovely (although my hair is telling me that it is a little humid today). I set out the hammock a few times, but haven't really had a chance to take the long hammock-nap that has been calling my name. I have been sleeping with the window open, and this morning I really noticed the birds chirping. "Pretty-bird-pretty-bird-pretty-bird" started right outside the window around 6:00am, and soon it was all a ruckus--albeit a beautiful spring ruckus. I thought about the poem I came across. It made me stop and think about the beauty around me, even in my own backyard.
One thing I haven't enjoyed this week is the dropping of the oak catkins (Thank you, Wikipedia for giving me a name to those annoying and very messy things all over my yard). Our yard is blanketed with them. Literally. They are everywhere! I can't wait for the lawn mower to be fixed some I can suck them up.
Yes, the lawn mower broke this last week. Your dad mowed our front yard and was working on the back, and it just died on him. Your dad did his best to look for the problem. He felt that it just wasn't getting any gas, even though there was plenty in the tank. After looking inside the tank and noticing some debris in the gas, he came up with a plan to take the tank apart, pick out the debris and put it all back together. I proposed a different plan--pouring the gas through a filter and into an empty gas tank. We wiped out the inside (and of course, the outside) of the tank on the mower, and poured the filtered gas back in. We were left with a clean tank, clean gas, and . . . a lawn mower no better working than when we started. I feel the pain that you experience when assisting your less-mechanically inclined family members.
I certainly appreciate all of the honey-do's you do for us. Thanks for walking me through tightening the door handle in the kitchen. I was grateful again today for you fixing my car door. I keep expecting it to be broken, and am always happily surprised when I remember you fixed it.
I still haven't seen much of Mark and Donna. Mark said that the spring breakers have been terrible. I would guess that it has been the worst year ever. Apparently the beaches have been packed. I'm glad that I haven't had to be in the middle of it all.
I had one of Sandra's mint brownies this week. It was as delicious as ever. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to ship one or five to you. I'm thinking I'll have to beg Sandra to make you a batch when you get home.
I talked to the boys last night and got them to think of some questions to ask you about the trail. I'm not going to tell you what the questions are ahead of time. They came up with some good ones and some not that great ones. I look forward to hearing your answers.
I think you'd be proud of me. I've been drinking at least 32 ounces of water every day. When I'm really trying I can drink 40 ounces in a day. Impressive, huh?
We sat in the back of the church today. I had a rough start with Ryan and felt a little frustrated soon after we sat down. I took Ryan out, talked with him and let him know he needed to change his behavior. He had already accumulated 45 minutes of no outside time when we got home. I basically told him to put on a happy face and get over it. Not that many minutes later, back in the chapel, he rested his head against my shoulder. I put my arm around him, breathed in the "my-sweet-little-boy" scent from his head, and we essentially made-up and had no more issues. I was able to enjoy the meeting. After church the bishop said that he noticed me from the stand and said that I seemed to be glowing. It was such a touching thing to say. It made me think that although things are tough sometimes without you, we're doing okay. Still I miss you and love you as ever.
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