We were over Misty’s doing our nightly scooter thing, and she invited us to tag along for a trip to Target to pick up vitamins. Great idea! Just another brilliant way we torture ourselves. Taking three lunatic kids to Target at 8:30 on a Sunday night.

Yesterday I had lunch with my brother. Softshell crabs to be exact, and beyond yummy! He started talking about fishing, and I told him that Ethan’s been wanting to go. He said he’d plan something in a couple of weeks. Got home yesterday afternoon, and my brother calls asking if Ethan could go this morning. I really wanted to go, but thought having Mom along might turn it into a different sort of excursion, and instead sent Ethan and Adam off very early this morning, with a cooler full of sandwiches, to meet my brother at the marina.

Ethan had the best time. Caught a ton of fish, and at one point they were reeling them in two at a time. Ethan later gave me blow by blow descriptions of who caught what type of fish, and actually shined while describing the driving the boat.

Adam remarked that he wasn’t sure who was happiest on this trip. Ethan or my brother. Either way, they are already planning the next fishing trip. I think my brother may have found his kindred spirit in Ethan. And like I’ve always said, the only thing better than having your own boat, is having a brother with a boat. A brother that would go fishing at any opportunity.

More pictures from the fun day can be found here.

The other day I asked Misty if I could borrow some of the paperbacks on her closet shelf. When she made her move into her new place, I noticed she had a few books I had not yet read. One of the books she gave me was Lucky by Alice Sebold, and it the book I am currently reading. I only read during the summer, only read outside. There are a few reasons for this, the most important being that I do not have to wear reading glasses when I am out in the natural sunlight. It is a blessing to read without glasses. Another reason is that I prefer to read in the fresh air.

I am about one third into this book, and I love it. It’s not lighthearted, it’s not cheerful. It is real and it is tragic, but it is so well written. Who would have thought that an autobiographical account of someone’s rape could make me laugh out loud? The humor this author infuses with the truth amazes me. It is difficult for me to not come into the house and pick it up again, but I have my traditions. One of them being my summer reading outside. It is yet one more thing I look forward to, and one more reason I appreciate the summer.

I expect to be finished with this book by the weekend, and at that point, I will pick up the next book. A Girl Named Zippy. Misty had two copies of this one and I am hoping she will read it along with me so we can pretend at something resembling a book club. I have never been in a book club, although I’ve tried, quite unsuccessfully, to start one more than a few times.

Perhaps, I can get some of my blog buddies to join me in an online book club. Any takers? And even if you don’t want to play book club with me, are there any books that you would like to suggest for my summer reading?

Ethan LUH-OVES to talk. It is non-stop, never ending. Sometimes it’s great, other times you want to poke your eyeballs out.

This week he has been going from one very important topic to another. Babies. Going commando or completely pantless. The size of his nipples.

Babies. Yesterday he asked me if I thought I’d have another baby, and I explained that I was done. He asked if we could adopt a baby from China, and I explained that Adam would have to be on board for that decision, and I truly didn’t think he wanted another baby. That satisfied him, and he directed his aim toward another mother, and started asking if maybe Misty might have another baby. We had quite the discussion about baby making at that point and he wanted more specifics on the guys role, since he the guy never has to get a big belly. I gave him the condesed version, as I have before and it satisfied him for the time being. One reason he’s so interested is the couple across the street from my parents have a 23 year old son with two babies from different mothers. Sadly, Sid is this really cute kid who now has two children. That said, he’s a really good dad, and usually has one or the other of his two babies four or five days a week. He tries. The part that intrigues Ethan is how Sid has two babies and no wives. He totally does not understand that you don’t have to lives with someone to have a baby. I do the best I can explaining, and just try to make it easy and short, but honest.

Going commando or completely pantless. Ethan wore a new shirt to school today, and it was a little longer than usual because it hadn’t been washed yet. He was actually thrilled with the length and explained that he could “wear this shirt without underwear because it is so long that you can’t see my peep or my butt.” Great. Earlier this evening, as he was getting ready to jump in the shower, he ran downstairs without pants or underwear, but the shirt still on, and explained to Adam, “I can wear this shirt to school with no underwear or pants and no one will know I’m naked underneath.” Great.

The size of his nipples. While tweaking both his nipples, “Mom, are these little things going to get bigger.” I answered no, because I thought he was asking if he was going to get boobs one day. To which Ethan then stated, “Adam’s are bigger than mine and they have a little hair around them. I don’t think I want bigger ones, and I don’t think I want any hairs on them either.” I explained that they’ll get a little bigger, but they’re not going to be huge. “So I’m not getting boobs, right?” Answering no, wasn’t enough of an answer and Ethan then asked if they would still be called “nips” if they grew a little or would they then be called “boobies.” I finally had to end the conversation because he kept going on with it. There is no doubt in my mind that this kid is going to be a total boob man. If you want confirmation of this, just ask Misty.

She branched out from my giraffe greetings today, and I got a lion. A lion with hurt feelings, although I love the lions, too.

It was a great weekend. The weatherman was completely wrong with his prediction and it ended up being beautiful today.

Nothing to say that matters, so I’ll share a picture of the Pool Kids.

Looking at the clouds in the sky, you would never think that today was a good tanning day. We still put the sunscreen on the kids, and it’s a good thing we did. Misty and I weren’t quite as diligent with ourselves, and tonight we could tell that we got quite a bit of color. (Right, Misty?)

We can blame our lack of attention in that area on our adventures last night. Adam hung with us for part of the night, but left us to our own devices around 11 since he had plans to wake up early this morning to go fishing. Not sure what got into us, but we ran into a guy I haven’t seen in awhile, and he likes nothing better than to start buying rounds of shots. We were willing participants last night. Too willing. It was definitely felt this morning.

Last summer we discovered that nothing cures a hangover more quickly than a dip in the pool, and we headed out early this morning to pick up the kids from their grandparents’ houses be home when the pool opened. We made a pit stop on the way, and picked up a couple of Sausage McMuffins and large Cokes to help kickstart the hangover recovery. It worked, but diving into the cool pool was definitely the cure.

Our most exciting news of the day is that we have a new favorite pizza place. Brothers Pizza. New owners bought our old spot, and we are so thankful since the old place was quickly going downhill, and it had been almost a year since we’d been. We tried some of the other pizza places close by, but didn’t find anything we loved. We can honestly say we love this place. Very good, and very close.

After dinner, we did a little errand running and then we went to Misty’s because I had a pot and soil I wanted to give her, so I could plant the impatients I insisted she take when her mother offered thim this morning. Kaiden had a friend from her afterschool program over for a sleepover, a friend who just happens to be in Ethan’s class. Ashton was with his grandparents, and Ethan was initially a bit disappointed in having to hang with what he described as “two drama girls.” He quickly got over it, and the five of us went for a walk around the neighborhood.

As cloudy as it was this afternoon, it did turn out to be a beautiful evening and we had a super nice walk. We’re hoping for some nice weather tomorrow so we can end the holiday weekend on a sunny note.

Summer has officially begun! Let the sun shine brightly!

I have had a one track mind today, focused on all things related to our pool opening tomorrow. SUMMER IS HERE!

Red lips and teeth…the tell tale sign of an after school Slurpee. And a little pink icing on the cheek…remnants of a glazed donut with strawberry icing.

Ethan loves stopping at 7-11 on the way home from school for a treat. Now that warm weather is here, it usually consists of a Slurpee and a little snack.