Notes in the Margins

My son was SO upset.  His Sunday School teacher has said something to him that he just could not believe and he didn't know whether to be angry or cry.

Seriously, it was that bad.

What did his Sunday School teacher say to him that could upset him so badly?

She told him to (*gasp*) ...write in his bible.

Yes, you read that correctly.  It was the week of Easter and they were talking about a very important part of scripture regarding the resurrection.  His teacher encouraged him to underline the verse of scripture in his bible so that he could find it easily next time he was looking for it.  But Colin wasn't buying it.  "Mom, can you believe she told me to do that?", he said with his big blue wide open in disbelief.

A thousand dollars for a picture of his face when I told him that I write in my bible all. the. time.  He was aghast.  First his Sunday School teacher and then his mother?!?  What was this world coming to?

Blue Plate Special

I have hardly posted at all this last week and I know how badly you have missed me (*snort*). Why have I been so conspicuously absent? Simply because I was exhausted and ran. out. of. time.

Why is the last month of school always so full of foolishness and mayhem? Seriously, it has been cra-zy.

Some of it has just seemed like busy-work but a lot of it has been FUN and full of lots of proud moments; concerts, banquets, track meets, new milestones and activities.

At the Samuels' house, we like to celebrate as many of those accomplishments as we can.  One of the ways we celebrate is by giving the honoree the 'blue plate' at an evening meal (hopefully the day of the event but that doesn't always happen - so we just get as close as we can.) Getting the blue plate at supper means "Woo-hoo, for you!" - you've done something that deserves a little bragging and maybe even a little applause.  It could be for good grades - or just passing a difficult test, passing swimming lessons, losing that first tooth, meeting a goal or just doing something extra kind or special.  And of course, you always get the blue plate on your birthday!

Needless to say, there have been lots of reasons to get out the blue plate this last month.  So, whether you're up to it or not, a little bragging is about to commence.

Milo It Is

Colin loves animals.  Everywhere he goes he makes friends - whether it's with people or pets.  For example, this is Colin with his piano teacher's pets:

Finishing Strong

All last week, everytime I started writing my post-race blog in my head, it went something like this:

It's official.  I do not LIKE to run.  I met my goal.  I ran the race. 

And if I never run again, that's ok by me.

But that was pre-race randering...and completely worthless.  So for the official record:

Running is AWE-SOME!!!  Woot-Woot!!! *DaNcE oF JoY!!!*

OK, that may be a slight exaggeration. And I am getting ahead of myself, so reverse that and take a step or two backwards with me through memory lane before I let you know how it really went.

Facing Your Fears One Tooth At A Time

For about 2 weeks now, Colin has had a loose tooth.  A very loose tooth.  In fact, for the life of me, I cannot understand why the tooth didn't just fall out just from the force of his exhaling.

Early last week, Isaac and I were already discussing pulling the tooth but Colin didn't even want to talk about it.  Just mentioning pulling the wayward tooth would get him all worked up to the point of tears.  But somewhere along the discussion, he agreed that, if the tooth did not magically fall out on its own, we would pull the tooth on "Tooth Tuesday".

Today is Tuesday.  And today, the tooth was still in his mouth.  And mom, patient and merciful as always (roll eyes now), reminded Colin of his promise to pull the testy tooth today (isn't that fun to say?) And mom wasn't giving in.

So into the bathroom we went.  I gave Colin the option to pull it himself or let me pull it.  He chose to pull it himself (I am not sure if it should bother me or not that he didn't want me to do it.  I've been successfully removing band aids for years - I should be able to pull a tooth.  Geesh.)