Relationships

Summer has arrived and we are already busier than ever. I have a calendar/date book thingy now a days and it has really come in handy. I don't know how I managed without it before. A friend of mine uses the calendar on her phone religiously. But she has a nice phone. She has a really nice phone.

I'm not ready to have that close of a relationship with my cell phone yet. I love all of the new features cell phones have these days (like I am soooo old) but getting to know them, for me, can be overly time consuming. I don't even text message really. That however is not the point I am slowly trying to get at today.

I have MUCH more vacation to take this year (thanks PAETEC) and I am so excited to use most of it up this summer. I will be going on field trips with Gage and Ella, camping, swimming, hiking, fishing, relaxing, running, gardening, water parkin', canoeing, and more - and NOT just on the weekends!! Woo Hoo! I love summer.


I also love the warm months because we get together more with family and friends. What better a way to gather than a picnic or barbecue or camping? That brings me to what this post was really all about.


My beautiful cousin Sarah and her husband Jeremy are having a baby this summer. I can't wait to meet her (the baby of course). I am hoping this summer I will get to. No rush on coming for an Iowa visit though OK? I know you will be busy. And of course you will want time of your own with your own (new) family of three. But rush if you want to. I mean...we won't mind ya know......if you wanted to.

Really though, all jokes aside they are going to be great parents and I'm sure they will come when they are good and ready.


Speaking of love and babies and such........

Gage's class, for Science this year raised butterflies from caterpillars. They patiently and excitedly waited for the little caterpillars to make their chrysalis. Then wondrously watched while they slowly and steadily emerged into the same world they started but as a new creature - the butterfly. It's amazing how that re-creation takes place. In fact, as they were letting the butterflies go off into a new world of flying that awaited them Gage learned another lesson.

Well sorta.

He told me over dinner last night that as he was letting his butterflies go with his friends at school he had not one but 2 butterflies land on his hand.

"The funny thing", Gage says, "is that they were stuck together." Hmmmm
He asked his teacher what was happening. And her reply without a blink of the eye I'm sure: "They're mating".

"Oh, mating" I say. "Did you ask her what that meant?"

"Yes", he says with a disgusted look on his face. Oh boy I am thinking. Where is this conversation going to lead us.

"And?" from me waiting to be shocked at what my eight year old may already know.

"Well", he starts, "it means they were getting married right on my hand!" And he says this with a stabbing yet frightened voice.

"Oh getting married?" I say "Well what is so gross about that?" And at this point I don't know if I should go into more detail, or let it be. I decide for now at least (I mean he is only eight years old) to just let it be.

Then the answer from my beautiful innocent boy as to what is gross about this marriage taking place on his hand:

"When butterflies get married, they stick their butts together!" He says this with his face crinkled up like a baby bulldog and his hand around his neck all while he mimics that he may just choking to his death.

All I can say is "Wow, you sure learned a lot in Science this year". My laughter was bubbling up from the depths of my inner being and I managed to hold it in. He raced out of the room, obviously done talking about mating and marriage for now.

And I don't mind. In fact, I don't mind at all.

From The Old Farmer’s Almanac

While the Mother’s Day we celebrate is a fairly recent development, in 16th-century England a celebration called “Mothering Sunday” was inaugurated — a Sunday set aside for visiting your mother. The eldest son or daughter would bring a “mothering cake,” which would be shared by the entire family. Family reunions were the order of the day, with sons and daughters assuming all household duties and preparing a special dinner in honor of their mother.