ScreamerFest

Will's turning into the ultimate concert go-er!  Today was a day that Will and Daniel had been waiting for for months - Warped Tour.  An all day concert at Riverbend, starting with bands taking the stage at noon and playing until 9pm.  They couldn't wait to see Of Mice and Men, Miss May I and at least a dozen other screamer bands.  They were so excited, so I'm thrilled they got to go.  I'm even more thrilled that I didn't.

Family Day

One week.  That's how much longer we have before all of ours lives change.  Good change, but change none the less.  If I could make it last forever, I would.  But since I can't, we decided to make the most of it...one day at a time.

So what do you do when you have three guys, one girl and a day to waste?  You head to the zoo!  We missed the cougars.  We ignored the giraffes at feeding time.  We went through Night Hunters...twice.  We laughed A LOT.  I can't think of a better way to spend the day.  And all the while, we snapped pictures of all of our favorites...but forgot to take one of all of us.  So these will have to do as a reminder of our wonderful day!  

Hunters Favorite Owl

Will can tell you about the Polar Bear

I love the monkeys

Jeff liked the big cats

And now we all need a nap!

Sunday.

Ah, a quiet Sunday.

Well, not quite.  Quiet Sundays just don't happen in our house.  At least not this close to Hunter leaving.  But Jeff and Hunter got in some bonding time when they got Hunter's phone all taken care of, his battery charged and grocery shopping done.  Laundry is caught up, yard work is done and the house is clean for the week.

So after all of that excitement (haha!), we took off to dinner and the College Night event at The Container Store.  Oh my, that was an adventure.  So many kids, so many moms.  But everyone was there for the same purpose....last minute must have's for a dorm room.  But I think we finally got Hunter all set.  The last shopping is done, now it's just time to pack him up.

It's hard to be sad when you have Will, Shannon and Hunter in the backseat though.  Wow, it's going to be awfully quiet around here soon.

Another for the Collection.

When Austin was 12, he won me the cutest little teddy bear in a devil costume.  The bear still sits in my bedroom.  Hunter won me a velvet flower at about the same age.  It sits next to the teddy bear.  Tonight, Will added a dragon to my collection.  Thanks to the boys, I'll have lots of stuffed animals for my grandkids to play with one day - a long time from now!

The Calm After...

the storm.

It rained and rained and rained.  No complaints here.  There were probably a few from Will since his KI plans got cancelled but he still got pizza and a movie at a friends house.  So after I dropped Hunter off for his movie night and raced to get Will once the rain stopped, this was the view.  Definitely the beauty that comes after a few evenings of stormy weather.  All I had to capture it was my phone.  Oh well, you make due, right?

Thank you.

All I can say is thank you.  With Mom and Dad's help, we managed to get Hunter home before it started.  Lots of rain, very little wind and only a couple strikes of lightening that shook the house.  And all of the trees are still standing.

One Hot Day.

I'm starting to think that we've moved to the sun and no one told me.  I don't think I can remember a hotter summer than this one.  Truthfully, I'm beginning to hate the heat indexes, excessive heat advisories and temperatures soaring to 100 degrees everyday.  And the storms that come with it.

In an effort to get our outside activities in before the heat became unbearable, Will and I headed to the zoo bright and early.  But by the time we got through processing, it was already starting to warm up.  Will was on a mission to see the dragon, so we managed to cover about a quarter of the zoo before we both decided we were starting to melt.  Even the animals were trying to seek shade where ever they could...

So in the heat, we decided the dragon was the end of the road.  But such a long trek through the wild and the heat made Will hungry.  And nothing cures hungry like Johnny Rockets.  It's been ages since I've taken the kids there.  I'm thinking that Will was too little to read the songs on the jukebox last time we went.  But anyway, who knew that all it took to cool Will off and make him grin for the rest of the day was a great waiter who made smiley faces out of ketchup?  Don't get any ideas Will, Jeff and I don't have time to do that every night!

The Breakdown.

No, neither Jeff nor I have actually had a breakdown yet.  If things continue, I'm not ruling it out.

Just ask Will about our day.  We'd just starting cooking lunch when the storm clouds rolled in.  I even commented to Will that the last time it looked that bad, we lost our power.  He laughed at me.  So about half way through cooking the mac n' cheese, there went the power.  That was at 11:45am.  Oh well, we could make it for an hour or two, right?

At 2pm, the sump pump battery died again.  It's shot.  One full use and it's deader than a door nail.  By 4pm when the power was still out and the water was nearing the top of the tank, Jeff and I broke down and invested in a generator.  A whopping $700 to make sure the basement didn't flood.  But with a $1000 deductible if it did, we thought we got a bargain.  Especially since power outages seem to be all the rage this summer.

So Will, Jeff and I sit here tonight, now nine hours without power.  But we do have a working sump pump, a working refrigerator, one lamp, a laptop and a TV.  It's still quite hot, quite dark and the dogs are miserable.  But it won't be much longer, right?

Thank you, Jeff!

In an effort to minimize my Storage Wars marathon, I just wanted to take one minute to point out that I am married to the greatest guy on the planet.  Thankfully, he's one of those solution-driven people.  You provide the problem, he provides the solution.  Maybe its because he's a little removed from the problem, but he's an expert.  So when I politely explained that I'm as creative as can be but as unorganized as anything, he found the perfect solution.  It's going to take me a month to get it set up, but oh...life will be so much easier!

And let me tell you how happy I am to have Will home a few days early!  And 48 more hours until I can see Hunter too!  I'm counting the days until Friday...it's been weeks since we've had a family dinner!

A Girl Can Dream.

I just wanted to say, holy cow, we need a vacation.  If it's not one thing, it's another.  But for just a minute, I want everyone to remember that as long as we have each other...the rest just doesn't matter.  And that if you listen closely enough, you can still hear the lake lapping up on the shore.

Meet One.

So we've made it to Saturday!  Only 2 more days until Will's home and 4 more for Hunter.  I hope Hunter is having as nice of weather as we are.

Since I couldn't find any new critters in the yard today, we made a trip out to find one.  Meet One of Nine.  Now that the tank is all settled (can you believe it's been a year?), we found our way to Jacks and brought home a couple bottom feeders, a pleco and six more mollys.  I swear I could sit in there for hours just watching them.

Now, someone, please talk Jeff out of the saltwater tank they have for sale!!!

Here's another....

When the cat's away..or in this case, when the boys are away.  It seems that since the boys have been gone, every little critter in the area has made an appearance.  Thankfully, I've been lucky enough to have camera (or phone) in hand so I could show them the visitors to the Enchanted Forest.  Here was the little guy that I found today when I was retreiving the trash cans.  Cute, isn't he?  Much smaller than our annual turtle visitor, but just as cool.  Wonder what I'll see tomorrow?

One for Will

Tonight's blog is not mine.  It is a true tribute to Will and capturing his memories so that he'll remember them when he's old like me.  If you remember, last summer we took Will and Hunter to see Jimmy Buffet...their first concert.  Will was mortified.  His first concert was a beach party.  As a fan of "screamer" music, he was less than thrilled with an evening of reggae and beach tunes.  

Tonight, he's at his second concert (as we speak!).  Uncle Jim thought it would be fun to see Iron Maiden and Will was the first in line to go!  I can't name one Iron Maiden song so he didn't get it from me.  Anyway, he sent me a text from the venue in Indy, thrilled that Alice Cooper was opening tonight.  Again, I can't name Alice Cooper song, but he is as creepy as it gets.  

So he's been sending me pictures all night and I wanted to share them and save them for him.  Hopefully, one day he'll look back on this and wonder what he was thinking.  I doubt it though.

Their Seats

The Storm (Hope Hunters weather is better!)

The Beheading of Alice Cooper (I can't make this stuff up!)

Frankenstein

And here they come....

Iron Maiden

Little Moments

Little moments.  Life is full of them.  Most of them get forgotten in the minutes or hours after they occur.  They're insignificant to us.  The big moments - children, marriage, loss, love...they stay with you for much longer, even a lifetime.  But do you ever wonder how many times you miss a moment?  Just a few seconds that could change your life.  Not the "in the wrong place at the wrong time" moments, but those little things that happen around you that you may be too busy to notice?

I was lucky enough to catch one of those moments today.  Two seconds.  A laughter through tears moment.  A moment that was timed for me to see by someone larger than myself.  A fraction of a minute that grounded me, reminding me how amazing life actually is.  Have I built it up enough?  

Over the last week or so, I've told you about the little ones that are living in the nest on the downspout.  Checking on them has become my daily routine.  I watched Mamma bird feed them, listened to them chirp and stood amazed, watching how fast they were growing.  Last night, I watched them standing on the nest and knew I would be lucky to find them there this morning.  And just as we thought, when I checked on them this morning, the eldest had left the nest.  Ironic, isn't it?

But the littlest one, he was still there.  Standing on the nest, looking as though he was contemplating the big jump.  And there he stood - for hours.  I checked on him frequently, knowing that at any time, he would be gone.  

Then it happened.  All in a few seconds I just happened to witness.  Mamma bird flew into the nest, gave a pep talk and flew out to a nearby tree.  And just like that, he took off after her.  His first flight.  He was a little hesitant at first, nearing the ground.  But then he found his wings and took flight.  It was one of the most moving things I've ever witnessed.  Mamma found him immediately and spent most of the day in the trees with the two of them, flying from branch to branch, tree to tree.  

Two seconds.  I've reflected on them all day and am capturing them here so that they stay with us for a lifetime.  It's not often that you get to see life at its most basic level.  A mom, teaching her little ones how to fly.  Sending them out on their own, ready to start a new journey.  I'm positive that robin found her way here when she did to remind me that's how life works.  You shield them, protect them from the rain until they are old enough to jump on their own.  

Day One.

Ok, so I admit that I didn't clean a closet, work with the puppy or work in the studio today.  I have eight more days though!  But with an empty house, a heat advisory and no pressing plans...I did get in a day in the craft room.  One whole day and I completed three Artist Trading Cards.  Yippeee!

Maybe there's hope for the closets tomorrow, it's supposed to rain.

Off they go....

Both of the boys took off today on their separate adventures.  My job was to deliver them to their destination.  So after a few tears, I left them to be the big guys that they are.  Have fun guys....I'll be waiting here to hear all about it!

Another Sim...

Here we go again.

As the boys get ready to take off on their next ten day adventure, I sit here wondering what I'm going to do with my time.  While Hunter is hiking through the mountains, I could finish the studio.  While Will is visiting family and seeing old 80's bands, I could clean the closets.  While Jeff's at work I could work with the puppies...the little one still doesn't sit on command.  OR....

I could spend the next ten days on my laptop, engrossed in yet another Sims game.  Just when I think that I have my Sims addiction under control, here come's another one.  It's a lot different (just ask Jeff!), but it's just as addicting.

So if you call this week, remind me that the closets, the studio and the puppies need attending to.

DOit for DOT

Tonight was the second annual DOit for DOT dinner and as always, it was a huge success.  And for the second night in a row, the four of us got to spend it together (until Hunter left early for the movies, lol!).  A great event raising money for a great cause...and hopefully teaching the kids that it's always better to give back.  And now I have a beautiful piece of artwork for my office, a family zoo membership and tickets to the  Shadowbox in Columbus (I may have to share those!).

Now we're all off to bed, I have to work in the morning :)

Happy Birthday!

It's just another ordinary day, right?  Except for the fact that it happens to be the birthday of one of my favorite guys....Harrison Ford turned 70 today!

But seriously, can you believe Hunter turned 18 today?  Me neither.  In fact, it was 18 years ago (to the minute as I'm typing this) that Mr. Hunter Allen Arnold joined us.  It was a day that changed my life forever and now I'm watching him pack for his hiking trip through the Adirondacks and his dorm room. 

He managed to take a break for dinner, miniature golf and Orange Leaf (he'd never turn down ice cream!).  We had a wonderful time and if there is anything that makes me a little teary is knowing it's going to be a while before we get another night like this one!

So Happy 18th Birthday, Hunter!  You can sign a contract, go to jail, serve our country and help elect the next president...but you'll always be my little man.

I love you!

The New Mommy

As you can see, we have babies again.

There's a story here, we never though we'd see these little ones.  I first took pictures of Mommy Bird and the nest on May 2nd.  There she sat, waiting for those little eggs to crack.  She waited.  We waited.  She waited some more.  Unfortunately, those little ones never broke through.  Mommy left the nest for several weeks and we contemplated taking down the nest.  In hindsight, thank goodness we didn't.  Because a few weeks ago, Mommy returned.  She went back to sitting on the nest, patiently waiting.

This time, it paid off!  When I checked on her today (like I do everyday), these are the little heads that poked out and said hello.  Mama still won't let me get to close and I'm sure they won't be there long so I snuck out and captured this.  Not the best picture, but definitely a great moment!  

Clear the Roads!

There are days you look forward to all of your life.  Then there are the ones that always come with the little pit in the bottom of your stomach.  Today was one of the latter.

My baby got his temp license today.  I know that he's going to hate being called the baby, but when it comes to driving, that's still how I view him.  In fairness to him, I've been driving in the school parking lot with him several times.  I feel much better now that he knows where the turn signal is, how to change gears, what neutral means and how to back into a parking spot.  He actually made it through (and backed through) the maneuverability test cones before he even took his test.  So I'm very proud of his progress.

For the next six months, I'll feel better knowing that he's only driving with us.  It's after the next six months that I worry about!

Congrats, Will!  I knew you could do it!  We'll get started with your hours over the weekend.  Until then, stay put!

Meme 101.

I'm sure you've seen them.  I'm sure you've laughed at them.  There are several that have brought tears to my eyes...from belly laughing.  But did you know they have a name?  I didn't either.  Thankfully, I live with a tech junkie teenager that has more internet knowledge than anyone I know.

Meme - the internet pictures with ridiculous sayings on them.

Some are inappropriate, some are thought provoking.  Some make you smile.  Most make you laugh out loud.  Love them or hate them, they are the current rage.  So laugh at them while you can.  Here are a few of our favorites!

Good Morning, Deer.

There is no better way to wake up.  One of the benefits of living in the forest, I guess.  The funny part was that this little guy stood there for minutes.  Not just one or two, but closer to 10.  He stared at me the ENTIRE time.  I searched for my camera, took pictures, banged my elbow on the window (on accident)...nothing.  He didn't even flinch, much less, run off.  Jeff walked through the sunroom, into the kitchen  and stared at him for a while and still...not a movement from him.  Jeff claims he was posing for me.  I think he just hasn't heard about the coyote yet!

Ouch!

I had a completely different blog all set for tonight.  But before I got started, I was surfing Facebook and saw this picture.  It made me smile, laugh and cringe all at the same time.  I'm sure Michele and Charlie feel the same way.

Anyway, it got me to thinking how good the boys have it as compared to when we were growing up.  I know that they appreciate the advances in technology - such as social media, digital music and video games. But I don't think they know how lucky they are in other areas.  Catch pneumonia now and they give you a prescription and send you home.  I would have begged for that the many times I spent days in the hospital in an oxygen tent...that's how they used to take care of it.

But the biggest, best advance?  Neosporin.  It can heal or cure anything.  Much like Mercurochome, but with no pain.  I remember seeing Dad pull that bottle out of the cabinet when we'd get hurt.  The cure was far worse than the disease!  I'm thinking that cutting off a finger was less painful than a does of Mercurochome on a scraped knee.  And you were stained red for weeks.

Advancement is a wonderful thing.  I'm anxious to see what we have in another 30 years.

I'm Melting

Dear Mother Nature,

Over the last few years, I have written you on a few occasions asking for you to reconsider your position in regards to our weather woes.  It was apparent during the soggy month of last Spring that you were not really interested in listening.  Then came this Winter, and I was positive that you had seen the error of your ways and as a peace offering, you blessed us with a mild season, free of snow and ice.  I was overjoyed!

So I find myself again, writing to you to ask for consideration.  Quite frankly, I'm melting.  The $1500 worth of shrubs and flowers we planted in the yard this Spring are dying and the grass is a very unattractive shade of brown.  The dogs have no more fur to shed.  The local pools are boiling and I actually think the AC unit outside sighed at me this morning.  It just can't work any harder.

If you can find it in your heart, please shed a tear for us...we could really use the rain.  And enough with the record setting heat.  I don't know anyone that doesn't feel like their skin is on fire at 105 degrees.  We won't even address the humidity and heat index.  I'm not asking for snow, just a little more seasonable temperature so we can actually go to the lake with spontaneously combusting.  If not, I'm considering moving to Hades...it must be cooler there.

Sincerely,

Hot and Bothered in Cincinnati

Uh Oh.

This is what a Husky toy looks like when two Goldens get a hold of it.  Such a buzzkill.

Just a Day Away.

Ever feel like you want to run away?

I remember when I was a little girl, Mom and Dad used to take off for a long weekend - NO CHILDREN ALLOWED. Now don't feel sorry for us, we were left at home with a babysitter, ice cream, movies and fun. But I never did understand why they needed to get away. I mean, really, we were great kids! It's taken me almost forty years, but now I get it.

And before anyone assumes that I'm saying I don't have great kids, let me just clarify that we have three wonderful boys. But with three wonderful kids comes a schedule that can just be down right overwhelming at times. Add Jeff's crazy work, the studio, college, wind storms (and they're cleanup), drivers permits, college, travel, kitchen updates, fundraising planning...and did I mention college? Typing it makes me tired, living it just wears me out sometimes.

But I digress, back to me running away. Apparently, there was someone who knew that we needed a break. They were nice enough to send us a free nights hotel stay and dinner on the house. So we knew that we were on our own for the day and took off...Indiana, here we come! And for 24 hours, we ate, laughed, played a few games, people watched, drank coffee and managed a few hours of sleep before work this morning. Thank you, Hollywood Casino...you don't know how much we needed it.

So as I sit here tonight, it's with a clearer mind. We're both a little calmer, a little more rejuvenated and we're ready to face the world (and the crazy days ahead!). Sorry Mom, sorry Dad. I just didn't understand...until now. Hunter, Will and Austin...you'll understand one day too.

A Nation's Strength.

What makes a nation’s pillars high
And its foundations strong?
What makes it mighty to defy
The foes that round it throng?

It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand
Go down in battle shock;
Its shafts are laid on sinking sand,
Not on abiding rock.

Is it the sword? Ask the red dust

Of empires passed away;

The blood has turned their stones to rust,

Their glory to decay.

And is it pride? Ah, that bright crown

Has seemed to nations sweet;

But God has struck its luster down

In ashes at his feet.

Not gold but only men can make

A people great and strong;

Men who for truth and honor’s sake

Stand fast and suffer long.

Brave men who work while others sleep,

Who dare while others fly...

They build a nation’s pillars deep

And lift them to the sky.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

OoOoOohhh!

Will's dinner.  Spaghetti-O's.

For the record, I'm not even sure why we have Spaghetti-O's in the house.  But thankfully, we had the on hand for our dinner emergency.  I know what you guys are thinking.  You think that I burned dinner, right?  Nope, not tonight.  We had pulled pork in the crock pot bright and early.  So what was the emergancy?  If you remember yesterdays blog, I mentioned that the boys both had orthodontist appointments.  Apparently, Dr. Morris was less than gentle on Will's mouth and he's paying for it today.  I keep telling him that his dazzling smile will be worth it, but today he's not believing me.  

Applesauce and pb/j for lunch, Spaghetti-O's for dinner and ice cream for a snack - I'm thinking he could get used to this!

Just Another Day in Paradise.

The boys are home, the boys are home!!!!

And just like we haven't missed a beat, we jumped into orthodontist appointments, college packing and planning, family dinner and a quiet evening in.  All the while, the lights were flickering.  It wasn't until Jeff got home that Hunter mentioned that the pole at the road was buzzing again.  Oh great!

Once again, it was Duke to the rescue.  A short forty five minutes after we called, we had a crew at the door.  Fifteen minutes later, the strobe lights were back to normal and dinner continued with continuous lighting.

Props to you, Duke!  Thanks for coming to the rescue again!

Um, no.

Finally, we have internet back.  I'm guessing it won't be for long so I'll make this brief.  Jeff was out cutting up the largest tree that fell this weekend and this is what he found.  All I can say is "straight line" winds, no way.  Only rotating winds can twist a tree until it snaps.