The R Family Diaries

We had a great Halloween. We all set up at a neighbor's , who hosted with delicious chili and hot dogs while 25 kids trick or treated around the houses. The Boy was Darth Vader and carried one of the FX Light Sabers, a bit of an expensive Halloween accessory, but he got for Christmas and what good is a toy if you can't play with it! And, we could see where he was a mile away! This is The Boy and a girl (crush) from his class... Did I mention the chili?  It was fantastic.   Lots and lots of kids.  Like a real old fashion, neighborhood Halloween. And, they had this chili.  It was so good.  So much for the 2 miles I did on the treadmill.

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I remember the first time I heard that quote.  I was 17 and my grandmother said it to me. I thought she was nuts.  What the hell did that mean, "youth is wasted on the young"? Crazy lady. Well, now that I have seen HSM 3, I totally understand. I sat for 2 hours watching those hard, tight, stretch mark free bodies sing their way through senior year with the biggest crisis being whether to go to Stanford early or finish senior year. Don't get me wrong, it's really entertaining.  Come to think of it, my life was one big musical number at 17.  Would I drive my cute self down to Malibu in the Mustang convertible?  Or, would I head on down to Melrose and go shopping with friends?  Decisions. Sitting in that theatre, watching them frolic in the rain, I felt like youth was punching me in the face.  Repeatedly. Having your whole life ahead of you.  And, all the energy, enthusiasm to make it all happen.   No need for  Prozac, Botox or Biofreeze. Now, y'all know I love my li...

The party. The Boy had a wonderful time. CM and I survived. I need to credit Tip Junkie , as I got most of the Jedi Training Camp ideas from her amazing blog. The party started with the boys signing in to Jedi Camp and receiving their standard training uniform (brown felt cut like a poncho with a rope belt).  They each received a sticker,  I had 2 of each and use that to divide them into pairs later for training.... as any good pmac director knows, divide and conquer is the way to go. We had "The Empire Strikes Back" on TV and playing throughout the speakers in our house. The boys then came outside and were briefed on the training camp and activities and behavior expectations.   Then, in pairs, they practiced the different stations of the obstacle course. Once everyone had practiced, they individually ran the course.  The last station was one on one dueling with Darth.  Once they completed it successfully, they received a darth rubber bracelet. Then pizza, and a scavenger hun...

I can't believe it's been 8 years since you arrived. I remember every minute of the night you were born. Holding you all night, falling totally in love.   Thank you for being exactly who you are. Every freckle.  Every Giggle.  Every Scowl. You are a wonder. Magic in motion. My heart walking around outside my body. The reason I was born. Happy Birthday, sweet prince. Being your mom is the best gift and the biggest honor.

Today is the The Boy's birthday party. We've got big plans. Thirteen 2nd grade boys for Jedi Training Camp. If I am not back by Monday,  assume I am no longer capable of intelligent thought and am sitting somewhere in a corner rocking.

As I sat at the table and watched The Boy peruse the latest Scholastic Book offerings and circling his literary desires, I began reminiscing. Remember this time of year when that big, glorious book would be left by the front door? The pages that could change your life. Make you into a perfectly matched pre-teen with all the turtlenecks, corduroy and argyle you could hope for. Winter coats I would never need in So Cal, with matching ear muffs. The Catalogue of Catalogues. The goodness of JC Penny's. People, I am telling you, when that book (that must have wiped out a small forest to be made) showed up, I grabbed a pen spent hours flipping the pages, circling the items that could make me into the stylish tween I hoped and prayed to be. I swear, I can smell the shiny pages and feel the papercuts. While I coveted all of it, there were a few items that I actually prayed for.  Feverishly. First, their was a pair of ice skates.  $19.99. ( If you've been a reader of my blog, you know I...