Kids and summer...

On Tuesday I had an 8:00 meeting at work and was away from my office for about an hour. When I got back to my desk I noticed my cell phone had 12 missed calls…all from home. I apologized to my poor staff for having to endure my cell phone ringing 12 times and Sarah said she almost answered it because she was starting to worry someone was hurt. When I called Jeremy back I said, “Jay is everything okay?” Jeremy responded, “Yeah, I was wondering if I can have the Hot Pocket in the freezer for lunch.” WHAT??? He insisted he had only called once about the Hot Pocket and it must have been his sister who called 11 other times before leaving for drama.

It’s official Jeremy is going to Newpoint Academy for school next year and I am very excited about this opportunity for him. We are hoping that it will lead to some new learning experiences for him and it will help him prepare for high school and college. According to their website….”Newpoint provides a unique high school environment which emphasizes high academic achievement through the use of state-of-the-art technology and innovative but proven educational methods. We prepare students to successfully compete in an increasingly competitive post-secondary environment and the global job market.”

Only two weeks of summer left-this has been the fastest summer ever! I can hardly believe we are already shopping for uniforms and backpacks- homework is right around the corner.

All in all it has been a good summer. I’m working on being happy in the here and now, even if I don’t have a plan for a year, or two, or three from now. I have had to say farewell to three great friends this summer so that has been tough. It is amazing how you don’t realize how much space people take in your heart and life until they are gone and that space is a bit empty. Fortunately, life fills in around it quickly and it makes things easier. People make life better…maybe I should be more specific…GOOD people make life better.

Meet Porkchop...

I was raised in a "cat house" and never really learned to love dogs. In fact, I have had people tell me that there is something they don't trust about people who don't like dogs...but, that's me.

Jeff always had a dog growing up and because of that we have tried. The occurrences below I am not proud of, but hey, it is what it is...

First came Bentley. If you have spent much time in the Coleman house you will remember this miniature Schnauzer who spent most all his hours of the back porch...poor guy. Well Habitat Julie had a friend who had a miniature Schnauzer and wanted to give Bentley the home he deserved. They came for him one night late and right when they got their the kids woke up...busted in the panhandle. Goodbye Bentley.

Next came Oscar...a wiener dog...novel name, I know. Well Oscar snuck out one Saturday morning and was hit by a neighbor (local teacher to remain un-named.) It was horrible, very upsetting. Poor Oscar, only 5 months old.

Jack was the next victim...I mean attempt at door ownerness for us. Jeff bought Jack while I was in the middle of remodeling my kitchen and did not have the where-with-all to object. Loser. Jack is a great dog, but we were not great dog owners. I have said that I have taught three things not to pee on the floor, I'm not potty training anything else as long as I live. After Jack's fate started looking like Bentley's I made a command decision and gave him to my in-law's. Jeff thought I was joking...I wasn't. They love him! He is a perfectly trained pup and the kids get to see him all the time.

Fast forward several years...I was cruising Craigslist (greatest site ever) when I found an English Bulldog. Jeff has wanted a dog so bad and I couldn't resist. Call it temporary insanity. I decided to surprise him with Porkchop...I know, that was the name he came with. Pokchop was a year old when he came to us and he was trained well by someone else. All the bad habits he has now came from us...for sure. Right from the start he fit right into our house. Some people say that he even "looks" like he belongs in our house. Well, Porkchop is messy and he snores. He is so ugly he is cute...and I love him. He is the first dog I have ever loved.

The picture above is him in front of the television this weekend barking at the dog on Animal Planet...okay, maybe he isn't brilliant.

It's 6:45 on the 4th of July and it feels strange to be home. But yesterday we barbecued and saw fireworks and then barbecued and played in the lake today so we have fulfilled all of the required 4ht fun for the year. And it really was fun. The 4th of July is a great holiday without holiday stress...plus a Monday off which is stellar.

I spent several hours shopping with Brandi yesterday for her house. I'm redoing her living room and I think she is a little scared. She loves solids....black and white for the most part. I can see the finished room in my mind and she can't...hence the nerves. I'll post pictures when it is done.

Nick learned to water ski today...wish I had a picture...so sad. He was a natural, up on the first try. He skied about 7 times and loved it. It helped that he was weighs 53 pounds and so he can practically walk on the water. I was so proud...I bet he will be a pro by the end of the summer.

Now we are watching "Grease"- a movie I could watch weekly. Do you think Olivia Newton John is one of the most adorable people ever? I do. I guess you could say I am hopelessly devoted to this movie.

The awesomest....

Nick played his first basketball game last night he almost bounced from one side of the court to the other because he was so excited. I'm not sure we have a future NBA player on our hands, but I think he will really enjoy playing this summer.

So I have a Nick story for you. Unfortunately it is not first hand because it was told to my mum while I was in Texas last week. But, it goes something like this...

Nick: Wanna see the awesomest kid in my class? (he had his yearbook)

Nana: I thought you were the awesomest kid in your class.

Nick: No, I'm the second awesomest. This is Riley, he's the first awesomest.

Silly boy.

This picture was taken a couple weeks ago in the church parking lot. He was amazed at this giant truck so Jeff took a picture for him.

He stepped on a bee today and was stung on the foot. He's pretty excited to tell that story, although he has a hard time remembering which foot when he wants to show it to you. Summer fun.

I heart words...

Today I was reading an issue of “Chief Marketer” (I know, sophisticated reading for a girl who usually sticks to People, Glamour, and Country Living) when I stumbled upon a word I have never heard or seen before. The word was “kerfuffle” and the sentence read something like “Consumer kerfuffle aside, online merchants…” Kerfuffle? Hmmm…had this been 10 years ago I would have pulled out my trusty dictionary to look that puppy up. But instead, I Googled “Merriam Webster” and quickly found my answer…

Main Entry: ker·fuf·fle
Pronunciation: \kər-ˈfə-fəl\
Function: noun
Etymology: alteration of carfuffle, from Scots car- (probably from Scottish Gaelic cearr wrong, awkward) + fuffle to become disheveled
Date: 1946
chiefly British : disturbance, fuss

No wonder I was so drawn to the word…it is “chiefly British” and I LOVE all things “chiefly British.” Chiefly British cars, chiefly British accents, chiefly British movies, chiefly British books, chiefly British Hugh Grant. Okay, maybe not chiefly British oil companies…but, you get the point.

I had so much fun sharing my new word that I decided I will learn (or at least skim) a new word every day. I have signed up for the “word a day” online and so each morning a shiny new word will be waiting in my inbox. Don’t worry…if I find a good one I will share.

The week of my birthday I made a list (I love a list) of 32 things to do before I turn 33. I have kept the list to myself until now. Today I got an email from my good friend Karen and she had made her own list (a bit deeper than mine however.) So, I thought why not put my list out into the world...maybe I'll be more apt to work towards completing it. Here it is in all its randomness...


1. Lose 20 pounds (original I know)

2. Exercise more (see #1)

3. Learn about plants, flowers, grass…go green’ish

4. Spend a whole day with just my Mum

5. Spend more time with friends at home

6. Do something for the church (outside of regular stuff I already do)

7. Read at least 3 legitimate classic literature books (less chic lit)

8. Teach kids how to do laundry

9. Get a physical

10. Read at least 3 work related books

11. Take the kids to do something charitable

12. Clean/organize the garage for Jeff

13. Start recycling

14. Plan a Princess Bride party

15. Take a golf lesson

16. Learn to cook fish

17. Organize the “cat room”

18. Make photo books from past trips

19. Finish Nick’s quilt I started

20. Plan ahead for Christmas gifts

21. Learn how to reupholster a chair

22. Learn how to make spaghetti carbonara

23. Update my Linkedin account

24. See a movie with Jeff where lots of things get blown up

25. Organize the laundry room

26. Paint a picture with Caroline

27. Help Nick write a book

28. Take Jeremy on a date

29. Go to the beach

30. Plan a better morning routine

31. Take the kids bowling

32. Host a summertime party for the neighborhood kids

A little bit of crazy...

This time of year I always start having the craziest of thoughts. A thought so crazy, so absurd, so odd and not like me at all.

I think of all the positive things…the time off, the time off, on and did I mention the time of off. If I were to take the plunge and do this crazy and wild thing I would right now be preparing for nine weeks of freedom and fun.

That’s right…I am talking about teaching. Every summer it seems that everyone is off but me. I hate it!

Now, I know myself enough to know that teaching isn’t the answer…being independently wealthy is. Ha! I think that if I was with kids (big or little) all day I would not be able to muster up the energy to be nice to my own every night. And the truth is that with 9-12 weeks off I would probably lose my mind or end up adding a room to my house…neither a good idea.

So I guess I am not destined for summers. But, maybe I can squeeze in a few long weekends.