Back in the day, I was a big 10,000 Maniacs fan.  Laura Werther and I went to see them at the University of Delaware when we were in high school.  Natalie Merchant *spoke to me* you guys.

I am incapable of mentioning the University of Delaware without giving a proper shout out to their mascot, the Fightin' Blue Hen, known locally as the Ass Kickin' Chicken.

These are days you'll remember.

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In some sort of frantic emotional preparation for Jack starting kindergarten in LIKE TWO WEEKS, he and I have had a few "Mommy and Jack Days."  

We had one on Friday.  It was pretty rad.

We took coffee and breakfast to Grammy and Pop.  Jack waited patiently while we discussed the previous evening's Republican primary debate.  (Ah, so much to talk about.)  He then regaled us with stories of the solar system, which were accurate, detailed, and articulate -- and promptly blew my parents' minds.

We went to the movies and reclined our posh seats and had yummy lunch.  We saw "Shaun the Sheep," which was funny and adorable.  Jack like the burping part the best.

Then, you guys.  We went back to school shopping.  In the grand Davies tradition, we went to the Gap.  OH, how I have memories of our annual pilgrimage to the retail bastion that is Christiana Mall.  (It is also in Delaware, home of tax-free shopping and aforementioned ass kickin' chickens.)  

I had a totally trippy parent moment as I indoctrinated Jack into his preppy legacy.  

 

Clearly, indoctrination suits him.

We rounded out the day with a treat.  I attempted to pitch to Jack his first hot fudge sundae, thinking that this would be a fitting milestone in a day of big moments.  He eyed me skeptically.

Jack:     What's a hot fudge sundae?

Me:       It's a big dish of ice cream, with hot chocolate sauce on top, and whipped cream, and nuts, and a cherry!

Jack:     I just want ice cream.

Me:       Well, do you want chocolate sauce on it?

Jack:     Yes!

Me:       Do you want a cherry on it?

Jack:     Yes!

Me:       So...you sort of do want a hot fudge sundae?

Jack:     No!

Me:       So...you don't want the whipped cream and the nuts?

Jack:     No way.

Me:       Right.  

Hope your day is free of nuts and has the appropriate amount of chickens.

Talk soon,

Heather

love wins

Apparently, five years old is when you start contemplating marriage.

Jack has informed Durel and I that he will be marrying his friend, Caitlyn.  We are great with this.  Caitlyn is smart and pretty.  We are good friends with her parents.  This is a solid choice.

And there's no stress.  I mean,we don't even have to start planning the wedding for like 20 years.

*     *     *     *     *

We have explained to Jack that the person you marry is the person that you love.  We've also told him that marriage is for grown-ups who want to spend their whole lives together and make a family.

We have explained that sometimes that means boys marry boys and girls marry girls.  Love is what matters.

I am so proud that the Supreme Court made this the unequivocal truth today.

Hope you feel one step closer to real equality today.

Talk soon,
Heather

shot with iPhone pre-K

I hung onto my old iPhone "just in case."

On paper, I did that so I would have a backup phone in case of catastrophe.

In reality, I did that so Jack could play games on it sometimes.  (Including very critical times, like road trips to New Orleans.)

Jack is good with an iPhone.  He's been using iPads at school since he was 2 1/2.  That is both awesome and totally insane to me.

But, before I get all Margaret Mead up in here, my point:

I backed up the old iPhone last night, just because I never do that stuff and even if it's my "just in case" phone, I'm supposed to do that, right?

My computer obligingly asked what I would like to do with the 212 photos on the phone.

Huh?

Jack is a budding photographer.  

"Batter on Fire[place]"

"Treat Feet"
(Editor's Note:  Pablo is 11.  He jumps like five feet into the air for treats.  It's amazing.)

"Petting Station" 

"Self Portrait:  Hoping for Dessert" 

"Still Life with Feet; Two Species"

Hope you share someone's perspective today.

Talk soon,

Heather

for the love of baseball

I can't pretend to like sports.  

Durel and I have been married almost ten years and my favorite part of football season is game day cooking courtesy of Pinterest.

So, I also can't pretend to feel a pang as Jack develops what I assume will be a life-long love of the Houston Astros.

Do I have several Baltimore Orioles t-shirts waiting in Jack's closet for him to grow into?  Yes.  That, I can do.  I can accessorize my feelings about my Maryland heritage.

*     *      *     *     *  

Durel, Uncle Dustin, and Jack went to Jack's first Astros game recently.  They had dude time and pizza.  They wore their shirts.  They took their pictures.  They bought their Legos(?).  

Quote from Jack the other day:  "I like to pull my shorts up, and they have to be above the knee."
Alllllrighty, then.

A good time was had by all.  Including the Lego company.

Hope you invest in a little kid's love of baseball today.

Talk soon,

Heather

summer jam session

Durel and I were pretty self-congratulatory when we bought Jack a drum set.  (And gave it to him six weeks before Christmas, I might add.)

Our smugness was kind of short-lived, though.  Jack doesn't play the drums much.  Durel likes to bang out a little "Paradise City" every now and then.  

I don't have much rhythm.  I can't even spell rhythm.  I had to spell check it.

In a plot twist we didn't exactly foresee, Sawyer loves the drums.  

Jack likes the drums WHEN Sawyer likes the drums.  The grass is always greener, y'all.
Also:  Note Sawyer's LET'S ROCK face.

In another plot twist we didn't exactly foresee, I'm taking a break from lawdogging to be SuperMom, SuperDaughter, and SuperMe.

And so, our summer jam session will involve drumming.  And berry picking.  And visits to local farms.  And museums.  And libraries.  I'm working on a list.  (Some things will never change.)

Hope you get to party on today.

Talk soon,

Heather