The one where I went AWOL (again)

I cannot believe its been so long since I posted. But suffice it to say that things have been crazy busy around here. And I know you're all expecting a "Lu got married" post, but its not happening today. Sorry. Its in the works, but I don't have that kind of time today, because you guys will want pics and the whole works.

I will say that it was a Beeyoooteefull wedding and Lu looked amazing and Luke was awestruck by her and the whole thing went off without a hitch because I'm OCD and had a plan "B" setting in case it rained on the outdoor wedding thing (which it did). Getting Lu to plan and committ to anything is like pulling teeth so I was stressed out until the Friday before, when I finally gave up and took care of all the details myself so that I could get some sleep in which I did not grind my teeth and wake up with a headache. So she is now officially Mrs. Flanagan. Yes, that is super weird.

In other important family news: Dylan is growing like we feed him Acme insta-grow. At two months old he has grown 4 inches in length and put on 4 1/2 pounds. He's a big guy. And vocal! I don't remember my kids ever cooing and responding as well as he does. Already, he'll talk your ear off if you let him. I can't wait til he has words, because I am dying to know what the heck he's saying. He loves his bouncy chair, will only stay in the swing if the classical music it plays is turned on, and rarely really cries. He is delightful and I'm completely in love with him. Oh and Lu has decided that he will call me "Mimi" instead of Grandma. And her Dad is "Pawpaw". Don't ask, I didn't.

Sean is an Eagle Scout. He finished his project before his birthday, had his board of review and its all over but the celebrating. We will be having his ceremony sometime in October. He's getting ready to enlist. Can't seem to talk him out of the Marines.

Mike is doing well. His insurance lawsuit over the accident was finally settled satifactorily. He's gearing down from the summer season and getting ready for duck & goose season. Don't go all "hunting's bad" on me. He loves it and will rationally tell you all of the ways in which it helps to control the population AND the conservation methods and ethics. Plus, he makes me cook the kills so it doesn't go to waste. And let me just say-- I HATE Duck. It tastes like liver. But he and Sean eat it. Goose is pretty good.

And me- well you can hop on over to The Author Spot for all my author news. But I'll just say, I love my job. Love love love. We talked about retirement the other day and I said I was pretty sure Editors didn't retire, they just go blind. And I'm super pumped because Mike & I are taking our very first ever vacation without kids or young adults or anybody!! Yep! We are going to New Orleans for a week in November, just the two of us. Super excited. Staying at a fabulous apartment in the Garden District, a couple of blocks from Anne Rice's house! And I got a steal on the price! I'm looking forward to everything about the trip. I mean, for real, do you know how many cemeteries there are in New Orleans?! Yay!

So here are some recent convos-

Laying in bed the other night, there is some amazing howling going on outside-

Me: I just realized that we no longer have a dog. What is all that howling?

Mike: Coyotes

Me: Are you sure? I've never heard them howl quite like that before.

Mike: I'm sure.

Me: You're sure it's not werewolves?

Mike: Could be, I guess. But its probably coyotes. *and he rolled over and went to sleep*

Sean and I while having coffee on our back deck:

Me: Man, its gorgeous out here today. All I want to do is sit here and enjoy the view. I have no motivation.

Sean: Welcome to the club.

Me: There's a "no motivation" club now? So what, are you like the president?

Sean: Yep. And there's an annual fee of $25. It's another $24 if you want the t-shirt.

Me: Ouch. That's pretty steep. Wait...there's a t-shirt?

Sean: Well, there will be once I get the motivation to make it.

The other night when I planned to have spaghetti for dinner, Lu and Sean were complaining. Mind you, Lu loved spaghetti while she was pregnant and it's always been one of Sean's favorites. Well, until he had to eat it nearly every week at camp this summer. Finally, I said if I heard one more complaint, we'd be eating spaghetti every night for a week. I made it my Facebook status so they'd be sure to see it.

Lu: I saw your Facebook status, so I warned Sean.

Me: Good.

Lu: Because I know you are crazy enough to actually do that.

Me: It's not a matter of crazy. Its just good parenting.

Lu: How do you figure that?

Me: The key to parenting is consistency. Don't make a threat you don't intend to keep. Your Dad and I really like spaghetti and its cheap to make so it would be an easy carry through.

Lu: I'm still chalking it up to crazy...

Happy Monday y'all!
♥Spot

The one where my children make me laugh...

Okay, so that's pretty much every post. My children are silly and ridiculous and crazy just like I am and we spend a lot of time laughing at each other. Personally, I'm convinced that's a good thing. I think it works as well as my Oil of Olay to keep me looking and feeling young. So these are some snippets from this week...

Lu had her 6 week check up at the doctor after Dylan's birth. And because she hates to go anywhere and especially to the doctor by herself, she drug me along.

Me: I can't believe you lost 21 pounds already. That's amazing.

Lu: It's not enough. I'm still fat and gross.

Me: You are not fat and gross. Your body just changes when you have a baby and never goes back to quite the same. But you look gorgeous and healthy and amazing.

Lu: My thighs are enormous. They rub together.

Me: Um, no. Your thighs are not enormous. My thighs are enormous and rub together. Yours barely whisper "hello" in passing.

*Huge eye-roll from her*

Me: I'm so blogging this.

And Sean and I went to see the Air Force and Navy Recruiters-

Air force- You'd be really great at special ops. We really need para-rescue, combat control, and combat weather.

Me- what does combat weather do?

Sean- duh. They're weathermen.

Me- but how do you combat the weather? I mean, it just is, there's nothing you can do about it.

Air force- (trying not to laugh) they monitor the weather conditions in the combat zone. If the wind is blowing 300 miles an hour you can't jump out of a plane. Well, you can. You just won't make it to the ground with a parachute.

Me- ohhh...

***

Navy- So let me ask you this- if you went into infantry in the Marines, what would you do with that when you got out? There's not a lot of call for guys who just know how to kill people.

Sean- well I'd probably start out with bank robbing and depending upon my level of success and degree of enjoyment, I might try out serial killing.

Me- he's a bit of a smart ass. Good luck with that.

***

Navy- and since you're stuck on the boat for six months and get a little stir crazy, we stop in different ports so you can have some R&R.

Me- and that's how the Navy got their reputation. Shore Leave.

Sean- She's a bit of a smart ass too.

Navy- must be where you get it.

Later in the car, Sean and I were discussing his options. And I asked about search and rescue or being a Navy diver.

Sean: I hate rescuing people.

Me: But you're a lifeguard.

Sean: I know and I hate it. I had to rescue ten kids this summer and I hate it. I just want to say "Listen moron, if you can't swim that well you probably shouldn't be in water over your head."

Me: But you still saved them.

Sean: And you know the stupidest rescue? The one where the kid was wearing a life jacket. For criminy sake! A life jacket! Swim your ass back to shore! And out of ten rescues? Only one kid said "thank you."

Me: Really? That is kind of sucky. I'd totally thank someone if they rescued me.

Sean: Yeah, and that was one I pulled out for hypothermia. Poor kid apologized for having to be rescued and then said thank you. But I still had to get in that cold water and he got my shirt and towel wet also so I was freezing after that.

Me: So rescue of any kind is out for Sean, the reluctant lifeguard. So noted.

See, total ridiculousness. It's what we do. Also, if Lu doesn't stop being so damn picky and find a dress for her wedding soon, I'm going to pull my hair out. She has no clue what she wants. She won't even decide on a flower for the bouquet. We have two weeks left here folks. Two short weeks. Arghhhh...

TGIF,
♥Spot

PS- first I bitch about not getting enough comments and then I hide the comment thingie. Smart, eh? For those of you having trouble- it's invisible until you roll over it with your mouse. It's right by the time stamp. I'll try to get it back....