Is Jack finally done growing?

At a recent comedy show! We were a bit early 🙂

Maybe Jack finally stopped growing (6’2” and only 16 so probably not?) I have been measuring him semi regularly on a wall inside my closet since he was about one and a half. 😍

There are dozens of marks… I would put what grade Jack was in, his teacher’s name then his height and age and the date. It’s a total memory wall. I measured myself a couple of times over the last decade. After the height went down a quarter of an inch one time I just stopped measuring. LOL! Don’t wanna know! (Lalalalalalala)

So anyway back to the closet. Right to the side of where I measure Jack are the shelves where I keep my folded jeans, pants (slacks LOL) and leggings etc. over the years the piles grew and even styles changed somewhat drastically … I had some wide legged pants and a few boot cut … like what??? The piles were getting out of hand and as Jack got taller, and broader, it was hard for him to squish in to the space between the door and these shelves for me to accurately measure him. It was a struggle and I would just cram the jeans in even tighter to make room.

Fast forward to the last few weeks (leading up to today actually) and me watching many episodes of Marie Kondo’s shows… first the Tidying one and now the Spark Joy show. If you haven’t watched any of these shows, give em a whirl. She makes you want to eliminate all the clutter in your closets, bookshelves and cabinets.

Side note: Jack is in the shower and possibly singing Billy Joel, I can’t really tell. Or maybe it’s Kanye.

Ok, so I’ve been cleaning out my closets and drawers. 5 garbage bags of shirts and misc. clothing have already gone to Goodwill. Five!!!!

Today I got to the jeans shelves. I filled one giant hefty bag full of various pants and pant-like things. Jeans, leggings, camo, cropped leggings, a jegging or two, NY & Co slacks hahahah I hate that word. But now… you can move freely in my closet (it’s a small walk in.) and Jack will comfortably stand tall against the measuring wall the next time we measure him.

me: Jack, go look in my closet.

Jack: Why what’d you do now?

me: I got rid of a full garbage bag of jeans.

Jack: You wear jeans?

me: Go look!

Jack: Woah, you can actually move in here without being assaulted by your shelves.

me: Should we measure you?

Jack: You just did like 2 weeks ago and I haven’t grown since.

me: Do you think you’ve stopped growing?

Jack: I hope so. I’m ready to get serious about buying some clothes.

Hahaha

It’s funny to think about how many times (probably a hundred or more) Jack would outgrow new clothes even before he wore them due to waiting for the right season. He would get summer clothes for his birthday which is in the dead of winter, and then nothing would fit by July. We had to be very strategic or just buy exactly what he needed that day.

Even if he stops growing soon-ish, I think we are good stopping at a size 12-13 shoe and 34” inseam. Let’s not push it any further. I can’t afford the grocery bills!!!

Happy New Year; Soon Jack Will Turn 16!

At the park working on an extra credit assignment for school. They had to solve a riddle and then go find the location and send in a selfie of them near the location. Jack was the first to turn in the assignment just like the last time!!

We’re so happy to put 2020 behind us and look forward to new beginnings in 2021. Nothing immediate has changed, and we’re still working and schooling remotely and still facing the stress of this pandemic, but we have a chance to make this year as good as we can.

Last year ended with us all doing things in ways that we would never have predicted… school fully online, no winter indoor sports or gym training, no big family parties, and no staples like going to the movies, or waiting in a crowded line to get into a popular restaurant for a crowded and noisy dinner. Everything we did was quieter, more home-based and with smaller gatherings, etc.

We still had a great Christmas, and stayed up to ring in the New Year (albeit with the slightly creepy and mildly deserted New York Times Square broadcast…). We’ve un-Christmassed the house and it’s been back to “normal” for a few weeks.

Until…

Jack’s birthday.!! 🥳🥳🥳

Oh, and this year is the first of the BIG ONEs. 16.

😱😱🥳🥳

The 16th birthday is more important, I think, for girls, because it’s their ‘sweet’ 16 (I wouldn’t dare call this Jack’s sweet 16 birthday haha), but it is symbolic just the same because now Jack will be old enough to get his driver’s permit. And, in the US and Canada, we think this is a cause for celebration! Yikes! I’ve seen my share of teen-related accidents in my town and even in my neighborhood. Not fun! But, there’s no stopping it.

And, Jack’s girlfriend turned 16 in November AND is driving, so Jack has some catching up to do.

In a few months Jack will take his driver’s permit test. The next available opening is in April, so we have some time to prepare ourselves and Jack has time to study. Those pesky questions about how many feet you need to park away from a fire hydrant (10 I believe?) and how many seconds you need to wait after passing someone before you can pull back in front of them (No seconds actually, you have to wait until you can see both headlights first…) are waiting to trip him up.

But, Jack is determined and has been studying already and also quizzing his friends that have already taken, and passed, their permit tests. He should do fine.

Getting a car will be the other fun task this year. Some things have me wishing it would stay 2020 a bit longer.

One of the things Jack got for Christmas was a shoulder bag (cough, man purse). I wasn’t sure he would like it so naturally I bought two! One for me! And it turns out he did like it. On the way to. Ew York last weekend he came downstairs with it sling around his shoulder cross-body style with the “purse” bag part in the front.

Jack: This is so convenient! Look, I have my phone and my air pods and… I don’t have to dig around in my pockets.

me: And that’s why even carry purses.

Jack: I totally get it now! Everything is literally right here!

Hahahaha, how funny. And Jack also got a rowing machine for Christmas, which sits right in the middle of the living room. So very convenient. Right?

Tomorrow I’ll make Jack’s yearly physical exam which always makes us laugh as we remember the horrors of past appointments and worrying about the dreaded “shots”. There is literally nothing on this earth that Jack was more afraid of than getting a shot. Nothing. The day after an appointment in which he did get a shot in his arm, Jack would start crying about the next year and possibility of another shot. I had to calm him down time and time again. This year we drive past his doctor’s office.

me: (pointing) It’s time.

Jack: (looks over and sees the office building) Noooo.

me: Yep, you have to get your physical soon.

Jack: I am not getting any shots!!!

me: I don’t know about that. It might be time.

Jack: Well I’m not getting the finger prick!

(Umm, you know…The tiny one they give you to take a tiny drop of blood?)

me: Geez Jack, that doesn’t hurt.

Jack: Yes it does. I’m not giving any blood. They can just use my blood from last year.

And, there you have it. Though he’s 6-foot 2, he’s still my little boy.

And it will soon be time for me to change the blog header haha. 11 years! Wow.

Thanks for reading.

🙂

Jack fighting Darth Vader at age 2

Jack and his girlfriend on New Years Eve, ready to go-kart!

‘All About Easter’ and 10 Years Of Blogging!

It’s hard to believe that 10 years have passed since my first blog post, on 4/2/10… a few days before Easter on Good Friday 2010.

I almost forgot this momentous anniversary, except I saw a blog post from former co-worker and current consultant Closet Fashionista today and she was celebrating 10 years writing her blog! Go check it out, it’s really addicting if you’re into fashion.

Another blog written by ANOTHER former co- worker which probably started around the same time (though I’m not certain it was within days of our 2 blogs) is: So What Are You Making For Dinner. If you love to eat, or cook, this ones for you!

Now, my silly little blog is only meant for entertainment and journaling my boy’s (ahem) witty convos. He’s still saying sh*t so I’m still writing.

Here’s the first post I ever wrote…

You can click on the link or read it below. Choices!!

…………….

ALL ABOUT EASTER

April 2, 2010

So, the first-ever post started like this.

Jack: Why are we taking the parkway?
me: Because it’s Good Friday and there is hardly any traffic.

Jack: What’s Good Friday?

me: It’s a religious holiday that falls on the Friday before Easter.

Jack: They’re telling a lie because tomorrow is NOT Easter.

me: Well, Sunday is Easter, and tomorrow night is actually when the Easter Bunny comes to our house! (trying to change the topic…!)

Jack: The Easter Bunny comes tomorrow night? Yayyy! (pauses with frown). Wait, is Sunday the day that Grandpa Louie comes over to eat?

me: Yes, he comes over on Easter to eat dinner with us and Uncle John and —

Jack: (interrupting me) But do I get my Easter Basket BEFORE Grandpa comes over?

me: Yep. You’ll have the basket in the morning, before anyone comes over.

Jack: (Sticks his thumb back in his mouth and grunts his approval. Conversation is over.)

…………..

And there you have it… the first ever post from me to you about Jack haha.

Today I gave Jack my first ever full hair cut. Aside from when I cut off his little pigtail curl when he was maybe 18 months old or something. This was full on top to bottom cutting!

me: So, should we cut it now?

Jack: Yeah, sigh, might as well.

me: Alright, get in the bathtub (my hair salon location haha)

Jack: Try not to mess me up too badly. Just take a little off the sides and….

me: Hahahaha! That’s like telling Anna (Jack’s 5-year-old cousin) how to fly a jumbo jet. Do you think I’m gonna retain that! I’m just going in!

(With a tiny baby comb and dull scissors… gasp!)

Jack: You’re not supposed to soak my head with that spray bottle, just make it damp.

me: Moca ate the tip off the bottle, so now all it does is that.

Jack: It’s cold! Go warm up the water!

me: Sheesh Jack, do you ask the barber to warm up the water when you’re with Dad?

Jack: They don’t use ice water.

I wait 5 minutes for the water to warm up and stare at Jack sitting on a chair in the tub, wearing a robe and draped with a beach towel.

He stares back.

me: There. Water all cozy now?

Jack: Ahhhh that’s better.

I start at the back making sections and trying to perform “guides” and such hahaha but I’m

Basically just hacking off pieces as best I can from the memories of watching hundreds of Jack’s haircuts over the last 13 years or so. He was bald until maybe close to age 2 … FYI.

Jack: My neck is tired from looking that way.

me: Well I can’t get around you on that side and I don’t have a chair that goes up and down so you have to keep your head where I say.

Jack: My foots asleep!

(He jerks his leg making me almost lip off his ear.)

me: Jack you have to sit still. Pretend I’m Paula (the hairdresser he sees when he’s with me). Would you jump around and yell in her chair?

Jack: She’s a professional and doesn’t take an hour.

I stare at him. He stares back.

me: Can I continue?

Jack: Please do.

Meanwhile, with every snip, PoBobo is jumping around on the floor trying to catch the flyaway pieces of hair. My bathroom looks like I shaved a Wookie.

(Side note, here’s a blog post about when Jack thought he WAS a Wookie…and possibly other various furry and disgusting creatures haha.)

So, I finished up and Jack was pretty pleased. I measured a few side pieces the way the “pros” do and made a few additional snips. The side is a little weird looking but not too bad!

I hope you all annoyed this trip down memory lane and for those of you that have literally followed us for 10 years…. THANK YOU!!’

Here’s to 10 more 😂😯😯

Actually I’ll let Jack take over the blog when he has kids someday. Omg can you imagine? I hope they are just like him.

HAPPY EASTER ALSO!

Also, two more important things to note… Jack’s oldest female cousin turned 19 today! Happy birthday Victoria!!

And, another one of Jack’s cousins (the Marine) had his first baby yesterday! (Well, his wife did haha.) Happy Birthday Maverick!!

😍😍😷😷

3.19.20

I’m currently listening to Jack upstairs on Xbox talking to his friend from England. It seems like a regular night, except he would never be allowed to play Xbox on a school night. Tonight isn’t a typical school night. So much has changed since my last post it’s hard to wrap my head around it.

The only thing I see or hear about all day long (unless I stop listening) is the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). In January we hadn’t even heard of the virus and were celebrating Jack’s 15th birthday. In February we were still praying for Australia to stop burning. In mid-Feb, at least here in CT, we really started to hear the news of the virus spreading. But still, it was “so far away.” Is t it always? Until it’s right in your back yard.

I flew out to California just in the nick of time and made it back by March 2nd just before the shit really started to hit the fan.

Now, just two weeks later, we are working 100% remotely, schools are closed, and you fear going to the grocery store for milk. We’ve all stocked up on food and supplies. We are being very selective about who we will see in person, even avoiding our own family members. The infected numbers are rising and people are beginning to die very close to home.

Jack and I have hunkered down in a sort of uneasy truce. I’m all “we are going to keep a similar routine during the week” and he’s all “I don’t have any school work whatsoever to do!” Which has been true up til now. Enrichment … that was all we could do for studies… and let me tell you, that will only go so far. This boy needs structure and will thrive on it. I’m very glad our town finally handed out the distance learning protocol, at least from a few of Jack’s classes. He was hard at work at 8am. (Luckily we didn’t have to get up at the god-awful hour of 5:55) This is much more humane!

And, since I don’t have to drive to work, and then home again for lunch, I’m saving an hour and a half of driving each day. Woohoo!

Jack: Can I go play Xbox now?

me: It’s 10am Jack, Sheesh!

Jack: But I did all my work.

me: We have to keep a regular schedule so go read something.

Jack: I don’t have anything left to do!

me: On school days you—

Jack: It’s not a school day because we don’t have school!

me: I have some chores for you then.

Jack: On school days I don’t have chores! Ha!

Repeat this in various ways about 15 times and you’ll almost be where I am mentally right now. 😱

Jack spent some time with his nerf guns, dug out some old army guys and set up a battalion for the cats to knock over, he has cooked dinner twice and baked a banana cake, he vacuumed and cleaned a few toilets. These are things that wouldn’t have happened a few weeks ago. I’m going to try and be thankful for the little things. We’ve been forced to slow down, which is exactly what we needed.

For now, we will look fir the silver lining… we are healthy, settled in comfortably at home and currently wanting for nothing. Many are much worse off than we are. I have nothing to complain about. Except when Jack and his friends hold impromptu remote kazoo concerts. (Don’t ask)

I hope you are all safe as well and getting through this tough time as best you can. Keep looking for the silver lining, which is time with your families that you most likely would not have gotten under normal circumstances.

Peace and love from our house to yours!

(Gotta run, Moca is playing with a piece of cat poop again for the 2nd time today!!!!)

Gahhh!

Why my gym pisses me off

me: Let’s go to the gym

Jack: I have to finish this game first.

me: Hurry up, because we’ll never get a parking spot.

(30 minutes later)

me: Ugh! No parking spots! Do you remember what we did last time we were here and couldn’t find a spot?

Jack: Yeah, we left and went to eat at Bill’s. (restaurant)

me: I’m SO about to do that now. I’m starving AND I want to work out!

Jack: I’m not hungry now.

(10 minutes later)

me: That’s it we’re going home. We can workout in front of the TV.

Jack: You should just park on the curb. If we’re going home then I’m going to do my math homework.

me: We have to do our exercise first!

Jack: I had gym today. in school. YOU can do your exercise in front of the TV. My homework is more important anyway.

me: We should just do a little bit…

Jack: I’ll do some exercise after homework and after dinner.

me: No way, I can’t workout after I eat. I’ll just do it by myself now and then we’ll eat dinner.

Jack: I told you I wasn’t hungry, so you said let’s go to the gym and you’ll be hungry after. Now we’re going home and not working out, and I won’t be hungry so I don’t want dinner anyway. All your plans backfired.

me: Yep they did.

In Health Class We Learned…

me: I totally listened to my intuition today and it payed off finally!

Jack: How?

me: I was leaving for work and I wanted to check to see if both cats were out and not locked in anything, but I was in a rush and just wanted to leave for work. But instead, I stopped and listened to the voice in my head, which I usually ignore, and decided to call the kitties for a treat.

Jack: Voices huh?

me: Voice! Intuition Jack! And so I called “treeeaaaaat” and only one kitty showed up. Luna was locked in my closet. So, if I just left for work she would’ve been trapped for hours and hours…

Jack: That reminds me, in health class we learned about schizophrenia …

me: Sigh…

Quote of the day -sick at school

Jack had a cold last week for a couple of days and we doctored him up and sent him to school anyway. It wasn’t that terrible, and he didn’t have a fever, but he had a sore throat and was kind of rundown.

Sad to say it hit me on Friday, I perked up yesterday, and today I feel like dog poop. But I just tend to ignore it and then it usually goes away … kind of like a Jedi mind trick :-).

I was talking to Jack about his sore throat and asked if it made it hard for him to talk in class. (Which might actually be a good thing LOL).

Jack: Nooooo. I actually talk the most in the classes I hate so I can get those teachers sick.

Such a nice boy… 🙂

Walk more!

People in my town don’t walk anywhere. They drive. Or possibly jog. Maybe they hook their bikes onto their bike rack on the car hitch and drive to a nice trail. But no one is hardly EVER out walking; occasional senior or dog walker aside. And definitely not with their kids. And definitely not to a store or place that serves food! Such as Dunkin’ Donuts, where Jack, his friend and I were headed. And we were walking!

I make Jack and his friends take a walk with us the morning after a sleepover. It’s been dubbed “The Forced March” by some of his friends. Some don’t want to come back for sleepovers. But those that do seem to enjoy it.

I give a dollar to the kid that finds the best treasure. Treasures have to be the property of no one and something worthy of keeping. Like a golf ball or quarter, or even a cell phone (which we found once). A dollar goes to the kid with the best behavior. And we generally have lots of fun. People driving by either smile or look at us like we’re insane.

After 2 minutes of walking, both kids had their winter coats off (it was cold when we left and now of course they complained that they were HOT) and of course I was carrying them. Ugh! I started to overheat.

Today we saw a turkey vulture, an eagle, and saved a very friendly dog from being hit by a car.  Jack brought his GoPro camera and he and his friend walked and shot videos, while dodging cars and balancing on fences.

We passed a yard that had free stuff at the curb and the boys dove in. They came out of the pile with 2 golf clubs each. Score! We had been looking for a putter yesterday. Good timing. They proceeded to yell FORE and whack acorns for the next mile or so until we crossed the main road and our target was in sight. And typical…I was now also carrying the tripod and GoPro camera!

In Dunkin Donuts Jack set the camera up on the table and got lots of looks and comments. Took us about 40 minutes to get there what with the multiple circle backs to see if the rock they smashed was still in one piece, or if the shiny thing they just stepped on was a gum wrapper or a coin. 🙂 Customers asked us if we were filming a movie or if the camera had something to do with sports.

I enjoyed the attention as always and I liked that the kids were having fun and getting exercise and also spending time with me.

And, as I always do when I have some of Jack’s friends with me, I enjoyed the fact that people assume they’re all my kids. I yell at them all the same if they misbehave, and treat them as if they were my own. Sorry parents! 😉  I think I would have enjoyed two or three kids but it just wasn’t in the cards. Hellooo 47th birthday that just passed. Oh and helllooooo lack of a boyfriend. Certain things kind of need to be in place when you want a bigger family. Sooooo….

Jack: I’m going to do some putts when we get inside.

me: No, you’re not bringing those in…lean em against the wall by the door.

Jack: Awwww.

me: And don’t get me in any of your videos. (gah!)

Jack: Well we can film some guy stuffing a bagel in his face and then make fun of him!

me: Uh, noooo? No pointing the camera at strangers. If they walk by its o.k., but don’t say anything about them.

Jack: Awwwwww!!!!

me: And by the way, when we leave, I’m leaving the coats here and I’ll have to drive back and get them, this is ridiculous … I’m not carrying all this stuff…

(I coerced the cashier to stow them in the back until I returned.)

Jack: (as we were leaving) But now I’m cold! I need my coat!

me: Not happening. You’ll warm up. Walk faster.

We passed by the golf clubs again and the boys grabbed more stuff. Now I was holding the tripod and an occasional golf club. Sigh. We sort of looked like hobos.

Jack: This was so awesome! I love walking and finding stuff.

Friend: My foot is rubbed raw so I’m going to stop at my house. Can you walk home and get my stuff and then drive to pick up our coats and THEN come get us???

Jack: Yeah my toe is sore.

me: Sheesh. It was only 4 miles….

Jack: Yeah but we’re young and you could use the exercise so you can add more steps to your Fitbit!

Said like he was doing me a favor. 🙂

We then had a fun afternoon of mini golf, laser tag, praying mantis watching and apple picking! 16,749 steps today yo!!!

Best Pancakes, a wolf spider and the croup

Yep. Jack’s home sick with croup and a wicked fever. He wasn’t very hungry until after the Motrin kicked in. I decided to make the most wicked pancakes ever. Want the recipe?

Jack: Mom, these are the best pancakes ever! Well, I haven’t tried them yet but when I do I know they’ll be the best.

me: Nice.

Here’s the Pancake recipe (I’ve posted it before… But what the heck.)

Mix dry ingredients…
– 1 cup flour
– 1 teaspoon baking powder
– 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
– 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Then add wet:
– 1 + 1/3 cup milk (any kind…)
– 1 beaten egg
– 2 tablespoons melted butter
– 1/2 teaspoon real vanilla

Mix only until blended and largest lumps are gone. Use a pretty hot griddle. I set mine for 350 and flip them when the bubbles rise to the top. Yum!

So…we finished eating pancakes and sat on the couch to watch Star Wars. Episode 4. Again.

I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. It was black and moving quickly. I jumped back and realized it was one of the wolf spiders that lived in our Christmas tree. I had forgotten about them. I had found a few dead ones after I stopped watering the tree and thought they were all gone. This one landed on the table and literally turned to look at me and then backed slowly away. Yeesh.

Okay I’m gonna get back to the boy with the fever and the 59th episode of Good Luck Charlie.

And that’s why I hate the holiday season

I had to take Jack to see his pulmonary doctor today. After 4 days of calls from the school nurse I had to admit that Jack’s “cold” wasn’t getting any better. It was pretty asthmatic sounding with lots of wheezing.

The doctor said I had done the right combination of inhalers so at least we weren’t dealing with a critical situation like last time. Whew!

Jack: Do I have to go to sparring??

me: Yep.

Jack: But I couldn’t breathe!

me: You’re fine now. We will keep an eye on it ok?

Jack: What was he saying about the flu?

me: That you could get a flu shot to help avoid any more lung problems.

Jack: When, like when I’m 8?

me: No, like in the next week or so…

Jack: Whaaaaatt???!!! Nooooo!!!!

me: Calm down… It…

Jack: (cutting me off) And THAT is why I hate the holiday season!! It’s the season of shots!!!!