Colton rocks.

Here's his rendition of events:

"They read the names over the loudspeaker. There's like 1,000 kids so I never think it will be me. I was reading. I wasn't listening. Then they read my name. I was like, What? And my friend said Colton that's you. They gave me a Fanta Orange pop and now my picture will be in the newsletter. Oh and there's a bumper sticker but it's for dad because I gave you my Honor Student one last time."

(grin)

I've been wanting Abbey to be part of this group ever since listening to the founder speak a few years ago. Am hoping it will be all the good stuff of Girl Scouts, without patches or cookie sales, and with good old-fashioned running instead.

Basically, Girls on the Run is all about "educating and preparing girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living." (Oh if I could go back in time - maybe get 1990-1994 back, at least.)

Jordin and Emily K. from my office helped as assistant coaches last fall, and highly recommend the program. So here we go!

Abbey is very excited - way more than I'd thought she'd be, actually. They meet with coaches two days a week through May, when they run a 5k.

ME: "So... this totally balances out your moodiness now through age 20, right?"

HER: "What?"

ME: "Maybe I need to manage my expectations."

In anticipation, I ran a 5k on the treadmill last week. You know, just to see how I'd do. Went about as well as I thought it would... Good thing Ab needs me to practice with her.

Read all about Girls on the Run here.

They're both mad at me because "Clouds" and "Jupiter" didn't exactly wow anybody at the science fair.

Apparently, this is my fault. Lame topic. Lame execution. How did the never-good-enough world of advertising bleed into my parenting responsibilities, again?

So here's how it went:

ERIC: Nobody liked my presentation. They thought it sucked. Will won first place for making electricity with lemons.

ME: Sorry.

ABBEY: We didn't win! Everybody voted on Nicholas' project as the best. We wasted our time!

ME: Sorry.

Oh well, at least they learned something. Next year we'll all try to be more exciting.

It's been brought to my attention that, judging by recent posts, I only have a daughter and no sons.

Ack.

Here's a shot of the boys on SuperBowl Sunday, when I allowed them to drink Pepsi and eat caramel corn, cream puffs, chips/cheese and (sugar-free, yay me) Jello for supper. They may or may not have ingested ham sandwiches and veggies. I put those things on the table anyway.

They're doing great. Eric is prepping for big 2nd grade play in a few weeks ... "Dinomotion" - in which he was going to be a "really cool meat eater" and is now "a really lame girly leaf eater." He still signs "I love you' every morning upon getting dropped off at school. (Can't actually say it, somebody might hear.)

Colton is rockin' the 4.0s and accelerated everything in middle school, and still talks about attending MIT nearly every day. He also dug and slept in his own snow cave a few weeks ago (Boy Scouts = insanity) - and can theoretically beat nearly any Wii game known to man within days. Although there's no way we'll ever let him test his theory.

First, BEG AND PLEAD with your father for at least two years.

Cite numerous examples of pierced friends (to your father).

Point out babies and toddlers with pierced ears (to your father).

After two-year waiting period, assure father via pinky-swear that you will NEVER EVER EVER get your nose or navel pierced.

(Ensure father does not receive said pinky-swear in writing.)

Get mom to drive you to the mall before father changes his mind.

Afterwards, exclaim in an annoyed tone ... "What do you mean I can't take them out for 8 weeks?"

IMAGE 1: before...

IMAGE 2: during...

IMAGE 3: after!

"First I have my bow and arrow, and then rip one part off with the string, and then I put it down from the steps, then I put an alarm on there, set it on, press start, and wherever the string pulls it will alarm like that. (ALARM RINGING) See that, Mom? And then when he walks by, he will hit the string, it will fall on his head and then alarm."

ME: "So how is this a prank and not just a booby trap?"

ERIC: "Because it's a prank because in pranks usually people get hurt. Boogie traps are only nets, poison, swords and bombs."

ME: "Hmmm."

ERIC: "I'm hoping it doesn't fall on dad. If it hits dad oh my gosh I'm in big trouble. Hey is that my graham cracker?"

(I'll let you know how it goes...)

She's 9 today ... and too moody for a morning picture, but I'm betting the cake/presents tonight will bring out a few smiles.

Until then, here's an oldie from last August:

We picked out pumpkins on 10/30 - as you can see, the pickins get extremely slim when you live in Last Minute Land.

Ab: "This one is gross!"

Eric: "This one isn't round."

Me: "You guys want a pumpkin or not?"

Colton: (quiet acceptance)

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2nd antibiotic not working - so now she's getting the super-secret-nuclear-shock-n-awe antibiotics. Hope to go home from hospital tomorrow. More soon...

UPDATE TUESDAY 9/22: She's feeling much better and doc says we'll probably go home today. Hooray! So glad it wasn't worse.

BACKGROUND: It started almost a week ago - sent home from school after lunch last Monday. Then a steady progression of 103+ fever days, flu tests (negative), strep tests (negative), antibiotics (ineffective), tons of DVD movies (boring) - and missed school Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.

Took her in to the 2nd doc yesterday and after blood tests and chest Xray we found the cause. Pneumonia in the left lung. (The picture is taken with her back facing the xray, so it's backwards). Poor kid! But at least now we know what's going on.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

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