The back of the Suburban is full-to-the-roof with cardboard for recycling. We've stopped by twice in the last week, only to find that the bin is completely jam-packed. I don't think you could fit a flattened shirt box in there. The boys and I talked about how this could be encouraging (SO many people are recycling their cardboard) or discouraging (the folks who look after the bins are not keeping up very well), and that often we can choose how we'll look at things. My knee-jerk reaction is the latter (the' slackin' dogs), but I make a conscientious decision to pick the former (how wonderful that it's not just us!) in order that the boys will learn to be more positive. It's either going to work like a charm, or they're going to decide their mother is a bi-polar hypocrite. Not sure which, but one can hope. Anyway, today was trash day, and I've *got* to get the Suburban cleaned out. So I really hope the recycle bins are empty today. :-S
The Big Boys returned from their Cub Adventure Weekend with Scouts. They had a good time, although all three of them (Zorak included) said it was a little over-regulated. Saturday's activities started at 6:30AM, and ran in one-hour blocks, back-to-back, until after 8PM, with the only free time being a small slot after lunch. If you had to pee, or wanted ice cream, you had to miss the opening portion of your next activity. From what they heard, last year's camp was badly under-planned, so this seems to have been a pendulum year, as the council tries to find the right blend. Next year's camp-out should be a happy medium. And, in the end, it was time well-spent for the guys. They had a good time, stuffed themselves silly at Huddle House (which Zorak describes as a "clean Waffle House," if you can imagine such a thing) on the way out, and were home before noon Sunday morning.
I forgot to remind James not to argue about government guidelines. Oops. So during the nutrition & cooking segment, he decided to die on the whole-milk vs. skim-milk hill. *sigh* It's hard to live in a grey world when you see things so very black-and-white. I forget how hard it is to grow up, to learn that keeping your philosophies to yourself doesn't mean you're compromising your principles, to realize that it's okay to quietly live your life while you smile and nod... and yet, in the process, still learn that it's important to stand up for what you know is right, that you have to speak up against abuse and manipulation, that you can't go with the flow (if everybody else jumped off a bridge... yeah, yeah, we know). Pick your battles. Stand firm. Be flexible. Gah! I forget what a tricky landmine maze Life is to maneuver! He's learning, though, and I really believe he'll be just fine in the end.
It was good to have them back. I'm not sure who was more excited: Smidge, who just about burst blood vessels in his head from squealing when they arrived (he did ten laps up and down the hallway, doing his Paul Revere impression, before the guys got to the front door); EmBaby, who had been looking for them all weekend; Me, who really missed them in so many ways I didn't expect to. Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder. Last night we had hot dogs and kielbasa on the grill, made s'mores, and told jokes all evening. It was wonderful to hear jokes that make sense again! I could even hang with the off-color bodily fluid humor... for a little while. ;-)
And today, we have much preparation to do! We have big plans for this weekend! But BabyJ is up, so that'll have to wait for a later post.
Kiss those babies!
~Dy
4 comments:
So, is it whole or skim? And why? Just wonderin'.
LOL, Jenni. I wondered after I posted if someone would ask. We drink whole. We'd drink fresh, if we could get it. We also prefer whole milk yogurt, and avoid lowfat/nonfat dairy products as much as possible. The gov't recommends skim/lowfat milk and lowfat/nonfat dairy products in general. You've seen pics of my kids - they'd blow away in a gentle breeze if we used lowfat foods! And that's what we've *tried* to convey to them - that guidelines are just that, suggestions, not hard-and-fast rules. Each family has to determine what it needs to do, and practice due diligence with regard to diet. (Well, with regard to everything, but in this case, dietary guidelines.)
We've talked about obesity and how it relates to diet, lifestyle, and medical problems (ie. - that a person's diet and lifestyle are not the only reasons for weight problems - I had a sister who was extremely obese her whole life due to heart/lung problems) - and how the gov't puts out recommendations that have to cover the whole spectrum, but may not apply to them at all. As long as you learn enough to know what you need to do, and then do it, instead of relying on what the gov't tells you to do, you're good to go.
Still working on the whole process, though. :-)
Dy
Dy, the idea of you as a bi-polar hypocrite made me laugh for the first time all morning. (It's been a rough day/week/long time lately!) Thanks! :)
"It's either going to work like a charm, or they're going to decide their mother is a bi-polar hypocrite." LOL!!
You are funny! :)
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