Tow Trucks

Well . . . the weekend was full! There was bike riding and basketball . . . cheers and ice cream . . . I think the girls changed clothes 126 times each. And what I may have loved most was that when it was time for Mags to go home, after 48 hours, they acted like they hadn't had enough time together.

Friends. What precious gifts they are. Maggie and Caroline have been friends since they were 0 and 1. . . they have gone through every stage together. They have fought with each other and for each other. And at the end of the day, they'd like another hour together.

My Granny had a very, very best friend. They were like one person . . . they hurt with each other, they laughed with each other, they cried with each other, they knew each others' secrets and fears and dreams. Mrs. Ab and Gran were quite the pair. They schemed and pranked and cooked and raised their kids together. You knew trouble wasn't far behind if you ever saw their shoulders shaking in laughter. They solved the world's problems in Granny's Honda while drinking their Senior Citizen cokes in the Wal-Mart parking lot. But I think what made their friendship so unbreakable was that through it all they knew they had each other's back and that their own back was covered. They had a code when something was wrong and they needed the other one . . . they would call and say, "The ox is in the ditch." And that was all that needed to be said. Whoever called knew that she wasn't alone in her situation anymore. There wasn't a question or a doubt about whether Granny or Abilene would drop everything to help.

God knows me well. He knows that I need some tow truck friends when my oxes get in ditches. It's a phrase I use with my mom and it's a reliability I know I have with my close circle. Recently, I have felt so blessed when I am with my friends. I look around at them and think, "Really?! THEY LIKE ME?! ME?!" I am so thankful to God and to these special girls. It is such a privilege to rally around them when they need it. There is such honor and intimacy when you know people's junk as well as their good stuff. And there is such peace to know there are those out there who will guard your secrets with their life or bring you a meal when life is hard or call you because they were thinking about you or ask the real questions when you talk. (Of course we have to intersperse who we think Brad will pick on the Bachelor and our favorite spring trends . . . we are still girls!!)

So to my tow trucks . . . thanks! I treasure you all and I love being allowed to pull your oxes out too! We weren't meant to do this life alone and I am so thankful I get to do it with y'all!

Fun Friday!!

Yay for the weekend!! Today is Friday . . . the end of a week of fever at the Bass house . . . Bo is running fever again (he was sick Monday) and I will be glad to have Josh home all day tomorrow and Sunday. There's just something about knowing that you have back-up with sick kids that makes it more bearable.

Bo has received lots of love and attention and even sympathy from his baby sister. I am amazed at how chatty Sascha is. Bo was pretty delayed with his speech (still is) and Tru was not a big talker, so it's been several years since we had a talkative toddler. She cracked me up today while I was putting Bo in the bath in an attempt to make him feel better. She was crying because she wanted to take a bath with him. I said, "No, sister, you cannot get in there because Bobo is sick." And just as plain as day she looked at me and said, "Oh my gosh. Poor BO! That is so sad!"

We're not all Motrin and thermometers here . . . Caroline's friend, Maggie, is spending the weekend with us and the girls are so excited! We have started calling her Maggie Bass because she is going to be one of us for the next few days. If I had to predict, I would guess there will be a lot of dancing and dress up and begging for someone to take them rolling. (Watch your trees, folks, these girls love to decorate with toilet paper!)

Could this post be more boring? Try me back on Monday . . . I'm sure Mags and Care will have provided me with plenty of humorous stories to retell!

I'm ok.....

Day 1 without ddp in the books....39 to go! Can I confess how habitual my drinking is? I got to Target today and felt weird not going to lane 5 to get my drink. I was getting ready to workout this morning and looking forward to my post exercise Sonic run when I realized if I go I have to get tea. I am so thankful that I have not had headaches; I am So sleepy and passed out between 8-8:30 last night. Anyway. I promise the next 38 posts won't be about how I am filling my days without he fizz, but today, it's all I got!

Withdrawls, Job Titles, and other random thoughts

I hope that I am not violating a Biblical principle by sharing this . . . really, I do, but if I am really writing about our family, then this is VERY RELEVANT!! So just know I'm not trying to be like a Pharisee or anything . . . just sharing.

I decided to give up Diet Dr. Pepper for Lent. I know. And yes, you read that right. If you have read 3 random blogs of mine, chances are good I invoked the name of Diet Dr. Pepper in at least 2 of them. I love my DDP (but because I will "suffer" through a Diet Coke when the best isn't available, I am really giving up all carbonated beverages). If I understand the point of fasting correctly, it is not about me proving what I can or can't do (although, I will be honest, one of the biggest hesitations I had in doing this was that I might fail because I am morbidly afraid of vomit, dentists, and failure!). Fasting is a physical way to remind me of my need for God or to be reminded to lay something before Him. The idea being, every time I have the urge to grab a DDP, I take a moment and spend some time praying or reflecting on God and who He is and what He has done. My mom and I laughed that I will praying all the time if I do that. Not a bad side effect. (Assuming the extreme dip in caffeine intake coupled with closing my eyes to pray does not equal falling asleep all the time instead.)

I had been contemplating giving them up anyway, or at least cutting back, because on our community group retreat, part of my answer to the question, "what relaxes you?", was a good bottle of Diet Dr. Pepper. Obviously, there are other things that relax me, but it was such an easy and true answer that I got a little concerned about my love for the fizz.

So . . . if I seem disoriented or mad or shaky or tired, just know that the tea and water and alternating aleve and ibuprofen aren't cutting my withdrawl enough. And maybe pray for my family who must endure this 40 days with me.

In related news, perhaps one reason I am dependent on the DDP so much is the crazy life that we lead. Caroline asked me today what a mom of one of her friends did for her job. I told her I didn't know and she should ask her friend. And in a moment of fatigue and humor, I said, and if she asks you what your mom does, tell her I run a circus. That is definitely what it feels like.

And, finally, I have never claimed to be a woman with lots of confidence. I am also a people pleaser and the thought of offending someone unnerves me. So let me just say to follower #16 who quit following me, I am sorry. For whatever I did to make you leave me. I hope it wasn't our dental issues or the fact that I let my daughter dress like a modern day modest Madonna; perhaps you heard that Sascha glued her lips together with superglue and feel you need to distance yourself from my delinquent parenting. Whatever the case may be, #16, you are always welcome back.

And if the randomness of this post doesn't attest to the fact that I am in withdrawl, maybe the confession that I have reached for the bottle that isn't there several times while posting will.

Rock Star Morning

Today is dress like a rock star day at school. Caroline has been counting down the days for over a week now. That child loves an opportunity to dress up and wear lipstick. Oh dear. We are in trouble. 

Last night, she and I had a mommy/daughter outing so she could work on her outfit and we could hang out. I would just like to say to my mom that she is avenging our shopping days for you. I am getting back all that I gave . . . don't you worry. She put out full rock star attitude last night. Diva was ticked off that they didn't have shoes in her size and that disappointed somehow translated into disappointment with me. I guess she wanted me to keep driving around until we found a pair of for her to wear today. (And probably never again!) Diva isn't paying $3.38/gallon for gas!

Somehow we semi-agreed on her rock star ensemble. I think that I have not watched a rock video since 1980-something because this was what we came up with . . . 

Crimped looking hair, a tutu like skirt with black leggings and fingerless gloves. She thinks she looks like Ashley Tisdale . . . I am seeing Madonna inspired rock wear. Whatever. We agreed she was rockin' it!

Tru, on the other hand, was less than thrilled about dressing up. He refused to have his hair spiked and was slightly annoyed to be wearing the guitar shirt I bought for him. Tru had a fever Sunday afternoon and night, so he got to stay home yesterday and enjoy the spoils of being "sick" while not feeling bad. He was a very disappointed boy with a temperature of 97.6 this morning. He channeled sullen star well, don't you think?

Let me just tell you that I am kind of over all the strong wardrobe opinions around here. Bo would wear the same red or gray polo shirt everyday if he could. He had a total meltdown over his long sleeve choices yesterday (because he has some sensory issues, he really does not like to layer). We were almost late to his speech therapy because his shirt was not the small one (aka, short sleeve) "wif buttons"! And no surprise here, but Sascha is not shy about things, either. She daily rejects the first several things I suggest and only acquiesces when I pull out something she deems "pincess" enough. 

Speaking of clothes, I guess I should go fold theirs so they can shove them in a drawer and then pull them out and throw them on the floor because they can't find anything they like to wear. (I know, Mom, my 4 apples are all sitting very close to the tree they fell from.)

Seriously people

Last May, on the heels of Granny dying and Josh's job loss, we decided to embrace life and keep our Disney plans. In the midst of all the sadness, we needed a little get away to the happiest place on earth. It did NOT disappoint! We had an amazing time . . . laughing and crying sometimes as we missed being able to call Gran with some of our funny stories . . . like when the birds in Animal Kingdom rushed us and then pooped on my dad. You have to know how neat and clean he is to appreciate how really, really funny that is! There is a family story from my grandfather's hospital stay that Granny loooved to retell. It ended with her almost in tears laughing every time saying, "That persnickety David." So when the birds pooped on him, we all knew she was probably in heaven retelling that story and laughing at persnickety David getting hit.

Our last day there, we had to hit the race car track again. Sascha and Bo had passed out in the stroller, so Mom offered to sit with them. I was over the whiplash that occurred when Caroline drove the car, so I decided to take pictures of Dad and Josh with the 2 big kids on the track. Between their wait in the line and the fact that I positioned myself at the end of the "race", I had plenty of time to people watch. Now I am not saying that my family is all that, but let me tell you at Disney you see ALL kinds. I got tickled watching some of the people driving by and started snapping pictures. Josh and I laughed until we hurt looking back at them.

I am soooooo sorry if any of these are you or someone you know! There is no telling what people who don't know us would write about the Basses at Disney, but from a distance with no background some things are just funny . . . .

 Little man was sportin the do-rag and intense about his driving! 

This guy kept it at 10 and 2 the whole time . . . except when he stopped to take a sip from the drink that you can't see from this angle. He was biting his lower lip and concentrating on NOT driving off the track. (Wonder if he knew that no one could drive off the track?)

Wish I could find this guy--I bet he got some good pics too since he was snapping away the WHOLE TIME he drove. 

And these buddies . . . oh my . . . bowl cut at 3, bowl cut at 43. Let's just say one works and one, well, one might need to rethink his hair do.

Hope you think they are kind-of amusing . . . there is always the chance that you just had to be there.

Fundraising FUN!

Last night Caroline and Tru's school had its first annual fundraising event. They are attending a brand new public school and the PTA has worked very hard to raise money. We modeled the evening after the fundraiser our old elementary school does--in addition to buying tickets, there is a silent auction and a live art auction. The art is made by each class and are all amazing and beautiful!

Our theme was "Come as you were" . . . basically, instead of having a disco or an 80's party, we had an open concept retro party. I cannot tell you how hilarious it was to see everyone's interpretations of it--most went 80's . . . the hair alone was awesome! Hairspray sales must have hit an all time high this week!

Josh and I went 90's . . . I wore a dress from a 10th grade formal and Josh wore his football practice gear 

But some people went big . . .

Have you ever seen anyone so creepy in all your life? The best (worst?) part was he stayed in character all night. He even managed to walk creepy. None of us were able to look at him and not laugh!

Like anyone that scary could land a girl like that! 

 Mandy and I

 Amy Moore, Mandy, and I

 Amy White on stage with the band Tragikly White

The band was AMAZING! I honestly have never had so much fun dancing or heard a better cover band! My legs were sore when I went to bed last night and I heard one of our friends is having muscle spasms today! 

This was probably my favorite come as you were! Susan and Bill Hoag are the parents of my friend, Heidi. And up until this year, I've always enjoyed them, but only known them as that or as Benjamin, Sophie and Georgia'a grandparents. In September, though, Susan and I were put in the same Bible study group and let me just say that I ADORE HER! She is a woman of grace and wisdom. When she would speak, all the younger moms/wives would whip our heads her way and listen attentively. You can be sure that what she says is true and worth trying! This is her ACTUAL PROM DRESS! Isn't that so fun and amazing?! Susan, you are a Lady of Wisdom, but last night, you were rockin' the Glory of Man!!

I don't know how successful the evening was as a fundraiser . . . but I do know that Josh and I had a lot of fun with our friends and I won swim lessons for Tru in the silent auction. He fulfills his New Year's Resolution and Roberts gets some money . . . we all go home winners!

I will leave you with this picture of my original evening out in the dress. Coincidentally, it was at the same country club as our fundraiser just a little over 18 years ago!