Happy 17th Birthday

17! 

My Dearest Evan, 

I frequently feel like I’m living out the role of Elyse Keaton and you are the character of Alex Keaton (minus the suit) from any episode of “Family Ties.” Your strong opinions, your unyielding look at life, your unwavering thoughts about politics can be frustrating to me. I often wonder how you, with these ultra-conservative views, could be my son? Then I realize I have a son who can have an articulate dialogue, who can debate any topic with research to support it, and can think freely of those closest to him. This is exactly what I wanted to foster in you these last seventeen years and that is exactly what has been cultivated. You are confident, intelligent, and possess a very strong identity of self. I could not be prouder - even if I disagree in the majority of what you profess - of you! The world is yours! I can’t wait to see you pave your way through the world; your path has certainly been outlined! 

Love you BIG!

Hero in Waiting

In between soccer, church camp, and vacations, Evan and Madalyn spent hours this summer in her nana’s  pool. Two weeks ago the two were in the pool when Evan spotted a reptile head peaking out of Madalyn’s hair. A head! Evan knew he had to do something before she was bitten! He thought it was a snake and calmly told Madalyn to not move. He then got out of the pool (so long with the hero grabbing the snake with his bare hands) and went to grab a net. Just as he got across the pool a lizard jumped off her head and ran into the mulch. Evan was so relieved he wasn’t tasked with saving her from a snake. 

Ironically, later that same day Nana found a snake in her yard and killed it with a shovel. She reached down to pick the dead snake up and Evan yelled, “No, Nana!” She jumped back a bit startled and asked why. Evan told her the snake could still bite even though it was dead. He grabbed a stick and put it near the mouth to show her. Nana looked up at Evan and said, “Well, Evan, I’m sure glad you are here. I might be in the hospital otherwise.” Nana took him to lunch a couple of days later as a thank you. 

Drivers Ed

Another to-do scratched off of our summer list. 

Drivers Ed is done!

Evan is hinting at needing his hardship license, but since I nearly had a coronary on Monday when he drove us just two miles from our front door, I’m nixing that idea. More practice (with his dad) is necessary!

Drivin’

One of the biggest days in Evan’s life, Wes takes this pic AND seems to not mind the hair. At all. And I can’t think of anything or see anything but the hair. 

My boy is behind the wheel after passing the test on his first attempt. Everyone in Tennessee knows passing is a big deal but passing after only one try is rare. 

Drivers Ed begins in July!

Shopping in a Mall

I hate the mall. I hate shopping in a mall. I hate the crowds in the mall, but when Evan suggested we go to the mall to look for shoes, I told him it sounded like a great idea! And I also wondered what he had been smokin'.

We went to three malls in two states and into no fewer than 15 stores over the course of a week. I kid you not. But we could not find the shoes. We did find jeans, t-shirts, joggers, and blue button up shirts. "Because you can't be in highschool and wear athletic clothes every day like I did in middle school last year."

I guess he's recreating his image. He decided his hair was "tragic" and he needed a new style to go with the new clothes. However, we couldn't go just anywhere to get it cut. We had to go to the salon, the same salon I go to. He had his hair washed in between two ladies discussing the upswing of pedicures. Then he chatted up the cute hair stylist like they were long lost friends. 

I was left sitting in the waiting area asking what happened to my Evan? 

And the shoes? Well, we never found the pair in any store. We had to special order those boats and have then shipped to our house. A size 13 is kinda hard to come by, ya know?

Now his hair looks "lit", his shoes are "fire", and clothes are "so sway." 

Parenting teens could not be more fun!

First Love

"Mom, Evan has never had a girl over."

"Yes, he has. Campbell used to come over when he was five to play Ben10."

"Mom, this is serious."

 

I guess so. Look at that smile!

Rain, Rain Go Away

It's raining and all of the practices got cancelled for this afternoon - even the indoor practice because the school gym's roof leaks. All of this rain means I have a couple of hours, the ultimate gift, to grocery shop, buy teacher gifts, and shop for Mother's Day. I'd never been more excited for extra time.

Until I got home, unpacked the groceries, and a full gallon of milk fell on the concrete and exploded all over the garage. I told Evan I would pay him $5 to clean it up. I suggested using buckets of water and a mop. He had other ideas. He pulled out the leaf blower and tried to blow the milk into the yard. That was until the leaf blower ran out of gas. He tried to refill the tank and the garage took on a distinct smell of gas and oil. After searching high and low for fuel, carefully spilling gas everywhere, and trying to start it, the leaf blower still didn't turn on. So now I had a garage covered in milk and smelling of gasoline. 

I was left asking myself why it had to rain. 

Football Fever

Football ain't football until you get to wear the helmet and pads AND run suicides. This guy doesn't seem to mind at all and even volunteered to be the first one up for Oklahomas last night. I guess he knew better than I when he insisted on wearing his girdle under his pants to practice yesterday.

At the second day of practice, the starters for varsity were announced. Evan was named the starting outside linebacker, strong side. I think it's perfect for him. I'm ready to cheer on my boy and lose my voice at next week's game. I just need to learn something else to yell besides "Get him!"

Game Day

While I was at Keagan's soccer tournament yelling at refs and lamenting that his top-rated team has lost its mojo and can't seem to pull it all together, my parents and Wes were cheering on Evan at his first football game.

Sadly, the defense fell apart in the second half and we lost 18 to 19.

The good news is we get another chance to bring home wins next weekend!

God is a Cowboys Fan and so Are We

For almost nine months, today's date has been marked on our calendar: the Cowboys vs. the Titans at LP Field. Evan is a huge Cowboys fan and was so excited that they would be playing so close to home. We were determined to be there so we could cheer on the 'Boys. 

Then life happened. Wes got TDY orders. Keagan had a soccer game scheduled. Ticket prices were sky high, and I began to think it just wasn't meant to be for us.

Then this week a friend at work told me she had two tickets to today's game and asked if I wanted them. That's when I knew the rumor was true: God is a Cowboys fan after all. I immediately said yes, cut the check, and told Wes the good news. 

 

I was relieved to see the 'Boys pull out the win, and my boys couldn't have had more fun at a game. We will relish the feeling of victory because it might not happen again for a very long while. 

Say It Ain't True!

With his big brown eyes open wide and a level of animation that can only rival his excitement with the Snackeez, Evan told me this story this afternoon.

 "Hey, Mom! Today we were looking through magazines trying to collect clippings for our paper mache projects, and I decided to try extreme couponing. I collected a few and brought them home with me today. By the way, the teacher did not approve of this activity. She is a stickler about having fun at school. Look! I found this one for a Sonic Blast. Only $1.29! I'm thinking we could probably use this tomorrow or maybe tonight since it's such a good deal. And then I found this one....

Forget about back pain, Mom! Think about it! If I have this thing, I will be cured. I can just carry the pillow around with me and I'll never have any more pain. And for only $13 I think it's a pretty good deal!"

He's 11, going on 71!

This add reminded me of the girl I knew in high school who broke her tail bone while riding a horse and had to carry a pillow to every class for almost a year. I always felt sorry for her, and to think Evan wanted to do this voluntarily! He must be in some pretty serious pain, or maybe he's just a sucker for things too good to be true. With that thought, I'm hoping he never discovers QVC! Add a couple of coupons to QVC's lightning deals, and I see Evan starring in a new reality show!

Entrepreneur

Evan got the Rainbow Loom for his birthday. I didn't really know how I should react when Evan told me he wanted a loom and an assortment of rubber bands. Never mind the request is a bit girly and every bit crafty. It included an assortment of 300 RUBBER BANDS!

Evan asks for very little, though, so when he asked for a $25 box of RUBBER BANDS for his birthday, I was happy to oblige, if not a bit perplexed. As it turns out, the joke's on me.

He has since started a business venture where he uses the Rainbow Loom to make and sell rubber band bracelets to kids at school. Every day he packs his back pack with his morning snack, his agenda, his homework, and his Rainbow Loom. Before and after school, you can find him in the cafeteria hawking his goods. In the evenings after he does his homework and after he has taken a shower, he sits at the kitchen counter making bracelets to hopefully sell the following day. This week the business had grown so much we suggested he use his football notebook, the one he uses to keep track of weekly stats and predictions, to make a spreadsheet of sorts to outline his profits and his expenses. He told us he wasn't interested in all that because he could figure out how much money he had earned by counting the one dollar bills in the drawer of his bedside table. In other words, the football notebook is still considered too sacred to be used to record anything but football. To be honest, I was relieved to hear this because the talk of producing bracelets to match various outfits had me worried that he had taken it all a bit too far. 

Big Win #2

Big win #2 took place today. Evan came home with all kinds of certificates, awards, dog tags, and ribbons. Evan won the Language Arts Award, and after two years of winning the Reading award, it was nice to see him win something different. He also won the AR contest, the big Kahuna of all of the awards because money is awarded.

I was proud of all of his academic wins and accomplishments, but when the girl to the right won first place (Evan won second place after winning first place two years in a row), Evan put his certificate to the side so that he could clap for her. I have never been prouder watching him clap for this first place winner.

The boy is smart, athletic, and a good sport. I am so very lucky to be his mama.

Big wins meant big money so after school we headed straight for the store. I survived the battle of  Toy Aisle Indecisiveness, but I knew what lay before me and chose my shoes wisely. The flip flops and I decided a car full of toys and games would make for a smooth transition to the barbershop, the only place Evan hates more than the dentist office.

Well played, Mama. Well played.

TCE 5K

Evan has been training with an after school club for nine weeks for his first 5K. He was able to run it today with Wes, who came home for the weekend.

He started off with a sprint and a pace that I thought for sure would have him crawling to the finish line.

By the third lap, Wes had to step off to the side. Evan was running that fast.

I had no reason to worry, though, because Evan was a lot faster than I gave him credit. He finished in second place with an amazing time of 22.16. We are so impressed with what he has been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time!

If he can keep up with the fast one, Wes has found himself a new running partner.

Scientist in the Making...Or Not

After five weeks of data collection, it's finally done. Evan put the finishing touches on the science fair display board tonight.

Our conclusion was quite simple. Nothing made the cleats smell better so we bought a new pair.

We don't expect a win. Last year's winner built an ice cream maker with a bicycle and small motor. I may be Super Woman but that was out of my league. I am pretty sure it was out of the nine year old winner's league,too. Evan told me tonight, "Mom, after all of this talk of controls and variables, I have decided I plan to be a broadcaster for ESPN when I grow up." At least the project has helped him narrow down his list of possible careers.Scientist has been scratched off the list.

He's More than Meets the Eye

Evan has a love/hate relationship with music class. He loves it because it isn't "real school" and he hates it because "it's music class." We have heard complaints about music class from day one, and I have often prayed on music days, "Lord, let Evan and the music teacher leave class unscarred today." It is truly that bad. Wes and I said just this week that he is so practical that he can find little value in anything that won't sustain life or improve his athletic skills. Therefore, he sees little purpose in learning the notes of Hot Cross Buns.

When he told me he had to learn the recorder in music class, I cringed. Loud noises and I don't mix. Then he came home with a folder full of sheet music and I prayed he would never find that recorder that was in his Easter basket last spring, the one I bought when I temporarily forgot my aversion to loud noises.

Today, though, he searched long and hard until he found it. And then he started to play. I was so impressed! I really tried to play up the success of the patio concert, but he said, "Don't get too excited, Mom. The recorder is as far as I will take this music thing."

Welcome Home...Now Get Crackin' on the Science Fair Project

It's a four day weekend in the military. Wes took a pass and was able to come home for a couple of days. He picked a great weekend to come home, too, because it's science fair time and Evan needed to get started on his Cleat Sack project. I think there was a moment when Wes thought about reneging on his promise to come home when I mentioned science fair and Evan in the same sentence, but the lure of a home cooked meal must have been stronger. He decided to come home anyway.

We didn't get off to a good start with the experiment. The constant beeping of a code language on the newly purchased walkie talkies was pulsating through the house. A game of night tag was in the making, and we, the worst parents in the world, had Evan in the dining room constructing cleat sacks and debating the powers of air fresheners. Clearly there were better things to be done. However, I think we crossed some imaginary line in our ten year old's mind and hit our limit when Wes decided three Cleat Sacks weren't enough and we needed a fourth Cleat Sack labeled control. Evan started crying. Bad words were spoken or yelled, depending on your definition of extreme decibel levels. We even had several episodes of glue-gone-wild on the precious display board.We went from bad to worse when I found Evan gluing crooked pictures on the said precious display board;  my OCD went full throttle and every boy was banned from the room.

After a couple of drinks, as evident in the below photo, we were all smiling again.

We are now in the data collection process. Keagan's job of smelling stinky cleats and rating their odor is in full swing. I am,thankfully,not needed until it is time to add the data to the display board. After all, it must be glued just so.

Commissioner Toole

"Mom, I have good news. I got SOAR student today."

"Really? That's great, Honey. Why were you chosen this month?"

"All the good kids were already chosen. But, Mom, I have some bad news, too."

"What's that?"

"I've already gotten in trouble twice this week."

There is no feel good ending to this story like we had last year when he was chosen for showing leadership skills on the playground by organizing a third grade kickball tournament and then choosing the special ed kid to be on his team. However, it appears that his leadership/bossing-everybody-around skills are still going strong. Interestingly enough a kid in Evan's class moved on post and now attends my school and is in my afternoon class. When I asked him if he knew Evan, he replied, "Oh yeah! Everybody knows Evan. He organizes the recess football league!"

Ummm what?

So I asked Evan about the recess football league.

He told me that he HAS a TCE football league. He CHOOSES the team names, CREATES team rosters, and then keeps track of the STANDINGS. He also told me that he acts like the NFL commissioner and REMOVES any players from the league that cannot follow the rules.

That's my boy. Through and through.

Please tell me these skills are marketable in the real world because he has mastered them like none other.

The King's Fast Boy

Evan's first basketball game was tonight. I have commented once or twice that we can assume to win no games since we have no African Americans on the team, our star player is Evan who has only played basketball for one season, and we have three boys that have never dribbled a basketball before. The mantra White Boys Can Jump could not be further from the truth, or at least in the case of this season's U-11 Kings.

I should have known we were in for trouble when Evan took out his Youth Sports issued shorts and asked, "Why do my shorts say Fast Boy, Mama?" I had to reply, "That's East Bay, Baby. The brand name of the shorts." Seriously. He is so smart, it hurts, and yet the team relies upon him, the boy who believed his shorts had been monogrammed, for a win. Unfortunately, he had to sit on the bench the last quarter because he fouled out. That happens when you tackle as you rebound or slide tackle as you run down the court.

After the game, Evan walked into the house and said, "I really wanted to write about my first bball win and put it in the 2013 In a Jar, but I can't really celebrate a loss and five fouls now can I?"

We still have seven more games in the season. I foresee many more losses. At least I don't have to worry with close games, buzzer beaters, and celebrations that include kissing the strange soldier sitting next to me in the stands. Not that this would have ever happened to me, the-mom-who-must-win-at-all-costs. No. Not me.

End of the Year Awards Assembly Part Deux

This is the end of year assembly that just keeps on giving. So many awards! And it all seems that much longer when you have a sick kid sitting by your side, and every minute you have to say, "Cover your mouth when you cough." or "Are you going to throw up?"

Evan didn't think I would be able to make it today with Keagan so sick, but Keagan felt it was important that I snag a picture. (He is always that thoughtful; even when he is sick.) It was all worth the guilt over the possible spreading of germs, though, when I saw Evan's face light up when I stood up to snag that first picture of him.

We arrived half an hour late in the hopes that it wouldn't be so painful for Keagan, so I am not really sure which awards Evan was given besides the top AR point earner. He left with a stack of certificates so I assume it was a good day for him. I was so worried about missing pictures and such an important milestone, but I later learned two people were in the audience that realized I was MIA and decided to take pictures for Wes (and me).  As nice of a gesture as it was to think of us, I couldn't bear the thought of not being there.

Evan and his reading teacher, Mrs. Brennan. He loved her organized, no non-sense style of teaching. He  is his mother's son, after all. He also loved that she was a soccer fan. She is English and never had a student who could give stats on Manchester United's season. She was endeared to him once she learned he could name the first team's roster.

Evan and his math teacher, Mrs. Sanker. She eventually learned to love Evan and his high level of competitiveness. His desire to win was a serious concern of hers about mid-year. She had never seen a kid take kick ball and multiplication facts games so seriously. She wrote a wonderful note to me thanking me for giving her the opportunity to teach Evan. Maybe she wrote it to everyone, but it meant the world to me.

Another very proud mommy day.