Never "bump" a light when a cop is behind you!

I was told this evening, by a man in a blue uniform with a very bad temperament, that if you ever wonder whether or not to go through a light you should "err on the side of caution". Getting pulled over was just enjoyable enough, but add in the fact that both the "big" boys and Kerry were in the car....well, let's just say that I may never live this one down. Especially because I've been giving Kerry quite a bit of grief for his little "run-in" with the law. I deserve it, but I don't have to like it!
The good news is that he decided to let me go. Probably because he just didn't want to deal with the paperwork, but it was nice anyway. He was such a big grumpy gus that I just knew he'd slam me with a ticket! But, he only brought back my license with him...NO TICKET! He said (picture a grumpy face with a cranky voice) that because I didn't put anyone in harm's way, and no risk was really involved, he'd let me go. I said thank you....then waited until he was WAY down the block before I pulled away! Not wanting to take any chances, don't ya' know. Kerry thought that he'd better drive home after we left the church. (Yes. Not only did I bump a light, but I did so on the way to the church. No scruples.) I let Kerry drive home. Excuse me now, while I go eat a huge plate of crow. Maybe ketchup will help it to go down.

Some things that I've learned

I've learned many things on my little road through life. Most recently, I learned that you must always make sure that your son brings his SOCKS upstairs with his football pants and jersey. I was doing so well on Saturday. I washed laundry all day. In an effort to save myself a little trouble, I asked said child to bring his football clothes upstairs when we got home from his game. I figured that I could wash his uniform, making it all ready for game day. Sure. The football pants came clean (I hate grass stains in white football pants...but that would be for another blog). The jersey was washed and hung.
Flash forward to Tuesday night. Little J comes upstairs to declare that tomorrow is picture day. I, realizing that I would likely be gone before he ever arose, told him to bring his clothes upstairs for approval. He brought up a nice red shirt, and slacks with patches on the knees. (That last part having to do with how I learned that boys cannot wear pants without wearing holes in the knees. It's simply impossible.) I told him to find another pair of pants. You can see where this is going. "I don't have any other pants!" To which I replied,"I washed clothes for hours on Saturday, getting everything washed, and you have no other pants?!"
He wandered down the stairs to assure me (and himself) that he had no other pants. I went to the laundry room to put in another load of laundry...just in the off chance he really did know what he was talking about. He had no idea what he was talking about. I, realizing he did have pants, decided to study for the four test I had on Wednesday morning... forgetting the clothes in the washer. No big deal. Don't need those clothes. I'll put them in the dryer in the morning.
Wednesday morning. Tired. Bone tired. Can't get out of bed. Finally get out of bed. Get ready, clean out the car, load all of my 989,000 books into the van. Head to school. Forget about the clothes. No big deal. I'll dry then when I get home. Nobody needs them now.
Wednesday evening. Get home from school at 5:30. Have to leave to get Heath to a football game, in fifteen minutes. Have to drive 45 minutes to get him there for before the game practice. (I've also learned that coaches think football is life, and that moms really have nothing better to do than to drive their children to a town 45 minutes away, and wait 1 hour for the game to start.) Where are his pants? Why isn't he ready? (I've learned that boys do not get ready when you call home on your way and tell them it is imperative that he's ready on time....) Can't find your pants?! I washed them Saturday! (see above....) Good. He's indeed found his pants. Found his shirt. Where the heck are those socks?! They have to be clean (see above...) I suddenly remember that I needed to put clothes in the dryer. I go put the clothes in the dryer and find what? The socks. Wet. We now have 5 minutes before leaving. My dryer is good, but it isn't that good. (lesson: boys don't bring the socks unless you specify that to be part of the uniform)
We leave for football. How to dry the socks? Hanging out the window flapping in the breeze of course! 15 minutes, turn. Lesson learned: It takes football socks 30 minutes to dry at 65 miles per hour....

The "dreaded" phone calls

Yesterday, I received a very rare phone call from a daughter. It's not rare that they call me. It's just rare that they call me at 8 in the morning. Unless they need something. She didn't need anything. She was just passing on a little info. She was really just checking to see if the other sister had beaten her to the punch. Seems that one of my little Pocatello girls has been dating someone. That's not really a dreaded phone call. He's not an axe murderer, or anything like that. But, he does indeed have one major flaw. He drives a FORD. Yes, I know. It's what made the phone call a little bit dreadful. But, it's okay. I told her not to worry. That old ford is bound to break down, and when it does he can upgrade to a Chevy! I went through the rest of the school day unscathed with phone calls. Then, after I picked up the boys from school and was headed across town to see skinny Jeff run, I decided to call my little (okay, maybe not so little anymore...but they are so young, it's easy to call them "little") girls in Pocatello. I was really calling to see if one of them had "the" crutches. You see, one of those phone calls had eluded me earlier in the day. It seems that Heath was playing football at school during lunch, and twisted his knee. It's not fatal, just a little painful. So, I called to see which of my daughters might have taken them home to Pocatello. I got Jessie's voicemail. As I was leaving a message, I remembered that it was Holly that had taken them. I called Holly....dreaded phone call. She had just been through a terribly frightening ordeal! There she was, just riding her little bike and being all "green" (not really, she just hates the gas mileage she gets in her car...bikes are easier on the wallet), when a very inattentive driver turned a corner and hit her! Fortunately, she is okay! She was just very shaken when I talked to her. The bike seems to be okay as well, maybe just a little bit wobbly in the back (a new rim may be in order here). I have talked to her since, and she really is just fine.
Today, I went down to Pocatello for a health fair. We get clinical hours counted for volunteering at such things. Taking blood pressures, etc. Anyway, I was so excited to go to Jessie's house for some homemade enchilada. MMMMM! So, I'm almost there, and my directionally challenged brain realized that I must call for help. As I'm speaking with Jessie, Kerry calls through. I put Jessie on hold to tell Kerry that I will call him right back. He says,"No." What? He never says no when I tell him I'll call him back. Seems that he was taking a bit of a ride in the country with his Mom and the "little" boys when he happened upon a nice little sheriff's officer. When I say "happened upon", I mean head on collision. NO PANICKING. Everyone is fine. Sort of. Jared lost a tooth. No big deal....oh, wait. This tooth was a permanent tooth. Right in the front of his little mouth. So, I called the dentist and told him what happened. Kerry and company were at least an hour away. Brad said to put the tooth back in. Yeah. Right. This idea didn't go over very well with either Kerry OR Jared. But put it back in he did. Well, they had to wait quite a while, because when you hit a Bonneville County Sheriff's officer, an Idaho State Police officer has to respond. The nearest one was in Idaho Falls. You guessed it. An hour away.
We finally got everyone home, and Brad met us at his office. He has done a little repair work (fishing line glued to his teeth to stabilize it) and we need to go back on Thursday. We also need to make an appointment with an endodontist for next week. Dr. O says that we have a 50/50 chance of keeping this tooth. Jared has to eat a soft diet (no chewing of any kind) for the next 2 weeks. Pudding, yogurt, baby fruit. Nice. I think I will quit using the phones....

The President's daughter is indeed pregnant!

YES!!! However, this president's daughter has been married two LONG years! (She doesn't think that it's long, but for a woman that seriously is looking forward to spoiling grandchildren it has been a VERY long time!) I am hoping for a little pink bundle, but I will be just as happy with a blue one! I'm going to have to restrain myself at the stores, as I have already begun buying baby things (even before the announcement was thought of!). I think it's just amazing that this little bundle from Heaven will have 2 great-great-grandmothers! And, if my count is correct, 4 great-grandmothers! WOW! The only thing about this that doesn't elate me is that I will be a grandmother when I graduate...makes me seem so old! I really should have done my college career earlier in life! :D On the other hand, how many grandchildren can say that they were present at their grandmother's college graduation?

Hail to the chief....WHAT?!

Well, school is back in full swing. Studying, going to class, studying, driving to football practice, studying at football practice, doing laundry, studying, going to class...you get the picture. I am excited though! Our first clinicals as student nurses begins on Monday! We have been doing med check-offs, and injection check-offs to prepare. It's terrifying (because I am a creature of habit, and this is change) and exciting all at once!
Yesterday, we found out that each "program" at EITC has a class president. Nominations and voting followed this announcement, and I find myself the new class president for the LPN program! Exciting! Terrifying! (refer to above comment about change....) I'm not sure of all my responsibilities yet, but I do know that all of the class officers are amazing, and it should be loads of fun working with them, if nothing else!
This was a full weekend. I thought that Labor Day was supposed to signify a rest from Labor....not! We picked green beans galore (okay, "we" is mostly Heather & Big Jared... but I did help....) Then, Heather and I went shopping! (I just love shopping!) It was Jessie's birthday party on Monday. Yes, her birthday is actually in August, and this was the first of September, but we are finding that the bigger the family becomes (and the older the family members get), the harder it is to get everyone together! We had a great time with her party! Played some fun games, ate some great food, and just generally enjoyed being together.
Looking forward now to another party with the family on Sunday, for little Jared. But first, we must live through the sleepover on Friday with his friends....(only two, thank Heavens...it coulda been much worse....)