Stronger than the wind, farther than the sun.

Yes, hello.  It is Tuesday night.  The boys are playing basketball.  Hadley is working.  Kate is asleep. David is working on his truck.

And here are tonight’s top stories.

***

Yes!  David is working on his truck.  Weird.  David, the boys, and Auggie, all drove home Saturday from working at the river when, and please sit down for this, the truck caught fire.

Like legit flames.

Boys:  Don’t worry, Mom!  We were able to put it out with a water bottle and a half of a can of Dr. Pepper.

And so, for reasons that I do not know, the truck is, yet again, broken down, and David is working on it often.  He needs to get it running again so it can break down again.

***

Kate officially started work as a CNA.  She works at the same medical office that my mother works at, so I was able to score this fab photo.

And please be impressed that I blurred out the non-daughter of mine all professional like.

***

The other night, Charlie eyed a squirrel in a tree.

She waited patiently for it for hours upon hours and I have no idea what happened because I went to bed before she came in.

Our dogs live a happy life.

They chase cows.  They chew on chicks.  They nap in manure.

They smell really bad.  But they are happy.

David and the teens, plus a few boyfriends here and there, worked on rebuilding our new 9 foot high chicken coop last weekend.   I was able to snap this photo whilst feeding my best girl, Hazel.

I am really quite excited.  I was hopeful to transfer the chickens to their new coop on that very day, but then David was like, “Nope, the dogs will eat them.  Two weeks.” And then he went to work on his truck and so I don’t know what’s going on, but the chickens are busting out of that brooder box.

I am getting old and sassy.  You should have SEEN the list I sent to David and company regarding my wishes for Mother’s Day/Birthday.

It involved things such as, but not limited to:

A NEW FRONT DOOR.

You guyzzzz.  Our front door has been broken for many months.  Years?  I don’t know.  I even painted the broken door Sea Serpent blue but I want a new door with my whole being.  The door became even more broken and I sent this picture to David and he was all reasonable and like-

“Just push it back in.”

Reader.  This was not the response I had hoped for.  Also.  I think I see peach!

*gasp*

Long-time readers shall remember the horror of the peach.

I think.

Anyways, I want a new front door.

And what does it mean, to be so old and long for a new front door?

And I just had my teacher evaluation, and I did not get fired, and so I told David that I deserved a new front door, but he just keeps working on that truck.  But, Reader.   I want a new front door for Mother’s Day and I want help painting it.

I also want help propping up an apple tree Kate destroyed with the 4 wheeler.

And help spreading new bark.

And help with general home maintence.

And a fountain for my deck.  You know.  For ambiance.

Yes.  It is all a bit much, but this is what happens when someone is almost 40 and married to a man whose truck randomly catches fire in a bad way, but not so bad that a half a can of Dr. Pepper can’t put it out.

Anyways.  I went to the dentist.  I hate the dentist.  I loathe it with my entire being.  I have a bit of gum recession and I absolutely hate when they work on my teeth.

And then they talk to me!  And the lovely gal cleaning my teeth was asking my opinion on Venmo and I just don’t understand how she expected me to give a resonable response as she was chiseling away at my teeth.

But, I digress.

I am super high maintenance at the dentist now and I tell them they cannot do the polish thing because the vibrations irritate me.

Dental Assistant:  Oh!  Ok.  So no polish?

Me:  No, thank you!  As I get older it really bothers me.  That’s what happens when you are almost 40, I guess!

Dental Assistant:  What!?  You are not that old!

Me:  I am 39.  I will be 40 in June.

Dental Assistant:  NO!

And, Reader.  She went to my chart and looked at my actual birth date and told me I don’t look a bit older than 27.  And the only reason I am telling you that is so I can shamelessly boast to you all that I don’t look 39 and 11/12ths years old.

I look 27.

Also:  still no cavities.

I am killing it over here!  David surely needs to buy me a door.

Yes?

***

In my fabulous first grade class, we finished Charlotte’s Web and started the Tale of Despereaux.

More organized teacher partner:  Wow!  Will you even have time to finish a new chapter book before the end of the school year?
Me:  I had not even considered it!

So.  I need to read like 5-17 chapters a day, but it is such a good book and no one will mind.

We had first graders come in today to work on a Mother’s Day gift.

These two precious girls from my class noticed in the Zoom world that they own the same dress, so they wore it together today.

Is that not the most precious thing? Plus the chick in the heart sunglasses?

I just love them.  I don’t want the year to end.

Sure, I like summer and all, but I really get attached to these kids.

One of my kids can be challenging.

Let’s call him, “Al.”

Al was supposed to be finishing this writing prompt on a gift for his mother:

“I love you because . . . ”

Another teacher pal came to get me because Al was about to flip his lid.

Me:  Ok!  We can do this.  I know your mom!  She is amazing!  She is patient, she is kind.

Al (writhing with frustration):  NO!

Me:  Does she play games with you?  Cook you yummy food?

Al:  Ugh!  I know what I want to say!  I just cannot figure out the words!

So, I turn to help someone else and then, I go back to Al:

He wrote:  “I love you becuase . . . I love you stronger than the wind and farther than the sun.”

Is that not the most precious thing you ever saw?

Happy Tuesday!