Yesterday I had my California brother and his family on my mind, so I sent an email filled with love. This is what I got in return:
Our Sassy goes to bed very early because she has to get up very early and because she risks illness if she doesn't get enough sleep. She hasn't felt good for the past couple of days, so I fully expected her to be in her bed by the time I got home from work last night.
She was lying down when I first got home. Landon had his cousins in his bedroom. I fixed myself a sandwich for dinner and took it into our bedroom so I could get started on my (substantial and formidable) homework assignment. I kept our door open because I wanted to be available for Landon.
Before long, I heard Ashtyn up and in Landon's room with the others. It got VERY quiet after a short time, and I realized they were all gone. After about 45 minutes, there came trooping in a large parade of kids ages 11 to 18, one of them hauling in a new fish tank, others carrying various bags. They then spent the next two hours setting up a new tank in Landon's room. The only thing they ever said to me all night was, "Do you care if we give the smaller tank to the Fishes?"
Spencer got home and asked where Landon had gotten the money to do this, and he said, "I didn't do it. Ashtyn came in and said, 'Do you care if we re-decorate?' So she bought all of this. I didn't even ask her, Dad!" She walked in and said, "This was my idea, Dad."
I got lots of homework done. Our kids and the Fish kids played together all night. And I spent time thanking heaven for wonderful children who are friends and who love and sacrifice for one another.
I put away my homework when my eyes were crossing. That's when Ash asked if I could put her hair in braids for the night. She went to bed at 10:30 (VERY late for her).
Last night we went to the Jazz game. Landon chose a large tub of popcorn as his treat. We were all sharing our treats, and he asked if I wanted some popcorn, so I took a handful. He said, "Woah, woah, woah! Hold on! You took WAY too much!" He then proceeded to take ONE piece of popcorn out of my hand.
He makes me laugh. All the time. That is why he is my favorite when I am with him.
I got home last night, and Landon said, "Mom! Smell this!" He holds up his shirt for me to sniff. What I smelled was perfume and cigarette smoke. I wasn't sure if he was telling me his shirt smelled good or bad.
Girlfriend's mom stopped in to meet me when she brought Landon home last night. I wasn't there, but she met Spencer (and others), and was very kind and good and personable. Girlfriend, too, has been good and not dramatic (ya know, for an 8th grader) and kind to Landon.
Landon swears he is never getting married. Ever. Yet he has had two girlfriends, long before any of our other children have.
Can you sense my anxiety? Should I be anxious?
Landon was just 2 years old when Grandma lived with us. The two of them were pretty great friends. Landon LOVED to do whatever he could to help Grandma. I would put her pills on a plate so he could carry them to her, then follow behind with a glass of water. He loved to carry her dinner plate in to her when she was too worn out to come to the table. She used a cane, and he would take it all the time. Finally my mother-in-law gave Landon one of the extra canes so he had one of his own and would leave Grandma's there for her use.
One morning I was standing at the kitchen sink when Landon walked in.
"Gomma fod," he said.
"What?"
"Gomma fod."
"Grandma fell?"
"Yah. Gomma fod."
Sure enough I hustled into her room and found her sitting on the floor against her bed. She had tried to seat herself on the bed, didn't get on far enough, and just slid down to the floor. Fortunately she was not hurt. But she would not let me try to lift her (she probably weighed 90 pounds). So I went back into the kitchen (where the phone was attached to the wall--remember those day?) and called my brother to see if he could come help us. When I went back into Grandma's room, Landon was plopped on the floor next to her, the two of them just waiting.
