Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car?

 

In the fall I received an email announcing upcoming dates for drivers education.

I laughed.

However did my name get put on the list for drivers ed students?

Clearly they had made a mistake.

I hit delete and never thought about it again until Christmas.

One of my dear friends asked me if I signed Chase up for drivers ed yet?

Um….no.

We have boys that are ten days apart, surely she knew this.

They are only fourteen.

“But they will be fifteen in March”, she gently reminded me.

Gasp!!!

Denial…anyone?

His first class was this morning at 6 am.

I didn’t sleep all night.

I tossed.

I turned.

I watched the clock.

I checked on him fifteen times.

Clearly I am not ready for this.

And this my friends… is just the classroom part.

THAT'S NOT A BLUR...THAT IS OUR WINNING STREAK!!!

These photos were from a few weeks ago during the All*Star Baseball Tournaments.

I only took 837 pictures.

I chose just 4 to share with you.

Can you say snap happy?

I was even approached by someone asking if I was with the Press.

Chase's team had a great season.

We won our District Championship.

We played three games at the State playoffs.

We lost two.

The last photo of Chase really says it all.

The sadness and disappointment.

I wish I had a picture of my face.

It was not nearly as sad.

I had been running to games, practices and scrimmages since April.

I was just ready to get started on the lazy days of summer.

Up to that point...

I hadn't been feeling the lazy.

I guess Chase hadn't either.

The first thing he asked for?

A slushie and a dive in the pool.

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER CAMP!!!

A huge thanks for all of your sweet emails, comments, and phone calls.

Yes, I. am. alive.

Barely.

After getting Chase home, unpacked, and all the laundry done...I started again.

The packing for Boy Scout camp commenced.

Packing for a week at Boy Scout camp is much harder than packing for a week at Basketball camp.

I threw in gym shorts and t-shirts to go to DUKE.

I packed everything but the kitchen sink to go to Boy Scout Camp.

He will not be in a cool dorm room.

He will be living in a tent.

With no air conditioning.

Sleeping on the ground with all the other...

Bugs.

And snakes.

If there is one thing I am not, it is...Outdoorsy.

I do not enjoy being at one with nature.

I am kind of in love with my indoor plumbing, running water, electricity, comfortable bed and air conditioning.

Thankyouverymuch.

He enjoys the outdoors.

Which is a good thing.

Because he is going to be with the outdoors a lot this week.

* If I haven't already lost all my 3.5 readers... I promise that tomorrow's post will NOT be about any type of camp. Stay tuned!

AN ANSWER AND A WINNER!!!

I know the suspense is killing you.

You have been waiting with bated breath for the answer to

"Where in the world is Chase?"

There can only be one answer.

There can only be one winner.

Chase was at Basketball Camp in Durham , NC.

The Home of the Blue Devils.

DUKE!!!

(I am not sure why he chose to wear RED today. He has 500 Duke shirts. Why Red?)

Jamie at Choosing My Own was the first to answer correctly.

She is the winner.

She will receive one of these.

A Duke tennis visor.

I tried to increase the value of your prize by getting it signed, but .....well ...

It. did. not. happen.

It's the thought that counts, right?

Jennifer, Lauren, Emily, and Brittany guessed correctly too.

(Brittany...you are his cousin... you knew...you cheated...I am calling you on it!)

Sorry girls, Jamie was first.

Four of you guessed UNC.

Great answer.

THAT university is found in North Carolina.

Just not on THIS blog!

One of you guessed ECU.

Another great guess.

That would have made a closer commute.

By my calculations it would have saved me roughly $2, 432 on gas this week.

Two of you guessed both UNC and DUKE.

Nice try.

Are you always that decisive?

Because we would get along great in real life.

I am a fence rider too.

There were two of you that just blew me away with your guesses.

Rachel and Motherhood for Dummies.

(Why do I not know your name MFD? Do you have one?)

Rachel guessed UCLA.

Motherhood for Dummies guessed BYU.

What?

Huh?

North Carolina is on the EAST coast.

UCLA is on the WEST coast.

BYU is close to the WEST coast.

I was freaked out over my 12 year old going to camp a few hours away.

My freak would have really been on if my child was in another state.

No one wants to see that.

It would not be pretty.

I digress.

Chase had a wonderful time.

The best of his life he says.

He had a heaping bag of laundry for me when I arrived this morning.

I can't complain though.

I expected to walk into his dorm room and start picking up, and packing his things.

I was greeted by a suitcase, a duffel bag , a bag of dirties, and a pillow.

The sheets had been stripped off the bed.

Dirty clothes were amazingly put in the laundry bag.

The drawers were already emptied.

His clothes were in the suitcase.

He had done it all.

Without my help.

I did not have to do a thing.

Well, except tote the blasted luggage, and laundry bag, and pillow down three flights of stairs and across two streets, and two parking lots.

That was to be expected.

ME being the Mom and all.

This growing up thing.

It might not be so bad.

WHERE IS HE?

You may have noticed I was a slack blogger last week.

You may have noticed I have not posted since Friday.

There is a reason.

I was busily preparing to send Chase to Basketball camp.

I took him to camp on Saturday.

I dropped him off.

With 630 other campers.

At a university.

Where he will sleep in a dorm.

Where he will be responsible to get up, get dressed, brush his teeth, get to the dining hall, get to his classes and games on time, manage his spending money, play fair, and get himself to bed all while learning his way around the large campus.

Without me!

I have been a little traumatized.

Just a little.

He has stayed overnight with friends.

He has been to Scout camp.

He just got back from 3 days at the beach.

BUT...

There were adults.

That I knew.

That would look out for him.

And remind him to shower.

And brush his teeth.

And change his underwear.

This. is. different.

I did *happen* to stop by the campus last night.

I saw him play on the outside courts.

I know. I know.

He never knew I was there.

Until he finished.

He didn't say much to me.

I knew he was having a great time.

Apparently he knew how to survive without me.

His clothes had been changed since Saturday.

That was reassuring.

I have learned that he is growing up and becoming more responsible.

I am not liking the growing up.

I am loving the becoming more responsible.

I am excited he is having an incredible week.

He is being taught by the coach and players he obsesses over admires the most.

So... you may be wondering.... Where in the world is Chase?

Have you been a reader long?

Do you know the university where he is attending basketball camp?

Leave me a comment with your answer or guess.

If you know us in "real-life",

and you KNOW where Chase is, don't say.

You are still welcome to leave a comment.

Comments are ALWAYS welcome.

I need all the comment love and prayers I can get until Chase returns home.

Until then...guess away.

There may be a small prize.

* the picture above is the only one I could find of him at camp that did not give away his location.

Good luck!

PHOTO STORY FRIDAY

It was a hot, humid Saturday morning.

It was Chase's first t-ball game.

He was 5.

He had on a new pair of cleats.

He carried with him a brand new glove.

It was not broken in yet.

It still had that new leather smell.

He was excited.

We were excited.

The game began.

Chase was in left field.

In more ways than one.

Several balls popped up in his direction.

He made no attempt to catch them.

He would run after them.

He would laugh.

He would make silly faces.

He just wasn't into it.

Sometime in the middle of the game, I felt someone tug at my shirt.

I looked down.

It was Chase.

He was standing with a bouquet of "weeds" he had just picked .

In left field.

For me.

It was a sweet gesture.

I tried to be excited.

But...we were in the middle of a game.

He had just walked off the field.

Poor Chase.

He. did. not . have. a. clue.

Fast forward seven years.

Last night.

It was a hot, humid, almost unbearable evening.

Chase had on a pair of eight week old Nike cleats.

Men's size 10.

They were already well worn and scuffed.

Traces of red clay dirt were present before he ever stepped on the field.

He carried with him a large bat bag.

It housed bats and his catchers equipment.

He was excited about the game.

We were excited about the game.

We love to watch his games.

His Nana, Uncle, Aunt and cousins were there.

He came to play.

He did an excellent job behind the plate.

With each game he seems more determined to stop every ball.

No matter what.

He was having a great game.

Yet, nothing prepared us for what happened next.

Chase was up at bat.

I watched my first born get into his "stance".

I hardly recognized him.

He looked taller and older.

He looked like a more mature player.

He was.

The pitch was released.

It was an inside corner change up.

That is what Chase told me later.

Chase's bat made a powerful contact with the ball.

The crack of the bat was loud.

The crowd jumped to their feet.

I heard a familiar voice in the stands.

His Dad's.

"It's outta here. It's gone!"

And it was.

A line drive through center field.

Up and over the fence.

It took a moment to sink in.

My son had just hit a ball out of the park!

His first home run!

I am sure my cheers were the loudest.

I am sure my smile was the biggest.

No, Chase had a bigger one.

As he rounded third base, his teammates and coaches met him at home plate.

High fives were exchanged.

It was then I felt the tears trickling down my face.

Not because he had hit a home run.

That was great.

It was because he had done something bigger.

In an instant, he had changed the way HE saw himself.

His confidence will be forever changed.

He had hit the ball harder and longer than he thought possible.

He had just received acceptance from teammates that he sometimes felt inferior to.

He would not go home and question his skills as a player.

He would not go home and wonder if he did his best.

Or played hard enough.

He would KNOW he did.

I knew that he felt good about himself.

That was better than any home run.

* the picture above...that is THE home run ball!



Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE BASEBALL DUDE ON SECOND BASE

Dear Baseball Dude on Second Base,

Don't think for a minute that I was not watching the baseball game last night. I was. It was MY son who hit the awesome line drive to center field. Yes, the one that your center fielder scooped up and threw to you. The one that you then rocket launched into my sons back. The last time this mama checked the rules of the game, there was no rule that allowed a player to throw the ball AT a player. Yet, that is exactly what you did. My son hit the ball. Actually, he hit the crap out of the ball. He ran to first. As he rounded first base, headed for second...you threw the rocket. Did you forget for a minute that you were playing the game of baseball? Because from where I stood, you looked like you were in "Dodge Ball Mode". Was it really necessary to throw the ball AT him? Do you have any idea the enormity of the bruise you left behind? Huge! Bigger than the state of Texas.

My husband said it was an accident. He said you were just throwing it to the first baseman and our son got caught in the crossfire. He said it happens. Bruises are part of the game.

I say the score was 7-1. Our favor. Accident? I am not buying it.

Sincerely,

The Mama whose son you left a bruise on the size of the state of Texas

(* Please note this was all in fun. I would never harass a child. That is not my style.)

GREEN BEANS AND YAMS

Last Thursday I dropped Claire off at dance and drove to the Barber Shop.

My boys were in desperate need of a weed-eater trim.

Really desperate.

When we arrived all the chairs were full.

Chase and I entertained ourselves with light conversation.

Cole entertained everyone else.

It is always interesting to me what we can learn from our kids in a few brief minutes.

"I am starving MOM", said Chase.

"Why would you be starving? Didn't you eat lunch?", I inquired.

"Sorta."he whispered.

"Sorta what? Sorta you did or sorta you didn't?" I snapped.

"Sorta I didn't."

"Why would you not eat? Refresh my memory... did you pack lunch today or buy?" I asked.

He replied, "Sorta."

Don't you love it when you are trying to make conversation with your child and they want to be difficult and make you ask 100 questions to find out the answer to one flippin' question?

"Okay Chase... tell me did you or didn't you eat lunch, what did you eat if you did, and was it good? Oh, and why are you starving?"

"Do you promise not to be mad at me Mom?" he asked.

Me mad?

"Why would I be mad? Just answer my questions!" I blurted.

Finally he answered, "Yes-I -was-served-lunch-it-was-yams-and-green-beans-No-I-did-not-eat-it."

"Chase for the love of all things holy... why did you only have yams and green beans?"

He spoke quietly as he murmured, "Because I did not have any money left on my lunch card."

"WHAT! What do you mean you did not have any money on your card? What do you mean you only got yams and green beans and a cup to get water out of the sink? When did you find out your card balance was "0"? Where was your teacher? Who else knows about this?" I screamed asked.

That is where I think I had the attention of everyone in the barber shop.

It was me or Cole.

Cole was doing some sort of break dance move on the filthy disgusting, hair-filled, gross floor.

Maybe it was Cole.

Whatever.

All eyes were on "US".

I really don't get mad easily.

Just don't mess with my babies and their food though.

Apparently, a note was to be sent home that very day stating that I owed $4.10.

The policy is that once you owe more than $3.50 on your card, your child will be served a PB&J sandwich or something like that.

I was not aware my child's card had a balance to be paid.

I just write a check periodically for an amount and they let me know when I need to send more.

I volunteer at the school .

I am always willing to do my part.

I am sure there were lots of children receiving free or reduced lunch that day.

Why then was MY child served yams and green beans for lunch?

Why did his teacher not give him the $1.50 it costs for lunch?

She knows where to reach me.

She knows I would pay her back.

Heck, I would probably bake her cookies in gratitude.

I was mad.

I was quite upset.

Okay... I was furious!

Upon leaving the barber shop, I whipped into the nearest Bojangles to feed my child's poor, empty stomach.

The next day, I spoke with the Guidance Counselor.

She was very apologetic.

She could not have been nicer.

She assured me that it would never happen again.

Forward to today.

I took my kids to school this morning.

The principal greeted us.

She opened the car door for the kids to get out.

She leaned in and apologized for the "lunchroom" incident.

She said they had held a special meeting about it.

She also said they had changed their policy and it would never happen again.

Wow!

It was that easy.

Maybe tomorrow I will call the Guidance Counselor about the quality of food being served, or the cleanliness of some of the restrooms, or maybe the amount of "Mommy projects" being assigned this week.

What do you think?

BIG BASKETBALL WEEKEND

I know...I know. I am a slacker blogger.

Not a post since Friday.

I have received numerous calls and even a threat that I had better post or else.

You, my vast readership of three.

You, are too funny.

I wish I had something funny to share.

I wish there was something witty about my weekend.

I got nothing.

Nothing witty that is.

I did in fact have a fabulous weekend.

Thanks for asking!

I told you on Friday that I was going to the State Tournament for Chase's All Star Team.

We left Friday after lunch . We headed to a place I can't say I have ever been before.

Yanceyville, NC. Heard of it? Me neither.

Chase's team played Friday night and Saturday morning.

We lost both games.

It was a double elimination tournament, so we were out.

They played hard, but they had some stiff competition. Most of the teams had a huge height advantage.

Chase gave me his personal goals on "vertical growth" before next basketball season. They were lofty goals, but can one really set a goal to grow 6 inches in a year? If this is possible, I am setting my goal tomorrow!

The trip home was relatively uneventful except for the occasional..." I gotta go-right now" and "How much longer?"

We stopped at my parents home on the way back. It was a good stopping point and I really wanted to visit with them. We enjoyed a great afternoon of college hoops. (ACC Tournament) Chase brought his Rock-Band. He set it up and he and PAPA rocked the house- literally. Watching my dad and Chase on the guitar and drums was priceless. I offered to leave it set up for a week, but mom did not seem interested.

One of our local High schools was going to be playing in the State 3A Basketball Tournament in Chapel Hill Saturday night. Chase really wanted to go to the game. I thought maybe we had seen enough Basketball for one weekend. Chase disagreed. My parents graciously offered to keep Cole. There was no reason not to go. I am so glad we went. It was a great game. Well, the parts I saw. Mostly I just watched this little bleached blonde chic in front of me. She could not stay seated. Even after I asked her nicely. She. Could. Not. Do. It.



The game was a nail-biter! We saw so many people we knew. What great hometown support! The team must have felt it because they won! (60-58) My little city...big time State Basketball Champs... who knew?

Chase and I went out for dinner at Chili's afterward. It has been way too long since we have gone out. Just the two of us. I had the best time. I have grown to love my "Chaseman" so much. When he was small I knew I could never love him more. That was not true. I can't tell you how I feel about this boy without crying so I will just say that I am the luckiest Mommy in the world to be Chase's mom. He is one special boy. He will be 12 this week. I guess that means he is not a boy anymore.

Chase may not remember anything about this weekend, but I will. I will remember watching my son play a game he loves. I will remember the grace and dignity he showed even in defeat. I will remember his humor. I will remember the high-fives when we thought Carolina was going down. I will remember our sadness when our Dukies lost. I will remember how he looked "rocking out" with my dad. I will remember going together to the Dean Dome. I will remember how he held the umbrella as we walked in the rain. I will remember watching our local High School team take home the championship. I will remember our dinner. Our conversations. Our laughter. I will remember.