On Monday John called me from work and let me know that he was bringing our friend from Florida, Lou Gonzalez, home for dinner and a visit on Tuesday. Now nothing puts me in the housecleaning mode like the promise of visitors. So I'm happy to report I accomplished quite a bit of housework this week and we really enjoyed seeing Lou.
Anna and I both made it to the Buckner Barbershop this week for necessary haircuts. The proprietors are four young women and I've come to appreciate the convenience of the drop in-no appointment set up and having somebody different cut my hair each time. Never gets boring. And they offer actual salon services such as eyebrow waxing.
Yesterday we all got in the minivan and drove to the Summit shopping district in Louisville to do three things. This is a big deal cause normally you won't get John into a vehicle to go near shopping on a weekend. And yes there were lots of people. He is really allergic to crowds, breaks out in sweats and fits of impatience almost immediately.
We had three things to do. First go to Old Navy and buy Michael one pair of size 12 Slim jeans, which only come with a button hole closure. He needs to practice doing the button because I can't hardly find pants for his age with snaps anymore. I had mentioned having to live with me for life cause he can't button his pants and that seemed to fire him up to practice and cooperate on the matter. He can see what living with me has done to his father I guess.
If I had gone alone, I would have picked one pair of pants, paid for them and left. With the crew, we had to try on the pants plus try on some ugly camoflauge pants that Michael was drawn to even though I knew they'd be huge on him. And then John insisted we had to buy two pair of the jeans because you save like $2 a pair if you buy two...never mind that we didn't really need the second pair and ended up spending $15 more than was really needed.
The second stop was to Feeders Supply to research the cost of a hamster, his food and home for Anna's persuasive letter project at school. She is trying to persuade John and I to let her have a hamster. I told her it would be considered when she makes her bed for a month without having to be reminded. I'm not worried. Anna has too many things going on in her head all the time to ever remember to make her bed consistently. It's like living with Pamela Cayer all over again.
Our last stop was to Target for Michael to shop for his Angel Tree child. He picked out a gift for an 11 year old boy that he will take to school and get passed along to an agency that helps people provide gifts for children. Michael and Anna don't go to stores that often as I have the luxury of going while they're in school. Naturally, they want to take their time and look at dang near everything. This sort of shopping takes time and patience but generally is fun, unless of course John is along for the ride. You'd think we were in danger of missing the only flight to MT leaving in the next three years.
By the time we made it out of Target, into the minivan, through the traffic and onto the freeway John was absolutely spent. So exhausted in fact that he drove straight to Cracker Barrel because according to him there was no way he was going to help make dinner after "all that".
We are all healthy and happy and looking forward to a Thanksgiving get together with the Berhows.
We are thinking of all of you, our family and friends, and wishing you peace and love this holiday season.
Today Anna asked me if she could have chicken noodle soup for lunch and I said sure. Then she went into the kitchen and proceeded to get out the kettle to cook it herself. She was reading the directions and wrestling with opening the can when I came into the kitchen. I showed her how to turn on the burner and she made herself lunch. She wants to do everything herself these days. 
I recently bought a new blouse which is in the photo at left. It is really nothing extravagant or unusual, but it is a departure from my typical wardrobe of sweaters and sweatshirts that I hibernate in from November to March. And I thought it was pretty, very feminine with all the lace and appropriate for some of the holiday parties I'll be attending. Granted it is not something I typically would wear since most of my days involve cleaning and errands. I may have hesitated to buy it if I'd known the reception it would receive from my family. I decided to wear it to church last week. First John, who came into the bathroom while I was putting on makeup. "Oh, a new shirt." he said. "It's fluffy. Why'd you get a fluffy shirt?" "FLUFFY??" Next it was Michael's turn. I went into the kitchen where he was eating at the table. He looks at me and says, "That shirt looks like it was George Washington's in the 1700's". He didn't say if that was good or bad. And finally Anna..."What are you wearing?? Eww, that's disgusting!!" I would be curious if anyone else gets this sort of feedback on wardrobe matters from their family.
