Friday, March 23, 2012

Getting ready for a crafty weekend

Tonight the boys and I went to Michael's, Home Depot, and Walmart.  Now that spells trouble.  When we did the final clean out of the garage we found things that had been purchased but never used.  We put them all in a bag and took them back to Home Depot and Walmart and got store credit for the items.  These things have just been sitting in our garage for 4 years!  With the money, we bought some wood, some paint (on sale for 77 cents), twine and a bunch of other things.  We have a few ideas cooking to make over the weekend.  The weather is great here and Sophie and Lucy just LOVE being in the backyard.  We are spending a lot of time back there.  It is all cleaned up and rearranged.  We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.  Stay tuned because we have some things up our sleeves here at Fletcher 365.  Here is another sampling of what we will be doing tomorrow.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Time is ticking

I won't be one to say "I can't believe how fast my boys have grown up".  I know every day is precious.  I know they will all be on their own some day.  I know my job is to give them guidance to be adults I can be proud of.  We live in the moment when we are together and celebrate those things that make them independent.  They are embracing it and I'm proud. I'm proud now of the young men they show themselves to be.  As I get ready to take Alex on another college visit, it is so exciting to see the look in his eye that tells me he is scared and he is excited.  He has so many questions about what it will be like and how things will work.  He will discover so much when he is on his own.  He will be ready and so will I.  I look forward to knowing them as adults and they will still be a part of Fletcher365.

Baptism

http://christchurchplano.org/ It's official.  Chase and Sam are scheduled to be baptized on Wednesday, April 11th.  Wednesday night is the night they hold youth group at church and there are a few of the youth wanting to be baptized.  Just like with Alex, I'm going to invite the families in our lives who support our spiritual journey.  Last time, Alex was so moved by his friends being there for this great event.  It will be informal.  It will be personal.  It will be moving.  So happy to have them old enough to understand it and old enough to remember this step.  Unfortunately I travel a lot in April but it is fortunate that I am not traveling on this very important day.

Monday, March 19, 2012

We've got the fever

The boys came home yesterday from being with their dad and Chase seemed a little down.  It was pretty clear as yesterday continued, that he felt pretty bad.  Not sure what's going on here in our house but the boys and I sure have been sick this year.  Not just ill but pucky and yucky.  Here's Chase today at the Urgent Care Center.  Fever of 102.  Not the flu and not strep throat.  Kind of scary.  I had to take a half day off work today but that's okay.  With him is where I belong.  That's what we do here at Fletcher365.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Elvis is in the house

While the boys were gone, I did a lot of closet cleaning, back yard primping, talking with Alex and working.  It has been a very productive week.  The big event was going out with Patty and Will Cline to celebrate their 32nd wedding anniversary.  They really did get married when they were 17.  We had such a good time and laughed so much.  During dinner, Sam sent me a text while he was with his friend Nathan in Panama City Beach to tell me about his week.  I kept answering even though I was at dinner.  Everyone in my life knows my kids come first and they tolerate this from me, and sometimes they enjoy it too.  Sam told me that Nathan's brother Eric got a tattoo.  I simply replied, "me too" and that is where it all started.  He BELIEVED me!  So at dinner we all tried to figure out how I could continue to trick him.  And since I really don't have a tattoo and really don't want one, we had to figure something out.  After dinner we went to Houlihan's for after dinner drinks and behold, our bartender was a girl with a dragon tattoo.  She also had an Elvis tattoo on her upper arm.  We took a picture of it and sent it to Sam.  Alex is going to play along too.  I can't wait to see how long it takes Sam before he figures this one out.  Does her really think I would get a tattoo?  If I did, does he really think it would be of Elvis?

Monday, March 12, 2012

Playing dress up

A while back, I took Sophie with me to pick Chase up at school.  We went to my office to pick something up.  Sophie is always welcome at the office because the boss is really nice there.  While Chase was waiting for me to do my thing, he dressed Sophie up in all sorts of costumes we had at the office.  I'll show more to you later.  For now, Sophie, Lucy, Alex and I are enjoying this photo while Chase and Sam are in Panama City with their dad.  We miss them but know they are having a fun time with Grammie.  While Sophie isn't too excited about being in a costume, she would let Chase and Sam do anything to her, except maybe put Lucy on her back.  Oh I have a picture of that too.  It will come in future blogs to show you what it is like here at Fletcher365.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Two to Panama City. Two on a Staycation in Plano.

Finally finished laundry, some dishes, and a gift for the boys to take to Panama City.  Chase and Sam are going with their dad to visit their Grammie and Granddaddy.  Alex is staying here to work at Chick-Fil-A so he can scoop up some money since he seems to be running through it pretty quickly.  I'm so pleased that Chase is going to be riding alone with his dad the whole way there since Sam is going to be riding with his friend Nathan whose family just happens to be going to Panama City at the same time.  Chase was concerned that their dad's girlfriend and daughter were going too.  While they like Renata and Mellany, they really were looking forward to this time just with family.  I'll be working this week (for the same reason as Alex) and Alex and I will hopefully have some evenings together.  It is so crazy that he is going to college in just a little over a year.  Where will he go?  It's still up in the air.  But I will take time with him anytime I can.  The rest of the world will just have to take a back seat for now.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Is this freaky or what?

Alex, Chase and Sam are favorite neighbors for Wesley and Tye.  They live across the street with their mom Amber.  Wesley turns three in the next month and Tye will be one soon.  This picture was taken soon after Tye was born and we were visiting to give Amber a break.  We love that Amber and her kids come over to hang out.  Chase is especially good with Wesley.  He makes her laugh.  Now when she is in a bad mood, Amber brings her over for Chase to get Wesley back to "normal".  It is scary to see Alex holding these babies.  What is even scarier is that Wesley was competing for Alex's attention so she suddenly took off all her clothes to get Alex's attention.  Under the blanket, she's naked!  Alex closed his eyes so he wouldn't see, just like a gentleman should.  We gave her the blanket to put over her so we could take a picture.  I have a feeling instead of making things easier for Amber, we just might be making it harder sometimes.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Alex is going to Outward Bound this summer!

I am so excited that I can get a scholarship for Alex to go on a 9 day trip for Outward Bound this summer.  He will go from June 18 to June 26th.  He will be in North Carolina.  When I went, I was in Colorado and Utah for 14 days.  Alex has a lot going on and wants to work a lot this summer to save money so 9 days was a good amount of time for a trip for him. 

This is his trip http://www.ncobs.org/course/40 and he will be one of 12 kids from ages 16 to 18.  He is very excited and so am I.  I want this experience for all three kids if I can.  This is perfect timing for Alex.  So I will continue to work my butt off to pay what isn't covered with a scholarship.  But I will do it because this is a priceless opportunity for Alex to learn what he is made of.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Living life.....

When Alex and I went to visit Texas A & M for a college visit, we stopped at a Cracker Barrel restaurant on our way home.  He and I talked about his goals, his ideas, and what inspires him.  It was a short conversation but we talked about the importance of living in the "now".  I can see that the boys understand that living in the present is important.  I don't want them to live in the past or the future at the expense of the present.  While Alex and I walked around the store after lunch, I found this picture with a saying that I read in a book.  It is perfect for what I want for my boys.  Alex seems to get it and now I'm trying to help Chase and Sam see it for themselves.  The picture hangs at the top of the stairs in our home where the boys can see it almost everyday.  It is called "Living Life" and it reads:  "Life is not a race - but indeed a journey.  Be honest.  Work hard.  Be choosy.  Say 'thank you', 'I love you', and 'great job' to someone each day.  Go to church, take time for prayer.  The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh.  Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper.  Love your life and what you've been given, it is not accidental - search for your purpose and do it as best you can.  Dreaming does matter.  It allows you to become that which you aspire to be.  Laugh often.  Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them.  Some of the best things really are free.  Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming.  Forgive, it frees the soul.  Take time for yourself - plan for longevity.  Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know.  Live for today, enjoy the moment." (Bonnie L. Mohr)

Friday, March 2, 2012

When they are down....they are down

Sam didn't go to school today.  He had his choir concert last night and was so tired when we came home.  Amber and I took Alex out to dinner to talk more about colleges while Chase and Sam stayed home.  When we got back to the house at 9:15pm, Sam was already in his bed asleep.  So it was then that I knew things weren't normal.  Luckily (or maybe it was unlucky) that I was attending a conference today in downtown Dallas.  I came home at lunch time and stayed home the rest of the day with Sam.  We just laid around together.  We watched TV.  We sat quietly.  I kept him company.  That is the best part of being a mom.  The worst part is seeing one of them sick.  When Sam is down....he is down and that is what it has been like today in Fletcher365.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Why so quiet this week?


I've been in Phoenix for two days working. The boys have been with their dad with the typical activities at night. I was gone just for 24 hours overnight. The kind of trip I like the best. I don't want to be away from home very long. I'm proud of the boys for handling themselves well while I am gone. Here is a picture of what I was doing out of town. I'm on FOX so much that when I have a chance with another network, I'm taking it. I am averaging one appearance a week. That's pretty good. And no, I'm not shaking my finger at her. I'm just talking with my hands.