"Record-keeping" randonmness.....

This is more an 'for record keeping' sake post, than anything, so bear with me here.
Just felt a need to document a couple of Nelson goings-on before I forget them....time has a way of doing that you know.

In no particular order either, but we'll start with most recent:

14 year old (almost 15, he'll tell you) WENT TO A DANCE.
For reals.
And danced with girls.
And liked it.

This is all a tad bit new at our house. I know, I know....he's almost a SOPHMORE, you say -
but up to this point, he's had a 'not-very-interested' take on girls. Actually, I don't think 'not-very-interested' is quite accurate.....It's probably more like 'scared-to-death-and-don't-know-what-to-say'. Which I have to admit has been FINE with me. No sense rushing these things, right?

But for what ever reason tonight, he summoned the courage to go to a regional dance with some friends and not only did he have a great time, but he danced 'lots', he said, and was brave enough to ask 'lots' of girls he didn't even know.

Dang. He's growing up.


Thing two I wanted to record are the two effective ways of catching monsters at night found here at the Nelson household. The girl nine year old has always, ALWAYS had a thing for making sure the closet doors are shut. Tight. No gaps allowed. This way the monster will either suffocate, or at least if the monster were to come out, you'd hear the door opening, and have time to make a run for it. Also the hall light should be left on, and the bedroom door wide open. So far as we can tell, she's been successful at keeping any monsters or boogie men at bay.

About 3 weeks ago, we noticed something funny after every time we'd tuck the 3 year old in bed. It's a mothers ritual to go in and check on the kids before I hit the hay. When 3 year old is tucked in - we take great care to make sure the closet doors are shut, and things in the room are tidied up. But for the past 3 weeks, when I go back in, we find (this is a TOTALLY CONSISTANT ritual with her, which cracks me up all the more).....The closet doors WIDE open, as WIDE as they can possibly be, and the rocking chair has found a new home right smack in the middle of the floor.
I guess that's her way of saying "ha ha on you......if the doors are open, you can't hide in there in the first place!"

(honestly, most of this is probably not very interesting, but if I don't jot it down, there will come a day that I don't remember, so - I'm jotting........for posterities sake...)

So......this one I almost HESITATE to share. But, it truly was a funny moment for me. Please please do not take any offense at the following story - no offense is intended. Seriously.

Here it goes............I finally bought my first........um........Coke. Ever.

Didn't drink it, but I bought it.

It was an ingredient for a recipe "Cafe Rio Pork"....and WHO could possibly resist that recipe? Now you have to understand, we were not allowed to drink caffeine growing up, and although I did plenty of things that would not be on the 'good' list, drinking caffeine was not one of them. (Alright, if you want to get technical here, I HAVE had Barg's Rootbeer, many a times - before we realized it had caffeine going on.)

Mountain Dew, Pepsi, Dr. pepper, Coke, diet Coke.........never had them. And at this point in my life I figure why start now?

So, back to the Walmart story. I'm grocery shopping, knowing that I have to buy COKE to go in this recipe, but fretting about it the whole ENTIRE time I'm walking up and down the isles. Panic is setting in, I'm wondering if someone will SEE me pick up a coke. Worried at what they might think. Wondering what they might say. (I realize now how ridiculous this is all sounding. It's a COKE, for heaven sakes - not an R rated movie!)

I proceed to the check out, still coke-less. Looking to the left, looking to the right, making sure know one is watching, quickly open the coolers at the front of the store, pull out a quick coke, pop it in the basket (UNDER a couple of items), and hurry to be checked out. Whew. I think I made it.

Then the checker scans the coke and sets it out for me.

I TOTALLY panicked again, like there were spotlights flashing and someone comes over the loud speaker to say "LOOK AT THE LADY BUYING A COKE ON ISLE 5!...................

"Uh........it's just for a recipe" I say as I quickly toss it into a bag like a hot potato.

She gave me the funniest look, and then I think it really (finally) dawned on me that I was OKAY. It wasn't a horribly horrible and rotten thing to be buying. And, no one thought a thing of it.

Certainly there are far better things I could spend my time worrying about and correcting. But for what ever reason, I had a 'moment' buying Coke the other day.

So there you have it. Randomness from the Nelson household....

And, other than that......32 soccer games, one sisters wedding, a basketball tournament, soccer try outs, half marathons, primary leadership meeting, piano recital, band concert, and Emma's Showstoppers shows.......

that's where our crazy May went.

Hooray for almost Summer!