Memorial Day weekend.

Friday Turner did the farewell tour at school. Hugs and kisses all around and plenty of assurances that he will be missed. We can't say enough good stuff about Catalina. It was the major bright spot in our first two years of living here. Most everything was difficult and what wasn't difficult proved impossible in trying to establish a new life for ourselves after the move. But the teachers, kids, and Ms. Jo at Catalina always had words of encouragement, hugs, and laughter to push us forward through some really dark times. They have helped to teach Turner compassion, patience, listening, and thoughtfulness for things big and small. It was a really sad farewell tour for us all.

Saturday was birthday extravaganza. We got up early and went to the gym only to discover childcare doesn't open until 9 AM. So, Turner watched Avatar in the cardio theater while I did more lunges that I should ever do again. Annie's party was at 11:30 at Pump It Up (a room of jumping castles and slides). We bought her a Zhu Zhu, pink. She opened it, loved it, and we jetted. Noah's party started at 12:00, but he knew we'd be late to drop off his Gresh Bionicle. We arrived at 2 just in time for a babyquail funeral and some battle galatica in the living room with Bionicles (the girl--there is only one and she is named Kerik--was the most in demand character today).

We got home around 4 and "relax" with a movie (this is Turner's new language to get some TV time. "But Mom I really need to relax myself in front of the TV for a bit.") When Andy came home from work we went to the football field to practice soccer. T and I walked but Andy decided to drive. After a major fall in the crosswalk of 5th street, Turner and I made it to the field just before sundown. We practiced. Andy showed off some superstar moves. And just to bring back all those high school memories of track star days, the three of us raced around the football field. Turner took the shortcut through the football field to beat us both.

Sunday the boys went to the gym while I put an argument together for the Warnock Fellowship article, something I hope to pick up again on Tuesday. Then family pool time (so that I can start final edits of chapter one). Turner engaged in the usual casual flirting with the lesbian ladies down the street. After the sun had sufficiently kissed Andy's shoulders (because he still thinks 6 SPF at the pool is sufficient protection), we headed home. Turner and I go to the grocery for our party supplies and stop at the pharmacy again, only to be reminded again of how incompetent they are! We play scrabble, make banana pudding and cauliflower salad, do our watering chores, and read a stack of books. While making pudding and playing scrabble, Turner asked if he could eat as many cookies as he wanted. I agreed. An hour later he was whining to go to bed with a stomach ache. He said, "I don't want to ever eat that many cookies again." When he woke up Monday morning, he remained steadfast in his assessment that 3 cookies will be his limit from now on.

Monday is the pool party. Most of our friends come and hang out from 1 until Turner's bedtime. Turner makes a new friend, Star (in July she is moving to Southern FL for a super awesome job in Rhet/Comp). Star is her real name, by the way, and she looks like she stepped off a SoCali boardwalk: blonde hair, designer sunglasses, huge purse that harbors illegal aliens without papers, and the kind of attitude that exudes confidence. She fell in love with Turner because "he says smart things, like really smart things, that most normal kids don't express interest in. I mean really, he is a great conversationalist." Uh, yeah, we know. She and Turner had swim lessons. They laid out in the sun trying to get into the Brown family (seriously, that is what Turner said to me, "Hey mom. Come over here with us and be part of the Brown family.") Before the party stragglers moved to the house for dinner, Star and Turner hung out at the other end of the pool soaking up the last rays of sunshine (from behind 80 proof sunscreen) and talked about who knows what. She was smitten and, in the total giving way that is Star, she offered to watch Turner one day next week so that I could have an ENTIRE day to write.