We are so enjoying the first of our summer evenings on the lake.

What a treat.

We are babysitting a paddle board for a year.

It’s been a welcome addition to our lives.

We also went tubing.

Like this:

We are the Clampetts and that’s how we roll. Hilarious.

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I went for it in my dress. Because why not?

Pretty cool night.

(and yes, cast boy had to sit this one out. He sat with me on the dock for a while. When I tried to take his picture, he said, “Don’t. It will just be a reminder of all the fun I’m missing out on.” Bummer. Indeed.)

My Mother’s Day loot:

Such a fun day of Mother’s Day programs at school.

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These are both Kora’s drawings.

Be still my heart.

Kora’s book said–

If I could buy my Mom anything it would be?

“Something to help her clean her floors better.”

Ha.

Fantastic.

Although upon further questioning, she said, “One of those things like Isaiah’s mom has that goes on the floor by itself.”

Oh my dear.

My daughter wants to buy me a Roomba.

She’s a genius. SO thoughtful. I adore her.

This one too.

Who apparently loves me because I make him food.

Sounds about right.

Quincy wrote an awesome book about “If I Give My Mom a Cake.”

It had a lot of whipped cream, and gummy bears, and laundry in it.

He’s nailed it too.

And I double-savored my dockside cuddle with him tonight….

Turns out a good friend in town is an Orthopedic surgeon.

On our way to see him!

And we came out like this:

It’s huge. Almost all the way to his shoulder.

And it’s bright pink.

—-

No surgery needed right now.

The reality has started to set in.

But he’s doing well.

We’ve been really proud of him so far.

He’s a “rise to the challenge” kid.

So here we go…

Pre- Game.

Horrible picture. But it’s the only one I have…you know…before the season ended with a huge, pink cast…

Daws is committed to sit the bench for the rest of year to cheer on the brothers and the rest of the team. Character-building exercises here we come…

Couple moments that are significant or just so Landers.

1. When Daws got hit, we didn’t know immediately anything was wrong. Andy had his head down doing the books. I was talking to the other moms. Then we looked up to see Daws trying to stand, his arm hanging there, and he was trying to scream, it was a more muffled– “Dad!, Dad!” That was all he could get out. When Andy lifted his head and heard his son…um…he almost tore right through the chain link fence. He jumped off the bleachers and was on the field and holding Daws in two seconds. I only heard him say, “no. no. no.” as he jumped up.

As we were talking about it last night, he said, “There was nothing. As soon as I heard him there was nothing at that point that was going to keep me from getting to him. I would of taken out a herd of elephants….or a chain link fence.”

And it’s true. When your son cries out in pain, “Dad! Dad!” I don’t care what happened. If it was his fault or an accident or mistake. You cannot keep a father from him. He would do anything. Anything. And the only thing, the only thing in the world at that moment is a hurting child.

It’s a pretty powerful image of our own moments when we cry out, “Father. Daddy. Papa God.”

2. On a lighter note, as soon as Daws could speak in the ER, it was a competition again. He said to Andy, “I think this probably hurts worse than a kidney stone. Don’t you think, Dad?” The nurse laughed. Andy did NOT let him have that one.

3. Meanwhile in the waiting room, I was sitting with the other 5 children and a friend. Gabe walks up to me in front of a crowded waiting room and pulls his jock cup from his uniform, hands it to me, and says, “Mom. Can you keep this in your purse?”

While everyone snickers quietly…Sure. Dear. I’ll do that. I’ll put it right here in my purse between the mints and lip gloss.

Nice. Classy.

If you ever need one unexpectedly, I’m your girl now apparently.

So…big bummer for an almost 13 year old.

We were very close to winning our first game.

All the boys were killing it.

Daws was pitching the final inning.

Dropped ball behind the plate, Dawson rushes to home, catches the ball, tags advancing runner as they collide at home plate.

Totally out.

Ump called him safe.

Parents and coaches protest (it was pretty obvious).

Ump turns and says, “he dropped the ball.”

Dawson stands up and slumps over.

His arm is hanging there.

Hanging there.

As in everyone immediately knew.

Andy rushes the field.

I go instantly weak.

(I like to think that I can be strong when needed. But Andy had it covered. So I reverted to being a baby. Literally…earth spinning, could not stand).

Yuck. Yuck. Yuck.

Nurses from the stands come to aid.

Game is immediately called.

Silence.

So yuck.

Arm set in catchers gear. Andy, Daws, and nurse head to the hospital.

I gather the other 5 children.

And breath in the oxygen I need to drive safely.

Marched our troops (who are silent. silent.) into the ER waiting room.

They were rockstars.

It’s a broken wrist and forearm. Straight through both bones.

So that is a big bummer at worst.

But it’s my boy.

These things have a way of making me all gushy about how insanely crazy I am about them.

We were able to laugh.

And plan a bit for the next 6-8 weeks.

Which apparently is a bit more challenging and discouraging without a right arm.

We’ll see the orthopedics next week to hopefully avoid surgery and go straight into a cast.

But it can be done.

And we will see what sorts of awesomeness we can learn in the process.

And.

Just for the record

I hate that.

That is yucky.

I told the five children in my car,

“Look. You may these games. But you may not get hurt. Do you understand me?”

I love him.

He’s a tough dude.

What happened to this week?

I have so many things to tell you.

Riveting things like:

–Like how I scrubbed carpets with my little green machine. I do love that thing.

–Or how I washed all the bedding in the house. Do you know how many loads that is?! Enough clearly that is should be blogged about.

–Or how so, so adorable my little baseball players are? They are still so cute.

–Or how I had a major adoptive mom failure in the car the other night when the conversation drifted toward their first family. I’m pretty sure they don’t recommend weeping uncontrollably at the Orphan Summit. Ugh. I’ll do better next time.

–Or the fact that the weather is awesome here this week! Living in Washington is like birthing babies. Every summer you seem to instantly forget the past 7 months. Kind of like you instantly forget labor…until the next time you go into the delivery room.

–The weather was so fantastic that I almost took the paddle board out on the lake by myself while I was home alone. I was going to wear a life jacket. But I actually still feared that I would die out there. I’ll wait until I have back-up. Remember this?

–So my Dad has been working so hard on the blog redo. He’s so nice like that. Do we all feel OK about this?

–Hey, if you are looking for a last minute Mother’s Day gift? I’m prepping Mother’s Day e-cards to be sent on Sunday. Order today and I’ll get it done for you.

–Spring Gala is shaping up to be amazing. If you need a NY getaway. Or live in NY. Or know anyone in NY. Everyone should come. Going to be fun!

–I’ve had a couple Pinterest successes recently. Do you want to know about them?

I’m trying to do a bit of sugar detox. But I still love it and I need sweetness.

These are like a good compromise for me.

THESE are good. Not sure if it actually serves the purpose when you eat the whole pan. But nonetheless…easy and good.

And THIS is like a dream come true for me. Two ingredients. An illusion of sugar. Jello texture. All good things for me…although I recognize that I’m a little like a 7 year old. But I have “made”(essentially involves stirring) this several times. It needs some light whipped cream. It satisfies that need for dessert. So there you have it.

Beyond that, I need someone to come live with me and cook all the other stuff…

Evening swim.

I watched from the deck like a sane person.

But the squealing and laughing and bickering were enjoyed from there as well.

——-

What I really want you to see here (below) is my offspring and the EAGLE in the same shot.

I’m obsessed with the eagle.

————-

Here we have Dawson apparently levitating above the water.

He’s very talented.

————

The deal here was they were all supposed to jump in on the count of three at the same time.

It’s a pretty accurate depiction of personalities…

Not even close to “jump in at the same time.”

Rather it went—

Max (no hesitancy).

Then Daws (not about to be outdone)

Then Quincy (not going to be left behind…ever)

And then Gabe (after having watched to accurately chart all the risks).

——–

They finished the night with some floatation riding/football/fishing (not the football in the water.

We think it could be a new sport of some kind…

Son #2 seems to be only budding fisherman at the moment.

I had to make him in once it got dark and I couldn’t see him from the window anymore.

No luck for Gabe yet.

But I watched this guy some today too….

And he wasn’t having much luck either.

We know they are in there.

You can see the splashes from their jumping in the top of the photo….

I was running a bit late.

So I was quickly walking to the car while simultaneously putting on my shoes and loading my purse.

Zeke yelled from the other room:

“Where are you going, Mom?”

“I’m going to baby shower. I’ll be home soon.”

He comes running into the kitchen and starts following me.

“You are going to take a shower?!”

“No. I’m going to a baby shower, Zeke.”

“You are going to have a baby?!!?”

“No. Zeke. I am going to a baby shower. Like a party for a baby.”

“The baby is having a party?!”

“Basically. The baby is still in her Mommy’s tummy but it’s a party for her family.”

“What baby?”

“Alyson’s baby. That’s in her tummy.”

“At her house?”

“Well, no. Not at her house. At someone else’s house.”

By this time I am in the car and my window is down because he is still frantic.

“Alyson’s baby is having a party in the shower at someone else’s house?!”

“Yes. Zeke. That’s exactly right. I’ll see you soon.”