Ryan went to Branson for a week with his friend Jack. Sybil is running around singing a happy tune. One full week without Ryan. Who on earth will she terrorize? Rest assured, Shannon is feeling the wrath.

I helped Ryan pack his clothes, why are boys so helpless?? I bought him two new pair of boxers when I stopped at old Navy to pick up a couple pair of flip flops\chew toys for the dog. He only had four pair of underwear for a seven day trip. I said “Ryan do you see a problem with this?? He said, "that is all I have clean, when you made me clean my room, they were all on my floor." Looks like grandma will be on laundry overtime tonight. We got everything ready to go for the morning. I told him not to pack his tooth brush until he used it in the morning. My fear is that it hasn’t gotten much use all summer. When I woke up, I saw his tube of toothpaste sitting on the floor next to his suitcase along with his toothbrush, another item the dog uses as a chew toy. The toothpaste was missing a lid. Thank God I woke up before my genius son packed a full tube of toothpaste without a lid!!!!

I spent all day Saturday cleaning out the closet that he cleaned on Friday. I found all sorts of interesting things. The contents of Lauren’s dorm room when she moved back from Chicago three years ago, his game boy that has been missing since last year. His bag of school supplies that he lost before the first week of school last fall and the best was the frog foot that I found. Shannon cut off the frog that she dissected foot in eighth grade and kept it. I never claimed to have normal children. That was quite the surprise finding that on the floor of the closet.

Dave and I have a retirement party to go to tonight. I went shopping yesterday looking for shoes to wear with my dress. I bought Dave a new shirt and tie that will make my blue eyes look great. He only likes white shirts but they just don’t do a thing for me in pictures. Why doesn’t he get that??? I had Maggie and Kelsey with me last night at the mall. I was trying on clearance shoes. One little pair of sandals was on sale for $130; I tried them on and said “Don’t these look cute on me? See girls, if daddy was a doctor, mommy could buy these shoes.” When you grow up, you need to decide what you love more, your husband or shoes.” I was actually kidding, imagine my horror when my sweet little eight year old said “your right mom, shoes are what makes your outfit special.” Note to self, keep Lauren away from Maggie.

I went to my favorite store and was trying on clothes for work. I have lost so much weight that nothing fits me. When we went in the dressing room I remarked to Kelsey and Maggie, “please don’t make gag noises when I get undressed like your sisters do, Kelsey said” I prefer not to look.” Maggie said “Why would I make gag noises mommy?” She always was my favorite!!!