Dirt behind the ears, red-neckin' back-yard and... 5 YEARS

Last night... Daddy was in the bathroom giving the kids a tubby. "Babe," he said, "There is dirt behind Tenderheart's ear that I think is from Ethiopia." 

 "I need some kind of wash clothe with grit." 

"Stat."

Tonight... my parents drove their motor-home down to our house and parked it in our back-yard. Yup. That's right. We are "one of those". 

That "house fixing up" thing I was telling you about is in full swing... and my husband and father are working on building a deck. My parents live almost an hour away from the house we are "fixing up" (and living in)... so instead of driving back and forth... they camp out. And it's awesome.

We get to hang out with them a bunch. We laugh at and with our children. Enjoying every little moment. We eat dinner together and drink wine together. Well... we "sort of" drink wine together... my Dad adds ginger ale to his. 50/50. I know. He is "one of those". We are workin' on him. 

Tonight, we ordered Pizza from a local shop. The owners (I think) are from Greece. They speak little English. And they are precious. I'm beginning to think that getting to know different people, places, cultures, and traditions is the real education we need. It is heart, mind and soul education. It's taking a bite of humble pie. And wanting more. 

The pizza box had NOT ONE DRIP OF GREASE left in it after that pizza was gone. Did I say incredible? No "sopping up grease with your napkin" here. No oompa-loompa-feeling after this pizza. No. Instead... you'll want to run the Boston Marathon. Better yet... the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk For The Cure. My boss at that coffee shop is walking and working hard to raise money for that 3 Day Walk. She's pretty wonderful I think. 

Speaking of Breast Cancer... in just a couple weeks... we will be celebrating the 5 year anniversary of the day they got that freaking-no-good-son-of-a-gun cancer out my Mom's beautiful body. 5 YEARS. 

And I'll end it on that.