The Boys Club

I have been aware since I was a little girl of the existence of a phenomenon that I have come to call the Boys Club. While this is not a physical, card carrying, dues paying organization, it is very much a living and active organization.

To find proof of this organization, simply observe any two males who are in the proximity of one another. Often, these males are immediately drawn to one another simply due to their gender. They not only bond over the pure fact that they are both male, they revel in proving their manliness to one another through an extremely wide variety of activities that expand and broaden as they grow older, but it doesn't seem to change entirely. The other option is competitive facing off, but that is the stuff of another post.

When Robby was born, Bryan and his brothers would collectively hold Robby while softly (for them) chanting, "Boys! Boys! Boys! Boys!" I thought that this was cute--a playful gesture. Little did I realize that it was actually an iniation process into the club, which I have now learned is something that boys are aware of from birth. I don't think I was quite prepared for this.

I am constantly amazed at how Robby identifies himself so proudly as a boy. If he sees a pair of pink converse shoes, he is quick to point out that he can't wear them because he is a boy. If Juliet tries to play with his toys, he sometimes tells her that she can't, citing that it is because she is a girl (or a baby, or both, but you get the point).

If we can't convince Robby to get dressed in long pants or a long sleeved shirt, despite the need due to the weather, (for some reason, Robby strongly prefers shorts and short sleeved shirts--and short socks come to that) Bryan can simply go put on something similar, and then Robby will want to wear it too. Because they are boys, and those are the clothes that boys wear.

Which leads me to the problem of belts. Because Bryan is so skinny, he needs a belt all the time. But, Robby doesn't have a belt. So, he gets upset because he is not dressed enough like Daddy. So, Daddy ends up going without a belt. Santa, if you are reading this, can you bring Robby a nice belt for Christmas so that his daddy won't run the constant risk of losing his drawers in public?

(both are wearing grey baseball shirts, blue jeans, and black tennis shoes...no belt)

Like Father, Like Son

Recent breakfast conversation with Bryan:

Bryan: The key to successful entrepreneurship is finding a product or service that you can offer that costs you less than what other people are willing to pay.

Amy: Mmmm hmmmm. What's amazing is your ability to find those things.

Bryan: Are you kidding me? It's simple--you just always have to be on the look out and to be ready to jump on ideas when you have them. Of course, it's always very important to carefully research the idea and put facts and figures on paper before you start something.

Amy: Oh, completely. Yeah. Man, this Chick-fil-A chicken biscuit is awesome.

Bryan: I guess. Sometimes eating is such a chore though.

Amy simply makes a face that is a mixture of disbelief and resignation.

-- End scene --

Recent dinner experience with Robby:

Mommy: Robby, you simply have to eat something. Food is what gives us energy and helps us to grow big. And, pizza is yummy.

Robby: Noooooooo. I don't want to.

Mommy: Just a few bites. You got to make the pizza all by yourself. So fun!

Robby: I don't wanna eat.

Before Mommy knows it, Robby has sprinted from the table and comes back with a calculator and proceeds to just crunch some numbers. While she doesn't read three year old writing very well, she's pretty sure it's a basic workup of the numbers for Robby's first venture--a pizza stand at the daycare.

Robby, thinking to himself: Let's see, average food haul per day would be one poptart, three pizzas, and six chicken nuggets.... that should be good for at least three or four glasses of milk, a dump truck, and some sweet markers. Now, I just have to figure out how to smuggle the food into school without the parentals noticing that I'm not eating it.

My Mister

I remember a conversation with a friend a few years back when the friend told me that her husband had accepted a telecommuting job that would allow him to work from home. My friend is a stay-at-home mother with two children. While I ooohed and aaahed over what a wonderful development that was, in the back of my mind I was thinking two things:

1. She is crazy to think that this will work
2. My marriage would never survive that kind of arrangement

I did not consider this assessment to be the result of a bad relationship with my husband--on the contrary. I just thought that too much time together would drive us both batty.

Fastforward a little over a year, and suddenly my hubby and I found ourselves in almost the exact same situation, except that I was telecommuting too. The first few months were definitely an adjustment. There were new lines to be drawn and new territory to be staked out. The proceedings were not always jocular.

But, now a year later, we have transitioned into a pattern that we both have found works for us. And the best part is that he still has the power to surprise and delight me. Like when he got on Amazon to look through the list of recent bestsellers just to see if there was anything on there I might like and then ordered me a handful of books without mentioning a word until they arrived at my doorstep. Like taking me to Winslow's cafe on the spur of the moment for no special occasion at all. Like watching the season finale of Grey's Anatomy with me even though he really isn't that big of a fan of the show.

This weekend we celebrate Father's Day, and to be sure my mister is a great father. Truly. But, right now, what I most want to celebrate is his husbandness (blah, blah, blah, that's not a word. It's the essence I'm going for here people). Because in that category too he is great.

**Sweetie, I am not sure how often you check this blog (do you? check this blog I mean?), but if you are reading this, ILY and MB.**

Easter Sunday

We didn't get any great pics, but here are a couple just for an idea (and yes, Juliet did start out with shoes on but she has the narrowest feet on the planet and they mostly just fall right off):

Easter Week

We had a wonderful week in Houston with SueSue, Pops, Eraina and Lucy (and later Bryan), Michael and Ali and Collier, and Paul. It was a blessing to get to hear Robert preach on Easter Sunday, and before that we had all kinds of fun activities, including:

Water Time:

no pool? no problem! We will make our own :)

Juliet might rock a bathing suit, but she did not want to mess up her hair (or her tan!) by getting in that cold water

Dying Easter Eggs:

Why was I unprepared for the massive mess? Can I blame it on lack of sleep or something?

Easter Baskets:

Juliet got four dresses and one tiny toy. Maybe it was more for Mommy?

Robby's haul was much more fun

Easter Egg Hunt!

Robby and Lucy had been excited all day for this event



We hid candy in only about half of the eggs. Once they figured that out, they had to be cajoled into picking up the eggs that didn't rattle. Smart kids.

Juliet and I kept up as best we could

The whole crew after the hunt was over


Robby's haul--not bad!

SueSue and Juliet were glad to get back inside and away from that hot afternoon sun!

Dip It!

My husband is well known in certain circles for his propensity to "dip it" when on water skis. This "move" entails a one hand rope hold while the other hand carelessly skims the top of the water as he rides along. Whenever we are on a lake and he takes to the skis, cries of "dip it" can be heard from the boat for the duration of his turn. My son appears to be trying to follow in his daddy's footsteps, although his technique of "dipping it" requires a completely different set of circumstances. For my son, "dipping it" is all about the food.

This pregnancy (yes, for anyone who doesn't know, I am three months along!!!) has found a much more nauseous Amy than my previous pregnancies, so cold foods have been better for me than hot. Recently, I hit upon the idea of veggies and dip to go along with the fruits I have been consuming on a regular basis. So, I pulled out the standard sour cream/onion veggie dip my family has used for years and made up a batch. Oh, but if I had known the consequences....

It turns out that Robby loves dip. If he hears the word, he will go stand by the refrigerator and whine "diiiiiiip." If that is not effective quickly, he will try to drag whichever parent is close by to obtain said item of dip.

While he usually will eat some of the veggies that accompany the dip, often the dip becomes the main item of interest. Note in the picture the forlorn carrots on one side of the tray while the dip is being transferred directly to his mouth via spoon.

While a visit to Rio Mambo's last night proved that this dip is not the only dip that can satisfy my little dipper, I thought I would share the recipe because it is so easy and so good:

Harris Family Veggie Dip:

16 oz sour cream

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp garlic powder

4 tsp minced onion

2 tbs parsley flakes

Mix together and enjoy! I mostly eat it just on veggies but Bryan likes it with chips too.