My child just said WHAT?!?!?!?

True conversation last night at the Anderson dining table during homework...

Emily...Mom, I don't think Grace should be friends with ####.

Me...Why's that, Emily?

Emily...Because she's saying things to Grace that are inappropriate.

BIG sigh from me.

Me...What Emily?

Grace...Mom?  What is passion?

Me...Passion?  (Insert audible COUGH!)  What do you mean?

Grace...#### said to me that passion means boys' weiners.

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Actually, there were a few more pauses than that while I tried to compose myself and formulate an answer.

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I finally got up out of my seat, walked over to her and reminded her gently that she is 7 years old...with a look to Emily and a reminder that she is only 9...and that private parts are private.  I also told them that passion is something for grown ups, much more grown up than their 7 and 9 years.  Not knowing what else to say (I mean for crying out loud!  I should not have to be having this conversation with them at this YOUNG age!!), and grateful that my answer satisfied them, they returned to their homework and I returned to what I was doing.  I was relieved to not have to say anymore.

O.M.G.!  It reminded me of the time when my younger sister Stephanie was somewhere around Grace's age and asked my dad the difference between boys and girls.  My dad was SPEECHLESS until my older sister Leann piped up that 'parts are parts!'

This morning I spoke with Grace's teacher about what had been said.  Another teacher was in the room when I repeated what was said and her response was perfect..."What exactly does that mean???"  LOL!  Thank you Ms. D for the laugh...I sooooo needed that!

First grade teachers...not something you'd think they'd have to deal with but they did...and are...and I'm hoping for a reprieve of anymore of these conversations in the near, near future!  But to be honest I'm scared...what on this good green earth am I going to do, how am I going to answer when the BIG questions come???

I love my life!

Days like today are why I love living in Florida.  It is February 24th, it is 81 degrees out, there are a few light clouds in the sky, a wonderful breeze is blowing through the trees and the girls just rode their bikes down the street to play at a friend's house.  It is absolutely glorious!  And yes, remind me I have said all of this come July when the temps reach 100+ degrees!

It seems like it's been forever since I last posted (and no, I didn't look).  It has been a busy couple of weeks in the Anderson home.  We seem to be getting into the swing of the new semester at the girls' school, both doing extremely well I might add...PROUDLY!  Now if we could only improve their organizational skills!  LOL!  I laugh because I know they get what they have now from me!!  I had a setback last week with some oral surgery that is taking me longer to recover from than I had expected, but slow progress is better than no progress as all.

Randy is staying beyond busy with work.  He's still a temporary, part-time employee but his hours have really increased.  He's traveling here and there - several days up in the panhandle of Florida in our old stomping ground last month as well as an overnight up to Fort Bragg.  Last month he spent the good part of a day here one-on-one with a former United States Special Operations Command 4-star general.  (Gen Holland is also a former commander of Air Force Special Operations Command - AFSOC - where Randy and I both worked.)  Shortly after that visit, Randy was contacted by the vice president of the Air Commando Association (ACA), a retired colonel from AFSOC, who asked him if he will write the nomination package for Gen Holland into the ACA Hall of Fame.  What an honor!

Speaking of his writing...apparently TTB is a HIT!!!  For anyone who does not know, TTB is Trailer Trash Barbie.  A couple of years ago, Randy started posting as his facebook status about the girls' Barbies.  He'd find them laying around in various positions and 'scenarios,' find the humor in them and post to his wall.  He began to develop a following.  But think about the irony in it...here you have an almost-27-year veteran of the USAF, served more than 22 years serving as a combat operator...a warrior to the core.  And now he's dealing with Barbie dolls and a 3-1/2-foot Barbie house 5 feet from his desk.  LOL!  Then came TTB.   Randy's creative juices started flowing and he began writing The Barbie Chronicles, a name dubbed by his following.  The first storyline surrounds Ken after perching himself on Randy's desk one night for a chat...Randy directed Sgt Joe to 're-school' Ken and the story begins with Ken being picked up at the airport by TTB after his training has ended. 

Some of the stuff that comes out of Randy's mind absolutely amazes me.  He truly is creative and gifted in being able to take that mental creativity and commit it to paper.  I hope one day he actually does take everyone up on their suggestions and urgings to have The Chronicles published.  This past week we took the storyline off his facebook personal wall to a facebook public page.  House of the Pink Bows (again, think the irony) is up and running with new LIKES every day.  As friends are liking the page, we are adding them to a private group where you can read the entire saga of TTB from start to present, as well as read installments as they are added.  If interested, send me a message so you'll be added.

The 5-little girls sleepover...

I'm not sure what possessed me earlier in the week, but I decided to contact the moms of a couple of the girls friends about having a sleepover at our house tonight.  Emily has two friends here and Grace has one.  Of the five, 3 are seasoned veterans at the sleepover thing and 2 are newbies.  So far, so good.

We started off with pizza, which the girls all scarfed down.  Then they all did Valentine's Day crafts.  After that, daddy grabbed a couple sets of tongs out of the drawer and started chasing the five of them around the house.  Oh my goodness, it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen...and then he put a bright blue colander on his head!  The girls howled!!!  I can't remember the last time  I laughed so hard.  I know my girls are now almost 7 and 9, but when they were running through the house I could almost hear the pitter patter of their feet from when they were so little.

Grace and her friend Alyssa

Emily with Aubrea and Jaden

Right now the little ones are playing Donkey Kong on the Wii while the older ones make jewelry in the other room.   In the background I can hear the game and quite frequently I hear one of the many eek out a little giggle.  I love it.

We still have fingers and toes to paint with little stickers to put on them and then maybe I'll make them go to bed.  At the request of Emily, I'm going to make abilskevers for breakfast with fresh blueberries...or beignets...or cold cereal if they don't like either!  LOL!