Conversation in the Car

"Brandon, we need to stop at Ingles to get some groceries."

"Mom, can I get a lunchable. We only had 3 things for lunch today."

"Only 3 things? What did you have?"

"I had cornbread, milk and macaronni with little hams. And that is all they had at lunch today."

"Really? no fruit? no vegetables?"

"Well they had those brown beans I like but it had a nasty flavor on it. And they had those vienna orangeses*. You know I don't like those."


*translation vienna orangeses = mandarin oranges

Another trip inside Brandon's mind

Each time we go into the town of Griffin, we have to pass the county correctional institution. Brandon understands what the building is and why people go there. But he can not understand why when we pass the buildings the prisoners are allowed to play basketball and volleyball. Each and everytime he sees them outside playing he goes into a frenzy of questions. Much like these: "Mom, if they broke the rules that means they should lose priviledges(yes he even used this word). Why do they get to go outside and play fun games? Do they have TV? If they do they shouldn't. They broke the rules. It should be a punishment not play time.

I have to admit he poses some pretty good questions. I am constantly amazed at the thought he puts into his ideas. Maybe he was just born a politician?

second thoughts

After thinking through my weight loss or lack there of this past week I started getting a feeling of foul play. My scale has lots of buttons. I live with a button pusher.

Sure enough I examined my scale and it was set to show the last recorded weight which would be what I weighed the week before. So I reset the scale and sure enough I have lost some weight this week.

I lost 1.2 pounds bringing me to a total of 6.8 pounds!

woot!!

Another week maintained

Well I was a little disappointed this morning when I weighed in. I did not lose but did not gain either. I think it is because I have not been drinking enough water. With school starting and being on a schedule where I can't go to the bathroom on a whim, I was a little afraid to drink too much water.

So now I know I need to buck it up and just do it. My body will adjust to my schedule and I will be ok.

So total weight lost 5.6 pounds.

Karate lessons

I love to watch Brandon's karate classes. They are so full of action and fun. I find myself laughing at the cute things they are doing or amazed at the incredible things they are learning to do.

Tuesday's class had two groups, a large orange and gold belt group and Brandon's small white belt group. They were split up to learn different techniques. In Brandon's group there were 3 boys all about 8 years old. They were working hard on their form and their teacher asked them to "take a knee" so he could talk to him.

I looked over and the teacher was looking down at the 3 small boys with a grin on his face. All three boys were standing on one foot and holding their right knee in their right hand. None of them understood that he meant to kneel down to listen. It was just a priceless picture. Too bad I didn't have my camera.

Another moment looking into Brandon's mind

The other day Brandon wanted to eat lunch with Grandmom (we are currently living in the basement apartment). So upstairs he went to hang out with her and eat what must be the best tasting bologna anywhere on the planet. As they sat and enjoyed each others company, he started to get a little pensive.

He said, "Grandmom...(insert long pause)...you know when you and Granddad....(insert another long pause)...Well I don't want to say this but.....When you and Granddad are in heaven with God, me and mom can just go upstairs or downstairs whenever we want."

Mom got such a kick out of that. He didn't want to talk about them dying but found a way to say it in a softer form. It is amazing how soon kids can pick up on things like that. I am lucky that he is such a caring little human.

figuring things out

When I picked Brandon up from school on Friday, he asked if I was proud of him for going all week (3 days) without getting in trouble. I, of course, was and am very proud of this accomplishment. (You see it is the first time and a personal record for Brandon.) I told him I was extremely proud of him and he told me this:

"Mom, now that I am 8 years old I finally have it all figured out. I like Ms. Golden, she is nice, and I want to keep her that way."

Man, I wish I could have figured it all out at age 8.