no school today, yippee!

the boys are lounging on our super great new couch. this couch is the couch our family has needed for YEARS. every night, we would all four pile onto our old 6 foot long couch and fight over space. this new couch allows us to all be on the couch, stretched out...and we don't even touch. it's amazing. the boys wanted to sleep on it last night, so basically, they haven't gotten off it in about 10 hours. who knew a couch could make us so happy? he he. and yeah, yeah. i'll take pictures. i just need the kids and blankets and books to get off it for a minute.

in other news, there is no school today because last night was parent/teacher conferences. for all of you who believe little j is loud, crazy, hyper and obnoxious, i have news for you. teachers LOVE this kid. every year they glow about his great attitude. last night she said "i don't even know why you are here." then she proceeds to hand me a report that highlights little j as polite, kind, thoughtful, enthusiastic, a leader, a helper and a kid who goes above and beyond with everything he does. he's got an uncanny grasp on numbers, loves social studies and science and is reading two grades above his level. so...um. yeah. all the mom's who were thinking of steering their daughters toward calmer waters, you might want to turn that boat around. if he doesn't end up a ski bum or a stunt double, he just might be a decent catch after all someday. he he. just be sure you're ok with tattoos and blue hair.

as for big j, he is just really growing into himself. his teacher loves him and says he is friends with everyone and possibly the funniest kid she has in class with his dry sense of humor. his organizational skills are on the low end (really? shocker.)
and he doesn't have a lot of attention to detail and really could care less about art projects...this all makes me laugh. i told her she was preaching to the choir. she did say she's never met anyone with so much knowledge about so many things and that his memory for fact is extraordinary. we talked about some of the odd things he knows about and she admitted she often turns to him when something stumps her. again with the choir. she smiled and told me he is a sweetheart. i told her i know.

i left the school feeling pretty happy about my j boys. they are both quirky, funky kids but they are MY quirky, funky kids. i love them with all my heart and it makes me happy when other people see the same promise and good in them that i do. it makes me feel like i must be doing something right. this parenting gig is TOUGH sometimes. let's just hope little j stays safe and big j stays confident. i think then we will make it through.

happy weekend.