Ruby had a birthday bash.

Six of the most outgoing, extroverted, loud girls joined her to celebrate.

They sang "Happy Birthday" and then sang it Stevie Wonder style.

They imitated teachers and funny classmates.

They said things like, "My signature color is red, white and glitter." (Ruby)

They ding dong ditched the boy that lives down the street.

It was the easiest party I've ever thrown. A group of kids from a school of the arts can really self entertain. They are their own drama in a good way. They love to sing. They LOVE art. And in sixth grade they are all still so kind and generous of spirit.

What a great way to celebrate a great girl.

This week someone grew.

He climbed in my car after lacrosse practice, I looked over at him, and he filled the whole seat. His knees hit the dash. His shoulders stretched across his chair. And his boy-sweat-dirt-smell filled the remaining space.

I knew it was coming.

But it still fills me with awe. I have a mini man. Or a man man. Or a teen man.

So I took a little trip.

 With my sister and best friend (next to Jeremy!), Vanessa.

 To Scotland! Home of cool, Harry Potter telephone booths.

 Glasgow University.

 And best of all, Molly, my sister who's going to school there.

 We biked around a beautiful island.

 Toured the castle in Edinburgh.

And loved each other.

Motherhood is funny.

Wyatt: Today at recess girls chased me.
Mom: OOH. Ashton loves to be chased by girls.
Ashton: Correction. Ashton loves to chase girls.

Except when it's not.

Kids: Wah wah wah. I want wah. I want wah. I want wah.
Mom: Well I want things too like no more crying and peace on Earth.

There are a few frequent going-ons in the Anderson household.

Ashton falls asleep in church and Cade nestles a Kix on his lip for the rest of the service. He then takes this picture with my phone (I'm in the bathroom with peeper Ivy). When Ashton awakes, he eats it! Yum!

Ivy starts saying, "YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF THE FAMILY!"
I say, "YES, I AM!"

Wyatt decides for his oral report on Delaware's Striped Skunk he needs a costume and wears it with pride.

Ruby attends Young Women's New Beginnings, says the theme with loud gusto, and gets crowned so that she will always remember her divine heritage and potential.

...no picture of Cade, but he is working furiously to get ready for a Concerto competition. Last month he started two hour a day practices. Now he's back down to an hour. It's a ten minute piece and when he practices, his concentration is so intense it almost gives me a headache! I never dreamed I would have a kid with this kind of musical talent, perseverance, and discipline.

Look inside your soul and tell me, at what point do you scream, "Enough!"

Is it when you find the new roll of wrapping paper undone down the upstairs hall?

Is it when you find the third pair of panties peeped on the bedroom floor?

Is it when you find the birthday present for Abbey B. opened and played with?

Is it when a totally naked three-year-old body flashes across the room yelling, "Accidents!"?

Is it when all the above happens in the span of five minutes and is just one small part of a naughty day?

Gosh, I love this girl.

Ivy has the sweetest, kindest, patient, and gentle church nursery leaders. They are mothers themselves, relaxed yet organized, timely yet flexible. They lay on the floor and read stories. They sing songs and do crafts. Ivy is the only girl with eight boys.

So what does it take to get kicked out of church nursery from the likes of saints?

A little foot stomping. A little control freak. A little "my way or the highway." A little bossy-pants.

As we sat in a chair in the foyer waiting for the attitude to dissipate, the lips to unpurse, and bossy to agree to apologize before we would go back, Ivy said, "Ugh mom. Don't talk about this. It's giving me a headache."