You Never Stop Learning

So, we had a productive weekend. Not only did we keep the kids busy, accomplish some household tasks and have some fun, I learned some valuable lessons.

1. If you are going to drive 60 mph down the freeway it is best to have the trunk of your minivan closed. Thankfully none of the 10 or so boxes of Goodwill donations or Sam's guitar spilled out, but it was a harrowing 30 seconds, much like a roller coaster ride - chock full of screams, wind and praying.

2. If you leave a gallon of milk in the car overnight, especially in June in Texas, it will go bad. No matter how long you refrigerate it. No matter how cold the refrigerator. (But you'll most likely forget this until you take a big glug of it after scarfing down donuts.)

3. When you get your sassy summer dresses out of the storage closet and start wearing them, it is best to give them the once over for rips, stains, moth holes. Or you might just wear one around town for half a day before realizing there is a quarter-sized, heart-shaped hole just above the crack of your butt.

4. It is always good to have a few extra minutes on a busy morning. Minutes you could spend relaxing, reading the paper, putting on makeup or, I don't know, digging a flaming Pop Tart out of the toaster. You may get out of the house with second-degree burns on your hands and singed eyebrows but thanks to those extra minutes, you won't be stressed about the time.

May the Force Be With You

When we moved into this house 10 years ago there was a life-size Virgin of Guadalupe painted in the upstairs bedroom, the bedroom that was Jake's nursery and is now the boys' room. I suspect a lot of potential home buyers saw the Virgin (and the pies, flames, hot rods and Elvis portraits) the homeowner before us painted all over the house and ran for the door. But not me. I thought it added character, substance. In time we painted over most of the art work, including the Virgin. I went to a nearby Botanica and purchased her candle. We said her prayer and painted over her.

Who would've thought that years later she'd be replaced by Han Solo.

Sam's guitar teacher is also a painter. I saw some of his murals online and asked him if he could paint Han Solo for the boys.

Ask and ye shall receive.

Over the weekend he spent about eight hours and by Sunday afternoon it was done. If I had a large enough wall in my bedroom I would be considering Princess Leia or maybe Sandy from Grease or possibly Billy Idol. Yes, Billy Idol.

See for yourself. (To understand how large it is look at the one with Abby. Han is about 8 feet by 6 feet.)

Celebrate

Today is the first day of summer vacation, my birthday and National Donut Day.

We hope you have something to celebrate today.