One year ago today, I started a new chapter in my life. The chapter is "Living with a Teenage Boy". What a ride it's been.

The house has become smellier, one room in particular, his. I am waging a battle on the smell. Not every day is successful. I've also had to buy extra shaving cream. For the past seventeen years, I've only had to buy shaving cream for one man in the house, now I buy for two. Granted, only one needs to shave every day, and the other needs to use Stridex every day. And I really shouldn't think there are two men in the house; it's more like one and a half.

I also now knock when I see a closed door. In the past the door was never closed, he wanted to make sure he was included and aware of the day to day activities of the house. These days, he'd prefer to be on his own, isolated from the rest of us. He's probably pretending he doesn't have annoying little brothers and a crabby sister. The annoyers and crabby want to buy him a present, because they still feel he's one of us.

The house has become quieter in the mornings on the weekend. That happens when someone sleeps until noon. I am sometimes startled when I hear a deep voice from another room around lunchtime. My first thought is usually the same as the little kids, "Dad's home? I thought he was at work."

Over the past several years, I've had to buy bigger and bigger shoes, and many, many, many sacks of groceries. But on occasion (and I don't think he would want to admit to it), I've been told about a really cool Lego set. I was also surprised the other day by a quick peck on the cheek for no apparent reason, not in public mind you. That would be embarrassing. No one kisses Mom in public. I'll have to wait until I'm shuffling along with my walker before that will happen. I won't hold him to the promise he made to me when he was 7 that he would never be too embarrassed to kiss me in public no matter how old he was. So I'll just have to treasure the memories of the sticky pancake kisses and the hugs made with chubby little arms.

But as he grows older, I'll have more memories to cherish. Such as watching him kick butt at a karate tournament, becoming second chair trumpet in the school band, and holding doors open for ladies without my prompting. I'll never forget finding him sitting at the desk computer with his 3 year old cousin on his lap playing a game that was only fun for the 3 year old.

Happy 14^th Birthday, Weasel. I am so proud of you. I know life's road can be rocky, but I am positive you will navigate your way with confidence in yourself and kindness to others.

What in the Sam Hill was I smoking?

So, I go to the grocery store yesterday which was my first mistake. Were you aware that everyone on the planet waits until the day before a major holiday to do their grocery shopping? Who knew? I think I knew this, but it was not filed away under "days to not go to the store", so it wasn't easily accessible. It must have been one of the odd ball documents down at the bottom of the page that you are too lazy to click and move to a folder, and your eyes just tend to gloss over when you see them.

I was smug in the knowledge that I didn't need to do any "holiday" shopping. I needed food to feed the family for the upcoming week. It somehow made me feel superior to those with ham and eggs in their basket.

After fighting the ham and eggs crowd, I came home, walk in the kitchen, only to be greeted by a child that is not mine. It's my nephew and he's brought his little brother with him. It turns out that his older brother was taken to the hospital for severe abdominal pain. No problem, I've got my sea legs on, I can roll with the waves.

It turns out that the oldest nephew needs his appendix out, and Mom and Dad will be staying at the hospital with him as good parents do. So the interlopers will be spending the night here. My sister-in-law, aka PD, thoughtfully brought the Easter basket fixin's for her two so all I had to do was assemble.

Fast forward to this morning when I realize my second mistake. What do you feed children Easter morning? The second day of the year where it's all about the chocolate, the first being Halloween? You guessed it. The donuts I bought at the store yesterday!

I am the only adult stuck at the house with 6 children between the ages of 13 and 5, all of whom will be hopped up on sugar, two of which have been diagnosed with ADHD, and a third on crutches. I envy the Husband having to work today.

My third mistake was not stocking up on beer at the store. I think I only have 2 bottles left. They will have to suffice. I need to go, I just heard a kid ask if we have any ice cream in the house and its only 10am.

Happy Easter, Passover, or Vernal Equinox.