First Ladies

A few years ago I got on this American History book kick. I started reading every book I could get my hands on about the history of our country especially right around the revolution. Well, that evolved into an interest in the presidents. I am trying to read biographies of each president in order. I had finished up through John Quincy Adams. I am looking for a good one on Andrew Jackson.

Anyhow, that spun off an interest in the first ladies. You don't really hear or study a lot about them so I was curious. I started with books on Martha Washington (good lady) and Abigail Adams (hard nosed, opinionated lady). Then I found a gold mine. The 709 page book by Bill Harris called "The First Lady Fact Book". It chronilogically covers each first lady lives. It was very interesting to see the position evolve through the centuries. I really learned a lot. So many of the same stuff still happens even today.

All first ladies had to deal with housekeeping issues like women today only on a larger scale. They all had to deal with the White House except Martha Washington (she never lived there). Pretty much at the change of every adminstration, the First Lady needed to update and/or redecorate due to wear and tear or just differences in taste at the White House. It's interesting that over time the American people want our White House to be magnificent, a show piece, a symbol of our awesome power but do not want to pay for it. Many a First Lady had to deal with a stingy Congress for her budget. It really helped to be independently wealthy to subsidize such needs such as John Tyler and JFK.

Unlike the office of President, the Constitution is silent on the role of the First Lady. The early on ladies treated it as the hostess of the president. They were there to support their husbands in whatever they could which generally meant throwing many dinners, teas, levees (not really sure what those are), social calls, etc. Through the years many ladies have had a cause she felt passionate about such as reading, Just say no, poverty that fell in line with their husbands' policy. Eleanor Roosevelt and Hillary Clinton took it to a whole new level having their own agendas separate from their husbands.

Interestingly, when Bess Truman moves into the White House after Eleanor Roosevelt she describes the conditions of the White House as deplorable and neglected. The age old should the wife work or stay home debate was alive then.

The term "first lady" isn't used until Harriett Lane, 1860. She was James Buchanan's neice and served as his hostess since he wasn't married. Prior to her, the ladies were called Lady Washington, Presidentress Dolley Madison, or Mrs. President ______.

Very interesting read. I highly recommend it. (I feel like I am writing a book report but it's just so intersting. All those AP history classes paid off.)

Wading at the spring

We have some friends who invited us to spend Memorial Day at their family's spring on their ranch. This is not your average spring. They have done a lot of work to make this place beautiful and fun. We are so glad we got to go. Thanks for sharing.

Everyone had a great time and only had a few odd sunburn marks. I have a hand print sunburn mark on one shoulder. Apparently, I missed the side of Wingman's nose so he is a little pink. Crash is a little pink on the tops of his feet. The Captain also has burn lines from his flip flops but I bare no responsibility for that. I guess my sunscreen application technique is a bit rusty. The test pilot looks so dark especially compared to his super white mama. Let's hope I improve as the summer progresses.

Happy Memorial Day

Check out the new layout. It took me waaaaay longer than I thought it would but I am kind of proud of myself. I did require some assist from the super techno savvy husband. There was some problem with my version of Explorer so I had to update. But now I think my Norton anti-virus and the new Explorer are fighting each other. Computers- they will take over the earth one day.

Anyhow, hope you all have a great relaxing Memorial Day. We are going to spend part of the day with friends and just have fun being a family together. Those are precious times these days. I should have pictures to post later.

On your mark, get set, go!

Wingman took his first steps yesterday. I tried to get video but he wouldn't cooperate so here are some stills. Of course, his first steps were while holding a soccer ball. That boy loves to play ball. It's his first and last words every day.



He can even stand up and dribble the ball. He's talented.



Now it's off to the big city to buy him his first real pair of shoes.

It takes so little to make them happy

This past weekend the Captain and I had a great parent's time away. We saw movies, we ate dinner at places that you have to wait to be seated, and we shopped at knick knack type places where no sane person brings children. It was great.

The boys were excited to see us when we returned. Of course, the test pilot had to tell me every detail of every thing they had done the previous two days. Then he says, "Mom, you will never guess what cool thing Mrs. A let us do!" I am full of anticipation. "She let us eat McDonald's IN THE CAR!" he says. You would have thought he had won the lottery.

Yes, I am pretty strict about no food and only water in cups with lids in the car. It just makes such a mess and I don't need more messes to be cleaned up if it can be avoided. Who would have thought my neurotic sense of cleanliness would be a cause for such joy later.

Mrs. A did have a method to her plan. It takes about 20 minutes to drive to her house from church and she was afraid (rightly so) that my two youngest would fall asleep on the drive and not be able to eat lunch before their nap. She was trying to fill their little tummies so they would nap well. Thank you Mrs. A!

We are so thankful for the A Family. They are a HUGE blessing to us in many ways but this sacrifice of their time and taking our boys was amazing. We are truly blessed with a great church family. It was just what the Captain and I needed.

This was the boys last night. Bubbles- another simple thing that brings such joy. I don't know if you can see the bubbles well. The big boys had bubble guns and their little brother just loved sitting there watching them fall all around him.

Jumping rope at field day

Today was Field Day at the test pilot's school. They had 24 stations of various activities such as obstacle courses, basketball, water guns, sack races, face painting, etc. Well, I was assigned to run the jump rope station. I thought no big deal- how hard can this be.

Did you know there is protocol to jumping rope? Some second grade girls filled me on the this stuff. You apparently have to tap the person's foot 3 times with the rope before you can start turning it. They taught me all the other technical stuff as well. (If I knew this I have long since forgotten.)

Also, boys on the whole stink at jump rope. I saw every Kindergarten through 2nd grader and the girls are sooooo much better it's not even funny. I had some activities to do with the jump ropes but some groups (especially the all boy groups) we just had to bag it and do the basics of jumping rope. Poor boys- they can be so uncoordinated.

It was a great day. The weather was great. It was warm but not yet 95 degrees. What a fun day.

The Captain and I are running away to the big city. An amazing friend and super mom is keeping all 3 boys this weekend so we can spend some time alone. We can sleep whenever we want. We can eat whatever and whenever we want. We can go see the new Star Trek movie. In case you didn't know I am a Trekkie. It's the little things that make me happy these days. Hope you have a great weekend too.

It's a miracle!

Ok so maybe it wasn't truly a miracle but I was amazed. Let's back up. A few weeks ago they had picture day at Crash's school. Cameras are NOT fun things for Crash. Usually we end up with weeping, gnashing, and him trying to wriggle out of the picture.

I was expecting a picture like this-



Or this- (in the next second he slides off the couch)



Or this- (The Captain calls this picture the family torture session. Crash was crying and throwing himself on the floor so the guy just posed us around him. Ignore the fact that the photographer cut my head off. It was not a great day.)

But instead I got this! Isn't he adorable. I am going to find this woman and put her on retainer. She may have to photograph him until he leaves home. (I am hoping he will grow out of this.)