Page Scrawler

I probably would have said it first, if I'd been around.

Yeah, kids grow up faster than you think. There's not much anyone can do if Max suddenly hits puberty; if it happens, it happens. But, I agree with you; I hope that Max stays as a kid for a few more years, so we can snuggle on the sofa, and bake cookies at midnight, and share conversations about how our day went. Since Uncle Mickey grew up and started college, he hasn't been around as often, and I missed that friendship. I'd like at least three more years before Max enters the moody, reclusive stage and doesn't want to spend time with his parents anymore, but I'll settle for two years.

If you said "misbehaving", I might believe you.

Hey, Terry!

Hey, Dugh! Welcome back!

I believe Drew is 5'6", so Max still has a way to go.

I'm 6 feet tall! @Drew Espinosa is the one who should be worried!

Last time I checked, Max was 4 feet, 8 inches tall. Now, he's 4 feet, 10 inches tall, which is taller than most of his classmates.

I think we might watch that tonight.

Hey, Bertie! I took Max shoe shopping, and then we had lunch at Folgarelli's sandwich shop.

I'm taking Max shoe shopping later today. Yesterday, when he came home from school, he was wincing in pain every time he took a step forward. I asked if his feet hurt, and he said, "It feels like I stubbed all of my toes, somehow." I bent down and pushed on the tip of his right shoe; I could clearly feel Max's big toenail under the surface of the material. I told him, "I think your feet are just too big to wear these shoes, anymore." When I stood up, I noticed that the top of his head reached closer to my nose than I remembered. Seems my kiddo had a growth spurt. Ahhh, well. At least I don't have to worry about asking Aunt Deirdre to hem his pants.

Hey, Cassie!

Clo has a point, Drew. Don't be greedy.

I made broccoli and ham chowder for dinner.

But I was, and I agree with Terry: the assessment is spot-on.

The same. I decided to kick off Pride month by reading The Island of Beyond, by Elizabeth Atkinson. Eleven-year-old Martin is timid and barely able to face his own shadow. He can hardly imagine a worse summer, living apart from his video games and sugary breakfast cereal in front of the TV. To toughen him up, Martin's dad sends him to live with Great-Aunt Lenore on a tiny island in Lake Nevermore, Maine. But nothing about Beyond Island is what Martin expects. Not peculiar Aunt Lenore, not mysterious Uncle Ned---and certainly not Solo, the strange local boy who unexpectedly befriends Martin. Solo can swim, paddle a canoe, climb trees, and fend for himself in the wilderness---all things that terrify Martin. Regardless, Martin is drawn to Solo in a way he can't explain. But, can he can trust Solo? In fact, can he trust anything about this strange island, where everyone seems to be keeping secrets?

Hey, Terry! How are you and Aod?

Puts me in mind of that new Barbie movie.

Is there any way it could be reinstated?

Hey, Drewberry Pi! Any funny stories about Yayo?

You've been busy, I see!

A list of shows and films I've watched lately: Joyride (2022), starring Olivia Colman Penguin Bloom (2020) Sweet Tooth (2021 - ongoing) Young Royals (2021 - ongoing) Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (2022) Billy Elliot (2000) My son, Max, has been choosing most of the TV these days. Well, except for Young Royals. Morgan and I watch that after Max goes to bed, since it's too mature for an 11-year-old.

Yeah, it was fun! Sascha has another month or two before he has to go back to France, so I'm hoping we'll see more of him before he leaves. He also said that our marshmallows burn too easily. Like many American foods, the manufacturers put too much sugar in them.

Hopefully it doesn't become a bigger problem. 🤞

The neighbors invited us over for a bonfire with hot dogs and marshmallows. To my surprise, one of the lads used to be friends with my brother. I decided not to hold it against him, and we accepted the invitation. The family is also hosting a foreign exchange student from France, a cute guy named Sascha, about 17 or 18 years old. Apparently, he's from Senlis. He doesn't care for the Hershey's chocolate, but he says the hot dogs are good, and he couldn't get enough of Reese's Cups, which was pretty cute to watch. I was a bit nervous, because Sascha kept eating marshmallows directly off the stick, with a hot piece of metal inches away from his face. Max seems to have taken a liking to Sascha, and he wanted to eat marshmallows off the poker, too. Sascha said, "Don't burn your face.", and stopped after that. When he asked Max about his hobbies, Sascha said, "Ah, a Danseur! As-tu appris le pas de deux?" Max replied, "Non, pas encore." There was a funny moment where Sascha was holding his hand in front of the fire, and the other boys were saying, "Wait, where's your phone? Did you drop it? Oh! This whole time, I thought you were holding your phone!" Sascha enjoyed the heat from the bonfire, except on his eyes, so he was trying to shield his face from the flames!