And that is it. Just Puppy.

Everyone else – I’m their ‘Mom’.

I had just given Puppy his medicine in rolled up pieces of bread. And he was sniffing at the counter, hoping there was more up there (yes, he’s that tall) and I told him, ‘No honey, there’s no more – Mommy’s just cleaning up the mess.’ And that’s when the MommySap attack hit. Because Puppy is the only one for whom I am still ‘Mommy’.

These boys of mine – they are these big, old boys – with big ‘ol musckely muscles – and deep manly voices – and hairy man ankles…..and they’re just not my babies anymore. (And yet, they will always be my babies.)

Their birthday is a week away – and I’m already crying. I feel like Patrick is already halfway out the door to living away from us. He’s really just in 10th grade. But gosh – that’s NO time, NO time at all. Before he’s gone. Before he leaves us.

Sammie and I are always mistaking both of the boys for men. We will hear them in the other room talking to someone and think, ‘Gosh, I didn’t hear Mark come in.’ Or we’ll think, ‘Oh, I didn’t realize Eric was here.’ But there is no Mark. And there is no Eric. It is my little bitty baby….

::brief pause for Crazy Lisa to bawl::

(Lisa! How many times have I told you – there is NO crying in blogging!!!)

Ok, ok, I’ve got a hold of myself now, really – I do. Anyway, what I meant to say is that when we think there is a man in the house, we are actually just hearing Patrick or Shawn. Wow. Two handsome, smart, sweet, precious young men – who are growing up right before our very eyes.

If someone could logically explain how in the HOLY HELL that happened when I, myself, still feel like a teenager – that would be great! Ok, maybe I feel like a teenager, but, I think I’m really about 23 or maybe 25. And then I have these old, tall boys – young men, and they are my children. Hmm….

I have, of course, been thinking about their birthday in the past weeks, but, this morning – with it being exactly one week away – I think I just got hit by the sappy mommy train. Or something like that. Good gravy Miss Mabry – what do you think is going to happen to me when one of them actually does go to leave the house??? Bring on the Valium, baby!!!!

It’s funny, because, I always feel so silly – that we’ve been doing the band thing for several years now – but I will get attacked by mommy sap on just some odd random nights when I’m least expecting it. The last time it happened we were at an away game and we had pretty much just gotten there. We had unloaded the trailer – the kids all got their instruments and their hats and got in line in the proper order. (We have not yet even gone completely into the stadium.) The runners (of which Sammie is one) all had their gear and were standing there ready, as well.

Note: The band director has these kids so well trained – he loves them so much and works so hard with them – it’s totally awesome. He has these things that he says and they are supposed to say something back to him and do a certain thing. One of the things that he says (I can’t tell what he says) – the kids are supposed to say “Blue!” and stand at attention, completely still and quiet. And they do. It’s amazing. No matter how much ruckus that crowd of kids is creating – they hear him and BOOM! They are READY! It’s super cool. I’m so impressed with it. With the director and all the kids.

So back to this one day. Mr. G yells his thing, the kids yell “Blue!” and Mr. G tells them a few things, talks to a few of the kids and then signals for them to start marching out onto the track, towards the stands where they will be sitting. The drummers are in front and they play as the kids march. Just the drummers. It’s so cool – I just love that.

And so myself and the rest of the band parents are standing there, some of us holding equipment, waiting for the kids to pass so we can follow them. And wouldn’t you know it???? I just LOST. IT.

They’re just marching to the stands.

Their hats in the hands. (Strict instructions not to wear them yet.)

Not the biggest deal in the marching band world. Not the biggest fanfare. Not really much fanfare at all.

And I’m standing there in the grass crying. ::shakes head::

Luckily – the gentleman that I was standing beside – completely understood! His wife is the SAME way – maybe even worse! Thank goodness! Ha!

So how on earth did we get from ‘oh my gawd, it’s their birthdays next week, I’m so sad that they’re getting so old‘ to ‘oh my gawd, they’re all in band, they’re so cute, i’m so proud of them I can’t stand it‘?? How did you people get me so off on a tangent??

And anyway, I’ve got work to do! I can’t just sit here boohoo’ing and sobbing all day!!