Two things.

Having 2 girls, I never thought I would have to beg the question to my son"why do you where your pants so low" And even if I did, my 'son' wouldn't old enough to do that for years and hopefully the trend would have changed by then. That said with Philip here I hae had to resist the urge to say "pull up you pants!" While on the trip, he and Arden were skipping rocks and her pants slipped down and I said pull up your pants. Philip turned around and looked and I said "oh not you." We then told him about what we American's refer to as bagging. Who thought this was fashionable? What desiner came up with this one? Philip says it comes from an old Swedish guy who's pants are falling down. That seems like a stretch and we laughed about that. He says he sometimes tells tall tales about Sweden to his friends here. That sounded a bit 'tall.'

Also, sadly we had to ask that he not call home so much. This seems like a pretty crucial time to emerse himself. With his B-day and the holidays coming , we want him to be here, fully. Dennis and I hated to tell him , and his P's and Girlfriend, but all seemed ok. Hosting is tough when you have to lay down the law with a child who is not your own. Thankfully, he has been so easy. I think it will begin to feel more like home without constant reminders of home. I will however continue to make Gravlox. We enjoy that together!

UEA

UEA allowed us to vacation as a family. We needed this as I was kinda feeling like Philip was barely around. He's super busy with swimming, 8 practices a week and weekends are spent with friends.
This trip up to the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone and Jackson Hole allowed us to just hang out. Lots of time in the car. Arden and he are forging ahead. I realized something...they are both the oldest! Families aren't supposed to have 2 that are the oldest and used to being first!!

Watching them hike, eat, look at animals, geysers etc...they both had to be first or right or the best. OMG the competion was hilarious. And Philip plays hard. Pillow fights started by the girls were answered with an 16 year old's strength. I had to just let my girls figure their way thru the beast. He does know when to let up with them and is quick to apologize however lots of things were discovered this weekend.
Arden's jealousy is subsiding and she holds his hand and plays with him w/out us right there. MA kisses him goodnight and lays with him watching movies on his computer. He handled a very long portion of the car ride home sitting in the very back b/c Arden needed to pull rank! Later he was quick with a video to calm the girls down. Dennis and I were thankful!!
So we made a fun weekend out of it. We bonded, we laughed and I was so happy. We weren't home 10 minutes tho before he was asking to hang out with Dane??? We said sure, when will he be here, and he laughed and said...'He's right outside!' Little shit was planning his escape the whole time...:)

Locked Out

Last night Philip went to see a ski mvie that his friend is in. It was listed as being from 7-10 pm. His ride fell thru so D and the girls took him. I called a friend and got on the computer. About what seemed like a 1/2 an hour later Mary Ann cmes down urgently saying Philip's here, upstairs(...Mom, Bilip here...updairs) I disagree and say no sweetie he's at a movie. She says it again and I send her up to her Dad. I hear the doorbell ring and figure D will get it. A few minutes later I hear MA upstairs talking abut Philip and she again comes down and says he's updairs and wants a cookie!! I finally give in and go up to show her that he's not there an who's face do I see peaking in the window... but Bilip! He had been trying to tell her thru the window to get one of us. OMG, I felt so bad. He was laughing. Poor MA was trying to help him and I was just blowing her off. He said the movie was short, so he came home. To end the night she had to go down one last time and give him a love goodnight. Someone is really liking this big-brother thing alot.

Church

So we are regular church goers. Philip has come a few times and I don't know what he thinks. We don't make him, STS discourages that, and I feel he and his parents can make those decisions together. However, today my Sr high Sunday school class came to my house to make breakfast. The planned hike to ANtelope Island was altered due to snow. About 7 kids came and he participated in making pancakes, bacon, fruit salad etc.... All the kids were wondering about the homemade whipped cream on pancakes with lingon berry jelly? Those who tried it loved it.

Anyway, the SS teachers like to mix it up with our kids. It keeps them coming and creates fellowship between them. Philip fits in fine and seems to like the kids.

We nearly always celebrate Eucharist together and he receives it, but I hope he doesn't feel pressured. I don't want him to feel he has to do what we do. If he finds a sense of community he's comfortable with, then great. If he comes back to that later in life, even better but under no circumstances do I want him to feel pressure.

Church

So we are regular church goers. Philip has come a few times and I don't know what he thinks. We don't make him, STS discourages that, and I feel he and his parents can make those decisions together. However, today my Sr high Sunday school class came to my house to make breakfast. The planned hike to ANtelope Island was altered due to snow. About 7 kids came and he participated in making pancakes, bacon, fruit salad etc.... All the kids were wondering about the homemade whipped cream on pancakes with lingon berry jelly? Those who tried it loved it.

Anyway, the SS teachers like to mix it up with our kids. It keeps them coming and creates fellowship between them. Philip fits in fine and seems to like the kids.

We nearly always celebrate Eucharist together and he receives it, but I hope he doesn't feel pressured. I don't want him to feel he has to do what we do. If he finds a sense of community he's comfortable with, then great. If he comes back to that later in life, even better but under no circumstances do I want him to feel pressure.

Homecoming

Philip took Becca to homecoming. I never actually got to see her and the dress etc.... Spencer picked him up and they were off. I bought him a bouquet to give her. He said he had a friend getting him one for her. Oh well, I hope she felt very special.

He looked good in Dennis' suit with his own shirt, tie and Hugo Boss shoes. He and Dennis went to the rack to shop last week. He dresses up nicely. The boys were taking their dates to dinner(I can't remember where) then to the dance then bowling.I told him all about opening her door, putting his napkin in his lap and he may have thought I was a bit old fashion. Good menners are never old fashion in my book!

Dennis did however have to text him about 40 minutes past curfew. He was a little freaked out not knowing where Philip was. Better communication on all our parts could have averted the situation. But it occured to Dennis and I that unlike most parents, we have no idea who the kids are he's with. We didn't know them when they were younger, go thru school with them. It puts us in a position of the unknown. We will ask his friends to give us their parents numbers so we can make some contact. All around that will make us feel safer.