Day 282

Up and getting breakfast for the boys, then doing flash cards with Zach (Apparently he should be doing them twice a day) then, we started reading one of his books. Josh was supposed to do homework, and began the day by giving me attitude. He ended up on the step. I got suntan lotion on the other two, and ignored Josh whenever he asked questions. I mentioned something to Zach and Nathaniel about how Josh had said me being here for 2 more weeks was a long time, and that's when I think the two of them came to the realization that it's not far now at all. Zach gave me a huge hug. He said "One for Good Luck", and cuz you're leaving soon. Or something like that. It was really nice. I almost started to cry.

We left the house, and walked up to Tina's. She wasn't feeling well, so I was taking her 3 to school. Zoe walked holding my hand. Such a cutie. I said bye to the older boys, Josh actually walked away, and then made a point of coming back to make sure he said bye. I wasn't really surprised. He needs assurance that everything's ok, even when it's not. It drives me.

I took Zach and Zoe to their class, and talked to them for a bit. I got 4 huge hugs at that point. 2 from each. That made me smile. I walked a longer way back to the house as I wanted some exercise, and by the time I got close, I was so energyless from the heat. I came inside to search for costume ideas, but when you type hedgehog into yahoo...all that comes up is Sonic and his friends. Not exactly what I was looking for.

I drove up to Braintree, did some shopping for the costumes, and then grabbed a venti raspberry blackcurrant blended juice to do the rest. Each of the shops I went into, I was helped by women. The props I was looking for seemed really random, so when I mentioned what I was doing, I was told what a good idea each costume was. In the store where I bought the sleeping bag liner for Josh's slug outfit, the lady told me what a great idea it was, and she couldn't get over how creative it was. She said she hoped my cousins appreciated what I was doing for them, and I told her the 9 yr old wouldn't. Little did I know, his appreciation would be even less than I expected.

I went to a garden centre on the way back to the house to get the rest of Nathaniel's costume, and when I got to the house, I started putting things together. I also watched a really good show on Michael Jackson. It was his behind the scenes, and he was showing home movies and things. It was great. Did you know he didn't celebrate Christmas until 1993??? Poor guy! And it was Elizabeth Taylor who brought it into his life. By the time that finished, I didn't have long before going to get the boys.

I was in such a good mood, and felt great about what I had done, costume wise, so far. I got to the school, and was talking to one of the Moms. She asked what each boy was going as tomorrow, and when I told her, she too mentioned how creative it was. Zach ended up going to his friend Will's for tea, so I just had Josh and Nathaniel.

Nathaniel began asking questions about his costume, and I told him he'd see it when we got back. Josh said something about him being a slug, and I said I knew. Well, as usual, he didn't listen. He instantly flipped on me saying he wanted to be a slug. I turned to him. "I just said I know, that's what I've been working on this afternoon!" "Oh", he said. "I thought you said No". I told him to stop answering me with such attitude, and had a conversation with him about how sick I was of him not respecting me. He didn't seem to care. He tried to tell me about his soccer game, and I told him I didn't think I should show my interest.

I told them we were going the High Street way, and he asked if we had to stop anywhere. I didn't answer him. I later told Nathaniel we had to go into Boots to get something for Josh's costume, although I didn't know why I'd spend money on it, cuz I was sure, like everything else I do for him, it would be wrong. They didn't have what I was looking for, and we walked home.

Well...did I ever hit the nail on the head. You should have seen him when he saw his costume. I could have sworn at him. I was so ANGRY! Nathaniel asked if he had to wear the nose, and I explained if he didn't he wouldn't look like a hedgehog. He said ok. Josh still moped around. ARGH! I told Nathaniel as far as I was concerned, Josh could go in his jeans and answer to the people who knew he was going as a slug. ARGHHHH!

I got more attitude from Josh as the night progressed. Nathaniel did his homework right away, and the two of us went out to play soccer. He has asked me to take some shots on him. He told me I was the pro, and could teach him the secret to being a goalie. Hehe. Heloise got back, and i was running in to check the water I'd put on the stove. I took the sheets off the line as I passed, and warned her that Josh would be in a mood. As we both walked into the house, he broke into tears. Who knows what he said to her next.

She ended up making dinner, Nathaniel read to me, and then I made my own. He and I sat and talked while he ate his ice cream, and then the 3 of them went off to Judo. I, almost in tears, tried to get a hold of my Mom but then realized it was too early. I cut some arm holes into the slug outfit, and came upstairs with the other 2 costumes. I didn't want anyone else touching those. They can do what they'd like with the slug one. I jumped in the shower, and now I'm going to watch a bit of the football, and do my nails before falling asleep. Good Night xx