Spencer is such a mama's boy that it just about wears me out sometimes, but tonight I had to just laugh and give him a big hug. He is definitely the sneaky baby of the family. While all the kids were supposed to be getting in bed, I found Spencer in the bathroom sampling whatever toothpaste he could get his hands on. He even took a tube to bed with him. This happened several times. However, while I was returning toothpaste to the bathroom or cleaning up a toothpaste-related mess, he would sneak into the living room and help himself to my can of Coke. He had the whole act down -- distract mom with toothpaste and make a move for the Coke. We went back and forth a few times before I finally just downed the rest of the Coke, held him on my lap for a few minutes and put him back to bed.

God knew what He was doing when He blessed me with only one daughter. That girl is going to wear me out before she hits her teenage years. After that, I should probably just curl up in the fetal position in under my covers because I'm not anticipating calm waters until she has gone to college.

When I left for work this morning, I issued one command -- clean up your mess when you are done playing. Does that seem like a confusing statement? Could it be misinterpreted? Obviously, it was as clear as mud because when I returned home more than seven hours later, she had constructed a lovely structure in the front yard. She is so creative which is a blessing and a curse. She managed to build a small shack out of sleeping bags that had not been stored since the last campout, two ice chests, a rope, chair and other miscellaneous items.

Don't get me wrong. I don't want to take the fun out of her childhood. I had a great time as a kid building various forts, but I used parent-approved materials, such as scrap lumber if it was an outside structure. If I built a fort in the house, it was limited to my brothers' room and I once again used parent-approved blankets and I didn't drag odds and ends from every corner of the house into my fort.

Anyway, seeing the shack erected next to my house did not put me in the best of moods. And her attitude while she was cleaning it up did not win her any points. But the highlight was discovering goldfish crackers scattered around her closet. So tomorrow she is not allowed to watch TV until the mess is cleaned up. She has also been told that she is not allowed to make anything in the kitchen -- judging from her reaction, I believe this punishment had the greatest impact. Ah, how I love fall break.

We should all take time to enjoy the simple pleasures in life, and tonight I did. I am so fortunate to live in a city that is now home to both a Wal Mart AND a Target. I heard rumors for many years that Target would grace us with its presence, but after many disappointments I knew I would believe it when I saw it.

Well, tonight I saw it. Brand, new smooth-wheeling carts. Store brands of foods I will have the opportunity to try at my convenience. And a pack of my favorite gum at the checkout stand. Life is good.

As I watched Mad Men this evening, I complete this quiz. I agree with quite a bit of it, but the parenting section is so way off.

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Marilyn!

You are a Marilyn -- "I am affectionate and skeptical."

Marilyns are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family, friends, groups, and causes. Their personalities range broadly from reserved and timid to outspoken and confrontative.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Be direct and clear
• * Listen to me carefully
• * Don't judge me for my anxiety
• * Work things through with me
• * Reassure me that everything is OK between us
• * Laugh and make jokes with me
• * Gently push me toward new experiences
• * Try not to overreact to my overreacting.

What I Like About Being a Marilyn

• * being committed and faithful to family and friends
• * being responsible and hardworking
• * being compassionate toward others
• * having intellect and wit
• * being a nonconformist
• * confronting danger bravely
• * being direct and assertive

What's Hard About Being a Marilyn

• * the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind
• * procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence in myself
• * fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of
• * exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger
• * wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right
• * being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations

Marilyns as Children Often

• * are friendly, likable, and dependable, and/or sarcastic, bossy, and stubborn
• * are anxious and hypervigilant; anticipate danger
• * form a team of "us against them" with a best friend or parent
• * look to groups or authorities to protect them and/or question authority and rebel
• * are neglected or abused, come from unpredictable or alcoholic families, and/or take on the fearfulness of an overly anxious parent

Marilyns as Parents

• * are often loving, nurturing, and have a strong sense of duty
• * are sometimes reluctant to give their children independence
• * worry more than most that their children will get hurt
• * sometimes have trouble saying no and setting boundaries

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

On the road again...I have been driving a decent distance every day this week except Monday, and I'll be on the road the next two days. Some of the travel has been business and the other pleasure -- although I'm not sure I would classify making pans and pans and pans of cheese fudge that you can't eat pleasurable.

Tomorrow is my day to enjoy the Watonga Cheese Festival, including a small-town version of Iron Chef. On Saturday, the entire family will head back to Watonga to enjoy the parade and the inflatables. Of course, the powers that be did not consult me on what would be the best time for the OU-Texas kick-off, so it looks like we'll be hitting the parade during half time.

Spencer is ready for his teenage years. His vocabulary skills involve only using one word at a time; however, this evening when he came into my room shirtless, I asked him where his shirt was. His anwer -- I don't know.

At least it's a start. While the kids were in their classes at church this evening, D and I worked on a spending plan for October. Budgets haven't worked in the past, so I thought maybe if I called it a *spending plan,* we might actually be able to make some progress. Regardless, I'm enjoying these Wednesday evenings when D and I get a chance to talk for a while -- even if it's about money.