Hey there everyone! My name is Sara Taney Humphreys and I am a brand new author with Sourcebooks Casablanca. I'm psyched to be posting here with all the Casablanca ladies. There are an abundance of great writers and I'm proud to be included.
When I saw that this month's theme was "Abundance", it was easy to choose my topic. Quite simply, I have an abundance of boys. I have four boys. I am also married....so really...I have five boys.
Ian is 15. I know that people complain about teenagers but so far this one is pretty tolerable. I get the occasional eye roll and yeah-sure-Mom-whatever-you-don't-know anything- look but generally he's a great kid. He's been an insulin dependent diabetic since he was 2 years old, so he's had to be pretty responsible from the time he was very small.
Leo is 12. The kid is a walking, talking episode of The History Channel or Discovery Channel--take your pick. He possesses a wealth of knowledge but has no filter. Remember Estelle Getty's character in "Golden Girls"? Ummmm...yeah. He is also a giant cuddly guy who still sleeps with his bunny. (Don't judge.)
Our twins William and Jack are 9. Jackson is the artistic goofball who could charm an ant of his pants. William is my athlete and embodies the sensitive-tough guy. (He will have NO trouble getting girls).
The biggest boy is 41. I married my college sweetheart. We just celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary this weekend. He works his butt off and takes great care of our family. However, since he is a man, he seems incapable of finding the laundry basket. He leaves a trail to the basket and litters clothing around it...but never actually gets anything in it.
Even the dogs are male. Cooper is a blond cocker spaniel. He's as blond as it gets. Dumb as dirt but sweet. Patch is his son--a beagle/cocker spaniel mix. He's all beagle. Smart as a whip but barks at everything. I worry that the neighbors are plotting to do him in.
Finally, we have the squawking cockateil. Spike. That bird only squawks when I get a phone call. Yes, you guessed it...also a boy.
Let's face it ladies. I'm completely outnumbered. The abundance of boys leads to an abundance of laundry, homework, dishes, food shopping trips, beds to make, shoes to trip over....the list goes on and you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way. My house is very loud and often resembles organized chaos and I love it because more than anything there's an abundance of love.
I think I'll write a memoir after they all get through puberty. The title will be, "An Island of Estrogen in a Sea of Testosterone: My Life Among Men and Boys".
Book 1 in my paranormal romance series will be released with SB in Fall 2011. The Amoveo Series is about a secret society of shape shifters who are struggling to find their mates and save their species from the brink of extinction.
LOL, Sara! We had the opposite in our family--all girls. My dad didn't mind--except we won all the arguments because we stuck together. Had to. He was definitely an alpha male. We had all female dogs too. :) Loved your post! And welcome to Casababes!! We love having you with us!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Terry :) You ladies have been so welcoming and supportive from the moment I came on the scene. I get my girl fix with the Casababes.
ReplyDeleteHi, Sara.
ReplyDeleteLOL
That sounds like my household.
Even though we are equally balanced(we have a daughter and a son) there are still too many shoes to trip over, endless piles of washing, and way too much ironing to take care of. Families! You've got to love 'em, or you'll crawl into that pile of washing and perhaps never want to pop your head up again. LOL
Good luck with series xxx I'm sure it'll be a bestseller :)
How wonderful to have all those great kids!
ReplyDeleteI had a wonderful time during my daughter's teen years. She was a good kid and easy-peasy most of the time.
It's a shame you don't have any girls though. You'll have to adoopt a couple. (Ash ducking.)
Hi Jo, I'm so glad you stopped by the blog today. You are correct. Our families, regardless of how much testosterone or estrogen there is, provide us Moms with a ridiculous amount of everything! The one that really makes me nuts is laundry. Ugh! You do it...and there's always more. It NEVER ends.
ReplyDeleteLOL Ash! My hubby and I actually discussed it but then we came to our senses. People always ask me if I am sad that I don't have any girls. I'm not. My theory is that God gave me all these boys so that I'd raise four really good men. :) Plus my sister and my husbands sibs have all girls. We seem to have cornered the market on the boys in the family.
ReplyDeleteThat was a great post. In my family we balanced at one female, me and one male, my son. Even when we got cats, one female, Smokey, and one male, Zero (blame my son for the name)!
ReplyDeleteNow that my son has moves out, it is a tad out of balance, I still have his male cat. But that's OK, he's a lovable little bit, even if he meows all night long! Argggg!
Hi Jessica. I love that your son named his cat Zero--it cracks me up. A male cat that meows all night? Hmmm...my hubby snores all night. Maybe it's a boy thing.
ReplyDeleteHi Sara. You poor thing...all that testosterone. But honestly, what a great post. It's obvious you have a wonderful family. That's just the best. Writing is great, but nothing beats family. I loved meeting you in Orlando. I'm new here too, and it's great to be part of the Sourcebooks family.
ReplyDeleteFine looking family you've got there, Sara!
ReplyDeleteI don't have that many, but as the only girl in a house with three guys, I'm outnumbered, too. Fortunately, I have five cats, one dog, and three horses that are female, so I have someone around here I can relate to!
Hi Anita. Family is the very best. I adore writing and delving into the minds of different characters but the nothing beats the real characters at home. My guys are what drive me....sometimes they drive me crazy...but mostly they drive my desire to be the best I can be.
ReplyDeleteCheryl, you definitely can relate! I've got to take a lesson from you and get more female animals. We've got two little frogs. I have no idea what sex they are but based on the smell that comes out of that tank...I'd guess that they're boys too.
ReplyDeletePOOR Sara! But I feel you there! All my animals but one are boys! If we include animals my household is almost even. We have on the female side: Myself, my two girls, and a cat Zero Duh (it's my oldest daughter's cat so I had to add DUH into its name poor thing, lol). Yet on the male side we have my son, his indoor/outdoor cat Boy (he named him that when he was 2...), my cat Ballsy, and two dogs Casanova and Doc Iggy. But I must say that you have very lovely boys indeed!And I am SO proud of you for getting to Sourcebooks! w00t w00t you go girl! Can't wait for the first one to come out!
ReplyDeleteHi Nicole :) Thank you for coming by the Casababes blog. I LOVE the names of your animals. BTW...Jessica (who posted here earlier) also has a cat named Zero. Not such a kooky name apparently. Thanks for your continued support. You rock!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely family you have--and what a lovely, HAPPY post. I smiled at every sentence.
ReplyDeleteWelcome aboard.
Thanks Mary :) It makes my day to know that I made you smile.
ReplyDeleteOh, my! Even the dog is a boy! :-) Welcome, and so glad you could join us!
ReplyDeleteHi Sara~
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely family! I have one boy and two girls. With the DH and the pets, the girls outnumber the boys by one--We'd been tied for years.
Sounds like my dad's family. His father was determined to have a daughter, so he kept having kids until he got one. Two different wives and seven boys later, he finally had the sweet, little girl of his dreams. She was a tomboy.
ReplyDeleteAs for my own disaster area of a house? No comment.
Congrats on the book, Sara! Can't wait to read it.
Shana, Thanks for the warm welcome. Yup--even the non-humans are male.
ReplyDeleteHi Robin :) Glad to hear you've got girl power at your place. Lol.
ReplyDeleteOlivia. Lol! If we had kept trying I definitely would keep having boys. I had fraternal twins. There's only a 25% chance of having two boys. That's why I always bey against the odds. Thanks for the well wishes. I'm really looking forward to reading your Sinners Serie.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the blog, Sara, and thanks for introducing your family! The picture is adorable. I'll bet there's never a dull moment!
ReplyDeleteWelcome Sara!
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine has three boys, now all adults. She said she'd rather have them than boys.
Wow, you have an abundance of testosterone! LOL. What a great family picture! Welcome aboard, Sara! (and yes, I do tend to go overboard with sea-themed puns... there I did it again!)
ReplyDeleteHi Joanne,
ReplyDeleteYou are correct. There is NEVER a dull moment. Thanks for the warm welcome and kind words.
Hi Linda,
ReplyDeleteI am looking foward to the day when they're all grown up but I kind of dread it too. Every time I get a big hug...I savor it.
Hi Judi,
ReplyDeleteI am surrounded by testosterone. In fact, you could say that I'm swimming in it. ;)
I just wanted to pop in and extend my heartfelt thanks for such a warm welcome. I look foward to blogging with this group of talented women for many blogs to come. Happy writing & reading everyone!
ReplyDeleteWelcome Sara! My, but you are an island of estrogen. They should have at least let you have female pets to even the odds!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the warm welcome Amanda. I think I need another female in the house but I honestly can't handle one more creature. I'm tapped out.
ReplyDeleteHi Sara! It's so great to have you here, and to meet your boys. I don't have as many, but I am the lone female in my house as well. It can be nice, sometimes. ;}
ReplyDeleteSara, it sounds like your 12 year old would get along beautifully with my 16 year old! Welcome to the blog, from one newbie to another!
ReplyDelete