{11}

I think there must be some kind of internal switch---one that goes off inside a boy around age 11 and triggers a starvation mode. Seriously, Ryan hasn't been 11 for very long, but I'll tell you, this boy can EAT.

By 11am this morning, he had eaten an overflowing bowl of cereal, four pieces of toast, two grilled cheese sandwiches, and ice cream. Last night I made chicken pot pie, and he ate half of it, then a bowl of cereal when I told him he had to save some for his dad. I am finding that I need to ramp up the quantities I make for dinner, especially the meat portions. I knew this would happen one day, but I'm afraid I was unprepared for how soon it came to be.

So...the grocery store has become my second home. I feel like I am always there. I buy groceries that I think are going to last for a specific amount of time, and then when we run out of food three days later, I realize I have sorely underestimated how much he eats.

The grocery budget is a whole other subject. And it's only going to get worse.