It is Monday evening at 8:26 pm. Heathen #1 walked in the door from Boy Scouts at 8:15. I informed him that it was time to brush his teeth and go to bed. He has school in the morning. (There was no school today - don't ask why - I can't remember!) Heathens 2 and 3 were both bathed and in bed BEFORE he walked in the door.
He looked at me and then walked over to his backpack and picked it up. And he had this look on his face. And I just KNEW. I KNEW. There was no doubt about it!
Heathen #1 still has to do his homework from FRIDAY! He's been home from school since 2pm on Friday afternoon. He was home all weekend and he was home ALL DAY TODAY! And his homework is still not done! I want to choke him!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Repeat Conversations with Children
I've learned over the past years (approximately 8 or since the oldest Heathen learned to speak) that there are certain phrases, that when uttered by my children, I have a pretty good idea of what is coming next. In the past two hours, I've heard several of them.
Heathen #1: "Momma! Where are you?!?"
My reply: "WHAT do you want?!?" (He was in the basement and I was on the second floor of the house putting away laundry.)
Heathen #1: "I want to ask you something!" (Accompanied by thumping footfalls up two flights of steps).
I know what is coming... it's a request for permission to DO SOMETHING or GET SOMETHING. That's all that ever follows those words when they come out of that child's mouth. And I was right!
He wanted to go play with a friend down the street. To make it better, he had trouble telling me where down the street and with whom he wanted to play. When I asked whom he was going to go see, he replied "Broderick." Not a name I'm familiar with. And when I said "Broderick WHO?" he said, "You know, BRODERICK!" Oh, that changes everything. And as for where he was going, it took a while to find a common point of reference. But we made it and he left with a time deadline to return home.
15 minutes later, the phone rings and I don't recognize the number. It's Heathen #1.
Heathen #1: "Hey Momma! Broderick gave me something. Can I have it?"
My mind went immediately to the "creature" category. That's about the only thing I ever remember taking home that my parents wouldn't let me have. My mother was a strictly one-pet household and would happily have lived animal free if possible. I imagined snakes, lizards, gerbils, hamsters, rabbits, etc. In a split second, I was trying to figure out how to say "no" if it was unreasonable (like a tarantula) or how to justify it to the Asst. Zookeeper if it was something I would like.
My reply: "What did he give you?" Cringe and wait for the answer.
Heathen #1: "A guitar. Can I have it?"
Oh. That was pretty painless. Not NEARLY as bad as I imagined in the split second that I thought it was a critter.
After the required "does his mother know about this" conversation, I okayed the guitar.
One hour later, Heathen #2 walks in the back door from the yard. I am in the basement folding more laundry (yes, that is my life).
Heathen #2: "Hey Momma! I found something!"
This usually means that he "found" something that he KNOWS belongs to someone else and he's hoping that I'm too stupid to know that. He wants me to grant permission for him to keep it. In his head, all that is required for this permission is for me to say, "that's cool" or something of that effect.
My reply: "What and where did you find it?"
Heathen #2: "Just outside. I think it's mine."
Automatically means that it is NOT his and he knows it.
It turned out to be a bracelet of mine that I had given him (I think) several months ago to play with. He's now happily walking around the house with his "new" bracelet.
I'm off to pick up Heathen #3 at preschool. I wonder what conversations await me for the 5 minute car ride home...
Heathen #1: "Momma! Where are you?!?"
My reply: "WHAT do you want?!?" (He was in the basement and I was on the second floor of the house putting away laundry.)
Heathen #1: "I want to ask you something!" (Accompanied by thumping footfalls up two flights of steps).
I know what is coming... it's a request for permission to DO SOMETHING or GET SOMETHING. That's all that ever follows those words when they come out of that child's mouth. And I was right!
He wanted to go play with a friend down the street. To make it better, he had trouble telling me where down the street and with whom he wanted to play. When I asked whom he was going to go see, he replied "Broderick." Not a name I'm familiar with. And when I said "Broderick WHO?" he said, "You know, BRODERICK!" Oh, that changes everything. And as for where he was going, it took a while to find a common point of reference. But we made it and he left with a time deadline to return home.
15 minutes later, the phone rings and I don't recognize the number. It's Heathen #1.
Heathen #1: "Hey Momma! Broderick gave me something. Can I have it?"
My mind went immediately to the "creature" category. That's about the only thing I ever remember taking home that my parents wouldn't let me have. My mother was a strictly one-pet household and would happily have lived animal free if possible. I imagined snakes, lizards, gerbils, hamsters, rabbits, etc. In a split second, I was trying to figure out how to say "no" if it was unreasonable (like a tarantula) or how to justify it to the Asst. Zookeeper if it was something I would like.
My reply: "What did he give you?" Cringe and wait for the answer.
Heathen #1: "A guitar. Can I have it?"
Oh. That was pretty painless. Not NEARLY as bad as I imagined in the split second that I thought it was a critter.
After the required "does his mother know about this" conversation, I okayed the guitar.
One hour later, Heathen #2 walks in the back door from the yard. I am in the basement folding more laundry (yes, that is my life).
Heathen #2: "Hey Momma! I found something!"
This usually means that he "found" something that he KNOWS belongs to someone else and he's hoping that I'm too stupid to know that. He wants me to grant permission for him to keep it. In his head, all that is required for this permission is for me to say, "that's cool" or something of that effect.
My reply: "What and where did you find it?"
Heathen #2: "Just outside. I think it's mine."
Automatically means that it is NOT his and he knows it.
It turned out to be a bracelet of mine that I had given him (I think) several months ago to play with. He's now happily walking around the house with his "new" bracelet.
I'm off to pick up Heathen #3 at preschool. I wonder what conversations await me for the 5 minute car ride home...
Monday, March 2, 2009
3 Generations of Scouts
Heathen #1 has outgrown Cub Scouts. He bridged to Boy Scouts last week on Thursday. The Asst. Zookeeper's den all bridged into troops in the area. All seven are going on - which is an accomplishment in this day and age. With everything kids do nowadays, scouting seems to be getting cut back. 
When Heathen #1 was a Tiger Cub, there were three dens of new scouts and they all had at least 6 boys each. The second year, as Wolves, there were only 2 dens - and they each had about 8 boys. They had picked up the extra boys from the den that folded. Numbers were steady through Bears. but when they hit Webelos last year, the two dens combined for a total of 10. At the beginning of this year, we lost an additional three that we couldn't talk into sticking it out until bridging.
During the bridging, I had the chance to watch the Asst. Zookeeper take off his neckerchief and shake his hand. Then he stepped past his father to his grandfather, who took him across the bridge and into the troop. Not many people have the chance to see three generations of scouts working together. It was awesome.
While we were on stage with Heathen #1, I could see Heathen #2 sitting with his Tiger Cub den. And Heathen #3 was sitting further back in the room with my mother-in-law, still too young to be a scout yet. Both of them were watching carefully, knowing that they will get their chance soon.
After the pack meeting, the Asst. Zookeeper and I took the boys to Eat N'Park for dinner to celebrate. We gave Heathen #1 a merit badge book for "Citizenship in the Community" as a bridging gift. He's happily been looking through it since. Tonight's his first Boy Scout meeting!
During the bridging, I had the chance to watch the Asst. Zookeeper take off his neckerchief and shake his hand. Then he stepped past his father to his grandfather, who took him across the bridge and into the troop. Not many people have the chance to see three generations of scouts working together. It was awesome.
While we were on stage with Heathen #1, I could see Heathen #2 sitting with his Tiger Cub den. And Heathen #3 was sitting further back in the room with my mother-in-law, still too young to be a scout yet. Both of them were watching carefully, knowing that they will get their chance soon.
After the pack meeting, the Asst. Zookeeper and I took the boys to Eat N'Park for dinner to celebrate. We gave Heathen #1 a merit badge book for "Citizenship in the Community" as a bridging gift. He's happily been looking through it since. Tonight's his first Boy Scout meeting!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wrapped in Napkins
I thought I was safe. The big day had come and gone without too much excitement. The Heathens were upset because I didn't want to go to Chuck E. Cheese for my birthday, but they had calmed down. That was Tuesday.
Fast forward through the rest of a hectic week with the Heathens and the Asst. Zookeeper. It's now Saturday morning. The Asst. Zookeeper left for work around 5 am. The Heathens and I were scheduled to go snow tubing at Seven Springs at 12:30 with a local youth group. The Asst. Zookeeper was going to meet us there.
When he joined us, he handed me my mitten that I had dropped on the ground at the Zoo as the Heathens were getting into the van. He said he had to drive a guy home from the mine because he was having car trouble, so the Asst. Zookeeper stopped at the house to let Duchess outside before joining us.
After snow tubing, we needed to head home quickly and get ready to go to the spaghetti dinner at our church. I had bought tickets more than a week before from one of our youth group members. We rushed home. As we were pulling in, I noticed that there were a lot of cars. I assumed that the little girl next door was having a birthday party.
We gathered everything out of the van (hats, mittens, snow pants, etc.) and the Asst. Zookeeper mentioned that his two brothers were in the shop using some of his tools. Whatever. Common occurrence.
And then I walked into a house full of people - and a surprise birthday party. I should mention at this point that I was wearing no make-up, had been snow tubing for several hours, and was dressed in a sweatshirt and snow pants. :) Obviously, the Asst. Zookeeper keeps a secret well!
He had gone to work that morning. But he was home and parked down the street while he watched me put the kids into the van and head for snow tubing. He headed back for the house to set up and that is when he found my mitten. And then he found my cell phone on the table that I had forgotten. It put some extra stress on him thinking that I might notice and head home for them.
After he had the house set up, he headed for snow tubing. His mom and a few friends took over and set up the food and drinks while we were gone. It was quite a set up!
Once we were there, I got lots of hugs from family & friends. And HUGE hugs from the nieces and the nephew (I love seeing them!) I got to see my mom & dad, my Gram, my inlaw's, both brother-in-law's and their families, the Asst. Zookeeper's grandparents, and friends. For my small house, it was a big party. If I can count, it was about 22 or 23.
There were lots of cards. My niece, Rorrie, had made me a bracelet out of beads that said "Aunt dani" on it. She made sure to tell me she did it by herself, except for tying it together. Her dad helped her with that. Her little sister, Gerty, wouldn't let me wear it. She kept insisting that it was Rorrie's and taking it off my wrist.
The Asst. Zookeeper handed me an item that was wrapped up in lime green party napkins. No tape. Just folded up. He had bought me a book. It was better than jewelry! He had actually gone and found a book by a new author that I've never read. And he made sure that it was one in a series, because he knows those are my favorite (I hate it when stories end!). He had even made sure he bought the first one in the series.
It's been a few days since the party - and I've now read the first 3 books in the series. It's great! He picked a perfect book for me!
As the days pass, I keep finding out the effort he put into rounding up everyone and keeping it secret. It's one of the sweetest things he's ever done. Wrapped in napkins and all.
Fast forward through the rest of a hectic week with the Heathens and the Asst. Zookeeper. It's now Saturday morning. The Asst. Zookeeper left for work around 5 am. The Heathens and I were scheduled to go snow tubing at Seven Springs at 12:30 with a local youth group. The Asst. Zookeeper was going to meet us there.
When he joined us, he handed me my mitten that I had dropped on the ground at the Zoo as the Heathens were getting into the van. He said he had to drive a guy home from the mine because he was having car trouble, so the Asst. Zookeeper stopped at the house to let Duchess outside before joining us.
After snow tubing, we needed to head home quickly and get ready to go to the spaghetti dinner at our church. I had bought tickets more than a week before from one of our youth group members. We rushed home. As we were pulling in, I noticed that there were a lot of cars. I assumed that the little girl next door was having a birthday party.
We gathered everything out of the van (hats, mittens, snow pants, etc.) and the Asst. Zookeeper mentioned that his two brothers were in the shop using some of his tools. Whatever. Common occurrence.
And then I walked into a house full of people - and a surprise birthday party. I should mention at this point that I was wearing no make-up, had been snow tubing for several hours, and was dressed in a sweatshirt and snow pants. :) Obviously, the Asst. Zookeeper keeps a secret well!
He had gone to work that morning. But he was home and parked down the street while he watched me put the kids into the van and head for snow tubing. He headed back for the house to set up and that is when he found my mitten. And then he found my cell phone on the table that I had forgotten. It put some extra stress on him thinking that I might notice and head home for them.
After he had the house set up, he headed for snow tubing. His mom and a few friends took over and set up the food and drinks while we were gone. It was quite a set up!
Once we were there, I got lots of hugs from family & friends. And HUGE hugs from the nieces and the nephew (I love seeing them!) I got to see my mom & dad, my Gram, my inlaw's, both brother-in-law's and their families, the Asst. Zookeeper's grandparents, and friends. For my small house, it was a big party. If I can count, it was about 22 or 23.
There were lots of cards. My niece, Rorrie, had made me a bracelet out of beads that said "Aunt dani" on it. She made sure to tell me she did it by herself, except for tying it together. Her dad helped her with that. Her little sister, Gerty, wouldn't let me wear it. She kept insisting that it was Rorrie's and taking it off my wrist.
The Asst. Zookeeper handed me an item that was wrapped up in lime green party napkins. No tape. Just folded up. He had bought me a book. It was better than jewelry! He had actually gone and found a book by a new author that I've never read. And he made sure that it was one in a series, because he knows those are my favorite (I hate it when stories end!). He had even made sure he bought the first one in the series.
It's been a few days since the party - and I've now read the first 3 books in the series. It's great! He picked a perfect book for me!
As the days pass, I keep finding out the effort he put into rounding up everyone and keeping it secret. It's one of the sweetest things he's ever done. Wrapped in napkins and all.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
BIG DAY Memories
I had a great birthday! I did what I've seen others do, but have never done myself. I took the day off from work and spent the day doing nothing important.
I woke up to find flowers on the dining room table. Nothing yucky like roses - they were beautiful wildflowers. Definitely nicer!
The Asst. Zookeeper didn't have to go to the mine until later in the afternoon, so we decided it would be a good day to go see a house out in Davidsville that we've been eyeing up for the past month. It's a great house - from the outside.
It is a 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath, 2 garage home on 2 acres in Davidsville. It also has a detached, 3 car garage on the side of the property that has a second story to it that the Asst. Zookeeper could have used as a wood shop. The house was well maintained from the road. What a disappointment when we went inside.
It was like walking into a Fun House! It had a horrible layout. The bathroom was tiny. There was no dining room. One of the bedrooms was the size of a closet. A second bedroom was in the attic and I could hardly stand up straight. It was awful! Needless to say, we are going to keep looking!
After the house visit, the Asst. Zookeeper headed into the mine, and I went to get my nails done and get a pedicure. It was lovely! The shop was empty and it was quiet. Vegetating was wonderful - there was no rush to leave and run anywhere. After that, I spent the rest of the afternoon with a book. I curled up with the dog and the cats at home, and we read through the rest of the afternoon.
Then the Heathens started to arrive home: Heathen #1 called my cell phone and sang me Happy Birthday. Then Heathen #2 came home and started singing to me. And then I picked Heathen #3 up at daycare and he wanted to take me to Chuck E. Cheese's for dinner!
I spent the evening at swimming lessons with Heathens #2 and #3, while the Asst. Zookeeper took Heathen #1 to cub scouts. Afterward, we had pizza and ice cream for dinner! Actually, the Heathens had pizza and ice cream. I just had ice cream!
I woke up to find flowers on the dining room table. Nothing yucky like roses - they were beautiful wildflowers. Definitely nicer!
The Asst. Zookeeper didn't have to go to the mine until later in the afternoon, so we decided it would be a good day to go see a house out in Davidsville that we've been eyeing up for the past month. It's a great house - from the outside.
It is a 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath, 2 garage home on 2 acres in Davidsville. It also has a detached, 3 car garage on the side of the property that has a second story to it that the Asst. Zookeeper could have used as a wood shop. The house was well maintained from the road. What a disappointment when we went inside.
It was like walking into a Fun House! It had a horrible layout. The bathroom was tiny. There was no dining room. One of the bedrooms was the size of a closet. A second bedroom was in the attic and I could hardly stand up straight. It was awful! Needless to say, we are going to keep looking!
After the house visit, the Asst. Zookeeper headed into the mine, and I went to get my nails done and get a pedicure. It was lovely! The shop was empty and it was quiet. Vegetating was wonderful - there was no rush to leave and run anywhere. After that, I spent the rest of the afternoon with a book. I curled up with the dog and the cats at home, and we read through the rest of the afternoon.
Then the Heathens started to arrive home: Heathen #1 called my cell phone and sang me Happy Birthday. Then Heathen #2 came home and started singing to me. And then I picked Heathen #3 up at daycare and he wanted to take me to Chuck E. Cheese's for dinner!
I spent the evening at swimming lessons with Heathens #2 and #3, while the Asst. Zookeeper took Heathen #1 to cub scouts. Afterward, we had pizza and ice cream for dinner! Actually, the Heathens had pizza and ice cream. I just had ice cream!
Monday, February 16, 2009
My last day of 29
I can't believe it is February - ALREADY!!!! I swear, I just wrote the post in September and then all I've done since then is blink!
Needless to say, I have no idea where the time has flown. And my house is no cleaner. And the laundry is still never caught up. And I still go to bed with a "to do" list left to do.
So. Tomorrow is the BIG DAY. The one that my mother has been talking about for the past year and a half with an evil smirk on her face. I guess it's supposed to bother me that I'm turning 30 tomorrow. The Heathens have been commenting on it, my family has, my friends have. Even the local TV station was counting down to it, until the digital change-over date was altered anyway!
It really is just another birthday. I don't feel old. I don't think 30 IS that old anymore. 15 years ago, 30 was old. Today, 30 is normal. Amazing how perspectives change. I'm sure that at some point, I'll think being 60 is normal.
If the next 30 years are as good overall as the first 30 have been, I'll consider myself lucky. They haven't been an easy 30 years - heaven knows there have been some horrible, crappy days in there. But in the end, I can smile and say that I've survived and I have a good life.
I have a lot to be thankful for in these first 30 years. I have a wonderful family. Not only the one I was born into, but the one I married into as well. Yes, they drive me crazy. Yes, they make me want to scream on occasion. No, I couldn't live as happily without them.
The Asst. Zookeeper has made a world of difference in my life. It'll be 13 years in May since he stepped into the center ring. Almost half of my life. We love to joke about who we would get matched up with if we ever registered at a site like eHarmony. We know it wouldn't be to each other. But however, why ever, whatever - we work. Well.
The Heathens - I can imagine my life without them. How boring that would be. Imagine getting up in the morning and having no one complain first thing. Or drag their feet and making me late leaving the house. Imagine having no one to yell at after bedtime to "BE QUIET!!!!" and go to sleep. Imagine no shoes to trip over. No socks to find randomly around the house. No lollipop sticks abandoned beside the garbage can instead of inside of it. Definitely, not a life for me.
I'm so in love with my life. Bring on the birthday - I'm ready.
Needless to say, I have no idea where the time has flown. And my house is no cleaner. And the laundry is still never caught up. And I still go to bed with a "to do" list left to do.
So. Tomorrow is the BIG DAY. The one that my mother has been talking about for the past year and a half with an evil smirk on her face. I guess it's supposed to bother me that I'm turning 30 tomorrow. The Heathens have been commenting on it, my family has, my friends have. Even the local TV station was counting down to it, until the digital change-over date was altered anyway!
It really is just another birthday. I don't feel old. I don't think 30 IS that old anymore. 15 years ago, 30 was old. Today, 30 is normal. Amazing how perspectives change. I'm sure that at some point, I'll think being 60 is normal.
If the next 30 years are as good overall as the first 30 have been, I'll consider myself lucky. They haven't been an easy 30 years - heaven knows there have been some horrible, crappy days in there. But in the end, I can smile and say that I've survived and I have a good life.
I have a lot to be thankful for in these first 30 years. I have a wonderful family. Not only the one I was born into, but the one I married into as well. Yes, they drive me crazy. Yes, they make me want to scream on occasion. No, I couldn't live as happily without them.
The Asst. Zookeeper has made a world of difference in my life. It'll be 13 years in May since he stepped into the center ring. Almost half of my life. We love to joke about who we would get matched up with if we ever registered at a site like eHarmony. We know it wouldn't be to each other. But however, why ever, whatever - we work. Well.
The Heathens - I can imagine my life without them. How boring that would be. Imagine getting up in the morning and having no one complain first thing. Or drag their feet and making me late leaving the house. Imagine having no one to yell at after bedtime to "BE QUIET!!!!" and go to sleep. Imagine no shoes to trip over. No socks to find randomly around the house. No lollipop sticks abandoned beside the garbage can instead of inside of it. Definitely, not a life for me.
I'm so in love with my life. Bring on the birthday - I'm ready.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Met the New Principal
So I met the new elementary school principal yesterday. And it wasn't in the way I wanted to meet him either.
I received a phone call around 2:30 in the afternoon explaining that Heathen #2 was sitting in his office and had been sent there for yelling at the teacher when he became frustrated with something in the classroom.
All I could think of was my father sitting and laughing hysterically and telling me that deserved it. I did the same thing when I was in school, only I was in fifth grade when it happened, not first.
So I drove over to the school and found Heathen #2 sitting in the principal's office looking very small and very scared. And when I walked in with the "you are SO in trouble" look on my face, his little eyes got very round and teary.
We had a nice little chat with the principal, and then with the classroom teacher also. And they came to the conclusion at the end of the discussion that I matched exactly what I had told them when I walked in. Heathen #2 is a control freak and wants to be in charge all the time. He also has quite a temper that he has to learn to control. Then they both agreed that I really did know my child. Gee, you'd think I actually have lived with the child for the past 6 years, 5 months, and 27 days...
I received a phone call around 2:30 in the afternoon explaining that Heathen #2 was sitting in his office and had been sent there for yelling at the teacher when he became frustrated with something in the classroom.
All I could think of was my father sitting and laughing hysterically and telling me that deserved it. I did the same thing when I was in school, only I was in fifth grade when it happened, not first.
So I drove over to the school and found Heathen #2 sitting in the principal's office looking very small and very scared. And when I walked in with the "you are SO in trouble" look on my face, his little eyes got very round and teary.
We had a nice little chat with the principal, and then with the classroom teacher also. And they came to the conclusion at the end of the discussion that I matched exactly what I had told them when I walked in. Heathen #2 is a control freak and wants to be in charge all the time. He also has quite a temper that he has to learn to control. Then they both agreed that I really did know my child. Gee, you'd think I actually have lived with the child for the past 6 years, 5 months, and 27 days...
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