Usually, when the phone rings and I don't recognize the number, it's a telemarketer or a wrong number. This afternoon, it was neither.
A mother called to tell me thank you. Heathen #1 helped her son last night at the ski slopes. He was badly hurt skiing and Heathen #1 was the first one there. He held C-spine and sent two other boys for the ski patrol. Apparently, he calmed the boy down and talked to him until patrol got to him.
Her son was transported by ambulance. Turns out he has quite a concussion on top of his other injuries. She just wanted to say thank you.
It is so rare that someone goes out of their way to tell you something good about your kids. Especially at the age Heathen #1 is now. When I told him about the phone call, he just smiled - and then asked if he could go out and play in the snow.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Morning Prayer
Heathen #2 performed in his first talent show last week. He played "Morning Prayer" on the piano. Here's his performance:Saturday, February 13, 2010
BatFest 2010!
Several weeks ago, I picked up a brochure for Lincoln Caverns. Listed inside was an event called BatFest. And, of course, I decided that I wanted to go! Isn't that the logical response to seeing a brochure?
But, I couldn't go by myself with the Heathens. That wouldn't be nearly enough fun. So, I invited two additional families. The first family to agree to join us was the Thornton clan. They and their Knuckleheads accompanied us on our adventure to New York City in November. We were also joined by the Williamson clan. Their clan consists of a boy, age 8, and twin girls, age 6. Mama Williamson joined us, while Daddy Williamson is deployed with the military.
BatFest was limited to 50 people - and I provided 13! Those poor unsuspecting people at the cavern...
The event was 5 hours. It included crafts, games, information sessions with wildlife experts, and tours of two separate caves.
But, I couldn't go by myself with the Heathens. That wouldn't be nearly enough fun. So, I invited two additional families. The first family to agree to join us was the Thornton clan. They and their Knuckleheads accompanied us on our adventure to New York City in November. We were also joined by the Williamson clan. Their clan consists of a boy, age 8, and twin girls, age 6. Mama Williamson joined us, while Daddy Williamson is deployed with the military.
BatFest was limited to 50 people - and I provided 13! Those poor unsuspecting people at the cavern...
The event was 5 hours. It included crafts, games, information sessions with wildlife experts, and tours of two separate caves.
Finding the bats inside the cave was not a easy as you would think! The crazy things are really small, the same color as the rocks, and they like to hide around corners. Here were two that we managed to see that were in good photo spots.
This little guy is a "small brown bat" that is covered in water droplets. The coating of water droplets lets you know that he has been hibernating for a while.
This little guy is called a "tri-color bat" and is noticably different because of the visible pink arms. Both of these bats are less than 3 inches long.
We had a fantastic day!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
The Armpit Discussion
YMCA swimming lessons began again for the new year. Heathens #2 and #3 take lessons during the entire school year, while Heathen #1 swims for the team. Last night was the first lesson of 2010.
This entire school year, the Heathens have had females for swimming instructors, simply by luck of the draw. This sessions, they both have a younger gentleman by the name of Josh.
They have both had Josh before, last school year. And I'm going to say right now that he is a good instructor. And the "armpit discussions" were not caused by anything he did.
After lessons, I put the Heathens into the car to head for home. As I was buckling him into his seat, Heathen #3 announced that, "Josh has stuff under his arms!" He said it in the same tone of voice one would use announcing that someone was seen sneaking off with a married man. Heathen #2 piped right it with, "Yeah! None of the other teachers have stuff in their armpits!"
So I spent the next few minutes explaining that the "stuff" was hair. Yes, all adults have hair in their armpits. Yes, I do too, but I shave. No, Josh doesn't shave his armpits. Yes, it's just girls that shave their armpits. No, boys do not shave their armpits. Yes, I have seen other boys' armpits before. No, Daddy doesn't shave his armpits. Yes, you can see Daddy's armpits just as soon as we get home.
God LOVE the Asst. Zookeeper. I trooped into the house with the younger two Heathens. We located their father laying on the bed with his laptop. Heathen #3 said, "Daddy, can I see your armpit?" He didn't even ask why or look at the Heathen strangely. He simply raised one arm over his head and continued to check his email.
Unfortunately, the Asst. Zookeeper was wearing a t-shirt, which covered any visible armpit hair. So, of course, Heathen #3 had to crawl up on the bed to pull the shirt sleeve aside and stick his head into his father's armpit. Again, the Asst. Zookeeper just continued to check his email.
After quizing his father about armpit hair and who has it and who doesn't (please see paragraph describing car ride home), Heathen #3 looked at me and asked for a snack. He was satisfied with his new found knowledge and was once again thinking with his stomach. All was, once again, right in his world.
This entire school year, the Heathens have had females for swimming instructors, simply by luck of the draw. This sessions, they both have a younger gentleman by the name of Josh.
They have both had Josh before, last school year. And I'm going to say right now that he is a good instructor. And the "armpit discussions" were not caused by anything he did.
After lessons, I put the Heathens into the car to head for home. As I was buckling him into his seat, Heathen #3 announced that, "Josh has stuff under his arms!" He said it in the same tone of voice one would use announcing that someone was seen sneaking off with a married man. Heathen #2 piped right it with, "Yeah! None of the other teachers have stuff in their armpits!"
So I spent the next few minutes explaining that the "stuff" was hair. Yes, all adults have hair in their armpits. Yes, I do too, but I shave. No, Josh doesn't shave his armpits. Yes, it's just girls that shave their armpits. No, boys do not shave their armpits. Yes, I have seen other boys' armpits before. No, Daddy doesn't shave his armpits. Yes, you can see Daddy's armpits just as soon as we get home.
God LOVE the Asst. Zookeeper. I trooped into the house with the younger two Heathens. We located their father laying on the bed with his laptop. Heathen #3 said, "Daddy, can I see your armpit?" He didn't even ask why or look at the Heathen strangely. He simply raised one arm over his head and continued to check his email.
Unfortunately, the Asst. Zookeeper was wearing a t-shirt, which covered any visible armpit hair. So, of course, Heathen #3 had to crawl up on the bed to pull the shirt sleeve aside and stick his head into his father's armpit. Again, the Asst. Zookeeper just continued to check his email.
After quizing his father about armpit hair and who has it and who doesn't (please see paragraph describing car ride home), Heathen #3 looked at me and asked for a snack. He was satisfied with his new found knowledge and was once again thinking with his stomach. All was, once again, right in his world.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Total Time: 3.5 Hours
3.5 Hours - That is all the longer it took for Heathen #2 to snap off the bracket of his braces.
At 3:30, we walked out of the dentist's office. Heathen #2 was the proud new owner of two brackets on his two front teeth. He even got to pick the color of the bands on them - he chose blue.
At 7, he came around the corner of my bedroom with one of the brackets and the wire that was between them in the palm of his hand. When questioned, he stated he was "chewing." Upon further interrogation, it turns out that he was using his front teeth to attempt in breaking apart LifeSavers.
I already made the call to the dentist. I'm actually glad they were already closed and I could just leave a message. I should get a prize for this one. :)
At 3:30, we walked out of the dentist's office. Heathen #2 was the proud new owner of two brackets on his two front teeth. He even got to pick the color of the bands on them - he chose blue.
At 7, he came around the corner of my bedroom with one of the brackets and the wire that was between them in the palm of his hand. When questioned, he stated he was "chewing." Upon further interrogation, it turns out that he was using his front teeth to attempt in breaking apart LifeSavers.
I already made the call to the dentist. I'm actually glad they were already closed and I could just leave a message. I should get a prize for this one. :)
Monday, November 30, 2009
Powder Keg Breached
After almost 14 years, I thought I had seen the Asst. Zookeeper in every mood, in every situation. Today, I was proven wrong.
At our zoo, I'm the one with the short fuse. I'm the one that will fly off the handle or get bent out of shape over small things. The Asst. Zookeeper is always unflappable. Unflappable to the point that it drives me crazy. There have been countless times that I WANTED him to get upset and yell because it would justify me being angry. It has never happened. . . until today.
Sometime this morning after 1:30 am, someone very stupid stole Dan's truck. It was parked behind the house and the keys were hanging just inside the back door (where all the keys hang). He got up early to take Heathen #1 hunting for opening day, and went out to find that his truck was gone.
He checked around the neighborhood to make sure that someone hadn't simply moved it as a joke, but it didn't turn up. After calling the police and starting the report with them, he took the van and drove through the less savory sections of town hoping to spot it. No luck. He called all his friends and asked them to keep their eyes open for his truck, then crawled back into bed.
At 10:30 am, his cell phone rang. His younger brother had seen the truck drive past his house and was calling to see if it was Dan's. Dan described the telltale dents (one of which I put there!) - and it was Dan's truck! There were two guys driving it.
Dan exploded. I have never heard him like that. He went tearing out of the house, asking for directions from his brother as he went. The back door slammed and I heard the motor on the van gun as Dan pulled out.
The chase went on for more than two hours. Both his brothers and his mother, as well as family friends, were helping tale the truck as the thieves raced all over three counties in an effort to get away. The local police were contacted and several groups of cops joined the chase as well.
During the entire event, my sister-in-law was listening to the police scanner and calling me with updates as to where everyone was. People called in from cell phones and we relayed messages back and forth between drivers to position cars to follow. My father-in-law, who was in Saskatchewan for work, helped in relaying phone calls.
The state police joined the chase when it hit Haws' Pike. As they were setting up in Seward to attempt to block the guy in and get him stopped, the thief decided to cut across a field - and hit a tree head-on at about 70 MPH. The truck is totaled, and the guys in the truck were arrested.
Thankfully, the police had the guys before my husband got to them. When Dan arrived on the scene, the guys were already in police cars and his older brother was able to corner Dan and get him calmed down. My mother-in-law stood and stared at the one kid through the police car window until he broke into tears. Turns out, one was 17 and emancipated. The other kid is only 15 or 16.
Dan spent the rest of the day keyed up. I've never seen him like he was today. He's always been a gentle person. I've seen him help strangers and calm down children. I've seen him spend time with elderly people and make people laugh. I've always jokingly said that I've never truly seen him angry. I've only seen him irritated. Well, I saw him angry today - and God help the boys who stole and destroyed his truck. They better hope they go to jail long enough for Dan to calm down.
At our zoo, I'm the one with the short fuse. I'm the one that will fly off the handle or get bent out of shape over small things. The Asst. Zookeeper is always unflappable. Unflappable to the point that it drives me crazy. There have been countless times that I WANTED him to get upset and yell because it would justify me being angry. It has never happened. . . until today.
Sometime this morning after 1:30 am, someone very stupid stole Dan's truck. It was parked behind the house and the keys were hanging just inside the back door (where all the keys hang). He got up early to take Heathen #1 hunting for opening day, and went out to find that his truck was gone.
He checked around the neighborhood to make sure that someone hadn't simply moved it as a joke, but it didn't turn up. After calling the police and starting the report with them, he took the van and drove through the less savory sections of town hoping to spot it. No luck. He called all his friends and asked them to keep their eyes open for his truck, then crawled back into bed.
At 10:30 am, his cell phone rang. His younger brother had seen the truck drive past his house and was calling to see if it was Dan's. Dan described the telltale dents (one of which I put there!) - and it was Dan's truck! There were two guys driving it.
Dan exploded. I have never heard him like that. He went tearing out of the house, asking for directions from his brother as he went. The back door slammed and I heard the motor on the van gun as Dan pulled out.
The chase went on for more than two hours. Both his brothers and his mother, as well as family friends, were helping tale the truck as the thieves raced all over three counties in an effort to get away. The local police were contacted and several groups of cops joined the chase as well.
During the entire event, my sister-in-law was listening to the police scanner and calling me with updates as to where everyone was. People called in from cell phones and we relayed messages back and forth between drivers to position cars to follow. My father-in-law, who was in Saskatchewan for work, helped in relaying phone calls.
The state police joined the chase when it hit Haws' Pike. As they were setting up in Seward to attempt to block the guy in and get him stopped, the thief decided to cut across a field - and hit a tree head-on at about 70 MPH. The truck is totaled, and the guys in the truck were arrested.
Thankfully, the police had the guys before my husband got to them. When Dan arrived on the scene, the guys were already in police cars and his older brother was able to corner Dan and get him calmed down. My mother-in-law stood and stared at the one kid through the police car window until he broke into tears. Turns out, one was 17 and emancipated. The other kid is only 15 or 16.
Dan spent the rest of the day keyed up. I've never seen him like he was today. He's always been a gentle person. I've seen him help strangers and calm down children. I've seen him spend time with elderly people and make people laugh. I've always jokingly said that I've never truly seen him angry. I've only seen him irritated. Well, I saw him angry today - and God help the boys who stole and destroyed his truck. They better hope they go to jail long enough for Dan to calm down.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Fluffing the Tree
One job I never would have listed as a "Christmas job" is fluffing the tree. It is an essential task in any home that has an artificial tree. The year that Heathen #3 was born, the Asst. Zookeeper and I caved and bought one. Every year when I drag it out of the attic, I still feel guilty that it's a fake. But I don't miss the pine needles everywhere.
I spent more than an hour "fluffing" the tree. It looked a bit better after I was done, but it still looked fake.
Usually, the Asst. Zookeeper is the official "tree fluffer" in our zoo. This year he was outside fighting the cold and wind to hang the lights on the roof line. Which left me with the tree.
I couldn't have done TOO badly fluffing the tree. Within an hour, Nina (our newest cat) was up in it. She's adopted it as her new home. Thank heavens she's still little and just over a pound. I don't know that the tree could handle a much bigger cat!
Saturday, I hauled the tree down from the attic. I wrestled it out of the bag and managed to put it together in mostly the correct order. Stepping back to look at it, I was once again struck by how much I really don't like artificial trees. Still, I reminded myself about the lack of pine needles everywhere.
I spent more than an hour "fluffing" the tree. It looked a bit better after I was done, but it still looked fake.
Usually, the Asst. Zookeeper is the official "tree fluffer" in our zoo. This year he was outside fighting the cold and wind to hang the lights on the roof line. Which left me with the tree.
I couldn't have done TOO badly fluffing the tree. Within an hour, Nina (our newest cat) was up in it. She's adopted it as her new home. Thank heavens she's still little and just over a pound. I don't know that the tree could handle a much bigger cat!
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