Just to make sure I bemember

Caleb likes to bemember when we betended we were bezommies (zombies). Love that kid.

Writing Lesson

I write Caleb's name on the paper. "Now just make it look like that."

Caleb begins to write...a circle. "Nope," he says. "That's not a C." He begins again. "Nope. That's a candy cane." Then he draws candy canes. One of the candy canes is sideways. "That's not a candy cane. That's a gun." He begins drawing guns, now with sound effects.

Then the pencil becomes a gun. I am the target.

"Caleb, I'm so pleased we could have this time together to practice writing your name."

Somewhere in My Youth or Childhood...

Henry's second word: Football.

Yes!

Shall We Dance

Caleb, put on your shoes. In he runs. Maddie, put on your pants, out she goes. Where's Henry? Katie runs past. Enter Maddie with a skirt, can she wear that instead? Exit Caleb. Where's Henry? Katie runs past.

Maddie's out the door. Daddy starts the car. Caleb runs down the street. Where's Henry? Caleb gets in the car. Maddie heads back inside. Katie runs past.

All kids are in the car. I want the front seat. No, it's my turn. Caleb gets in Henry's seat. Henry's in the driver's seat. Maddie wants her other shoes. Katie runs past. Henry gets in his seat. Caleb to his side. Maddie in the back. The car pulls out. Where's Katie?

Morning

Henry's morning routine (he's 16 months):

Turn off the heater. Plug in the lamp. Drag chair in front of TV. Turn on TV. Give dad the remote control. Point to the freezer (he wants an Eggo waffle while he watches).

The man knows what he wants.

Amelia Bedelia

"OK, Maddie," I instructed as I sent her off to the field, "just do what the coach tells."

She shook her head affirmatively and took her position as a striker.

A corner kick. "Madeline," coach ordered. "Stand right here."

Maddie dutifully took her assigned position. As designed, the ball came right to her with a clear shot to the goal. We cheered. We waited. We waited longer. Maddie looked at the ball, then to the coach without moving. Then the other team kicked the ball out bound. Opportunity missed.

Substitutions. Maddie came out.

"Why didn't you kick it?" I asked.

"You told me to just do what coach said. He said 'stand here'. He didn't say 'kick the ball.'"

Argument Won

While trying to discuss with Maddie her recent disobedience issues, she cut in:

"Daddy, I'm just trying to be like Mom. And mom doesn't do what you say either."

Well played, kiddo.

Sound Board

Word count during a one hour interval the other day:

Maddie: I don't have to if I don't want to (12 times)

Caleb: Hey, guys! Wait for me! (20 times)

Katie: Um...[followed by silence] (25+ times, I lost count)

Tim: Be careful, guys (22 times)

Time in a Bottle

After being away for three weeks in Guatemala and then four weeks in Omaha, I became sentimental about cherishing the small moments with the kids. You know, they won't be young forever.

30 minutes squatting next to the toilet with Caleb as he battles constipation.

Ear-splitting yell contests in the car.

Maddie wakes me up when she comes into the bed every night at 1 a.m. Caleb then wakes me up coming into the bed every night at 3 a.m. (At which point the bed is overloaded and I move to the couch.)

Teaching Maddie to swim at the local pool (the water tastes exactly like sweat and is so foggy one cannot see one's feet).

Just some of the special moments.

35 hours

That's how many hours until Katie and the kids arrive in Omaha. Not that I'm counting.

Lone Man

After one joyful week of no work, no school, just kids, I am again a solo lobo. Sigh.

Western Nebraska smells like cow poop. Omaha, no poop smell. Phew, I was getting worried.