Birthday Ben

 This boy did not want a party for his big TWELVE but he did have BIG ideas about how he wanted to do deserts on his big day. As a compromise, we got a bunch of doughnuts and stopped off at a couple of his friends' houses to share/celebrate and then had chocolate cupcakes for dessert for his birthday dinner.

So this was the year of sugar. And to complete the experience he had three doughnuts for breakfast before his game on Saturday and then proceeded to score TWO goals at his soccer game. Now you can attribute that soccer success to either the sugar or the fact that Coach Jim put him on offense for the first time in many, many seasons - you pick. I know what he thinks....

Spring Celebration

 

Spring Soccer, PNW Edition

 And soccer is back! Back with masks, on and off the field. Soccer in the time of covid-19.

This morning's game was played on what can best be described as a shallow lake. Now, I know that this looks like a grass-covered field, but I can tell you from experience the whole thing was covered in about an inch or so of water with a smattering of deeper areas placed randomly around the field.

I wore my rain boots and I have to tell you that anyone who wore regular shoes to the game...chose...poorly.

For all that it was a pretty good game. The Wildcats did lose (6-5 we think) but the close games are more exciting than the ones when the team blows their opponents out of the water (which I guess would have been literal in this case).  Looks like it's going to be another great season.

Braces...Here We Go Again

You may be able to tell by the look in his eyes, that he has an inkling of what is about to happen to him. In other words, his older brother did him the honor of telling him outrageously crazy (and mostly not true) stories about the horrors of braces.  Luckily for him, he had more options for soft foods so we had chocolate pudding and yogurts waiting for his sore mouth.  

The part always makes me laugh. So I take a picture. Cuz, you know, it will last longer.

First round: the top. As soon as they let him up, he started laughing. He kept telling me how weird they felt. A few hours later though he didn't find them quite so amusing. 

So, here we go again.

February on Facebook

Personally, I think the best way to experience snow is from a distance. Looking at other people's pictures of it on Facebook is just the right distance. 

If this day had any sense at all, it would bow out and let us go straight to the end of the school week. Read the room, Thursday!!

Our Fridays in a nutshell

It is possible that during our first few years of marriage someone may have taped the final scores of a Scrabble game to the wall by our bed.

On asynchronous school days Isaac likes to try and make up for any and all lost snuggling time he missed when he goes into the classroom.

What do people panic buy in your area for bad weather/snow? In VA it was milk, eggs, and bread - which always made me wonder if everyone ate French toast there when it snows. Here I've heard bananas and toilet paper - not sure what to think of that.

Mean Mom, a play in one act

Setting: a kitchen in a middle class house. A woman is washing dishes while a small boy, her son, is sorting through the items in his school Valentine's box.

Boy: Mom! Look! Two of my friends gave me pink slime!!!!!

Woman: Sorry, buddy. You know the rules - this house is a slime-free zone. They'll have to go.

Cue hysterical crying.

End scene

This kid is clearly not related to me

Where's the Map My Snow Shoveling app when you need one?

I got a notice on my phone yesterday that one of my Amazon subscription items was going to be delivered by the end of the day. With a foot of snow on the ground, I kind of wished there was a button on the app that I could push to let the UPS driver know "Don't worry about delivering it today - your life is worth a great deal more than a bag of dental flossers".

I would like to personally thank NASA for scheduling the landing of the Perseverance on Mars during Ben's Robotics class today and his teacher for thinking it's cool enough to show during class.

I'm pleased to announce that at some future date, yet to be determined, 3 of our kids will LEAVE THE HOUSE on Mondays and Wednesdays to go to school. Now if I can just figure out how to get the other two people out of the house...

I have a BA in Anthropology, but I am currently working on my PhD in Nagging with an emphasis on Get Your Butt Out of Bed.

Ben: My password is the last 5 digits of pi

I was considering doing some spring clearing/purging of my clothes today and realized that if I got rid of everything I haven't worn in the past 6 months I would only have yoga pants, t-shirts, and fleece jackets left. Which might be the ideal wardrobe...

Snow Dayz

Someone is absolutely thrilled with our unusual weather. Someone has been up at 7 every morning begging to go out in the snow. 

This person also has a wacky sense of style.

This someone is not me.

Thursday, Feb 11th - it begins. School district calls a half day and schedules all classes to end early.

Friday, Feb 12th - the first 5 or so inches. Such ridiculousness. 

5 inches deserves some shoveling. Several of the people in the house were not super excited about that, but our resident snow sprite just wanted the snow dumped on him.

Ben was awarded the honor of cleaning off the cars after a not terribly efficient run with the snow shovel. Apparently my pep talk of "it's just a lever" didn't help.

The car was so very happy to see us.

The honor for grumpiest snow removal went to Josh who opted to shovel in his crocs with socks in his pajamas.

Saturday, Feb 13th - because some weather systems just don't know when to stop. Another 6 inches.

Our bouncy ball of snow was thrilled to find even more on the ground. With the snow up to his knees, he was pretty bummed that he had to wait for some of his snow gear to finish in the dryer before he could go out.

Day 2 of snow meant day 2 of shoveling. 

Back in the front of the house we took a measure before clearing the sidewalk and driveway...again.  Josh wore his shoveling crocs...again.

After all that we came together to forget our grumpiness with the snow to play a cut throat game of Monopoly.  The amount of negotiating seemed a little extreme and at times unorthodox to me, though I normally avoid this game at all costs. In the end, Josh created a gauntlet by building cities on 1/4 of the board and we were all deprived of the opportunity of being decimated by him as eventually it was time for him to make dinner.

Sunday, Feb 14th - Happy Valentine's Day! Only 1/4 inch or so in the morning. I did some walking in the snow and didn't have a lot of company.

Our Valentine's Day festivities were shorter than normal, but we did play a few games. This year's addition was a match the language to the phrase "I love you" - Ben chose wisely and picked Jason for his teammate.  He *may* have some foreign language experience under his belt.

And then we gorged ourselves on sugar before calling it a night. It's raining now and I have high hopes that soon we can put all this snowy mess behind us.

First Day, yet again

It was a glorious, dark, rainy and cold morning when Isaac first attended kindergarten in person. Long past the promised date of September 14th, but at this point we aren't complaining.  A few concessions to covid19 - a morning health "attestation" filled out online, a mask, and his own bottle of hand sanitizer - but otherwise a typical day. His backpack looks like it's half his size and we spent time over the weekend writing his name with a sharpie on all of his winter gear. 

Jason went to work a little bit late so he could walk with us.  Isaac was in high spirits the whole way there. His excitement wavered a little bit when the para started walking him to his classroom, but he still seemed happy.

And this is when I realized that I've been doing it all wrong:

    -when Josh went to K I had TWO kids still at home

    -when Michael went to K I had ONE kid still at home

    -when Ben went to K I was PREGNANT

And now, as I took Isaac to K, I realized that I have THREE KIDS STILL AT HOME

Seems like I may be doing this wrong.

ANYWAY, I spent the next 5 hours being only slightly productive including a poorly timed walk during which I walked by Isaac's school during his recess. A mistake I hope not to repeat. Luckily he didn't see me.

He came home a happy boy with stories about the toys he played with and the snack he ate.  We'll count that as a success!