Dinner Theater

Today is "Friday" for my kids, and for hubby as well. This means an unusual 4 day weekend for everyone. Too bad our only plans are to fix the brakes on one car, and get an estimate on the other! Everything seems to happen in pairs when it comes to vehicles. Earlier this summer it was air conditioning (entire compressors, not just recharging!).

The dinner table seems to be the place where most of my blog inspiration is borne. However, I must say this about Simon; in the van today he opened his backpack and handed me about a 2 inch thick stack of papers, after I asked him if he had been given anything for home. Remember, this is the END of the 2nd week! I found out when school pictures are, they are always in September here and in the spring, school open house is in 3 weeks, fundraiser starts in September, and oh yes he was supposed to bring a "self bag" last week which included items to tell people about himself. Lots of good it does me to be married to the principal! Which reminds me, I wonder where Tavin's stash is? When she comes home with Kevin, things tend to get lost between school and home.

Tonight's Dinner Theater actually began just before we sat down to eat. Tavin was in the yard with my OTHER 3 kids (actually, just neighbor kids that apparently think they live in our driveway) when she came in yelling that George (5 year old neighbor, equal in orneriness to Simon) had taken her wallet into his house, and she was up-SET. Crying even. I reminded her that this was an empty wallet that had remained neglected on the porch for a few days. "But GRANDMA gave it to me!" :) Ok, we knew it was empty, but daddy's instincts kicked in...good for daddy...and he summoned the boy and wallet in a short time. During dinner, I asked Tavin why George had taken her wallet, as if boys need a reason to pick on big-sister-types. She said "George said that I was his girlfriend and I told him I didn't want that at ALL. So he took my wallet to his house." Simon then chimed in, "Yeah, and he said he's my BOSS." Kevin and I did a poor job at stifling our laughs, he actually coughed "Blog!". When Tavin and I had to go to Walmart later this evening, I had to move a jean jacket from behind the car, a boys bike from the front lawn, a plastic glass, markers, and other objects to "their side". At least they don't have a dog.

P.S. Lucy is walking! She started just after her birthday. Her lastest mode of communication is what I call a honk without the "K". It's the sound she makes when she is displeased while wrinkling up her nose.

Year #2

I don't know if I mentioned it in my last post, but Lucy had her 1st birthday earlier this month. This means that we have lived here for just over 1 whole year!

Last week was the first week of "back to school" for Tavin and Simon. Since Kevin works at the school they attend, he visits their rooms almost daily (as he does every other room as well) and had the occasion to see a boy in Tavins room "misusing" a chair. Tavin's teacher is a new hire this year, also a first year teacher, but very impressive. Rather than intervene, Kevin decided to just see how the teacher would handle it. Tavin told him later that the boy had to kneel on the floor after his chair was taken away, which is just how Kevin stated he would have handled it. The next day Kevin asked Tavin if the boy had his chair taken away again. Her response: "No, but I did."

AACk!

I can't believe it's been over 2 months! Apparently this online classes thing, plus having all 3 kids home for the last 3 months, has dramatically sucked up all of my free/spare time! ;) Well, yesterday Lucy decided she could walk, and within a number of hours could travel across a room. Today, it's just stand up and walk, turn corners, etc. I think she's been holding out on us! For her birthday a couple of weeks ago we had some friends over for a barbque, then spend the next several days with my parents in the valley. Speaking of "valley people", my little sister, the one that had a baby like 4 months ago, just completed the Danskin Triathlon in Seattle. I know. Sick. Just kidding. :) We are very proud of her, and marvel at her Wonder-woman capabilities.

Simon's first day of Kindergarten is tomorrow, as is Tavin's first day in the 4rth grade. I am just so excited as well! I want to pick out what clothes to wear to be actually almost alone for a morning! Actually, I have a packed schedule with gym, and Lucy's nap (hopefully)...I have to take them tomorrow, since it's also the principals' first day with students there. After that, they'll go with Kevin M,W and Th. No school on Fridays and Kevin has a basketball and prayer group to vie for his early morning attention on Tuesdays, so I am the am transportation, as well as pickup Simon at 11:00. Did I mention they have to be in their classrooms by 7:45 am? And that it's a 15 minute drive? We've been practicing an "almost" school wake-up time for the last week. Since everyone under the age of 10 has been going to bed at 8pm, Lucy has adjusted quite nicely and wakes promptly by 6:30. Another interesting fact: I had Tavin's feet measured today, just to be sure I was getting her the correct size of shoe. The saleswoman used a child's instrument, despite my information of her current "7" shoe size (women's that is), and was "open-mouth shocked" when Tavin's foot was too big for it. On the appropriate adult scale, she was easily into a womens' 7 1/2 size shoe. Tragic for a 9 year old to not get to select "cute" shoes. I think she's matched Grandma! The gal at the shoe store gasped, "I've been a size 7 1/2 since I was 15!!". No wonder she trips over most minimal obstacles!