Saturday, September 25, 2010
After A Day in the Yard
This is what I think childhood should look like. After a day of playing you should look dirty, happy, shoeless, and I guess in Kelly's case, pantless.
Future NHL player??
Brian had his first ever hockey/learn to skate lesson, today. I think he looks like a hockey player. He's even got the sweaty helmet hair going!
More Hoarding
Breakfast would not be complete without having every single toy you possess, at the table with you.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
I've got my EYE on you!
I took my kids to McDonald's for lunch today. When we entered Mcd's a young (VERY young) mother, who was sitting with her son (about 4) and her sister (because they totally looked alike), smiled at me, and I at her (I have to mention this pleasant exchange because it's important to the story). I sat the kids down in a booth and we began eating. Soon after we sat, the young woman and her sister finished eating and sat down to enjoy the free wi-fi courtesy of Mcd's. I can only assume that the two women were checking their email or got sucked into facebook (something I know nothing about), because they were totally ignoring the little boy. The little boy's displeasure of being ignored started of mild but quickly escalated.
Initially he just wandered around Mcd's but he seemed to get bored with that because he began spinning the chairs around at a table where a guy was eating (mother and sister completely oblivious to this, and they guy finally said something to the little boy), then he started climbing all over the stacks of high chairs, then he stood WAY too close to my table (actually right at my table) staring at my kids and making faces at them, etc. etc. The mother and sister would take intermittent breaks from the computer to yell at him to "stop it" or to "come here", but then they would turn their backs to him and get back to important computer stuff. (Did I mention that the mother was really young, no wedding band, pregnant, and in a totally tight "boob overflowing" tank top, with low rise jeans?? I'm just trying to help develop a mental picture for all of you).
The final straw for me was when he went over to his mother and took the unopened straw for her drink. THIS got her attention. She said something like, "I take you to McDonald's for a hamburger and an ice cream and this is how you act? See if we come here again!" Turns out he took the straw to open it up for her, because he then brought it back and put it in her drink. However, she didn't say "thank you" but rather, pulled the drink out of his hands and told him to "knock it off". Honestly, my heart was breaking for this kid. It was at this point that I made eye contact with THE MOTHER and I SPOKE to her. It was ALL for the kid folks, I was just feeling so bad for him.
Before I tell you what I said, let me say this: I knew that anything I said to her would not be taken in the best way, I knew it would seem confrontational, and I knew something would be said back. However, I am still laughing (and in slight shock) over the extent of the reaction. So back to what happened: I smiled and said, "I think he's acting out because he's not getting any attention from you." WELL, this resulted in my getting a verbal assault from both the mother and her sister, and it lasted for a few minutes. I heard, " He gets plenty of attention at home," and "Come here Shawn, come here Shawny, you get more attention than you need at home," and, "I'm in school nights to be a teacher, so don't you tell ME how to treat kids." It continued on as they walked out the door, but when I ever looked out the window to see the sister making a circle around her eye, pointing at me and then mouthing, "I've got my EYE on you!", that I totally lost it and just started laughing (but I didn't laugh in her direction because I started to get freaked that she might be in a gang or something and that she actually would be waiting for me in the parking lot!) Below I've recreated the parking lot scene.
Initially he just wandered around Mcd's but he seemed to get bored with that because he began spinning the chairs around at a table where a guy was eating (mother and sister completely oblivious to this, and they guy finally said something to the little boy), then he started climbing all over the stacks of high chairs, then he stood WAY too close to my table (actually right at my table) staring at my kids and making faces at them, etc. etc. The mother and sister would take intermittent breaks from the computer to yell at him to "stop it" or to "come here", but then they would turn their backs to him and get back to important computer stuff. (Did I mention that the mother was really young, no wedding band, pregnant, and in a totally tight "boob overflowing" tank top, with low rise jeans?? I'm just trying to help develop a mental picture for all of you).
The final straw for me was when he went over to his mother and took the unopened straw for her drink. THIS got her attention. She said something like, "I take you to McDonald's for a hamburger and an ice cream and this is how you act? See if we come here again!" Turns out he took the straw to open it up for her, because he then brought it back and put it in her drink. However, she didn't say "thank you" but rather, pulled the drink out of his hands and told him to "knock it off". Honestly, my heart was breaking for this kid. It was at this point that I made eye contact with THE MOTHER and I SPOKE to her. It was ALL for the kid folks, I was just feeling so bad for him.
Before I tell you what I said, let me say this: I knew that anything I said to her would not be taken in the best way, I knew it would seem confrontational, and I knew something would be said back. However, I am still laughing (and in slight shock) over the extent of the reaction. So back to what happened: I smiled and said, "I think he's acting out because he's not getting any attention from you." WELL, this resulted in my getting a verbal assault from both the mother and her sister, and it lasted for a few minutes. I heard, " He gets plenty of attention at home," and "Come here Shawn, come here Shawny, you get more attention than you need at home," and, "I'm in school nights to be a teacher, so don't you tell ME how to treat kids." It continued on as they walked out the door, but when I ever looked out the window to see the sister making a circle around her eye, pointing at me and then mouthing, "I've got my EYE on you!", that I totally lost it and just started laughing (but I didn't laugh in her direction because I started to get freaked that she might be in a gang or something and that she actually would be waiting for me in the parking lot!) Below I've recreated the parking lot scene.
d
dThe best part came after they left. A family had witnessed the whole thing and as I passed them on my way out the husband said, "You were right in what you said," and then his wife (who was half my size, in both height and weight) said she would have "had my back" if it had gone any further. (still laughing at that one). How did my kids handle all this you ask? There was a HUGE t.v. at this McD's with a Mickey Mouse show on....yeah, my kids were oblivious to everything besides the tube!
I'm glad I said something. I'm all for speaking up for those who can't speak up for themselves. In this instance, I spoke up for a little boy, who I'm sure, was not being ignored for the first time.
That Kelly....again.
My newest fear is that Kelly is going to be on "Hoarders: Buried Alive", someday. The items needed in her crib for sleep have significantly grown in the last few weeks. Kelly is currently sleeping with the following: two blankets, three baby dolls, two dogs, three bears, the book "Corduroy", Princess Jasmine, a Princess Ariel candle, and of course, her pacifier.
When Kelly wakes up in the morning we greet each other, I pick her up, and then she begins the rundown of the things she needs for the day: "a bankie, and a bear, and a book, and a baby, and a baby, and a baby"...you get the picture. This morning Jeff went in to get her and I could hear her start the run-down of items she would need for the day. However, new to the list were her "toy box" (a multi-colored shape/gadget box) filled with toys, and "sun-gyasses". Kelly toddled out of her room, sat on the couch with some of her gear and was ready to start the day!
When Kelly wakes up in the morning we greet each other, I pick her up, and then she begins the rundown of the things she needs for the day: "a bankie, and a bear, and a book, and a baby, and a baby, and a baby"...you get the picture. This morning Jeff went in to get her and I could hear her start the run-down of items she would need for the day. However, new to the list were her "toy box" (a multi-colored shape/gadget box) filled with toys, and "sun-gyasses". Kelly toddled out of her room, sat on the couch with some of her gear and was ready to start the day!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Vermont Vacation - National Lampoon Style
If you've ever seen National Lampoon's "Vacation", you're sure the get the humor of this post.
My parents decided to take a mini-vacation up to Vermont for their 39th wedding anniversary, and what they ended up learning is that looks can be deceiving (or at least brochures can be deceiving). After seeing pictures of a 4 star hotel they made their reservation, jumped in the car and headed to Vermont. However, upon getting out of the car they noticed that the hotel didn't quite match up with the lovely brochure, but they decided to check in anyway (being daring duo that they are). I guess things went from bad, to worse, to down right awful. The swimming pool was so murky you couldn't see the bottom (and ducks may have actually been swimming in it), the nets on the tennis courts were being held up by strings, there was no soap in their bathroom, and there were cigarette butts in the ashtray out on their deck. Now at this point, and this is just me (not saying anything bad about you mom and dad), I would have left. Unfortunately for my parents, they decided to sit out on the deck for a while (there's nothing like the smell of fresh Vermont air intermingled with the smell of used cigarette butts). When my dad sat down he disrupted a yellow jacket nest and was stung in the eye (I know, I know...you don't want to laugh, but feel you have to, but you don't want to because bee stings really hurt, but you can't help yourself...really, it's okay....let it all out). After finding shelter in their room and applying ice to my dad's eye (sorry you got stung dad), my parents decided to check out. This is a good thing, because if they hadn't I may have had to call their overall cognitive functioning into question. So, on they went to their new hotel and I believe that everything at this place was fine until the next morning when my mom went to take a shower and there was no water. Yes that's right, no water. They informed the front desk and the reply was, "Oh, that pump must be broken again. We'll fix it right now." One could make a series of "You know you're in Vermont when..." jokes, at this point.
My parents now faced a brand new day, full of possibilities, and full of more deceptive brochures! My mom had a brochure of a quaint, family run dairy farm that made it's own cheese and maple syrup. The brochure showed a beautiful red farm house, barn, pastures with cows grazing...just beautiful. And so my mom convinced my dad, who we'll call "swollen one eye" at this point, to take a drive through country to the dairy farm. Thankfully, and I mean THANK GOD the drive was beautiful, because the dairy farm was well, the pits. The farm house was run down, there wasn't much of a pasture, and the only cow in site was one baby cow tied to a tree just outside the barn. My father refused to get out of the car (good move dad). My mom ventured in the farm house to find 6 women, all with long gray hair (she said they looked like they had just come from Woodstock), sitting in a circle dunking cheese in wax. They were very friendly though, and told my mom that there was a room down the hall where she could view a six minute video on how to make maple syrup. I think she smiled, stood there for a minute and then left. My mom got to the car, I think there was laughter (I hope there was laughter), and then the decision to drive back home was made (just about 24 hours after they arrived). It's kind of a sad yet funny, but in a sad way, story.
Fast forward to this past Tuesday and my dad's birthday. My mom found a pair of white leather loafers at Kohl's in my dad size, marked down to $6.50 on clearance (go Deb!), which she wrapped and gave to my dad. The loafers looked much like the loafers "Cousin Eddie" gave to Clark Griswald in Vacation. It was very funny and very appropriate.
May the celebration of my parent's 40th wedding anniversary be the complete opposite of what happened this year.
Love you mom and dad (and I LOVE the new shoes, dad)!
Please note the golfers tan.
Boy do those glow against the darkness of the evening sky!
My parents decided to take a mini-vacation up to Vermont for their 39th wedding anniversary, and what they ended up learning is that looks can be deceiving (or at least brochures can be deceiving). After seeing pictures of a 4 star hotel they made their reservation, jumped in the car and headed to Vermont. However, upon getting out of the car they noticed that the hotel didn't quite match up with the lovely brochure, but they decided to check in anyway (being daring duo that they are). I guess things went from bad, to worse, to down right awful. The swimming pool was so murky you couldn't see the bottom (and ducks may have actually been swimming in it), the nets on the tennis courts were being held up by strings, there was no soap in their bathroom, and there were cigarette butts in the ashtray out on their deck. Now at this point, and this is just me (not saying anything bad about you mom and dad), I would have left. Unfortunately for my parents, they decided to sit out on the deck for a while (there's nothing like the smell of fresh Vermont air intermingled with the smell of used cigarette butts). When my dad sat down he disrupted a yellow jacket nest and was stung in the eye (I know, I know...you don't want to laugh, but feel you have to, but you don't want to because bee stings really hurt, but you can't help yourself...really, it's okay....let it all out). After finding shelter in their room and applying ice to my dad's eye (sorry you got stung dad), my parents decided to check out. This is a good thing, because if they hadn't I may have had to call their overall cognitive functioning into question. So, on they went to their new hotel and I believe that everything at this place was fine until the next morning when my mom went to take a shower and there was no water. Yes that's right, no water. They informed the front desk and the reply was, "Oh, that pump must be broken again. We'll fix it right now." One could make a series of "You know you're in Vermont when..." jokes, at this point.
My parents now faced a brand new day, full of possibilities, and full of more deceptive brochures! My mom had a brochure of a quaint, family run dairy farm that made it's own cheese and maple syrup. The brochure showed a beautiful red farm house, barn, pastures with cows grazing...just beautiful. And so my mom convinced my dad, who we'll call "swollen one eye" at this point, to take a drive through country to the dairy farm. Thankfully, and I mean THANK GOD the drive was beautiful, because the dairy farm was well, the pits. The farm house was run down, there wasn't much of a pasture, and the only cow in site was one baby cow tied to a tree just outside the barn. My father refused to get out of the car (good move dad). My mom ventured in the farm house to find 6 women, all with long gray hair (she said they looked like they had just come from Woodstock), sitting in a circle dunking cheese in wax. They were very friendly though, and told my mom that there was a room down the hall where she could view a six minute video on how to make maple syrup. I think she smiled, stood there for a minute and then left. My mom got to the car, I think there was laughter (I hope there was laughter), and then the decision to drive back home was made (just about 24 hours after they arrived). It's kind of a sad yet funny, but in a sad way, story.
Fast forward to this past Tuesday and my dad's birthday. My mom found a pair of white leather loafers at Kohl's in my dad size, marked down to $6.50 on clearance (go Deb!), which she wrapped and gave to my dad. The loafers looked much like the loafers "Cousin Eddie" gave to Clark Griswald in Vacation. It was very funny and very appropriate.
May the celebration of my parent's 40th wedding anniversary be the complete opposite of what happened this year.
Love you mom and dad (and I LOVE the new shoes, dad)!
Please note the golfers tan.
Boy do those glow against the darkness of the evening sky!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
That Kelly
Kelly is 20 months...going on 6. Today she went outside and decided that she didn't want her sweatshirt on and so I offered to help take it off. Kelly put her hand up and said, "NO! I do I-self." And she did, she unzipped her sweatshirt and took it off. Kelly likes to do a lot of other things "I-self", such as climbing into her car seat, going up and down stairs, brushing her teeth (but not well), etc. Kelly also likes to participate in the question and answer segment of Dora the Explorer, and usually gets all the questions wrong (but just hearing her answer is just so darn cute and FUNNY!). At the end of the show on marine life there were questions being given with two choices for answers i.e., "How many feet does the hump back whale have, 2 or none?", and Kelly shouts out, "TWO!". The next questions was, "What does the whale eat, plankton or fruit salad?", and Kelly shouts out, "FRUIT SALAD!" (She's 20 months old for crying out loud!!). Today at dinner Jeff was asking Brian and Kate what they did at school, and getting answers out of them was like pulling teeth. However, Kelly chimes in, "At school!" Jeff said, "Oh Kelly, what did you do at school?", and Kelly answers, "balloons!" (she did see balloons at the school). What Kelly wasn't able to tell Jeff was that while waiting for Brian and Kate to come out of their classrooms, she shoved another little boy (bigger than her, mind you) because he was trying to play with the toy she was playing with. We're in trouble when she starts school!
That Kelly, she keeps us laughing! She also keeps life challenging because screaming and screeching continue to be a favorite passtime of hers. Eh, we'll keep her though...her cuteness, personality, wit and love for cuddling make her just a little doll.
That Kelly, she keeps us laughing! She also keeps life challenging because screaming and screeching continue to be a favorite passtime of hers. Eh, we'll keep her though...her cuteness, personality, wit and love for cuddling make her just a little doll.
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