On a typical day I am barraged with countless questions, some pertinent others totally insignificant, statements, some declarative, some observational some hypothetical, sounds, ticks, screams, whispers and silences….and that’s just from the voices in my own head. Couple that with the voices of five children, only three of whom actually possess any understandable form of the English language. The twins, God bless them, understand language they just don’t use it. I spend quite a bit of each day engaged in a bizarre game of charades in an attempt to decipher their impassioned yet incomprehensible mutterings. “I know!! You said Llellow. But that means nothing to me and you are pointing towards an empty wall. Why are you saying Llellow and why are you so mad at that wall??!! Zoë, please help me. What is your brother trying to say?”
“Dad. He wants to change his shoes. He also said that he drew you a picture but couldn’t find the crayons so he used your purple sharpie. I took it away from him and he got upset so he sat on Zella and she kicked him. Also he wants some juice….Can I have a cookie?”
“He said all that?”
“No, Dad. I can’t tell what he’s saying. Can I have a cookie?”
It’s quite easy to see how a person might seem a bit out of sorts from time to time.
So here’s just a smattering of the things that have rattled in my head and world in the past few days. Call it a random post, if you will.
iPod and the Song List
We spend quite a bit of each day in the car. It’s 20-25 minutes to school and I make the trip at least twice a day. If you need help with the math, we’re at close to two hours. My mother-in-law works at the school and normally takes the kids in the morning. I honestly don’t know how I would do it all without her. Three hours in a van every day is just a bit much, not just for me but for the kids. Anyway, our commute provides ample opportunity for music appreciation and thanks to iPod we’ve got plenty of music. I try to rotate the requests and thought I’d share one of our most recent. Keep in mind that this was a total request hour. They got to choose.
Zoë: Popular — Wicked soundtrack
Defy Gravity — Wicked soundtrack
No Good Deed — Wicked soundtrack
(Zoë, if you couldn’t tell, loves the Wicked soundtrack. Knows almost the entire thing. There’s a performer in her just bursting to get out.)
Me: London Calling — The Clash
Live — Lenny Kravitz
19th Nervous Breakdown — The Rolling Stones
(Hey, it was total request, remember. You get your music on your turn.)
Zane: Fix You — Coldplay
All These Things That I’ve Done — The Killers
King of Pain — The Police
(That’s MY BOY!)
Reading 101
Zoë is a remarkable reader. She recently commented about how her class did a reading project to help give books to needy families. She’s not the best at explaining things but essentially, as a class, they had to read 100 books in two days and then the needy kids got free books. That’s all of the details I got. I’m sure there was more to it but it’s not the point here. She proudly stated that as a class they read 107 books in their two days. Remarkable, I thought. “How many did you read, Zoë?” “Eleven!” “Eleven?!” “Yep.” There are 25 kids in Zoë’s class. Zoë’s efforts represented about 10% of the class total. Now, I’m not one to call names here but…..SLACKERS!!! Someone is not pulling their weight. I’m also a proud pappa!
One Goes Out and They All Go Out!!
The tree is up, trimmed, lighted and decorated. I absolutely hate stringing Christmas lights. Really. I can not think of a single activity that I despise more than stringing lights on a tree. Dentist? Bring it on. Poison Ivy? OK–that sucks but I think I may have to go with scratch. You get the picture? I hate it. So I am twelve feet up on the ladder, stringing lights (top to bottom, that’s my method) and literally feeling the Christmas spirit flow from me. My jaw is getting tight and my muscles are tensing up. Zoë and Zane are below the ladder begging me to let them help. I hate the job, but I take it seriously. It’s got to look good. I’ve said no at least forty times. Finally, I relented. “Absolutely, you can help. Grab some lights and start down here on the bottom. Start wrapping limbs and branches and just have a blast.” Best time I’ve had decorating a tree in ten years! And, I think it looks pretty good to boot! What do you think?
You’ll notice there are no ornaments on the bottom third of the tree. What are you supposed to do when you have toddlers enamored with all things sparkly?
Get Your Coats!
Winter has officially arrived. For the past week, our high temperatures have been around 35-36 degrees. Dark, gray skies are the norm and the wind is biting. I’m having to adjust our dash from the house routine by starting a few minutes earlier to allow for the requisite bundling. So now instead of “Who needs to pee? Get your shoes on? Where are your socks? No we don’t need to take your backpack. Yes, we’ll be right back. Leave that here. You don’t need that. COME ON LET’S GO!!”…..OK. I still say all of that. But now I have to add, “Let’s get your coats.” Today, Zella hopped right into hers. Left arm. Right arm. Zip. Then came Zander. He missed with his left arm. Finally found a sleeve, the right sleeve with his left arm, and had to start over. “Zander. How is it that your sister can do this so easily and you can’t find the….” I stopped myself. I just don’t think he needs to be saddled with that quandary just yet.
And finally…..
GEAUX TIGERS
It’s been a truly wacky football season. I don’t know why or how nor do I really care. Just beat those buck nuts!!
