Little m Long a

The phone rang about 12:45.  This is not particularly significant for our phone typically rings throughout the course of the day.  It’s but one of the many ways that we keep in touch with the world around us.  So the phone ringing at 12:45 caused little reaction in me other than the immediate thought that I should answer it.

A quick glance at the caller id told me it was my mother-in-law.  Again, no significant reaction.  I talk to my mother-in-law on a daily basis.  I figured that she was probably calling to let me know she would be bringing the kids home from school.  In fact, I may have uttered a tiny, “Sweet!” just before I answered.

“Hey, Ed.  Where are the twins?”

“They’re right here with me.  Eating lunch.  Why?”

“Weren’t they supposed to start school today?”

“No.  They start on Friday.  They may start on Thursday but the teacher said she would call if that’s the case.”

“Well, I just talked to their teacher and she’s looking for them.”

“Why?!”

“She said she e-mailed you.  Said they could start today and be here all week.”

“Great.”

So it seems that I forgot to send the twins to school.

On their first day!!

So on a hugely monumental milestone in the lives of my kids, a day they have been anticipating since the last day of preschool in May, a day they have anticipated even more because their older brother and sisters have been going to school for two weeks, on the first day of school —–

I forgot to send them.

Nice!

That Parent of the Year contest is pretty much a landslide in my favor.

“I want to read this book!”  Zander emphatically stated his position to Maura.  “How do you read?”

“Well, Zander.  You have to sound out the letters and put them together.  Ask your brother Zane how he learned to read.”

“Zane, how did you read?” he asked in his most innocent little boy voice.

“Uhm.  Well.. you just…”

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The boy sings constantly.

Zander.

He sings Incessantly.  Little tunes he makes up in his head or a phrase he might pick up from a song on the radio that he puts on an endless loop.  He’ll sing, content in his own little world, completely oblivious to what’s going on around him .  Often times he will sing as he’s engaged in other activities completely unaware that he’s doing it.

It’s an endearing trait.  When it’s not totally grating on my nerves, that is.  But mostly, it’s endearing.

This afternoon as I was straightening up in the living room Zander entered singing one of his little songs.  I couldn’t quite make out what he was singing — nothing unusual — but the tune was catchy.  This one was a bit different though as it seemed a tad forced and he kept stopping and starting over again.

He let out an exasperated little huff and I asked, “What’s wrong, Buddy?”

“I can’t sing it in Spanish,” he replied the frustration clear in his voice.

“Zander,” I said.  “You don’t know Spanish!”

“Oh…,” he said his eyes opening wide with the realization.  “That’s why!”

The lifeguard at the pool shared with me a very interesting conversation that she had recently held with Zander. Seems Zander struck up the conversation after noticing her shiny new engagement ring.

Zander:  Ooh, that’s a pretty ring!

LG:  Thank you, Zander.

Zander:  Does that mean you’re getting married?

LG:  Yes I am.

Zander:  My mom and dad got married.  My dad gave my mom a ring.  Then my mom gave my dad a ring.  Then they kissed.

LG:  Really!

Zander:  Yeah, and when they kissed my egg wiggled.      And here I am!

From the mouths of babes.

I’ve had visitors today.  Uninvited visitors.  I’m typically a pretty amicable host and will go out of my way to make sure that my guests are comfortable.  OK, so that may not be entirely true.  I mean, chances are you’re not going to get my last Izze and if for some reason I happen to divide the last steak, my portion will most assuredly be a tad larger than yours.  But you’re not going to starve or die of thirst. Hell, there’s even a pretty good chance you can sit in my chair.  (I don’t really have a chair but if I did, I’d probably let you sit in it.)

But I get to keep the remote. Read the rest of this entry →