http://edlamaze.com Sun, 06 May 2012 18:15:57 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 http://edlamaze.com/2010/06/02/the-spoken-word.aspx http://edlamaze.com/2010/06/02/the-spoken-word.aspx#comments Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:25:37 +0000 Ed http://edlamaze.com/?p=2475 http://edlamaze.com/2010/06/02/the-spoken-word.aspx/feed 2 http://edlamaze.com/2010/05/12/another-close-call.aspx http://edlamaze.com/2010/05/12/another-close-call.aspx#comments Wed, 12 May 2010 13:20:32 +0000 Ed http://edlamaze.com/?p=2450 http://edlamaze.com/2010/05/12/another-close-call.aspx/feed 14 http://edlamaze.com/2010/04/28/more-you.aspx http://edlamaze.com/2010/04/28/more-you.aspx#comments Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:49:53 +0000 Ed http://edlamaze.com/?p=2430 http://edlamaze.com/2010/04/28/more-you.aspx/feed 13 http://edlamaze.com/2010/02/23/a-moment-to-gloat-because-thats-what-i-do.aspx http://edlamaze.com/2010/02/23/a-moment-to-gloat-because-thats-what-i-do.aspx#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:33:36 +0000 Ed http://edlamaze.com/?p=2210 http://edlamaze.com/2010/02/23/a-moment-to-gloat-because-thats-what-i-do.aspx/feed 4 http://edlamaze.com/2010/02/22/now-that-we-have-that-all-cleared-up.aspx http://edlamaze.com/2010/02/22/now-that-we-have-that-all-cleared-up.aspx#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:25:14 +0000 Ed http://edlamaze.com/?p=2257 http://edlamaze.com/2010/02/22/now-that-we-have-that-all-cleared-up.aspx/feed 4 http://edlamaze.com/2010/01/20/that-wasnt-supposed-to-happen.aspx http://edlamaze.com/2010/01/20/that-wasnt-supposed-to-happen.aspx#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:56:07 +0000 Ed http://edlamaze.com/?p=1308 http://edlamaze.com/2010/01/20/that-wasnt-supposed-to-happen.aspx/feed 10 http://edlamaze.com/2009/11/17/the-glad-game.aspx http://edlamaze.com/2009/11/17/the-glad-game.aspx#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:27:22 +0000 Ed http://edlamaze.com/?p=920 http://edlamaze.com/2009/11/17/the-glad-game.aspx/feed 3 http://edlamaze.com/2008/09/20/no-sucker-for-you.aspx http://edlamaze.com/2008/09/20/no-sucker-for-you.aspx#comments Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:13:00 +0000 Ed http://edlamaze.com/2008/09/no-sucker-for-you/ She walked quickly and looked behind to her left.  He followed, silently, just behind.  Quickly, she changed course, switched hands and looked behind to her right.  And just as quickly he was there, right behind her.  I could feel the tension mounting, see it in her face.  Frustration building.

"Zia, what seems to be the problem?" I asked.

"Zander keeps following me!  He won't stop," she exclaimed.

I looked down at Zander who was intent on Zia and focused squarely on her hands.  Zia shifted hands and turned left to right and back again as Zander followed her every move.

"Zia, he's not following you," I said pointing to the object in her hands.  "He's following the sucker!"

"Oh."  Then to Zander, "Do you want ... ]]> http://edlamaze.com/2008/09/20/no-sucker-for-you.aspx/feed 7 http://edlamaze.com/2008/09/15/but-more-importantly.aspx http://edlamaze.com/2008/09/15/but-more-importantly.aspx#comments Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:23:00 +0000 Ed http://edlamaze.com/2008/09/but-more-importantly/ We stayed inside for the better part of the day.  Safely inside.  The remnants of Ike made it's way into and through Ohio yesterday with steady winds and gusts into the 50mph range.  It was something to behold.  Our experience in no way compares to those along the Texas and Louisiana coastline and even those living farther northward in those gulf coast states.

There was no water to contend with, just the steady and constant winds.  Before long, limbs began to fall.  Our yard is littered with fallen branches.  One branch fell through and into the front porch breaking a few panes of glass with it's fall.  The driveway was covered with fallen branches.  Minimal stuff all-in-all.  But eventually, inevitably, ... ]]> http://edlamaze.com/2008/09/15/but-more-importantly.aspx/feed 8 http://edlamaze.com/2008/09/03/and-then-there-were-two.aspx http://edlamaze.com/2008/09/03/and-then-there-were-two.aspx#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:48:00 +0000 Ed http://edlamaze.com/2008/09/and-then-there-were-two/ I read somewhere that being a parent is a lifelong process of learning to let go, truths of the statement ringing evident repeatedly just this past week.   We have said goodbye to summer and our beloved pool.  Zoë and Zane started school.  Just yesterday, we said goodbye to a little stuffed bunny.

Today, Zia started Pre-K.  She was been asking for weeks when school started and it nearly pushed her over the edge to send her big brother and sister off to school last week without her.  She was ready--whether I am or not.

... ]]> http://edlamaze.com/2008/09/03/and-then-there-were-two.aspx/feed 5 http://edlamaze.com/2008/09/01/wheres-her-bubble.aspx http://edlamaze.com/2008/09/01/wheres-her-bubble.aspx#comments Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:11:00 +0000 Ed http://edlamaze.com/2008/09/wheres-her-bubble/ Like a rock star, her arrival is signaled with squeals of joy.  Like a paparazzi clamoring for a shot, a pose, a one or two line blurb to use for copy. 

"MOMMY!!!"  "MOMMY, guess what!"  "MOMMY, look."

They do not tire in their quest for a moment, a glimmer of attention.  It is understandable, I get this.  Her busy schedule keeps her away from the house more than she would care to admit.  It's the nature of her job.  And quite frankly, I'm sure the kids tire of my constant badgering--Stop that!, No!, Get that out of your mouth!, Do not hit your sister!, No, you may not put the cat in the dryer!, I don't care if he's wet, I said no!, And don't even think of using Mommy's good......towels! Ugh!! 

I could go on.

Yesterday, we went to the pool.  Maura met us there after her shift.  The kids went ape crazy in an effort to display the fruits of their labor having toiled at the pool countless hours this summer.  Shout's of, "Mommy, watch this!" and "Mommy, Look!  Look at me !!" echoed throughout the pool deck.  With pride, we took it all in from our lounges near the shallow end of the pool.  Then Zia offered.....

"Mommy.  Do you want to see my most spectacular (she actually used that word) jump from the diving board?"

Maura:  Well of course I do. 

And off she scampered.

Beaming, I watched as my little girl climbed the steps to the diving board, skipped to the end, bounced twice and plopped into the water.

Maura:  Isn't she supposed to be wearing her bubble?

After about a second or two, Zia's little head pops up.

Me:  Yes, she has it on.

Zoe:  Uhm, Dad, no she doesn't.

Me:  Sure she does.  (Looking towards Zia)  Doesn't she?

I looked down at my feet, and sure enough Zia's bubble lay there in a heap.

I began a slow trot towards the deep end where Zia's little head was just bobbing in the water.  A tiny cough.  The lifeguards were standing at the board watching the scene unfold.  One of them ... ]]> http://edlamaze.com/2008/09/01/wheres-her-bubble.aspx/feed 8 http://edlamaze.com/2008/07/21/and-definitely-not-coffee.aspx http://edlamaze.com/2008/07/21/and-definitely-not-coffee.aspx#comments Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:11:00 +0000 Ed http://edlamaze.com/2008/07/and-definitely-not-coffee/ A brief conversation after breakfast Sunday morning as we prepared to go to church.

Me:  Zia, I need you to get dressed.

Zia:  Can you help me?

Me:  Sure.  What do you think about this dress?

Zia:  Yes, yes, yes.  I like that one.  Can I wear my brown shoes?

Me:  They don't really match the dress.  What about your white ones?

Zia:  Well, they're too big.  The brown ones are just right.  I think I'll wear the brown ones.  Don't you like the brown ones?  I like this  dress.  Please don't brush my hair too hard. It hurts when you brush it too hard.  Can you tighten my shoes?  Are we going yet?  It's raining, we're gonna get wet.  We should get the umbrella.  It's in the garage.  My dress is going to get wet.  My hair is going to get wet.  Where is Zoë?  We can't leave Zander.   Come on Zander, let's go.  I like this dress......

Note to self:  Zia is no longer allowed to have extra syrup with her French Toast.
... ]]> http://edlamaze.com/2008/07/21/and-definitely-not-coffee.aspx/feed 26 http://edlamaze.com/2008/06/19/i-dont-do-anything.aspx http://edlamaze.com/2008/06/19/i-dont-do-anything.aspx#comments Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:15:00 +0000 Ed http://edlamaze.com/2008/06/i-dont-do-anything/ I file them in like little ducks.  Everywhere.  It's a scene of repetition, an endless replay loop of loading and unloading, filing in and out from car to door and back again.  I'm kind of used to it now.  It's commonplace.  This morning I had some information to pick up from the church office.  I've been conned into leading the 3-4 year old class at this year's Vacation Bible School.  (God bless my mother-in-law!)  And so each morning next week I'll be leading a group of 3 and 4 year old children in their daily Bible School activities for St. Mary's Catholic Church.  It's kind of funny.  My sister-in-law said, "Wait.  Aren't you Methodist?"  "It's worse than that," I replied.  "I'm Baptist."

So as I pick up my information packet this morning the woman at the church office proclaims, "My, don't you have a lot of helpers." To which came the following responses:

Zoë:  I help a lot.  I made Daddy's coffee this morning.  (She did.  And it was great.  Irish cream--freshly ground beans.)

Zane:  I help, too.  Sometimes I make the coffee. 

Zia (speaking in her loudest outside voice that begs to be heard above the clamor or four siblings):  I don't do anything.  I'm just cuteness!

She's got a point.


... ]]> http://edlamaze.com/2008/06/19/i-dont-do-anything.aspx/feed 9 http://edlamaze.com/2008/06/04/what-did-we-forget.aspx http://edlamaze.com/2008/06/04/what-did-we-forget.aspx#comments Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:22:00 +0000 Ed http://edlamaze.com/2008/06/what-did-we-forget/ Let's see.  Do we have everything we need?

Hey, guys.  Can you stop that, please? 

Cat food..

Dog food...

Bird seed....
(Why don't we call it bird food?  Really.  We're feeding the birds this stuff not growing birds.  We don't plant the seed we put it in handy little feeders and the birds come to eat it.  It's bird food!)

Guys!  Please stop that.

Help me out here.  Did we forget anything?

Milk....

Cereal....

*Cue the crash*

Guys!!!

*Cue the screaming*

*Cue the blood*

OK.  So we forgot gauze bandages and...

Band-aids.....

That's right.  In the check-out lane Zane and Zia were having a little ... ]]> http://edlamaze.com/2008/06/04/what-did-we-forget.aspx/feed 20 http://edlamaze.com/2008/05/02/dichotomy-the-optomist-and-the-realist.aspx http://edlamaze.com/2008/05/02/dichotomy-the-optomist-and-the-realist.aspx#comments Fri, 02 May 2008 19:18:00 +0000 Ed http://edlamaze.com/2008/05/dichotomy-the-optomist-and-the-realist/ A small front made it's way through our fair city yesterday.  Nothing significant.  No harsh rains or drastic temperature changes.  Nothing inclement.  Fair winds and warmer weather.  My son bounded through the door, home from his morning kindergarten class and immediately spied the kite.  Why it was there or from where it came I've no idea.  He was a man on a mission.  The wind was blowing.  We had a kite.  It needed flying.

To the yard we ran and in no time Spidey (it was a Spiderman Kite) was sailing above us occasionally looping and ... ]]> http://edlamaze.com/2008/05/02/dichotomy-the-optomist-and-the-realist.aspx/feed 14