Playdate

God Has Released Paris

My favorite quote of the last few days is one you've probably already heard.  But just in case, here's the story.  Paris Hilton talked to Barbara Walters and described her dire mental state those first few days in prison.  Apparently  the experience was life-altering.  Now she wants her life to mean something. She's reading the bible (more on that in a minute). She's going to stop acting dumb.  Which brings me to the quote. "I felt like I was in a cage." Do I have to remind anyone that she was referring to her experience IN PRISON?  Really nothing more needs to be said about that but it does make me giggle. But speaking of finding religion - well, I never have but I did go to Sunday school for awhile when I was little.  My mother was raised Catholic but I suspect the real reason she sent my sister and I was so she could dress us up in sunday dresses and hats.  Wait a second.  Neither of my parents went to church while we were at Sunday school. Ah ha!  They did it to get away from us!  That's not very Christian, is it?  But my sister and I were about 5 and 3 at the time. So I totally get it. I don't recall much from Sunday school - just vague memories of coloring pictures of baby Moses in the basket.  I wonder what else we did?  Maybe this: That picture is from Oriental Trading Company - I know I told some you about this already. Anybody want a "Vacation Bible School Rocks" sun visor?  Really can bible school really "rock"?  Or a visor for that matter?.  I don't understand  why god is a cowboy (or sherif looking for a cowboy - and who's the cowboy in this scenario?  The little boy?).  But maybe "Wanted by God" is more child-appropriate than the "Soldier of God" potato sack I originally found.  Sadly that one is no longer available.  I guess they sold out?  Scary. The good news is they still have planty of these: I could look at the website all day but I need to go to bed.  Before I do I think I'll order the Make-Your-Own "WWJD?" Keychain for Paris.  She probably needs something to do. When she isn't reading the bible, of course.

Pomp and Circumstance

Today Connor graduated from preschool. Each student was asked to bring a flower for the ceremony. Connor got his flower from one of the rose bushes in the backyard.  The short movie (a play performed by the kids) and the singing were both very cute.  But I expected to be a lot weepier.  I remember when he was about to turn two and we were going to move him to a bed (or "new ben" as he used to call it).  The last night he slept in his crib I sat and held him for about an hour while he slept.  The thought of him no longer being a baby made me so sad that I just cried and cried.  I did that for about four nights in a row before I was ready to let him make the switch. I think I got through today without crying because both Emma and Libby were sitting on my lap as I crouched on the floor uncomfortably and tried my best to take pictures.  As I did so I realized our camera was full so I furiously tried to delete fuzzy/bad pictures before I missed anything too cute.  My legs were about to buckle, I was sweating like a pig.  I was a little bit distracted.  But also because once or twice I caught Connor yawning.  That wasn't so much sad as funny. Of course I am nostalgic for his little boy days.  I can't believe how fast  it's all happening.  But he loves school, can't wait for kindergarten and is getting more and more interesting everyday. Just last week we were talking about fishing, fish stores, eating fish for dinner when he said this; "Why do people eat fish? Fish are very important animals."  He's still waiting for an answer to that.  Any ideas? The rest of the day was mellow.  We had burgers on the patio and ate ice cream out by the swing-set.  I learned a thing or two.  One - swinging is fun and addictive.  I was actually trying to trick Emma into getting off the swing so that I could have a turn.  She loves to swing  - really high. Higher than I feel comfortable pushing her but I try to not to worry too much about her getting hurt because she loves it.  And I love it too.  A year or to ago when we were down on LBI we found a park right  on the bay.  The swings were the old-school kind, huge and made of metal. I was able to swing what felt like 20 feet in the air.  It was sunset.  I was barefoot.  It was perfect and I can't wait to go back this year and show her. The second thing was this - when a 43 lb. preschool graduate slides down a large plastic slide a lot of static electricity results. And one more; sunshine through a rain cloud sometimes produces a rainbow.  OK, I already knew that but it isn't everyday we get to see it and show the kids right before they go to bed. Congratulations, Connor Bear.

I'll see your pretzel and raise you my guitar

The other day I was hiding from my kids in the kitchen.  I was aware of some yelling coming from the other room but I decided it was best to let them work it out themselves.  Not because I'm lazy but because conflict negotiation is a life-skill better learned through trial and error rather than parental instruction.  I just made that up.  Pretty convincing though, dontcha think? Anyway, I continued my active ignoring, heard some heated words, another scream or two, and then this: "Nooo!  I don't want to play that game anymore!" "But, look. You have Full House!  Nothing beats a Full House.  You WIN!" The boy's been playing poker for almost a year.  His dad taught him and he really likes it.  They bet pretzels. He's always asking me to play.  When I say I don't know how he offers to teach me.  But this is the first time I heard him try to teach his sister.  Which is weird and cute at the same time.  Kind of like this: http://members.shaw.ca/pelorian/rrcpool.jpg (I know, they're playing pool. Why can't I find a picture of cats playing cards - does anyone else remember those posters circa 1982?) I would be lying if I said I wasn't proud of him for knowing how to play (and embarrassed for myself because I don't) but I'm a little worried.  How young is too young to develop a gambling addiction?  What if he runs out of pretzels?  Will he move on the something less benign? Goldfish, maybe (Bad. Trans-fats).  Or those crack-like fruit snacks (Crack and any thing crack-like is also bad). Will he be forced to sell a favorite toy to cover his debts? Maybe this is unfair but it seems poker players develop some bad habits.  Just yesterday - while his "playdough" ice cream dripped down his arm - we heard him say, "Oh, crap."  The beginning of the end, for sure.  What if he starts doing this:  http://members.shaw.ca/pelorian/nccig.jpg?.  Then there is all the sitting. Lots and lots of sitting. Bad for the circulation.  And you never see poker being played outside.  Kids need fresh air! I'm probably making too big of a deal about this.  He also wants to be in a band.  Or play baseball.  That's cool.  Except for the alcohol, drugs, chewing tobacco and sterroids. Oh, crap.