Zane and Eliana stayed with gran’mommy this afternoon because they had early release from school.
When Karys and I stopped by to pick them up after work, Eliana was in the back yard hitting a big, plastic softball that gran’mommy was pitching to her.
I love to get in on a good game of ball. Even if it IS plastic. So I took over pitching duty.
I always fast-pitch overhanded and on this particular day, Eliana was smacking the ball pretty good.
So I made a little wager.
I said, “If you can hit the ball over the fence, I’ll give you $5.”
Well, it was on like donkey kong. ‘Cause our big girl is all about the money. But under no circumstances was I going to make it easy on her.
I pitched high. I pitched outside. I pitched inside.
She swung at air a few times and hit some pretty hard line drives.
Then I made a mistake.
The ball was low and right over the plate. Right in her sweet spot. And now I’m $5 poorer.
Click on any of the kiddo’s pictures in the header and you’ll be magically transported to a special “about” page for each of them.
These pages will continue to evolve and grow as I add to their timelines with “firsts” and other significant events in their lives since coming home.
Pages for Carmi and I will come later. If I can remember that far back.
There was a 30-minute window of time this evening when Zane and Eliana were home alone.
Sandwiched between Carmi leaving with Karys for family reading night at school and my returning home from trio practice at church, the dynamic duo decided to test out Carmi’s recently-purchased Hamilton Beach Personal Blender.
I knew something was up as soon as I walked in from the garage. Eliana greeted me with a “h-i-i-i-i-i d-a-a-a-a-a-d” that reeked of mischief.
“And what are YOU doing?” I asked, half afraid of the answer.
“We made a smoothie,” she beamed.
Zane was quick to add with a smile, “But we didn’t make it e-x-a-c-t-l-y like the recipe.”
The smoothie looked creamy and delicious.
It LOOKED delicious.
It LOOKED much better than it tasted. Bless their hearts.
They mixed together milk, mint chocolate chip ice cream and a whole banana. They were also supposed to add chocolate syrup. But when they couldn’t find any syrup, they must have used half an 8-oz container of Hershey’s special dark cocoa for that one-of-a-kind chalky taste.
My precious daughter was thoughtful enough to save a small glass of the frothy concoction. Just. For. Me.
But you see that tall glass next to the blender? It was full. And Eliana drained it.
It’s no wonder, then, that Eliana came up to me a little later, laid her head on my shoulder and said, “Dad, I don’t feel too good.”
I was impressed with their ambition. I really was. But we’ll hide the blender before leaving them home alone again.
So… what were YOU doing 3 years ago today?
Us? Nothing much. Just flying to China with a (then) 6-year-old and 3-year-old in tow.
There was a young boy, who has since turned into a young man, waiting for us on the other side of the world.
Zane is 16 years old today.
So you know what I’ve been doing at home this morning? Besides laundry?
Checking into drivers ed. Yeeha!
Happy Birthday, buddy. Mom and I love you.
We appreciate the degree of maturity that you show. Most of the time.
Eliana’s birthday was Monday but her present didn’t arrive until today via UPS.
And the girl could. not. wait. to get the Kindle Fire in her anxious little hands.
We’ll see if we can steer her clear of the games and movies long enough to actually READ on it.
This is a PSA (Public Service Announcement) just for Eliana:
Do not bother listening to your father if he tells you (for the umpteen millionth time) to wear your helmet, elbow pads and knee pads whenever you get on your Rip Stik. He is crazy and obviously does not know what he’s talking about. After all, he has never ridden a Rip Stik. He does not understand that you’ve been shredding one for almost 2 months. And that, at the age of 10, you are the Shaun White of Rip Stiking. There is no way in the world that you are going to fall off and hurt yourself.
Yeah. Whatever.
