Wednesday, February 29, 2012
$5 poorer
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.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Timelines
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.
{extended}Monday, February 27, 2012
Chocolate smoothie
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.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Waiting for us
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.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Sweet 16
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.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Eliana’s late birthday present
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.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
A public service announcement
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.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Little white church
We needed to run an errand out of town late this afternoon.
On the way to our destination, we passed this little white church just off the road in a small patch of woods and had to stop on the way back home.
There wasn’t a sign anywhere on the property so we know neither the name nor the denomination.
Notice the chimney on the rear of the roof. I guess that was their only heat.
The church is obviously no longer used as the front door was padlocked.
And vandals have already left their mark.
Can you say ‘outhouse’?
There was an equally small cemetery on the property.
And an interesting resident.
I’d love to know this little church’s story.
{extended}Eliana is a 10
I left for work this morning to this…
And came home at lunch to this…
A 10-year-old!
In shorts and a t-shirt, no less.
That’s our Eliana. She’s about as hot-blooded as they come.
And did I mention that she’s 10 today?!?
She’s absolutely a “10” in our book.
Happy Birthday, “baby” girl. We sure do love you!
{extended}Monday, February 13, 2012
Trader Eliana
As Eliana and I walked down the long hallway of her school this afternoon, she pulled a Grape Crush out of her backpack.
“Where did you get that?”, I asked.
“I traded for it,” she said.
I didn’t like the sound of that. Mainly because she traded her school flash drive a few weeks ago for an o-o-o-o-o-l-d Nintendo Game Boy.
The Game Boy did work. And it even came with a game.
But it did not come with a charger. And between her and Zane, the battery was drained by the next day.
“What did you trade for it?”
“My bread at lunch,” she said. “It’s awful!”
I’d say she got the better end of THAT deal.
{extended}Saturday, February 04, 2012
Joyful Hearts photo shoot
{extended}Thursday, February 02, 2012
What’cha doin?
{extended}Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Someone is 7 today
Someone is having a birthday.
Could it be… Karys?
Why, yes!
Our little monkey is 7 years old today.
And she received a lot of birthday love from her best buds at school this morning.
{extended}