Let's have a Picnic

Why are kids so smart? Last week the Tornado and I were getting lunch ready and he suggested we go outside and eat "have a picnic" he said. So we did. What a treat. A sunny day with a nice breeze blowing, we sat outside and talked, watched

the squirrels and birds go by.

A great time with my buddy. Why did it take so long for us to give that a try?

The Cracker Barrel

One morning not too long ago, the whole gang went out for breakfast in between basketball games. We went to a Cracker Barrel, almost always a hit with the kids.

One of the great things about the Bear is her generosity, she's always quick to share something, even if it comes with conditions. Well, on this day, we got to see both the Bear and the Tornado at their best.

The Tornado had plowed through his breakfast, except for his applesauce. Bear had not gotten through all of her breakfast, and had a couple of bacon slices left. The Tornado asked Bear for one, she said she would give him one if he ate his applesauce. The CEO and I had said nothing about eating applesauce, this was her way of controlling him and the situation. And she wonders why he says she's always bossing him around.

Well, the Tornado isn't so easily corralled. He knows what the Bear's biggest weakness is, and it's her disgust of others' bodily fluids. He's thrown up on her more than once, each time pushing her into hysterics. Then there was the peeing episode. But I digress.

He agrees to each the applesauce in exchange for a slice of bacon, and picks up the spoon. He sniffs the sauce, and makes a face. She persists that she isn't going to give him the bacon until he eats the applesauce. A titanic clash of wills was occurring right before our eyes. She's waving the bacon, just shy of his face. He's holding a spoonful of applesauce, also just shy of his mouth. She doesn't think he's going to crack, and is almost now laughing at his weakness, or is it toughness to not give in??

Finally, he plunges the spoon into his mouth and efforts to swallow the applesauce. Then came his checkmate move. He turns and faces Bear, and begins to gag on the applesauce. Not a full out gag, but a slow, growing gag, each thrust louder and longer than the last. Quickly the Bear was heading for the bathroom to prevent a possible mess at the table, and the Tornado was finishing the one spoonful of applesauce and snatching up the piece of coveted bacon.

Well played little one, well played.

Not up to Par

So I get called in to the school office one day about a month ago. The school secretary wants to know if I am available to substitute for one of the 6th grade math teachers. I had subbed for middle school math before, and O had this particular teacher before too, so she knows the kind of work our family produces.

I said OK, and came home. Later that day I got a call saying that this teacher, Mrs. Zell, decided that she would rather choose her own sub instead of having me take the class. REALLY?? Are you serious Mrs. Zell?

As it turned out I went in to sub for a different teacher on the same day, lo and behold, Mrs. Zell was there! I saw her and told her I was subbing for the 8th grade english teacher, thanks for asking.

I can't imagine why some of these teachers have a tough time getting along with parents :)

DOUBLE BYE!!!!!

Every morning when the ladies leave for work and school, the Tornado heads out to the driveway to send them on their way. He usually is sporting a t-shirt, crocs, underpants, and...that's it. Needless to say he looks a little silly.

As the car pulls away, he starts waving furiously with both hands "byyyyeeeeee, double byyyeeee, love youuuuuu, you my best friend, love youuu, double byeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

There can't be a better way to start the day then having that image and sound in your head as your venture into the world and it's challenges, can there?

The Bad News Falcons??

The St. Francis season came to a close the first week of February, and what a season it was. Between sharing a practice court with three other teams, playing 15 players an equal amount every game, and only having 4 other teams in the league this year, there were some adjustments to make.

It was the first time in years I've coached a team that collectively couldn't give a hoot if they won the game or not. They didn't really seem interested in even playing to be truthful. There were some girls that were interested and played real hard, but with this many kids, half of whom were more interested in who is crushing on them and vice versa, the basketball was pretty rough.

Interestingly though, the team scratched and clawed to a 4-3 record. We played 5 blowouts, 2 on the plus side, and squeaked out two other wins. Ultimately I think the girls had fun, I know some of them learned some good stuff, as did I. Another successful season in the Suncoast League!

THE BICKERSONS

Bear and the Tornado are like a married couple, been together for 30+ years. They don't know what to do when one isn't around, but when they are together they just are on one another constantly.

She always asks him to go upstairs when she has to go up because she is afraid, yet if he has to go up for something she harrasses him to hurry up!!

He even says she's always bossing me :)

Whenever he has to fix his seatbelt, she always sits next to him, then gives him a hard time about having to help him fix it!

Sometimes it drives me nuts, but in the end I love watching them together because I know they love each other and want to be together. As they get a little older they will hopefully cut down on the little bickering and really be the good friends I know they are.

WHEN I GROW UP...

The Tornado was talking the other day about different things when we were playing outside.

Then he said, "When I grow up I'm gonna be a Sports Man". I asked what kind of sports man, he said all kinds of sports. He does like to play sports, that for sure, but he also really loves music.

And since that day he has revised his career goals - now he's gonna be a cowboy - hopefully just not a Dallas Cowboy!!