So, I'm sleeping this morning and I hear a little voice. I take my earplug out and open one eye and say "What?" Not a mean what, just a regular what. Yordanos rolls her eyes and says "Nevermind!" So I summon up patience that could only have come from God, and say "I couldn't hear you, I was sleeping." She says "ARE-YOU-AWAKE?" I said "Well, I wasn't until you woke me up." She said "GO-AHEAD-AND-SLEEP-ALL-DAY!" and slams my bedroom door shut, and then slams some more doors. And I thought, Today is going to be a long day.
And, indeed, she finished school and became angry and sullen. I got her to eat lunch, and she was mean to everyone and everything, so I sent her to her room. She's been up there for 2 hours beating up her stuffed animals... actually beating their heads on her bedboard. Then she pitched all the stuffed animals down the stairwell. She finally picked them all up, and so I went up there. I apparently am a catalyst for her anger today, as she glared at me, baited me, and started beating the stuffed animals again when I left.
I'm at a loss today, as I got my period and did not sleep well, and I cannot hardly think. I've called Lee about 10 times to see what to do or try, because my blood pressure rises just seeing her glare at me.
1.13.2009
1.12.2009
Topics Covered at Lunch Today with the Children
1. How babies are made.
2. Why Mommies and Daddies sleep in the same bed. (I told them it was because Lee was warm.)
3. Why you can't marry your brother or sister. (Or first cousin.)
4. Circumcism: pros and cons. Discuss.
Previous Discussions that I never thought I'd have:
1. Do dead people celebrate Christmas?
2. If only your soul goes to heaven, how do you play with no eyes?
3. Why the new boy cat has to go to the vet. And, as a follow-up question, why he has to have those things cut off.
I really try to answer questions as matter-of-fact as I can. I have decided NOT to be embarrassed about things related to the common human experience, and want the kids to be able to talk to me about ANYTHING, and so far they DO.
2. Why Mommies and Daddies sleep in the same bed. (I told them it was because Lee was warm.)
3. Why you can't marry your brother or sister. (Or first cousin.)
4. Circumcism: pros and cons. Discuss.
Previous Discussions that I never thought I'd have:
1. Do dead people celebrate Christmas?
2. If only your soul goes to heaven, how do you play with no eyes?
3. Why the new boy cat has to go to the vet. And, as a follow-up question, why he has to have those things cut off.
I really try to answer questions as matter-of-fact as I can. I have decided NOT to be embarrassed about things related to the common human experience, and want the kids to be able to talk to me about ANYTHING, and so far they DO.
1.09.2009
Rookie Parent Alert
The best laid plans often go awry...
We joined the YMCA at the end of December and I signed Yordanos up for Dance and Swimming, and Habtamu for Tumbling and Swimming. Doesn't sound too taxing, right? Huh...
Monday: Yordanos comes back dreamy eyed from dance class. I promise her if she still likes it after the 7 weeks, I'll buy her the dance shoes and outfit. I went to a Step class, which, when you are almost 40 is pretty hard. I'm still recovering from the sledding incident awhile back, and my tail bone area is twinge-y.
Tuesday: Tumbling. Habtamu and 2 little blond girls. Um. I had Yordanos along too, and they lady said she could see if she liked it. Y liked it, H, not so much. My friend's son used to be in the class, and I think that would have flown better with H, but since he was not in it, we had to do some fixing. I couldn't get my $ back, but I was able to put Y in instead of H, BUT then H only had swimming, and he's the one who really needs more activity. Sooooo....
Wednesday: We all went to Karate. It was $70 for one person or $104 for the whole family. So we all went to Karate. There are classes 4 days of the week, and we can go as many times in a week as we want. We bought H the uniform because we are suckers, and he has been wanting one for, oh, um, since we picked him up in Ethiopia. He started complaining about the new uniform right away, which made me want to rip it from his hands and throw it away, but I resisted, and figured he was doing his "say the opposite of what I really feel, because I can't handle my feelings about getting what I want." I do a lot of shrugging and making my face as neutral as possible these days.
Thursday: Y and H had swimming lessons. (Thanks Uncle Paul and Aunt Carrie!) At the end of class, the teacher asked if they'd taken classes before because they did so well. I was able to be one of THOSE parents and brag that they'd never swam before last June, and aren't they wonderful?, etc... etc...
Friday: It was Family Fun Night tonight. (Forced Family Fun, if you will.) There were not that many families there, and Lee was the only father. Of the families there, many were of mixed race. Not sure why that was. Yordanos wanted to play ping-pong with me, and I prepared myself to chase the ball a lot. BUT, she plays very well for her age. I said "You played in Ethiopia, didn't you?" "Yes, a lot!" Huh. They continue to surprise me. Also, they got to swim, but not until 8 p.m. There is Open Pool from 8-10:45 every night, which makes me think "Oh, thank you very much. What about bed-times, people?" They were in bed at 9:45 (Yikes!) tonight, and were exhausted. We certainly got lucky in the "good sleepers" category. At the Hilton in Addis Ababa, they slept 11-12 hours every night, and they do about 10-11 hours here. They rarely get up at night, unless Yordi gets scared (very rare now), or if someone has to use the bathroom. They got up at 10 this morning. (Sorry, Katherine! - My friend Katherine has early risers, no matter what time they go to bed.) Must have been tired from the pool the day before. Hoping they'll sleep in tomorrow, so WE can sleep in.
We joined the YMCA at the end of December and I signed Yordanos up for Dance and Swimming, and Habtamu for Tumbling and Swimming. Doesn't sound too taxing, right? Huh...
Monday: Yordanos comes back dreamy eyed from dance class. I promise her if she still likes it after the 7 weeks, I'll buy her the dance shoes and outfit. I went to a Step class, which, when you are almost 40 is pretty hard. I'm still recovering from the sledding incident awhile back, and my tail bone area is twinge-y.
Tuesday: Tumbling. Habtamu and 2 little blond girls. Um. I had Yordanos along too, and they lady said she could see if she liked it. Y liked it, H, not so much. My friend's son used to be in the class, and I think that would have flown better with H, but since he was not in it, we had to do some fixing. I couldn't get my $ back, but I was able to put Y in instead of H, BUT then H only had swimming, and he's the one who really needs more activity. Sooooo....
Wednesday: We all went to Karate. It was $70 for one person or $104 for the whole family. So we all went to Karate. There are classes 4 days of the week, and we can go as many times in a week as we want. We bought H the uniform because we are suckers, and he has been wanting one for, oh, um, since we picked him up in Ethiopia. He started complaining about the new uniform right away, which made me want to rip it from his hands and throw it away, but I resisted, and figured he was doing his "say the opposite of what I really feel, because I can't handle my feelings about getting what I want." I do a lot of shrugging and making my face as neutral as possible these days.
Thursday: Y and H had swimming lessons. (Thanks Uncle Paul and Aunt Carrie!) At the end of class, the teacher asked if they'd taken classes before because they did so well. I was able to be one of THOSE parents and brag that they'd never swam before last June, and aren't they wonderful?, etc... etc...
Friday: It was Family Fun Night tonight. (Forced Family Fun, if you will.) There were not that many families there, and Lee was the only father. Of the families there, many were of mixed race. Not sure why that was. Yordanos wanted to play ping-pong with me, and I prepared myself to chase the ball a lot. BUT, she plays very well for her age. I said "You played in Ethiopia, didn't you?" "Yes, a lot!" Huh. They continue to surprise me. Also, they got to swim, but not until 8 p.m. There is Open Pool from 8-10:45 every night, which makes me think "Oh, thank you very much. What about bed-times, people?" They were in bed at 9:45 (Yikes!) tonight, and were exhausted. We certainly got lucky in the "good sleepers" category. At the Hilton in Addis Ababa, they slept 11-12 hours every night, and they do about 10-11 hours here. They rarely get up at night, unless Yordi gets scared (very rare now), or if someone has to use the bathroom. They got up at 10 this morning. (Sorry, Katherine! - My friend Katherine has early risers, no matter what time they go to bed.) Must have been tired from the pool the day before. Hoping they'll sleep in tomorrow, so WE can sleep in.
1.06.2009
Christmas Morning
We told the kids that we would open presents at 8. We figured there was no way they would wait that long. Especially after they found out that their friends were going to get up at 6. I told them that they were more than welcome to go to their friend's house in the morning and watch them open their gifts as long as they were home at 8. They didn't think it was funny, I thought it was hilarious.
They were up at 7, which was extremely reasonable. On top of it, they tried to play quietly until 8, with mediocre success. So Chris and I finally got up and the festivities began.
The kids first went for the two small bags in front of the tree. Yordi dumped out a pile of candy and said, "Wow, that's nice. From Santa?" Before I realized what she asked, Chris answered, "No honey, it's from Daddy's friends." "Oh, that's nice," she said again without disappointment. I just stared at my wife thinking, would it have been too much to ask to just say "Yes"? Yordanos wasn't expecting anything big from Santa... a little pile of candy was enough to satisfy the gift requirement and her curiosity. So I glared, sighed, and moved on. There was too much going on to let this missed opportunity ruin anything.
The rest of the morning was your typical Christmas morning feeding frenzy. The torn remains of wrapping paper littered the floor. What took weeks to create, was undone in about 7 minutes, and that included several 'intermissions' to wrangle a cat out from under the tree.
OOoooOOOooo Blue Pencils!
The kids did really good about not coveting thine siblings treasure, which shows Chris did a really good job of keeping the playing field even. Habtamu's big gift was an Erector Set, which we thought he'd be more excited about, but really he didn't understand what it was. Yordanos knew exactly what to do with the Pretty Princess Tea Set for 4 (complete with tiaras and boas) that she got.
Pink Pencils! How did you know?
Yordanos actually jiggled the fireshield at one point. I don't know why, I just know that she couldn't open it so the gift inside is still a surprise.
Then they got to experience another fine Gardner tradition... grab whatever gifts will fit into your overnight bag and jump in the car. Yes, for many generations we've been traveling on Christmas Day, and probably will for years to come.
I hope it's a box of personal space!
My folks rented a cabin near White Pines State park this year, so though we knew Christmas would be an adventure, we also had to prepare the kids for being away from home for the 4 days.
The kids survived Christmas morning, but would they survive closed quarters with the rest of the family? The saga continues...
They were up at 7, which was extremely reasonable. On top of it, they tried to play quietly until 8, with mediocre success. So Chris and I finally got up and the festivities began.
The kids first went for the two small bags in front of the tree. Yordi dumped out a pile of candy and said, "Wow, that's nice. From Santa?" Before I realized what she asked, Chris answered, "No honey, it's from Daddy's friends." "Oh, that's nice," she said again without disappointment. I just stared at my wife thinking, would it have been too much to ask to just say "Yes"? Yordanos wasn't expecting anything big from Santa... a little pile of candy was enough to satisfy the gift requirement and her curiosity. So I glared, sighed, and moved on. There was too much going on to let this missed opportunity ruin anything.
The rest of the morning was your typical Christmas morning feeding frenzy. The torn remains of wrapping paper littered the floor. What took weeks to create, was undone in about 7 minutes, and that included several 'intermissions' to wrangle a cat out from under the tree.
OOoooOOOooo Blue Pencils!
Pink Pencils! How did you know?Yordanos actually jiggled the fireshield at one point. I don't know why, I just know that she couldn't open it so the gift inside is still a surprise.
Then they got to experience another fine Gardner tradition... grab whatever gifts will fit into your overnight bag and jump in the car. Yes, for many generations we've been traveling on Christmas Day, and probably will for years to come.
I hope it's a box of personal space!The kids survived Christmas morning, but would they survive closed quarters with the rest of the family? The saga continues...
Blogging Here Too
I'll be blogging here, too, now (again). Don't feel duty bound to read it, it's just boring stuff rolling around in my head that needs to come out somewhere. :)
1.03.2009
What, me worry?
We've had to hire a lawyer to finish up the adoption stuff for Illinois. Basically, it's presenting all our Ethiopia paperwork and the kids' Permanent Resident cards to the Illinois courts for them to acknowledge them. Then we'll get new birth certificates, and be able to get Social Security numbers... oh, yeah, and they'll be citizens. Anyhoo, all this fun costs about $2,000.
We had to give a $1,000 retainer to the lawyer to start the process, and though we did have the money, it was painful because that was 1/2 our vacation money for next summer. So, we sighed and paid it. No choice.
We went away for a few days with Lee's family for Christmas, and when we got back, we had a check waiting for us for the exact amount we'd just paid from America World. (We'd paid something twice at some point.) Then we got another check for that same amount, and then another check for a smaller amount. Then I got paid for my newspaper article. And to top it off, today we got a check for $5 from the Oklahoma Secretary of State. (Some fee we overpaid for a document we needed last year.) I mean, really, come ON. I said to God, "Now you're just showing off!"
Our God is an awesome God and I felt privileged to be shown so clearly, time and time again, that He will take care of us.
We had to give a $1,000 retainer to the lawyer to start the process, and though we did have the money, it was painful because that was 1/2 our vacation money for next summer. So, we sighed and paid it. No choice.
We went away for a few days with Lee's family for Christmas, and when we got back, we had a check waiting for us for the exact amount we'd just paid from America World. (We'd paid something twice at some point.) Then we got another check for that same amount, and then another check for a smaller amount. Then I got paid for my newspaper article. And to top it off, today we got a check for $5 from the Oklahoma Secretary of State. (Some fee we overpaid for a document we needed last year.) I mean, really, come ON. I said to God, "Now you're just showing off!"
Our God is an awesome God and I felt privileged to be shown so clearly, time and time again, that He will take care of us.
Indoctrination
In case all you geeks out there were wondering where we were with the SciFi Indoctrination, you'll be happy to know that the kids watched Star Wars, Episodes IV, V, and VI over Christmas. I also let them watch episodes I, II, and III... let us never speak of THOSE again.
Habtamu pretty much understood what was going on in the movies, or at least didn't ask the same question 900 times like Yordanos did. She really can't understand complex thinking at this point. (C'mon kid, you're like what, SEVEN?) She wanted to know Good or Bad? and Died? So all the movies had live commentary:
"Mommy, good or bad?"
"We don't know yet. Watch the movie."
"Mommy, good or bad?"
"We don't know yet. Watch the movie."
"Mommy, good or bad?"
"WE DON'T KNOW YET. WATCH THE MOVIE."
"Mommy? I mean Daddy? Good or bad?"
"Bad guy died?"
"Yes."
"Bad guy died?"
"Yes."
"Good guy died?"
"Yes."
"Bad guy died?"
"Yes."
"Bad guy died?"
"Yes."
"Good guy died?"
"Yes."
Then we get to the dramatic scene where Darth Vader expires in Luke's arms, and she asks, "Sleeping?" Lee and I looked at her like, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? One of us answered nicely, "No, honey, he died, but he died a good guy."
And here, for your listening pleasure, before she learns English too well, is her attempt to say "Obi Wan Kenobi". (Sorry, the pic is dark... it looked better before I blogged it.)
Habtamu pretty much understood what was going on in the movies, or at least didn't ask the same question 900 times like Yordanos did. She really can't understand complex thinking at this point. (C'mon kid, you're like what, SEVEN?) She wanted to know Good or Bad? and Died? So all the movies had live commentary:
"Mommy, good or bad?"
"We don't know yet. Watch the movie."
"Mommy, good or bad?"
"We don't know yet. Watch the movie."
"Mommy, good or bad?"
"WE DON'T KNOW YET. WATCH THE MOVIE."
"Mommy? I mean Daddy? Good or bad?"
"Bad guy died?"
"Yes."
"Bad guy died?"
"Yes."
"Good guy died?"
"Yes."
"Bad guy died?"
"Yes."
"Bad guy died?"
"Yes."
"Good guy died?"
"Yes."
Then we get to the dramatic scene where Darth Vader expires in Luke's arms, and she asks, "Sleeping?" Lee and I looked at her like, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? One of us answered nicely, "No, honey, he died, but he died a good guy."
And here, for your listening pleasure, before she learns English too well, is her attempt to say "Obi Wan Kenobi". (Sorry, the pic is dark... it looked better before I blogged it.)
1.01.2009
Christmas Eve: Manipulating Loved Ones 101
One of the nice things about having children 10 years into our marriage is that Chris and I know how to communicate and, in general, are on the same page about snacks, bedtimes, and appropriate behaviors/consequences. This helps us present a very solid, unified front and allows us to tagteam effectively. We may still get played, but we rarely get played against each other.
On the other hand, having children this late into our marriage can make you feel like a newlywed again... and not in the good way. I'm talking about the "Of course we'll drive to Paducah for Easter, right honey?" way or the "Why didn't you tell me your aunt was Vegetarian before I started grilling steaks?" way. If anything can bring out situations that you should have already discussed, it's the holidays, and the first big one with new children is no exception. It has been exciting, forming new traditions, introducing the kids to American Christmas, etc... oh, by the way the kids did not celebrate Christmas in Ethiopia, they only remember birthday parties, which kinda makes me giggle when that 80's song by Band Aid, gets played on the radio. There's a line in it about "Do they know it's Christmas Time at all?" I just keep thinking, "Nope. And they really don't care."
Anyway, This year I whiffed on a big one... well ok, we talked about it, but I kinda changed the flight path without clearing it with ground control. See, I told you, total new groom mistake. The topic: Santa.
The game plan was that we would tell the tale/legend/mythos of Santa, but emphasize that it was only a story. I've got no beef with Santa, but Chris wasn't a big fan and I don't think the, "OMG how did this present fit down the chimney?" surprise factor was part of her Christmas Day tradition. Knowing that she was going to spend the most time explaining, prepping, and wrapping, I didn't argue and frankly at Thanksgiving, this made a lot of sense to me.
But you can only answer, "That's how the story goes," so many times. And as December 25th drew closer and closer, the questions and reassurances came faster and faster. I could feel my stock answer crumbling under the pressure.
"Santa come here, yes?"
"Yes, that's the story."
"Santa fly?"
"No, but his reindeer do."
"Really?"
"Yes, that's the story."
"Deer fly? No!"
"Santa's reindeer really fly."
"Really?"
"Yes. That's how Santa gets everywhere."
"Everywhere what everywhere?"
"Every house."
"Really?"
"Yes, every family. Oh, I mean, that's that story."
"Why?"
"So that everyone gets a present."
"How in?"
"Through the fireplace."
"Really? No! Too big!"
"That's the story."
"Really fireplace?"
"Yes."
"Really, Really?"
"Yes! That's really how the Santa story goes"
"Really Santa?"
"Um... Really Santa... story? Wait, what?"
"Really Santa?"
"Er... uh, Senator, at this time I have no recollection of those events."
Finally one evening while I was reading books to them, Habtamu announced in front of his sister that there was no Santa. So I said, "If you don't think he's coming, then do not expect him to leave you any presents." I could see his pupils dilating as he tried to wrap his mind around that one. It may have ended the discussion, but I also knew I was on the downward spiral toward sleeping on the couch. I never said, "Yes, Santa will bring you stuff" but I certainly didn't say no. In my tradition, the family gifts were put under the tree before Christmas Eve, and then Christmas morning there were more presents and the stockings were mysteriously filled.
About a week before Christmas, the kids were out of the house for the evening and so Chris wrapped all the presents and put them under the tree. She also stuffed their stockings. I asked her if she saved anything for Christmas Day. "Why would I do that?" she asked. That's when we *should* have had the Santa discussion, but I just walked away. Its kind of hard to argue the case FOR Santa with another adult. Again, she did all the wrapping, it made sense to let her decide when to put things under the tree when she wanted to. We did save one present and two small grab bags that I got for playing guitar at a party, because we hadn't decided exactly what we were going to do with them. We knew that we would be leaving for 4 days the afternoon of Christmas Day, and this particular gift we didn't want to have to pry the kids away from after they opened it, so we decided to unveil it after the trip to the cabin.
Christmas eve, I rearranged the presents so at least maybe it would *look* like more stuff was under there, and put the two small bags with candy in front, figuring they could tear into those first thing and let us sleep an extra 30 seconds. Then, after Chris went to bed, it was really bothering me that nothing was coming from Santa, so I took the last gift, added "From Santa and his little helpers" to the card that came with it, and stuck it in the (unlit) fireplace. We have an iron fireshield which would have to be removed in order to see what's inside. I put the card on the mantle amongst the lights and decorations.
Tomorrow, we would no longer be waiting for Christmas. The anticipation would be over.
For whatever reason I was under the impression that family traditions were well thought out and had some form of rhyme and reason to their creation. "We visit your side of the family for Easter, mine for Christmas," kind of wheeling and dealing. I didn't realize that some were created because somebody ran out of time and needed a scapegoat, or because Daddy is lazy and passive-aggressive, or simply from whoever is the most stubborn and willing to put a present in the fireplace at 2am.
We must be family now because it's Christmas Eve and we haven't decided whether to invite Santa or not.
On the other hand, having children this late into our marriage can make you feel like a newlywed again... and not in the good way. I'm talking about the "Of course we'll drive to Paducah for Easter, right honey?" way or the "Why didn't you tell me your aunt was Vegetarian before I started grilling steaks?" way. If anything can bring out situations that you should have already discussed, it's the holidays, and the first big one with new children is no exception. It has been exciting, forming new traditions, introducing the kids to American Christmas, etc... oh, by the way the kids did not celebrate Christmas in Ethiopia, they only remember birthday parties, which kinda makes me giggle when that 80's song by Band Aid, gets played on the radio. There's a line in it about "Do they know it's Christmas Time at all?" I just keep thinking, "Nope. And they really don't care."
Anyway, This year I whiffed on a big one... well ok, we talked about it, but I kinda changed the flight path without clearing it with ground control. See, I told you, total new groom mistake. The topic: Santa.
The game plan was that we would tell the tale/legend/mythos of Santa, but emphasize that it was only a story. I've got no beef with Santa, but Chris wasn't a big fan and I don't think the, "OMG how did this present fit down the chimney?" surprise factor was part of her Christmas Day tradition. Knowing that she was going to spend the most time explaining, prepping, and wrapping, I didn't argue and frankly at Thanksgiving, this made a lot of sense to me.
But you can only answer, "That's how the story goes," so many times. And as December 25th drew closer and closer, the questions and reassurances came faster and faster. I could feel my stock answer crumbling under the pressure.
"Santa come here, yes?"
"Yes, that's the story."
"Santa fly?"
"No, but his reindeer do."
"Really?"
"Yes, that's the story."
"Deer fly? No!"
"Santa's reindeer really fly."
"Really?"
"Yes. That's how Santa gets everywhere."
"Everywhere what everywhere?"
"Every house."
"Really?"
"Yes, every family. Oh, I mean, that's that story."
"Why?"
"So that everyone gets a present."
"How in?"
"Through the fireplace."
"Really? No! Too big!"
"That's the story."
"Really fireplace?"
"Yes."
"Really, Really?"
"Yes! That's really how the Santa story goes"
"Really Santa?"
"Um... Really Santa... story? Wait, what?"
"Really Santa?"
"Er... uh, Senator, at this time I have no recollection of those events."
Finally one evening while I was reading books to them, Habtamu announced in front of his sister that there was no Santa. So I said, "If you don't think he's coming, then do not expect him to leave you any presents." I could see his pupils dilating as he tried to wrap his mind around that one. It may have ended the discussion, but I also knew I was on the downward spiral toward sleeping on the couch. I never said, "Yes, Santa will bring you stuff" but I certainly didn't say no. In my tradition, the family gifts were put under the tree before Christmas Eve, and then Christmas morning there were more presents and the stockings were mysteriously filled.
About a week before Christmas, the kids were out of the house for the evening and so Chris wrapped all the presents and put them under the tree. She also stuffed their stockings. I asked her if she saved anything for Christmas Day. "Why would I do that?" she asked. That's when we *should* have had the Santa discussion, but I just walked away. Its kind of hard to argue the case FOR Santa with another adult. Again, she did all the wrapping, it made sense to let her decide when to put things under the tree when she wanted to. We did save one present and two small grab bags that I got for playing guitar at a party, because we hadn't decided exactly what we were going to do with them. We knew that we would be leaving for 4 days the afternoon of Christmas Day, and this particular gift we didn't want to have to pry the kids away from after they opened it, so we decided to unveil it after the trip to the cabin.
Christmas eve, I rearranged the presents so at least maybe it would *look* like more stuff was under there, and put the two small bags with candy in front, figuring they could tear into those first thing and let us sleep an extra 30 seconds. Then, after Chris went to bed, it was really bothering me that nothing was coming from Santa, so I took the last gift, added "From Santa and his little helpers" to the card that came with it, and stuck it in the (unlit) fireplace. We have an iron fireshield which would have to be removed in order to see what's inside. I put the card on the mantle amongst the lights and decorations.
Tomorrow, we would no longer be waiting for Christmas. The anticipation would be over.
For whatever reason I was under the impression that family traditions were well thought out and had some form of rhyme and reason to their creation. "We visit your side of the family for Easter, mine for Christmas," kind of wheeling and dealing. I didn't realize that some were created because somebody ran out of time and needed a scapegoat, or because Daddy is lazy and passive-aggressive, or simply from whoever is the most stubborn and willing to put a present in the fireplace at 2am.
We must be family now because it's Christmas Eve and we haven't decided whether to invite Santa or not.
12.25.2008
Merry Christmas!
We're going away for a few days... won't post again until the New Year, most likely. Have a wonderful Holiday season!
Chris and Lee and Habtamu and Yordanos
Chris and Lee and Habtamu and Yordanos
12.22.2008
You Should See the Other Guy
Last week at the farm we visit... we call it "the 3 boys house"... the kids were all sledding off the deck. The older 2 of the 3 boys pack one of the stairways off the deck with snow and make a nice, scary sled hill of sorts. Habtamu came to the door and said "Um, Mom? Yordanos, she is bleed." Well, I didn't hear any crying or screaming, so I said "Really?" "Yes, she is bleed."
Sure enough, there she came with a big fat bleeding lip where her top tooth had punctured it after hitting her chin on the ice. She did not cry at all and I calmly cleaned her up and she looked at it and didn't freak. I was not expecting that after the Splinter Incident, in which she thrashed and carried on like I was chopping her hand off. Kristen, the 3 boys' mom, assured me that at least one of her children does the same thing.
The other day Yordanos came down first in the morning. This NEVER happens. After a couple of minutes I asked if Habtamu was awake. "Yes. He is cry in bed." So we go up and, sure enough, he's crying because he can't feel his leg... yes, it had fallen asleep. Now, I do have sympathy for this one, after the incident in high school when I found somebody's cold lifeless hand under my pillow. It was so asleep, that I didn't know it was mine.
One more of my own childhood stories... Mom, I'm sure you remember this... I was fiddling with a barette... one of the plastic little girl ones that has a little post that snaps into a hole. I was fiddling with it on my lip and I got it snapped shut on my lower lip. I panicked at that point, and couldn't understand why my parents were laughing so hard... it was tragic to me... but I was blubbering with this barette bouncing on my lip.
I leave you with this picture of my (now) experienced and competent sledders:
Yordi's fat lip did not stop her from sledding the very next day. She hardly mentioned the pain, but was (in true girl fashion) more concerned that her lips were not pretty now. Sigh. Less than a week later, the big scab has come off and she is very glad.
Sure enough, there she came with a big fat bleeding lip where her top tooth had punctured it after hitting her chin on the ice. She did not cry at all and I calmly cleaned her up and she looked at it and didn't freak. I was not expecting that after the Splinter Incident, in which she thrashed and carried on like I was chopping her hand off. Kristen, the 3 boys' mom, assured me that at least one of her children does the same thing.
The other day Yordanos came down first in the morning. This NEVER happens. After a couple of minutes I asked if Habtamu was awake. "Yes. He is cry in bed." So we go up and, sure enough, he's crying because he can't feel his leg... yes, it had fallen asleep. Now, I do have sympathy for this one, after the incident in high school when I found somebody's cold lifeless hand under my pillow. It was so asleep, that I didn't know it was mine.
One more of my own childhood stories... Mom, I'm sure you remember this... I was fiddling with a barette... one of the plastic little girl ones that has a little post that snaps into a hole. I was fiddling with it on my lip and I got it snapped shut on my lower lip. I panicked at that point, and couldn't understand why my parents were laughing so hard... it was tragic to me... but I was blubbering with this barette bouncing on my lip.
I leave you with this picture of my (now) experienced and competent sledders:
Yordi's fat lip did not stop her from sledding the very next day. She hardly mentioned the pain, but was (in true girl fashion) more concerned that her lips were not pretty now. Sigh. Less than a week later, the big scab has come off and she is very glad.
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