Just another morning at Ice Station Zebra

I missed my alarm this morning and found myself running about 20 minutes late. As soon as I started using the toilet, I heard shuffling and the 4 trademark Gah-JOONK's of H's chest of drawers rattling the wall between his room and his sister's. It's been a while since he, and subsequently his sister, have been awake when I'm getting ready for work. But today their shower kicked on before 7am. I sighed into my sink. I love my children, but that doesn't mean I want to see them first thing in the morning. Besides, I think it's a little early to scar them with visions of me grousing around in my underwear swearing at uncooperative socks.

So I did what any responsible adult would do and hid in the bathroom to dodge my children until I could at least see clearly out of one eye. (I can't usually see out of both until I'm at least 15 miles into my commute...) Anyway, I didn't come out until I was fully dressed and had my car keys in hand. I kissed Chris and told her I loved her and that I was on my way out. Overwhelmed by my morning affection, she grumbled something about the TV being too loud. I then walked to the living room where the kids were watching Pocahontas with it's soundtrack swelling to unholy levels at irritating intervals (yeah VHS!.) I walked up to the television, lowered the volume, turned around, and was met with this:


Note the look of unspoken gratefulness in Yordanos's pleasant smile. Note the glow of adoration that beams from Habtamu. Who wouldn't be motivated to go to work for these shining faces? I'm the luckiest man in America.

But the reason I took this picture isn't because I wanted capture the everlasting gratitude of my children. It's because of their chosen outfits. Yes, Yordi is wearing a sweater beneath her jacket and Habti is chilling under a fleece blanket. Um... It's still August kiddos. Admittedly, it's been a cool summer and last night the temperature dropped... are you ready for this... it dropped down to a unforgiving 60 degrees. That's right, I said 60! Any lower and we would be in the upper 50's, people! Time to break out the mukluks!

Again they tried to explain to me how cold they were. Again I listened and nodded, standing in my short-sleeved, business casual attire jingling my keys. I kissed their foreheads and headed out the door with a genuine smile.

Oh my children, what wonders await you in the next 90 days... how are your mother and I going to keep a straight face through it all?

It's probably also worth mentioning that the kids are really looking forward to getting bikes "next year" which, as far as they're concerned, is January first. Yeah... have fun with that.