Caught Him Red Handed

For years now, I have succumbed to a brilliant and deceitful ploy of the males in my family.  Oh, you know it – it’s the orchestrated, and oh so innocent “that goes here…doesn’t it?” act.  It only took a couple of times of asking Wayland to unload the dishwasher for me to totally give up hope of ever having help with it.  Dinner forks with salad forks, coffee mugs with plastic cups…it was a total mess.  And I totally fell for it!!!  I have no doubt that males sometimes “play dumb” to easily get out of doing those honey-do’s that they really don’t want to.  Tonight, I caught the youngest of the male species in our household following proudly in his daddy and big brothers’ footsteps.  I sent Anna and Luke out to work on the very messy playroom.  Lots of arguing ensued.  I stood at the kitchen window (it looks into the sunroom) and watched as Luke would pick up a toy (very slowly) and take it to a spot he absolutely knew it didn’t belong.  He would wait until Anna was watching and he’d say “go here?”  Big sister would let out a big huff and puff, grab it, and put it in it’s correct spot.  Luke would give a sly smile and start the whole thing all over.  I was shocked!  Finally, Anna came in and said “Momma, Luke is acting like he doesn’t know where things go so he doesn’t have to clean up!”  I don’t know if this is learned behavior, or if males are born with this great talent, but Anna and I have decided we will no longer stand for it.  Fellow women, unite!  Be fooled by the clueless act no longer!

(Of course, Anna and I will never really win this battle because we are both a little too….what’s the right word….controlling?  Yes, controlling.  If we have to watch the “playing dumb” act for too long, we’ll decide it’s just easier to do it ourselves.  The battle rages on.)

I Was Born A Forgetting Girl

We are already starting our third week of school – can you believe it?  All the kids seem to be enjoying school, and Luke and I are getting used to some quiet and peaceful days while Anna is at Kindergarten three days a week.  It becomes amazingly clear how much energy she adds to the household on days she is not here, and I sometimes find myself missing it.  She has only attended 5 days of school so far and every day she comes bounding off the bus with a giggle and a grin.  She really enjoys her Kindergarten class - Music, Spanish, P.E., and Art are all favorites as well.  Up until last Tuesday, I only had asked Anna what she learned or did at school…who she played with, who she sat with at lunch, etc…  Last Tuesday, after Anna E. told me about her music and spanish class, why she didn’t bother to eat the other half of her PB and honey sandwich, and the book Mr. S had read to the class, I asked her if anyone in her class gets in trouble.  Her answer said it all.  “I don’t want to talk about it.”  

You know, these are new waters I’m treading here.  If either of the big boys even thought their teachers were upset with them, they came home pale and sick to their stomachs.  Even if their whole class was punished for being noisy, they seemed devastated to have to partake in punishment that they felt was completely unfair when they were not involved.  Somehow, I really don’t think Anna is going to have that problem.  When I continued to press the issue about who had gotten in trouble at school that day, she said “I can’t help it.  I was born a forgetting girl.”   (Poor baby!)  She said she knew “that other girl” was going to get the baby (at the house center), so she had  to race to get there first.  We’ve had lots and lots and lots of discussions about not running (in school, at church, in the library, you name it we’ve talked about it) she just forgot.  She had to sit on the carpet for a while during center time.  I then asked if that was the first time she had been in trouble.  No, she had already had to sit out before, but (of course) she couldn’t remember why.  I was beginning to worry.  On Thursday morning, I reminded her to tell Mr. S she was sorry for running in class on Tuesday, and to please remember to walk while she was at school.  Thursday afternoon, she (literally) hopped off the bus.  We went through the “how was your day talk” then I asked the golden question.  Did you tell Mr. S you were sorry?  “I don’t remember.”  Did you get in trouble today?  Only tears.  ”I’m sorry – I just can’t remember!”  I thought it best to email the teacher.  His prompt reply calmed my fears and made me laugh.  Yes, Anna had apologized on Thursday morning (although she couldn’t quite remember what for) and it seemed that any time Anna had been corrected or reminded to not run, or to sit in her chair, she had taken that as “getting in trouble.”  Mr. S assured me that Anna was a sweet girl, eager to please, and although she was “high energy” and sometimes needed to be reminded where to let that energy out, there were no issues to be concerned over.  They are now on a color system, so if Anna stays on green all day – I know she did great.  She told me she would never go to red because that would mean she had to call her mom and go to the principal’s office, and that would be bad.

So, it looks like she is simply learning the ropes of Kindergarten.  I know that in May, I will look back to the first of this year and not believe how much she has grown and matured.  There are, however, a few things I hope she doesn’t learn this year.  For instance, I don’t want her to know that her “taster-bugs” are really taste buds, and that the “Apple Tower” is actually the Eiffel Tower.  It’s so cute, I’ll hold on to those a little bit longer – even if she is a Kindergartner!

Back to School and Football News

NATE – 6th Grade (jr. high)

 

Philip – 4th Grade

 

Anna – Kindergarten

 

 Our first week back to school was great (and tiring!)  Wayland left to go out of town for the week on Monday.  Nathanael had a scrimmage that night in a town north of here, Philip had practice, and it was the night before the first day of school.  (What a way to start the week off!)  I shed some tears as I put all the kids to bed that night.  It is truly amazing how fast time flies.  Knowing that Nathanael and Anna Elizabeth were embarking on such new adventures had me feeling excited, anxious, and a little sad.  I woke up countless times throughout the night watching the clock – I wanted to make sure we were all up and ready for that first bus to come at 7:10am.  We made it through a very busy week and are all feeling it on this Saturday afternoon.  It’s going to take some time to get back in the swing of things.  The general concensus concerning the first week of school is “two thumbs up.”  Nathanael loves middle school.  Philip seems pretty happy about 4th grade and Anna E. can’t wait to go back to Mr. S’s classroom on Tuesday.  Little Luker seems to miss his playmate on the days she is gone.  I played trains and cars more this week than I did all summer, I think.  It is really sweet to have some one on one time with Luke.  We went for donuts and coffee, walking on the Monon trail, and to our favorite store, Costco, to make the first day of school go by a little faster.  We also volunteered in the lunchroom on Thursday.  I lost Luke once and found him sitting at a table full of 2nd graders, watching them eat their lunch.  Anna E. did really well…I only had to tell her to get back in her chair a couple of times.  (She also ate all of her cold, plain, penne pasta that I sent in her lunchbox!)  I’m super proud of all my little star students – they really do light up my life!   

Click below for a short video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHHDdxk1s-k

    

 

  

 

Wayland has a post below concerning today’s game:

After being gone all week – I was very fortunate to get to fly back from Wisconsin last night, instead of Saturday morning like most of my work mates.  Boy – am I glad I was back for this morning’s game.  It was probably the most exciting game that I have ever coached in.  We were playing a team that was picked as one of the favorites this year – Wisconsin.  After last week’s narrow win (12-6 over LSU), I was a little disappointed in our offense.  On top of that, I had to miss both practices this week.  It turned out to be a real barn-burner that for most of the game showcased each team’s best player.  Wisconsin was a larger team – but our goal all year has been to be the hardest working team.  We fulfilled that goal today. 

We traded TDs all game – and scored one with about 4 minutes left in the game to tie it at 20 a piece.  We held them on the next series and got the ball back with about a minute left.  We were able to get 4 plays off – one of which was a completed pass from Philip to one of our running backs.  Philip once again felt some pressure, scrambled out of it – then set back up and threw a very nice pass with perfect touch.  Our receiver was barely tripped up and then on the next play, Carter almost broke it for a TD.  The clock ran out - OVERTIME!  We play a college style overtime – so we each got 4 plays, starting at the 10, to score.  We held Wisconsin to no score – which meant that on our series of plays, all we had to do was score to win.  We started off by pulling out a secret play that caused them to jump offsides.  Now we are on the 5 yard line with 4 downs to score.  I called a 17 Sweep – Philip ran the ball to the left side, got some great blocks from his teammates and scored the winning TD – pretty cool.  Philip also had some great tackles on defense – including one in the open field that might have saved a big run late in the game.   The team played great – we are now 2-0.   I have a great team of hard workers and great young men.

Nate was off this weekend and plays his first game next week.  We will keep you updated.

Commence the Countdown

Only six days ’till our first day of school – can you believe it?!?  Having three in school is going to be really different – especially with one in middle school.  Tomorrow we register Nathanael for sixth grade, and Anna Elizabeth has “Kindergarten Adventure” night.  On Sunday, Philip will attend an Ice Cream Social and meet his new 4th grade teacher.  It’s absolutely unbelievable how fast this summer has gone by.  I’m sad and excited; nervous and completely assured all rolled into one.  I can’t wait to hear all about Nathanael’s first day – his schedule, all the buddies in his classes, his first impressions of his teachers.  It will, I’m sure, be a very positive take on a new situation.  Philip will be a little “reserved” and will not form any firm opinions until he has had time to test the waters.  The biggest portion of the nervousness and insecurity I feel stems from sending my precious little flutter-bug to Kindergarten.  (Thank goodness it’s not all day, everyday).  It will not surprise me if I receive a call the first day.  “Mrs. Thompson…your daughter is as sweet as she can be, but….she talked non-stop and didn’t sit still for half a second.”  I’ve already signed up to volunteer in the lunchroom one day the first week – strictly for spying purposes, of course.  I know I was not this nervous sending the boys to Kindergarten.  I feel sure I will have some really good stories to share with you this year.  It’s going to be interesting.  

TWINKLE TOES:

Yesterday, Anna Elizabeth finished up an eight week dance class that she took over the summer.  She has done classes like this before, but this time the teacher really focused on teaching them some harder steps in both ballet and tap.  Since it was the last class, the family was allowed in the classroom to watch.  Wayland taped it…I have a link for you to view a portion of the ballet class.   First allow me to comment.  Miss Twinkle Toes didn’t really have trouble with the actual steps…it all came in the execution.  In the video of their dance to the Sleeping Beauty theme song, Anna is the only little girl in a black leotard and pink tights.  You’ll notice at the beginning of the dance, she is turned around making faces at the classmate behind her.  All throughout the dance she adds little hops (or big jumps),  she yawns (I thought she might actually lie down to rest for a second), and she entertains the audience with her “unconventional” ballet style.  It’s a little long, but if you watch to the end you will see her “freeze dance.”  (This is the way they end class each week).  It really captures the Anna Elizabeth we all know and love.  I asked Wayland, when it was all over, if he could pick out the little girl whose mom had been a dancer back in the day.  His answer, “it must not be genetic.”  Oh well, she had fun – and I did too.  I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard in a long time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpbaH5GL0d8

Our first weekend of football….

Well, you can tell that football season is here as our blogging has decreased significantly.  I wanted to give everyone a quick update on how the boys are doing. 

Nate:                                                                                                                Nathanael is battling a good friend of his for the starting Center position on the Pups travel team.  The joke around Carmel is that our young men are a bit too nice when it comes to youth sports.  We tend to lack that acceptable nastiness that helps a football team.  And to illustrate that point, I was watching the pre-practice work of Nate and Jake (his competition) a couple of days ago.  They were alternating snapping to one of the QBs and complimenting each other every time the other made a nice snap.  I would not have it any other way.  We spent a lot of time this weekend with Jake’s parents and were of the same opinion that whatever happens, we are confident that both young men will not only be OK, but still do everything they can to make the team better.   Nate’s passion is hitting people – and hitting them hard.  So obviously, he would like to be starting on defense.  He has the dilemma of not being big enough (he is outweighed on the line by anywhere from 10-40lbs.) to play defensive line, and not fast enough to play linebacker in a league where there will be a lot of passing (Jeff George’s son was the QB of this team last year).  However, he has finally convinced Coach Covington that he should at least get a look at LB – he will be practicing there some this week.  We are really impressed with what he is learning and are truly seeing his leadership abilities come out.

Philip:                                                                                                                 Philip had his first game this weekend – a scrimmage.  After only 4 days of practice, our team looked really good.  Their execution as a whole was pretty impressive considering the complexity of our offense (lots of different formations and motion on half the plays).  Philip threw 2 TDs and had a nice run that went for about 30-40 yards.  I was really impressed with one of the TDs in particular – Philip was flushed out of the pocket, and just when I thought he had decided to run the ball – he set back up and threw a bullet of a pass about 20 yards right into the hands of the receiver in the end-zone.  As you can imagine, dad was pretty proud.  Since I am coaching the team, I follow the long standing tradition of being harder on your own son.  He took it all in stride and played great – way to go Philip.  I am proud of you. 

Kaleesha and I had a busy weekend as we went out on Friday night with friends – then took the whole family to the Pups swimming party last night.  Anna and Luke have been the dutiful younger siblings and have been there to support “bruthews” all weekend as well.  I’ll cut this short as I need to go paint some kitchen cabinets and mow my backyard – my backyard of beautiful sod by the way.