A RealFamilies RealFun Blog

Nov 19 2008

Party boy

Category: At Home

We had a party for Paul's coworkers over the weekend. This meant getting the house cleaned up, food bought and prepared (even though we had it catered), chairs set up, and making sure coolers were filled with drinks and ice.

It also meant dressing up in our Broncos finery since we were planning to watch the game. Paul picked out one of his Broncos Super Bowl t-shirts. I chose a button up Broncos shirt from the '80s that I had found in a thrift store. The old logo is very retro and "old school."
 
(Our friend, Big Dave and his family came in their Kansas City Chiefs shirts, since that's who the Broncos were playing. His daughter Becca, a true rebel at five, came in her pink Broncos shirt. Got to love her spirit.)

I don't know if Nathan was nervous about people coming over or just very excited since I found him standing in the middle of his room, deep in thought, and wearing just his underpants. He was trying to decide between three outfits -- two kinds of long pants, one pair of shorts, a too-small Hawaiian shirt, two t-shirts, and two different pairs of shoes. Nathan was beginning to panic, so I came in to help.

Due to the chilly weather, we quickly eliminated the sandals and shorts. Since the Hawaiian shirt was too small, I told him to wear the Broncos t-shirt. Instead he chose the "Blame my sister" t-shirt and opted to change into his Broncos shirt during the game.

Gosh, at six-and-a-half (as he likes to remind me) he's already acting like a teenager on date night. Lucky kid, as long as it fits, he looks good in just about anything. Wish I could say the same.

 

Nov 13 2008

Women without men

Category: At Home

When I came home from the Relay for Life, Lucie was still asleep. Paul and Nathan had taken off for an overnight camping trip in the national park, and Nana and I were the only adults in the house.

I was dirty and exhausted. All I wanted to do was put my stuff away, get cleaned up, and take a nap. However, as I was unpacking, Lucie came in and gave me a big good morning hug. I realized that she hadn't seen me much between the Relay and being gone the weekend before at a blogging conference. Nana had been doing a wonderful job of taking care of the kids. Yet I knew it was important that Lucie spend some time with her mama before I could catch up on some much needed sleep.

So we went downstairs for breakfast. Desperately needing to shower, I persuaded Lucie to go upstairs afterwards to watch a movie in my room. She decided that she needed a shower too and got in with me. We toweled off, and put our lotion on. (We girls need our magic potions to feel pretty...and so our eczema doesn't itch too much.) Wanting to be as comfortable as possible, I dressed in a t-shirt and yoga pants. For some reason, Lucie decided to do her Cupid imitation and refused to put even her panties on. Too tired to care, I climbed into bed next to my naked daughter, and watched Cinderella, hoping that she'd remember to get up to use the potty and not have an accident in my bed. (She remembered.)

Without Paul and Nathan home, we enjoyed the movie and the peace and quiet. (Nana quietly ate breakfast downstairs and left us alone.) No golf games blaring from the TV, no million questions about where things are, and no mess. It was so wonderful that I can't wait for Paul and Nathan's next camping trip.

 

Oct 18 2008

Pinky Dinky who?

Category: At Home

This was the exchange between father and daughter one evening:

"I was watching Dinky Doo*," said Lucie. (*Pinky Dinky Doo, a cartoon character on the Noggin channel.)

"Dinky Doo? You mean Scooby Doo, right?" asked Paul.

"Not Scooby Doo, Dad. Dinky Doo," replied Lucie.

"Dinky Doo? What's a Dinky Doo? Do you mean stinky poo?" asked Paul with a streak of mischievousness in his voice.

"No, Dad, not stinky poo! Dinky Doo!" exclaimed Lucie.

"I still think you mean Scooby Doo. Or maybe Boo Boo Bear?" considered Paul.

"NOOOO DAAAAD! DINKY DOO! You're just stupid. I'm not talking to you," yelled Lucie, clearly frustrated by her father's teasing.

Paul just laughed, amused at his daughter's opinion of his lack of intelligence.