Going for Gold!

Today Connor was bouncing and climbing up and down the stairs, over the back of the couch, on the kitchen chairs,… he was in constant motion! I chided him saying, “Connor, you are such a monkey!,” to which he replied straight-faced, “I mot (not) a monkey, I a sheep!” Connor’s class has been learning about…
“Mommy, I love when Ryan has Kids Nation! It’s so much fun for me!” Those words, uttered by my joyous six-year-old as we walked across the street alongside our church Friday evening, took me by complete surprise. Ryan was at the first meeting of the third/fourth grade church youth group, and since Patrick was out…
“Mommy,” a little voice says, “is today a special day?” “Yes, Connor. It’s Daddy’s birthday.” “Are we doing anything special today, Mommy,” he asks in an I have something in mind sort of way. “No, I don’t think so, Connor.” With that, a little head leans toward my ear and begins to whisper. “Mommy,…
This morning I made an off-handed comment to Patrick that the skirt and top I had chosen to wear to church looked better on me last year. Ryan was standing nearby and chimed in with his usual, “Why?” Not wanting to get into a discussion of body image with my 7-year-old son, I replied, “They…
Ryan has been waking up early, too early, and staying up late, too late,… and today it caught up with him. He was cranky and tired all morning and into the afternoon. When I had had enough, I suggested he actually nap during quiet time today. He didn’t argue – a clear sign that he…
Tonight at dinner, Patrick and I were playing 20 Questions with the boys. It was my turn to answer questions posited by Patrick and the boys as they tried to guess what was on my mind: Dick Dastardly (the villain from the Wacky Races cartoons; a favorite of a young Patrick and now of the…