Category: family

Kids Say, v.10.0

Had a few this week:

We had no power for three days due to a wind storm last Sunday. After two and a half days we had to empty the fridge because of spoilage and we put a candle in the fridge so we could see since it was dark outside. Hannah said, is it safe to put a candle in the fridge and I said ‘don’t worry honey, it goes out when you close the door’. I know thats not a kids say but the look on her face was priceless.

When the power returned it was dark and the people across the street had lights on on just the first floor. When Hannah saw that the second floor was dark she said “the people across the street only got half their power back.”

Finally Noah, the fair-haired boy who just entered 7th grade remarked; “I’m afraid I am going to have to start shaving before the end of seventh grade.” Not funny to you probably but he was serious and bowling balls need shaves more than he does.

I am afraid to admit that the Kids Say are fewer and farther in between. They are just growing up too fast.

Kids Say, v.9.0

Went for a walk at lunch with Hannah who rode her bike. As we went through the neighborhood I noticed she was having trouble stopping so I checked her brakes, commenting to her that one of them needed to be adjusted.

She said ok and then asked, ‘can you tell me how to turn on my blinker?’ ‘Your blinker’ I asked. ‘Yes, that big shiny square on the front and back.’

I laughed, as often happens during our conversations, and said, ‘those are reflectors.’ ‘Oh’, she said, ‘whats a reflector?’

As much as I enjoy watching her grow, I am going to miss these times even more.

Kids Say, v.8.0

‘Kids Say’ worthy quotes are fewer and farther in between, but occasionally one of the kids comes up with one. The most recent both came from Hannah.

Crisis in the Middle Ages

I overheard Hannah laughing in the back seat of the car and when I asked her why she said, “I just saw an old man in a sporty car. He is having a middle age crisis.”

What kind of fish is that?

While at the grocery we decided to have fish for dinner and Hannah helped us pick out what kind of fish we were going to have. Before we even started cooking, Noah asked what was for dinner and we replied fish. “What kind” he asked and Hannah replied “caught fish.” My wife and I both cracked up and through our laughter we said, “no Sweetie, its cod fish.”

She is funny without even trying… at least to us.

Its a Feis-tival

Yesterday, Hannah had her first Feis (pronounced fesh), an Irish Dance competition. We were up at 5 a.m. to brave the traffic and crowds we knew would be lining up at the Queen City Feis in Cincinnati. We got there in plenty of time (6:30a.m.) for our 7:00 registration.

We managed to push our way up to the head of the line with the only other family that happened to show up that early, and got registered. Having a little time to kill (an hour and a half) we found a lovely hotel restaurant and had a little continental breakfast while we waited for the events to start.

At 8:30, the National Anthems of Ireland, Canada and the United States were sung and the competition was off. Being a beginner, Hannah’s dances were both early in the day. She danced the Reel (click the play button below to see the reel) and the Jig along with girls from a number of other Midwest Dance schools.

After the dancing, we waited patiently as the scores were tallied. As the Reel scores were posted, Hannah was very pleased to find she had placed 3rd. Well, Daddy and Noah were pleased to find she had placed 3rd, Hannah had gone to the bathroom with Mommy. Five minutes later, with Hannah walking around with her 3rd place medal, the scores for the Jig were posted. Daddy got to put her second medal on her as she had placed 3rd in that event too.

We left Cincinnati behind by 9:30, two medals in hand and a bright future in Irish Dance ahead.

English is hard….

Hannah was telling me about the list of items the teacher requested for a granola recipe.

“It says shelled sunflower seeds but I think she means unshelled.”

“Oh, so she wants the shells on?” I asked.

“No, shells off.” she replied.

“Shelled, means shells off sweetie.”

“Oh” she said, but she had that look on her face that said ‘who makes up these words”?

I am really going to miss these times. They make me smile.

I think this is better…

We started the day by giving Hannah her birthday present from us and then we did the regular Saturday morning drill, guitar lessons, dance lessons and errands. In between all that we bought Hannah a present from Noah and then just tried to make our errands fun while killing time till her party.

So what is better you ask? Well, we were walking through Sam’s Club and Hannah looked up at me and said, ‘Dad, you know how you told me not to act like a queen this weekend because it was my birthday?’ ‘Of course I do’ I said, ‘why?’ ‘Because’ she replied, ‘you’re treating me like one.’

I appreciated the fact the kids took to heart what I had told them, but I think it is even better that a 9 year old appreciates what her parents do, even while we are dragging her around doing Saturday morning errands.

God I hope that lasts.

Parenting Reverse Psychology

My daughter is about to celebrate her 9th birthday and I know this is going to cause some issues with the 12 year old son who thinks she gets too much attention already. (They get equal attention but you know how kids are). So, this morning I attempted a preemptive strike with individual discussions with each of them:

Me to the daughter: “I know it’s your birthday weekend but that doesn’t mean you get to be queen and act all snotty to your brother, OK?”
Her: “OK Daddy.”

Me to the son: “You know its your sister’s birthday weekend so she is going to act like a queen this weekend so don’t get upset when she does. You’ve already had your weekend OK?”
Him: “OK Dad.”

I guess I’ll just have to wait and see how it goes ;)