Mom you're a HOR.. and other inspired tidbits

This afternoon

Jackson and I were playing HORSE (can you see where this is going?)

I got H

J: ha ha

I got HO

J: ha ha

Jack got H

J: (sarcastically) finally, ha ha

I got HOR

J: HOR HOR HOR. You're a HOR.

I thought it best to ignore this.

J: HOR HOR HOR. You're a HOR.

Me: okay Jackson you can't say that. Hor is a bad word.

J: what does it mean? (Of course he asks)

M: uh... um... it's a woman who doesn't have good morals. (phew ok that's not too bad)

J: What are morals? (shoot)

M: they are how you choose to live. What ethics you have (I'm clearly reaching here), the golden rule (reaching even further), treating people like you want to be treated. (yeah, yeah, that's it, that's what a HOR is)

J: (Long pause) But mom, you really are a HOR.

(great, just great - I'm glad he thinks so)


Tonight at dinner

Ted:dip dip dip
dip dip dip

Jack: why do you keep saying that?

T: what?

J: dip

T: No dip Sherlock

(I laughed out loud - okay that's a good choice for an 11 year old)

Camela

And sometimes they surprise you....

I got a call a little while ago from the middle school principal. Ut oh, I think, this can't be good. She starts off with "Teddy is fine and not in any kind of trouble"... okay that's a good thing. Then she tells me we had an incident today where another student said that Teddy had a knife.

My mind immediately flashes to the conversation at the dinner table last night - roughly 15 hours ago - where Teddy asked if he could have a pocket knife. Oh Teddy what have you done? I tried to remind myself that she said he wasn't in any trouble.

Okay I say to her. So when that happens, she continues, of course it's a big deal and I went down to him and he had to empty his pockets for me. I'm holding my breath waiting for the shoe to drop. There was nothing in there but some lint and a quarter, just what a boy should have. Okay, well that's good I say.

But I'm calling you because of how he handled himself and the situation. He was quick to defend the other student. He told me they are in after care together and have a bit of a history but that the other kid has some special needs and some times he makes things up but he doesnt' mean anything by it. He's not trying to get me in trouble or anything. He didn't really think it through that saying that would be such a big deal. At one point Teddy went over to Al (she never named him, but there's no doubt who it is) and said to him "I want you to listen to what I'm saying to Ms. Palson because I would never do that. You can't bring weapons to school and I don't want you to be scared." He told me, she continued, it's really not a big deal. He just can't help it and he says stuff sometimes. He thought maybe Al had seen the quarter in his pocket and maybe he even thought it was a knife since the quarter was shiny.

She said that Teddy was calm and collected the entire time doing his best to walk me through it as well as Al; wanting to make sure I understood that Al really didn't mean anything by it, he wasn't trying to be malicious in any way. She said she's never had a kid handle that kind of situation with such maturity and grace. He very carefully walked through what was happening without any panic whatsoever. With any discussion of a weapons there is often panic and there wasn't at all in this case and it was entirely due to Teddy and how he handled himself and the situation as a whole. He spoke clearly and spefically and responded in a way very few kids could or would have; you should be very proud of him.

It's got to be a bit disconcerting to have the principal come down and make you empty your pockets but he was fine and handled himself extrememly well. He is a much, much more balanced and mature child than I'd given him credit for. He's just a neat, neat kid.

I'm not doing justice to all the wonderful things she said about Teddy, but even so it's nice to be reminded that my child is in fact a great person and he won't be 11 forever. Of course, we're proud of him and as Brad said when I told him about it, it's never a bad thing to have a bit of credit in the bank with the principal. I'd have to agree!

Camela

Lame-o

I've been so lame about posting so I thought I'd at least give a quick update about what's going on with us.

Right now: Brad is making dinner of bar-b-que chicken and grilled marinated shrimp. He made this same shrimp last weekend and let me tell you - it was the flat out best food I've ever had. He made this seemingly simple marinade of basil, olive oil, garlic and some other things.. I think there's some citrus in there of some sort... but man oh man was it good. Cooked perfectly and seasoned perfectly. Frankly I'm not interested in anything else that may be available, though he wants me to make a warm spinach salad, I just want the shrimp!

Teddy, Matthew, Jackson, and Jake are all downstairs playing a video game. I think Teddy actually has the controls but all 4 of them are happily deciding what ridiculous moves Ted will make next. There is a lot of laughter going on and that's one of the best sounds of the world. I truly love when Matt and Jake are over - all 4 boys get along so well; they can mix and match so nicely - so much more calm then just my 2 boys at home.


Teddy
He finally finished his research paper and man, I have no idea how it is. The only comment the teacher gave him on the rough draft was that he needed a stronger conclusion which we'd already talked about. But from where I sit it's not much more than a well written list of quotes from several different sources. Perhaps that's appropriate for his age, I truly have no idea. I look forward to seeing how he does on it. He had a bunch of homework over the weekend and I was pleasantly surprised how he got it down with little or no protesting. (Okay it's a lie to say there was none, but it was minimal so that counts)

Jackson
He and Brad worked on his science fair project this weekend. Science Fair projects have always been a Brad thing for which I am eternally grateful but Brad has this habit of putting it off and as it happens the science fair is on Thursday and Brad will be out of town Monday through Wednesday or Thursday and this timing occurred to Brad late last week. So all that's to say that Brad and Jack have been diligently measuring things and writing things and evaluating things and typing and printing and gluing things on and off all weekend. But it's done and it went just fine.... phew.

Me
I've been working on cleaning out the basement. We're going to have the basement finished in the next couple of months. First step is clean it out. Brad and I have differing views of what this means which is (so far) amusing to both of us. Clearly we need to pick a leader for this job (which if you know anything about us it's what we believe is the secret to a happy marriage). I think it should be me because we both would agree that I'm better at this kind of thing, but most of the stuff down there is his and I think it's too difficult for him to give up control - so he's not suggesting it be me and I'm fearful if I suggest he be the leader we'll still be cleaning out the basement in August so I'm not suggesting it be him. So we're dancing around each other for now. I'm thinking there will be more discussion about this.

Brad
Is busy working on a work project in North Carolina. It's more like the work he used to do when there were production deadlines he was working on instead of just supporting those that have them. He's helping them make their deadlines this time. I think he's enjoying the jazz of it - but I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to do it all the time anymore.

So that's what's up around here. When I'm feeling less lame, I'll get back to posting more regularly.

Camela

Another day... more drama - I'm about cooked.

Teddy is working on his first research paper and I don't think the prince of procrastination is heading in the right direction in a timely enough manner.

I picked him up from school and on the way home......

Camela: When we get home I want you to show me your assignment, I’ve not had the chance to read it yet.

Teddy: Sure, no problem.

C: tell me a bit about the project - there's no wrong answer - just generally, what's it about?

T: (deep breaths, near tears) I just don't want to talk about it!

alrighty then....

927 hours later

C: please show me your assignment

A 3 ring binder is unceremoniously dropped in front of me

C: ok thanks, can you help me find it – where is it specifically?

T: It’s the whole binder

Deep breath

C: Okay but I just want to read the assignment

T: THAT’S MY BINDER

C: Yes dear I see that, but I want to read the assignment for what’s due on Monday.

T: (Pointing dramatically) THAT IS MY WHOLE GT SCIENCE BINDER – IT’S ALL THERE.

C: Teddy don’t be an ass (yes I really said that to him) find me the assignment

T: REALLY THAT'S IT - IT'S THE WHOLE BINDER

C: OMG – okay – sit your butt down, I’m going to read. (I pulled out the first sheet of half-hearted notes from the front pocket and started to read aloud)

T: WAIT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

C: You told me I had to read the whole binder, so I’m starting at the beginning.

T: (He tried to grab it from me) WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT?

C: You said I had to read the binder

T: WHAT DO YOU WANT? I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT.

C: (really, really trying not to upend the kitchen table) I know Daddy has read a piece of paper that details this assignment and you won’t tell me where it is so I’m going to read the whole thing as you suggested and you're going to sit there and watch me.

T: OH THAT. YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SPECIFIC.

C: (everything I have and all that I am kept me from running upstairs so I could leap out of a window from the highest point in the house) OMG – I’ve been asking for the damn assignment since I picked you up, how the hell more specific could I have possibly gotten.

It went downhill from there.....

582 hours later

C: I’m concerned you don’t realize how much work this is and are therefore not taking it seriously enough

T: I am not concerned. I know how much work it is and it’s not very much.

Well thank God for that, clearly I have nothing to worry about.

And then there's Jackson........

My sweet natured (occasionally), delightful (often) child has for two nights in a row thrown the mother of all hissy, whining, crying fits at the mere suggestion that it's homework time.

C: When you're done with dinner, you and I are going to head upstairs and work on your homework. (When Brad got home with Jack from basketball practice he had seen that I was barely hanging on and had taken over Teddy)

J: (dropping his head dejectedly to the table) I don't want to do homework

C: Well that's normal, but it's just one of those things you have to do

J: (crying in earnest now) WHY ARE YOU YELLING AT ME

C: (looking around at who he's talking to) ..... well you get the picture

I'm thinking of running away permanently... anyone want to join me?

Camela

Fun at our house!

Jackson
When I got home from work today I discovered he was in his room because of a "disagreement" he'd had with Brad as to the exact moment homework was going to start. Both of my children are far to literal. That has been the highlight with him so far. It's now after dinner and he's still in his room though now doing his homework too. He's not at all happy about it, in that poor, poor pitiful me kind of way that only a 9 year old can truly master.

Teddy
is 11. Is there really any more that needs to be said on the topic? Okay, I'll go on, just for the heck of it. It started with him during dinner when he held his cup straight up in the air very defiantly saying "Mo-om" so as to signal me he needed more milk. Both Brad and I were quick to explain to him the error of his ways commenting specifically on the rudeness of such an act. And what did my charming little 11 year old do? Why he argued of course. That wasn't rude. Not at all, as evidenced by the fact that "I even wrote down a list of 20 things that are rude". Why yes you did dear - you wrote those things down because I gave you that assignment when it seemed you were struggling with which kinds of things were rude things - apparently you missed one!!!!

As a side note on that list: I made him come up with that list of things he does that are rude... I'm guessing a year ago maybe a bit more than that - and that is very depressing. But for the sake of my future amusement - I'm going to share what my then 10 year old wrote as 20 things that are rude:
1. samantics 2. rolling eyes 3. not talking 4. not looking 5. attitute 6. yelling 7. tone 9. speaking loudly 10. not being nice 11. saying: I hate you 12. ignoring 13. bothering 14. saying: yo! 15. saying: what! 16. saying: word! 17. making fun of people 18. calling people: peeps! 19. saying: sup! 20. always thinking your the awsomest.

okay - I swear I never saw 11-20 until tonight - though this little list on two tiny pieces of paper has been hanging in my bathroom this whole time. When we had the conversation tonight in the kitchen he said there were 20 and I said I thought there had only been 10. He was right, but this was totally news to me. 20 is such a suck up and such a Teddy thing to do. He gets As in spelling though you'd never know it from this list.

Then I was upstairs monitoring Jackson's homework while Ted was downstairs doing his with Brad when I hear....

Brad: Ted come back here, you can't do that with your foot.
Ted: NOT IF YOU'RE GOING TO THROW STUFF AT ME
(note: Brad would never throw something at Teddy, though perhaps this is a different avenue to explore)
B: There's a proper way to clean this stuff up - not with your foot.
T: NOT IF YOU'RE GOING TO THROW STUFF AND FLING IT AT MY HEAD (a one note wonder - my boy is)
Then there was a little more back and forth; increasingly quiet - they've seemingly worked it out.
T: OH NOW YOU'RE LAUGHING AT ME!!! (a lot of stomping)
B: I thought you were joking
T: SHUT UP!!!!!
B: Teddy come back here
It's a vicious cycle - such fun to be had by all!

Oh and for the comic relief..... That would be Jackson by way of Teddy

T: Mo-om, Jackson has renamed Firefox
Camela: Ok thanks, please do your homework
T: Fine but I think you want to know the new name
(based on Ted's tone I think he's probably right but I still hesitate to reward tattling with my time and energy - but I break down...)
C: okay what is it?
T: nakedwoman
C: (burst out laughing).... uh... okay thanks, I'll take care of it.

A bit later Ted and I head downstairs for computer help from Brad.
C: honey, Ted needs your help getting a connection to the internet and Jackson changed the name of Firefox to nakedwoman
B: (burst out laughing) Then looking at Ted. I guess I'm not supposed to laugh at that am I.
C: (still laughing...) No. No you're not

okay - that's our evening between 6 and 8 tonight. Just another typical evening here.

Camela

Another day... another blizzard

Okay - I'm seriously done with this whole major snow storm thing.

We had a huge snowstorm right before Christmas and even though the storm happened on a Saturday the boys missed the last three days of school before the Christmas break. I really don't even remember how much snow we got in that one, but I remember thinking - wow this is a lot of snow for a MD snowstorm..... uh... yeah, not so much.

Then starting last Friday night and lasting through Saturday it snowed over 30 inches. 30 inches! I don't live in the mountains, or in the mid-west, or any other place where 30 inches of snow doesn't seem like the apocalypse. (In fact people around here are calling it the snowpocalypse or the snownami). As of Tuesday morning our neighborhood had yet to be visited by the county plows. Someone finally got a guy to come in here and help us out. It was absolutely wonderful that we got some help but the problem about him was that it was just a guy with a little pickup truck that has a stationary plow thingy on the front. For a normal MD snowstorm this would be perfect, but for this much snow - uh... this is not a good thing - it's just not nearly powerful enough. He did manage to create a single lane on each road and with cooperation people can get in and out of the neighborhood.

I finally got out and made it to work on Tuesday..... which was just in time for the blizzard. Seriously, are you kidding me? It started snowing on Tuesday afternoon and right now it's 8pm on Wednesday night and it's still snowing. We've had driving snow and intense wind all day long. My office closed for the first time in the 15 years I've been there. Baltimore City has declared it a 'Phase 3' emergency which means that except for official vehicles (fire, police, utilities) no cars are allowed on the roads - period. You will get a huge fine and possible jail time if you drive on a city road today.

Depending on where you are in MD you'll get between 10-30 additional inches on top of the roughly 30 inches from 3 days ago. That's right I said 3 days ago. Come on now, this is just silly. So we hadn't yet gotten plowed from the first storm and now we have these HUGE snow drifts - up to our windows (with snow inside the screens), our mailbox is all but covered, people have been shoveling throughout the day only to come back and find the wind erased all their hard work. Really imagine the wind blown snowdrifts that you've seen in your life and now put them on top of a base of 30 inches of snow that was already there and wet and heavy and not going anywhere. The State and County officials are begging people to stay off the roads for the next 48 hours at least.

I didn't mention that on Tuesday they canceled schools for the rest of the week. And while on some level I think this is ridiculous (the fact that they called the whole week so early) - the reality is - until a snowplow actually comes into our neighborhood there is no possibility of a bus actually making it through the neighborhood to pick them up so I guess it makes total sense. Frankly, while my office might be opened tomorrow I already know I'm not going to make it in. The only road into my neighborhood sits smack dab in the middle of a 2 mile long narrow, twisty, hill. A hill where I've encountered the worst driving conditions of my entire life - twice now. There is just no way it will be passable for my sedan or Brad's van tomorrow.... We'll have to wait and see what Friday brings.

Camela

Lots and lots of snow

IT SNOWED
A lot

The town closest to us; about seven minutes from here, reported 33.8 inches of snow. That's more snow then I've ever seen at one time in my life... (okay well except on a mountain while skiing)

Jackson is totally loving this and quickly throws on his snow clothes - well there's usually some whining when we get to the fleece lining part of his coat, but that's quickly overcome - and is ready to go. Whether it's building a fort or shoveling he's game and just loves throwing himself into large piles of snow whenever possible.

Teddy has totally surprised me with his willingness to help - I always knew I could get him to do it, I just thought it would be more painful for one or both of us - and he's also shocked the heck out of me by staying outside and playing for hours and hours on end. This is a boy who likes his creature comforts. He has not remotely surprised me with just how difficult it is to get him dressed for the elements.... Let's just say that it is a long and painful process for all concerned.

Brad and the boys shoveled off about half of the deck and made a huge pile of snow on the ground below and then all three of them decided to jump from the deck into the newly made pile. Unfortunately no one told me so I wasn't able to get it on film but since we are supposed to get 10-20 more inches tomorrow night I think we'll have no problem having a do-over

Here are some pictures in no particular order of the snow.....

Jackson shoveling on the back deck.

Brad and Teddy on the deck.

Sorry for the lousy picture - This is taken in the driveway. It says roughly 27.5" and was measured once the snow had stopped but Brad had shoveled several inches away the night before.

Our mailbox.

Jackson continues to like to hide from the camera.

More of Jackson hiding....

The grill

Deck chairs and table

Bandit can just see over the snow on two legs.

But not so much on four...