This morning Thing 1 and Thing 2 were eating breakfast. Conversation was flowing, meaning both were talking at the same time, and neither was listening. A typical morning.
Out of nowhere, Thing1 was on the verge of tears. Very upset.
SuburbanDaddy: What’s wrong?
Thing 1: (tears in his eyes) He is talking so loud I forgot what was going to say.
File this under I didn’t see that coming. Today I got an email from Thing 3’s teacher. It was cryptic enough to send my imagination racing.
The teacher said, “Are you able to see the room? (there are web cameras) We need to talk when you come to pick him up”
I couldn’t imagine what I’d see. I figured he injured himself. Or trashed his clothes. Or broke something expensive.
This is what I saw. The one screen capture doesn’t do it justice. The classroom was completely trashed.
What you don’t see is the other half of the room, where there were shredded scraps of paper everywhere.
Thing 3 had been on a tear. Picking up containers and dumping them out. As soon as the teacher tried to clean up one mess, he was on to the next. He wasn’t angry or having a tantrum. He was just having a good time.
“It just happened so fast. I’ve never quite seen this before,” said the teacher. Coming from an experienced teacher with a room full of two year olds, that says something.
When I tell people Thing 3 is very active and into everything, even for a two year old, I don’t think the full impact comes across just how much work it is to keep up with him. This gives a glimpse. He is off the charts.
Thing 3 is the master of destruction, leaving a path of wreckage wherever he goes. Why should Christmas be any different?
We took the usual precautions and put the breakable ornaments out of his reach. Or so we thought. He’s already managed to break three ornaments. Usually by throwing the ball shaped ones. I have no idea how he gets them down. I suspect he throws things at the tree until one falls, like a squirrel getting acorns.
This is what happens when a four year old gets his hands on an iPhone. I’m amazed how easily he can unlock it, operate it, and figure out how to do stuff.
Here is Thing 2’s work. First he took some pictures of himself. Then, after taking the one of me from the back, he tells Thing 1 he took a picture of daddy’s butt. They both break into laughter.
Thing 2 will definitely be that guy one day who sits on the copier to photocopy his butt.
Week 14 game of the week is Broncos vs. Colts. The Colts are undefeated and the Broncos are having a surprisingly good season. Both Thing 1 and Thing 2 have identified this as a “good game”. I’m not sure what their criteria is, exactly, for a good game. The Broncos are Thing 2’s third favorite team because they wear orange.
Thing 1’s pick: 36-24 Colts
Thing 2’s pick: 30-20 Broncos
Have you noticed they always seem to pick the opposite of each other? Picking football games, like everything else, is yet another opportunity to compete against your brother. Just like the race to get out of the car, finish eating, get a toy, or virtually anything else they do together. Despite my best efforts to tell them otherwise, everything is a competition.
Following on his impressive results from last week, Thing 1 (The Greek) remains undefeated.? Thing 1 successfully picked the Giants to beat the Cowboys.? The game was higher scoring than he expected, but the end result was pretty close with the Giants winning 31-24.
Thing 1’s pick:? Giants 26 – Cowboys 16
Thing 2’s pick: Cowboys 55 – Giants 30
Stay tuned later in the week when The Greek tries to keep the streak alive, and The Swami (Thing 2) tries to re-establish his credibility.? The Swami is spending a lot of time this week trying to memorize songs for his preschool’s winter show.? So his football picks may suffer.? We’ll wait and see.
With New Years resolutions just around the corner, how can you eat dessert and not feel guilty about it? Just use a proven scientific fact that giving to others can improve your own health.
Crumbs For A Cause makes it easy. Their motto is treat yourself and someone else. When you buy desserts from Crumbs, 50% of profits goes to Birthday Blessings which provides birthday parties to homeless children. How can you feel guilty about helping homeless kids?
Disclosure: I happen to know the owner of Crumbs For A Cause, but I have received no compensation for this post in the form of money or desserts. I just really, really love their cookies and know you will, too!
I have yet to see one of these things, or have one of my kids ask for one, but Zhu Zhu Pets are the undisputed hot toy of the year.? They are flying off the shelves like Cabbage Patch dolls and Rubik’s Cube back in my day.
Now, there is talk of a safety concern about Zhu Zhu Pets.? And there is even a rumor that there may be a recall of Zhu Zhu Pets soon.? Right before Christmas!
Well, SuburbanDaddy has his own theory about this brewing scandal.? You know how I love a good controversy or conspiracy theory.
We all know how crazed parents can get during the holidays, trying to find a sold out toy to give their kids for Christmas or Hanukkah.? Politely give up your parking space at the toy store?? Are you kidding?? That’s one more person who will get to the toys before you.? There was a movie made about just this scenario with Arnold Schwarzenegger called Jingle All The Way.
That’s why I’m thinking there is a crazed parent behind all this talk of a recall and unsafe toys.? What better way for a parent to be able to find a Zhu Zhu Pet than to start a rumor about a recall?? All of a sudden there will be parents trying to unload their toys before Christmas faster than the executives at Enron dumped their company stock.
It’s brilliant.