You
know what they tell me is really cool? Sleep...
It’s
not the three C’s that get us (Carpooling, Cleaning and Catering), it’s the mind games
the kids play that really wear us down.
For instance, those times when Shelly would spend hours making dinner
but not get any response at all to the question of, “are you absolutely,
positively, unequivocally sure there is nothing else you want for dinner?”
until after she sits down to eat.
Thirty minutes of that will do in anyone. I would help her but I am too busy waiting for my food.
Jesse
is the queen of the mind game.
First, she NEVER sleeps.
She loves to stay up late and “shop” in Shelly's closet rather than
going to bed. Thank goodness
for video surveillance cameras – a kid could get lost in there. There are nights when every single one
of Shelly's 218 pairs of shoes is spread out across our floor. Other nights we just find her asleep in
the purse aisle or eating at the mini café.
Another interesting tidbit about Jesse...she’s becoming financially savvy. One night, just as Shelly and I were escaping…I mean heading out for the evening, I realized I was without my money clip. Avery said that Jess had been “using” it. Makes you wonder. Anyway, I was relieved to find it on the floor of the playroom -- until I realized that the clip was empty. After tearing apart the place, Shelly finally located the money...in Jesse's toy purse. Frightening. She is two and half and already I have to start monitoring her spending. Shelly, of course, was beaming at her “little shopper".
Avery
is five and started kindergarten this year. Loves it. She has homework, too – mostly it
involves drawing pictures of rainbows and family members. One of Avery’s
favorite activities is “letter of the week”. That is when they try to
find words that start with a particular letter. Last week was “P”.
She thought she “found” the perfect word while rubbing Tahoe’s belly -
until Shelly told her she needed something a little more appropriate.
Avery
pretty much does everything that Peyton does - but louder. Like
her big sister at this age, she plays soccer, tennis, does gymnastics and skis.
She is a huge help with Jesse, too, handling all aspects of her personal
care – she gives her showers, does her hair, gets her dressed, puts her in the
car seat…just no diapers. Still, a
great deal for the price.
About
Peyton -- we actually now have TWO identical girls by that name living in the
house. They are never in the same place at the same time, though. Peyton #1 is very sweet and extremely
extroverted – she is with us about 85% of the day. Peyton #2 is this
somewhat hormonal eight year old that seems to take exception to any sibling
named Avery. I prefer the first one but the second one tells better
jokes. We attended a Bar Mitzvah recently with Peyton #1 -- within ten
minutes, she was dancing on the speakers, leading people in the “Macarena”.
Peyton is probably the busiest of the bunch. She plays soccer with a great group of friends and an outrageously studly coach. She is also involved in girl scouts, lacrosse, tennis, skiing and yoga. She will be in the spring musical again. Last year she played a germ. We were so proud.
Jake is now eleven and has started middle school. He seems to really enjoy it – probably because he has like zero homework. Shelly drives him to the bus stop every morning… about 15 feet from our house. Apparently, that’s bus “protocol” in the neighborhood.
Peyton is probably the busiest of the bunch. She plays soccer with a great group of friends and an outrageously studly coach. She is also involved in girl scouts, lacrosse, tennis, skiing and yoga. She will be in the spring musical again. Last year she played a germ. We were so proud.
Jake is now eleven and has started middle school. He seems to really enjoy it – probably because he has like zero homework. Shelly drives him to the bus stop every morning… about 15 feet from our house. Apparently, that’s bus “protocol” in the neighborhood.
Jake’s
baseball team won the league championship this summer. He is now retired
from the sport and is 100% focused on basketball. He never picked up a
ball prior to February and now plays all the time. For a kid who
inherited my two inch vertical, he has made surprising progress. He also joined
a rock band this year playing electric guitar – a bunch of pre-teen head
bangers looking to go platinum. They are interviewing for female groupies
if you have any suggestions.
As for Shelly – she has gotten big into tennis this year. Unfortunately, with all of the kid’s activities, she can only seem to find time to play eight or nine times a week. I can, of course, still beat her – at least on the days that she is hung-over and suffering from some 48 hour ailment. Personally, I think she needs to channel her energy into something a little more constructive. I mean think how great our marriage would be if she put this much effort into golf!
Hope you have an enjoyable 2007!
As for Shelly – she has gotten big into tennis this year. Unfortunately, with all of the kid’s activities, she can only seem to find time to play eight or nine times a week. I can, of course, still beat her – at least on the days that she is hung-over and suffering from some 48 hour ailment. Personally, I think she needs to channel her energy into something a little more constructive. I mean think how great our marriage would be if she put this much effort into golf!
Hope you have an enjoyable 2007!
Jon,
Shelly, Jake, Peyton, Avery, Jesse and Tahoe