Overheard, Part IX

We try to write down some of the things the boys say so someday when they are older we can look back and "hear" our little boys' voices and remember these days when they can be such a kick in the pants. We realize that some of these are funny while others are not; however, they are the conversations from our daily life that give us a good picture of who each of our boys is and what each one is doing or learning at the time.

April

Looney Dooney is a regular monthly feature in the preschool. This month’s visit from Looney Dooney was advertised as a “Big Surprise,” and Caleb was looking forward to it. He kept wondering what it was and made guesses as to what was so “big” about it. When he got home after school, I asked him what the big surprise was. In a disgusted tone, Caleb answered, “He was painted like the Cat in the Hat, and he just read books to us. He said he was going to read four books, but he ONLY read two.”  When asked if it was a good surprise, he let us know through his body language, his eye rolls and the tone of his voice that it was a great letdown. Poor kid!

When the boys found out I was hosting bunco this month, one of them excitedly did  a fist pump and said, “YES! We get to sit in the back room and watch movies!”  Obviously, we don’t make our boys stay in the back bedroom often enough since it is such a novelty!

Having dinner at Cenote Grill right after Paul and I tore apart two fused tortilla chips:

Caleb: It’s the breaking of Jesus!

The boys were having a conversation in the living room when Isaac said to Paul:

Isaac:  Dad, Caleb doesn’t know who Satan is!

Caleb: Yeah, I don’t know. Does he go to your school, Isaac?

March

Isaac: Do you like sandwiches?

Caleb:  Yes.

Isaac: Here, then have a knuckle sandwich [making a fist at him]

February

You know your child is tired when he sobs uncontrollably when you tell him he can’t listen to John Tesh as he falls asleep.

You know your children go to a Christian school when the names of their action heroes and Lego guys are “Noah,” “Abraham,” “Elijah” and “Elisha” during role playing games.

 After I rubbed his back before bed and as I left his room:

Caleb:  Mom, who taught you to rub backs?

The Big Winner!

Danae was the winner of this year's NCAA basketball tournament bracket challenge we hold in our house.  Yes, you did read that sentence correctly.  There is a first time for everything, right?  This is one, though, that I honestly didn't see coming.  

Danae and I always fill out a bracket to compete against each other.  I think in our 15 years of marriage the score is Paul 14, Danae 0.  It is usually a given that I win.  I am the sports person in our house.   Besides, who would pick Wichita State and Michigan in their Final Four with Michigan making it to the finals?  Victory should have been in the bag, right?

This year we decided to open the challenge up to Isaac and Caleb as well.  The boys were eager to get in on the action and sat down and very carefully picked their teams.  After a quick explanation of how it works, the boys couldn't wait to choose their winners.  We used ESPN to keep track of our progress, and if you thought I liked to check the scores on ESPN, I think Isaac and Caleb may have me beat!   Not fully understanding how it all works, we had to explain many times that we can't pick new teams when ours get beaten. (Isaac had chosen Gonzaga as his winning team.)

After all the games were played, the Cinderella storyline was completed in our home:  a new champion was crowned!  I am not sure Danae would want me to make a video montage to the theme song "One Shining Moment" or that she will be cutting down the nets, but for 2013 she sits on top as Champion!

As tradition holds, the winner gets to choose where we go out to eat.  Danae chose her favorite Mexican restaurant, Cenote Grill.  I really can't complain.  It is delicious!  Congratulations, Danae!