Tres, Tri, Trio, Touo, Three

I made a fatal mistake today. I mentioned the 'S' word (school). I have never seen 3 kids mope about as much as these 3. Seriously. You would have thought that I had mentioned a firing squad. I finally had to pull out the 'I' word (ice cream) to get them out of their collective funk.

I do not remember ever being in a funk to go back to school. I loved school because it wasn't home. I got more attention at school from dad than I did at home - no offense intended, it was what it was - and I loved it. Dad and I would split a lunch, get ice cream, or just hang out if neither of us had money. It was great. People will still tease me when I tell them my dad taught at the school I went to and I liked it. He was a great back up. If I was having problems with a teacher he would have 'a word or two' with them. (At least one time more than that!) I can remember a teacher calling him to the nurses office and the two of them laughing of me smashing my finger (my fault for being late to class and not hearing the instructions). It makes me smile still.

Thanks dad for being great!

Four Ever on My Mind

I can actually remember when there were just four of us kids. My first really solid memory is the day we moved into the house on Hayden Bridge. We had been in the car forever and when we stopped Mom made us put on our shoes - glass in the driveway - before we could go play. We ran, we hid in that old bush next to the driveway and climbed the pine tree at the front of the teardrop. We laughed running through this very small house that was all ours. We all piled into the front hall to sleep and woke up and did it all again. It was wonderful! I remember 4 - how many do you first remember?

Day Trip for 5

Five people went to the SF Academy of Science and one of them was not me! Connor, his friend Ben, Lauren, Tylor and Jim went. We were supposed to go to Great America but it was closed of all things! I couldn't join them so I was seriously bummed all day. No, call it a funk. When I mentioned it to Jim he said, "Now you know how I have felt for the past 12 years.". That made me sadder. Now I am a little sad school is starting ... Five days from now I'm sure it will change. ;-)

Six Shoes

Six shoes, three pair, one for each kid. School shoes were always a huge deal. We got the brown and white saddle shoes, they hid dirt better. They were school shoes, sunday shoes, all winter shoes. If they got wet you prayed the house was warm enough to dry them out by the next morning. New school shoes that gave you blisters on your heel every stinkin' year but you loved those shoes. The new smell, how clean they looked, how the leather was polished. I love school shoes.

Seven Deadly Sins

I know what the real 7 deadly sins are:

1. Coveting other people's school (that it is in early and we are still out...)
2. Greedily thinking of when my children will finally be in school for longer than public school
3. Being slothful and not buying school supplies, backpacks, shoes, or uniforms early!
4. Being proud when you finally finish it all and still have to wait for school to start
5. Envying parents waving good-bye to their little darlings daily starting weeks ago
6. Being wrathful that I can't find 2 green pens on the supply list
7. Gluttonously drowning my sorrows in homemade lemonade (oh, so tart!)

Ate Days ...

Out of 51 potential hot lunch meals my kids could get at school they chose a total of 8. Eight. Ate. Lauren, the culinary explorer, chose 5, Tylor, the culinary meanderer, 2 and Connor, force feed me if necessary, 1. One day per month I don't have to make lunch for any of my kids. And the meal that tempts all of them you ask? Teriyaki Chicken over rice with fresh fruit and veggies.

9 ....

Nine red pens ... 9.

Ten days 'til school,
Nine red pens,
And a happy dance on the way....