Boy Scouts

Ed led Connor's Boy Scout troop, and to say he was out of his element would be an understatement. But he did a fantastic job setting up weekly activities for the boys, and making sure they all me tthe requirements to move onto the next level. Finally, he can start coasting, as the end of the year banquet has taken place. And just in time for it, Ed decided to attach patches to his shirt, so now he is the proud owner of his first scouting shirt.

Connor loved having Ed as the troop leader.

Elaine

Happy Belated Birthday, Ed

On Sunday, Ed advanced a year in age. We spent the day hiking Old Rag, which has become a favorite outdoor activity of both Connor and Helen. For some reason, their normal instinct of needing to fight about who leads gives way to just enjoying being on the trail and scrambling over rocks without worrying about much else. This is good, not just because I tire of the pointless bickering, but also because some parts of the climb are quite difficult, and they need to focus on not becoming injured.

After our hike, the kids and I went to a dinner with my mom's group, and then we came home and munched on brownies Connor had made before Ed work up that morning. Ed found a bottle of whipped cream in the refrigerator, which made the brownie consumption all the more exciting.

Happy birthday, Ed.

Elaine

Spring Camping

Connor and Helen have been asking to go camping since the weather started to warm up. But soccer, softball, and baseball schedules can easily fill a Saturday, making our typical two-night camping trip tricky to squeeze in. No matter. Ed remembered what a ball the kids had last year at Pohick Bay, so after the last game was played a week ago - he hit the road with the kids.



Last year's thrill at Pohick Bay might have been the enormous piles of dead cicadas in the bathrooms - which at the very least were the focal point of their reports about the place. This year, they didn't seem disappointed at all to not have bug carcasses everywhere. Instead, they related tales of how awesome it was to camp with Dad - which included a hiking story that ended in Ed slide tackling Helen. Ed claims he might have been less likely to fall, were he not responsible for carrying Liam (Helen's long-time favorite babydoll), Helen's walking stick, and something else Helen had pawned off him.



They did a scavenger hunt, played mini-golf, and I'm really not sure what else because they were talking so fast I could hardly keep up with them.



After camping, they headed out to Market Days at Claude Moore Colonial Farm - a family favorite, and reported back that most of the entertainment options had switched from prior years. Helen also acquired a parasol at Market Days, which I'm sure I'll see regularly this summer.

I missed all of this. I was in Miami with friends. When they picked me up at the airport, Connor and Helen suggested I go away for more weekends because they had so much fun! That is an awesome sentiment to come home to.

That, and cake.

It was delicious. And the mounds of camping gear in the background of the photo were put away with ease after we ate our fill. And then we ended the night with a few games of ping pong, our family's current game of choice when hanging out in the backyard.

Here's to 41!
Elaine

It's Harder to Steal a Bike Than You Might Think

Ed and I have one philosophy when it comes to avoiding property crimes - own nothing of value. It works surprisingly well.

The bike I ride to the subway daily is old, heavy, and has no value. I received it from a friend when she was moving out of her home. Her plan was to leave it on the street the next day and see how long it took for it to be stolen. I took it instead.

For five years, I've ridden that bike to and from the subway in rain, snow, and other days I'm too lazy to ride my commuting bike all the way into my office. Back and forth we go together. The gears and brakes need to be fixed, but it serves its purpose perfectly well. Often, I have a skirt or dress on when I ride the bike, and I always pretend I am one of those fabulous women in France or Italy who ride down the street in their flowing skirts. J'adore.

Imagine my shock when I returned from vacation after a month only to discover my subway bike was gone. GONE! I immediately went inside to see if Ed knew what had happened to my bike. Clearly, nobody had stolen it because the other bikes were in the shed. For a moment, I thought maybe our home exchange partners had put it somewhere besides the shed and I just needed to find it. Ed knew nothing of the bike's whereabouts, so I walked to the subway - with my bike lock key - just in case I had left it there a month ago.

The good news? My bike was at the subway. The bad news, it had no seat. The even worse news (as far as my commute home was concerned) it had Ed's flexible tubing lock on it, not my lock. This meant it would remain entrapped for at least another day - until Ed could supply the key.

Please - take me home - I've been outside for a month! Doesn't anybody even notice me?

This turned out to be harder than one might think. Impossible - actually.

Which is why Wednesday night, Ed accompanied me to the metro to steal the bike. I called the non-emergency police number to let them know what was going on. It was not the most efficient operation you could imagine, because Ed's tools are not quite the right ones. Several onlookers suggested we might have more success with bolt cutters than with the hacksaw we were using. Thanks for that tip, sir. But I don't often find myself in this situation, so I don't own bolt cutters.

Really, this is my wife's bike. I borrowed it without telling her. And I lost the key to the lock.

Eventually, two onlookers felt sorry for us and helped steal the bike back. I don't have a photo of that, because it seemed in poor taste. These guys were awesome. The very best part was that when there were only a few wires between me and my bike, a man who had watched the whole operation pulled wire cutters out of his backpack to finish the job.

Still locked!

I am so grateful to those men. All the while, Connor and Helen were laughing telling people "my mom is stealing her own bike" and although many people looked at us confused, either no one actually called the cops, or my call to the cops letting them know what was up kept the cops from responding.

My bike and I are reunited. And all I can say is - thank goodness nobody bothered to steal it before we got there and that, quite possibly, is because the bike has no value. The perfect plan to keep myself safe from property crimes.

Elaine

Tea Party

When Connor was in utero, we didn't know if he was a boy or girl. One of my friends was hoping girl, just because the thought of Ed sitting at a too-small table having tea with a little girl made her laugh so much.

Well...stranger things have happened, but I do laugh every time the scene below repeats itself, thinking about my friend.

Elaine

We were leprechaunED - again!

For the second year in a row, that clever little leprechaun visited us in the middle of the night, making a bit of a mess, and leaving a trail of clues for Connor and Helen to follow. Here's the trail of clues Connor and Helen found this year.

Again,  Helen and Connor had to figure out the word in ALLCAPS. Although only Connor could read the clues, Helen deciphered a fair number of them. They had a great time. The first clue was one that they both found in the traps they had set but had been sprung - with no leprechaun caught! Connor already has plans to fortify his trap for next year.

You tried and tried,

to catch me once more.

If you want a clue,

look on your front DOOR.

We ride in this from near to far,

To find the next clue, look in the seat of the CAR.

The next clue I think will be the third.

To look for it, go to the house of the BIRD.

To find the next clue, you must use your head.

Then look underneath a pillow on mom's BED.

(how did that get there without me even noticing?)

To get the next one, you must really think.

Now go and look in the bathroom SINK.

A new sink I see, I like it a lot.

Now go and look under dad's cooking POT.

This hunt I'm afraid, has come to an end.

Just look one more place, where the mail you SEND.

They didn't get that leprechaun's gold, but they did get a few gold coins and some gold and green chocolates. Happy St. Patrick's Day, all. Hope it was a good one.

Elaine

Man Time and Geocaching

Ed and Connor are now geocachers.

Last weekend, Helen and I went to a puppet show version of the Nutcracker. Connor opted to stay home and have some "man time" with Ed. As part of their adventures, they went in search of two geocaches. They discovered both of them.

Geocaches are hidden treasures, locatable with a GPS. The ones Ed and Connor found were mini-geocaches, where finders sign their name to a log, take the treasure that has been left for them, and leave a treasure in its place. Connor found a quarter and a penny. He left two glass gems.

Yesterday, the boys included Helen in their adventures. Sadly, they came up 0 - 2. But, Helen wasn't the least bit disappointed because even though she didn't find a treasure, she found a friend! Apparently the second location was a park and Connor and Helen met two children about their same ages.

Ed's and Connor's lifetime geocaching score is now 2 - 2.

Better luck next time!
Elaine

Unless There Are Extenuating Circumstances, Dress Your Age, Dad!

We've been dogsitting (more on that later) and while Helen and Ed were taking Blue (which Helen has renamed Bluebell) for a walk, she told Ed he needed to tuck his shirt in, because that's how old people wore their shirts.

Ed complied.

Helen noticed Ed's belt loop was torn and requested he untuck the shirt to cover the tear up.

In the choice between dressing your age and showing falling apart clothing, I guess hiding the flaws is more important.

Elaine

Wordless Wednesday: Pick Royals!

We were leprechaunED!

A week before St. Patrick's Day, I suggested to Ed that we do something funny for the kids to mark the event. Since leprechauns don't make the cut on things that get discussed at a Waldorf school, this was Connor's first exposure to the idea. I presumed his class would do something and indeed, they were busy setting traps and talking about all the messes the leprechaun made when I came to volunteer on Friday.

Connor was definitely excited. I had suggested he write a note to the leprechaun to see if the leprechaun would come to our house for the first time ever. We talked about the note, but I don't think it ever got written. Missed writing opportunity! Crap!

On Friday night, I went out with some friends, and Ed came up with a game for the leprechaun to leave for the kids. Then, Saturday morning, they built traps all over the house. Finally, on Saturday night, Ed set up the game and all that was left was all the laughing that ensued on Sunday morning. There was so much laughter, in fact, that Ed didn't take advantage of his sleep-in day and instead came out to see the fun.

Here is the leprechaun game that Ed created. Helen and Connor had to figure out the word in ALLCAPS. Although only Connor could read the clues, Helen deciphered a fair number of them. They had a great time.

Ed cut out paper clovers, and wrote the following poems:

You and I will have good times.

To follow a clue, pick a word that rhymes.

Then, he sprung one of the leprechaun traps. I sewed a tiny shoe and left it in the trap to make it look like the leprechaun had just barely gotten away.

You can't catch me, I'm much too quick. 

To find a clue, look on the porch for a (STICK).

OK - on second thought, starting the game by giving your children a big stick may not have been the best idea.

The next clue if really grand.

I love to play and dig in the (SAND).

Helen was going to beat that little booger if she got close enough.

You have almost found my treasure.

Next look in the place where your height we (MEASURE).

At about this point, Connor looked at me and made me tell him I had nothing to do with all this fuss, and indeed, I didn't!

You can't trap me, I'm much too wee.

Next look in the bathroom at the place you (PEE).

(This clue really sealed the deal for Connor that I was not involved because he knows I would never write such crass language. At least that's what I have him believing! I was suitably disdainful of the word choice.)

Will you ever find me? Well, maybe.
Look in the bed of a small (BABY).

The next clue is really neat.

Look under a booster (SEAT).

You can't find me, you are too slow.

To find some gold, look near the rain(BOW).

Our players were really stumped by this clue. I have lots of glass stars hanging in our dining room / play area windows, so Connor posited that we'd have to wait until the sun was shining through them to see the rainbows. 

But with a little prompting, Helen remembered where we have a rainbow at all times in our house.

Gold dollar coins! Woohoo!

The leprechaun also peed green in the toilet which is funnier than you can imagine, and also not that noticeable to a 6 year old boy since Connor actually flushed without noticing it, so Ed had to remake the water green.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

Elaine

NaBloPoMo Advice Column - Day 30 - Never Make a Bet With Your Wife While Drinking

I'm writing 30 thoughts in 30 days for NaBloPoMo. In no particular order, I'm giving you my worldview - as it comes up.

I wasn't sure how I was going to round this out. I had originally intended to use yesterday's post idea as the finale, but yesterday, I drew a blank, and had to use it. Then, I figured I'd sum up all the other nuggets, but that seems a little daunting at this point. Luckily, opportunity struck.

Tonight, Ed and I were out drinking listening to music at one of our favorite Wednesday night hangouts. And lo' and behold, we had a disagreement. It was completely trivial, but for whatever reason, Ed doubted me. Really. I know. Hard to imagine.

And so he decided we'd settle the issue and said "what will you bet". So I responded "I'll bet anything, because I am right". But he didn't back down. So I said "laundry for a week". And he said "that's not fair" because he realized if he was right, he wouldn't actually win anything since I already do all the laundry (even though he's technically in charge of sheets and towels... Thank GAWD my mom visited last week and did all the towels or I might be using a dish cloth to dry my nether regions after a shower at this point). Anyway, I allowed him to name something else, which he did. Then I told him, "we can call the bet off, I am right". And he, thinking he had a prayer of winning, declined my very generous offer.

That was a huge mistake.

And...just so it is in writing, all of the laundry in the house is currently done. It must all be done next Wednesday night, in order for Ed to fulfill his (losing) end of the bet.

Elaine

(Just in case you were curious, a king sized bed is twice the width of a single bed.)

Thank you, Therese, for once again inspiring this march through November. As always, it's been a fun challenge.

Building a worldview:

Day 1: Surround Yourself With Brilliant People (though my friend Susan makes a good point that clever is pretty good, too).
Day 2: Whatever, it works.
Day 3: Surround Yourself With Beauty
Day 4: When You Go Through Something New - Drag Someone With You
Day 5: No sweatpants.
Day 6: Embrace the Crazy
Day 7: Listen to Your Friends or Fight Old Fogey-dom. Get out there. Keep experiencing fun, new things.
Day 8: Don't Let Anyone Sell You Short
Day 9: Take a Lesson From Your Child
Day 10: Consume the best chocolate you can
Day 11: Help your neighbor.
Day 12: Take Breaks
Day 13: Establish a Realistic Rhythm
Day 14: Sometimes, you just have to ask.
Day 15: Loose Lips Sink Ships
Day 16: Stop Things from Going from Bad to Worse
Day 17: Understand the Price of Success
Day 18: Question Everything
Day 19: Drink Great Wine with Old Friends
Day 20: Never Be a Volunteer at a Street Show in New Orleans
Day 21: Let Your Friends Bail You Out
Day 22: Turn Trash Into Treasure
Day 23: Always Have a Dream
Day 24: Give Thanks
Day 25: Develop Your Own Sense of Style - and Own It!
Day 26: Always Have the Ingredients for Chocolate Chip Cookies on Hand
Day 27: Take Advantage of Unseasonably Warm Days
Day 28: Don't Do Too Much When You Have a Head Cold
Day 29: Trust Yourself
Day 30: Never Make a Bet With Your Wife While Drinking or You Might End up Doing Laundry for a Week

NaBloPoMo Advice Column - Day 22 - Turn Trash Into Treasure

I'm writing 30 thoughts in 30 days for NaBloPoMo. In no particular order, I'm giving you my worldview - as it comes up.
For about 3 years, we've been planning to install some stumps for the kids to play on in our backyard. The idea comes from the playground at Helen's school. At our old house, we went so far as to retrieve a whole bunch of stumps from our neighbor after his tree had broken in 2 during a particularly windy storm. Those stumps ended up conveying with the house - as did the dead mouse in the shed, which the new owners called to ask me to remove. Um, no, I actually didn't want to bring that with me - but thanks for the offer!

A few weeks ago, a neighbor about a block away had an enormous tree removed from his yard. I asked if we could have the stumps from the large pile in front of his house and he told me I could take anything I wanted - but that others were interested and the waste removal company was coming on Wednesday. We rounded the corner, got our gardening gloves, and then started pilfering his stumps.

We also took a bunch of logs that are skinny enough the kids can move and build with. I'm looking forward to seeing what they make of all this. My neighbor's trash - my treasure!

Elaine

Building a worldview:
Day 1: Surround Yourself With Brilliant People (though my friend Susan makes a good point that clever is pretty good, too).
Day 2: Whatever, it works.
Day 3: Surround Yourself With Beauty
Day 4: When You Go Through Something New - Drag Someone With You
Day 5: No sweatpants.
Day 6: Embrace the Crazy
Day 7: Listen to Your Friends or Fight Old Fogey-dom. Get out there. Keep experiencing fun, new things.
Day 8: Don't Let Anyone Sell You Short
Day 9: Take a Lesson From Your Child
Day 10: Consume the best chocolate you can
Day 11: Help your neighbor.
Day 12: Take Breaks
Day 13: Establish a Realistic Rhythm
Day 14: Sometimes, you just have to ask.
Day 15: Loose Lips Sink Ships
Day 16: Stop Things from Going from Bad to Worse
Day 17: Understand the Price of Success
Day 18: Question Everything
Day 19: Drink Great Wine with Old Friends
Day 20: Never Be a Volunteer at a Street Show in New Orleans
Day 21: Let Your Friends Bail You Out

Welcome, to My NaBloPoMo Advice Column - 30 Thoughts in 30 Days

It's November, and with November comes Therese's rallying email to participate in National Blog Posting Month - NaBloPoMo - most annoying moniker on the internet. This marks year 5! I had thought about posting about something that annoys me each day, but even I get tired of listening to myself complain. So I thought I'd take the edge off it and also write about something I enjoy, but that didn't seem like enough damage control.
Instead, I'm bringing you my National Blog Posting Month Advice Column - 30 Thoughts in 30 Days. In no particular order, I'm giving you my worldview - borrowed from many.

1. Surround Yourself With Brilliant People

Helen has determined that J. is her best friend. I'm not sure J. really knows she exists, but his mom seems delighted that Helen is always so happy to see him. He shows up at school and Helen shouts to him, all but demanding that he come to her. Often, when we go places, Helen will exclaim from the back seat of the car "wouldn't it be so fabulous if J. were there, too?".

He's only 4, but from the looks of it, J. seems weirdly smart. He strikes me as one of those kids who is so busy thinking up brilliant ideas, that he has a hard time living in the present. One day, Helen's class was walking back from the park. They all hang onto a rope as they do this. J. was distracted by seeing me en route, and Helen was waving wildly to get my attention. In the midst of the action, J. fell, but damn if he didn't hang onto that rope. I shouted "man down" to get the teacher's attention. She stopped the line and looked back. J. stood up, looked around, and he seemed to be thinking "I hold that rope all the time. I've never been drug along by it and nearly trampled by my peers. What the heck just happened?". All I could think of was, another genius. I hope I get to see this kid in 10 years to see what he's up to.

I have a lot of brilliant friends. I married a brilliant man. Surrounding myself with brilliant people has made life an absolute trip. I love the debates it brings. I love bouncing through ideas quickly until something interesting is hit upon. I love the pondering. I love the compromise and the thought provoking questions.

If I had to pick exactly one characteristic in a friend, I would choose brilliance. Every day.

Camping Trip with Dad

Connor is a cub scout. And that means that Ed, for possibly the first time ever in his life, is participating in a school sanctioned activity.

Elaine

Planning for the Future - Some People Always Find the Sunny Side

Ed got a new bag carrier attachment on his bike, which apparently impressed Helen a great deal. When he pulled up this evening, this was what she told him.

"Wow, Dad, that's really cool! That bag fits right on your wheel. Maybe someday I can have your bike...When you die...Then I'll use the trailer bike with my kid!"

First Official Road Race! Kids Fun Run

A few weeks ago, we received notice that several streets near us would be closed due to a race being run in the neighborhood. For a while, Ed has been looking for a fun run for Connor to participate in, and this fit the bill. And, neighbors received a small discount in registration fees - woohoo!

Ed signed Connor up, but never knew quite how long the race would be. Helen decided she wanted to participate, so on Friday when I went to pick up Connor's packet, I signed Helen up as well.

I was hosting a "natural dyeing day" at my home (more later) that morning, so Ed piled the kids in the double stroller and hiked the few blocks to the starting line with them. I gave him the camera, but Ed and the camera do not get along, so even though Ed positioned them at the start of the race, and it would've made a fabulous photo, he got nothing. Which may be payback for me not being there. He's done this before, you know.

He did, however, stage this one after the event.

The race turned out to be longer than Ed anticipated (A MILE!) and Connor wasn't about to be slowed down by Helen, so off he went. Ed met him at the finish line. Connor reported he had to stop and catch his breath a couple of times. Helen needed mobility assistance to finish the race.

Elaine

60 or GO

This morning, we met with a contractor about building our planned screened porch. As part of the project, Ed and I are to purchase a fan that they will install. Ed noted that they suggested a size between 60 and 72 inches.

Ed gave Connor his notes and Connor looked up at me and said "GO!. Mom, I can read this word and it's GO". On the one hand, I'm certainly proud of Connor's accomplishment at reading the word "go". On the other hand, I'm not so impressed with Ed's chicken-scratch handwriting.

And for the record, Connor was completely baffled when I said "actually, that's the number 60. Your dad's handwriting is just so sloppy it's impossible to tell whether that's a 6 or a G".

Wordless Wednesday: Ed's Hair

Snow Day!

Today, Ed spent most of the day outside playing with the kids while I worked from home. Because my office? It never closer. Never. But Ed's office? Even when the rest of the federal government manages to open, his office appears to play it safe and cancel business anyway. I'm licking my wounds of having to work today pretending that it just means my job is more important than Ed's. Even though I know it's not.

But what's good for Ed is good for the kids. They went sledding and discovered that there is sledding on every street near us - yay hills and side streets! Then they played in the backyard, and finally I couldn't resist all the fun and came out with my camera when they moved to the front yard. Only, it appears I was neither wanted nor needed.

Elaine

Don't Mess with Ed's Kids

Typically, Ed avoids confrontation. Except when he decides to stick up for his children.

On Monday, as Ed walked up the bunny slope and Helen rode up on the magic carpet, two boys immediately behind her decided to toss snowballs. At some point, the game became more energetic, causing one kid to fall on the other, which almost knocked Helen down.

Ed looked at the two boys and said "if you knock her over, I'm getting you thrown off this mountain".

My advice? Don't mess with Ed's kids.