The three best things about this weekend

1. We went back to my hometown for Pioneer Reunion. And my kids love Pioneer Reunion.

2. The rodeo was rained out after the first event, and Clay County really needed the rain. And my kids were only mildly disappointed. The excitement of running from the incoming downpour, huddling with a huge crowd in a big building to stay (sort of) dry, then coming home to darkness due to lack of power and getting to use flashlights for everything is, if you are 4 and 7, almost better than a rodeo.

3. There was--get this--ZERO crying this year in the car. And on the way back, we made it from Henrietta to Houston in slightly over five hours. I believe we are turning the corner with our kids in terms of car trips.

Makes My Monday

The boys went to a sleepover this past weekend at their friend Eli's house. When I saw Eli's mom later, she told me how incredibly well behaved both Charlie and Joe were.

I believed she used the term "such little gentlemen."

Is there anything a parent likes to hear more?

Makes my Monday!

Ten Years Ago . . .

Cort was in a deposition in Beaumont. I was watching the Today Show while getting ready for work, as usual. The Today show broke in on itself (the show actually airs an hour later here, to account for the change in time zone, so the live version broke in on the delayed show) to report the plane hitting the first tower. Always a bit of a disaster news junkie, I was already glued to the TV, even before we had any idea what had really happened.

Cort was getting no news, so I started emailing him updates via Blackberry. The second plane hit the second tower, and I emailed him that this was definitely a terrorist attack. It was so surreal to be discussing a terrorist attack in our country. More hijackings were rumored. All planes in the U.S. were grounded. I was watching news coverage in Washington D.C. (I can still see the news reporter--Jim something), when there was an explosion behind him, and speculation began regarding a bombing. Soon it was determined that another plane had crashed into the Pentagon. The fact that this was happening in multiple cities began to sink in. I suddenly wished that Cort was at home.

Later I watched unbelievably as the first tower came down. I immediately emailed Cort again. I don't remember our exact exchange, but I remember him expressing complete disbelief. It was one of those things that you had to see to believe it was really happening. Cort, stuck in a deposition with no television coverage, could not believe it. At first Matt Lauer on the Today Show reported that "part" of the building had collapsed. Then it became clear that it was the whole building. We had been to New York City a few months earlier (my first time) and had visited the World Trade Center. I remember having a strange regret that we had not eaten at the restaurant at the top, Windows on the World--we had considered eating there but had decided upon someplace else instead.

I continued watching, and to the nation's horror the second tower also collapsed. Other buildings nearby were in danger. People were walking across the bridges out of Manhattan. I was glued with the rest of the country as we waited for news of the rescue of the injured which (save for a very, very few lucky people) never came. At some point the news reported the downed plane in Pennsylvania and speculated it was headed for the Capitol, but it was much later that I became aware of the story behind that hijacking.

Word came that my office building was closing. I still had not made it in, but made arrangements to have work brought to me so I could work at home. I never did any of that work that day.

A few months later, Cort and I visited New York City between Christmas and New Years. Because we had no kids and we could. Because during our visit the previous April I had discovered, to my surprise, that I really love the city. Because the events of September 11 made it seem important to do so. And, truthfully, because the terrorist attacks had depressed the tourism economy and we could stay there relatively inexpensively.

Ground Zero was not yet open to visitors when we were there. But we went by, and we saw all the flyers that people posted looking for loved ones who were never found. They were still hanging on fences, along with mementos and written notes. Soot from the collapsing towers still covered everything for blocks around. We took this picture while there and have it hanging in our house.

Now, ten years later, our world is so very different. But I'm talking about our world. Not the world. Ten years ago we were a young, childless, married couple. We are now parents with four small children. Children who will read about 9/11 only in history books. Will and Helen do not yet know about it. Charlie and Joe do. They learned about it in school, though, not from us. It does not really scare them, at least not yet. It is an event that, to them, is about as real as the battle of the Alamo.

Certainly, the terrorist attacks of September 11 changed our country. But for the most part, for those of us who did not lose a loved one, not significantly. My kids feel safe and secure. We spent the tenth anniversary of 9/11 at the same place that we spend many fall Sunday afternoons: at the Texans game. My kids enjoyed eating too much junk food while tailgating, seeing the huge American flag unfurl, and watching the Texans easily (!) beat the Colts.

None of these are very important things, really. But I am thankful that we live in a country where my kids can enjoy the simple, not-so-important things. Certainly, I realize that everyone is not so lucky. But as I watched the tenth anniversary retrospectives throughout the day, I was struck by the fact that, as horrific as the events of 9/11 were, the terrorists still were not able to fundamentally change this country. And for that, I am thankful.

Makes My Monday

I don't know exactly what it was--something about the kids being excited about the three-day-weekend and us being lazy because we have a three-day-weekend--but by Saturday evening our house was a total and complete wreck.

Toys were strewn all over the playroom, living room, and all common areas. Any toys with small parts are generally kept in boxes, and several of those boxes were laying empty in the living room with hundreds of those itty bitty pieces scattered not only in that room, but several others. You couldn't walk around the house in bare feet without endangering yourself.

Sunday morning, while Cort and I were still in bed, Will came upstairs and asked us to get down yet another box-full-of-small-items toy. I told him he needed to put something away before he could get anything new out. He said there was too much for him to clean up. I thought he had a point. Cort piped in and asked Joe and Charlie to go downstairs and help him. I expected protests.

Instead, the three boys went downstairs. Helen joined them, and the four kids spent 20-30 minutes cleaning up.

And they cleaned it all up. The place was spotless.

And all of this occurred while Cort and I stayed in bed and continued to sleep.

I cannot adequately express how unbelievably impressed I was.

So all I can say is: This really makes my Monday.

Never underestimate the power of twin competition

I think I mentioned recently that Helen is starting to read. Tuesday night she read an entire BOB book on her own. This isn't great literature, of course. (Think "Mat. Mat sat. Sam. Sam sat. Mat sat on Sam. Sam sat on Mat." Scintillating.) But she read the whole thing all by herself.

I thought it appropriate to make a big deal about this. Not too big a deal, mind you, because if Helen thinks something is really important to you, then she will find every way in the world not to do it. But I told both Charlie and Joe that she had read a book by herself, then I told Cort over the phone (he was out of town), and I mentioned it to her teacher.

Will has been a little further behind on the reading curve. He knows a few words by sight, like CAT, DOG, MOM, DAD, and STOP. But if he tried to read the word "can" he would usually sound out c-a-n and then exclaim "cat!!" So, I didn't think he was really getting the whole sound-out-the-words-and-then-read-them thing.

So Wednesday night, Will said that he wanted to read a book. I thought he was going to pick a book that he had memorized. But he picked another BOB book. And then, lo and behold, he read the whole thing himself. (OK, he made two small mistakes, but then I had him re-do them and he figured them out himself.)

It looks like we are about to have two more readers in the family!

Never, ever underestimate the power of twin competition.

Second grade already

So, have I mentioned that the boys are in second grade now? Or even mentioned anything about the end of first grade? No? Well, just so it's official, the boys finished first grade last May and as of last week they are second graders!

Our second graders on the first day of school

First grade ended well, with Joseph making all As for the whole year, and Charlie missing all As by only one (and learning a good lesson in the process about trying your best because a couple of poor grades can bring an average down to unsalvageable). Charlie had a great year, though. Joseph never could manage an "excellent" conduct grade, but at least he never fell below "satisfactory."

For a variety of reasons, though--including class placement that gets both of them out of cahoots with some of the more troublemakers in their grade--we are hopeful that second grade will be even better. Although it's only been a little over a week, they seem to be really happy. Of course, that could be because they haven't had any homework yet.

To commemorate the new school year, here are a few first-day-of-school thoughts from Charlie that just came home in his folder:

1. My favorite place is Grand Camyan.
2. After school, I like to Play.
3. My pet peeve is My Sister.
4. When I feel sad, it helps to Read.
5. If I could change my name, I'd call myself Charles.
6. My favorite time of the year is Christmis.
7. I wish I were as tall as Yao Ming.
8. I'm good at sports.
9. If I could rule the world, I'd make everone pay me.
10. I could make school a better place by cleaning up.
11. If I had $100, I'd Get sports stuff.
12. The best thing that happened to me last year was Doing math.
13. My favorite possession is Balls.
14. If I lived in another country, I'd like it to be Grand Camyan.
15. On my birthday, I'd like to Go to dave and Busters.

Way Back When-esday

I cleaned out my closet the other day (yay, me!) and I found this. Joseph typed this, all by himself, when he was only four and a half. I had forgotten how advanced they really were at that age. (I had not forgotten how crazy they were about sports.)

And, although we often lament the fact that our poor, third/fourth children have never gotten the attention, and therefore had the early achievements, of their first-born brothers, guess what? Helen is starting to read! And I don't think Will is that far behind, if we just make the effort.

Which is easier said than done, of course.

Austin or bust!

Last weekend, I took the first of four planned one-on-one trips with each kid. Joe and I went to Austin. Just the two of us. For two whole days. What fun.

We went to the Capitol. Twice. Once on Saturday when we got there. And again on Sunday so Joe could take pictures with his iPod. He took pictures for an hour and a half. How cool is that?


Joe on the south steps of the Capitol Building


Joe standing on the seal in the Capitol Rotunda.


My little Capitol Building photographer - he had so much fun!

We hit a couple of my favorite Austin restaurants from the year I spent there in 1996-97. Tex-Mex at Maudie's for lunch on Saturday, and Hut's hamburgers for lunch on Sunday. Neither place has changed much.

We did what Joe wanted to do--which was play putt putt and go bowling. Sure, we could do that in Houston too, but not with only the two of us. We played only one game of putt putt due to the record-breaking heat, but we bowled three games. He loved it.


Putt putt - notice Joe's hole in one.


The putt-putt place had snocones, too. Guess which color he picked.


Ah, bowling. It has air conditioning!

We planned to see the bats at Congress Street Bridge, and our hotel was right near the bridge. Little did we know that this past weekend was the seventh annual . . . Batfest!! Our hotel had all sorts of information available about the bats, and a live bat to see. And the bridge was closed off to traffic for the festival--lots of vendors, food booths, and two live bands. It was still HOT (106 degrees at 8pm!!) but very cool. We saw the bats--all 2 million of them--come out just after 8pm. According to what we learned, they went to eat 20,000 lbs. (which Joe--ever the math kid--quickly noted is 10 tons) of insects and were back to the bridge by morning. Pretty amazing.


Congress Street Bridge - with Batfest and people waiting for the bats to emerge.


Self-portrait of Joe and me waiting for the bats.


Can you see them? IPhone pictures don't do them justice.

We also stopped by the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, including the gift shop where Joe ever so carefully picked out a gift for each family member. He did a great job. (At least after I talked him out of the garish, blinking, keychains with each person's name on them.)


Joe brought back an Austin puzzle for Helen, an Austin toy truck for Will, a football (from the museum's Texas High School Football exhibit) for Charlie, and a Texas flag themed golf ball for Cort. Good choices!

All in all, a great trip. I'm so glad I decided to do this. Next, I'm taking Charlie to San Antonio. Will and Helen will each get a trip in 2012. I can't wait!

Wordless Wednesday

20 Questions

During carpool to and from summer camp today, the boys' friend Cate taught them how to play 20 Questions. I got this report from Cate's mom, who drove them home:

So Joe announces his first topic: a liquid. Charlie's first guess: "rum punch."

Later Cate chooses the topic: a place. They ask questions and narrow it down to a store in Houston. Joe's guess: "Spec's."

Cort is so proud.

*For those out of town, Spec's is the largest liquor store in Houston.