Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Sing Daddy, SING!!

As you can imagine, such a small space requires a bit more patience and understanding – especially with six people! Sometimes, we have even had to give up a few freedoms.

One such freedom was “singing”. RJ is our songbird and could sing her way through life – that is if her sisters and parents didn’t get a little tired of it. But now she was bursting into song about doing the dishes while we were all three feet away and couldn’t go anywhere! Then, RR who is two feet away starts joining in, not singing all that in tune, and, I now can’t CONCENTRATE on answering emails ….QUIIIIEET!!

Peace would resume for five minutes. Then she’d start again. A sister would get irritated. I’d demand, “Didn’t I just tell you five minutes ago not to sing?”

We needed a solution and FAST.

Fines! Yup, that was the solution. A quarter fine for kid I caught singing. And…a quarter for any kid catching a parent singing!

Well, RR our little six year old is always looking for a way to pick up a little extra spare change. She can’t wash cars, babysit, wash windows, or much of anything to earn money so she’s always on the lookout for an opportunity. This was her chance.

RR was standing next to me. Looking up with a big smile on her face she says, “Sing Daddy, SING!!

I couldn’t resist. And she got a quarter.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Sara Who? Sara What?

Often times at dinner we discuss the next day’s itinerary. Here’s what happened one evening showing the historical prowess of my children….

(kids chorus) Where are we going tomorrow?
(Mom) We are going to visit Saratoga National Historical Park.
(Mom) What was the revolutionary war fought about?

(Various answers provided by the kids….who shall remain nameless to protect the innocent. Some were actually right!)

(kid1) Wasn’t it the war about freeing the slaves?
(kid2) No, it was about that lady who took her husband’s place in the war or something like that!
(Dad) I don’t think we’re talking about Sara Toga! It’s Saratoga – a place!
(kid2) Ohhhhh!
(Dad) I think that was Sara Pitcher.
(kids) Yeah! Yeah!
(Dad) Oops, it was Molly Pitcher.
(Mom) How do you remember so much about history?
(Dad) I read the kid’s history assignment a few months ago.

And our conversation continued – clearing the air about the difference between “revolutionary” and “civil” wars. I think.

Ok, I’m no historical buff, but at least I have an understanding of the difference, even if I didn’t like history in school! I think I learn more now than I ever did then. Crack out the whip – watch out girls, more writing assignments here we come!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Electrical Storm (or lack thereof) Changes Time!

There is no other way to top off such a wonderful visit at Niagara Falls other than an overnight stop at Wal-Mart. Nothing like free lodging! Except….when all of a sudden the 12v electricity in the motor home shuts off. Everything. Dead.

I moan.

I almost had the kids in bed and about to enjoy an hour of actually getting something done – like looking for a job! Nothing important mind you. But now…how the heck am I going to figure this out? Me an electrician, and 12v at that? No way, but, no choice either. I tuck the children in bed, tell them to flush with no water, and then I start checking all the fuses. 1x. 2x. Front. Back. Inside. Outside. Fridge fuse. Fan fuse. Breakers. Nothing’s wrong! Ok…time to break out the manuals.

C’s heading to bed and I pop in to give her the frustration update. As I report my electrical prowess and all that I had checked multiple times I mention to her…”I just don’t get it. The power just went out all at once”. She asks, “Did you check the switch by the door?”

It’s just not fair. The switch by the door. Yes, there’s a little switch that turns off the power to the entire motor home to save the batteries. Well…somehow little RR’s feet tripped it while playing joyfully in her own little world which resulted in me being in mine!

I flip the switch. ON comes the electricity. An hour later and it’s time for bed – with no work done.

I’m not frustrated or mad, just slowly realizing that God is in control. 12v, job search, and, all. He took “my time” so that I would need to rely on “His time”. I guess you could say it was time for me to change my clock.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Little Hoot Lines - #2

RJ was giving RR (Little Hoot) a butterfly kiss. Remember those? It's the eyelashes winking on the cheek or eyelashes of the kissee. RR felt her own eyelashes and said, "I have really long ones of these. If I have glasses, they need to have holes so these thingies can poke through". She was really serious!

We visited a wave pool at a public park in Pittsburgh PA. Upon hearing that we needed pay to enter, RR piped up, "Do we need to put money in to make the waves go?" I quickly asked her, "RR, didn't you bring your quarters??" "No", said RR disappointingly. We quickly corrected her perception in order to lift her gloomy spirits.