"Today is What!?"

The last day of school, that's what! What's funny is that Emily didn't really have a reaction to it. Some kids were like "Wow, I am so glad that's over!" and others were all "Aww, I'm gonna miss it!" but she was kind of like "Ehh, it is what it is". What can ya say to that huh? Now each kid had to behave or else...they got their folder signed. Emily actually got hers signed twice but this was the first of the year. I had told her if she went the rest of the year without getting it signed we'd go to Olive Garden for dinner. Well, here it is Friday night, and guess where we're going for dinner lol.

Memorial Day is comin' up. Besides the 3 day weekend, there aren't really any plans made. Except for cleaning the house...arggh. I swear, our house was built for the sole purpose of attracting dirt and messes. I was reading Dear Abby one day (as I always tend to do) and there were responses to a letter a mom wrote saying she made her kids clean the house every Saturday and nothing could be done until that was done, thereby creating resentment and strife among the family as the kids got older. Now I agree there are more important things then a clean house in this life but man...as soon as we get it all spiffied up it's right back where it was. Talk about a never-ending battle.

We played our company softball game last Saturday. I skinned my leg up bad...I mean bad. Right now I have to keep it covered and it either hurts, stings or itches 24/7. We didn't win the tournament, but at least I'm in a lot of pain.

Zach has learned a valuable negotiating tool recently: fall to the ground and cry like you've lost the will to live. I bought these Shrek Sludge fudge ice cream bars from 7-11 last night and was trying to share one with him and since he didn't get to hold it by himself, which he would have dropped if I had let him, didn't want any part of it. He's going to have to learn things the hard way I guess. Just like his old man.


Zach: "Hey Dad, you make a better door then a window."

Me: "What?"

Emmy: "What he means is, he can't change the channel with you standing there trying to get the (makes quote motion with hands) "perfect picture."

Me: "Ahh...gotcha...what are you watching anyways?"

Both: "The World Series of Poker!"

Me: "Cool...rock on."

Sometimes...I look back on all the stupid things that I did while I was growing up...and I no longer wonder why my parents would get so angry with me. I know exactly why they would. I would tell them the teacher didn't give us any homework when everyone knew she had. Lying was always my Achilles' heel if you will. In hindsight, I think the reason I would lie to get out of trouble was because I never knew what the alternative was. If I admit it, I was sure to get punished...or spanked...or worse. But in the mind of a boy, lying was kind of like a 50-yard pass into double coverage. You think if you 'thread the needle' just right, you'll be free and clear. But more often then not, the pass is batted down, or worse, intercepted and run back for a touchdown. My parents would always hope the last time was the last time, but it never was. I try to keep in mind that kids are single-minded up until adolescence. I won't expect mine to remember anything until they're much older, so that when they do remember something it's a mini-celebration lol. Emmy knows exactly what will happen if we catch her in a lie. Every now and then we do, esp. when it comes to her brushing her teeth. She would say she did it, but then I would ask to smell her breath. If she was willing to let me, I knew she had brushed them. If not...automatic pop on the behind. My spankings don't hurt much but it hurts Emmy inside because she knows she misbehaved. Now, when I ask her, she flat out tells me yes or no, and it's little things like that that make me feel we're all going down the right path. One step at a time.