Lunch with Zacky

Zac asked me to eat lunch with him on Monday. I couldn't come because of Seth, but instead, went today. Zac was so proud to have us (me & B) there. We got to sent at a central table instead of with his class, and Ben, Zac's best friend, sat with us.

The last time I went to eat lunch with one of my children (hint: it was not Zac), I was ignored while the monkey antics went into full swing. This time, we three actually had a conversation, though it went something like this:

Ben: Isaac, do you like hot dogs?

Zac: I can't have hot dogs.

Me (nudging him): Yes you can; you just can't have the bread part.

Zac: Oh, yeah. Not really.

Ben: Isaac, do you like chicken?

Zac: No, I think it's tasteless.

Ben: I think it's tasteless too, unless it has a coating on it.

Me: Zac, even with a coating on it, you don't like chicken.

Zac: (grin)

This went on for several more food items and restaurants. Then, the talk turned to movies.

Ben: Isaac, have you ever seen anything PG-13?

Zac: I don't know.

Me: Well, you saw some of Star Wars: Episode III

Zac: Yeah, I saw Episode III

Ben: I saw the whole thing. But the last part was pretty scary so I had to close my eyes. But I still liked it. The last part was gross.

More 9 year old boy conversation followed. It was pretty cute.

Seth is now wanting me to go to lunch with him. I feign slight offense and tell him that the last time I ate with him he ignored me. He insists he won't do that this time!

We'll see...I might just have to go for the conversation.

Seth is better

Are you surprised?

Swing voter

Seth said today, "Mom, do you know why I'm voting for John McCain?"

I never knew they had lowered the voting age to 7. "Why, Seth?"

"Well, if he wins, he will smash some records."

This I had to hear. "What records, Seth?"

"Well," Seth began, "if he wins, he'll be the oldest guy to be president."

True. "What other records will he smash?"

"And, if he dies, we'll have the first guhrl president."

Also true.

"He'll smash some other records, but I don't know what they are. Zac could tell me. But that's why I'm voting for John McCain."

I'll bet Mac wishes other undecideds were this easy to impress.

Seth is sick

Seth complained of a stomachache last night and he still had it this morning when he woke up. I kept him home today, but he still seems remarkably perky for a sick person. I told him he had to stay on the couch today and no friends. So far, he's complying. He did eat a bit less than normal today, so I don't think it's completely imaginary. If he gets too rambunctious, I'll threaten him with returning him to school.

MMQB's

We went to our Life Group last night and Scott and several of the men ate downstairs in front of the big screen TV, watching the end of the Broncos game (they won, BTW). I have a feeling this will be standard MO this fall for the men in our group.

Anyway, talk at the breakfast table this morning centered around football stats. Scott told me last night that Zac was reeling off his own statistics during the game yesterday. For example: "Dad, by this point in the season last year, the Broncos were 1 and 2, and the Patriots were 3 and 0" (NOTE: I made those stats up. I have no ideas what they really were...but Zac does--so ask him for the correct ones). Scott was amazed he could remember that stuff. I can think of a time when I could remember countless facts too, but that was back before birthing children eroded my grey matter. But...back to the table talk. Zac was discussing the current standings. "The Bills, the Broncos and maybe the Cowboys, are all undefeated," Zac was saying (again, don't hold me to the accuracy of that statement...reduced grey matter and all...) Then I hear this little voice, "What about the Packers?"

I turned around in amazement. "Zac," I said, "did Blane just say that?"

He grinned and said, "Yes."

Ai-yi-yi. Is this how early football mania sets in? I'm sure he was just parroting what he heard, but still...I guess I'd better get used to the fact that during Sunday afternoons in the fall, I'll be on my own. Actually, that sounds pretty good...

MOPS

Blane and I've been going to MOPS this fall--Mothers of Preschoolers. It's a national Christian-based organization, sort of like a social club or support group with a spiritual bent. Anyway, we're part of one at a community church in Olathe, not far from our church. Several of my friends at church are in it, so I decided to try it out. Blane needed some kind of extra social activity, and I don't want to do preschool now.

Blane has loved MOPS since the first day and has been asking when we were going back. Today was the second meeting (they meet bimonthly during the school year). Blane had been talking since the first day about this huge stoplight posted in the stairwell in the kids wing of the church. Today when I opened the door to the stairs, he stared at that stoplight with great uncertainty. "Blane," I said, "Are you scared?"

"No." The voice was not convincing.

"Do you want me to hold your hand when we go down the stairs?"

"Okay." He has shaken himself out of his spook by the time we made it to the bottom floor.

I've been having a great time in the mom's section...we have brunch together, a speaker on a preschool related topic, prayer and discussion time and sometimes a craft. The women are warm and friendly, and it's been a real pleasure to be around them. One of the women is 28 and undergoing chemo for breast cancer. I signed up to take her a meal later this month. Her story has been so inspirational, to see her living out faith in such a raw way. The MOPS moms have really surrounded her with support.

Anyway, I think MOPS will be a blessing to both Blane and me. I knew Blane would love it, but I didn't know I would too!

Ike

I talked to Dad tonight--they cut their Colorado trip short because of Ike. Dad said the house was fine, but Longview won't have power until Friday, and they'll be even longer in getting it back. Of course, Dad had the trusty old generator to fall back on, but all it powers is the freezer, fridge and one light. NO EMAIL! THE HORROR! It's like campin' out in your house.

One of my friends here is from Orange, TX, down near Sabine Pass, where the Sabine drains into the Gulf. It was hit especially hard by flooding. Temple said that her family told her there fish were stranded in the chain link fences, five feet of water in her mom's house and a carp and snakes swimming in her dad's house. She's going to try to get away in the next few days to help with cleanup.

Kansas ain't lookin' too bad right now. At least when we hear the sirens (like we did last Friday), we can casually turn on the TV, practically break out the popcorn and watch the weathermen pinpoint the exact location of the twister. Hurricanes? Yikarooskies.