4/16/2010 Putzy puck boys

I often scan the newspaper while having dinner -- it used to be that this was considered bad manners at the family table, but thanks to iPhones and Blackberrys, newspapers are now off the hit list of dividing families. Tonight, Gabriel picked up the San Jose Mercury News, and instead of going to the comics, he wanted to read the sports columnist. Sports column, really? From there he learned -- and I learned -- that our "local" hockey team is in the playoffs, and that there was a game tonight. In fact, puck drops in about 7 minutes.

"CAN WE WATCH MOM?!"

I never miss an opportunity to get them off their duffs. "OK, but only AFTER bath and teeth-brushing."

Gabriel was bathed, brushed, and PJ'd before the first face-off. This is nothing short of miraculous for a kid who can take 15 minutes just to take off his shoes. It's really remarkable how fast he can move when he decides that's what he wants to do. He's unbearably putzy and spacey most nights, but not this one. Julian only missed a few minutes of the game too. I like how hockey motivates kids.

However, I'm not that nice. I didn't want a nightmare of exhausted kids tomorrow, so, after (a very exciting!) first period, off to bed for boys.

I wonder, if they watched more TV at home, would it lose its power, or gain more, in motivating them?

4/16/2010

4/15/2010 Tax Day

I'm not sure what to do with myself: an evening without the crushing pressure of filing taxes?! Amazing. But, all that does is let the crushing pressure of everything else rush back in. And I'm still not feeling well, fighting something in my stomach for almost 2 weeks now. Too bad, because I finally have time to do ... well, something. Gridlock!

No, it's clear what to do: finish putting this together to send to SoCal:


(loving art courtesy Julian)

4/15/2010

4/14/2010 Done!

WHAT A PAIN. But it's done. I really resent how difficult and complex tax-filing is; and that's with relatively straightforward situations. The trauma and aggravation can be set aside for a year, and I can be a Mom again tomorrow.

4/14/2010

4/13/2010 Hockey Boy

Last hockey class tonight. They played a "game," if you can call semi-controlled mayhem a game. No obvious team designations, no one really knew where or who to shoot to -- but at least there was an even number of kids on each "side," two goals, and one puck.

Right before the game, I splurged on some kneepads and gloves for Gabriel, later realizing the gloves are much too small. Hockey gloves on other kids look like mitts. These look like...well, gloves. But he loved them.


My tough cookie....he's so tiny out there, but so competitive and tough. Trouble is, he can't skate. The kid with the white jersey #20 skated circles around him again and again. Gabriel at least finally admitted he can't skate "fast" -- a start, but there's a lot more to hockey skating than just speed.


I had what I thought was an inspired idea when Dave offered to pick up Katrina. How about we all meet at the ice rink and go to Benihana for dinner afterward? Fun, but, it takes a long time. The boys didn't even have all their food until 7:30, by which time Katrina was really winding down. Still, they all loved the chef -- an actual Japanese one, incredibly -- and the food.

First a little running around out front.


They cleverly design the kids menus so they can be rolled into a hat.


Since we didn't plan this outing, we had two cars, and I took Katrina home early and averted any disasters. Gabriel suggested we do this every Tuesday -- with kids' meals alone at $13 a pop, and the great deal of extra time it takes at Benihana, I don't think so! But it was fun as a special treat.

Even though we're both working and not going anywhere interesting or fun, I'm completely enjoying "spring break" !

4/13/2010

4/12/2010 Home again

Dave's home, tired and drained, but glad to have been with Laura through the very worst of this health crisis. She's doing much better, recovering every day, thank goodness, but there will be some rehabilitation before things are back to normal. Even then, with this sort of thing, no one commits to what normalcy we'll get back to.

But since my life can't exist without Laura being completely solidly there for me (because, of course, it's about me), I know she'll be back bopping around with the boys like she was a few months ago. There just can't be any other way.

4/12/2010

4/11/2010 Project Runway

Busy, rainy day. I slept late, watched cooking shows in bed joined by Katrina, got the kids breakfast. Took them to the Y and Trader Joe's, home, put away groceries, made lunches, dealt with boys being absolutely completely utterly horrible.

So I really had no energy for Katrina shrieking upstairs as I was finishing up in the kitchen. I dropped what I was doing for the 100th time and dragged my feet up the stairs, dreading yet another futile reprimand that if it wasn't ignored was only laughed at.

Then I heard an angelic voice -- or is that angel's voice -- float down: "Don't worry Mommy, I'll help her. She just wants to reach a dress." Julian. And all was quiet upstairs for another 20 minutes.

Then Julian and Katrina came downstairs, holding hands. Julian proudly showed his work, as though he'd designed the outfit himself: "I helped her get dressed, and I even did all the buttons!"


How adorable. Though there were many tough moments today, they were outweighed by many sweet ones. Julian was also very helpful at Trader Joe's, and overall cooperative about cleaning up his room and putting away his laundry -- when Gabriel wasn't around. But I'd rather think about the sweet things than the obnoxious ones.

4/11/2010