Lunch

I received a note from Abigail's teacher informing me that a boy in her class was going to celebrate his birthday at school. The boys' mothers was providing pizza for lunch.  With this knowledge I did a secret happy dance because I really hate packing lunch everyday.  Abigail had others ideas, "I don't want to eat the pizza.  I will have to eat it with my hands and I don't do that."  Thinking peer pressure would sent in, I sent her to school without a lunch hoping she would pick the pizza up and eat it like four million other Americans.

All day I thought about what happened at lunch, I couldn't wait for the bus to arrive so I could begin my endless questioning.  Finally the moment of truth, "How was the pizza?"  "It was good, but I was still hungry so I bought lunch."  "What do you mean you bought lunch?"  "I went in the buyer line and I bought lunch."  "I don't understand.  How could you buy lunch? You don't have a code." "I got a chicken patty and I just put numbers in."  "Why did you do that?"  "Because I didn't like the grilled cheese." "NO, why did you think you could just buy lunch?"  "Because I was still hungry. Please don't send me to school without a lunchbox again."  "I though Herbert's** mother was bringing lunch.  Was she even there or is a different day."  "She was there and the cupcakes were good."  "I'm done.  Do you want a snack?"  "No, I'm not hungry."

I am still confused.  Each child is assigned a numerical code for lunch and each code comes with an account the parents add money to when needed.  I never set up our account because I prefer to send the kids with lunch.  I apologize and thank the parents who paid for Abigail's chicken patty.


**Names have been changed to protect the pizza boy and mother.

Moved

Abigail informed me she was moved in class twice on Friday.  When I asked her why she was moved she replied, "I can't help it if so many people want to talk to me."

Good Boy

Donny's behavior over the past few days has been outstanding.  He is helping me around the house without being asked or told.  The love he has for his sister is evident in his actions and his performance at school is really excelling.  I pulled him aside today to tell him how proud I was of his behavior lately.  He was looking at me while I was speaking but he seemed to be looking at my head rather than my eyes.  As I was wrapping up my I love you, you're so wonderful speech he whacked me on the side of my head.  "What? I know how much you hate bugs and there was one on your head."

Love

I just had to share this photo that I took this morning before school. I love the way she is looking at Donny. Makes my heart burst with pride.

Reading

I questioned Abigail about her day while she was in the bath.  "Do you like school?"  "We haven't learned to read yet so what's the point of this whole Kindergarten thing anyway?" "Abigail, it's only your third day of school be patient."

Pumpkin

When I was a little girl I would go to my Uncle's farm and walk through a giant field to pick out a pumpkin for Halloween.  My father mailed me two pumpkin seeds that he got from my uncle and I hoped for the best.  I planted each seed in a starter pot and once they were big enough I transplanted them to the side of the house.  I took a photo of Donny next to one of the pumpkins last night.

For You

Big Daddy suggested Abigail mix her cous cous with the mashed cauliflower,  "Daddy, I'm only eating this white stuff to impress you."

School

We put our little ones on the bus Thursday for the first day of school. It was a bad day for mommy a lot of crying. I worried about Abigail all day. She is a year younger than Donny was when he entered Kindergarten.  Deep down I knew she would be fine I just missed my little ones and have to face facts, they are growing up.

Surprise Trip

Big Daddy and I spent Sunday the 25th packing for a surprise trip to Ohio. I rented a travel trailer and had it delivered to my father's house. The kids had no idea we were doing anything.  In fact, as we packed around them they didn't seem to notice.  They finally caught on by the end of the day but thought we were going back to Jellystone.

We pulled out of the driveway around 5:30 the next morning.  I gave Donny a map and told him to follow along and he might figure out where we were going.  He lost interest and six hours later read the Welcome to Ohio sign.  "Since we are in Ohio can we visit Grandpa?"   We spent the night two hours from our final destination.  I realized the last time we took the trip Abigail was only six months old so we made quite a few stops making the trip much longer. 

The kids were so happy when we pulled in the driveway at Grandpas and when they found out we were sleeping in the travel trailer it was pure joy.  Donny was able to spend a lot of time with Grandpa and even got to ride in the Model T to a car show; no car seat or seat belt.  Big Daddy, Abigail and I met them at the car show.  Donny walked up to us and told us we could go.  I was so glad they could spend that time together.  Donny is going to remember his outing with Grandpa for the rest of his life.

Grandpa joined us for a trip to Wright Patterson Air Force Base which has the best airplane museum in the county.  (my opinion)  Donny was beside himself and both of the kids were afraid of getting crushed by the aircraft hanging from the ceiling.   We attended the Heritage Festival on Saturday and I was so excited because I have not been there in years.   I wasn't happy about the heat.  It was hot!  When my sister and I were little we camped in the encampment with Dad.  I couldn't wait to show the kids the encampment.  A man dressed in mountain man garb walked passed us as we were entering the festival and I heard Donny say this is going to be awesome.  We spent the day with grandpa, Aunt Steph, Uncle Derrick and the cousins.

Our plan was to leave on Sunday but the cousins had such a good time together we decided to stay an extra day.  We spent the last night at Aunt Steph's and the kids played for the entire day.  We had two very tired little ones on the plus side they slept a lot on the drive home.

Abigail cleaning the Buckeyes we collected.  Grandma Barb helped the kids make Buckeye necklaces.

Donny helping Grandpa fix the lawnmower.

Grandpa and Donny leaving for the car show.

Grandpa's old house.  I love this house.

Donny eating his new favorite food an omelet.

Wright Patterson

Grandpa's Model T

Abigail wanted to know why the man was getting scolded.

Only in Ohio.

Need I saw more?

Outside of the museum.

Inside of the Indian Museum at the Heritage Festival.

Abigail skipped the magician to watch the Elvis impersonator.  She told Big Daddy that he wasn't the real Elvis because the real Elvis is dead.

Cousin Riley and Grandpa on the canal boat ride.

The pond behind the Johnston House



Grandpa and Grandma's beautiful deck was perfect for Abigail's photo shoot.

Our home for the week.

Piqua Heritage Festival

Johnston Farm