Basketball

When they're not playing soccer, Adam and Zach are on the basketball court. Here's some pictures from their last few games.

Zach's Kindergarten team is the Wildcats.

Adam's first grade team, the Rockets. Adam is jumping, in blue, with the green wristband.

 

 

Snow Day

When I was a kid, a snow day was a rare celebration. We would wake up early and listen to the news to see if our school would be closed. We would scream in delight...SNOW DAY!

Now it seems that schools close even with the slightest tinge of white. Why is that? How do schools determine a snow day? It can't be that much different than 25 years ago, can it? So it snowed a couple of inches. Big whoop. Bundle up kids.

I won't talk about how, back in the 1980s, we put on our boots, donned hats and gloves and walked to school. In the snow.

Yesterday it snowed 4.5" in Wichita. The temperature was 32 degrees, and underneath the snow was slush, not ice. There was no blustery wind. In fact, it was really nice out...I was outside with hat and gloves, but no coat. The boys played outside for two hours.

But yet, school was closed.

Is it because the buses can't get maneuver the streets? How could they get through 25 years ago?

It is because our children have to stand in the cold at the bus stop? Can a parent not wait with them, maybe in the comfort of a warm car? I understand most parents work, but my kindergartner and first grader get on the bus at 7:45 am. Is it too much to tell an employer you'll be a few minutes late to ensure the safety of your child? Or is there a neighbor who can wait with them? Maybe I'm living in la-la land because I CAN wait and I know I can count on not one, but several neighbors to help out.

Are schools closed because administration is afraid of getting sued because a student was put into danger? It seems lately that parents are suing over the littlest thing. Schools have banned tag because someone fell down and got hurt. Well, guess what. You can't live in a bubble. Kids get hurt playing. It's a fact.

My child's job is to go to school. To learn to become a responsible, smart adult. What are we teaching our children when schools close because of a little snow? Learning to function in snow, sleet, and rain is part of life.

I'm not blaming school districts. I don't know the first thing about school policies. They have tough decisions to make all the time and they are not going to please everyone all of the time. I happen to think our school district is great and the teachers and administrators are top notch. Most importantly, my kids love going to school.

Maybe I'm just jealous because parents don't get snow days.

Wal-Mart, I am over you.

Dear Wal-Mart,

I'm breaking up with you. I've tried for many years to make it work, but you are not willing change. Prior to our meeting today, we'd been apart for a few months and I had forgotten why I was mad at you in the first place. It only took two hours for me to remember.  

Our time together was fine until I stopped your employee to help me with the coffee bean grinder. I have never used it before, so I was already feeling "out of my league." Here is how our conversation went:

Me: "I think this might be out of beans."

Employee: Shakes container. "Yeah."

Me: "Can you refill it?"

Employee: "I don't know how. You should just come back later." 

No, Wal-Mart, I am here NOW. I do not have time to come back later. What you should have said was "I'll find someone to help you." That's what customer service is all about. If I'm going to drop a load of cash at your store, I want to feel like you care about me.

When I reached the deli, there were two workers behind the counter talking. After I scanned the meat and figured out what I wanted, I made eye contact with one worker, who promptly continued talking with the other worker. I waited about five minutes for them to finish their conversation and help me. Wal-Mart, I don't like to be ignored. You're making me feel like I am intruding in your life or am a nuisance. Not the way to win a girl's heart.  

The checkout. Your last chance to impress me. I placed my reusable cloth bags on the belt and explained to your cashier that the three RED bags are bigger, so please put cracker boxes, cereal, chips...the light stuff...in those bags. Oh, and please don't bag the milk. 

The first red bag was filled with crackers and cereal. Great job! Then I noticed your cashier was loading a bunch of canned goods and jarred spaghetti sauce in the other bags. I said again, "can you put some light things in there? They get really heavy." Your cashier looked at me and said "like what?" I suggested bread, toothbrushes, paper plates and napkins. He took my suggestions, but it was too late, the bag was really heavy. So heavy, in fact, that upon arriving home, my husband made a comment about the weight. And not just one bag...two bags were heavy.

Then I see the milk. In a bag. This is what I'm talking about Wal-Mart, You just don't listen. I asked the cashier to take the milk out, and he did without a fuss. But it shouldn't have happened in the first place.

So, I'm ending it. I have spent way too much time and money on you, and it's just not worth it. You enticed me with your sweet talk about saving money and living better, but it's not worth the aggravation just to save a few dollars. As for living better, I'm sorry to say, but when I dread seeing you, that's not exactly improving my life. I know you have lots of admirers, so you probably won't even notice I am gone. If you would like to win me back, please take some lessons from Target or Dillons. 

Sincerely,

Susan

Pick your battles

I have an ongoing battle with my youngest child. His clothes. Here is what is wrong with the majority of the clothes in his closet.

Shirts

-rings on the sleeves make my arms hard to move
-buttons hurt
-squeezes my neck
-sleeve is too tight on my elbow

-sleeves are too long

Socks

-there's a hole

-there's a bump

-these socks fall down

-too tight

-too loose

-too scratchy

-this ridge squeezes my foot
-too thick

Pants

-too tight

-too loose

-too itchy

-too scratchy

-too pinchy

-too hard (stiff)

-go up and down when I walk/run/use stairs
-"go under" my feet (are too long)

-turn when I walk

-make a funny noise when I walk

-I don't like this zipper

-this snap is too hard to do

-there's holes

-feels funny when I sit down
-these pockets (cargo style) are heavy

Applies to any article of clothing:

-"this" (points somewhere on the item) hurts/feels funny

 

So I do what experts advise against: Give in and buy him clothes he will wear. I'd rather stand my ground on more important issues like doing chores, completing homework, limiting screen time, nutritious eating and personal hygiene.

Maybe I should start charging him a finder's fee when I find clothing that passes the "Zach test." Sounds eerily like the "Susie test," doesn't it? 

Unexpected Fun

Who says unloading the dishwasher is no fun? The boys get creative with this boring chore.

Zach's airport:

Adam's buildings: