As I type this (at almost ten thirty p.m.) there is Butt Rock blaring from my hallway ceiling. Wyatt has the clock radio wedged into the attic door, playing music at full volume in hopes of running off the Racoon that has set up shop in our roof. Of course, there’s a part of me that is charmed by the mere idea of a Racoon (left overs from Where the Red Fern Grows?) so I don’t really mind the animal and wouldn’t be opposed if he stayed a night or two. (Wyatt here….so its man vs. nature, and the dang thing keeps staring at me like its daring me to do something about it, and it makes me remember when I caught cats in a raccoon trap years ago at our first house! It is so on! everything I’ve read says there are probably babies up there, so that’s why she isn’t leaving. I’m fixin to make Anj and I and the kids all matching coon skin caps!)
And in other news . . .
The Spring Time
We’ve returned to bike riding. We talked Wyatt into pulling the bikes down from their hooks in the ceiling of the garage about a month ago. Now, when the weather is warm enough, we set out, our legs still tender and soft from a sedentary winter, and make our rounds — First up past Kellie’s house, and Zach’s house, where we may stop to climb a tree. And then on, around and up the hill (where Calvin complains, it is sooo hard), to the Fletcher’s and McGlincey’s. We only stop if they are out side. Then the children will drop their bikes and adventure on foot in the back yards while I talk to Jill and Stacey. After a while I will corral the children on, again, down and across the big road to Emmett’s house, where we will stop and ring the bell. And then, if there is still time, maybe we will make our way down to the park to play for a few minutes in the golden evening. The children like it best when we go to the park, and complain if we head home before then. But summer will come, and bike rides to the park will be mundane and they will complain when I shoo them out for such an activity. And so, I listen to their complaints and don’t bother with it anyhow.
Reading
Tonight we finished Charlotte’s Web, which, for being a book about a spider, was as enchanting as they come. I’ve been meaning to get around to reading Lewis Carroll to them, but found some lovely books at the D.I. the other day, so Carroll will have to wait.
“Doesn’t it make you happy?” I asked Wyatt, as I put my handful of children’s books into the basket with his handful of business books. He looked at my selection and shrugged. “Happy to know that someone sees the world like this, sees it for it’s simplicity and beauty, and then has the courage to write about it?” I don’t think he understood. But then again, I didn’t explain myself very well. And if you don’t understand what I’m saying either, then go read Charlotte’s Web, and then you will see.
Activity
We played baseball as our activity for Family Home Evening tonight. I only mention that because 1) it was warm enough to be outside at 7 p.m. – a first of the year, and 2) I made Wyatt take some pictures, so hopefully there will be some of me. I saw an article about how important it is for mom’s to be in pictures. I never am because I’m the one always taking them. But I hope to do better.
A Funny Story
Last week I took the kids to McD’s, where they were happily playing on the playground. There was a boy there, probably about Calvin’s age, but maybe six inches taller than him. He wanted to play with Calvin, and was getting in Cal’s face to – I don’t know – get his attention? He wasn’t being mean, he just wanted to play, and was getting right up in Cal’s face to let him know it.
Well, Everett, who was playing around the corner of the playground, looked up and saw this kid in Cal’s personal space, and I saw this light just flash in his eyes, and he jumped up, came tearing around the corner of the playground, got between Calvin and this boy, pointed his finger at the kid, and in his most I-Mean-It sort of voice, said “Hey – you don’t bother my brother.”
Which only made me laugh.
The boys all settled down into a fun time quick enough, but it made me giggle that when Everett thought there was the slightest trouble, he jumped and RAN to face off with a kid that was a full foot taller than him.
It reminded me so much of my brother, Larry, who was just like that growing up. He’d pick on you till you cried, but if ANYONE else ever bothered you, or even thought of bothering you, man, they’d better watch out!
Easter
Easter came and went without much hullabaloo this year.
(Harlequin Hullabaloo, now there’s a good book. Sorry, is it hard to read my blog when I am writing a steady stream of conciousness?)
It was so early this year that it really snuck up on us without much fan fare. We didn’t even dye easter eggs! We did have the ward hunt (over 1000 eggs this year!) and dinner with my family that was in town. But other than that – it kinda came and left without much notice.
Ahem – except in the religious-resurrection-of-the-Savior sort of way.
Birthday
Wyatt’s big number 36 was last week. Of course, we’re proud of him for surviving to this ripe old age. And we celebrated in good fashion – a home made chocolate cake, a bike ride, and an afternoon of looking at Real Estate while my mom babysat the kids (yes, we still look at Real Estate for fun). It was a nice day. We gave him an apple TV and a golfing gift certificate good at all the county courses. Happy Birthday W!
-Well, it’s now rounding 11:30. Wyatt has been trying to get that Racoon out for about an hour and a half now. He’s shot it with his bb-gun (and I was thoroughly offended), he’s flashed a light, stomped on the roof, etc. etc., but the Racoon refuses to budge. Now he thinks she might have babies. (“Don’t shoot a mamma with a bb-gun!” I said, in my most incredulous voice.) It looks like the coon might spend the night.
I think I shall call her Dorothy.
Good night.