Parents arrive - Somewhere around 2-3 p.m. on Tuesday, mom and dad arrived from Chicago. All I can say to my siblings is "you schleezski's"! ;-) No one mentioned that mom and dad traded in their Accord for an Odyssey. It was a pleasant surprise and I'm very happy for them. I could sense that they missed having a van. I can tell mom likes the fact that the leather seats are a bit higher up and now have electric seat warmers. It looks good in red, too! All in all, very classy for a van. Back in 2000 we certainly would have paid extra if Odyssey's even offered leather interiors or the color red. Alas, at that time the interiors were all cloth and the colors booorriiing!
They arrived while the boys were still asleep napping. When it was time for them to wake up, dad peeked into their bedroom. Even though the boys haven't seen him since last fall, they immediately recognized him and started to squeal "where's the snake?". Dad plays a game with them where he hides his hand but exposes his thumb and they pretend that it's a snake. They shriek with excitement and laughter whenever they play this. It's funny to watch.
Ash Wednesday - I took Ash Wednesday off from work to spend some time with them. Dad and I drove into Nashua so that I could run a few errands. He enjoyed being a passenger because he doesn't often get a chance to look around as we drive around Nashua, Amherst, and Milford. Later dad and I went with mom and Claire to St. Patrick's for their Ash Wednesday liturgy. In the late afternoon Michelle and I took the kids on a walk to see the Souhegan River while mom and dad hit a few local antique stores.
Even though we were fasting most of the day, dad, Claire, and I picked up a pair of pizzas for the family's dinner. Toward the end of dinner dad, Claire, and I rushed to take Abigail to gymnastics. Rather than come home, we went to J. Beaners while Abby was at class. We had a few drinks, sat by their fireplace, and I read more of Winnie the Pooh to Claire. It was the story where the animals in the Hundred Acre Wood are first introduced to Kanga and Roo.
Timothy - Lil' Timbo has been a bit under the weather this past day. Yesterday he had a pretty runny, sneezy nose. Last night he had a bit of trouble sleeping so Michelle gave him some medicine and set him up with a vaporizer and a bottle to resettle him. Hopefully it's just a little cold that will pass. I'm even more hopeful that it can pass without going through the household.
Helen Keller - A couple of days ago we watched the 1962 original version of The Miracle Worker, the story of Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie. Many years ago Michelle and I had seen what I think was a made for TV movie which starred Patty Duke as the teacher. We were unaware that in this original version, Patty Duke played the role of Helen. It was very good. Anne Bancroft does an excellent job in her Oscar-winning role as the tough love, Irish teacher, Annie Sullivan. If you come across the movie and haven't seen it, I recommend it. I found it interesting to contemplate the consequences of too much pity.
Thursday - Of course today I head back to the office. A day off in the middle of the week is nice, though. I breaks up the work week into easier to handle chunks. Today is supposed to be sunny and in the 40's. It should make for a nice vacation day for the rest of the family. Tonight we have a sitter planned for the children while the grown-ups go out for dinner. We're considering Michelle's favorite nearby restaurant, The Pasta Loft, although I think that perhaps the Bedford Village Inn might be a nice new place for mom and dad.
Happy Birthday to our niece, Carolyn Chinni. Today she turns 5 years old. Many happy returns of the day, Carolyn!
On a related note, warmest wishes to my web neighbors, Jeff and Susie, on the birth of their new daughter, Margaret Rose Kandt, born Tuesday evening.
"When men have come to the edge of a precipice, it is the lover of life who has the spirit to leap backwards, and only the pessimist who continues to believe in progress."
-- G.K. Chesterton
About the car- I didn't know we were such good secret keepers!
TJ went back to school today. I hope Timothy is better.
The weather is beatiful here too- I may take a walk to the barber for a haircut for Will because he is starting to look like he has an 80s style.
Cassidy's class was in charge of the 8:00 Ash Wednesday Mass. It is amazing tome what kids want to do for Lent- like Chris giving up chess when he was little. Andrew is trying to stop burpiing in public. Cassidy is going to stop sitting in front of the TV (she is still going to watch it the way too much though), and she is going to read to her little brothers. TJ is going to be nicer to his siblings.
We had an interesting talk with Cassidy yesterday. There is a tough little girl in her class who has been giving her trouble. She pushed Cassidy twice yesterday, and Cass wants to know if it happens again, if she can push her back. It was tough to not just say- sure go ahead. But instead, we talked about trying to work it out with her ahead of time, and told her she has to do what feels right for her and deal with the consequences. I am waiting for a call from school any moment!
Have fun with Mom and Dad!
Lys