What's the big deal?

I wonder how far to go back with this story. Its origins lie many years ago (many to me right now is about three or four). When Daniel was three or four he cracked a tooth on a popcorn kernel. As a result of that he had a 'spacer' put in soon thereafter, to keep his other teeth from collapsing in on the gap. He loved to fool around with the spacer, and it repeatedly popped out, and we had to take him in to have it popped back in. Having finally had enough, the dentist cemented it in there so well that now I am a bit concerned that that sucker is never coming out. But, I have wandered off the path of my original story.

Because of the spacer, Daniel had to avoid chewy candies and gum. No big deal, he is more of a cookie aficionado like his father anyway. However, we recently realized that there is a massive gap (no pun intended) in Daniel's candy protocol knowledge.

Sammy loves gum. Loves it. Not as much as spicy things, but a lot. If he ever discovered spicy gum he might jump right out of his pants with excitement. So, for Sammy's recent sixth birthday, Suzy and I got him a gumball machine (good call on our part, it was a big hit). Daniel thought it was pretty cool too, so he ran upstairs, grabbed himself some coinage and returned to purchase his first gumball. Suzy and I were playing 'Sorry' (I ended up being the Sorry one), so we weren't paying the greatest of attention, but I soon realized that Daniel had shoved a decent percentage of his life savings in that gumball machine so I decided to check on him. My gaze wandered to his face as he walked around the room looking at and playing with all of Sammy's new loot. A tell-tale sign of gum chewers was missing. Warning flags were going off in my head. No chewing.

'Uh, Daniel, what did you do with your gum?'

'Oh, that wasn't gum, it was just candy.'

Having purchased said gumball machine and additional gum supplies, Suzy and I were pretty sure that it was gum, but Daniel is not often wrong, so I paused and thought things through for a while.

'I am pretty sure it was gum, what did you do with it?'

'It got soft and squishy, so I swallowed it.'

Now is when I remembered the common knowledge bestowed upon children of my generation, that gum was going to stay in his stomach forever. Thankfully I long ago rejected all knowledge imparted to me as a youngster and knew that eventually that gum would no longer be hanging around Daniel's innards.

'Daniel, that was gum, bud, you aren't supposed to swallow it. When you are done with it you go and throw it away.'

Daniel was looking at us like we were crazy, or trying to be funny.

'Why would you throw it away? Why don't you eat it?'

'That's just what you do, bud. Once it loses its flavor you chuck it... in a trashcan.'

Daniel, having seen his brother gush over gum for the last year or so, was by now very confused.

'What's the big deal, then?'

I don't know, bud, I don't know.

Now at least one more piece of parental wisdom has been imparted to my children. He knows how to call 911, he knows what to do in a fire. He knows how to make peanut butter crackers. Now he knows what to do with gum. My parenting duties are almost complete. Who's ready to learn how to drive?

Drunken Frat Party

Last night and this morning Suzy and I got a little view of what things will be like in about 14 years when both our boys will be in college.

In the span of one night the boys (some combination of them) accomplished all of this:

1. Breaking one of the slats in Papa's beautifully designed and built custom bunk bed (repeated jumping from the top bunk seems to be the culprit here).
2. Destroying a reading light (Daniel holding onto light switch while Sammy body slammed him from behind).
3. Drawing all over each other with pens (he started it!).
4. There also was a sleeping accident, but we won't mention that so I don't embarrass my youngest son (can blame this one on all the beer).

Please let me re-iterate that this all occurred during the course of ONE NIGHT! Some day I will look back on this and laugh... but not this day.

So far, so good...

The boys have been in school for 4 weeks now and so far, so good. Actually I should say so far, so great. The boys are really enjoying this school year. Great classes and great teachers. Neither one has complained about going to school or doing homework yet. I would say that's pretty good. They both have already grown so much. Both of their handwriting have improved and they are learning new things every day. They really are like sponges at this age. I am thankful they are so happy and blessed that they go to such a great school.