A Gambling Man

A few months back Todd wrote a post about my musical knowledge or more accurately, the fact that he had no idea I had some Classic Rock musical knowledge. He placed a friendly wager with me in a fast food restaurant, sure he was going to come out on the winning end.

He didn't.

Usually about once a month Todd goes and plays poker with a bunch of guys from work. Sometimes he wins, sometimes he loses, but he likes to get out with the guys, and I can't blame him for that...besides, if he wins, I get half the earnings for being home with the kids all night long. Fair's fair, right?

I also hear quite often about small bets he's making with some of the guys at work. Usually it's about football teams, sometimes about how much or how little food they can eat in a single sitting. Usually these bets are simply for a lunch, or a can of soda or something along those lines. Nothing that will break the bank. That's the good news.

The bad news is, he loses. Not always, but occasionally.

A few months back we were invited to dinner with some friends from church. The four of us spent a fun evening with their family and enjoyed their company, like always. Todd got into a great conversation with their oldest son (who's 10) and they started offering up all sorts of trivia. At the time it was mainly geographic trivia. As always, the conversation turned to sports, namely college football. Since it was September, it was early in the season and Todd and D got into a heated debate over who the better team was, University of Arizona or Arizona State. (I should put in here that of course I knew best and it was the University of Florida, and I was proved correct only 4 short months later. Go Gators!)

Anyway. As it was, ASU was 2-0 at this point and I believe that UofA was maybe 1-1. I could be totally wrong though. Either way, the battle ensued, and Todd couldn't resist and made a bet with D. The bet was simply this:

Whoever has the better record at the end of the season wins. Loser needs to do the winners chores on a Saturday morning. Of course each thought they were going to win. Little did we know that ASU was going to lose like 5 in a row. It's not looking good for me at this point.

Notice I say me, because I'm well aware of the fact that it will be me at home with the kids while said debt is being paid. Regardless, ASU started to play well again, and UofA started to falter. It came down to the final game of the season. And in true dramatic fashion it was ASUvUA. If ASU wins, the bet is null and void. They end the season with equal records. If UA wins, the bet is over and Todd owes a 10 year old a Saturday morning of servitude.

The big day came and we all went to our ward Christmas party, and we all left quickly so we could watch the game together. It was ugly. So very ugly. ASU lost and the taunting began. To be honest, the taunting began long before the game was over. It was that bad. ASU had lost and so had Todd. It wasn't pretty.

I made a request that we wait until after the holidays before Todd does his chores. It gave D plenty of time to make up his list.

Last Saturday was the big day. Todd showed up at 9am to work off his loss. Luckily, D's mom showed some mercy and had D work alongside him so the work got done quicker. I called ahead and made sure that some pictures were taken so he could remember what happens when you gamble...

I feel it important to mention two things at this point. First, when D commented that it sure was nice to have help and that his work goes by much quicker, Todd responded by saying that this is what happens when you gamble. Not exactly the thing you want to teach a 10 year old that just WON the bet. Second, underneath Todd's sweatshirt is a Florida Gators t-shirt. I think after 5 years he's finally changed allegiances. He no longer expects equal cheer time from the kids when they cheer for the Gators. I think he realizes which school is the more dominant school in our house.

Celebrations...

I have to plead the 5th on a claim that I don't like celebrations. Living on my own for so many years holidays, birthdays and other events generally equated to a phone call or some other small "celebration" and never included birthday cakes, parties or the like. Marrying Nicole was like two diesel trucks hitting head on...full cakes (and candles), singing, cup cakes, presents for Easter, or any other justification to give gifts or celebrate for any reason are the norm. It is horrible, I mean I love it honey!

Recently we celebrated a birthday in the family. Those of you that know us (meaning one person on my side and my wife's entire family) know when and what birthday I'm talking about. Notice how I don't mention the rest of my family...thus where I get the celebration or lack of celebration tradition from.


I didn't earn any extra credit when I signed up to work an off-duty job on the big day. No cakes, no singing, no presents.

After coming home I finally broke down. We took the kids to McDonald's and got an ice cream cone for everyone to celebrate. The kids played in the play area and I got to sit peacefully with my wife eating ice cream and watching them have fun. What better present could one ask for? I know you're not supposed to do this but I wish next year is exactly like this one. I love you guys.

Go, Diego, Go!

I'm constantly told that I don't post much about Isaac. I guess I don't realize it much because Dylan seems to be the one to say and do the funny things...until recently. Isaac has begun to talk a lot more in recent weeks. He just has the cutest voice and has so much to say. He is such a happy, friendly little guy too. I'm always amazed at how easily he can talk to anyone. Granted, usually it's just hello and goodbye, but he offers his smile and wave to everyone he comes in contact with. I wrote earlier about taking the kids to see Santa and how easy it was to get Isaac to sit on Santa's lap and smile. He's pretty much like this with everyone.

But I'm getting off topic. Back to Isaac and how he loves to talk and is starting to say so much more.

When I was still in High School, Santa brought all my sisters and I new slippers to wear during the winter. These weren't any ordinary slippers though, they had huge animal heads on them. My favorite animal is a gorilla, or a monkey, or an ape, or an orangutan or a baboon...you get the idea. I love them. Always have. Well, of course, my slippers were gorilla slippers. They were so warm and comfy.

I still have those slippers. I pull them out during the winter when our tile floors are cold. I also pull them out when I'm getting ready for church on Sunday. I like to put my slippers on to protect my nylons from getting runs in them as I walk around the house. I like to put my shoes on at the last possible minute, which usually means in the church parking lot.

Well, a couple of weeks ago was the first time that I put the slippers on. I don't think either of the kids have ever seen my slippers either (and yes, that makes these slippers over 10 years old). The kids were in the kitchen eating breakfast as I was getting ready for church and all of a sudden I hear Isaac come running down the hall. I was sitting on my bed when Isaac walked straight up to me, threw his hands out in front of him right at my slippers and yelled, "Freeze BoBos!"

I couldn't believe what he just said. My gorilla slippers reminded Isaac of the BoBo brothers from Diego. The BoBo brothers are the mischeivous little spider monkeys on the show. Whenever they come around, you are supposed to yell at them to freeze and stick out your arms like you want them to stop.

It was so funny to watch him react to my slippers, but even funnier that he could tell me exactly what he's supposed to say and do whenever the BoBo brothers come around. I can't wait to hear what comes out of his mouth next.

Our Sunbeam

For the last month Dylan has been going to primary with the big kids. Our ward decided to do this so the three year olds could get used to the idea of sharing time instead of nursery. (The easiest way to describe Primary is to separate it into two parts. There's sharing time, where the kids - in this case all the kids ages 3-7 - get to sing, participate in giving talks and scriptures and listen to the monthly themed lesson. And the second part is the actual class. This is where each individual age group has an individual lesson with their teacher.)

From the very first Sunday, Dylan has looked forward to singing with the big kids. She would ask each day if it was Sunday so she could go sing. I worried about whether or not she was behaving herself and would constantly ask some of the other moms that were in Primary for various reasons. I always got glowing reports that she was well behaved. I was relieved.

Two weeks ago I was released from my calling as a Sunday School teacher and was called as a Primary teacher instead. I was thrilled when I was told I'd be teaching the 6 year old class, but worried about how Dylan would handle being in sharing time with her class, while I sat with my own.

On Saturday we had our "Meet the Teacher" breakfast at the church and Dylan and I attended together. She got to meet her new Sunbeam teacher and the rest of the kids in her class, while I got to meet my class also. Dylan did great. She sat with her class, was well behaved and ate her cereal without incident. But Sunday was going to be the true test.

When sharing time started Dylan sat with her arms folded in her lap and paid close attention to what was going on. She was quiet and sang and throughly enjoyed herself. Since my class is the oldest class during this time, I got to sit in the back row and watch her. It was the most fun to watch Dylan sing and enjoy herself. She turned around once or twice to look for me, and when she caught my eye she would smile and wave. I would wave in return, tell her to turn back around and pay attention and that was that.

When it was time to separate to our classes she came to me, told me she loved me and was on her way. Not a tear or whine in sight. Just pure joy and excitement.

After church was over I went to collect Dylan from her classroom. She was still so excited and proud to show me the picture she had colored and tell me what she learned. All day long we sang the songs we sang during sharing time and those same songs are the ones I've heard all day today as well.

I love our little Sunbeam and I can't wait to continue watching her learn and enjoy Primary throughout the year.