Egg Drop

Domino's school recently had its an annual "Egg Drop". The Egg Drop is a fun event where kids package up eggs in recycled materials with the goal of the egg being able to survive a launch off the roof by the teachers. It's a great time filled with a chorus of "ooh!"s "ahh!"s and "d'oh!!!"s as kids watch their eggs fly through the air and hit the ground with a resounding thud. Some packing withstands the impact beautifully, others packages explode on impact on the ground below leaving traces of Egg Drop hope and shredded paper bits behind like confetti after a huge New Years Eve bash.

Remains of Egg Drop causalities

Last year, Domino created "The Ruff Ride 360". His egg survived the plummet (probably because I did most of the packaging of the egg and made sure it could handle the impact). This year, Domino created "The Glider" - a tissue box filled with a cut up egg carton, covered in white butcher paper, with 2 yogurt cups taped to the sides like airplane wings. I left the design and creation to him and only offered suggestions as to what I thought might be big issues. It was difficult to be so "hands off" but I knew it was important for him to take ownership of his project. It was an important lesson for both of us. I assisted with a few test run tosses in the backyard and the egg came away in "egg-celent" condition (I "crack" myself up... someone stop me...).

This year, the Egg Drop rules were slightly different. All packing needed to be recyclable. That meant no tape. I wasn't aware of the "no tape" rule and when we arrived at the school we immediately had to modify The Glider and remove the yogurt cup wings and all tape holding the butcher paper on and the tissue box closed.

How'd his egg do?

The launch

The anticipation!

The inspection...

... the results - a hairline crack.

The agony of defeat!

Better luck next year!

The Flick

Long ago, the terrible parents we are, we created "the flick". Instead of spanking our kids - Tony (and I on very rare occasions) gives them a flick with his middle finger, typically in the middle of their forehead. It's usually enough to get their attention when they are at their worst, it stings a bit - is probably considered abuse by some - but they get over it quickly and it snaps out whatever demon they are currently being possessed by. It's not our proudest parenting accomplishment, but "it is what it is".

I worked at Domino's school yesterday. All the kids were sitting on the floor in front of the teacher for story time and I was at the back of the classroom assembling some homework packets. I noticed that Domino was involved in some sort of drama and was being questioned about it by his teacher. My ears perked up and I started to listen in to what was going on.

Girl #1 told Girl #2 that her hair and face are ugly. Domino was sitting in between the 2 of them and he defended Girl #2. The teacher overheard him talking smack back to Girl #1. Big discussion ensued with Girl #2 about how if something isn't true, "which this obviously isn't because you're a beautiful young lady with beautiful hair", then don't listen to Girl #1. When people are unhappy with their own lives and worlds they often try to hurt others to make themselves feel better. Makes perfect sense. Hard to grasp at age 7. Still hard to grasp even at 38.

I pulled Domino aside later and commended him for sticking up for Girl #2 and said I was very proud of him for defending her against someone so mean. He said "You know what Mom? Girl #1 needs to be flicked."

I agree.

The Proof Is In The Flip Video

Rascal: "Mom! Domino broke the DJ that I gave to him for his birthday!"

Domino: "I don't know what happened - it just broke when I was playing with it!"

A likely story.

Me: "Domino, was brother still video taping when DJ broke?"

Clearly, the light bulb goes on in his head...

Domino: "Uh... yes...."

Me: "Do you think the video will show us EXACTLY what you were doing to the car when it broke?"

Domino: "Probably..."

Me: "Do you think you can remember now what happened?"

Domino: "Um.... I might have hit it with my light saber."

Me: "You might have. Might have?"

Domino: "Um, yeah, I hit it with my light saber."

Mom: "Do you think the video will show me you only hitting it once?"

Domino: "Um.... probably not..."

Out Of The Mouths Of Babes

Out of the mouths of babes -- by Domino and Rascal (age 7 and 5)

1. What is something your mom always says to you? I love you (Rascal) I love you Domino (Domino)

2. What makes your mom happy? Kisses and hugs (Rascal) I say the same thing (Domino)

3. What makes mom sad? Making her angry (Rascal) Same thing for me (Domino)

4. How does your mom make you laugh? Tickling! (Rascal) Totally tickling (Domino)

5. What was your mom like as a child? A nice kid (Domino) No, a nice girl (Rascal)

6. How old is your mom? 37 (Domino) 37 too (Rascal) (thanks kids... wish it were true...)

7. How tall is your mom? I think she's about 60 - uh - I forget. (Domino) Um, is this a math game? I'm only in preschool. (Rascal)

8. What is her favorite thing to do? Get on the computer all day (Domino) Have coffee (Rascal)

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? She does homework and dishes (Rascal) She's still on the computer (Domino) (I blame Facebook!)

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? I think she'll be a movie star (Domino) and I think she'll be a rock star (Rascal)

11. What is your mom really good at? Typing (Domino) Taking showers (Rascal)

12. What is your mom not very good at? Eating all her popcorn (Rascal) Playing video games (Domino)

13. What does your mom do for her job? Works on her computer (Rascal) Does work for her boss on the computer (Domino)

14. What's your mom's favorite food? Those square kind of graham cracker things (Rascal) olive oil popcorn (Domino)

15. What makes you proud of your mom? Taking care of us (Domino) Giving me pop tarts (Rascal)

16. If your mom was a cartoon character, who would she be? Princess Leia from Star Wars the Clone Wars (Domino) She would be Finuala from Star Wars the Clone Wars (Rascal).

17. What do you and your mom do together? We play (Rascal) same thing for me (Domino)

18. How are you and your mom the same? Because we love each other (Rascal) same thing for me (Domino)

19. How are you and your mom different? We're boys (Rascal) Yeah, that's right (Domino)

20. How do you know your mom loves you? Because she loves me with all my heart (Rascal) She gives me kisses every day (Domino)

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Starbucks (Rascal) Yeah - Starbucks starbucks starbucks. (Domino) No wait, I change my mind, I say Taco Bell (Rascal).

Fore

The family has been on "Spring Break" vacation this week. It's great that this week of vacation falls along Domino's birthday every year (public school = Spring Break at the first week of spring, not Easter...) and Tonester took a week of vacation to coincide.

We haven't done too much this week, trying to keep the $ in check, but yesterday was a bit of a splurge and we took the kids miniature golfing. They had never been before and it was a gorgeous day for an afternoon outdoors.

Domino enjoyed himself, but as with most sports, struggled to coordinate his mind and his body. Trying to get him to grip the club properly proved futile. That didn't deter him from having fun!


Rascal took to the game like a natural - even scoring a hole in one on the 3rd hole!!


And on the 4th hole, hit the ball with such power he sent it out past the hole and into the pond. Whoops!


A big splurge for the day was I went and got my hair cut and colored. It had been a year since I had my hair cut and was long over due for some professional color. It had actually been so long since I had my hair cut the boys were concerned - they were worried I was going to get my hair cut as short as theirs! Tonester did a great job of prepping them to praise the results and Domino called out as soon as I opened the door to the house (out of his line of vision) "You look awesome Mom!". I got a "wow" out of all three when I turned the corner. It felt nice.

The day felt nice.

Seven

0

This past week, Domino turned 7. My goodness - where have the years gone?!

1

2

In the past, Domino's birthday has been a huge affair. For his first birthday we invited our friends and family - and announced he was going to be a big brother. Other years we've had jumpy tent house parties, bowling alley parties and invited classrooms full of children. We have spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on birthday parties (more specifically EACH party), and I have spent endless hours planning everything from the theme, the homemade invitation, the food, the presents and of course "the perfect goody bag". Birthday parties in our house are typically a 2 day event - one party day for family and another for friends.

3

4

This year was way different. We couldn't afford to throw our usual "invite his entire class" type party and instead opted to just have just a family party. I was very concerned how Domino would react to this major downsizing and was surprised at how agreeable he was.

5

6

All in all - it was a nice birthday. I worked in his classroom for the day and got to witness the special birthday dance, celebrated his day with his classmates sharing his favorite lemon cookies and lemonade and then we went to dinner at his favorite "TR2". We had our immediate families over on Saturday for a nice lunch and cake and cozied up with a good DVD together that night. It was really all we needed.

7

I love you Domino. You are growing into such a wonderful young man. You have changed my world completely and I can't imagine how I lived without you in my life.


xoxo,
Mom

New Math

While driving in the car with Rascal:

"Mom! Look! Here comes Daddy's work!"

"Oh yeah? Can you see it yet?"

"Yeah! Ready! Herrrrrrreeeee it comes.....
annnnyyyy second now......
riiiiiiiiiight over here......
annnnnnyyyyyyyyy second......
almoooooooossssst.......
almoooooooossssttt.....
in 1....
2......
3.....
4....
5.....
5 and a quarter.....
5 and a half......
5 and 3 quarters.....
5 and 2 pennies.....
6 and a nickle and 4 dimes......
THERE!"