Gender Confusion

One of our Christmas traditions is to meet our Southern California family members on Balboa Island 

 

for dinner at the dive Chinese restaurant, 

a walk around the island to see the lights, 

and a treat at Dad's.

One luxury of eating at the Chinese restaurant is the use of their bathroom, one of the few restaurants with facilities.

At the end of our dinner, before our walk around the island, Mindy went to use the restroom but found both the Girls and Boys room were occupied.  After patiently waiting, the Boys room became available.  In her typical take charge style Mindy made an executive decision to use the available room.

Shortly after entering the Boys room the door began rattling as someone was trying to enter.  Every few seconds they tried again, and again.  From the voices outside the door it was apparent there were a couple of young boys, maybe 8 years old, wanting to use the restroom.  After they tried the door for the umpteenth time, Mindy politely responded, "Just a minute, I'm almost done".

Silence.

No more door rattling.

Meanwhile back at the table, Mindy's sister Merryann noticed a couple of young boys running to their family table exclaiming "There is a girl in the Boys bathroom!!"  "We swear, we heard her talk!"  

The boys mother calmed them down and instructed them to go back and politely wait.  So they returned to their post outside the Boys room.

When Mindy emerged she encountered the perplexed, wide eyed expressions of two young boys.  Their eyes darting from her to the symbol of a man on the door.

She walked away smiling at the trauma her breech of etiquette had caused for these boys.

At the conclusion of our walk around the island Mindy's sister decided to use the restroom before her drive back to Los Angeles.  Since we had earlier eaten at the Chinese restaurant she decided it would be appropriate to re-enter the restaurant and use their bathroom.

She found herself in the same predicament that Mindy had faced earlier.  After waiting patiently, the Boys room became available while the Girls room remained occupied with no sign of emptying soon.

So....It must be in the genes.  She entered the Boys room.

Here is moment when two young boys became very confused.  When the boys had encountered Mindy earlier in the evening they were just arriving at the restaurant and our party was just leaving.  Now the very same boys were finished with dinner and went to use the restroom.  Once again they found it occupied and just like before they kept trying the door.

 

Unlike Mindy, who spoke up, Merryann kept quiet until she emerged.  The shock and confusion was evident on their faces as she opened the door.  The boys stared dumbfounded, unsure of anything anymore, especially the markings on the door.

Two sisters defying convention and wreaking havoc on young, impressionable minds.

Too Old for Santa but...

It's tough being the youngest kid as Ryan (6) can attest in many ways.  Upon request he can provide a long list of inequities that exist in his life.


But he is unaware of one injustice wrought upon him, mainly by his older brother Garrett (8).  Garrett has educated Ryan, much too early,  about the reality of Santa.


When Ryan first heard the awful truth he was a little reluctant to believe it.  He protested and defended Santa, but the onslaught from Garrett and the older siblings finally convinced him.  


But it seemed as if Ryan wasn't ready to give up believing.  When we brought home a new book about Elf's that are toys during the day, but travel back to Santa each night, Ryan was intrigued.

His intrigue turned to wide eyed belief when he woke up in the morning and went searching for the Elf and found him.  He ran into our room that morning with that look that is so intoxicating to parents:  true belief.  He has been waking up early every morning to go and find the new hiding place, and eagerly shows everyone in the family.


I love having a believer in the home.  


I'm going to miss this.

Only $8.99

That was the cost of 1 week of pure bliss for Mindy and I.

Garrett (8) dominates our family life.  This little guy is a force of nature.  If he is happy life is good.  But if he decides to have a little fun with us we spend our nights reading parenting books convinced we have failed miserably.

Garrett is not swayed by many threats or enticements, leaving us with few means of influence.  But last week we discovered one - that cost me $8.99.

An iPad game that Garrett desperately wanted.  When I saw the price I balked but after being pestered relentlessly, one of his key strengths, I relented with a proposal I was sure he couldn't keep.

One week of good behavior.

The little rascal came through with flying colors and we haven't enjoyed such family bliss in a long time.

Of course I never possessed his uncanny ability to act at either extreme at will.

______

This is the magical game

The First Gift Of Christmas

Proof that I am easy to please.  


A Skull Cap from a friend because I was too cheap, or embarrassed to buy it for myself.


Nothing like a middle aged man in a Skull Cap.  I so enjoyed the taunts from the women in my house when they saw me wearing this.  No respect or appreciation for the physical specimen I am.


But this morning on my MTB ride I was loving it.  When we started the ride it was an un-San Diego like 38 degrees.

Time:                    02:34:07

Distance:              28 mi

Elevation Gain:   2,772 ft

Calories:              2,038 C

Snore, Shake, LICK and Repeat

While in Arizona for Thanksgiving we stayed at my Sister's house and looked after their dog Rusty, a coon hound.


We love Rusty with his unique bark, beautiful coat and pleading eyes.


But....


He sleeps in the Master Bedroom.


I slept through most of the shenanigans but Mindy didn't.


It began with snoring.  Rusty sounds eerily like a human when he snores, and when he sleeps he snores.


After a few hours of snoring Rusty will wake up and give himself a good shake which rattles his jowls and his collar.


Now fully awake Rusty does what any normal dog would do to pass the time in the wee hours of the morning - vigorously lick himself.


It was almost more than Mindy could stand to lay there half awake and listen to the slurping and lip smacking of Rusty as he enjoyed a good lick.


Then....


It started all over again.  Snoring, shaking and another good lick.


Although we love Rusty the kids are not getting a dog any time soon.

Wednesday Morning Fun

Top of Black Mountain - San Diego, CA

A little midweek fun.

Time:                  02:26:05

Distance:            27 mi

Elevation Gain:   2,772 ft

Calories:             1,951 C

Map

Welcome To The New Generation Grandma

During our visit to Arizona for thanksgiving, Grandma Thomas was able to spend some time with Garrett (8) and Ryan (6).


Mindy dropped the boys off with Grandma one morning as she ran a quick errand.  When she left, the boys were settled in at the table eating breakfast while Grandma was puttering around in the kitchen.  An idyllic scene.


When Mindy returned a few minutes later to collect the boys all seemed well.  She exchanged the usual pleasantries with Grandma before heading out with the boys on the next errand.  Grandma betrayed nothing of the shock and awe she had just endured.


Garrett on the other hand doesn't posses Grandma's restraint.  As soon as the boys were alone with Mom he began divulging the secrets.


Mindy's fist hint that there had been an incident sounded something like this:


"Mom, Ryan said the H word" Garrett blurted.  "He said it to Grandma"


Statements like that tend to get the attention of Daughters-in-Law.  What followed was a classic escalation of accusations between the boys that left Mindy unsure what was actually said but confident the boys had made an impression in their short time with Grandma.


Mindy was fighting back the tears of laughter imagining all sorts of scenarios.


But why hadn't Grandma said anything when she had returned?  Genuine laughter became nervous laughter.  She had to go back and find out what really happened.


On the drive back to Grandma's house Ryan began questioning why the H word was bad any way. Now there is a challenge.   Explain to a 6 year old why it's inappropriate to say hell.  The kid has a point.


Upon entering Grandmas house Ryan made a sheepish apology while Mindy and Grandma did their best to not burst out laughing.


So here is what happened.


Ryan was at the table eating breakfast when he looked over at Grandma and calmly asked, "What the hell are you doing?"


Grandma was so surprised and wanted to make sure she hadn't heard incorrectly that she asked him "What did you say"?


Ryan repeated very clearly "What the hell are you doing?"


I can imagine my Mom's face staring down at this little 6 year old boy.   I would kill for that picture. What she must have been thinking?  But before she could say anything Garrett started in on Ryan.


"Ryan you can't say that to Grandma!".  To which Ryan shot right back "Why not?"


It was in the middle of this back and forth between Garrett and Ryan that Mindy walked in and everyone held their tongue - at least for a few minutes.


Mindy?  She was laughing uncontrollably.  Grandma?  She was laughing as well.


But when they had calmed down, Grandma did ask a telling question:


"Ryan, did you hear that word from your Dad?"


The answer??