My son's fish died. He's almost eleven and loved this fish with his entire heart and soul. First thing in the morning "good morning flash" . . .often before a hello mom. Last thing at night, "good night flash" always after good night mom. Flash would "bop" for food and Aidan loved showing off his tricks to friends and family.(I know fish don't learn tricks but swear to god this one did!) While eating breakfast Flash would get to watch television. . . Nintendo ds with a replay of worms usually. . . cause fish like worms. At Christmastime we bought him a bridge for his tank. His birthday a new shell. Once his sister was talking to flash and knocked the entire tank over. Luckily flash stayed in the tank but he was banged up(again I KNOW it's just a fish but serious first pet love here). So I rushed to the pet store and bought a healing eucalyptus liquid we used nightly until he perked up again. Another time when he got ick I spent $17 on medicine to heal him. A new fish around $5 . . . but the medicine worked and we cheated death once again. I would sometimes hear Aidan spilling his heart out to flash. Often he would let flash 'dance" to his I-Dog. Both boys are partial to smoke on the water and other guitar hero classics. Unfortunately death always prevails.

We came home from soccer practice, his sisters, and went to finish cleaning the tank. I saw his little lifeless body and shooed all other kids away. I gave Aidan a big hug and said sorry. The poor baby started all out body heaving-shoulder shaking-can't breathe bawling. He was completely inconsolable. His siblings came in and said sorry, which made him cry even (impossibly) harder. We moved Flash and Aidan into his bedroom for some quiet moments. I cried right along with him. Because I could not find the words to comfort him. Because I remember losing my best friend. Because I was helpless to make him feel better. Because each tear down his cheek broke my heart even further. Because I knew this is a small taste of the heartache life has in store for us all.

We prepared a burial for Flash-a small lidded container with marbles, shell and plant filled with water for Flash to enjoy for all time. (I know the good ole Viking funeral is the more realistic choice but Aidan was afraid flash would be eaten in the sea) Spent the entire afternoon holding visitation then said goodbye to a dear old friend as we placed his mini-eternal aquarium under the tree. We talked about God, Heaven, and the souls of those we love watching over us. We have endured another entire day of the heartache. He cries at night, he cries in the morning, he cried at his wrestling tournament. Hopefully school will help. Time will heal. And He will be stronger for it.

Funny Kids!

Viv and I are shopping at Once upon a child. . . huge new location-lots of hiding places and one naughty 2 year old. I feel like a broken record-vivcomeherevivcomeherevivcomehere-. I say "colleen-vivian come here NOW!" Sweet as sugar she walks up to me and says, "mommy me not colleen-vivian, me just Vivian." to which the store associates laugh.

After jumping rope for 30 minutes I say while walking to the bathroom, "WOW! My armpits are ST-ink-Y!" Sweet little Korbin is sitting nearby, looks up at me with full dimples flashing and says, "Mine too!!"
"Really?? How can such a sweetie pie be stinky?"
"W E LLLLLL. . . . First I take off my shoes and put them by the heater. Then I turn the heater on and take off my socks. I put them in my armpits for like. . umm..20 minutes. When my shoes are nice and hot and stinky I put the socks down and stick my shoes in the my armpits. Then I pt my armpits over the heater so they get REALLY sweaty. Then I put cars in them and run around for a super long time. "
I am laughing now and tears are falling down my face. He has the attention of both his older sisters and Aidan is laughing so hard I am afraid he may not survive.
"What on earth would possess you to that?"
He shrugs and is statrting to be a little embarrased bythe hysteria his confession has brought. "I thought we were going to wrestling"
uhhhh...ok.
"Korbin, why do you stink up your armpits for wrestling?" I say trying to be calm and rational.
"because dad says too."
Yes, of course. I need to talk to Big Daddy about that one. FYI-bring your own hot cars over to play dates. you never know where ours have been.

Obama Day!!

It is today that we begin a new chapter in America. Good, Bad, Happy, Excited or Disappointed today is a big day. I know many are worried about our new choice of president. But there are also many, like me who are excited. I don't know if Obama is going to be able to "Save America" but I am so relieved to have him in office with a wonderfully diverse group of individuals surrounding him in his cabinet and democratic peers in the house and senate. I for one believe that we need a change from our current ways of thinking and feel that Obama can do this. I am going to celebrate. I am going to hope for a peaceful transfer of power. I am going to watch on tv this historically beautiful moment. I am going to share with my children what this represents. And I am going to pray that he does as he says and that change is coming.

Why?

. . . is the milk never returned to the fridge?

. . . empty your backpack and leave all its contents on the floor?

. . . put mittens in the basket when the floor next to it is more convenient?

. . .set the alarm for 5:30 when you have no intention of waking up til 6:30?

. . . wave me thru when you Mr Left Turn are blocking the only lane open?

. . . make your bed when it is just going to get messy again?

. . . fold laundry when you can just rifle through the piles(mountains?)?

. . . shovel the walks if it is still snowing?

. . . hang your coat up when you could just drop it on the floor?

. . . walk on the path mom shoveled when you could tromp through the drifts?

. . . put your shoes away in the same spot where you could easily find them?

. . . paint your nails if your going to do dishes?

. . . take a shower if you just had a bath on Sunday(it's Friday)?

. . . talk when you can yell?

. . . get along when you can nit-pick?

. . . put your bowl in the sink when mom could do it?

. . . sit inside when you could guarantee front seat by waiting in the car 30 min early?

. . .put toys away when you'll just play with them later?

. . . be a parent when you could be sane???