Saturday was the Cub-O-Napolis race at a local field. The kids had finished decorating their cars the night before and they were all pumped to race. The line up with all the kids cars was so cool, some kids really went all out with their designs! Lots of creativity on the field. When Joseph was up to race I had a friend watch Leah while Lily was going to help be part of the Pit Crew. In the end, another dad who was on his own ended up being my partner, I helped him with his son and he with mine. After the kids completed one lap of the race they had to "pull in to the pit" and have their tires (shoes) changed. We had to take the shoes off, the socks also and turn them inside out. Then we had to put those sweaty socks back onto the sweaty feet and tie the shoes again. Not as easy as it sounds!!
The second lap they pull in for gas (water), which the pit crew gives them, the kids cannot use their hands. The third lap they have to have their windshield cleaned, so we had to take off their goggles and put them back on. Cub scouts doesn't really focus too much on the winner, everyone was just there for fun. The "winners" did get ribbons, and Joe wasn't one of those. He usually gets bent out of shape when something like that happens, but I was pleasantly surprised to see him just having fun. He might have won the race, but the dad helping me with the shoes had a really hard time getting his sock back on his foot, and then a hard time getting the his shoe back on his foot. Then, Joe was running so fast he lost two tires AND one of his rockets! He overheard someone say "Oh, you lost a tire" and he stopped to look. Then he bopped back and forth trying to figure if he should run back and get his tire, or keep running. Once he started back running, he was already behind in the race, but he just kept going. He had a great attitude and even now his favorite part of that day was when his stuff flew off his car!Lily ran next in the "sibling" heat. She looked cute at can be, and also just ran to have fun. The siblings didn't have to do the shoe part, so it was just water and goggles. When I changed her goggles, I accidentally put them on wrong, so she ran the last lap of her race almost blind!! Lily isn't graceful AND she is seriously accident prone, so it was a sheer miracle she didn't trip and fall her way into the finish line!
So I went home after the box races to relax and chill out. The first thing I did was check my messages. I was surprised (and a little confused) to hear an urgent message from Kay Jewelers about our account, something to do with our rings. I called back right away and I provided my name, asking what was the matter. I was told I needed to come in right away since there was a problem with our rings. The woman I spoke to didn't have anymore info, (she said) just that it was important for me to drive in. I gathered the kids back into the car and drove all they way to the mall, with our warranty papers in my bag. I walked into the store and told them who I was, asked what was the matter... That is when the manager walked out with a HUGE flower arrangement, card attached and a little golden gift bag. She told me my husband wanted to give me an early Valentines Day gift! She said "Your husband is a really wonderful person!!", and I was thinking, 'Of COURSE he is!!!!!!' When I opened the present I found an opal and diamond bracelet. ~Sigh~ I've always admired bracelets like this one, so of course I loved it! But honestly, if it had just been the flowers and a card, I would have been just as happy! It was the thought, the surprise and the fact that he went to all that trouble for me that made it so special!! The gorgeous bracelet is just icing on the cake! I told Joseph and Lily to pay attention. For Joseph to learn how to be with women, how to be romantic and thoughtful. For Lily to find a man who will treat her the same way. It was so neat, the people in the store were all whispering "Oh wow, her husband just gave her flowers and jewelry all the way from Iraq!!" I felt really special! It was something I'll always remember.
~Sigh~ He's a keeper.
So I had to stop gushing about Erick, because my kids were getting bored! Lily asked my why I kept saying how great her daddy is. (Lily hasn't learned how to be tactful yet). Anyhow, that same night was another Parents Night Out, and it was Lily's turn. We went to Burger King for dinner since we had only a little time before our movie. Burger King has these new "Six-Pack" burgers, tiny little things perfect for sharing. They remind me of the sliders I grew up eating at White Castle. Short story, I was walking the kids home after school when Joe if I knew what sliders were. I said, "Do you mean the little burgers" and he said yeah. I said "Joe I grew up in Chicago and the midwest -- I certainly know what they are!!" That is when the woman in front of me started laughing and she turned around. She said "I miss White Castle too! Those little burgers are so greasy but delicous!!" We had a little moment, her and I, reminicing about sliders. Mmmmmmm, steamed bun, little onions, burger patty with holes for quick cooking....grease.....little ketchup, little mustard.....Ahhh. Crap, now I am thinking about food from Chicago like Superdawg hot dogs, Lou Malnati's deep dish pizza, and all the Italian Beef sandwiches, served wet (when you dunk the whole sandwich in the meat juice)...
-------------------please wait a sec, have to wipe my drool up off the floor----------------------
Ahhh, where was I? Yes, my night out with Lily. We finished our dinner, talked about girly stuff, and we walked to the theaters. We saw Coraline, the new Tim Burton movie. It was really good, it freaked her out in a few parts (after all it is Tim Burton), but she just hid behing my hand and all was okay. After the movie we had an ice cream and, since we still had a lot of time left, we decided to go home and watch anoter movie and cuddle with the dog. Between my warm little girl cuddling me and the dog snuggled in between, I wound up falling asleep, and Lily started to nod off as well. I somehow managed to wake us up in time get Joe and Leah before 11, which is when you are offically late and the daycare people start charging $1 a minute per kid.
In the morning (Sunday) I gathered everyone in the car and we drove down to Waikiki. I have wanted to hike up Diamond Head for a while, just because it is so famous. The kids were psyched to hike inside an ancient volcano, and Joe loved the old cannons and the tunnel. Lily brought a little spiral notebook and pencil so she could record the things she saw that day. Leah stayed awake the whole time it took to get to the top. She ate some pears for lunch up there, posed for a few pictures and then fell asleep on the way down. I have to give Joe and Lily some major credit for climbing these stairs without stopping: Honestly, I could have
used a break but I was too proud to admit how much it kicking my butt! That is 99 stairs, and it is really steep! The view on top of Diamond Head really is spectactular and well worth the hike. It isn't a bad hike at all, just a lot of stairs, 282 all together. And that was the weekend with the kids, the rest of Sunday we hung out at home, did homework and laundry. I am hoping for a slower weekend this next time, but it also helps to make the deployment go much faster.
And now that I've put all that into words, I am going to sign off.
G'nite!
-B
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