Poetry, Prompts, and Pizza

Last night the boys and I went to the library for "Poetry, Prompts, and Pizza." Once again I am pleasantly surprised at the events offered in our small community. When I first mentioned the event to the boys, their response was a reminder of the truth in the adage, "...the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." C wanted to know what he could win, and K wanted to know how they pick the winners. I had to inform them that, gasp, the event was just for fun and that it wasn't a competition. After quietly reflecting on why anyone would offer an event that showcases talent without naming a victor, both boys decided they would still like to attend.

It wasn't necessarily an event for kids. There were about 5 or 6 high school students and 2 or 3 kids C and K's age. We missed the first part of the event because the boys had soccer practice. But from what I could gather we missed a talk about poetry, its various forms, and a fun group effort at making a poem. We arrived for the writing portion. There were about 30 people in attendance, all were busy writing their poems. The boys wandered around the room looking at the various poetry writing prompts before they started writing. C announced that he didn't want to use a prompt as he had his own ideas. K started with a poetry outline that was something like a "Madlib." There were no words built in, but there were blanks that were labeled, "noun," "adverb," etc. K soon gained confidence. After K deemed my many topic suggestions to be unworthy, he chose his own topic and started writing.

The librarian wandered by as the boys were writing and informed them that they would have an opportunity to read their poetry for the group at the end of the event if they would like. Without even thinking about it, C knew he wanted to read his poem, and confidently announced that he would be reading. K was more hesitant. He said, "I think I have stage-fright, it bothers my stomach." K wasn't sure if he wanted to read in front of everyone. I told him he definitely did not have to read, but that he would not regret taking on the challenge and that it would be good for him put himself in an uncomfortable situation. After a few minutes of thought K said, "I think I would like to challenge myself." Any remaining doubt was erased when the librarian walked by again and mentioned that anyone who reads his/her poem will receive a piece of candy. "I am going to read," K quickly nodded with confidence. It is amazing what kids will do for a fun-size chocolate bar. Candy as a reward for kids is a personal pet-peeve, but that is another post.

I wasn't aloud to even peek at C's poem as he was developing it, so I can not take credit/responsibility for the content. I did however lend a hand with some spelling when called upon. K was initially less secretive, but after noticing C's covert writing, he too decided I should not be permitted to read as he wrote. When the time to read the poems came, C's hand shot up, and he was very quick to remind K that he wanted to raise his hand too. When at last C's turn came I was so incredibly proud to hear him read out loud, very well, and with confidence. I confess, I had tears in my eyes by the time he read the second line.

C's poem:

Sound
Sound is loud or soft.
Or, sound could be just your mom saying I love you
Or, just the tweet of a bird
Or, just the sound of the breeze
Or, the smoosh of you stepping on a banana
Or, the occasional mating call from a robin

I was equally impressed with K when he read his poem. Moments before he read he couldn't even decide if he wanted to read, but when the librarian pointed to "the boy in the red shirt," he stood up, pushed his chair back, and read loudly, clearly, and with confidence that would never betray his stage fright.

K's poem:

Birds
Did you know the bird's curved wing help propel him through the air?
So he can fly through the air?
So he can find food?
Owl
The owl can hear a twig snap some feet away
Which make the owl find food easier

Emboldened by his initial success and thoroughly pleased with the audience's response, C quickly set to work writing another poem. As the others continued to present their work, C continued to write. He wrote four more poems, and was heartily disappointed when there was only time for each person to present a single poem.

Chasing Them Down

Yesterday C and K had their first soccer practice. Johan is coaching them this year, I think I'm just a little too pregnant to coach. Both boys were very excited to practice AND it was a glorious sunny and warm day (the first in weeks), so the boys ran down to the park a few minutes before me. They took a walkie talkie with strict instructions not to talk to strangers. They radioed me twice asking for permission to say "hello" to adult friends that they encountered on their trip, and then again to let me know that they were at the park and were going to practice taking shots on each other. I drove down with all the equipment within 10 minutes.

When I arrived at the park a group of about 6 kids, the oldest of which was about 12 and the youngest of which was about 4, were walking towards C and K with a bit of a tough looking strut. I decided to watch to see what would unfold. C and K were practicing on the baseball diamond, using the backstop to catch their shots. These kids were a little rough looking and had a baseball and one glove. The kids approached C and K and (as I was later informed) said, "I just want to warn you that we are going to play baseball here so if you get hit don't come crying to us." At the time I was too far away to hear what was being said but I could tell the kids were trying to push C and K away. We weren't going to practice on that part of the field, so I asked C and K to come with me and we could practice near where we wanted the other kids to arrive.

We moved ourselves across the field. We were about 300 yards away from the baseball diamond when I saw that the kids who had so badly wanted the field were leaving. I was thinking that I should talk to C and K about how the kids were only enjoying the field because they were bugging/bullying C and K and that when we didn't express any anger and didn't show that we were at all upset by them it was no longer fun and they were leaving. But then it hit me that C and K no longer were holding their walkie talkie. I asked them where it was and they said they left it on the bench behind the baseball backstop. K ran over to get it. C and I could see him holding up his hands to demonstrate that it was no longer there. I was completely shocked, those kids left not because we were passive to their bullying, but because they were STEALING!

I told C and K to keep practicing and I would see if I could catch up to the kids. The group had moved away quickly but I thought I could see them down by the playground. I walked quickly (I haven't run in a long time) but as soon as they saw me (I'm hard to miss eight months pregnant and wearing a bright billowy red top) they scattered and ran. Something in my brain snapped and I was off, running as if I wasn't pregnant at all. Although I do think I could have caught them a lot faster if I weren't eight months pregnant. In my defense, I knew that Johan was on his way and that the boys would only be alone at the park for a few more minutes. A little more than a quarter mile (it felt like many miles) later I caught up to a little boy, about C's age. I didn't say anything to him when I caught him, but he turned to me, exasperated and insisted, "I don't have it!" Hmmmmmm....guilty much?

I asked the boy his name and told "J" to take me to his house. We arrived at his house where his parents and 5/6 of their friends were on the porch smoking. J announced "'M' took her walkie talkie." The parents were horrified and the man who was probably the father of the offender jumped in his truck to track him down. The mom proceded to tell me how bad this was, and that it was even worse because yesterday M stole a bike! M can't be more than 12 years old, and he was off at the park about a half-mile away with 4 or 5 siblings/friends who are all considerably younger than he, and just yesterday he stole a bike?!?! This happens on our planet? How is this okay? And why steal 1/2 of a walkie talkie?

Within minutes the dad had returned with the walkie talkie and the perpetrator, who even then announced to the crowd on the porch, "I didn't take it!" The parents/adults shouted some choice words and told him to get in the car. I was relieved to be walking away with C and K's walkie talkie and a reminder of what it feels like to run so hard your lungs burn. I was more than a little proud to stride confidently back into the park waving the walkie talkie triumphantly to C and K and to boldly recount my heroic tale for Johan, who lamented missing the opportunity to chase them down.

Whoa!

Tonight I showed C and K my ever expanding belly and my belly button. Sadly, my formerly "innie" belly button is now nearly flush with the surrounding skin. K's response, "Whoa! That's a lot of stretch marks!" C concurred, but in a more analytic manner, I could almost see him scratching his chin, "Yeah Mama, that is a lot of stretch marks." Later as the boys were wrestling around with Johan, Johan cautioned them, "Careful, you're close to mama." K was quick to move away, but mumbled, "Yeah, I have to get away from her enormous body."

Another quotable quote from K this evening:

"Mama, do you want me to show you how to do 'Bird Beaks?'" Not sure what to expect, I watched as K launched into a series of "Burpees." Burpees are the fitness training move that is sort of a jumping jack/push-up. The boys do burpees at Tae Kwon Do every week, and apparently K, for over a year now, has been hearing "Bird Beaks," not "Burpee." Even as I corrected him, K insisted, "No, bird beaks!" He demonstrated with his hands how at the top of the jumping jack move his hands come together in a peak that arguably does resemble a bird beak.

All My Fans...

C and I have discovered that we can skip the hour long build up and find out who was eliminated from American Idol by looking online. The best part is we can check at 10:00 P.M. Eastern time, 7:00 for us. Added bonus, no commercial interruptions, and since the boys really don't get to watch T.V. except for a little bit of American Idol, and some Olympics last month, this arrangement really works out.

Last night C and I were checking online to see who was eliminated from American Idol when C asserted, "Mama, I bet you could at least make it to Hollywood on American Idol." I laughed, "Oh, I don't think so." If you haven't heard me sing, you are fortunate. While I do enjoy both singing and dancing, I realize (unlike so many would be American Idol contestants) that it just isn't my thing. But C insisted, "You could, right K?" K who must also share C's finely tuned musical ear was eager to agree. So, I told C I was happy that two boys in the country would put me through to Hollywood. C was not ready to relent, and looked to Johan to swell the numbers of my fan club, "Papa, don't you think Mama could make it to Hollywood." Johan, who had been listening to the conversation with an amused smirk answered, "I would vote for Mama." The hint of sarcasm was not overlooked by C, but he really was truly appalled that I am not an American Idol.

I believe C hatched his American Idol dreams for me on Tuesday night. One of the contestants (Johan's favorite) on American Idol sang a Janis Joplin song that C has had the good fortune of hearing me sing on more than one occasion. He turned to me excitedly as Crystal began her second verse of "Bobby McGee," "Mama, you can sing this!"

And so it is that my fan club is at capacity, thank you C and K. I hope the club has the same membership when C is 16 and K is 14, with perhaps the addition of a little girl...A (?), who will be 7.

More Water Fowl

We have ducks! Last week while the boys were with Oma and Opa I was assigned the task of getting into Big R in the morning to purchase more ducks, after our failed attempt the previous week. I arrived a little before 10:00 only to discover that the ducks were nearly gone. Just 3 ducks remained from their entire shipment. So I claimed those three ducks, and handed custody over to Nikki whose boys were in town and were also eager for ducklings to take up residence in their garage. The ducks returned to our house on Friday as the O'Leary's were headed out of town and C and K were coming home.



Yesterday another shipment was due in at Big R and we were ready. This time we weren't taking any chances, we arrived just after they opened at 8:00. C and K each selected another duck for themselves, as well as one each for their friends the O'Leary boys and the Michaelis girls. We now have 8 ducklings in garage (unfortunately one of the first three ducks died sometime during its first night). Two of the ducks will go to the O'Leary's and two to the Michaelis' when they return from Hawaii. In about two months when they all have their feathers they will be reunited at the Homedale chicken co-op.



Here are some shots of the newest members of our flock.

Competition Anyone?

Saturday, March 13, the boys participated in the annual "Run for the Music." This is a one mile kids race that benefits the KU band. We have been gearing up for this race for weeks now. This is their third year running it, so they know what to expect and the excitement is free to mount. Weather and time permitting (and this is a liberal assessment, spring in Klamath Falls means snow, rain, sun, and wind -- sometimes all in the same day) in the days leading up to the big race the boys would ask me to drop them off about a mile from our house so they could run the rest of the way home as part of their training. This is an uphill mile, so it is a pretty good work out.

Race morning dawned clear, but icy cold. Containing the boys' excitement was difficult. I was still in the shower when the boys kept coming in asking if I thought these shorts, or these pants would be faster. They really wanted to wear "fast" shorts, but due to the temperature which would top out at 38 degrees on Saturday and wasn't quite past freezing in the morning I persuaded them to go for some "fast" sweatpants.

When we arrived, the boys were anxious to get themselves to the starting line. Both boys required some last minute bib number adjustments, but then they were off. I took my time getting to the starting line, chatting with friends, etc. When I got there my Oregon boys were really, really ready. They had both negotiated a position at the front of the pack. I took the time before the start to snap a few pictures, but the boys only begrudgingly participated. Perhaps they thought I was holding up the start? At last, with a blast of the trumpet, the racers were underway.

The race would encompass two extended laps of the KU track. C was in third place overall, second in his age division, as he completed the first lap. You could see the pain and determination written all over his face. His lungs were burning from the cold, but he wouldn't be giving up. I don't know where K was in the pack, but when he finished his first lap, he was clutching his side and his red cheeks betrayed the pain in his lungs from the icy cold air.

Near the finish line C was pushing hard, but had fallen back just a bit. He finished 4th overall and 2nd in his age division. K finished well before I expected him to. I was still busy snapping finish-line photos of C when I realized K was already in the finishing chute. So unfortunately I don't have pictures of his final sprint to post. But from the red faces I am assured that both boys worked very hard and tried their best.

K finished 8th overall and 1st in his age division! Congratulations boys, you are both great competitors. Here is a shot of K modeling his 1st place medal.

At the awards ceremony K claimed his medal and later won a cool Captain America wall sticker in the drawing. C won 3 free ice cream cones from Baskin Robbins in the drawing. A pretty good morning.

Growing Our Flock

Although the thermometer doesn't reflect it, the calendar tells us that spring is on its way. All year we have talked about adding more chickens to our flock, and both boys have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of spring, and warmer weather so that we might safely add chicks to our small chicken co-op. The marquee sign outside Big-R announced this week, "WE HAVE CHICKS!" So the boys quickly concluded that the time has come...

We headed down to Big-R this weekend with the intention of picking up a couple of ducks. Unfortunately Nikki had been misinformed, we'll have to wait until next Wednesday for the ducklings. In the meantime, Big-R did have an incubator. We bought an incubator so that we can attempt to hatch some of our own eggs. I am quite hopeful about the chicken eggs. However, due to some unfortunate losses early in the winter we no longer have any male ducks. I tried to explain to the boys that the duck eggs are not fertilized and therefore will not hatch. They would hear little of my "junk science." K insisted that one of the ducks that I believe to be a female is in fact a male, as he witnessed it trying to jump on one of the other ducks just like "Lightning" (our deceased male duck) used to do. He may be onto something, could there be another male? Time will tell...

Tonight we put 2 duck eggs and 10 chicken eggs into the incubator.



Here is a shot of our new incubator. Oh yes, it is made entirely of styrofoam, and oh yes it cost about $60...

In a couple of days we can "candle" them. By putting a tiny hole in a shoe box and placing the egg on the hole, then shining a bright light at the egg we should be able to tell whether anything is growing inside our incubating eggs. If the light shines through in a uniform manner, no chick. But, if the light is obscured, and there is some opaque matter inside the egg, look out... If all goes well in 21 days the eggs will hatch! I have two extremely excited boys right now. All evening they were running into the room where the incubator is, checking temperatures, and reporting to me the minuscule progress of the egg turner. So minuscule that the package warned that the turner moves so slowly that it may be undetectable to the human eye.

I am still a little hung up on the 21 days... I have been pregnant for months now, and still have 87 days to go! Oh yeah and, these chickens just set their babies down in a pile of dirty straw and hope some other mother will come sit on them for a while!