It actually has been a wonderfully happy start to the new year here, and for those one or two people out there who read this blog, I hope that your start has been wonderful, too.
A month has passed since I have written last. That is difficult for me to believe. Holidays for me and most of us, go by in a blur of activity and excitement. Our days were filled with family, friends and lots of playtime with the kids. We hosted Gordon and JoAnn and Grandma Flossie. It was wonderful.
We had a sing-a-long party on the Saturday before Christmas. Three couples we know well came with their children. Two of the kids played for us. Finn played the piano and Maddie played her violin. We sang and laughed, ate and drank. The kids were wonderful and we all had a good time. Music is such a gift and I hope to make the sing-a-long a tradition in our home. Consider yourselves warned.
We had our traditional dinner out on Christmas Eve. Oscar and Alban were fantastic. We went to an Indian restaurant and were treated with kid gloves. The boys ordered everything plain - plain rice, plain chicken that is red, plain naan. They actually ate and sat and talked to us. It was delightful. At times I see the boys that I proudly parent, the children turning into interesting and well-mannered and most importantly happy young men. We are far from the young men phase in our lives, but the foundation is being laid.
We had grandmas and Dad-dad all to ourselves. It was mellow and slow-paced yet busy. Ian was able to stay home for four days and we relished in our time with him. Games were played, books were read, movies were watched, sledding was enjoyed, treats were dispensed, the Christmas tree died, the birds were fed, the snow kept falling. All in all it was what one could expect and then some for a winter break. Although I would like to state my opinion which is quite strong that less of a break in winter and an earlier release in summer is in order for the Madison Metropolitan School District. Our break was about 3 days too long.
So they are back into their routine. Last week it went well forgetting about some serious break-downs from being tired and adjusting to our routine. School, hockey, school, hockey, play-dates, poop all over upstairs, hockey, sledding. It was an eventful week.
What was upstairs? Well, Alban and I were getting ready to pick up Oscar from school and head right over to my friend Jane’s for what we like to call a ‘flamingo party’. That is code for ‘bring your kids to my house and have a few drinks and some snacks and chat’. It is always lovely and a good time for the kids.
While I was making a snack to bring to the flamingo party and pack a small bag for the kids, Alban proclaimed that he had had an accident. Now, in my defense 99.9% of the time this means that he has wet his pants. I asked him to go upstairs and change and make sure that he was finished going potty which he is perfectly capable of. Off he went. Then he came downstairs with new clothes on. “Is everything ok”, I asked? “Yes” he replied unconvincingly. Upstairs I went. It was a mess. In the bathroom in our bedroom in his bedroom in the hall.
The clock said 3:14. Oscar gets out of school at 3:17 p.m. and it was my turn to pick up Oscar and the boy next door, Sam, who has a guitar lesson on Fridays at 3:45 so time was of the essence. Breathless and panicked I called Sam’s mom and said, “Susan? There is poop all over the upstairs!” “I am on my way!” she responded and we both hung up. I turned and looked at Alban and just sighed. In the tub he went and I disappeared looking for gloves and carpet cleaner. A flamingo party this was not. After about 30 minutes we were able to leave the house.
At 5:30 I called Ian and asked him to come and drive the kids home from Jane’s. I had drowned my sorrows in some Grey Goose and, quite honestly, felt much, much better about Alban and my day. Ian had said when I called, “you know, my day hasn’t been that great either and I am still at work not out having a drink with friends.” It was not a mean comment, he was just stating a fact. But … I asked him if his day included cleaning up human feces. Well, no it didn’t. That’s right. See you in 30 minutes. Ian arrived I stayed for one more drink and went home helped, somewhat, with putting the kids to bed and fell asleep at 8 o’clock. Just another day at the Pitz home.
But our boys, they are so cute. Just look at them: