Ian made it home a little over a week ago. He is here for a short visit, then its back out to sail the ocean blue. Immediately upon arriving home, Peyton began asking if we could go to Sunday Brunch. You see he loves the blueberry pancakes. And, he can usually get chicken nuggets with it. (he's 5 and has his priorities) Ian promised him we would go, and being that this was Sunday (its almost over now) and I was starving, what better time to go. The boys were all up, showered, dressed and ready to go by 10! If you know my oldest you know this is no small accomplishment. Really, I should receive some sort of award for this. I would like the thank the academy.....
Let me preface this story by adding that very rarely do we all travel in the same car these days. Christopher doesn't get home until after 5, and when I suggest he might like to accompany me to the commissary or on errands his eyes begin to roll back in his head. yes, he has seen a doctor, the man refuses to give me medication for him.. Noah is at the age where he can be legally left home alone on base and is taking full advantage. I am sure this will wear off soon and he will be happy to travel with his mom once again. That leaves Peyton and Piper. Neither of them has ever complained about hanging out with COOL mom. Yes, folks they are my 2 favorite children at the moment.
So we loaded everyone in the car and headed out. If you are a member of my family and over 4 feet tall you own an I touch. Hey, don't judge Santa left them here one day last year and who am I to return them. Most of the time we listen to my I touch. I am the one driving, and I have the best music. A well rounded mix of everything but the stuff I don't like. Perfect for me... Piper likes what I like, and she's really not much of a complainer. Peyton asks for the same song daily. I play it as soon as we get in the car. *I am desperate to keep right on being the cool mom with one of my kids as they age * We get everyone buckled, and off we go. Immediately I realize my I touch is dead... As a door nail. SHIT! Well I guess we are listening to Ian's I touch. Now when I say he listens to everything I mean EVERYTHING! He has music on there that I swear no one has ever heard of! There is probably some band out there who cut a record and sold a grand total of 1 album. To my husband! But, he does have some of the same music I do, so no biggie. Then the requests started. At first I was fine with it. A good mix of different styles. I was navigating Ian's Touch and hit the wrong button for the umpteenth time, causing a random song to play for the umpteenth time when Peyton yells from the back "play that one mom". Um, what one? *you know that one Ye ye's favorite song". Ye ye is the Chinese term for Grandpa. And, yes we live in Japan, not China but wouldn't you know it we still get Ni Hao Kai Lan darn it.. Peyton started calling him Ye Ye about 30 seconds after the first show aired.
So there I am scrambling to figure out what song it was, the boys are all arguing with one another, because they are SURE they know what song Peyton is referring to, its loud in the car, and I had-had-enough! That is IT! I manage to once again navigate myself back to song settings (Ian has his I touch settings all kinds of messed up). I land on American Graffiti, music from the 50's and ladies and gentlemen this is where the car ride gets really fun! Ian and I are singing Yakety Yak.. Don't talk back. Actually we were more like screaming it.. When I turn around to sing to my wonderful children, who will some day be in charge of my living arrangements. * I will have nightmares of Hilda the good nurse for weeks* There I see 4 horrified faces. Christopher looked confused for a moment, Peyton was yelling "turn it off, Noah was plugging his ears, and even my sweet Innocent Piper was sporting a frown. But, you know what. I did not care. Not one iota. I carried right on singing to my family. You have never seen 3 boys so happy to see the gate entrance in your life. They all but ran over one another to the relative safety of the restaurant, Ian and I sat there for a minute basking in our parental glory.
Brunch is useful on many levels. My kids all eat like no tomorrow, thus eliminating any need to cook a proper dinner. Along with nourishment of the body, they all get to work on their public eating skills. Sit nicely, use your napkin, and silverware (sword fighting is not an acceptable use of silverware) and for the love of all things holy NO FIGHTING! For the most part the kids do great, we have a good hour and a half of funny stories, and just plain family time. Somewhere about dessert Noah and Ian pick a movie to watch when we get home, and Christopher fills us in on his plans for the day. We finished up brunch, stopped at the NEX to pick up some school clothes for Christopher (the kid either needs to stop growing, or get used to wearing gunny sacks)..
Again we load up the car, and wouldn't you know it the I TOUCH Gods decided Ian and I tortured the kids just a bit to much. Just as we were leaving base Ian's I Touch died. That left us 2 options, either drive home with no music (Piper was having none of that) or we use Christopher's I Touch. Now I am not sure if you all have listened to your teenagers music lately but YIKES! My ears are still bleeding. He does have some great music on there, but being it belonged to him, he seemed to think he should pick the music. Tonight before bed I will be adding and addendum to our house rules. No matter who the I Touch belongs to if mom is around she picks the music.. Just to give you an idea of the torture we were subject to I am adding this! something Sprites Lets just say Ian and I were never so happy to see the gate to housing in our lives!!!
And, first thing tomorrow I will be calling Ye Ye' to find out his favorite song.. Somehow I doubt it lives in Christopher's I touch!
I had to add this picture of Piper. AMI sent these to her before she was even born! I have her newborn set as well. I personally thinks she looks fabulous in tie dye!!!
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3 comments:
Maybe a Girl Scout rule would work for you... if the kids pick the music, the driver picks the volume.
Your whole post cracked me up, thanks for the glimpse of your life!!
And I was just wondering yesterday (no kidding)if she'd outgrown all the tie dyed stuff yet.
Peyton looks adorable in tie dye!
SNORT.
Sweetums still loves Johnny Cash.
Peyton is adorable! As is the rest of the family! ;o)
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