Jokester

The "jokester" experience actually happened about a month ago, but I really need to document it. Luke's letter of the week for kindergarten was "j," and they had a joke day. Each child was supposed to prepare a joke to give for the class. We taught Luke a knock-knock joke, and he was practiced and ready to go. The day of the joke day he came home, and I asked him how it went. He told me he didn't do the joke we practiced. I was immediately a bit concerned especially when he followed up with the fact that he "made up his own." What?

Scared to find out I questioned him a bit further. He told me he gave a joke that was a lot like some other kids. He gave me the example of his friend next door who said, "Where does the penguin keep his money?" The answer was "in a snow bank." Luke does not get that play on words. His joke was, "Where does a cheetah keep his food?" Answer: "In his pants." In his pants, really?? I wasn't sure what to say and he went on to say that "almost everyone laughed." This is where I did not handle things well. For some reason I acted like it mattered and told him that was not a joke. His face fell. For the next few days he would say something and ask, "Is that a joke?" By the next day I was thinking to myself, what's the big deal? Why did I make him feel bad? So I tried to explain to him that maybe kindergartners and grown ups have a different idea of what a joke is. He actually does have a great sense of humor, and I'm sure that someday he will get a kick out of this story.

Luke got to celebrate his un-birthday in class on Friday (even though his birthday isn't until June). He had two simple requests: glazed doughnuts and his whole family. Jer, I , Seth, and Ian were there, and he was so excited. It really was a fun day. Actually I'm not sure who was more excited, Luke or Seth. Seth thought he was just about the coolest thing to go to kindergarten, sit in the chair by Luke, and eat a treat with everyone. It made his week!!



Ian was pretty much like a rock star. The kids crowded around him trying to get his attention, and he did not disappoint. He's quite a ham already so during the Q/A about Luke whenever one of the kids would raise their hand he would put both of his hands way up in the air too. The kindergartners thought it was hilarious...they are easily amused. Anyway, it was a successful un-birthday for all involved.

That Mom

Well, I've taken almost a month off from blogging, and I'm officially "that mom." You know the one that brings their coughing, snotty nosed kid to church or somewhere without even caring about all the germs they are spreading. I'm that mom. In my defense though I did not do it on purpose.


I went up skiing with Luke one last time on Saturday. Jer's mom was watching the boys and when I got home Seth was sick. All of a sudden he was really tired, had a fever, and just wanted to lay around. He perked right up with some medicine, slept great, and woke up fine Sunday morning. He had no fever and no other symptoms, so we all went to church. Then last night he seemed feverish again. Today he was fine and played outside like a crazy man but woke up from his nap crying, with chills, and not happy at all. By now I had started wondering about strep which he had 3 times last year. I used a flashlight to look at his throat and holy cow!! His tonsils took up the whole back of his throat (he has big ones anyway), and they looked red and bloody. Not good.


That prompted a trip to the Instacare (by now it was after 5:00) with all three kids. Jer is in Idaho for work, and I'm not smart enough to drop them off somewhere. That could be a whole other post. Let's just say Seth did not behave like a sick child, and he and Luke found plenty of things to entertain them while we waited in the room. Did I mention that was my second time there this week? I had Ian already with a double ear infection. Luckily his brothers were home on that one.

Anyway, both the doctor and nurse had quite the reaction upon seeing Seth's tonsils. Apparently he is a trooper because he has not been acting nearly as bad as they look. His rapid strep test was negative, so I'm out an hour and a copay to figure out he has some viral bug that he probably already spread to all the other kids his age. I'm left to treat Seth's symptoms, and when he wants more medicine and it hasn't been long enough I have given him the med cup with colored water in it. Is that bad parenting? Oh well, I'm that mom. I apologize.

(Major backtrack: Here's a story about the doc we saw tonight. When Luke was about 2 1/2 we were in and saw this same guy. Luke "tooted" and the doctor laughed. They had already been talking about Cars and Lightning McQueen which Luke was obsessed with at the time. The doctor told Luke that Lightning McQueen doesn't toot. Luke thought about it for a second and said, "Lightning McQueen doesn't have a bum." It was hilarious. The doc and all of the nurses were cracking up. Luke earned extra stickers.) Tonight they were all laughing when I left too...was that with me or at me?

And when Seth is older if I need some leverage I could tell his friends about how I found him trying my bra on last week, or I could threaten to show them this picture.