Day Fifteen

We've finally made it! Mommy Lion is somewhere between Dallas and our house. It sounds like everything went well!

Little Pumpkin took a three hour nap today after sleeping in until 7 this morning! What a difference a nap makes when she doesn't have friends like Little Lamb to keep her distracted. She had a great day, but we're ready for MOMMY!

Little Lion had a birthday this morning and Little Pumpkin got to tag along. Little Red can put out quite the spread! I had to tell both kids to quit eating candy and eat fruit...then the cookie cake came out and I got over-ruled! That's what Birthdays are all about.

Even I got a nap today! It probably helped me out a bit too. I got all the laundry done, bags are packed except for Mommy Lion's for our R&R tomorrow. I asked RJ to clean up and get the lawn done, we'll see how he does....

Tonight was the last presentation of Willie Wonka. Little Red brought all her chicks and we changed seats to sit togther. Her youngest...let's see, gotta do a name... , we'll have to call him "502", he learned to wave this week and it was FANTASTIC to wave Bybe-Bye to him and have him wave back. Super fun.

We got stuffed at the party this morning, neither kid wanted to eat lunch. We had some jerky and peaches on the way to the play at 5:30, and Lolly & Pop took the kids to DQ for Blizzards while I grabbed Jammies at the house then met them there. The last day of Mommy Lion's trip is ironically the very worst nutrition day of the two weeks!

Just waiting for the magic phone call now from Mommy Lion to jump in the car, buckle in the kids, and go get kissed!

Day Fourteen

I got Little Pumpkin back tonight from Magnum & Doc, we all met at Little Lion's Willy Wonka Program. I think the little girl had run for just about as long as she could run; meltdown pending. What a mess Friday evening, crying, kicking, wall-eyed fit! It was one of those where, if we weren't with family, I probably would have taken her home.

Speaking of home, Mommy Lion is coming home; should be back about 10PM CST. She's really excited, I've got to try to get some things in order before she shows. Little Lion heads to his second and final performance Saturday night. He really did a great job, pretty cute, a little distracted, but trying his guts out to follow along.

Saturday is a birthday party, lawn mowing, final clean up, the big show, packing for a 3 day R&R trip, and a couple of store returns. It pretty much adds up to a trip to pick up Mommy at around ten.

Dinner was chicken nuggets for for Little Lion, Chicken sandwiches for me. Then both kids ate again after Little Lion's show, a taco and a Mexican hot dog (with all the tortillas both could stuff down)!

Thanks to all our friends and family who joined us, it made the evening a whole lot more fun!

Day Thirteen

Went to lunch with a couple of guys today. Good guys, guys I've never been to lunch with. Might have been the highlight of my day! Turns out we all went school together, two of us didn't realize it. One guy was from work, another from church. Had fish taco's...don't know it till you try it.

Tonight was dinner at Doc's again. Chicken and rice, leftover pizza, strawberry & spinach salad, even green beans. The girls were a glorious, playful mess! I'm hoping this is something Little Pumpkin will remember forever. I certainly will.

I also got to hit a bucket of balls with Doc, then we went to check out his new place. Super cool; except for hitting the golf balls - didn't do too well...again...or should I say still.

Little Lion finished VBS tonight, he did tee ball. Maybe not the next Silver Slugger - not sure what position he'd play...maybe he could be the announcer, the color man. That kid can talk, but I'm afraid he'd be all over the place, commenting on the airplanes and wondering what was for dessert.

Last day alone tomorrow, and Little Lion's big day, the play is at 6:30, cast call at 5:30, and I'm doing his make-up!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day Twelve

This just seems to drag on...

Today was not such a great day, did some things I wish I hadn't, and didn't do some things I wish I had.

Got to Skype with Mommy Lion tonight for a few minutes, she looked really tired and worn down. I tried to talk some about exciting things happening this weekend and next, but I think she's just got too much going on to think that far ahead.

Little Lion got to bed about 9:30 tonight, tomorrow should be a tough morning for him. It's last days for Camp Bravo, Last Day for VBS also.

For all of you going to the big play this weekend, the school sent home a paper today stating that they had sold the exclusive rights to the show and that no video camera's would be allowed. Capitalism at it's finest! They will be selling DVD's for $25 a piece!!!!!

Dinner tonight was taco salad, just Little Lion and I. We came back home after camp instead of going to Doc's. It gave us a chance for some quiet time together. Little Lion got to talk to his mom during dinner which was, I think, good for both of them.

Sleep well in China, or where ever you are...

Day Eleven

Another day in paradise. I finally got my pizza for dinner, and even got to video chat with Mommy Lion for a few minutes.

Little Pumpkin was so wrapped up in her friends, I think I was fortuante to get a goodbye kiss tonight. What a joy to see my children happy and playing with friends. Oh to be four again! (Little Pumpkin would remind me that she's 4 1/2)

Today is 14 years of the Lion Den. There's some point where we crossed the imaginary lines this year we cross two. The Lions Den has been with Little Lion for longer than we've been without him. He was born in 2003, we were married in 1997. This year we became "with" him for seven years; we were "without" him for six years before that.

So for Mommy Lion and I, today marks 14 years of marriage. Mommy Lion was 15 years old when I first heard her name. I was a mere 19 at the same time. It's safe to say that we have now known each other for longer than, well, we were clueless.

Happy anniversary to my bride. I already confessed to her that I had dinner with another woman tonight (and her husband, and their three kids, and my two kids, but another woman none the less!) Kiss the one you love tonight, if you're anything like me, they've changed your life forever!

July 19, 1997

Day Ten

Some good news today! My blood pressure is the lowest it's been this year, not saying that has anything to do with being single. Honestly, I'd expect my BP to be raised a little as a single parent. Now, before you freak out, my BP has been something like 124/81 or 121/78 or 120/84. Not terribly bad, but higher than where I want it to be (below 120/80). Today though, I hit 117/74!!!

I've gotten this mommy thing figured out too. It's really not that hard once I eliminated the source of variation. It's all about the kids. Get rid of the kids...and being a mom is maybe the easiest job in the world. Soon I'll be eating bon-bons in my bath robe and slippers, feet up on the couch, watching the "O" network. I just need someone to watch the kids...hey, has anyone seen my kids?

Little Lion is spending the night with Little Red, Little Pumpkin is spending the night with Magnum, and I'm here with...well...RJ, and we're down three cans of Chili (by we, I actually mean HE, and yes the voluntary ingestion of three cans of chili does appear to be both humanly possible and gastrointestinal predictable. I have a feeling he's going to have a LONG night..

So today, Little Lion got dropped off at the Crayola's, she took him the camp, then I grabbed him from camp at 4 and we headed to Magnum & Doc's for dinner. She made dinner for everyone (see low blood pressure above) and I got my adult conversation out of my system (so I I monopolized there friends!). There was shrimp fettuccine Alfredo, steamed broccoli, and bread.

Little Lion and I raced out the door to VBS where I once again got left alone at the sign in table by a little boy far to excited to run a play with his friends. Being a mom is tough sometimes, I had to bribe Little Pumpkin with chips, before dinner, just to get a hug and a kiss today.

Mommy Lion and I celebrate 14 years tomorrow (or today since she's in China). This is the first year I haven't brought home flowers or taken her out of town, or to dinner, or tried to plan something really big that costs next to no money as a surprise for her (see low blood pressure above) !

Sleep well all, I'm off to bed with no kids and no baths. Happy mothers day to me!!!

Day Nine

Nearly forgot to post today! Little Pumpkin went to Magnum's house after lunch today with Lolly, Pop, and seemingly half of our church!!! That left me with four boys, that's right, ditch one get three. We did things today that every boy should, but no mother should should ever know about. The was couch jumping, king of the couch, couch forts, and the occasional nauseous couch emission which no one was silling to claim, but all four were willing to blame.

VBS tonight with our frinds at LCC. It was hot! They gave out prizes for the first three families done. Our four family family came in...drum roll please...dead last. That's right, when we got to our last station, they had already closed and had to drag out their supplies for us again!

So week two starts tomorrow, Little Pumpkin will be out most of the week, but I hope to get to see her daily for dinners. Little Lion will be sleeping over tomorrow night at the Little Red Hen's house, and I'm back to work.

I got to Skype with Mommy Lion today. Sound quality was terrible and I couldn't make out what she was saying, so I just tried to say as much as I could and let her listen. She could hear fine, but regularly cut out in the middle of her sentences.

Lunch today was at Newks. I'd definitely order things differently if I had it to do over again, but none of my five kids complained. Snack before VBS was apples and cheese sticks, goldfish crackers, and PB&J's. Not the greatest, but most of the major food groups were represented!

Day Eight

One week down, one week to go.

I asked the kids today what they missed about Mommy Lion. Neither could nail down anything specific, but we were all resolute that we did miss her a bunch!

The day started with waffles, we went to Wal-Mart and did a bit of shopping, then stopped at Burger King for ICEE's. Amazingly, everyone got Cola even with the option of cherry! I think that may have been a highlight of their day, at least based on prayer time tonight.

Both kids took naps, well, Little Lion doesn't do naps anymore but he plays quietly in his room. I got the remainder of my weekly time cards entered and got to start on dinner which we shared with the Brazilian's. I'm seriously indebted to those people for all their help this last week!!!

Dinner tonight was tacos, soft, both corn and flour, and everyone ate everything! I even got to chop some fresh cilantro to use on mine....so good! It was fantastic to see everyone ask for seconds! They got to play here for a while afterwards, then baths for Lions Den and to bed. It's 9pm and they're BOTH still awake in their beds!!

Tomorrow things go crazy again with kids split and church plus VBS in the evenings for Little Lion. Thanking the Lord for great friends who love my kids, at times, more than I do.

Day Seven

Little Lion Strolled into my room this morning at 5:50 AM with a rhetorical question "Can I come in Daddy?" I was up, showered, dressed and ready to put breakfast together, as was he! He had made his bed, brushed his teeth, put his pajamas away, dressed, and had his backpack on to walk out the door.

Little Pumpkin woke a little before normal, probably 20 minutes later. I had opened he door, but we weren't being extra noisy or anything. I definitely got a happy Pumpkin somehow because I got a huge hug, and she started talking, and talking, and talking...

Definitely a happy morning! RJ was up on his own and off to work! I snapped a quick picture before we all shuffled out the door at 6:30.

Breakfast today was buried treasure (vitamins at the bottom of a plastic bowl full of frosted mini wheats, raisins, and fruit loops) with a bowl of grapes and apples, and milk for both. So lucky to happy kids this morning (Little Pumpkin did NOT fall asleep as a happy Pumpkin!!!)

They got to swim today at Spring Hill pool with the Brazillians. Little Lion said they left at "about eight or seven" and they weren't home when I got home at 4:15 this afternoon. I think he may have lost track of time and they actually went in the afternoon. Did anyone see my kids?

Tonight when we got home, they both ate a handfull of saltines they dug out of the back of the drawer (Yuck! and they fought over them too!!) then played in their rooms, before coming out to see what Daddy Lion was doing.

A few months back Ms. Connie from work gave me an old record player after a nostalgic discussion of how I used to sit in my room for what seemed like hours, listening to my 33's and 45's. I dug them out of the attic, and the kids have been listening to them. They've definitely got their favorites, but tonight Little Pumpkin wanted to do "the dog one"which is an old recording of some lady singing "how much is that doggy in the window".

The song is highly repetitious, especially in the format proposed for children of the 70's listening on long play records! Little Lion had heard just about as much as he could handle, twice, and finally remarked "Daddy, why does she keep asking, it says right there how much the dog is!"

So clever, he new the dog was 49¢.

Dinner tonight was breaded chicken sandwiches, with fresh lettuce (couldn't bring myself to buy tomato's, too expensive...) with steamed broccoli and cauliflower, canned peaches and mixed fruit. It must have been good because NOBODY asked for dessert!

Day Six

Ever had one of those days when you feel like you accomplished an incredible deal and the world is definitely better because of you...but you got nothing done that you were supposed to do? It has nothing to do with Mommy Lion, but that's what happened to me today!

Little Lion finished swim lessons today, not a bad week, I feel like he's capable of being left unattended at a pool now if Little Pumpkin needs a potty break or something. He worked on side breathing, and big, scooping, arm strokes, but didn't quite get it all down.

Little Pumpkin had a good day but a terrible evening. She pushed her luck a little far tonight and didn't get all her dinner or dessert. It was all by her own choice (Grandma Lion)! Dinner tonight was with the Brazillians. Flank steaks, braised cabbage, and rice, the Little ones got carrots and celery sticks also. Little Lion cleaned up, and had seconds before RJ got there from work.

That's right, WORK. He goes back tomorrow at 7am for more! If this keeps up, he may become a contributing member of society! I'm half kidding of course, he's just as excited to work as we are to have him spending time profitably. He had a good day, learned a little, and is ready to GO BACK tomorrow.

Today Mommy Lion says goodbye to her orphans. Extra prayers for that girl, she's so attached and is feeling guilty for not being able to do more. I'm sure the tears are flowing, and she's got to do it all over again next week.

Day Five

Mommy Lion's been gone for five days now, honestly it's been a little longer as she easily checked out a few days ahead of time and was a bit of a mental wreck. Five days and eveything's alright! Maybe I can do this?

Little Lion woke up this morning arguing about the triviality of wearing two pairs of clothes in three installments. He wanted to wear his swim suit all morning so that he wouldn't have to change into it when swim lessons came. I argued with him that if he wore his swim trunks, he'd forget to remove his under-britches before he jumped in and then he'd have wet under-britches for going to camp after lunch. He needed to wear his clothes this morning, then change into his suit, sans under-britches, then back into his clothes after swimming lessons. Am I way off track here people?

We also debated the evils of flip-flops and dancing, and most importantly, of dancing in flip-flops. Camp Bravo is a drama camp he's been doing in the afternoons, they're working on their choreography and he has great difficulty, apparently, performing in flip-flops.

Not to worry, he didn't take his back-pack to swim lessons - AT ALL. That's right, some how he got to swim lessons in his swim suit, carrying his clothes, but with no towel, no socks, no shoes, just his flip flops. Call me furious!!!

Dinner tonight for Little Pumpkin was a half ear of corn, 6 ritz crackers, and shepherds pie, then a half a sloppy joe! Little Lion had pork roast, green beans, and ritz crackers with an apple.

On the bright side today, I got two loads of laundry finished, talked with my beautiful wife in China via Skype (she was online at 6 AM her time just to see us!!!!) I noticed some tears already when talking about leaving her girls on Friday, such a soft heart for the unjust. Pray for Mommy Lion to share the love of Jesus with her translator and girls, she's had an awesome opportunity already to preach the good news of the gospel!

Sorry, no pictures today, they'd just be of laundry, messy faces, and ... under-britches. Maybe something creative will happen tomorrow. Many thnks to Josh Hood for lending my wife the laptop so she could Skype with her kids!

Oh, I also got good news that my raise that was supposed to go through last April didn't go through, so they're back paying all my checks at the new rate since April. God is good, all the time. The assistance with RJ has taken a toll on us, we're not broke or in debt, just relying on God's blessings to sustain us to the VERY last dollar most weeks.

Today, He did.

Daddy Lion

Day Four

A four hour meeting at work today. Of the eight hours I was there, I was actually in my department for about 20 minutes!

Quote of the day from Little Pumpkin: "When I toot in the swimming pool, it makes bubbles, he-he-he"

Little Lion got his hair cut today. He was strangely quiet in the barber chair this time, maybe because he just doen't know what to say with Floyd The Barber. Typical small town shop, one chair, one cut, one guy. He may have been a little quiet because I got onto him for wearing his flip-flops, again, to Camp Bravo, even though we talked about it last night and we packed shoes and socks in his bag today.

Tried to do a 'chat' or something like it with Mommy Lion today and it didn't work. Yahoo has changed their mail setup and the new one has features that do NOT work like chat. I'll work on it some more later.

Dinner tonight was Sloppy Joe with steamed mixed vegetables. Just the three of us tonight, RJ never showed, I called his cell at about 8 tonight and he was with his mom. That just means he'll have leftovers tomorrow when we do chicken sandwiches!

If you've made it this far, you're a die hard, and I'm about to let the cat out of the bag. Exclusive blog disclosure. I was offered a job yesterday in Germany, by another company in our network, by a former VP of my company who now is with this other company. I owe him a call tomorrow, I think I know what I'm going to say, wish i could talk with Mommy Lion to solidify my feelings. I talked to MY VP about it today, he was calm, didn't offer any specific guidance, but reiterated a lot of what I already was thinking; not really helpful, but reassuring.

This is after I was offered a job last week with another related company about an hour outside of Atlanta, Georgia. I brushed that opportunity off, but it's still floating around in my head, what the opportunity would be, is there a better time to change, and what do I want to be when I grow up. There you have it, the inside scoop, haven't told anybody but you!

Tonight I was trying to get online with Mommy Lion when Little Pumpkin kept bugging me. There's a very small window of time when we can both be online at the same time due to a shared computer there, and 13 hours time difference from here. I asked Little Pumpkin several times to go play in her room while I tried to figure the problems out. She finally went off crying "I just want to be with you" over and over and over, and like a fool, I kept fighting the fight I didn't think I would win. At about 6:30 pm I gave up and went to get her, only to find her asleep, all her lights on. I got some sweet snuggle time rubbing her back and waking her gently before she agreed to help me fix dinner. She sat on the counter with me the rest of the evening, dumping, pouring, stirring, slicing american cheese with the cheese wire, open the bag for hamburger buns, and picking out vegetables. I LOVE that little girl.

Daddy Lion

Day Three

Kids were up at 6:15 am and we were at the Brazillians by 6:35! Little Lion was dressed, Little Pumpkin still in her silky pajamas...so hard to let go of that one especially when she's snuggly.

Little Lion got to do swim lessons today, we still need to work on strokes, long arms, scooping water at the end of the imaginary pole that points out the top of his head. I asked Little Pumpkin tonight what her favorite part of the day was, she said with the sleepiest but most excited voice possible "playing almost all day with (Little Brazillian)"

Dinner tonight was chicken & bean enchiladas, both kids had a fresh cut peach, and corn on the cob. Little Lion had two halves of a corn ear! Then they had the audacity to ask for dessert! Kids these days. They actually both peeled the skin off of their peaches and ate it first because, according to Little Pumpkin, "it's the best part".

Ultimate thanks to Mrs. Brazillian, I could NOT have done this without you!

They poor kids were probably starved because I put them to work today after we all got home. We put Miracle grow on all the flowers, they made mud pies in their swim suits while RJ & I tore the box apart in the shed that we were saving for the other Brazillians. Then they made 'chocolate' like the Oopa-Loompa's. I got them cleaned up then we ate dinner outside, in the back yard, under the soccer tent; apparently the coolest thing I've ever let either of them do !?!?!?!?

Speaking of RJ, while he was mowing the lawn today, his phone rang and HE GOT A JOB, starts at 7AM tomorrow at Southern Tire Mart. About a month ago I asked him if he could choose anything to do, no limits, what would it be. He chose two, either a long haul truck driver, or a Tire Man!!! God is good...All the Time.

So now I need your help. RJ is sooo ready for this. Please take 10 seconds, say a prayer that his work ethic, strength, and desire to live life to it's fullest would be dynamically manifest tomorrow. I'll join my prayers with you.

Daddy Lion

Day Two

Lunch at the church today with all our friends (and no need to eat leftovers yet!)

The hardest part of the day was fixing Little Pumpkin's hair this morning. I got several compliments on my diligence!

The rest of the day is nothing, maybe fix the lawns later this evening. Little Lion went to the Brazillian's birthday party and will probably be gone a few hours. Little Pumpkin is sleeping even though "she's not tired". I'm headed there too!

Little Pumpkin & I took a four hour nap, then she ate a whole PB&J, strawberries, chips, half a roll, and then asked for dessert! We watched funny home videos, a few minutes of Move the Bus, then the power went out for two hours! Baths in the dark, brushing hair and teeth by twilight, then bed with no nightlight. You would have thought the world was coming to an end.

Things were back at about 9:15, it's good to post, hope Mommy Lion gets to read. Prayers tonight by little lions were "the orphans are coming, the orphans are coming" so excited for her Mommy!

Evening One

It's been a really LONG, HARD day, swimming, walking, eating, sleeping, wii-ing...

This afternoon there was NO NAP TIME, and here's what happened...

Little Pumpkin is asleep and one leg twitch from being crumpled on the floor! Little Lion has stolen the computer and is playing Farmville and waiting for Mommy Lion to Skype.

What a great day!

Tonight for dinner was Shell pasta with red sauce, green beans & rolls.

Day One

Slept till 7:21 this morning, trying to decide what to do with myself today. Mommy lion is soaring over Russia right now, Little lion is STILL with The Little Red Hen, Little Pumpkin is STILL with the Brazilians, and I'm just about to finish movie number two, "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World".

Yes, world, I've just wasted four perfectly grand hours of my life!

Day Zero

Mommy Lion Left for China today at 4:15 pm, made it through security in Dallas and was grabbing dinner before her 10:35 PM flight.

Little Lion is with the Little Red Hen, Little Pumpkin stayed after dinner with the Brazillians, and RJ is on his way home. I've had a quiet evening, trying to watch "Inception", waiting for a last call from Dallas!

Dinner tonight was a great "disaster" soup, rice, sliced beef, hot links and asparagus courtesy of the Brazillians.

New Do

So let me begin with a before picture that is... well, quite a ways before! In fact it is almost one month to the day before! :o)

This pic of the kids was taken while in Oregon visiting family for graduations. Maybe someday when I'm not so busy I'll actually blog about that great trip! ;o)

Silly as it may be, it's a good picture to see how long Little Pumpkin's hair has gotten.

She has been to the salon twice before for trims, but today we did a full blown CUT! With Mommy Lion leaving on Friday for China a shorter length should help Daddy Lion out with washing, combing and fixing hair!!!

So here she is sporting her new do! She likes it, maybe we'll keep it short?!?

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Kinda feeling green today...

...and the kids loved it! ;o)

Father Knows Best

As a father I am once again...Wrong.

Little Lion had a Pine Car Derby today and we've spent the past few weeks preparing.

He drew the car out, total lack of aerodynamic engineering.

He put in a door, smack dab in the middle of the body, in direct violation of structures and strength of materials.

He denied any desire to properly weight the car, who cares if it's exactly the 5.0 ounces maximum allowed and recommended in the Cub Scouts.

He wanted it painted Blue and Purple.
He didn't want to put any numbers on it.
He wanted lights on the back - painted them with nail polish.

And so I determined to let him fail, the cars were expertly done by the other fathers, blowers, low profile, graphite wheels, turtle wax, themes, and bling. Not my son he had done this to himself, he would find out in this school of hard knocks that father always knows best.


Third Place...that's my boy!!!