Stop Petting the Lilies

“AAAAAAAAH!”

Yali ran away from nap time, screaming around the house in maniacal laughter, with the tadpole net stretched out over his head. He couldn’t avoid the nap, but he did elude my grasp for awhile. This tiny niño is fast. Fortunately, I’m faster. Usually.

After carpool. Dumpster diving. It took Puck thirty seconds to spot his find of the day.

“What… is this?” he asked, flipping through a book of math tricks from 1975.

Fascinated, he snagged the forgotten piece of literature and set it aside for the drive home while he and Yali ran out onto the volleyball court to help the 4th grade girls warm up. And every once in awhile, Yali would throw himself “soccer drama style” on the floor of the gym, flat on his back, or flat on his face. Remnants of his days being a huge “football” fan back in South America.

Homework at the dinner table. Puck carefully worked over his math book while Yali looked for an opening to stir up mischief. As usual.

(Swipe!)

“What!” Puck turned to me. “Mom! Can you believe that? Yali just sneakily tried to take my little Lego spaceman. It was sitting right here, and he just tried to grab it without me noticing!” Puck turned with almost a sense of admiration towards his little brother. “I’m not putting trust in you anymore. OH WOW! That was ridiculous, Yali!”

Oxbear returned just in time for dinner with Hot Box Cookies. The boys didn’t notice the cookies though, because they were too fascinated with the little vase of pink lilies and sunset mums sitting on the table. They wouldn’t stop petting the lilies.

“Boys, seriously.”

I removed the vase from the table. Both boys continued to grab after the blooms.

“But, Mom! We just want to touch them! PLEASE!”

Goofballs.

After dinner – listening to “Los Panchos” while Puck tested his homemade “boomerang” (a sheet of cardboard wrapped with duct tape around the edges) outside, and Yali had a bubble bath. Then back to more homework for Puck. Because he’s in the big leagues now.