Days with the Dorans

The moment I got home from my lunch with Joe, Z was asking me when WE were going!  I explained to him we couldn't go out to eat EVERY day (not good for our wallets or our hearts).  It was cute because he kept talking about where he wanted to go and for quite a while it was BURGER KING! "You know mom, we've never been there and I heard their burgers are delicious!  Maybe we should try it out??" This made me laugh (typical Goosie) but if he REALLY wanted to go, I would have gone.  Easier on the wallet (not the heart though...) In the end, he chose a local brewery where we go often.  We had fun but he cracked me up.  I kept asking him about friends... school... soccer... and he kept going back to telling me about some game called "Plants verses Zombies" that I have never heard about but could now write a book on!!  We were there for quite a while and I just laughed because that was ALL he wanted to talk about!  Even on the ride home!!! W...

My Nan went into the hospital on Tuesday, Dec. 16th.  Sadly, she's still there.  It's that wonderful heart of hers that seems to be causing all the problems.  The heart issues (congestive heart failure and a-fib) caused her to retain a lot of water- including around her lungs.  She was really congested, her BP was REALLY high and on top of everything else, she had a UTI!  She's been sleeping A LOT and not eating much.  Despite that, she has had a few good days (or moments in those days).  I called my mom's cell phone to check on my Nan and NAN answered the phone!  I was afraid at first because I had expected my mom and thought it was her and something happened.  It was just my Nan and once she cleared her throat, we had a good laugh. My mom was out of the room and we didn't know that my Nan knew how to answer a cell phone!  She sounded so wonderful and alert (she has dementia, so OFTEN complains about being confused).  It...

So far our Goose hasn't had the best year at the plate... Sure, he is always at the ready in the field and does OK in practices, but we certainly need to practice with him more at home (there goes that time thing again).  I think he'd rather kick around a soccer ball but he still loves playing baseball~ probably because his 'best buddy' (aka my dad) is such a fan. Jeff worked with Z on his hitting and we were crossing our fingers he'd have a good game.  He is still learning the game~ even getting upset with the umpire (not to the umpire but to us) when he was called out on strikes.  He thought he should have had an extra pitch because he had foul balls.  He didn't understand that fouls were strikes and the only time you get an extra ball is when that foul happens on the third pitch.  He was pretty upset. His foul mood didn't last long though... His next at bat he had a great hit down the third base line and ran like the wind!  You would have...

 Zach had had a loose tooth for quite a while and I thought perhaps we'd have a Doran who lost a tooth while in first grade and today we did!  And he was IN first grade (as in school).  I got a call while on my way home that Z lost his tooth and sure enough when I pulled in, there was my Goose waiting at the door with a wonderful smile (minus one tooth).  He told me, "I was just waiting in line for PE (that stands for gym, mom) and wiggling my tooth and then it just popped out."  He got a little container for his tooth and after he showed it to me, I told him to run upstairs and put it next to his bed (we had a busy night with piano and a game for Al... all days are busy for us lately). Well, after we got home and did some writing and reading (I was surprised that Z didn't write about his tooth but some made up story with gross things in it... I won't elaborate) and showers and baths it was time to go to bed, only Z couldn't find his tooth!!  Thi...

Last night I got an email from Z's teacher.  Nothing to worry about of course, just trying to schedule a parent/ teacher conference outside of the conference day seeing that I will be having my own parent/teacher conferences that day.  It was great to hear how well he is doing (you never know with him). She did include something that was certainly blog worthy.  It appears that Z is now showing his true colors (or feathers) in the class.   This is what she wrote: Last week we were reading Chicken Little and when Goosey Loosey appeared, Zach said "I'm a goose."  Then he looked around and kind of mumbled, "Well, they call me goose because I'm funny."  It was too cute! And a side note, a little conversation between the Goose and I from tonight: Goose: Is this the napkin I use mom? (waving dryer sheet)  Me: (sigh) Are you doing laundry Zach? Goose: Yes (all business), I had a few dirty clothes in my basket so I wanted to take ca...

 I am happy that the Zachisms have indeed continued past his preschool days.  Now that we are in the full swing of things, life is really busy.  But with Ali Jane dancing at a later time, I really treasure that our family dinners (for the most part) are still in tact.  I love hearing about the kids days, but especially Z's. Me: And what was your favorite part of the day, Goosie? Z: Recess. Me: Why?  What'd you do? Z: Caught a squirrel. Me: What? A real Squirrel? Z: Yes. Me: No you didn't!  You're fibbing! Z: No. Serious. Me: I'm going to ask your recess lady. Z: (laughter) oh mom, I'm just trickin' ya! Tonight he got a bath (very exciting since now he mostly has showers). He was watching the water go down the drain and said to me, "You know where this water comes from mom?" Me: Where? Z: The Lake. Me: What lake? Z: (duh) Nana and Papa's... Me: You mean the lake where the fish poop???? (ewwww) Z: (pause) No.  I mean... th...

Zach: I spy something green. And it can kill you. And it's not the green light saber over there. In the end, I learned that he was spying poison ivy (which hopefully he didn't spy) which he got a few weeks ago.  His poor legs looked HORRIBLE but thankfully he's looking better now and was the only one to get it. Sean tried to play too, but he's not very good.  He just said, "AIRPLANE!" I guess he doesn't really understand the rules. They had fun. First there were two. Then three. Then four.

As always Zach has said some doozies lately and thankfully now that I have a 'smart' phone, I've been able to say them into my phone and it writes them down for me so I don't forget. I thought I would save them for another Zachism's blog and after Z's practice (and some classic Goose), it was time to write that blog! * A few weeks ago Z got mad at his teacher (who also happens to be our wonderful dog-sitter). He told her she could no longer be his teacher and couldn't watch our dogs anymore! Thankfully he 'forgave' her (for whatever offense it was that may wronged him) and told her, "You can watch my dogs again." * While driving in the car the other day he said, "Mom. Do you want to hear my dream?" I told him I would love to hear his dream. It was quiet for a while and I said, "Zach, aren't you going to tell me your dream?" He replied, "Oh. I only tell people my dreams when I don't have my seatbelt on...

Moments ago Zach was in my bedroom. He told me he was looking for his rock and that he couldn't go to sleep without it. I had no idea what he was talking about. I barely got out the words, "A rock?" when he pulled back my comforter, grabbed a rock and said, "Oh there you are! I thought I'd lost you. Let's go to bed." Why is Zach talking to rocks? Why is he sleeping with rocks? And why in the world was there a rock in MY bed?? This is why we call him the "Goose". He was recently described as "random" and I had to smile as I remember my cousin calling my brother that once upon a time and nodding along. Yes. Random was the perfect description for Danny. And yes... random is the perfect description for Z. And so some random Zachisms from my recent memory for your reading pleasure. Unfortunately I haven't been blogging as much as I'd like and so I am sure there are other Zachisms that have slipped my mind. Here are a fe...

Early on in my teaching career, I got some good advice. I was told to make a "feel-good-file" where I could keep all nice, encouraging notes I would get throughout the years so that I could take them out and read them when I needed a pick-me-up. Today was an exhausting day. I leave one classroom, and go to the next... but as my mom pointed out~ I chose BOTH jobs. I didn't open my "feel-good-file" today. Instead, I just opened my email and read some of the things my mom sent me about my Z. They lifted my spirits and made me smile. I hope they do the same for you... Z: Can I have some Candy? Me: No. It's not good for your body. Z: (in a whiney voice) If you don't get me candy, I'm telling Mom on you when she gets home!!! So, Just in case he tattles on me, this is the way the conversation went. Want to make sure we have our stories straight. Hope this trip to Toys-R-Us is not a bad idea. Later: Me: Why are you up already? Z: (sigh) Oh, the sle...