So Much To Celebrate

I told Sarah that we are going to Boston for Thanksgiving this year.

Sarah: Oh goody! Like last year?
Me: Yes! Well, except the getting sick part. I don't want to do that again!
Sarah, laughing: Mommy!
Me: But there's another thing we're going to celebrate up there -- something really special. Can you guess what it is?
Sarah, excitedly: Oh, I know! Are Uncle and Auntie Ally coming too?
Me: Yes, I bet they are! But there's a special reason, aside from Thanksgiving, why we'll all be celebrating. Can you think what it is?
Sarah: Um ... Spanish Heritage Month?

[The correct answer is Mallory's baptism!]

Kermit the Gecko

We were talking about the kids' movies in our Netflix queue, and I told them that I had chosen some episodes of The Muppet Show. "Actually," I said, "you probably don't even know who the Muppets are, but they're really funny."

"We do!" said Charlie excitedly. "We have the Muppet Christmas movie!"

"Oh, I know!" exclaimed Sarah. "Is that that gecko sort of guy from Sesame Street?"

I looked at her and blinked. "You mean Kermit the Frog?"

She laughed. "Yeah, that's the one!"

Friday Night Lights

Charlie is playing football in the Atlanta Colts league. He is on the Redskins. He loves playing, and is off to a great start. He plays offensive end, linebacker, and special teams for kickoff and kick return.

At one of the early practices before the season started, his coach wanted to teach them how to do the kickoff. He said to the team, "What is the very first thing that happens to start off the game?"

Charlie, who has watched and been to his share of football games, was quick with the answer. "The coin toss!" he shouted with confidence.

"Oh. Yeah, well, after the coin toss. What's the first thing to start the game?"

The correct answer was the kick-off, but I told Charlie I liked his answer better. Anyway, here are some pictures from his first few games.

Only in Fiction

Sarah is reading the book Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary.

Sarah: Do you know what the S stands for?
Me: Sarah? Sheffield? I give up.
Sarah: Smart! Because he is smart.
Me: Oh. We should have named you that: Sarah S. Mackey. Because you're smart.
Sarah (laughing): Mommy, it's only in fiction and fantasy that people's names describe them!

What's the Poop?

Allison: What does poop mean?
Me: Poop? It's what comes out when you go to the bathroom.
Sarah: Solid waste!
Allison: No! Not that kind of poop. The other kind of poop.
Me: What other kind of poop?
Allison: Like when you're tired?
Me: Oh! Pooped! Yeah, it means tired.

Naming Rights

At bedtime, Charlie and Sarah and I were talking about how they got their names, and other names we considered for them but didn't use.

As Charlie learned that we also considered Alex for him, he said, "Well it's a good thing you didn't name me Alex, because there's already an Alex in my class."

Sarah suddenly got indignant. "Hey! How come I didn't get to help choose Charlie's name?"

Charlie and I laughed, simultaneously reminding her, "Sarah, you weren't even born yet!"

Sarah laughed sheepishly. "Oh yeah. I knew that; I just forgot."

I Still David

David, in the car, when a Red Hot Chilli Peppers song came on: I like this song, Mommy!
Me: You do?
David: Mmmh hmm.
Me: Cool! You're my little punk rock boy.
David: I not a little punk rock boy! I David!

On Not Being 100

Me, driving, under my breath as I passed an exceptionally slow car and cast a sideways glance at the driver: Oh, so that's why you're driving so slow: you're 100!
Sarah, from the backseat: I don't want you to be 100, Mommy.
Me, amused: So you prefer the alternative?
Sarah: What do you mean?
Me: Don't worry. By the time I'm 100, you guys will be about 70 yourselves.
Sarah: I don't want to be that old. I want to stop after high school.
Charlie, laughing: What are you talking about?
Sarah: I just want to go up to high school, but no older than that.
Me: Then what?
Sarah, smirking: Then, go back down again.
Charlie: But Sarah, that would mean you couldn't go to college. Don't you want to go to college?
Sarah: OK, then I'll go up to college. But what about that thing that comes after college?
Charlie: You mean business school.
Sarah: Yeah, business school. I'll go up to that, then that's it.
Charlie: But Sarah, then you'll never get a job. And you'll never be rich.
Sarah: Does that mean I can't have a favorite movie?
Charlie, laughing: Of course it doesn't mean that.
Sarah: Then I'll go up to college, and then come back down again.
Me, laughing: OK, but you know it doesn't work that way, right?
Sarah: I know.

Auntie's Cool Things

Allison, as I was getting ready one morning for work: Doesn't Auntie have some cool things?
Me: Um, yeah!
Allison: You know, like two bathroom doors, and cool things like that.
Me: Oh. Yeah, that is cool.
Allison: Mommy, when are we going to Boston again?

Hard-Knock Life

Sarah's Annie fetish is alive and well.

At family camp, when she first saw our cabin with the walls lined with bunk beds (sleeps 16 in all), she said excitedly, "Wow! This is just like an orphanage!"

When she saw the dining hall, she again said, "This is so cool! It looks just like an orphanage! Well, except, your parents eat with you."

I Am My Own Grandma

Allison: Mommy, tell me more about when I'm a grown-up.
Me: OK. Well, first of all, you won't live in our house. You'll have your own house to live in!
Allison, wailing: But all the houses are taken!
Me: Well, someone will be done with theirs, and then you can buy it.
A: Are you sure?
Me: Oh yes. That's how it works. You know, like when I was a child, I lived in Granny and Grandpa's house. But now that I'm married to Daddy and we have our family, we have our own house.
A: When I'm a grown-up, I want to marry the President of the United States.
Me: OK. You can. But you could also be the President of the United States.
David: When I'm a grown-up, I want to marry [our friend] Ellie.
A: Mommy, if David marries Ellie, do I get to be their kids' Grandma?
Me: No. You get to be their auntie! I'll be their Grandma.
A: But I want to be their Grandma.
Me: Well, that's not how it works. You get to be their auntie.
A: When I'm a grown-up, can I be your kids' Grandma?
Me: No. You are my kids!
A: No, I mean when I'm a grown-up!
Me: No, you'll still be my daughter.
A: No. I mean when I'm a grown-up, I want to be the Grandma for your kids.
Me: But Allison, you are my kid. You can't be your own Grandma! When you have a child, I'll be their grandmother. And then when they have a child, you'll be their grandmother.
A: And can I drink coffee and wear fancy shoes?
Me: Yes, definitely. When you're a grown-up, we'll drink coffee together, and we'll share fancy shoes with each other.
A: Oh, I can't wait!

The Von Mackey Family Singers

Midway through the family camp weekend, I told Bryant that I finally figured out how to explain what family camp is to people who've never heard of it: it's just like in "Dirty Dancing." True to form, the last night culminated in a talent show held on the stage of the lodge. [I tried to convince Bryant how funny it would be if he got up there and sang "I Feel Pretty" but I couldn't talk him into it. Did I mention there is no alcohol at family camp?]

We did not sign up in advance to be in the show, but when the time came, Allison was in her element. She found Mr. Greg -- the camp coordinator, guitar player, and guest talent manager -- and asked if she could sing a song in the show. He needed corroboration from her parents, but when we said it was OK, he worked her in the schedule. I asked Sarah if she wanted to sing too, and suggested they sing Edelweiss, because they both know it. The girls enthusiastically agreed.

I asked David if he wanted to sing Edelweiss on stage with the girls, and he surprised me by saying yes. He knows it too, but can be shy to sing it in front of other people. Then I asked Charlie if he wanted to go up too, and he also surprised me by saying yes.

The Von Mackey Family Singers were a huge hit. I only wish we videotaped it. Sarah and Allison introduced themselves and their brothers. Charlie became mute upon hitting the stage, opening and closing his mouth but pretending to be unable to speak, leaving the ever-poised Sarah to say, "And that's our brother Charlie, he's 8, and he isn't talking."

The girls sang beautifully, melodiously, serenely. David stood near them but slightly in front, and sang loudly, "Edelweiss, edelweiss. Edelweiss, edelweiss" throughout the entire song. He never moved beyond that line, but he sang earnestly, and with gusto. Charlie provided visual comedy, alternately standing, walking, and tripping over his own feet behind the girls. They never missed a beat.

Many families came up to us at breakfast to tell us how much they enjoyed the performance. As Mr. Greg told us goodbye the next day as we packed up to leave camp, he told the children he'll never again be able to hear Edelweiss without thinking of them.

the children nestled all snug in their cabin

David Goes to Baseball Camp

After all the months of David talking about going to baseball camp, we decided that at some point, family camp was going to be baseball camp.

There were 6 campers at baseball camp, all registered under the last name of Mackey. We met on the tennis courts at dusk, and we had a pitching clinic, a batting session, fielding exercises, and some base running practice. All the other kids made sure David got to do everything he wanted, and David was the star of baseball camp!

Later that night he said, "I want to go to baseball camp again next year!"

How About a David Song?

The first night at family camp we had a campfire, and Mr. Greg played the guitar and we all sang songs, roasted marshmallows, and made s'mores. It was so much fun that we didn't want to leave. Most families headed back to their cabins, but Mr. Greg seemed willing to sing as long as people were willing to listen and sing along.

Allison was friendly and charming, and before long Mr. Greg was singing Elvis Costello's "Alison." She expressed her appreciation so graciously that he indulged her in a follow-up, by adapting "Eleanor" to "Allison" -- as in, "Allison, gee I think you're swell..." She laughed and laughed. Next he asked Sarah's name, and launched into Hall & Oates "Sara Smile."

When Mr. Greg thought he was done, David popped up out of the darkness, sidled over right next to him, and said, "How about a David song?"

Mr. Greg immediately laughed and said sure, then thought about what he might sing, before landing on "Dave's Been Working on the Railroad," complete with "David blow your horn" and "someone's in the kitchen with David." David loved it!

More Family Camp

More camp fun...

Sarah atop the water slide

Tracey has a turn on the zip line. (Bryant had several turns on both zip lines: the one that ends in the lake, and the one that ends on land.)
The boys' canoe

Hanging out by the cabin

Charlie atop "Big Red" Mommy rides "Shula" Allison and David swim in Lake Rotary

The Chapel at "Pretty Place" where Sunday service was held

Family Camp

We spent Labor Day weekend at family camp at Camp Greenville, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, on the North Carolina/South Carolina border. Bryant had been a camper there as a boy, as had his father, and his father before him.

We loved family camp! We stayed in a cabin (which we had to ourselves, and which was fully equipped with electricity, bathrooms, and showers). We ate our meals in the dining hall and filled our days with a wide variety of activities: swimming, canoeing, archery, horseback riding, riflery, arts & crafts, etc. There was play school for the little ones, which consisted of games, coloring, nature walks, and time in the gym.

Here are some pictures of the Mackeys in Action...