The Mackeys: March 2009

It's Not That Small a World, After All

Since our trip to Disney World a year ago, David's been asking me to sing him "Small World" for his bedtime song. The second verse goes, "There is just one moon and one golden sun/and a smile means friendship to everyone..."

Today when I sang that part he said, "But, Mommy, there are other moons in outer space. There's not just one, you know."

The Nursing Home Years

At the movies, we saw a poster for "17 Again," a new movie featuring Zac Efron, the star of High School Musical (1, 2, and 3). David saw it and said excitedly, "Look! High School Musical 7!"

The Opposite of Sass

Me, standing behind Sarah brushing her hair in the bathroom: How do you want your hair?
Sarah: How about a side pony?
Me: OK. Which side?
S: Either one.
Me: OK. You don't have a preference?
S: Whatever side you think looks better, then I'll like the opposite.
Me - arching an eyebrow: Excuse me?
S: What?
Me: You'll like the opposite of whatever I like?
S: Yes. Because I'm looking in the mirror.

(I should have known my sweet Sarah would not sass me like that!)

Exclusive Prayers

David, in church, praying for his family and naming us one by one.
Me: Good. And how about baby Maggie?
David: Oh no! Babies aren't allowed in this prayer.
Me: But remember - she's coming home today.
David: Well, OK. But just one baby.
Me: Well what about baby Sam?
David: OK, two babies. But that's IT!

Baby You Can Drive My Car

David: Daddy's a better driver than you.
Me: Mmmm, we're both good drivers.
David: Well you sometimes go the wrong way and Daddy never does.
Me: Oh, yeah, well you're right about that.

10 minutes later, he came up to tell me goodbye when I left for work. He brought up a tiny folded toy brochure that came in a cereal box or something. He unfolded it, pretending it was a map. "OK, this is where you work, Mommy. This picture is supposed to be your work building. So that's where you're going."

Rewards for Good Behavior

When I was telling Bryant goodbye this morning before I left for work, I noticed he had a sticker on his T-shirt. On the days he goes to the gym to work out, Allison gives him a sticker as a reward. Today she asked him if he planned to go, and when he said yes, she gave him his sticker in advance. (You wouldn't think stickers motivate adults, but he said he HAD to go to the gym today since she'd already given him a sticker.)

President Obama

Dinnertime conversation...

David: I know who the last President is: Barack Obama!
Allison: He's the last President? You mean there isn't going to be a next one?
Me: No, there is. He just means it's the last one so far.
Allison: I've seen Mrs. Obama on TV.
Me: I have too. She's beautiful, isn't she?
Allison: Yeah. ... But she's not as beautiful as you, Mommy.

What's In a Name?

I heard David and Allison talking in the other room, when Allison called out to me, "Mommy, what's David's middle name?"

"Robert," I answered, and went on talking to Bryant in the kitchen.

A minute later, Allison called out, "David's starting to cry."

I called him in to me and he appeared in the doorway with a very sad face and huge tears in his eyes.

"What's the matter?" I asked him. "Are you hurt?"

"I don't want to be a Robert," he said sadly.

"A what?" I asked. (I thought he said "robber.")

"I don't want to be a Robert!"

I knelt down and looked him in the face. "Well you know WHY you're called Robert? Robert is a very special name. It's Grandpa's name! And it's Uncle's name! And it was even Daddy's Grandpa's name! Isn't that wonderful?"

"No. I don't want it to be my name."

"OK. What do you want your middle name to be?"

"I don't want to have a middle name. I just want to be David Mackey."

"OK! You can just be David Mackey."

Flashback - More of Family Camp

More fun photos from Family Camp!

Sarah, Aaron, and Ann B don't rock the boat, baby

Sarah takes a joy ride on the rope swing. Mommy and Auntie never quite master it, and live in mild fear that videos will someday surface on "America's Funniest."

This one inspires me to write some haiku:
Chillin' by the lake.
Rockin' while the kids limbo.
Mmmm, camp is fun. Mmmm.

The aforementioned limboing kids. Hint for next year, if you cried when you got out, or simply failed to acknowledge you got out, they let you stay in. And in, and in, and in.

Mommy and Allison

Taking a walk - for Allison, the easy way

Geoff - a.k.a. Spiderman. Geoff, Ann B, and Bryant all did the high version of the high-ropes course. I did a lower version and was scared stiff - but it was very cool. Especially coming down!

Sarah kayaking around the lake. She didn't know I was watching, but I walked over from the cabins and saw her out there.

Charlie "hanging out" on the water zip line

Geoff makes a splash

Aaron and Matt paddling around

More of the ropes

Buds in the dining hall

The walk of glory, after the water zip line

David has fun in the sand

My favorite line of Family Camp came from David. I was trying to get him out of bed one morning and he was still lying there sucking his thumb as we all were getting dressed and ready to go. I told him he needed to get up or he'd miss breakfast and he said, "My thumb's for breakfast!"

Flashback - Family Camp, Labor Day 2008

We had an awesome time at Family Camp over Labor Day Weekend. It was our second year going, but this time we had the immense pleasure of sharing the experience with Auntie and with our good friends, the Boyers. Here are some of the many things we did at Camp.

Dr. B goes up up up in the ropes course