I just wanted to take my kids out for Sunday breakfast

My youngest son called to have me pick me up from his friends house and on the way I got a text from my oldest son (who had called me earlier in the morning to say he was stuck in a public parking lot and had no money to pay the parking lot fee, which ended up being $1.40 and he wrote a check to some white guy who didn't trust him..)

With two children in the car, we called the third son (who was hanging out with some girls the night before) and decided to meet at Perkins and much to my surprise the parking lot was full, but I was able to get a right in the front parking space so things were looking good. Once we got in the restaurant it was clear there were too many people waiting and it was going to be an hour wait at the least. So we called my son and said "meet us at IHOP" which wasn't that far away and we could not find parking and before we had to leave the parking lot, my son was dropped off.

We tried (only as a last resort...) Denny's, but the parking lot was full and probably a forty minute wait, but still too long.

So we decided to make breakfast at home. We drove to the grocery store (I think it was probably the first time grocery shopping together in 10 years...) found the eggs, tortillas, bacon, cheese, hash browns, chorizo... but as we approached home we remembered we forgot the orange juice, milk and bread. I picked up my daughter from her friends house and we have every kid and food and a family breakfast.

Except no one knew that Mom was coming home at the very moment and before we had a chance to cook the bacon she showed up with groceries and a not too happy face and I quickly left.

But I should have probably cooked breakfast at home, and not invited the children to breakfast and made things easier...

But I never do...

Cleaning the house before your mom comes home

I guess I did six or eight loads of wash. No maybe 12 loads.

Including the stinking towels that had been used to soak up beer
spilled on the ground. Anyone over 21, would have noticed that
they had been used to clean spilled beer and now were smelly.

I picked up two dozen plates and glasses from your computer tables.
I know exactly what you ate (Pizza last night, Ramen noodles the night before...
hot chocolate..the sausages I left, eggs and something...)

six loads in the dishwasher.

I emptied at least three bags of garbage and two loads of recyclables.

I shoveled the snow in the driveway and sidewalk.

I cleaned the frying pan.

I left enough mess for your mom to see that you guys made a mess. But not enough mess to drive her mad.

enough mess to let her know I stopped over there, but did not spend too much time there

I did not clean the countertops, just picked up enough to know some teenagers lived there...

She would have saw the folded towels, done the way I fold... and figured I was there longer then she anticipated

and she would be mad at me again

but thank me for looking in on the kids more then she planned for...

Going to the movies together over Spring Break

It was my oldest son's idea to go to the movies together this weekend.
Simple.
"Let's go to the movies dad...I want to see the new Jack Black movie...Be kind Rewind."

The next step was to see the movie trailer on the computer, a little interruption during their video game...but it still worked out ok.

The following step was when...

Tonight? It was already too late..The next showing was at 10 pm...Way too late for me....

Tommorrow...I had plans...

Sunday...Yes... Sunday afternoon.

I would have the kids over to the house for breakfast and then the movie and then i was done.

But Sunday morning is a time to sleep in. So I decided to go to their mom's house to cook breakfast. My second oldest helped cook the eggs and sausage. i handled the bacon and toast and got the dishwasher organized. And before you knew it breakfast was done and we were ready for the movie...

Except the NCAA Basketball was on, my daughter came home from Alabama and Sunday evening was going to work better.

I took a nap on the couch while watching basketball, my other son fell asleep on the other couch and the other two sons continued to play the stupid Warcraft video game, and my daughter left after being home for two hours.

5:40 my youngest son said...the movie starts at 5:40...

Starting at 4 p.m. I gave the reminder we are going to be late to the movie signals...

A snowfight started after everyone got dressed and outside...

The oldest son got hungry again, so we agreed a couple of dollars each from the McDonald's dollar menu and we were off...

Except we stopped at the world slowest McDonalds, and it took the younger sons a lot of time to think about what to order...which did not help.

We made it to the theater at 5:40 on the dot.

When we went to order the movie tickets the next show was 7:45 p.m., the movie we wanted to see had started at 5:10 p.m.

So I got to see a second movie "Vanatage Point" and agreed to meet at 7:40 outside the theatre.

The movie started out great and funny and then they had to stick a moral and lesson in the middle and end and then it became boring... not to me who believes in gentrification and upgrading neighborhoods whole preserving the history and flavor of a neighborhood

But it was over

one more snow fight outside the theatre

a quiet drive home

drop them off

and try to stay awake the rest of the 10 minute drive home
.

No going out for a spring sport...

You sorta had plans to do a spring sport and I was so tied up finishing my winter sport that I lost track of time and did not stay on top of you to get you to sign up for track....

By the time your mom reminded me to sign you up, you were convinced that it was too late and nothing could change that...

You are missing out on something special and by the time you figure it out it will be too late....

Honors Banquet at the High School

I am sure this has probably been the most difficult semester of your life, since the time I left the house for the divorce over five years ago.

Despite the challenges your older brother is going through, both of you have stayed focused enough on your school work to make the honor roll this past semester, with a 3.50 GPA or better.

Lucky for me, your mom reminded you that both of you could have done better in school last semester, before I had a chance to open my mouth and mess things up.

Either you are in Alabama, or I don't know where you are....

Your mom mentioned last week that she was headed on another vacation cruise for Spring Break and I was going to be in charge for the break.

A day later you told me your were going to Alabama for Spring Break, I reminded you that I could not give you permission to leave the state, unless your mom agreed first.

When I emailed your mom to confirm that you were leaving, she said she did not have all the details, but you were going.

After the call, I had this feeling that you might have altered the details of the trip and instead of being with Cassie and her family in a car to Alabama to vist her family, you were with a group of high school seniors headed for a class trip to Florida for Spring Break.

Either way you are somewhere, hopefully safe... you have not called for money or to get you out of jail yet so it still might be Alabama