After an eventful day at work….oh the stories I could tell…we ended up having dinner at IHOP because I was just too exhausted to cook and really wanted pancakes.
The boys obviously had a contest going to see who could finish their food. After watching for a few moments, I asked the innocent question,
“What does the winner get?”
To which one of them quickly replies,
“Dibs on the toilet!”
Gotta love them boys! 😂
The Smart One was being a bit of a….you know what…so I said something about him not being a butt.
His reply? “What did you say?”
Me, “You’re the best son ever. I wish all my sons were like you.”
His reply, “So does everyone else.”
Gotta love him!
It’s amazing the conversations that take place in our family. Sometimes, the group texts are even funnier! Someone will send out a message and 68 messages later we can’t stop laughing! It’s crazy. There’s also the weird things that happen in our family that cause us to send out messages like the one below:
Me: “Are you removing the cardboard from the toilet paper? Someone keeps taking them out of the roll in the downstairs and boys bathroom?”
Response:” How is that even possible?”
Me: “You got me!”
Response:” Ha ha ha so no. :)”
It’s rather inconvenient when the group messages start while I am at work. Especially when I am in a meeting and my phone won’t stop…and I happen to glance down…and then burst out into laughter before I can stop myself.
Other times…it’s just a little scary.
Like a couple of weeks ago when my husband sent out, “Has anyone seen the snake?”
Responses are immediate with shock and laughter.
You see, it’s not uncommon for these types of conversations…”Why is there a frozen snake in my freezer?” or”Mom! Who put the lizard in the freezer and why is his head split open?” are not strange questions in my house.
It’s not uncommon for one of my kids to start a conversation with, “So mom…what would you say if…..” and I know it would shock others, but…that’s just the way the Vivas’s roll.
Sometimes I feel like our family should come with warning label, “Warning…you are now entering the Vivas Zone…”
So, when asked if we had seen the snake….we giggled.
Then, we realized the snake was really missing…and we were immediately concerned.
Not because we were afraid of the snake; he’s been with us for several years. We were concerned because we knew how much it meant to the Talented One and how heartbroken he must be. So, we searched and searched. And friends felt bad but remarked how they were not coming over until the snake was found.
And we weren’t sure when we would find him because he’d just been fed.
The last time our other snake got lose (someone forgot to close the lid), was found quickly…because he decided to take a nap with the Talented One. 😯
Anyway, a week went by. No snake.
And another week.
And then, this morning, excitement in the air. As the Smart One told it, he was sound asleep in La La Land when the Talented One started turning on all the lights. At first he wasn’t happy, then he realized the snake had been found! Turns out he was thirsty and needed some water.
Friends, you’ll be happy to know you can come over again…the snake is happily locked in his cage.
And don’t worry, I think someone knows that someone better not ever ever touch the snake again.
You know…all in the life of a Vivas!
Sometimes life just sucks. Especially in a pity party. My husband and I often joke about me being the ultimate optimist and he being the pessimist. Same thing with my bestest friend; I see the good, she sees the bad. We balance each other though.
This month so far has been more suck then not. But as I sit here this morning, I find myself looking back at this week that started off just terrible, and ended on terrible…and feel blessed at the not sucking parts.
We received terrible family news; yet it is amazing how my family will pull it together and be there for one another.
One day this week I managed to make it home before 8 pm. And I was pooped on three times by a stupid bird. And the mulberry tree attacked me. But I got to enjoy some beautiful weather, a child that wouldn’t stop talking, and an insistent dog that couldn’t understand my sole purpose outside was not to rub her head. I also had great zucchini grilled by my sweet husband.
I had an interesting fiasco that turned into a night of adventure after work, searching for a missing phone! It was past ten by the time we found it and got home…but I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time! And I have a deep abiding appreciation for a son who is patient and smart and knows how to get things done…and the “Twin” who will do anything for us without complaining, even if it means running around a school and ending up in the street to find the phone that went missing! I have an even deeper appreciation for a daughter who just hangs in there with her mom and other mom while we take her on yet another adventure that involves her watching out for us!
Friday was the suckiest of them all. I cannot express how wonderful it is to have my children at my workplace to cheer me up when I need it most during the day. And for a patient husband who puts up with my sometimes very long hours and never ever complains.
My week ended on a decent note. I got to see an old friend unexpectedly. I spent an eternity with my bestie setting up her new phone since she killed the old one. And watched a pretty good movie with the Drama Queen.
And today….well, it’s the beginning of a week of break…one I actually intend to take! Because, my dear friends, Easter is coming! And Easter is my favorite time of the year!
Throughout the years we’ve enjoyed playing pranks. My best ever was sewing my husbands underwear shut with tiny little stitches so he couldn’t tell! That was way back when Bboo was just a baby! As a matter of fact..it was her first April Fools!
And apparently, I’ve taught-her-well!
I manage a local charter school. One of my many job duties includes making sure we are staffed. When teachers call in sick, I arrange a sub for them thru a local sub service. If support staff is sick…we just do as best as we can to cover the shortages. Because we are a small charter school, missing anyone is tough. Missing several is …well…really tough.
Emails and text messages started coming in last night and continued early this morning. In the meantime, I only got a couple of hours of sleep because I was up half the night with a sick kid. And…I managed to get the flu myself. 🙁
By 5:30 am, I had seven people out. By the time I got to work at 6:50 am, I was up to ten people. And no subs. I was sick, I was grouchy, I was calling the sub service like crazy. I was appreciating Bboo who volunteered to make my lunch and buy me a coffee from Starbucks.
I thought perhaps someone was playing an evil April Fools Prank on me, but how could that be when a separate business was involved? Besides, other admin were just as worried as I was!
Finally, I sent out an email telling all staff I was quitting from the stress and this better be a bad joke.
No response.
And then, my Bboo smiled at me and said, “April Fool’s Mom. I love You!”
I wasn’t sure whether I should believer her or not…what about the subs?
Alas, my evil genius daughter had hacked my phone, (updated to correct: she did NOT hack my phone…she got the number from a fellow, now untrusted, co-worker) called the DM of our Sub Service and was in cahoots with her on this April Fool’s Day! She had arranged with her to call corporate and given them the names of the teachers who would be “calling in sick” and told them not to call for a sub.
The, “Are you the manager?” question rang back in my head. I thought it was weird that they had asked me that.
When the DM finally called me back, she was dying laughing. She applauded my extraordinary parenting skills in raising such a daughter who was willing to go to such lengths to pull off a prank on her mother. (She also now owes me a sushi lunch!)
She’s way ahead of me and my little pranks of taping poppers to the door that would explode when people opened them. She’s way past sewing underwear shut.
If I were you….I’d be very careful next April Fool’sDay if you are her friend…co-worker…family member.
And you all thought we were normal…..