Pets And Parties

Christopher usually picks his brother up from school, but on Thursdays and Fridays, Benjamin finishes early, leaving Mike and I on pick-up duty. Given the two minute walk home from school, B boy really should be able to come home alone, however, if you know my baby boy, you already know that he won't be old enough for such an endeavour until he's...15?

It's not a safety concern - there's no traffic to speak of on these little roads. In truth it's mostly to spare myself the aggravation of having to trudge back up to school every day to pick up whatever he'd be bound to forget. This is a child who could forget body parts if they weren't attached to him (and yes, I have occasionally asked him where he's left his head today).

Besides, I don't mind picking him up a couple of times a week (except when it rains - then I send Mike). So it all works out.

On our walk home from school yesterday, the sun was shining and our boots made loud crunching sounds in the snow as B boy chatted about soccer lessons, his desperate need to go the bathroom (though apparently not desperate enough to go while at school), how wet and yucky his socks were in his boots, all the while trying to negotiate playtime before homework time.

We somehow got onto the playdate he'd had yesterday, and how one friend always brings chocolate when he comes for a visit. This has impressed Benjamin, who is clearly his father's son when it comes to chocolate.

B: "Can we buy him a present next time he comes over?"

Me: "That's a great idea, B boy. Let's definitely do that."

B: "Good!"

Me: "What kind of chocolate would you like to buy?"

B: "Oh, I wasn't going to buy him chocolate."

Me: "Well, there's also cookies, or chips. We could even bake a cake?"

B: "Nah....I want to buy him a dog!"

Something tells me that B boy and his little friend are taking Nintendogs a bit too seriously...

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Today is the beginning of the Birthday Weekend. We are celebrating my dad's 65th birthday today with a dinner party hosted by his children, attended by family and friends.

Tomorrow, Christopher has invited some friends to pizza and a movie downtown. On his actual birthday, this coming Tuesday, we'll have family over for dinner and cake.

Happy Weekend everyone!