for no reason

Dennis has very recently taken to adding the phrase "for no reason" to what he tells us. I get things like "Dad took my phone away for no reason" and "Dad yelled at me for no reason" when he's angry at David now. Yes, David usually has a reason, and it's usually deserved. And tonight we got "I played with Elijah today for no reason." I asked if he'd played with him because they are friends, and he replied "no, it was for no reason." So we have been adding the same phrase to the end of what we tell him and we've had some hysterical laughter. I told him I'm going to go to sleep for no reason. I'm looking forward to it.

Prankster

Last week, a children's book author (Diana Shore) came to visit Dennis' school. I sent him with money to purchase one of her books which she autographed for him. He chose a book called "How to Drive Your Sister Crazy." He told me "since I don't have a sister, I'm going to use this book to drive you crazy, Mom, and you are not allowed to read it." I didn't think any more about it until he begged me to take a shower tonight, describing my stinkiness in great detail including test sniffs of my arm and serious facial contortions at my supposed aroma. I noticed he was holding the book behind his back, thumb marking the page where it describes how to flush the toilet while your sister is showering to sudden,y change the water temperature. I laughed at his foiled plan, genius though it was, and agreed when he asked me if he could try the trick on his dad in the morning.

New chore

Dennis has had a big week. He got saved when he responded to an altar call at the Power Team crusade at our church. I was trying to determine the depth of his understanding of it by asking him why he went to the front of the church, and he replied (as if I were stupid) "because I want a personal relationship with Jesus!". Okay, so he did get it.

We saw the Power Team perform on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Thursday night and Sunday afternoon, we attended birthday parties in Birmingham (one at Chuck E Cheese and one at McWane Center). And yesterday we got the call to pick him up from school after he threw up, causing him to cry over missing a field trip to the high school to watch a music revue. He went downhill fast, crying and screaming and moaning with leg pain so bad he wouldn't stand. He only threw up once at school and once at home, and the pediatrician was sure it was a virus, but we had a scary few hours. He recovered enough to eat crackers and drink Gatorade last night. This morning he had fever and we spent a day together at home. He was fully recovered by lunch time and ready for mischief. I came up the driveway from walking the dog and saw him standing at the front door completely naked. He was at least screening his private parts behind the door, but he was clearly naked. He was holding the lint screen from the dryer and asking me how to clean it. He loves doing laundry now since we got the new washer and dryer.

Upward Basketball (oh yeah, in all those things I mentioned earlier, add 2 basketball games Friday night, 3 games Saturday morning, and a closing ceremony on Saturday afternoon) has ended, and I'm anticipating a slightly better weekly schedule, but after this week--Taekwondo testing is Friday and I have ministry classes to attend Friday night and all day Saturday. Dennis has opted not to play spring soccer so he can spend more quality time at home with us and his toys. He is one smart kiddo!

In memory

Grandaddy passed away on Valentines Day. His time to go was finally at hand. His passing was not unexpected, but it saddened us all the same. We did rejoice that he made it to Heaven to spend Valentines both with his savior and with his sweetheart of many years. His funeral was not a sad affair. We shared many fun memories of him. I might have made it through the service without crying if it weren't for what Dennis did. I handed him a pen and paper from the back of the church pew when he became extra wiggly, and he used the paper to write a heartfelt and beautiful farewell note to Grandaddy. He wrote "Grandaddy I love you. You wood play with me." The spelling wasn't perfect but the sentiment was. He drew a picture of the two of them together. He very much wanted to share his note and somehow get it to Grandaddy. They opened the casket just the tiniest bit at the cemetery and let him slide the note in. It was so sweet and so perfect a gesture for a small boy, and he was very serious and solemn about it.

Dennis did delight in the fact that Gran & Pop returned from Belize for the weekend. He spent two nights with them and so enjoyed their company. I even let him miss school on Monday so that he'd have time with them. When trying to arrange a time to meet up with them, Dennis texted me and invited me to join them at "wofel house" and I agreed to do so. I asked when I should meet them there and he replied "when we get ther", and when I asked when that would be he replied "in a minit." Phonetic texting. It makes me smile. I sure do love that kid.

Valentine

Dennis grabbed my phone and must have had a sudden nose itch. I saw him rub the bottom of my phone under his nose. I complained, loudly, and told him mine was a booger free phone and asked why he couldn't use his own phone to wipe his nose. He told me, "Mom, when you fuss at me, it gives me a migration." Yes, I laughed, but I apologized and explained that the word is 'migraine'.

I'm sad tonight over the loss of my Granddaddy, but I know that he celebrated today in Heaven with Jesus and with Grandmother, the love of his life.

according to the package directions

I was doing some work on the craft supply room this afternoon and returned to my office to see Dennis sitting at my desk, busily working on my calendar. He had opened a package of Fun Tak, that putty that we use to stick things to the walls at church. I noticed two strips of tack were missing. I saw one strip holding a polka dot nail file to my printer. The other was rolled into a ball and looked much like a hunk of blue play-doh sitting by my phone. I said his name in an accusatory tone, and he replied "what...it says 'Fun Tak' on the package. I was just having fun with it." There was no way to reply to that really, so I just agreed with him. My calendar for next Saturday says "Mommy and Dennis Day". I wish it could be so, but he'll have to share me with the 3rd & 4th graders that I'm taking to play Laser Tag.