Category: Family

Alpha, Beta, and I went to Old Sturbridge Village this past weekend to see their Antique Sleigh Rally. Alpha is obsessed with horses so it seemed like a home run in the Dad of the Year game.

Alas, Alpha bored of it in under ten minutes. Even Beta was still having fun when she announced that she wanted to do something else. Wow.

At Beta’s request we made a beeline to the Freeman Farm so we could commune with the sheep and chickens. And there, behind the cooper’s shed, we found my redemption: sledding.

We lived a little on the wild side: both girls tried sledding while standing (pictured) as well as other orientations (backwards, in the lotus position, etc). Alpha was quite proud of herself after her first run while standing, and I was equally proud of her. Don’t tell OSV we did it, though – with no one policing the hill it was much more natural and fun.

All three kids (Alpha, Beta, and Tangent) sitting in the schoolhouse for a lesson.

We had an ice storm last weekend, and I didn’t get a chance to clear my car off until today (took that long to dig out to it). As I was brushing off the dry powdery stuff from last night, I hit a layer of ice. Hard ice. Thick, white ice. “Aw, crap,” I think, “This is going to take FOREVER to get off!” So I continue brushing off the snow, and discover something.

That ice? Was 4″ above the car. In between was another layer of snow. My car had an ice COAT. I took these UNDER the layer of ice.

Ice caves! The light is so pretty in these! The car is now mostly clean. It still has a bit of a car-hawk (a Korean punk rocker look or something).

I let Meghan buy a new car – brand new, 13 miles on it.  This may or may not be a mistake, but it’s definitely cheaper than keeping the Volvo running.

Whatchya doin’?

Eatin’ chocolate.

Where’d ya get it?

The doggy dropped it.

Where’s the doggy?

Behind the door.

What’s he doin’?

Makin’ more.

I’ll be honest, this post is mostly to gloat.

The night after the other parental unit’s disastrous night in the tent, I offered the kids a second camping trip to the back yard.

Alpha slept all night… in the tent.  (willingly!)

Beta slept all night… in the tent.

I slept all night… in the tent.

I was the last one to nod off, and that was before eleven p.m.  And we all slept until after sunrise.

Alpha child vacillated on how to celebrate her birthday.  (Giving her a choice was mistake.)  Four days before, we finally settled on a simple party at the local, recently-opened mini-golf course.

It might be worth mentioning that Alpha has been officially diagnosed with Asperger’s (that’s worth a whole bunch of posts on it’s own), so a party with a “script” to follow is a very, very good idea.

So mini-golf has a implicit script – everyone knows what to do, there’s something to keep busy with at every turn, and it’s easy to avoid uncomfortable moments.  The party worked.  We met a couple of Alpha’s friends from school, everyone had a good time, and we ended the day on a high note.  Plus, it turns out that Alpha loves laser tag – also offered at the place.  Beta and her friend kept busy too.

And a shout out to our friends Sam and Joanne, who came in from out of state with their son and were most helpful.  I suck with unfamiliar kids, but Sam is actually quite effective with them.

Pics to come later.  Maybe M has a few, I never remember to take snapshots.