Flying Solo

They say a picture is worth 1000 words. I hope that is true because I do not have time to write 1000 words, but I have a boatload of pictures. So here is a glimpse of life as a single father since Adrienne has left for school.

So where was the first attraction that I took the kids the day their mom left, Home Depot of course.  I had a large list of house projects I wanted to work on (though I haven't even had a chance to think of one of them yet). Actually, the Home Depot was great that day. They had a classic/racing car show in the parking lot with free hot dogs, cotton candy, and popcorn.

Here are the three kids that I had with me next to a cool racing car.  At every photo I kept saying "Do not touch the cars." If you notice Charlotte's right arm…I can only fret at what will happen when she starts dating and I tell her "hands off the boys."

Olivia wanted to pose next to this sleek classic car. Though this was to be an Olivia-only photo, Charlotte quickly photo bombed her (I think Ronin is also mooning Olivia just off camera).  Charlotte was also under the impression that because the cotton candy was free, she could scarf down as much as humanly possible. I stopped her at three as I worried she might cause a run on the world cotton candy supply.

I found that without a mother home, I have a lot of time with the girls. This is Charlotte and I kicking back on the hammock on our first solo Sunday.

I also took the girls out to explore some of the older parts of the town we live in. This is the remnants of an old mill of sorts. I climbed down the face of the stone to take the photo and a worried Olivia scolded me "are you stupid or something?"  You are NOT my mother. At least she looks after my safety.

I also took the time to stop by the aptly named Brookside Park here in Grantham, strangely by a brook. I've been driving past this park for more than six years always thinking that I should stop there someday. Someday finally came.

I try to compensate for the lack of a mother by plying the kids with lots of ice cream. It feels a bit like bribery, but I'm okay with that.

I am also learning the joys of always having a kid with me while shopping. I was in need of a winter jacket so I stop by the clearance sale (mom would be proud) at the local North Face store.  I was trying to get Adrienne's feedback on the color and style jacket I should buy…

Ronin (as you can see in the background) caught on the idea quickly...

and tried on a coat so I could send the shot to his momma too.  If any one cares, I bought the red one, even though I like the orange one better, it was $50 cheaper - style does have a price.

Ronin and I have had lots of bonding time too. 

And yes that is me in my apron. Fortunately in this photo you cannot see my nylons and high heels. For heaven sakes I think I spend the whole day with my hair in curlers anyway.

Ronin still has not learned that bonding time does have its limits. Those limits occur when dad is a sleep peacefully on the couch.  Do you remember that book Do Not Hop on Top of Pop? Apparently Ronan has never read it. Though a full body slam from a three-year-old is not always that bad, it hurts a lot worse when you're sound asleep and can't brace yourself for the impact. Don't let the thumbsucking fool you, he packs quite a punch.  Look at those muscles!

Our manners have also been shot to heck sense mama left. Ronin is eating more and more like a puppy dog, if eating at all (other than cookies because he claims they are his favorite shape - round).  There has also been a sharp increase in the amount of belching, spitting, and farting - and that is my lovely little ladies.

We've been fortunate that our friends at church have been looking after us since I've been so low. We been treated to several nice dinners, including this one with a beautiful sunset on a hill.

They gave me a chance for a nice retro picture of Charlotte on a swing.

Here is the last of my art-house photos. Every so often Ronin gets a little sad, grabs his blankey, sticks in his thumb, and looks out the window longingly for his mama.

His mama is showing that she feels his pain and returns his love (though she might be sucking her thumb because of her large amount of homework).

Adrienne is reporting that she is enjoying school and still trying to find the class combinations works for her.  He apartment is monastic, but it is made up for by the fact that all of her classmates think she is 23 years old.

The one part of single parenting that I was not prepared for was as style consultant. Olivia has it down, just like her mother. Charlotte has a little bit too much of her father in her. Now I know enough to know that stripes and plaid do not go together. 

And though I was not able to articulate the reasons why this little number didn't work, I knew that it definitely did not work (despite repeated insistence that white goes with everything).

We have been able to squeeze in some yardwork here and there. Here are two of the boys shoveling a truck load of manure. As long as I told them it was just dirt, they were fine.

We also got all the kids to plant the flowers - color set up even.

However, since it is blackfly season here, the first hour looked like a scene out of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds with the kids swatting frantically in the air at the bugs until we found the bug spray.

The boys also got the chance to go on scout camp where they built this tower. Interestingly, building a large tower was not listed in the parental trip permission form for scouts. Probably better off that way, as the mothers might not have signed it.

So that is week one of flying solo.  Whew!  Overall though, I think I did pretty well and have things under control…

NEVERMIND!