"Do you remember when we used to . ." Or sometimes it is "What about the time that. . ."  I love those words.  When I hear them I know my children are about to start recalling memories of our household growing up together, four children with in four and a half years of each other in age.  One memory leads to another,  most of them very ordinary daily occurrences, habits, terms of endearment, and the sweetest feeling of "family" floods over us as we laugh, a sense of being connected and loved.  I know these moments are common to every family, shared experience in growing up under one roof together, I have them with my own family as does Phil.  Some of ours are recorded somewhere in one of my many journals, incomplete baby books, captions in photo albums, but I want to periodically record them here as well, in postings titled: "Do you remember. . . . "   just so we don't permanently forget the time . . . . . . .

I'll start with one of my favorite stories.  Let me set the stage:

We were living in Edmond OK just outside of OK City where Phil was doing his Emergency Medicine residency at OU.  Hannah was 3 and a half, Peter had just turned 2 and David was about 5 months old.  Peter had been playing all morning in the room that he and David shared, and David, who was lying on a blanket watching Peter, had fallen asleep.  I decided to grab a quick shower while David was sleeping, so I got Hannah and Peter settled in the living room watching "Elmo", within earshot of David if he woke up.  I left them with the following instructions, reiterating what they had been told many times before:  

"Ok guys, mama is going to take a really quick shower.  You two stay right here, do not go outside, do not open the door, do not answer the phone.  If you hear David cry, come tell me right away but do not pick him up, do not give him anything to eat or drink (as had been attempted before), just come tell me.  If you need me, come get me.  Thank you for doing a good job...."  and I left to take my much needed shower JUST down the hall with all doors open so that I knew I could probably hear David if he cried.  

 

My shower was uneventful (this time)  and, feeling much refreshed, I went in to check on David.  I had heard nothing so I expected to find him sleeping.  Instead, I found his blanket EMPTY.    PANIC.  SICK FEELING.

I rushed into the living room and saw Hannah and Peter watching Elmo, and low and behold, David lying on the floor beside Peter, happy as a lark.  I was not happy as a lark.  Relieved, yes, but definitely not happy.  

"Peter",  I said, "Why is David in the living room?"  

"He woke up and wanted to be with us."

"

Why did you not come tell me he was crying?"

"He's not crying, he's happy."

"Why did you pick him up when I told you not to?"

"I didn't."

Hannah, realizing someone was in trouble, started to cry.  I didn't think little Hannah, sensible and cautious, would pick up David, but those tears were making her look suspicious.  

"Hannah, did you bring David into the living room?"

"No Mama!,"  Hannah wailed, hurt that I would even ask.

Back to Peter, the obvious perpetrator.

"Peter, you need to tell the truth.  Even if you disobeyed Mama, the right thing to do now is to tell the truth, and there will be a lot less trouble.  Did you pick up David and bring him to the living room to be with you and Hannah ?"  I asked with GENEROUS calm.

"No Mama," was his confused reply, baffled at why I did not believe him.  Historically Peter was very truthful, very black and white.  I was completely frustrated by his obvious and 

uncharacteristic deceit.  

Giving him one last chance, I said, "Peter, I am going to ask you one more time, did you carry David into the living room?"  

Head shake no.

Louder, less generously calm, "PETER, you are not telling the truth.  If you didn't carry David into the living room, HOW DID HE GET IN HERE?"

"I wolled him", said Peter. 

 translation:  I rolled him.

My "family notes" posts are intended to serve as glimpses into the current happenings of the household.  

The current happenings of the household this month are 

being defined by two words:

birthdays and football.  This month we will celebrate Phil's 

41st, Peter's 14th, and Cameron's 11th. That is a lot of desserts and great dinners in one month!

In addition, Peter, and David and Cameron are playing on three different football teams.  Peter is being stretched by his new role at quarterback, and David is thoroughly enjoying being an effective linebacker.  

 

 

Of course we love supporting Hannah's Oakland Patriots on Friday nights!  Oakland is having an amazing season and we are all enjoying being a part of high school football again!

  

We also enjoyed watching Hannah perform with Oakland Women's Choir in the homecoming variety show.  The show was 

so creative, wonderful.  The addition of choir to Hannah schedule has satisfied a desire for more music in her life.  She loves it very much.  Hannah is working hard at conditioning for the upcoming basketball season as well.

Another special September moment was the Ribbon Cutting ceremony and first home football game on the new athletic field at Providence. We have all enjoyed cheering Cameron on as part of the first football team at PCA and the first home game/tailgate was a very meaningful night. Cameron is doing a great job at his first year of football, playing both offense and defense with a great group of teammates. 

Next month:  Photos from Cameron's birthday, basketball season for all four draws near (85 games in 95  days), Phil off to Uganda Africa ....    

Stay tuned for the rest of the story......