Puppy Love

Well, things have taken a very dramatic turn in our house. It seems that persistence has won over a certain member of the family. Unfortunately for Gabbie, it is not a key (i.e., income earning) member, but still, her ranks are growing and we are beginning to get the full force of their united front. Here is the latest essay delivered to my husband by none other than Quinn!


Again, for those not used to reading over a third grader's homework, a quick interpretation:

Dad, can we please get a puppy. I will skip school to take care of it. I will walk it every day. It can stay in my room. Please! You can watch all the TV you want. I will feed it every single day. I will brush it too. You can pick it out . Please, you can pick it out!! PLEASE! PLEASE! I am begging you. I will make sure it doesn't touch you. I'm begging you. It will be trained. It will never go to the bathroom in the house. It will be 12 months old. it will be 2 feet. It will never jump or run away. DAD, PLEASE.

- Quinn B. (in case we were sure which one)

NOTE ABOUT THIS POST:
This is a post from May that was in my drafts. since this post Randy has worked very hard in turning Quinn to the dark side. Unfortunately for Gabbie, it has worked!!

Dog-ma

Let me tell you a story of my girl Gabbie. Gabbie, a self proclaimed expert on dogs and cats, has the grave misfortune to be in a home with a person with pet allergies, a person with animal fears and a person with no patience. The odds have been stacked against her since birth. However, she is diligent to get her message across. She needs a pet. That is her message. Straight forward and simple. The delivery is what changes. Some time it is a subtle hint when you least expect it, other times it is an "in your face" attack. My favorite is the written messages delivered and left in inconspicuous places around the house. Case in point the following essay addressed to her father:


For those of you who are not used to the writing stylins' of a six year old, here is a translation [wording in brackets added by this author]:
"I want a Pet: I want a dog. Let him lick me. I will be nice to him. I will clean after him. It will be a size you want. Even a cat [what the hell]. I [will] clean after her. The cat could live in the basement. Buy nice rugs for it. Buy a bed for her. I will be there every day to take care of it. I will be the best owner ever. You will never see it. I will do everything. I will brush it. I will be so, so good to it. I Need A PET to make my life perfect...[I will be] the best owner ever and ever!"

It is pathetic. Someone needs to adopt a dog for this little girl. And by someone, I mean Nana-re and Pop Pop.

Saturday the 14th

Just when you thought it was safe to look at the calendar again....
Happy Valentine's Day! Randy and Quinn got up early and got Dunkin Donuts for breakfast, Yeah! I'm all for celebrating another Hallmark Holiday!
Yesterday during Quinn's Valentine's day celebration at school, her class had a Mystery Reader. This "mystery person" submitted five clues that Mrs. Heeter gave the class throughout the day:

1. My favorite Book when I was in the Third Grade was "Island of the blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell.
2. I love to listen to music.
3. I was born in New Jersey.
4. I love to scrap book.
5. My sister and her family live in Alaska. In 2007 I went there with my daughters.

Now, pretty much everyone reading this figured out who the mystery reader was by number 3. In a room of 27 kids, there is the possibility that someone else had a parent who was also born in New Jersey. However, there is no way Quinn did not know what was going on by clue number 4. I mean, really.
Mrs. Heeter told me that she kept asking the class if ANYONE had any idea who the Mystery Reader was, and NO ONE guessed correctly. In fact, one little blonde at the back of the class didn't even attempt to guess. No, she was busy looking down and fidgeting in her seat. After clue five, still no guess. At this point, the little girl had her head on her desk.
But I am jumping ahead. I have no idea this is going on, I am in the hallway waiting for my big entrance. Mrs. Heeter opens the door and I walk in with a huge smile on my face. I say Hi! and scan the room for Quinn... and my heart stops. My smile falters. I think...Bad idea, Kim. Bad idea. Get out, Get out, Get out. There is Quinn, she is an off shade of green with such a look of distress and sickness on her face. It hits me, she is embarrassed. Of me!
So now, I am completely panicked. I am trying to act cool, but I am scared to death. They are having a party and are still eating and cleaning up. I take advantage of the chaos to approach Quinn. I bend down and whisper, "Is this OK?" She nods slightly, but doesn't speak. Is that a good sign?
The class settles in and Mrs. Heeter gives me a stool to sit on and read. I brought two books that Mom bought in Alaska. The first is "Eye of the Needle," a Yupik tale about a young boy who learns an important lesson about sharing when his Grandmother sends him out to hunt for food. Its a good book. The boy swallows everything he finds (even a Walrus and a Whale). The kids are getting into it. There are some smiles, then a giggle. I look up. Is that a smile on her face? She looks relaxed, as if she is not embarrassed. For now. Briefly. I know I can tip the scales either way in a moment, so I stay on script and just read the book.
I read the second book "Aurora" a story of how the Northern Lights got up into the sky. It wasn't as big of a hit as the first, but not a complete flop either. She's laughing with her class and looks happy. Crisis averted.
To sweeten the pot, I take her home with me when I am finished. 10 minutes before the rest of the school is dismissed. This is the best part for her!
Later at dinner, she whispers, "I wasn't embarrassed, Mom" and quickly walks away.
That was a close one.