Happy Faces All Around

Wendy and Kelly (after getting the okay from me) had told Gage that if he got a six-weeks report card with all happy faces, he could spend the night with Cookie & Pop. I won't question why he thinks that's a good reward; for the time being I'll just be grateful that he does.

He achieved his goal recently and this weekend was reward time. It was going to be on Saturday night, but after a marathon day with Robin, Wendy & Carolyn shopping for a wedding dress, we thought it would be better to make it the next night. Reluctant at first, Gage agreed and Sunday it was.

I picked him up at 3:00 and let him make the decision about what we would have for supper. With a choice between tacos and spaghetti, he chose the latter which I started as soon as we got home. While I cooked, he opened the "Operation" game and got it set up and then practiced operating for a while. Once the spaghetti sauce was simmering, he decided that he was done with his surgery rotation and was ready to move on to the Wii.

He selected the training mode and we played golf and baseball and then we bowled. He was pretty good at all of them and could instruct me in the finer points. We were still playing when Brent, Carolyn and the girls drove their new Mule over. Carolyn and Carlee stayed here while Gage joined Brent and Kate taking trash over to the dumpster. When they finished the trash run, the Bubela family headed home and Gage and I continued on the Wii. We hadn't played too long when Pop got home and stuck his head in to see if Gage wanted to help him feed Dusty. Once Dusty was taken care of, Pop took my spot in the lineup and they played Wii baseball. Pop was giving it his all and I won't be surprised if he's a little sore today.

After dinner, Gage and Pop played several games of Operation and Sorry while I cleaned the kitchen...only looking in on them when I was needed to settle rules disputes and clarifications. Pop seemed to think that the Sorry game had changed. He thought he remembered it being played with dice and marbles. I don't know what universe might have included dice and marbles in their Sorry game. Not this one.

After his bath, Gage and Pop watched some of the Ravens-Steelers game. Then it was my turn again...this time to read a book before bedtime. I wanted to find a better book, but he was happy with Dr. Seuss. Then off to bed he went without any delaying tactics.

We played Wii Sports again this morning and then I took him home at about 9:30. Since Zane is at day care today, Gage will be able to construct one of his Star Wars Lego kits. This one has 232 pieces.

We're all looking forward to another six-weeks of happy faces!

Gage's birthday

It's Gage's 6th birthday! At once it seems like it's been forever and such a short while since he was born. Wayne and I went over to take his birthday presents and wish him Happy Birthday this afternoon.

He was wearing a green crown...presented by his teacher to the birthday boy. He was also given a green stuffed animal which he promptly stuffed down the back of my shirt. He took the photo of Zane and I that I've posted here. A very nice photo, indeed!

Wendy said that Robin called to wish him Happy Birthday to which he replied, "Why, thank you!" Gage's mom and dad gave him a new bicycle, but they are having trouble getting the right size for him, so it's still in the process of getting to the house. We gave him a couple of Erector sets to build a number of models. He seemed to be excited about that. I also took him a mini-birthday cake just for today. Wendy is making him a cake for his birthday party on Saturday. He's having it at the Aquatic Center and will only have guests his age there. Zane won't even be there.

Football

Gage has really been "into" football for a couple of years now. I might have mentioned it...or not. He is not, however, an Aggie fan. The little rat likes the Longhorns! And it's almost always been that way. I wonder what makes a child that young pick a team that his parents don't support? I'm pretty sure, for one thing, that they haven't criticized his choice. But, he's fairly knowledgeable for a guy who will reach six years in two days. Wendy told me that during the pro draft last year he sat in the living room with the sports section and a pencil keeping track of who was picked. Who does that when you're barely five years old?

Kelly says that if he needs to leave the room during a game he can count on Gage to tell him what happened while he was gone.

Gage had to go to bed before a game was over recently. The next morning he wanted to know who won. Kelly told him that one of the teams won by 11 points. Gage immediately wondered aloud how they did that. He eventually worked it out at least one scenario.

I don't know...maybe all little boys are that into football. Just seemed pretty smart to me.