Breaking Free

A nasty combination of winter and being sick has left us inside for far too long. Far too many video games, far too much computer. Far too much schoolwork, or so I've been told.

Over the last few days, I have sent the kids outside many times, just to have them return a few minutes later. I realized that I must go outside as well. Sure, it's easy to get a few dishes done or catch up on the important things, like emails... while they're outside, but it's not doing me any good to stay inside either.

I had to break free.

(Every time I think break free, I hear High School Musical in my mind.)

(Still stuck..Soaring, Flying, there's not a star in heaven that we can't reach...)

Returning...

We had an Easter egg hunt yesterday and I can't tell you how great it was to walk the yard, again and again, to pick up leaves, to plot and plan and hide. Outside. Ahhhhh.

I hid six eggs for everyone in different areas so there would not be chaos. Fortunately, we have a huge yard and also a wonderful neighbor who doesn't mind us in her yard. I tell ya', I worked hard on the 'hiding' factor. These weren't eggs just placed in the yard all willy-nilly. No sir, these were hidden.

It was the first time I've hidden eggs. Oh sure, I've tucked one under a leaf before, but always made sure that a little corner of flourescent green was sticking out just a hint. I hid the heck out of these eggs. I told Jonah that his were the hardest and that I was plum proud of myself for my hiding skills.

I set them free, outlining their boundaries in great detail, and sat back chuckling at my mad skills.

In three minutes time, Jonah was back with all six of his eggs.

I may have teared up a bit.

How could this be? I asked him if he peeked, if he cheated, if he got six new eggs out of the bag. No. To prove it, I looked at the eggs and indeed, they were the chosen six, complete with kisses and M&M's and money.

Very gently, bless his little 13-year-old heart (whatever that means), he informed me that my hiding methods just didn't work anymore.

You mean that if I lift up a flower pot and cover the egg completely, you still know to lift up the pot?

You mean that if I lift up the skate ramp and totally cover the egg, you know to look under the ramp?

He said his method was simple: Lift everything up, turn everything over, look inside everything.

How did this happen?

sniff.

Gable did have trouble finding one or four eggs...When he finally finished, he told me that the hardest one was the one in the bag of moisturizer, or whatever that stuff was. Moisturizer? Do you mean fertilizer??? Clearly, this is a house of boys unfamiliar with the difference between fertilizer and moisturizer.

On second thought, maybe moisturizer and fertilizer is more related than I thought...