design star...

Eli and I were walking around with Ollie the other evening and he noticed that Hammond is putting up Christmas decorations everywhere. He looked at me and said, "Dad, I can't wait to see how they decorate the park this year."( Hammond completely decorates one of its parks in the center of town...it just happens to be at the end of our street, also) . I said, "yep, it won't be long.". Eli looked at the decorations going up and then said, "Dad, they should ask you and I about decorating for Christmas because we know almost everything about Christmas." (I love that boy!) 
He has been fast at work designing things for our front yard...I dare say I will need to borrow my two neighbors yards as well!

maybe it was Charlton Heston...

Eli has been learning to ride a bike and has become much more confident. So this morning I decided to let Eli ride while Ollie Mae and I walked our 4miles through Hammond and partially around Southeastern. As we passed the cemetery behind the Episcopal church, Eli stopped and Noted an old above ground tomb. He asked, "Dad, do you know who is in there?" I told him that I did not. The name was on the opposite side.Eli said," I know who it is...look how old it is...it's Moses...from the Bible!"
Moses...right here in Hammond, Louisiana! I guess he parted the Atlantic also...

the things I learn from Eli...

Sunday life lessons from Eli:
Dad, boys are made in the cold.
What Eli?
Boys are made in the cold and girls are made in the heat. It's true. I was cold when I was in mom's stomach...oh, and salt water crocodiles bury their boy eggs in cold sand.
Oh and dad...we need to start stocking up for hurricanes.
Hurricane season is almost over for us. The weather is getting colder and hurricanes can't form in the cold.
But killer whales and blue whales can make them.
What?? How can whales make hurricanes?
They suck in cold water from the ocean when they eat fish and then it warms up in their stomachs because the fish are food and food makes energy and energy makes heat and that's how they put out warm water. That's what happens in Mexico, South America and Australia...
That's not really how it works Eli...
Oh, really...Dad, there are a lot of whales out there.
(Pause while his two nephews get in the car)
Poppy, our fish Mr Darby died.
Oh, I'm so sorry. I'll get you a new one...how 'bout that?
Dad, you should get an electric eel. You can power your whole house on just one eel. They have special tanks with wires wrapped around them and they go out into your house. They have them for cars also. You won't ever have to buy gas again; but you have to get the right kind of eel...they have water eels also that spit out water and ink but they don't have any electrical power...
I'm not sure if Al Gore knows that mankind is NOT the problem to global warming, it's those darn whales...but with eel power we can combat (and I dare say, reverse) global warming!
This has been an Eli public service announcement...

priceless moments...

I may not get it right all the time and I'm far from being the perfect dad, but you know, today I was taking Eli to school and as we got to the end of our street, my son looked over at me and said...Dad...you can start praying for me now. 
I love that he expects prayer to start his morning and to cover his day.

If I could save time in a bottle...

Have you ever had one of THOSE mornings? 
I woke up at a reasonable time this morning so I afforded myself the luxury of taking a hot shower ( and a little bit longer one because it's already getting cold in the house). I get out, dry off, dress...I just slip on my tennis shoes without socks because I have to take Ollie out for a walk...I put the cinnamon rolls in the oven...saddle up Ollie and notice that it's time for Eli to wake up. I've already pulled his clothes so I'm a step ahead. Ollie and I are gone for about 15 minutes and I'm feeling good about the day..until I notice that Eli hasn't gotten dressed...I wrangle him in and get him started in the dressing process. I feed Ollie and give her new water...cinnamon rolls ready!...start packing Eli's books...WHAT???? A whole page of homework that we missed!!! Eli begins moaning and complaining and trying to run away...I'm trying to help...and stay calm at the same time ( a difficult task at times when it comes to homework)...homework done...LUNCH!!! I'm trying to throw something together that at least has the appearance of being on the food chart...he ended up with nuked macaroni and cheese, some fake chicken nuggets (vegan nuggets) and some cheddar crackers....time to go...Eli doesn't have shoes...Eli doesn't know where his shoes are...panic...running around...one shoe found in one room, the other shoe found in another part of the house...shoes on...Eli states that he needs money for the book fair...BOOK FAIR??? I don't have time for the bank (Eli's school only takes cash...smart, except today!)...Eli has to brush his teeth...uggghhh...time is NOT on my side!!!...
I'm at work without socks! So glad that I have deodorant in my truck just in case I need a boost ( or forget to put it on like today) and I'm chewing gum, if that tells you anything...
Many may be asking...what about Sherri??? I am happy to report that as I was flying out of the house without socks, arms filled with Eli's things and pulling Eli along, she was getting out of the tub that she was soaking in...

The world belongs to those with perfect attendance...

Eli has received perfect attendance for the first six weeks of school.This really is an accomplishment considering that last year I threatened to call the bus that takes children to the sweatshop that don't go to school. (This was almost a daily threat) As a reward, Eli received a certificate for a free serving of Chick-fil-A ice cream (I believe they should extend these kind of benefits to work and church attendance as well!) 
I told Eli that I was very proud of him for his effort. He smiled and told me that he was the only one in his class to get perfect attendance...and that some days he was the ONLY kid in class. Eli also had to give a speech about why kids should come to school. It must have touched the hearts and conscious of the class as a whole because they are going to make up their days by attending school on Saturdays and some will even have to spend the night a few times. I said,"WOW, that must have been some speech!" He said , "Yep, one day I'm going to be president and I'll make more speeches and people will have to do what I tell them." I told him that he was speaking of a dictatorship not a presidency. Eli now wants to become a dictator!
( I wonder if Castro started with perfect attendance in school?)

clowning around...

This is Eli's drawing of clowns that was intended to scare me. He explained the drawing to me - they are singing circus music (which is scary) and the clown at the top is playing with fire (the actual fire is to the right), there is the scary midget clown, and the bottom clown ( the most shocking in my opinion) is running with scissors! Don't let the fact that they are smiling lull you into the belief that they are harmless and can be trusted!