Lost Weekend for the kids and Dad . . . .

Even though I was able to take the kids bowling last weekend it had been a while since I had spend more than a few hours alone with Jacob, Hannah or Knoah. Work and other commitments had kept me at arm’s length from them since Christmas . . .

WOW, look at what I missed! With Tonya out of town working it was a great opportunity to simply enjoy being around the kids. After working sixteen on Friday it was awesome to pick them up Saturday morning from Tonya’s Mom (PS – thx Carol, Bonnie, Frank and Frankie for helping).

First order of the day . . . Getting cleaned up and changed for the challenges that would face us.

Jacob who is becoming more and more of a young man with each second needed a haircut and thankfully this is a skill that I am capable of doing. So after a bit of cajoling Jacob walked away with an acceptable Fort Bragg, 82nd Airborne (Hooah!) high and tight! (OK, I said I was capable and had the skill, I didn’t say I wasn’t limited . . .).

The brood, collectively known as “Jannob” were all showered and changed and ready for the day. . .

It was time to decide something “fun” for the kids and I too do.

Sadly, living in Michigan in January can be hard, especially when the temperature is somewhere around 18 degrees it limits what you can do. Thankfully if you become creative you can find some cool and even reasonably priced fun things to do. We discussed it as a group, planned it out and chose to go to “bounce mania” at the Monroe Multi Sports Complex.

Bounce Mania is a way for the ice rink in Monroe to stay afloat.
Instead of keeping a sheet of ice frozen and paying all the money out for that they simply cover the floor with indoor outdoor carpeting and put up some industrial grade bouncers. Charging each kid 5.00 a day to enjoy the “bouncy” fun is keeping them in the black and giving parents some great things to do. Knoah took to the bouncers with great zeal and even enjoyed the end of the rink where they had basketball rims and soccer net set up. Jacob and Hannah, because we live in such a small town, ran into friends they knew from school so they were off enjoying being autonomous, so much for being “with them” eh? Jacob went off and played soccer with his friends, scoring at least one goal.

The one thing that is always amazing to me is what Knoah seems able to do without trying. Look, I know he is cute . . . look at his Mom, it isn’t his fault! But, it’s more than that . . .

Wondering out loud as the parent of a Little Person I sometimes hate the show “Little People, Big World . . .” not because it isn’t cool but because now so many people think simply by watching the Roloff’s on TV that they can come and approach a child that may look like they are a Little Person. Of course that happened to us at Bounce Mania. I can’t judge or speak for anyone else but it is always strange to me when someone comes up and says, “he’s like that little boy, Zack from little people, big world, isn’t he . . . oh, he is so cute . . . can I take his picture?” Tonya is so much better at this than I as she can be a wonderful advocate and politician. Me, I want to simply be left alone with my kids. But, I decided to play, “WWTD” or “what would Tonya do” when I was approach by a mother admiring Knoah. As expected she was aware of veering you would ever need to know to be around a child who has Achondroplasia as she watched the Roloff’s. OK, her assumptions were a bit off. No, Knoah was not just like “Zack” (Little People Big World), No; Knoah was not so fragile that people needed to give him 20 extra feet of play space. No, Knoah is not more intelligent than other kids his age and does not possess some special “insight” that only people “like him” can have. After a few minutes of talking and listening I decided that the best course was to simply smile, thank her for her interest and ask that she not take photos of Knoah on her cellular phone and that she please refrain from pointing at him. This was the first incident I have had like this without Tonya being there to intervene and I pray I handled it OK. Course, it does beg the question . . . “what the hell is wrong with people that they think they can look, stare, point and ask question about our children?”

Any who . . . Knoah had a great time with the bouncers but quickly discovered that they had a small arcade that contained his first love, sort of anyhow. . bowling! Even though it was a video game it was “bowling” and that was enough for him. We bowled a few games, had some juice (side note; if you have not tried the Ocean Spray Cranberry – Grape juice you need too. It would, of course, be better with Vodka . . but is still nice as a standalone). Amazingly, Knoah also discovered a “Circus” shooting game that he proved to be very good at. So good that he managed to set the daily high score. OK, he was the only one that played but it was still a good picture!

Jacob and Hannah were awesome with Knoah as we played in the bouncers. I was able to climb into one of the bouncers and play with the three of them for about 15 – 20 minutes before I remembered that I was really way to old and fat to be inside a bouncer!

After the bounce mania we decided it maybe a great idea to eat something. Of course the kids thought “McDonalds” would be the best option, especially the one with the playland, as Jacob pointed out. Thankfully we settled on Ruby Tuesdays where we all had a great meal. I have found that Knoah and Hannah are loving eating salads and considering my current desire to decrease my girth this fit in wonderful!

After a wonderful meal we spent a few minutes wondering Wal-Mart where everyone picked a new toy and then headed home. Once at the house nobody seemed too tired so it became fun to simply have a slumber party in the living room. Thanks to the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles we had something to watch on TV, for a few moments (for those out of the loop the Cowboys CRUSHED the Eagles). Once the game was out of hand the four of us began to play fun games which lasted until Knoah began playing the “fart” game. Seems this game involves Knoah sitting close to someone and then “farting” and laughing once he does. . Yeah, it’s odd to hear Knoah say, “dat’s funny”.

After a couple of “toots” we all fell asleep.

Waking Sunday with Knoah, Hannah and Jacob all in arms reach was the greatest thing that I can imagine. We quickly decide to go do something fun. I had to pick up somethings from my parents house so the four of us set out.

After a day of shopping and playing it was time to eat. Thankfully, in the grand tradition of Ron White, I had a “coupon”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7WLfY2455o and we were able to spend some time with our favorite rodent; Chuckie Cheese. It is always cool to be at Chuck’s house. Of course with the kids this never goes off without a hitch. Simple things they are . . Jacob being angry that he cannot ALWAYS win at video games. Knoah being angry that the games are not HIS size. Hannah, ok, she simply does not care and just wants to run around getting tickets to by the little rubber snakes and lizards that you get.
Knoah, being Knoah, did what he did best. He found the one game that was built for him . . . Sponge Bob Bowling! Of course we all had a great time and were able to spend so much energy that once the kids arrived home they were calm, even sleeping in the car on the way.

What a wonderful “lost weekend”. . . . Too bad this wasn’t everyday