Keaton and Kason - 1, Aunt Kimmy - 0
Today I got to spend some quality time with the boys. Erika and her family all had an event to attend this afternoon, so she asked me earlier this week if I would be able to watch Keaton and Kason for a few hours. I love getting to see those two so it was a no brainer for me! Here is how our 3 hours and 30 minutes went …
11:00 AM - I arrive at the house and am already needed to make sure that every piece of Erika’s hair is curled. I then go out to her car to retrieve Kason’s car seat. That took 7 minutes. How many buttons are on those things?! I finally found the right combination after pinching my fingers multiple times. Back inside, Keaton is as happy as can be hanging in the living room with Kory and Erika’s dad. Kason on the other hand just woke up from a nap and is pressing his face against the mesh on the Pack-in-Play trying to eat his way out. Typical. Erika gives me some final directions and they are out the door. It’s about 11:10 at this point and all is calm! The three of us start playing with one of Keaton’s trucks. Two seconds later Kason has lost interest and starts making his way to the coffee table. He pulls himself up and is bouncing all over the place. This is pretty much the scene for the next half hour.
11:40AM - The first big test of the day is getting Keaton to school on time. Now PawPaw must have this down to a science because I’m pretty sure I sat there contemplating how I was going to do this.
Step One – strap Kason into his car seat so he can’t escape.
Step Two – get everybody to the car.
Step Three – buckle Keaton in. Either he didn’t want to go to school or he didn’t want me taking him. Sorry Charlie. You’re going to school and PawPaw aint here to take you. While he’s fussing, Kason is chilling like a villain in his car seat with his bottle. Champ.
Step Four – Shit! Don’t forget Keaton’s backpack and lunchbox. Got it!
Step Five – It’s time to go. Keaton’s still irritated so I borrow an idea from The Expert. “Keaton, you want to go fast?” His eyes light up, I get a smile. And we’re off! Phew!
12:00 PM - I’m happy to report Keaton arrived at school on time and Kristin (Teacher of the Year!) didn’t mention that I was forgetting anything! – Mental win for Aunt Kimmy! Oh, it was also College Day today so Keaton is sporting his Miami football jersey. Now Kory, I’ll give you football and baseball but basketball is my thing and he’s a Duke fan. Please do remind me of the 8 laterals your Hurricanes threw this past Saturday to get a win against the Blue Devils. We’ll revisit that conversation come January.
With Keaton safe and sound with the real professionals, it’s just me and Kason left to take on the remainder of the afternoon. He is very quiet in the car. Not going to lie, it made me nervous. We make our way to Chick-Fil-A because well, let’s be honest, I got him safely in the car once, I don’t want to have to do it again. Plus I’m starving. He and I have a good talk while we and the rest of Houston wait in the drive-thru line. We talked about the Half Marathon I’m running in 10 days. I told him I’m starting to get a little nervous but he promised not to tell my secrets. I know I can make the 13. What has me hesitant is ever since my back started bothering me, I have not worked back up to that kind of distance so … 13.1 miles could be interesting. My biggest fear in all this is letting people down. These two boys are two of the most important people I have in my life and I want to do something they can be proud of. But all that is between Kason and me.
12:30 PM - We make it back to the house and I’m not the only one who’s hungry. Kason starts going to town on what is left of his bottle. I begin inhaling my sandwich. It takes that boy about a minute or two before he tosses that bottle aside and starts making his way to my plate. No Sir. Your mother would kill me.
We’re off to the races again. This kid is all over the place. At the coffee table. At the chair. At the entertainment center. Back to the coffee table. Oh .. then he finds the lamp cord and of course that is all he wants to play with. Dude, you have 18 toys here on the floor. Choose any of them!
1:00 PM - Ding Dong. Why is the doorbell ringing? Again. And again. Then the phone rings. It’s Kory but I so have this under control. Perfect timing though. I ask him if the lawn service usually comes on Wednesday and of course they do! They need a key to unlock the back gate. Great, we find the key. Oh and don’t worry. I’m holing Kason the whole time. It’s not like he’s gnawing on the lamp cord. Oh … should I also mention that we’ve been watching a Law and Order SVU marathon. That seems appropriate for children.
Ding Dong. Thank goodness it’s Heather! She’s come over for her lunch break … naturally Kason gravitates towards her cheeseburger.
2:00 PM - Ding Dong. Seriously! Again! Now the lawn service wants to be paid. I don’t live here. I don’t have any cash. I also do not speak Spanish. Let’s just say that was not a successful conversation. Or maybe it was. I have no idea.
2:30 PM - Back to Kason. Yeah, it’s a good thing Heather showed up. I have a meeting scheduled and can’t leave the child unattended. “Hey Heather, do you mind staying here until Erika’s dad gets back?” Perfect!
All and all it was a fun day! I’m glad I was able to help out my friend and spend some quality time with the boys. They really do make my days better.
Major lesson of the day – Learn Spanish and always carry cash.
PawPaw, I gladly hand the reins back over to you.
