Grand Master D

The last three days have been BUSY. The boys started back to school, which sounds like more freedom for me, right? WRONG.

The first two and half hours of my day are spent getting them ready for school, feeding them breakfast, making their lunches, and getting them both to school, which start at different times. Annie rides in the car with us for both drop-offs.

Then I come home and fill out the mountain of paperwork that the teachers send home. No homework for the kids...all for me. And, then I sneak in a little blogging in between job searching, tweaking my pathetic resume and more job searching. I also had to work on an assignment for my writing course that I take online through All Writer's. And, you should have seen the pile of dishes in my sink I tackled this morning...and the pile of laundry in my laundry room that I am currently working on as well.

In the afternoon I spend a good hour and a half sitting in carpool lines to pick up my children...with Annie in the car, of course.

We've had two football practices in the last three days (totaling over four hours of practice) in the 94 degree heat. (At least it's not 100!) And, Remy had a soccer practice. Did I mention I'm one of his team's soccer coaches?

So, last night I found myself crashing as I read to the boys at bedtime. No time to think up creative posts. In fact, as I sat and watched the two hour football practice yesterday evening, I had to work on a "Million words or less about your child" essay due today. That was for Donny's English teacher.

My post today is, guess what? The short essay I wrote about Donny to turn in.


Donny


Donny’s not allowed to be the blue pieces when we play Blokus because he wins every time. He doesn’t win quite as often at Monopoly, but he’s a masterful Poker player. Strategy games are his favorite sort, and he has a couple he plays on his computer at home, such as Age of Empires.

In his room is a collection of figures from Greek Myths, a subject he grew to love last year when every night for a month or so, before bed, we read a Greek myth. He gobbled up the Percy Jackson series.

We moved to the Dallas area a year ago from Austin, where he had lived his entire life. He was extremely disappointed to leave his friends behind, but has kept in contact with his best friend. They take turns flying to and from Austin to spend weekends together, and Donny even went camping with his friend’s family this summer through New Mexico and Colorado.

If given his way, we would have probably adopted a zoo of animals by now, but he has to make do with our one pet, a yellow Labrador named Annie, who sleeps with him every night. She’s completely devoted to her boy. He feeds her, exercises her and loves to play with her.



Donny’s room is covered in posters and sports trophies. The posters’ subjects cover everything from animals, to galaxies, to movie characters such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones. He truly loves to learn and usually asks above and beyond what he has to know, because he is curious.

His mind is as active as his body. He plays sports year round, switching with the seasons from basketball to baseball to soccer. For the first time ever, he has decided to play football, so that is a new sport for us this fall. He was nervous and knew nothing about the sport, but tackled it with his determination. He recently spent his own money to buy roller skates, which he then proceeded to wear around the house for weeks. I think he must be part fish too, because he can easily spend hours in the water and is a very strong swimmer.




Donny’s little brother is in first grade and quite the wild card. Donny is the most patient older brother I’ve ever seen. He is loving and caring yet he also likes to remind me what Supernanny would do, so that his brother is disciplined properly and doesn’t grow up to be spoiled.

I’m a writer, so it is disappointing to me that his weakest subject is writing. His strengths are in math and reading. He loves science as well. He is excited about music and chose to play the trombone in band. This is his first time playing an instrument, besides the recorder.

His father and I appreciate his honestly and intelligence but also enjoy his mischievousness and sense of humor. He’s up for an adventure and ready to try just about anything. The older he gets, the more we treasure and enjoy spending time with him. Our conversations are wonderful and mature, but can easily turn into a tooting contest to include his little brother.

Donny is a special gift in our family, and we hope you’ll enjoy sharing your time with him as much as we have and always will.